Baton Rouge lawmen cracked down on street racers over the weekend; towing 26 vehicles and issuing about 30 citations. Participants in high-power muscle cars will take over a parking lot – or worse, an intersection – to do donuts, burnouts and other dangerous stunts. People have been hurt. Baton Rouge Police spokesman L’Jean McKneely says there will be legal consequences for the impromptu stunt rallies…:

CUT 13  (12)        “…cost you.”

Deputies in St. Tammany Parish arrest a Tennessee man for allegedly burglarizing restaurants in the Covington area. Sheriff’s spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says the chase started Saturday afternoon, when officers tried to pull over 25-year-old Malik Morris, who was driving a box truck…:

CUT 07  (11)        “…medical assistance.”

Beginning next year, private school parents will get a boost in their state tax break for tuition; from $5-thousand per kid, per year to $6-thousand. The average cost per kid of private school is a little over $7-thousand. In the legislative session, DeRidder Senator Mike Reese said he likes the bill’s intent, but questions its cost…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…them there.”

The tax break was created 15 years ago. This s the first time it has been increased for inflation.

Paul Skenes is the first LSU player to be selected number one in the Major League Baseball draft since Ben McDonald in 1989. The Pittsburgh Pirates used their top overall pick on Skenes and his 100-mile-an-hour fastball. Skenes is surprised and humbled…:

CUT 04(09)      “…in Pittsburgh.”

Skenes and teammate Dylan Crews are the first high school or college teammates to be selected 1 and 2 in the MLB draft.

The West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested 26-year-old Lorenzo Green for the alleged murder of his girlfriend 25-year-old Radayish King of St. Francisville. King was found dead in her vehicle near the intersection of Highways 61 and 421 Sunday morning.

LSU makes history as for the first time two players from the same school are the first two picks in the Major League Baseball draft.  Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

A street racing sting by multiple law enforcement agencies in Baton Rouge resulted in 26 vehicles towed and a total of 30 citations over the weekend. BRPD Spokesperson L’Jean McKneely says they learned about a get-together the racers were planning…

Cut 12 (13) “…in play” 

The sting was conducted Friday night and early Saturday morning in response to an increased trend in street racing.

The tax break for parents who send their children to private schools will increase to $6,000 from the current $5,000. The current deduction costs the state about $22-millon annually and will increase to $24.2 million next year. Pineville Senator Jay Luneau questioned bill author Laurie Schlegel on how the increase will impact the state budget.

Cut 10 (10)  “…taxpayers.”

Governor Edwards has signed the legislation.

With the Governor’s veto of the bill banning “gender-affirming care” for minors, the chances of a veto override session have increased.

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Police in the small town of Many, in Sabine Parish are investigating a Sunday afternoon fatal stabbing. Many Police Chief Cheryl Wooly says a man and woman, in their mid to late 20s were arguing when the man was stabbed. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, and the woman was arrested. Names and charges have not been released.

St. Tammany Parish Deputies have arrested 25-year-old Malik Morris of Memphis for allegedly burglarizing five restaurants in the Covington area. Spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says after a brief pursuit, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.

Cut 6 (11)  “…a neighborhood” 

Morris was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. The investigation is ongoing.

A $21 million broadband expansion project to bring high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet to thousands of households in Avoyelles Parish is underway. ConnectLA Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar says Louisiana is leading the country in how quickly they are bringing broadband to every corner of the state…

Cut 14 (13)  “…get it.”
The project is expected to completed next summer.

Beginning next year parents who send their kids to private school will receive an increase of $5,000 to $6,000 tax break per child in Louisiana. The governor signed the legislation that Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel authored.

Cut 9 (09)  “…their taxes.”

The current deduction costs the state about $22-millon annually and that will increase to $24.2 million in 2024.

The Major League Baseball draft began with two LSU players from the National Championship team, pitcher Paul Skeens was the first by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and center fielder Dylan Crews was the second pick by Washington Nationals. Crews says as a kid he followed the Nats ever since the former number one overall pick was Bryce Harper…

Cut 5 (11)  “…as him.”

Will they or won’t they return for a veto override session is the looming question. Since Governor Edwards rejected a bill to ban transgender procedures on minors in Louisiana the probability has increased, they’ll return.  “LaPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says the transgender bill veto could also open a floodgate of override efforts…:

Cut 12 (11)    “…by the Governor.” 

Votes from lawmakers on their willingness to return for an override session are due Thursday.

And ground has been broken on a project that will result in high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet for 91-hundred households and 535 small businesses in Avoyelles Parish. Connect LA director Veneeth Iyengar says Swift Telecom is expected to complete the project next summer.

Cut 16 (13) “..our office.”

We’ll find out later this week if there will be an override veto session that would begin on July 18th. Among the most high-profile bills that Governor Edwards has vetoed is the ban on transgender medical procedures on children. State Representative Gabe Firment from Grant Parish says there’s public support for his legislation.
Cut 7 (11) “…this veto.”
A simple majority vote by either the House or Senate cancels the override veto session, but Jeremy Alford of La-Politics-dot-com says Republican lawmakers seeking re-election are facing pressure to hold the veto session…
cut 13 (09) “….suffer the consequences”
Edwards vetoed over two dozen bills from the recently completed session.

Paul Skenes is the first LSU player to be selected number one in the Major League Baseball draft since Ben McDonald in 1989. The Pittsburgh Pirates used their top overall pick on Skenes, who features a 100-mile per hour fastball and a wipe out slider…
cut 3 (11) “…this position”
LSU’s Dylan Crews was the second overall pick, going to the Washington Nationals.

A $21 million broadband expansion project to bring high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet to thousands of households in Avoyelles Parish is underway. ConnectLA Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar says Louisiana is leading the country in how quickly they are bring broadband to every corner of the state…
Cut 14 (13) “…get it.”
The project is expected to completed next summer.

Governor Edwards vetoed three anti-LGBTQ bills including a ban on transgender medical procedures on minors. The bill’s author, Pollock Representative Gabe Firment neighboring states have passed similar legislation and without it, Louisiana will be set apart.

Cut 9 (10)  “…on kids.”

New Orleans Democrat Aimee Freeman points out that legislation passed in Arkansas has already been challenged in the courts and she believes Firment’s bill violates the state constitution because it’s discriminatory.

Cut 10 (09) “…be trusted.”

Lawmakers must respond by Thursday if they wish to return to Baton Rouge for a veto session.

Officials broke ground for a $21 million broadband expansion to bring high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet to 10,000 households and businesses in Avoyelles Parish last Thursday. ConnectLA Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar says Avoyelles is only one of several rural parishes selected to receive broadband …

Cut 15 (12)  “…most impact.”

The collective impact of the $176 million in federal funds plus the $1.4 billion will ensure that Louisianans in rural and low-income communities will have access to high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet.

Baton Rouge General has opened The Louisiana Center for Bariatrics in Baton Rouge. One of the surgeons, Dr. Karalyn Bentley, says in addition to weight loss surgery the center also specializes in non-surgical weight loss interventions, nutrition counseling, and support groups.

Cut 6 (10)  “…their family.”

Among the most high-profile bills that Governor Edwards has vetoed is the ban on transgender medical procedures on children. Pollock Republican Representative Gabe Firment, who authored the bill, says it’s not antitransgender legislation, it protects children and there’s public support for it.
Cut 7 (11) “…this veto.”
New Orleans Democrat Aimee Freeman disagrees and says there are no known cases of surgery on children to alter their gender in Louisiana. She says the bill’s intent is to target a vulnerable population, and unnecessary.
Cut 8 (12) “…legislation.’”
Lawmakers have until Thursday to decide if they want to come back for an override veto session. The veto session would begin July 18th.

LSU Tigers were the first two picks in the Major League Baseball Draft, which got underway last night. Right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes went number one overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Skenes says he’s shocked…
cut 4 (09) “…in Pittsburgh”
LSU center fielder Dylan Crews was the second selection as he was picked buy Washington. It’s the first time college teammates went one-two in the Major League Baseball draft.

The governor’s office says ground has been broken on a project that will result in high-speed affordable and reliable internet for 91-hundred households and 535 small businesses in Avoyelles Parish. Connect LA director Veneeth Iyengar says Swft Telecom is expected to complete the project next summer..
cut 16 (13) “…our office”

The veto of a bill to ban transgender procedures on minors could be the tipping point for an override session that would begin next week.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Lawmakers have until Thursday to decide if they want an override veto session. The governor vetoed 26 bills and several items in the budget. Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics-dot-com says Firment’s bill seems to have the most momentum for an override veto session but there are other bills too…
cut 11 (11) “…these other issues”

Paul Skenes is the first LSU player to be selected number one in the Major League Baseball draft since Ben McDonald in 1989. The Pittsburgh Pirates used their top overall pick on Skenes, who features a 100-mile per hour fastball and a wipe out slider…
cut 3 (11) “…this position”
LSU’s Dylan Crews was the second overall pick, going to the Washington Nationals.

Baton Rouge General has opened the Louisiana Center for Bariatrics. The center offers robotic gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy surgery for patients who qualify and have been unsuccessful in losing weight through diet and exercise. Doctor Karayln Bentley says weight loss surgery is an effect and long-term treatment for obesity….
cut 5 (09) “…moderation”
Visit la-center-for-baraiatrics-dot-com for more information.