At the Capitol, a Senate bill to keep auto insurance rates from using gender as a factor when determining premiums narrowly passes in committee but moves forward…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Thorington.”

Renters, a proposed House bill before the legislature would allow you to break your lease if you find you are in a high crime area. The bill would permit backing out of a lease if two or more criminal instances were reported within a half mile, within 6 months. It has yet to see a committee review.

An ATV crash near Slidell last night killed a 14-year-old girl and injured another 14-year-old girl. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says both girls were ejected from the ATV, and neither were wearing a helmet, which is essential for minors…:

CUT 07(05)      “…very dangerous.”

The victim is identified as14-year-old Samia Rogers of Slidell. The other girl’s name has not been released. She is in the hospital.

More than 150 new jobs are coming to Shreveport as Prolec GE will invest 28-million dollars to expand its Caddo Parish facility to manufacture electrical transformers used in wind farms, solar parks and renewable energy applications. Prolec GE Business Unit Director Sergio Fernandez says the additional jobs will add to the 282 they currently have..:

CUT 03(06)      “…very excited.”

They hope to be at full capacity within about 14 months.

Legislation that would prohibit insurance companies from using gender as a factor in determing auto insurance rates was approved today by the Senate Insurance Committee. The lone female on the panel, Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson, voted “Yes”….
cut 11 (09) “…down to”
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says insurance providers are not discriminating against female drivers. He says predictive modeling is used to determine rates of female and male drivers.

An ATV crash near Slidell last night killed a 14-year-old girl and injured another 14-year-old girl. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says this is any parent’s worst nightmare…
Cut 6 (10) “…a tree”
The teenage girl who died has been identified as 14-year-old Samia Rogers of Slidell.

The top ranked LSU baseball went down in defeat last night as the Nicholls Colonels pulled off a dramatic upset victory over the Tigers. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (32) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”

Our next severe weather event is upon us. Scattered severe storms will move into northwest Louisiana tonight. The severe weather threat shifts to south Louisiana tomorrow from about 5 AM until mid-afternoon on Thursday. Damaging winds and isolated tornadoes are the biggest threats.

Rapides Parish Sheriff Deputies have arrested two men in the death of an Alexandria man found in a ditch on LA Highway 1 North last week. 42-year-old Rochaune Prenell of Alexandria was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds by a mowing crew. Spokesperson Tommy Carnline says authorities were able to close in on two individuals.

Cut 8 (09)  “…was identified.” 

Authorities arrested 32-year-old Donald Ray Sias, Jr. and O-tha Lee Tatum, Sr. both of Alexandria. Sias was in jail for unrelated charges and rearrested for carjacking, second-degree murder, criminal conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. Tatum was also arrested for obstruction of justice and criminal conspiracy.

Prolec GE  will invest $28 million to expand its Caddo Parish facility in Shreveport and create new jobs.  Prolec GE Business Unit Director Sergio Fernandez says construction on the new line will begin in June and is expected to reach full production capacity in June 2024.

Cut 5 (13) “…June 2024.”

The company manufactures products for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.

The Senate Insurance Committee advanced a bill that would prohibit insurers from using gender as a factor when setting auto insurance rates. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau – the bill’s author – says female drivers are often charged more than men.

Cut 10 (12) “…charged more.” 

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says insurance carriers are not discriminating against females. He says companies refer to it as predictive modeling that differentiates between young women and men, and older women and men.

Cut 12 (12) “…of Louisiana.” 

Chair of the Insurance Committee, Senator Kirk Talbot opposes the legislation for fear that it would cause insurance rates for male drivers to increase.

A bill to legalize recreational marijuana is nipped in the bud. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A 14-year-old girl died and another 14-year-old was injured in an ATV crash that occurred last night near Slidell. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says the ATV crashed into a tree and the girls were not wearing a helmet…
cut 7 (05) “…very dangerous”
14-year-old Samia Rogers of Slidell succumbed to her injuries.

Legislation that would chop off the minimum hours required to obtain a cosmetology license in Louisiana from 1,500 hours to 1,200 hours has been approved by the House Commerce Committee. All students would still be required to pass a national exam to become licensed. An opponent of the bill – Pineville Salon Owner Vivian Green says fewer training hours means a less qualified hair stylist…
Cut 15 (14) “…wrong, period.”
The debate will continue on the House floor.

Good economic development news for Shreveport, as Prolec GE, announces plans to add 153 new jobs so they can manufacture electrical transformers used in wind farms, solar parks and other renewable energy applications…
cut 4 (03) “…is booming”
That’s Prolec GE Business Director Sergio Fernandez.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash that killed a teenager and injured another after crashing into a tree near Slidell. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Suzanne Carboni says when deputies arrived they found two minors at the scene.

Cut 6 (10)  “…a tree” 

Both girls were ejected from the ATV and neither was wearing a helmet.

More than 150 new jobs are coming to Shreveport as Prolec GE will invest 28-million dollars to expand its Caddo Parish facility to manufacture electrical transformers used in wind farms, solar parks and renewable energy applications. Prolec GE Business Unit Director Sergio Fernandez…

Cut 3 (06) “….very excited”

Construction on the new line begins in June.

Legislation to legalize recreational marijuana was snuffed out in House Criminal Justice before it could even be voted on Tuesday. Bill author, New Orleans Representative Candace Newell says fear-mongering is how cannabis was criminalized to begin with.

Cut 4 (13)  “…marijuana illegal.”

The committee voted to defer the bill, which basically removed the bill from consideration this session.

The 37^th Annual Festival International De Louisiane begins today through Sunday in downtown Lafayette. Marketing Director Carly Viator (vee-ah-tore) Courville says this year’s opening ceremony will celebrate Lafayette’s bicentennial year.

Cut 13 (12) “…event off.” 

Visit festival-international-dot-org for more info.

The House Criminal Justice Committee voted nine to four to kill a proposal to legalize marijuana in Louisiana. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell was upset she didn’t have the chance to voluntarily defer the bill, with the hopes of bringing it back before the session ends…
cut 7 (10) “….very much”

We were expecting a debate this afternoon in the Senate Labor Committee on a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage to ten dollars an hour starting on January 1st. But the proposal was removed from today’s agenda late yesterday afternoon. Jeremy Alford of La Politics-dot-com says there’s strong opposition to raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour…
cut 10 (06) “…the capitol”
No word on when the bill will be heard.

The House Commerce Committee has approved legislation that would cut the minimum number of training hours down from 15-hundred to 12-hundred to a get a cosmetology license. Jeremy Aydell, who owns several Sport Clips, says he has 25 job openings at this site and this legislation could help…
cut 14 (10) “…minorities”
But there were salon owners who testified against the bill, claiming 15-hundred training hours is needed to produce a professional haircut. More debate will take place on the House floor.

The 37th Annual Festival International De Louisiane begins today and runs through Sunday in downtown Lafayette. Marketing Director Carly Viator Courville says there will be great art, food, and its a cultural melting pot of diverse music
Cut 11 (10) “…in Louisiana.”
One of the headline acts is Louisiana’s own Lauren Daigle.

A bill to raise the state’s minimum wage was set to be heard this afternoon in the Senate Labor Committee, but the legislation was removed from today’s agenda late yesterday afternoon. Jeremy Alford of La-Politics-dot-com says the propsoal does not have much of a chance at passing…
cut 9 (07) “…in Louisiana”
Simliar minimum wage hike bills have failed in the past, despite support from Governor John Bel Edwards.

There’s growing support from the public to legalize recreational marijuana use, but a bill to do that in Louisiana was killed by the House Criminal Justice Committee. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell tried to make the case that legalization could benefit the state by taxing the sale of the product. She says the legalization in DC has been profitable…
cut 5 (11) “…tax funding”
Despite that argument, the bill was defeated nine to four.

A proposal to clip required training hours for a cosmetology license in Louisiana was approved by the House Commerce Committee but opponents were vocal..
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Proposed legislation to sentence fentanyl dealers to life behind bars passed out of the House Criminal Justice Committee. Crowley Representative John Stefanksi is the author of the legislation…:
CUT 29 (07) “…how I feel.”
The bill would impose life without parole for distributing an ounce or more of fentanyl. Approved by a 12-to-1 vote, the bill goes to the House floor.

A bill to legalize recreational use of marijuana died in the House Criminal Justice Committee yesterday. Will Hall of the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy spoke in opposition…

cut 6 (09) “….financially”

This afternoon, Senate Labor will consider a bill to raise the state’s minimum wage…
cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Legislation that would chop off the minimum hours required to obtain a cosmetology license in Louisiana from 1,500 hours to 1,200 hours has been approved by the House Commerce Committee. Slidell Representative Mary Dubbison –the bill’s author- says less time would mean less financial obligation.
Cut 14 (04) “…must repay.”
All students would still be required to pass a national exam to become licensed in Louisiana. A very vocal opponent to the bill – Pineville Salon Owner Vivian Green says less time means fewer qualified students.
Cut 15 (14) “…wrong, period.”
The debate will continue on the House floor.

Big upset in college baseball last night as Nicholls knocked off top ranked LSU six to five.