Legislation to allow non-felons to carry a concealed firearm in Louisiana without a permit was heavily amended Wednesday and now its primary intent is to provide school safety officers. Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 02(35)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

A Baton Rouge couple are charged with murder for the death of their 8-week-old baby boy. Analise and John Noehl says the infant fell and hit his head, but doctors say the baby’s skull fracture is more consistent with physical violence. The infant also had broken ribs and numerous bruises. Police have charged them with homicide.

Lt. Colonel Chris Eskew, who was the head of State Police internal affairs when Ronald Greene died in LSP custody in 2019, tells state lawmakers he saw no criminal activity when he watched the body camera video of Greene’s beating and arrest. But, when challenged by panel member Denise Marcelle of Baton Rouge, he changed his answer; explaining he was reluctant to answer for fear it could harm the ongoing investigations into Greene’s death. Marcelle sees it as State Police officials trying to protect each other…:

CUT 05(10)      “…bring down.”

It’s only day two of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, but researchers at Colorado State University have already revised their forecast UP to 20 named storms. Alex DeRosier with the CSU storm team give 50-50 odds a big one will hit the Gulf Coast, and he advises we be ready for a rough five months ahead.

Senate candidate Luke Mixon has been officially endorsed by fellow Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards. Mixon, an airline pilot from Pineville, is one of three announced candidates to challenge incumbent Senator John Kennedy this fall. UL-Monroe Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the Governor’s endorsement is definitely a big deal. He says Mixon, like Edwards, is former military with a distinguished career…:

CUT 11(11)      “…at the polls.”

Edwards will headline a fundraising event for Mixon’s campaign this month in New Orleans.

Amazon says it will probably be nearly a year before its Shreveport “fulfillment center” will be open and running, and so they won’t begin hiring workers until at least next February. Supply chain issues have impacted the timetable for the construction and internal build-out. Amazon also is taking time to upgrade the robots they’ll use at the center.

A bill to allow permitless concealed carry of a gun was amended to change its function entirely; making it now a bill about providing in-school security. It was amended by Gonzales Senator Eddie Lambert, who says the bill now allows a school to appoint a teacher or administrator to serve voluntarily as a school protection officer. Lambert says the appointed individual will also have to be post-certified…:

CUT 07(11)      “…right now.”

The session ends Monday and it’s not likely there will be time for the bill in its current form to reach final passage.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed the state’s $29-billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1^st into law. Before his signature, he exercise his line-item veto on several items; mostly to restore some budget cuts to higher education.

The Department of Health reports nearly 1400 new COVID-19 cases, with just over 200 people in the hospital statewide with the virus. Another 5 COVID-related deaths are also reported.

A House-passed bill to allow persons over 21 with no criminal record to carry a concealed weapon without a permit was heavily amended in a Senate committee; essentially stripping its original language entirely. Gonzales Senator Eddie Lambert explains that his amendment makes the bill about school security officers…:

CUT 06  (07)        “…other schools.”
He says, with only a short time left in the session, this is the only way Louisiana can address school safety. This amendment could mean an unprecedented third committee review for the bill, and its likel;y demise.

A Baton Rouge couple faces serious charges in the death of their 8-week-old son. Analise and John Noehl says the infant bounced out of a bouncy chair and hit his head, but doctors say the baby’s skull fracture is more consistent with physical violence. The infant also had broken ribs and numerous bruises. Police have charged them with homicide.

A former head of Internal Affairs at the State Police tells lawmakers investigating the Ronald Greene death in 2019 that he saw no criminal activity when he watched body cam footage of Greene being beaten by troopers on a Union Parish roadside. Panel member and Baton Rouge Representative Denice Marcelle found that hard to swallow…:

CUT 04  (07)        “…I don’t get it.”

Marcelle feels LSP officers – including Internal Affairs – “circled the wagons” to cover Greene’s death up.

The Colorado State University hurricane forecasting team predict the season could bring up to 20 named storms. Here’s CSU researcher Alex DesRosier…:

CUT 13  (12)        “…point in time.”

CSU models say the odds of the Gulf Coast seeing a major hurricane are at about 50-50 this year.

During a legislative hearing looking into the State Police custody death of Ronald Greene, an L-S-P official tells lawmakers he didn’t think the troopers seen on video beating and tasing Greene acted criminally. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A House bill to allow permitless concealed carry was heavily amended in a Senate committee. The original bill to allow non-felons over the age of 21 to carry concealed without a permit now creates provisions for a school safety officer and its initial intent has been removed.

—

Senate candidate Luke Mixon has been officially endorsed by fellow Democrat, Governor John Bel Edwards. In addition to endorsing the Bunkie native, Edwards is headlining a fundraiser for Mixon in New Orleans on June 16th. UL-Monroe Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says because Mixon doesn’t have much name recognition he’ll need to raise as much as possible.

Cut 10 (10) ”…a boost.”

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Researchers at Colorado State University have increased their projections of just how active the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane season will be. According to the CSU models, the odds of the Gulf Coast seeing a major hurricane passing through are at about 50 percent, up from 30 percent for the last century. As for Louisiana itself, Alex DesRosiers says we should be prepared for an active season…

Cut 14 (13)  “…major hurricane.”

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Legislation to allow non-felons to carry a concealed firearm in Louisiana without a permit was heavily amended Wednesday and now its primary intent is to provide school safety officers. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Senate candidate Luke Mixon has been officially endorsed by fellow Democrat, Governor John Bel Edwards. Mixon is one of three announced candidates who will face off with incumbent Republican John Kennedy. UL-Monroe Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Edwards’ endorsement is a boost for the Baton Rouge pilot’s campaign.

Cut 9 (11) “…so say.”

Activist Gary Chambers and Vacherie native Syrita Steib have also announced their candidacy for Senate.

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It’s only day two of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, but researchers at Colorado State University have increased their projections of just how active this season will be. Alex DesRosiers says the latest models point to 20 named storms. The main reason? El Nino, which helps prevent storms from forming, is highly unlikely this year.

Cut 12 (08) “…quite some time.”

According to the CSU models, the odds of the Gulf Coast seeing a major hurricane passing through are at about 50 percent, up from 30 percent for the last century.

—

The LSU Tigers have already packed up and made their way to Hattiesburg where they will begin play in the NCAA tournament on Friday against third-seeded Kennesaw State out of the Atlantic Sun Conference. Jay Johnson says there could be a lot of offense on display as LSU’s high-powered attack matches up with an Owls lineup that averages more than seven runs per game.

Cut 16 (13) “…well to win.”

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LSU athletics director Scott Woodward tells the Advocate there’s no rush to approve a new scheduling format for football in the Southeastern Conference. It’s possible a vote could take place tomorrow when the SEC spring meetings end in Destin, Florida. The discussion surrounds whether there will be eight or nine conference games and how many permanent opponents, between one and three have been thrown around as many expect the SEC will scrap the division format.

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The last time Louisiana Tech met Dallas Baptist, the Bulldogs were beaten 7-4 at home. They’ll meet again on Friday in the first game of the Austin Regional with Tech coming in as the two seed. Coach Lane Burroughs says what happened in March won’t have much to do with Friday’s outcome…

Cut 18 (20) “…finished.”

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The Louisiana High School Athletic Association has assigned locations to next year’s championship events, with Lake Charles once again the site for swimming, non-select boys basketball, baseball, and softball. Hammond retains non-select girls basketball and soccer, with Monroe hosting tennis. In today’s final session the LHSAA, the debate will likely center around championship venues for football, where payouts are the biggest question.

A House bill to allow concealed carry without a permit was heavily amended by Gonzales Senator Eddie Lambert in a Senate committee. The original bill to allow non-felons over the age of 21 to carry concealed now creates provisions for schools’s to appoint a teacher to serve voluntarily as a school protection officer. Lambert says that person will be certified.

Cut 7 (11) “…right now.” 

Because the amendment completely removed concealed carry language, West Monroe Senator Jay Morris, who had his Constitutional Carry bill vetoed by the governor last year, asked Lambert why House Bill 37 can’t keep its original intent and provide school protection officers.

Cut 8 (06) “…the other.” 

With the session ending on Monday, Lambert says this is the only way legislators can address school safety.

Lt. Colonel Chris Eskew, who was the head of State Police internal affairs when Ronald Greene died in L-S-P custody, tells state lawmakers he saw no criminal activity when he watched the violent body camera video of Greene’s arrest. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle provided the line of questioning

Cut 3 (13) “..no ma’am.”

It’s only day two of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, but researchers at Colorado State University have increased their projections of just how active this season will be. Alex DesRosiers says the latest models point to 20 named storms. The main reason? El Nino, which helps prevent storms from forming, is highly unlikely this year.

Cut 12 (08) “…quite some time.”  

Hurricane season ends November 30^th.

A House bill to allow permitless concealed carry was heavily amended by Gonzales Senator Eddie Lambert in a Senate committee. The original bill to allow non-felons over the age of 21 to conceal carry without a permit now creates provisions for a school safety officer and its initial intent has been removed.
Cut 6 (07) “…other schools.”
The session ends Monday, so the only way legislators can address school safety and mass shootings is by amending an existing bill. It remains to see if this school safety bill can make it through the process before the session ends.

At the U-S Capitol, Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins has filed legislation to secure schools. One bill would establish national training standards for school resource officers. Higgins says he filed similar legislation in 2018…
cut 9 (10) “…these school shootings”

Lt. Colonel Chris Eskew, who was the head of State Police internal affairs at the time Ronald Greene died in L-S-P custody, tells state lawmakers he saw no criminal activity when he watched the violent body camera video of Greene’s arrest. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle provided the line of questioning…
cut 3 (13) “…no ma’am”
Later on in the meeting, Eskew changed his answer. He says he was reluctant to answer for fear it could harm the ongoing criminal and civil investigations into Greene’s death.

There’s another shortage to be aware of….the contrast dye for C-T scans. LSU Health New Orleans radiology professor Bradley Spieler (pronounced: SPEE-ler) radiologists and oncologists are postponing CT scans deemed non-emergency and using smaller amounts of dye when doing scans…
cut 30 (07) “…fourth quarter”
A plant in China that makes the dye has been shut down as a result of COVID restrictions.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he will testify before a special House committee looking into the circumstances of Ronald Greene’s death. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says they want to know when Edwards saw the violent police body camera video that shows troopers beating Greene before he died. Magee says a recent Associated Press report says Edwards viewed the video much earlier than Greene’s family or local prosecutors
cut 11 (07) “….bottom of it”
Edwards says he’s done nothing to interfere with the investigation into Greene’s death.

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins has filed a bill in the U-S House called the School Resource Officer Assessment Act which calls on the federal government to gather data regarding the number of school resource officers in each school…
cut 8 (12) “….no data of that”
Higgins says a similar bill passed in the U-S House in 2018.

The state Department of Insurance says nearly a dozen firms have stopped writing coverage in Louisiana; meaning the state-run insurer of last resort, Louisiana Citizens, is having to write more policies for property insurance to cover homes and businesses.
Cut 13 (13) “…90-thousand policy range.”
That’s Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon who says his office will work to help these policyholders find less expensive policies in the private market.

Facing the potential of $43-million in damaged infrastructure, Southern University is receiving federal help to construct permanent erosion control measures. Congressman Troy Carter was on hand for the announcement… Cut 4 (11) “…the Mississippi River.”
Carter says it’s another example of the federal government investing in infrastructure solutions for the people of Louisiana.