A Senate committee approved a House-backed measure Tuesday to allow non-felons over the age of 21 years to conceal carry a weapon without needing a permit or the training to obtain a permit. Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed a similar bill last year and Tom Costanza, executive director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops also opposes it…

Cut 9 (09) “…workplaces.”

But Louisiana Shooting Association President Dan Zelenka says allowing for concealed carry without a permit will not lead to more gun violence…

Cut 10 (10) ” ….few issues” 

A bill to remove Confederate Memorial Day and Robert E. Lee days from the list of state holidays in Louisiana is expected to pass in the Senate, after approval in the House. While the holidays have not been observed in years but are still on the books.

House Bill 1083, also known as the CROWN Act, is on its way to the Senate after receiving overwhelming passage in the House. The bill, authored by New Orleans Representative Candace Newell, prohibits discrimination on the basis of hair texture, natural hairstyles, and protective hairstyles. It passed after no debate on a 74-24 vote.

Cut 12 (10) “…beyond excited.”  

After years of presenting legislation to ban handheld cellphone use, Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill is finally closer to becoming law.  House Bill 376 passed in the House on a 55 to 38 vote. Huval says a number of lawmakers helped amend the legislation, which makes it a better bill, for example…

Cut 6  (11) “…goes away.” 

With hurricane season set to officially begin in a little over a week, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration – aka NOAA – predicts another “active” season, with from 16-to-21 named storms. They expect 6-to-10 of those to be major hurricanes. Here’s NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad…:

CUT 03  (11)        “…111 miles per hour.”

FEMA officials strongly urge us all to start making storm preparations as soon as possible.

A bill that would ban discriminating against someone because they wear a popular or ethnic hairstyle passes the full House and moves to the Senate. New Orleans Representative Candace Newell says this issue impacts not only Black men and women in the state, but cuts across all demographics in some way…:

CUT 14(12)      “…of our citizens.”

Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s legislation to ban handheld cellphone use moves closer to becoming law.  Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

The state moves closer to officially purging Confederate themed holidays from state law. It’s been many years since Confederate Memorial Day or Robert E. Lee’s Birthday were observed, but they ARE still on the books. A bill to do that has passed the full House and moves over to the Senate. Little opposition is expected.

After several attempts, a bill that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of someone’s hair has advanced from the House to the Senate. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 02(36)      “…David Grubb.”

National weather forecasters predict an “active” hurricane season again this year, and for the 7^th year in a row. Experts say as many as 21 named storms could develop, with several strong storms expected.

A House-passed bill that would prohibit using a hand-held cellphone while driving makes it out of a Senate committee today. Bill author and Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval says the fines have been amended down to a reasonable $50-to-$100, and one will not be arrested for a violation; only ticketed. He says other concerns it could lead to racially profiling motorists have also been addressed…:

CUT 08(11)      “…use of this bill.”

Under the bill, if your car doesn’t have Bluetooth technology, you CAN use headphones plugged into your phone; so long as you’re not holding your phone while driving. The full Senate takes it up next, and it has but two weeks to reach final passage.

A Franklin parish man is arrested for running from a traffic stop, then bailing out of his moving pickup…with his 7-year-old daughter still inside. Deputies say 38-year-old Jonathan Brooks tried to escape on foot. He was apprehended later in Richland Parish. The little girl was not hurt.

After years of presenting legislation to ban handheld cellphone use, Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill is finally closer to becoming law.  Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Firefighters in Bossier City say two people were found dead inside an apartment home, after they’d gotten a fire under control. An investigation is now underway to determine if they died in the fire, or because of something else.

NOAA, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, predicts another “active” hurricane season this year, with possibly up to 21 named storms & several big hurricanes. The hurricane season begins next week, and FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell says we should all get ready now…:

CUT 04(13)      “…nine states.”

A House Bill known as the CROWN Act, is on its way to the Senate, after winning overwhelming House votes. New Orleans Representative Candice Newell’s bill prohibits discrimination against a person because of how they wear their hair. She says that she hopes people in Louisiana are finally becoming aware of an issue that has been on the national radar for a while…:

CUT 13(12)      “…has been introduced.”

Studies show that Black people – and Black women in particular – with afros, braids, or twists are seen as less professional which can lead to bias.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is predicting an above-average hurricane season with as many as 21 named storms and several major storms. The NOAA says their models predict between six and 10 hurricanes this season. Administrator Rick Spinrad says several climate factors give them confidence we’ll see an active hurricane season, including the ongoing La Nina and warmer than average sea surface temperatures…

Cut 5 (10) “…do now.”

Hurricane season officially begins on June 1^st.

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After years of presenting legislation to ban handheld cellphone use, Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill is finally closer to becoming law.  House Bill 376 passed on a 55 to 38 vote. The amended legislation removes the possibility of arrest for the violation and reduces the proposed fine in half. While the bill’s intent is to improve highway safety, it’s received criticism that it could be used to racially profile motorists. Huval says the bill has also been amended to address that concern.

—

A Senate committee approved a House-backed measure today that would allow non-felons over the age of 21 years to conceal carry a weapon without needing a permit or the training to obtain a permit. The measure passed on a four to two vote and heads to the Senate floor for final legislative passage. Louisiana Shooting Association President Dan Zelenka says requiring gun holders to get a permit costs as much as 325-dollars, while criminals are carrying guns without a permit.

Cut 11 (11) “…illegal carrying”

—

House Bill 1083, also known as the CROWN Act, is on its way to the Senate floor after receiving overwhelming passage in the house. The bill, authored by New Orleans Representative Candace Newell, prohibits discrimination on the basis of hair texture, natural hairstyles, and protective hairstyles. It passed in under a minute by a 74-24 vote.

Cut 12 (10) “…beyond excited.”

A Senate committee approved a House-backed measure today that would allow non-felons over the age of 21 years to conceal carry a weapon without needing a permit or the training to obtain a permit. Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed a similar bill last year and Tom Costanza, executive director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops also opposes it…

Cut 9 (09) “…workplaces.”

But Louisiana Shooting Association President Dan Zelenka says allowing for concealed carry without a permit will not lead to more gun violence…

Cut 10 (10) ” ….few issues” 

The measure passed on a four to two vote and heads to the Senate floor for final legislative passage. The current legislative session ends June 6^th.

After years of presenting legislation to ban handheld cellphone use, Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill is finally closer to becoming law.  House Bill 376 passed in the House on a 55 to 38 vote. Current law in Louisiana bans the use of handheld devices in school zones, this bill expands that to public roadways in the state. Huval says the fine for his bill is reduced to $50 to $100.

Cut 7 (07) “…paying a fine.” 

The bill has less than two weeks to pass in the Senate.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is predicting an above-average hurricane season with as many as 21 named storms and several major storms. NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad says their outlook is predicting between six and ten hurricanes…

Cut 3 (11) “..111 miles per hour”

The hurricane season begins June 1st.

After years of presenting legislation to ban handheld cellphone use, Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill is finally closer to becoming law.  It passed in the House on a 55 to 38 vote. Huval says a number of lawmakers helped amend the legislation to improve its chances, for example…

Cut 6  (12) “…goes away.” 

It has just under two weeks to receive Senate approval.

For the second straight year, the governor will have to decide whether to veto a bill prohibiting transgender females from competing in organized female sports. John Bel Edwards vetoed it last year, but the bill was amended to remove the ban from intramural sports. Political Analyst Pinsonat says Edwards has said the amendment makes a difference.

Cut  11 (05)  “…better bill.” 
Louisiana will elect a new governor in about 18 months, but there are virtually NO officially announced candidates at this time. New Orleans political analyst Ron Faucheux (pronounced: FO-shay) says, in years past, prospective candidates would have announced their intentions by now to maximize campaign fundraising…:

Cut 7 (07) “…than they used to.”

So far Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and Attorney General Jeff Landry have announced their intent to run.

LSU Ag Center entomologist Nathan Lord says based on the reports he’s getting there’s an increase in hammerhead worms, especially in south Louisiana. He says the head of the worm is shaped like a hammerhead and they’re not good for your garden, because they prey on earthworms and while not harmful to humans…

Cut 15 (12)  “…on humans.”