The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote today on a bill to codify abortion rights in federal law, but it apparently lacks the needed votes to pass. Among the Republican Senate members who say they will down-vote the bill is Louisiana’s Senator Bill Cassidy. He says Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer is pushing for a vote, but he has concerns…:

CUT 12  (10)        “…the moment of birth.”

Cassidy and all his fellow Republicans intend to vote no, as does Democrat Joe Manchin, of West Virginia. Needing 60 votes to pass, the bill appears destined to fail.

Meanwhile a state bill that would make abortion a crime of murder draws fire from Governor John Bel Edwards. The bill by Caddo Parish Representative Danny McCormick would punish women who have one, and the doctor who performed the procedure, with prison time. The Governor calls the measure “problematic” and “patently unconstitutional” and takes Louisiana in a bad direction. McCormick’s bill is up for House floor debate Thursday.

A Monroe woman accused of killing two passengers – including her own child – after fleeing from police is now in custody. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 02(36)      “…David Grubb.”

Louisiana’s District 5 Congresswoman Julia Letlow has been tapped to fill a vacant seat on the prestigious U.S. House Appropriations Committee. That panel determines all discretionary spending and has oversight of almost all federal government expenditures. Letlow’s appointment could potentially mean more federal money coming Louisiana’s way.

The House committee looking into the fatal arrest of Ronald Greene charges former State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves with contempt for failing to turn over his personal journals. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (3) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The deadline to file state income taxes in Louisiana is Monday. If you need an extension you must ask before May 16^th. While an extension gives you more time to file, it does not extend the payment agreement. Payments after May 16^th are subject to penalties and interest.

The driver in a fatal accident that took two lives, including that of her five-week-old child, in Monroe Monday night, has been arrested. Sgt. Mike Fendall says the crash followed an investigation of theft at a local Walmart that turned into a high-speed chase. When officers arrived at the scene, they found one passenger critically injured…

Cut 9 (12) “…at the hospital.”

As police tended to the injured, the suspect Candace Gill left foot, abandoning her child in the process. She has since been arrested.

New Orleans Senator Jimmy Harris’ bill to hold parents accountable for the restitution of a juvenile’s crime advances in a House committee. Present law allows the judge to impose things like community service, medical or psychological treatment, and restrict driving privilege if a minor is found guilty.

Cut 5  (09) “…to the child.”

A bill that attempts to deter juvenile crime and foster more parental involvement is closer to final legislative passage. Senate Bill 370 passed unanimously in the Senate and is awaiting a House vote after it advanced from the House Criminal Justice Committee. Chalmette Representative Ray Garafalo says the bill is a way to decrease the recent growth of juvenile crime.

Cut 4 (11) “…trying to do.”

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The House Committee investigating the death of Ronald Greene voted to hold former State Police leader Colonel Kevin Reeves in contempt for refusing to turn over journals while he was superintendent. Reeves’ attorney, Lewis Unglesby, says a lot of the information contained in the journals does not have anything to do with the Greene case and investigation. But Kenner Representative Debbie Villio says it’s best they can get all of the journals without redaction

Cut 7 (11) “…should be produced”

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Over the past 15 years, Louisiana’s oyster industry has taken some major hits. Changes in the concentration of salt in oyster beds have caused larger and larger percentages of the annual crop to never make it to table. UL-Lafayette is working to change that through a $14-million research partnership to develop more resilient oysters. Dr. Beth Stauffer says the goal isn’t to create a new kind of oyster, it’s to ensure the health of an industry that provides thousands of jobs and has an annual value of nearly $70 million.

Cut 12 (08) “…100 years.”

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The House Committee investigating the death of Ronald Greene voted to hold former State Police leader Colonel Kevin Reeves in contempt for refusing to turn over journals while he was superintendent. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says Reeves’ attorney has agreed to turn over some of the pages, but not all of the written notes.

Cut 6  (10) “…contention” 

Reeves’ attorney, Lewis Unglesby, says a lot of the information contained in the journals does not have anything to do with the Greene case.

In an effort to deter juvenile crime and foster more parental involvement, New Orleans Senator Jimmy Harris’ bill advances in House Criminal Justice. After a minor is found guilty Harris says the bill calls for the juvenile along with their parents to be involved in the court-approved decision-making course necessary for rehabilitation and…

Cut 3 (10) “…restitution.”

Funeral services were held Tuesday for East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Tullier. Tullier was one of six officers shot in July of 2016 during an ambush on Baton Rouge law enforcement officers. Governor John Bel Edwards says Tullier was shot three times and not given much of a chance to live, but he defied the odds until an infection ended his life on May 5th.

Cut 5 (11) “…man of strength”

U-L Lafayette is participating in a three-year research effort to see how oysters can be more resilient in low-salinity environments. U-L Lafayette Associate Biology Professor Doctor Beth Stauffer says they are using a 14-million dollar research initiative to identify traits that make some oysters hardier than others…

cut 11 (09) “….oyster production”

A special legislative committee investigating Ronald Greene’s 2019 death has voted to hold former State Police Superintendent Kevin Reeves in contempt, claiming he’s not cooperated with their investigation.

Federal prosecutors are reportedly growing skeptical they can bring a successful civil rights violation case against any of the troopers involved in Greene’s death.  Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney Richard Sprinkle believes federal prosecutors don’t want any missteps that could potentially damage the case…:

Cut 14 (09)  “…obviously passed away.”

After a Louisiana version of a Don’t Say Gay bill restricting the discussion of gender identity in Louisiana schools was rejected in House Education last week, the full House voted 55 to 39 to have the bill resurrected for the current legislative session. It’s a rare legislative move to have a bill that was rejected in committee to be added the House calendar for debate in the full chamber

Funeral services were held yesterday for East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Tullier. Tullier was one of six officers shot in July 2016 during an ambush on Baton Rouge law enforcement officers. East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux says Tullier was an 18-year veteran with the department.

Cut 6 (12)  “…all the time.”

Tullier was 46.

Over the year’s Louisiana’s oyster industry has taken some major hits. Between hurricanes, flooding, and multiple openings of the Bonnet Carre Spillway changing the concentration of salt in oyster beds, a larger percentage of the oysters never makes it to the table. Researcher Dr. Kelly Stauffer at UL-Lafayette is working to change that through a $14-million project to develop more resilient oysters.

Cut 10 (11) “…will survive.”

After a months-long investigation into the 2019 Union Parish roadside death of Ronald Greene in State Police custody, federal prosecutors are growing skeptical they can bring a successful civil rights violation case against any of the troopers involved. The problem is video evidence doesn’t seem to show that officers acted “willfully” to hurt Greene. Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney Richard Sprinkle says the real sticking point is the word “willfully”…:

Cut 13 (14) “…more than obvious.”

Greene died during his arrest, after a high-speed chase through three parishes in May 2019.

The statewide average for a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana is crept up two cents and is $4.06 today. The national average for a gallon of regular gas is $4.40.

A bill to allow parents to bring a lawsuit against the entity that prevents a student’s entry to a school on the basis of their immunization status advances from House Education. Fiorella) Trapani Co-director of Health Freedom Louisiana told lawmakers even though a law exists already many do not know they have recourse if denied.

Cut 9 (12)  “…and for all.”

The bill advances to the House Floor.

Funeral services were held Tuesday for East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Tullier. Tullier was one of six officers shot in July of 2016 during an ambush on Baton Rouge law enforcement officers. Governor John Bel Edwards says Tullier was shot three times and not given much of a chance to live, but he defied the odds until an infection ended his life on May 5th.

Cut 5 (11) “…man of strength”

According to an Associated Press report, federal prosecutors are doubtful they can successfully charge State Police involved in the 2019 death of Ronald Greene with a civil rights violation. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Last week the House Education Committee voted down a bill that would prohibit teachers from discussing their sexual orientation or gender identity in front of the classroom. But the House has voted to bring the bill to the floor for debate so the legislation has been revived.

The House Education Committee approves legislation that would allow parents or students to file a civil lawsuit against a school if they do not accept their vaccine exemption in order to be admitted to a school. Health Freedom Louisiana spoke in support of the legislation. Co-director Fiorella Trapani (Fee-oh-rella Tro-han-ee)….
cut 9 (12) “….and for all”
The measure passed on a six to five vote.

U-L Lafayette is leading a 14-million dollar research project that will look to see how oysters can survive in low-salinity environments. Associate biology professor Doctor Beth Stauffer says there’s been a decline in oyster production because of low salinity environments, so they want to identify heritable traits that make some oysters hardier than others…
cut 12 (08) “…100 years”

On the three-year anniversary of Ronald Greene’s fatal arrest in Union Parish, the Associated Press published a report that says federal prosecutors are becoming increasingly skeptical they can bring a successful civil rights case against the troopers shown on body camera video beating Greene before he died. Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney Richard Sprinkle says that’s because it’s hard to determine if the troopers tased or pepper-sprayed him after he was in custody…
cut 15 (14) “…deprivation of rights’
Sprinkle says Greene’s family does not need a federal civil rights charge against the LSP officers to move forward with a civil lawsuit for wrongful death.

The statewide average gasoline price is up another two cents today to $4.06 according to Triple-A. That’s about ten cents shy of the record set in March.

East Baton Rouge Sheriff Corporal Nick Tullier who was shot during a police ambush in 2016 was laid to rest in Denham Springs on Tuesday.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

A bill to allow parents to bring a lawsuit against the entity that prevents a student’s entry to a school on the basis of their immunization status advances from House Education. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee’s bill will give parents legal recourse if their child is denied admittance because they opted out of any vaccination.
Cut 7 (10) “…into the statues.”