Louisiana’s energy industry is upset that the Biden Administration cancelled oil & gas lease sales in the Gulf and Alaska. Louisiana Oil & Gas Association President Mike Moncla says the White House is failing to respond in a time of crisis, with gas prices reaching a record $4.40-a-gallon and consumer prices up 8.3 percent from a year ago…:

CUT 08(09)      “…would do that.”

New leases and drilling won’t have any quick impact on current gas prices, since it will take years for them to produce oil.

Child drownings are on the rise in our state. LDH Regional Medical Director Martha Whyte says drownings in and near the home are particularly troubling. She says boating drownings are another matter, and so preventable. Just put everyone in a life vest…:

CUT 12(10)      “…at all times.”

After a Republican lawmaker’s bill to charge women who have abortions with murder fell to defeat Thursday, some wonder if there will be political fallout for the GOP in our state. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says many feel the bill was needlessly harsh and unnecessary, because of a trigger law banning abortion with the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Alford says the bill was gutted of its criminal teeth via amendment…:

CUT 05(09)      “…politically have not.”

Alford says the measure seemed to represent an ultra-right fringe of the Republican Party. The bill was withdrawn from debate by its sponsor, Rep. Danny McCormick of Oil City.

The state Supreme Court has reversed a lower court’s ruling on Baton Rouge pastor Tony Spell, who refused to stop church services during the governor’s COVID lockdown. Spell was arrested and even jailed for it. The High Court ruled the order violated Spell’s 1^st Amendment rights. The Governor’s office says he did what he did to protect public health and save lives.

A Biden administration decision on oil and gas lease sales is receiving harsh criticism from the petroleum industry. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 02(40)      “…David Grubb.”

Three Louisianans are dead and several others injured, after a wrong-way driver on I-40 in Arkansas plowed into a group of motorcyclists Thursday. Arkansas State Police say the victims are a married couple from Slidell and a woman from Terrytown.

Thursday’s debate on Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s bill to charge a woman who has an abortion with murder is met with questions of fallout from the issue among the Republican Party in Louisiana. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says it was republicans who amended the legislation and pointed out the bill could also punish those who use in-vitro fertilization, and that the bill in its original form is unconstitutional…:

CUT 03(10)      “…those amendments.”

He says the bill was something on which GOP and Democrats could easily agree.

If the skies aren’t cloudy Sunday night, we could all see a total lunar eclipse. LSU Astronomy professor Jeff Clayton says these events were one-upon-a-time considered harbingers of something bad…:

CUT 14(12)      “…as the Babylonians”

He says the eclipse should start around 9:30 Sunday evening.

Debate on Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s abortion bill that would have charged a woman with murder was pulled from the calendar after an amendment removed criminal charges. It was Republicans who presented the amendment and they also questioned McCormick on the constitutionality of his original bill. Louisiana already has some of the most restrictive abortion laws on the books that would go into effect if Roe V Wade, is overturned. La Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford was asked if McCormick’s bill is symbolic of a fringe GOP in Louisiana.

Cut 6  (08) “…that amendment.” 

The legislation for all practical purposes is dead for the session but it could be filed again as a resolution however the session timeline might not allow. The bill received national attention because it was poised to be one of the most aggressive new restrictions on reproductive rights in the country if it has passed.

Child drownings are on the rise in Louisiana. Regional medical director Martha Whyte says there were 24 drownings in 2020, a 60 percent jump from 2019, and preliminary data from LDH indicates 25 drowning deaths last year. She says drowning isn’t confined to large bodies of water. For infants and toddlers, there are dangers inside the home also.

Cut 11 (11)  “…alone in it.” 

Sunday night should present Louisianans with an ideal view of the lunar eclipse. LSU Astronomy Professor Jeffrey Clayton says the earth will travel between the sun and the moon, and the earth’s shadow should be visible beginning at 9:30 and last a few hours.

Cut 13 (10) “…very red.”

Clayton says you won’t even need a telescope for the eclipse so make plans to kick back and enjoy nature’s free show.

A bill that would have charged a woman with murder if she had an abortion was pulled by its author after it was amended to remove criminal charges. The amendment also removed language that would have criminalized in-vitro fertilization. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (43) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The U-S Department of the Interior is canceling oil and gas lease sales scheduled in the Gulf and off the coast of Alaska due to what it says is a lack of industry interest in drilling near Alaska and conflicting court rulings that have made drilling in the Gulf more complicated. While environmental groups have lauded the decision Mike Moncla, president of the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association calls it a disaster for the state.

Cut 7 (09) “…good for Louisiana.”

—

After five consecutive years of decreases in child drowning in Louisiana, the last two years have seen a major uptick in cases. Regional medical director Martha Whyte says there were 24 drownings in 2020, a 60 percent increase from 2019, and preliminary data from the LDH shows 25 drowning deaths in 2021. There have also been several high-profile drownings in recent weeks, increasing the need for awareness.

Cut 10 (11)”…safe around water.”

The New Orleans Saints 2022 season schedule has been released. While fans can nitpick the slate of games, Ross Jackson, the host of Locked on Saints, says he likes the overall setup, with the Saints playing six of their first nine games at home. However, if he could make just one change…

Cut 18 (16) “…that London game.”

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The Southland Conference softball tourney wraps up today. At noon, top-seeded McNeese takes on two-seed Southeastern in the championship. Yesterday the Cowgirls overcame a 6-0 deficit to beat the Lions 7-6 on Chislyne Moreno’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth. Southeastern bounced back with a 9-1 win over Houston Baptist to stave off elimination, but they’ll have to beat McNeese twice in order to take home the title.

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Both LSU and Ole Miss Baseball enter this weekend’s series with plenty of momentum on both sides. The Tigers have won 9 of 12 and the Rebels have won four in a row. LSU’s Drew Bianco says his team is clear on what it wants to do and what it needs to do this weekend against a dangerous opponent.

Cut 20 (19) “…end of the year.”

First pitch tonight is at 7:30

McNeese went off in a 23-5 win over Houston Baptist last night in the first game of their series. Payton Harden was 5-for-6 for the Cowboys with two doubles, a home run, and six RBI. Southeastern won 3-2 over Nicholls. A sweep of the Colonels would give the Lions the Southland regular-season crown, and UNO topped Northwestern State 6-4.

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Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s bill to charge a woman who has an abortion with murder was amended on a 65 to 26 vote to remove the homicide charge and it also removed language that could have criminalized in-vitro fertilization and some forms of contraception. La Politics dot com publisher Jeremy Alford says even with the leak of a possible overturn of Roe v Wade the original bill is considered unconstitutional.

Cut 4  (08) “…race at all.”

McCormick then pulled the bill from the calendar once the bill was amended by Republicans. The bill will most likely not return for this legislative session since the bill’s criminalization element was removed from the legislation. If the original bill had passed it was poised to be one of the most aggressive new restrictions on reproductive rights in the country.

Building a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge has been one of the key pieces of Governor John Bel Edwards’s legislative agenda but he’s been met with pushback from lawmakers due to the cost that could total more than $2-billion. Edwards says resistance only pushes the project timeline out even farther and could eliminate matching federal grants.

Cut 15 (12)  “…in any amount.”

Termite swarms are out and about in the state and LSU AgCenter urban entomologist Dr. Karen Sun says the Formosan termites you’re seeing are looking to take up residence. In the wild, she says they prefer to consume decayed wood but in more urban areas, they aren’t as finicky.

Cut 6 (10)  “…hiding themselves.”

Sun says always have a professional inspect and treat for termites.

Thursday’s debate on Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s bill to charge a woman who has an abortion with murder is met with questions of fallout from the issue among the Republican Party in Louisiana. LaPolitic’s dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says it was republicans who amended the legislation and pointed out the bill could also punish those who use in-vitro fertilization, and that the bill in its original form is unconstitutional.

Cut 3 those amendments :10

The amendment passed on a 65 to 26 vote with 14 votes absent. McCormick then pulled the bill from the calendar because the amendment changed the original intent of the bill to criminalize the procedure. The original bill was one of the most aggressive new restrictions on reproductive rights in the country.

Louisiana’s chemical industry is looking at over $31-billion in new construction projects in the near future. Kevin Gallagher has more on that…:

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Three former State Police troopers are charged with simple battery; accused of beating a black motorist after a chase in 2020. Jacob Brown, Dakota DeMoss, and George “Kam” Harper were charged in the arrest of Antonio Harris in Franklin Parish. They reportedly boasted of the beating in text messages.

As the Roe v. Wade drama plays out in Washington, DC…a Louisiana House bill to make abortion an act of murder – punishing the mother and doctor – met a big setback Thursday evening. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick’s bill was amended to remove criminal charges against the mother and also eliminated the possibility that the use of contraception and even in-vitro fertilization could potentially place a woman behind bars…:

CUT 12(10)      “…does not.”

Seabaugh also apologized to fellow lawmakers for not amending the bill in committee beforehand. After that amendment passed, McCormick thanked the anti-abortion activists and colleagues who supported his original HB813…:

CUT 13(11)      “…(applause)”

McCormick CAN bring the bill back up again, if he so chooses.

Governor John Bel Edwards continues to make his case that now is the best time for funding a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 03(34)      “…David Grubb.”

Three former State Police troopers are charged with simple battery; accused of beating a black motorist after a chase in 2020. Jacob Brown, Dakota DeMoss and George “Kam” Harper were charged in the arrest of Antonio Harris in Franklin Parish. They reportedly boasted of the beating in text messages.

A bill to charge a woman who has an abortion with murder in Louisiana meets a likely demise. After the Capitol was evacuated due to a suspicious package, the bill was amended to remove the criminal charges against the mother. The bill was ultimately pulled from the calendar by bill author, Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick…:

CUT 10(12)      “…explain it away.”

During debate on the floor, Houma Republican Tanner Magee asked fellow party member, Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh if the original bill could potentially criminalize any woman in the state that has already had an abortion…:

CUT 11(10)      “…would be correct.”

Governor John Bel Edwards, a pro-life Democrat, stated if the bill comes to his desk in its original form he will veto it.

Building a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge has been one of the key pieces of Governor John Bel Edwards’s legislative agenda. However, it hasn’t been easy convincing lawmakers to get on board due to the potential cost of the project. Edwards says building a companion to the 54-year-old bridge is expensive but necessary…:

CUT 14(11)      “…two billion dollars.”

The Republican-led legislature has said that Edwards’ plan is shortsighted and lacks details, including the potential site for the new bridge.

Shreveport Police make three arrests while getting a large amount of dope off the street. Pounds of marijuana, over 3000 Xanax pills and hundreds of other opioid pills … plus numerous guns, ammo and illicit cash were seized. The three suspects – two men and woman – face multiple charges.