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.”

The House Education Committee approves a bill that gives parents legal recourse if their child is denied admittance into a school based on vaccination status…
cut 2 (34) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”

Also at the capitol, the Louisiana Senate rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have required local government approval before a large corporate tax break is given to manufacturers.  LABI opposed the measure.

Louisiana said goodbye to East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputy Nick Tullier during a funeral service attended by law enforcement officers from across the country. 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 responded to a call of officers down and for that, he’s a hero
Cut 4 (09) “…this case.”
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

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 heritable traits that make some oysters hardier than others…
cut 11 (09) “….oyster production”

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.”

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Legislation to give parents of children who are denied admittance to school based on their vaccination status legal recourse, advances from House Education. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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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.” 

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Louisiana said goodbye to East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputy Nick Tullier during a funeral service attended by law enforcement officers from across the country. Tullier was one of six officers shot in July of 2016 during an ambush on Baton Rouge law enforcement officers. Three officers died that day. Governor John Bel Edwards says Tullier responded to a call of officers down and for that he’s a hero

Cut 4 (09)  “…this case.”

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. Edwards says Tullier’s will to live will not be forgotten…

Cut 5 (11) “…man of strength”

Tullier passed away at the age of 46. East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux says Tullier spent 18 years of those years as a deputy with the EBRSO…

Cut 6 (12)  “…strength.”

Authorities say 29-year-old Gavin Long opened fire on law enforcement as tensions were high following the officer-involved shooting of Alton Sterling. Baton Rouge police officers Montrell Jackson and Matthew Gerald, along with East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputy Brad Garafola were killed. Long was killed by responding officers.

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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.”

House Bill 531 received opposition from the Louisiana Department of Education’s legal counsel Joan Hunt. Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Frieberg asked Hunt to clarify the existing law that says parents can opt-out of having their child vaccinated due to medical, personal, or religious reasons.

Cut 8 (08)  “…none at all.”

Fiorella (Fee-oh-rella Tro-han-ee) Trapani Co-director of Health Freedom Louisiana, a consumer and health rights advocacy organization spoke in favor of the bill.  She told lawmakers even though a law exists many do not know they have recourse if denied.

Cut 9 (12)  “…and for all.”

The bill passed on a six to five vote and will be heard in the full House.

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Over the past 15 years, 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, larger and larger percentages of the annual crop never make it to the table. UL-Lafayette is working to change that through a $14-million research partnership to develop more resilient oysters.

Cut 10 (11) “…will survive.”

Over the next three years, working with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Dr. Stauffer and other researchers from across a number of disciplines will examine oyster populations with a low-salinity tolerance to develop strategies that will help the oysters and the industry stay strong.

Cut  11 (09)  “…oyster production.”  

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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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. His family was first told he died in a car crash, but over a year later body cam evidence surfaced showing him being beaten and kicked by troopers. Sprinkle can only speculate on what federal prosecutors are thinking, but says it’s certain they don’t want any missteps that could potentially damage the case…:

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

Sprinkle says an issue in finding troopers “willfully” deprived Greene of his civil rights is any evidence – video or other – that shows they were ‘after” Ronald Greene for a reason, or that they 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.

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Cut 16 (14)  “…they’re hosting.”

Cut 17 (16) “ …good enough.” 

  Cut 18 (15) “ …upward right now.” 

Cut 19 (15) _“…some trouble.”    ___________________________________________

Cut 20 (17) “ …the whole time.” 

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.

AM Cut 7 (11) “…into the statues.”

House Bill 531 received opposition from the Louisiana Department of Education’s legal counsel Joan Hunt. Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Frieberg asked Hunt to clarify the existing law that says parents can opt out of having their child vaccinated due to medical, personal, or religious reasons.

AM Cut 8 (08)  “…none at all.”

The bill passed on a six to five vote and will be heard in the full House.

The Louisiana House backs a proposal that will phase out a temporary sales tax that’s set to expire in 2025. The tax generates over 400-million dollars in revenues a year and Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala’s bill will begin the phase-out in 2023 so the state doesn’t face a fiscal cliff in 2025…

Cut 3 (11) “…appropriate word.”

The bill passed on a 67-40 vote in the House.

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

CLECO customers might be eligible for a discount on their utility bills during the hot summer months. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 02(35)      “…David Grubb.”

Police in Monroe seek a woman they say shoplifted from a local store, then fled police; causing a fatal traffic crash. MPD says Candace Gill ran a red light and crashed into another car; killing one and injuring three others. A warrant is out for her arrest.

Senator Bill Cassidy introduces a bill to reauthorize the bipartisan Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 that provides crucial programs to improve the nation’s mental health infrastructure. He and Connecticut Democrat Senator Chris Murphy pushed the bill through 6 years ago, which provides key services, especially for kids. Cassidy says re-funding the act is important, because services suffered during the COVID crisis…:

Cut 14  (10)      “…just a stretch.”

Optimism for an improving economy among small businesses continues to decline, according to the April survey by the National Federation of Independent Business. State NFIB director Dawn McVea says supply chain issues, fuel costs, and inflation continue to impede earnings among small business owners. She says 70-percent of independent businesses have had to raise prices…:

CUT 11(10)      “…on record.”

93-percent of those surveyed report few or no qualified job applicants.