New Orleans Representative Matthew Williard says he’s receiving death threats over his legislation to remove Robert E Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day as legal holidays in Louisiana. Willard says authorities are investigating a voice mail his office received…

PM Cut 6  (07) “…executed” 

Williard made that statement minutes before a Senate committee approved his legislation, sending the House-backed measure to the Senate floor. Minden Senator Robert Mills says these Confederate holidays are part of the country’s history

PM Cut 7 (08) “…me a bit.” 

But Williard says the two holidays, Robert E Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day, honor those who fought to maintain slavery in the United States. The measure now heads to the Senate floor.

A bill to ban corporal punishment in public schools receives House approval after it failed to get enough votes previously in this session. But it’s not a total ban. Metairie Representative Stephanie Hilferty amended her legislation giving parents the option to authorize a spanking of their child through written consent…

Cut 14 (10)  “…making that choice.”

The bill passed on a 70-28 vote.

A resolution for House members to volunteer as substitute teachers passes in House Governmental Affairs and advances to the House Floor. Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson who also serves as vice-chair of House Education says this is a way for members to gain firsthand experience and also assist with the ongoing teaching shortage.

Cut  11 (10)  “…is serve.” 

A St. Tammany Parish deputy was shot in the back early this morning, and Brooke Thorington reports the suspect is just 13 years old…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Brooke Thorington.”

Sportsmen rejoice!! A bill that would legally allow “noodling” in Louisiana has reached final passage at the capitol and is on its way to the Governor’s desk. If you DON’T know, “noodling” is the art of catching a catfish with your bare hands; often by sticking your hand in its mouth.

Multiple bills aimed at reducing criminal penalties for marijuana possession have advanced to the full Senate. One would allow expungement of a marijuana convictions sooner. Another lessens penalties for possessing paraphernalia. Shonda Broome, a medical professional who had her career negatively impacted by a positive test for marijuana during pre-employment screening, spoke on behalf of HB 774. She says that one result has followed her from job to job and that the stigma impacts more than just those with criminal convictions…:

CUT 14(12)      “…cannabis laws”

They all move to the full Senate for what could be final passage.

A Baton Rouge man is in jail for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl and recording it on his cellphone. 51-year-old Ronald Thibodeaux is behind bars. No bail has been set.

A New Orleans lawmaker tells a Senate Committee he’s received a death threat over his legislation to remove Robert E Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day as official holidays. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

Bossier City Police say two bodies found Tuesday morning by firefighters trying to put out an apartment fire were victims of murder. They’re identified as 35-year-old Craig Stewart and 26-year-old Christopher Dillard, both Bossier residents. BCPD says they have a suspect in custody for the crimes.

Police in Houma say a local woman drowned last night, when she tried to swim across the Intracoastal Waterway. Terrebonne Deputies and the Coast Guard searched and found the woman’s remains before midnight. No one knows why 45-year-old Roberta Mackles chose to attempt the swim.

Monroe Police responded to a massive fight between inmates at the Swanson Correctional Center for Youth last night. MPD Sgt. Mike Fendall says they and Ouachita Deputies helped get it all under control. He says no one was reported seriously hurt, but the facility was pretty badly damaged…:

CUT 11(09)      “…as well.”

Several of the inmates involved were 18 or older.

A New Orleans lawmaker says he’s received threats over his bill to purge two Louisiana state Confederate holidays. Representative Matthew Willard says authorities are investigating a voicemail, left on his office number…:

CUT 06  (07)        “…and executed.”

His bill has passed the House and a Senate committee; heading now for the Senate floor. Some feel Confederate Memorial Day and Robert E. Lee’s Birthday are part of Louisiana history. Willard says they honor those who fought to preserve slavery, and they need to go.

A Shreveport woman who attacked a couple with a lawnmower blade back in July 2019 has been convicted of aggravated 2^nd-degree battery. 44-year-old Juana Wilson could get up to 15 years in prison when she’s sentenced next month.

A Baton Rouge man is in jail for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl and recording it on his cellphone. 51-year-old Ronald Thibodeaux is behind bars. No bail has been set.

A St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputy was shot early this morning by a suspect who is only 13-years-old. In an interview with WWL TV, St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith says Deputy Kenneth Doby was on patrol at around 3 this morning, when he answered a call of a suspected burglary. He spied a suspect, they struggled and he was shot in the back. He says Doby was treated at a Covington hospital…:

CUT 04(11)      “…for us.”

The suspect, who is only 13, is now in custody.

Marijuana law reform bills move forward through the legislature. One bill, by Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover, would decriminalize possessing weed-related paraphernalia (like a pipe); making that penalty similar to one passed last year for being caught with a tiny amount of cannabis…:

CUT 13(10)      “…$50 fine or less.”

The full Senate will debate the bills next.

A St. Tammany Parish Sheriff was shot in the back early this morning and the suspect is 13 years old. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The southern half of the state including the Alexandria area is under a flash flood watch through tomorrow morning. The National Weather Service says rainfall of one to four inches is likely and local amounts could exceed five inches. A severe thunderstorm watch for portions of southeast Louisiana is in effect until five o’ clock today.

A House backed measure that would remove Robert E Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day as official state holidays is moving closer to final legislative passage. New Orleans Representative Matthew Williard says even though the days are not observed, they should not be recognized because it represents a dark time in the nation’s history…
cut 8 (07) “….that around”
Willard’s bill heads to the Senate floor. He told a Senate Committee he’s received a death threat for authoring the bill.

Multiple bills aimed at reducing criminal penalties for marijuana possession have advanced to the full Senate. One of the bills by Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover would allow those previously convicted of possession to expunge their records six months after conviction, instead of five years as currently written.
Cut 12 (12) “…at this point.”
Glover also has a bill that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana-related paraphernalia.

A St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputy was shot this morning and the suspect is 13-years old. In an interview with WWL TV, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith says Deputy Kenneth Doby was on patrol when he answered a call of a suspected burglary around 3 this morning.

Cut 3 (10) “..in the back.”

The suspect was apprehended.

Just after midnight, Monroe Police responded to the Swanson Correctional Center for Youth in reference to a disturbance. Sgt Mike Fendall with Monroe PD says a fight broke out among several inmates and they barricaded doors and even held a correction officer captive. Three of the inmates were over the age of 18.

Cut 10 (11) ” ….weapon.” 

The four other juveniles remain at the Swanson facility.

A New Orleans lawmaker tells a Senate Committee he’s receiving death threats over his legislation to remove Robert E Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day as official holidays…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith says one of his deputies is recovering after he was shot in the back by an armed 13-year-old burglary suspect. Deputy Kenneth Doby was patrolling an area in Waldheim after getting a call of a burglary and he observed a teenager walking in the area who fired his weapon when the deputy got out of his vehicle. Doby is expected to make a full recovery and the 13-year-old is in custody.

US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm toured the Bayou State Tuesday to see how the state is a major contributor to energy. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Legislation to remove two Confederate-themed holidays continues to advance at the state legislature. New Orleans Representative Matthew Williard’s bill removes Confederate Memorial Day and General Robert E Lee Day as official state holidays. The two holidays have not been observed for years but Minden Senator Robert Mills doesn’t see a reason to remove them…
cut 7 (08) “…me a bit”
But Williard says the two holidays pay homage to what he believes is the darkest time in our nation’s history. The bill is heading to the Senate floor for more discussion.

Monroe Police arrested seven inmates at the Swanson Correctional Center for Youth after a large fight broke out inside one of the dorms during the overnight hours that caused 35-thousand dollars worth of damage. Monroe Police Sergeant Mike Fendall says during the fight, they barricaded the doors preventing officers from entering…
cut 9 (11) “….be harmed”
Fendall says with assistance from Ouachita Parish Sheriff deputies they gained control of the dorm and seven inmates were taken into custody.