Louisiana’s Fort Polk, in Vernon Parish, could have a new name soon. Fort Polk spokesman Kavanaugh Breazeale (bruh-ZELL) says this comes after Congress agreed to rename military installations and vessels named for members of the Confederacy. He says recommendations can be made at the-naming-commission-dot-gov…
Cut 4 (07) “…for Fort Polk. “
Fort Polk is named for Confederate General and Episcopal Bishop Leonidas Polk.

Cops in Houma continue to search for a suspect who nearly bit off the entire ear of a police officer during an altercation over the weekend at Joni Bi’s Bar. Lt. Travis Theriot says the incident occurred after Houma Police arrived to break up a fight among a group of women…
cut 13 (09) “….portion of his ear”
36-year-old Michelle Smith faces a second-degree battery charge.

The state Department of Health is launching what it’s calling “Just Check”, a campaign targeting the rising number of syphilis cases in north and central Louisiana. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder is reacting to the voter rejection of Amendment 1 on Saturday that would have set the wheels in motion for the state to have a centralized tax collection system.

Cut 3 (09) “….it go down.”

The state currently has 54 tax collection entities making it complex for businesses and individuals to maneuver.

In 2020, when lawmakers approved legislation that changed how the courts would handle lawsuits involving car accidents, supporters said it would lead to lower auto insurance rates. But Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said during a task force meeting on Affordable Automobile Insurance that rates are actually going up

 cut 6 (06) “…through october” 

The 2020 tort reform legislation will lead to more jury trials, resulting in lower damages paid out to plaintiffs and the measure also caps certain medical expenses.

Senator Bill Cassidy is lauding the signing of the trillion-dollar-plus infrastructure bill by President Biden on Monday.

Cut 12 (11) “…improve internet access.”  

Cassidy says when he ran for office he said he would work to find real solutions to problems facing our families and he says the infrastructure bill will deliver to improve the lives of people in Louisiana.

Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed another suit against the Biden Administration, concerning vaccine mandates. Now he’s challenging the legality of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Attorney General’s office which also investigates Medicaid fraud in the state, Landry says the CMS vaccine mandate hits too close to home for his office.

Cut 10 (07)  “…be vaccinated.”

Landry says the mandate is unconstitutional and could impact the state’s budget if federal monies are withheld from agencies that do not follow the vaccine mandate.

A task force established to come up with solutions to Louisiana having the highest auto insurance rates in the country finds that rates are on the rise again. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Palermo.”

Commuters are shocked and parents don’t know what to tell their kids about some graphically dirty graffiti that turned up Sunday under an overpass on Shreveport’s Line Avenue. Residents are flooding city council members with calls to have the trashy stuff painted over.

Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder is reacting to the voter rejection of Amendment 1 on Saturday that would have set the wheels in motion for the state to have a centralized tax collection system. Schexnayder says he doesn’t believe state lawmakers are about to throw in the towel on having Louisiana adopt a single tax commission, rather than the 54 entities dotting the state now…:

CUT 05(05)      “…this time”

Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed another suit against the Biden Administration, over vaccine mandates. This time he’s challenging the legality of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, mandating all employees be vaccinated at facilities that receive CMS funding…:

CUT 09(09)      “…CMS bucket.”

Landry’s office investigates alleged Medicaid fraud, so he says this gets pretty close to home.

State Attorney General Jeff Landry joins with ten other states to file another lawsuit against the Biden White House over vaccine mandates. This one challenges whether it’s legal to use the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) to force the shots. Landry says that’s unconstitutional and will contribute to even more shortages of healthcare workers…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…want to do.”

Landry’s department investigates Medicaid fraud and the mandate hits too close to home.

LSU President William Tate announces the school is lifting its mandatory mask rule for indoor areas on the Baton Rouge campus. The mask order had been in place since summer, when the so-called fourth wave hit. Tate’s decision was made with help from the university’s Health & Medical Advisory Committee. It also ends restrictions for on-campus events, like sports.

The state Speaker of the House is disappointed to see Constitutional Amendment One fail at the polls last Saturday. Dave Brannen has more…:

CUT 01  (31)        “…Brannen.”

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is miffed to see the dramatic increases in gas and diesel fuel prices. He points the finger at President Biden and his energy policies…:

CUT 14  (05)        “increase their production.”

He says Biden should put Americans back to work producing oil for our motor fuels.

Constitutional Amendment One – which would have created a single, centralized state sales tax collection agency – fell to defeat in last Saturday’s election. That disappoints state House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, who is glad that at least the second part of tax reforms, Amendment Two, did pass…:

CUT 04  (11)        “…into our state.”

Currently there are 54 sales tax collection entities in Louisiana.  48 other states have but one.

Last year, lawmakers passed legislation that was supposed to lower our auto insurance rates, yet they have instead gone UP. Why? Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says an increase in traffic fatalities in our state is part of the reason…:

CUT 08  (10)        “…distracted driving.”

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy lauds the signing of the $1-trillion-plus infrastructure bill by President Biden Monday. The senator says he’d have preferred to have a conservative president oversee all that spending, but he is nevertheless pleased to see New Orleans’ Mitch Landrieu tapped for the job…:

CUT 13  (11)        “…can only help.”

Out of that bill Louisiana will get billions for roads & bridges and money to establish high speed internet in every parish.

Attorney General Jeff Landry files another suit against the Biden White House over vaccine mandates. This one challenges the legality of using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid to mandate the shots. He says that’s hits too close to home for his comfort..:

CUT 10  (07)        “…to be vaccinated.”

Landry joins ten other states in this lawsuit.

Senator Bill Cassidy is lauding the signing of the trillion-dollar-plus infrastructure bill by President Biden on Monday.
Cut 12 (11) “…improve internet access.”
Cassidy says the infrastructure bill will deliver to improve the lives of people in Louisiana.

When it comes to Louisiana politics, there’s still some surprise that Constitutional Amendment one did not pass. It would have created a centralized sales tax collection system. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder authored the legislation…
cut 3 (09) “…it go down”
The state currently has 54 tax collection entities making it complex for businesses and individuals to maneuver through and a lawsuit was filed yesterday declaring Louisiana’s system as unconstitutional based on a Supreme Court ruling in 2018.

A task force established to come up with solutions to Louisiana having the highest auto insurance rates in the country finds that rates are on the rise again. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

New registration fees are in place for motorboats. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries say they went into effect Monday as a result of legislation approved this year. For boats smaller than 15-feet and eleven inches the fee is 36-dollars, for boats larger than 40-feet, the registration fee is now 99-dollars.

Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed another suit against the Biden Administration, concerning vaccine mandates. Now he’s challenging the legality of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, mandating all employees be vaccinated at facilities that receive CMS funding.

Cut 9 (09) “…CMS bucket.”

The mandate requires full-time and part-time employees, along with volunteers and contract employees at healthcare facilities that receive CMS funding otherwise that funding could be withheld.

Facility and students at LSU campuses are no longer required to wear face masks indoors. LSU President William Tate issued the notice this morning that they are lifting the mandate based on the recommendation of the university’s Health and Medical Advisory Committee due to declining case numbers. The Governor ended the statewide mask mandate in October.

The leader of the Louisiana House is expressing disappointment at the failure of Constitutional Amendment 1 on Saturday.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

COVID hospitalizations in Louisiana have increased to 209, they fell below 200 on Monday after a steady decline the last few weeks.