Louisiana’s Mitch Landrieu; former New Orleans mayor, former Lt. Governor & state lawmaker … will now be instrumental in implementing President Biden’s infrastructure bill. Dave Brannen has that…:

CUT 01  (30)        “…Brannen.”

Here’s some encouraging news from the state Department of Health. As of today, fewer than 200 persons are in hospitals statewide due to COVID-19. However, the larger numbers of new cases are among kids 17 and younger. For details, visit “ldh.la.gov/coronavirus”

A new report from website “BankRate.com” finds Louisiana the second-worst state in the U.S. for people to own and drive a car. BankRate analyst Sarah Foster says our very high auto insurance rates are the main reason; nearly a thousand higher than the national average for coverage. She says we also rank 20^th for high cost of auto repairs, and 17^th for longest commute times; almost a half-hour on average..:

CUT 14  (11)        “…to other states.”

An audit of the Louisiana Workforce Commission finds the agency made $2.9-million in payments that potentially violated both state and federal unemployment rules. Brent McDougall, Senior Analyst with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, says this is the fourth audit of LWC since the pandemic…:

CUT 03 (11)     “…how things work.”

The audit also found almost $34,000 in duplicate payments.

This may come as no surprise, but a new report rates Louisiana the second-worst state in America for people to own and drive a car. “BankRate.com” analyst Sarah Foster says we have the highest-priced car insurance, at an average $2700, and we have a high traffic fatality rate…:

Cut 13   (11)        “…insurance premiums.”

Foster says our auto rates are – on average – about a thousand bucks higher than the national average for coverage. She auto repair costs and long commute times also help with our terrible ranking.

Shreveport Police are investigating the Sunday night shooting death of an 18-year-old man. They says the gunfire started after an argument over a cell phone.

A Houma woman is in jail, after allegedly biting a police officer’s ear completely off. It happened early Saturday morning, as officers broke up a fight in a bar parking lot. 36-year-old Michelle Smith reportedly chomped the cop’s ear, then fled. A warrant is out for her arrest.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is investigating to see if the virus that causes COVID-19 in people is also in whitetail deer. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Palermo.”

Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has been recruited to be President Biden’s senior advisor in distributing the just-signed Infrastructure & Investment Jobs Act funds. UNO political analyst Ed Chervenak says that is bound to draw some criticism, but the job needs to be done..:

CUT 08(09)      “…at anybody.”

The decision to tap Louisiana’s Mitch Landrieu as a senior advisor on the investments being made under the historic federal infrastructure bill is being lauded by UNO political analyst Ed Chervenak.

Cut 7 (10) “….it’s really great.”  

The infrastructure bill is being signed into law by President Biden this afternoon.

Louisiana is beginning to test whitetail deer for the presence of COVID-19 after the same animals tested positive for the virus in Iowa. LDWF Deer Program Manager Jonathan Bordelon:

Cut 9 (12) “…within those samples.”

Bordelon says the state is now joining with the USDA Wildlife Services to collect blood for testing from whitetail deer harvested by hunters in Louisiana. It’s not known if the deer can transmit the virus to humans.

An audit of the Louisiana Workforce Commission finds the agency made $2.9 million in payments that potentially violated both state and federal unemployment rules. Brent McDougall, Senior Analyst with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor says when you look at overall unemployment payments during the height of the pandemic, the overpayments are only a small percentage, and he acknowledges it was a very difficult time for the agency.

Cut 5 (09) “…effective.”

A new report from Bank-rate-dot-com finds Louisiana ranks as the second-worst state for drivers. Bankrate analyst Sarah Foster says a main reason for the high ranking is that Louisiana is expensive for drivers, the state’s average car insurance rates are the highest in the country at 27-hundred dollars…

Cut 12 (06) “…a driver”  

Foster says in addition to the high cost for drivers, Louisiana has a high fatality rate.

Louisiana’s Mitch Landrieu will be a senior advisor on the implementation of President Biden’s historic infrastructure bill. More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

President Biden is scheduled to sign the infrastructure bill at 2 pm and Governor John Bel Edwards will be in attendance. Edwards will also lobby lawmakers in DC for more funding for southwest Louisiana’s recovery from hurricanes Laura and Delta. And the state reports 196 COVID hospitalizations the lowest daily total since stats began in March of 2020.

An audit of the Louisiana Workforce Commission finds the agency made $2.9 million in overpayments. Brent McDougall, Senior Analyst with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor says the audit found incidents where the overpayments had not been identified. He says LWC already has already flagged some cases of overpayment and is working with those individuals to recapture funds.

Cut 4 (05) “…done that.”

Governor John Bel Edwards will be next to act on the Louisiana Pardon Board’s unanimous recommendation to pardon the late Homer Plessy. Plessy a 19th-century civil rights pioneer was arrested for trying to sit in the White section of a segregated train bound for Covington. Keith Plessy, Homer’s first cousin, three generations removed, appeared before the Pardon Board, Friday.

Cut 15 (10)  “…Homer Adolph Plessy.”

Former New Orleans Mayor and Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu will serve as President Biden’s senior advisor on the implementation of the infrastructure bill that’s being signed into law today. UNO Political Science Professor Ed Chervenak on what Landrieu brings to the table.
Cut 6 (08) “…how things work.”
The one trillion-dollar infrastructure bill will provide funding for roads, bridges and airports.

Three of the four constitutional amendments on Saturday’s ballot failed, including Amendment One. Proponents say it would streamline tax collections. But political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says many local governments opposed over concerns they would lose out on tax revenue…
Cut 30 (11) “…pretty good. “
Amendment Two passed as it will lower individual income tax rates, but taxpayers will no longer be able to deduct federal taxes paid on their state returns.

An audit of the Louisiana Workforce Commission finds the agency made $2.9 million in payments that potentially violated both state and federal unemployment rules. Brent McDougall, Senior Analyst with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor says this is the fourth audit of LWC since the pandemic.
Cut 3 (12) “….same week.”
He says LWC already has already flagged some cases of overpayment and is working with those individuals to recapture the funds.

The Louisiana Pardon Board has recommended that Governor Edwards should pardon the late Homer Plessy. He was a Creole man of color and was arrested in 1892 after he boarded the White section of a segregated train in New Orleans. Plessy was later convicted of the Separate Car Act but Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams says it’s time to wipe that conviction off the books…
cut 14 (04) “….deeply symbolic”
The governor is expected to follow the pardon board’s recommendation.

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson is in the nation’s capital for the President’s signing of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. Wilson says it’s going to make a big impact in Louisiana in terms of guaranteeing revenue for projects.

Cut 7 (11) “…on bridges.”

Governor Edwards, along with the mayors of New Orleans and Baton Rouge are also in DC for the bill signing.

Only Amendment two of the four constitutional amendments on Saturday’s ballot received voter approval. A Tax policy expert says amendment two will bring the state real tax reform. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says voters have amendment fatigue…

Cut 5 (08) “of it”
There are no constitutional amendments on the December ballot.

The Supreme Court will decide if those convicted on non-unanimous juries will get a new trial. The New Orleans-based 4^th Circuit Appeals Court ruled in favor of re-trials, but the Lake Charles-based 3^rd Circuit ruled against new trials. Defense attorney Hardell Ward who represents two men – one in each court district says it’s the only correct thing to do…:

Cut 11 (08) “…criminal justice system.”

The AG’s office says retrials will create chaos.

Governor Edwards will be next to act on the Louisiana Pardon Board’s unanimous recommendation to pardon the late Homer Plessy. A 19th-century civil rights pioneer was arrested for trying to sit in the White section of a segregated train bound for Covington. Orleans Parish D-A, Jason Williams, spoke in favor of Plessy’s pardon.

Cut 13 (12) “…in this country.”

Former Louisiana Lt. Governor and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has been tapped to oversee the implementation of the one-point-two trillion-dollar infrastructure bill that is expected to be signed into law today. Landrieu was the mayor of New Orleans when the city was allocated millions of dollars in federal money to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

Louisiana voters rejected three of the four constitutional amendments on Saturday’s statewide ballot. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Louisiana Pardon Board has recommended that Governor Edwards should pardon the late Homer Plessy. He was a Creole man of color and was arrested in 1892 after he boarded the White section of a segregated train in New Orleans. Plessy was later convicted of the Separate Car Act but Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams says it’s time to wipe that conviction off the books…
cut 14 (04) “….deeply symbolic”
The governor is expected to follow the pardon board’s recommendation.

The state supreme court will be asked to decide whether a 2018 law that prohibits non-unanimous jury convictions should be retroactive, allowing those convicted on 10-2 or 11-1 verdicts to get new trials. The Louisiana Attorney General’s office says it will create chaos for the court system, defense attorney Hardell Ward disagrees…
cut 12 (13) “…actually affect”
An appellate court in New Orleans has ruled the 2018 law should be retroactive.

The President will sign the historic $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill today. It contains a reported $6-billion for roads and bridges in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Former Lt. Governor and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has been tapped to oversee the implementation of the legislation. Landrieu says their work will require strong partnerships across the government and with state and local leaders, business and labor to create good-paying jobs and rebuild America for the Middle Class.

Governor Edwards will be next to act on the Louisiana Pardon Board’s unanimous recommendation to posthumously pardon the late Homer Plessy. The man known as a 19th-century civil rights pioneer was arrested for trying to sit in the White section of a segregated train bound for Covington. Orleans Parish D-A, Jason Williams, spoke in favor of Plessy’s pardon.
Cut 13 (12) “…in this country.”
Plessy died in 1925 with the conviction for violating the railroad segregation law still a part of his record.

And the Louisiana Supreme Court will likely have to rule on whether those convicted by non-unanimous juries should receive a new trial. Non-unanimous verdicts were banned in 2018. Defense attorney Hardell Ward represents two men who were convicted on either a 10-2 or 11-1 verdict…
cut 10 (08) “…is a new trial”
The state supreme court will likely hear the issue next year.