The House Transportation Committee voted 14-3 to turn back an effort to prevent new highway billboards in Louisiana. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office has charged 71-year-old Harvey Joseph Fountain of Pineville with 100 counts of first-degree rape as he is accused of criminal sexual conduct involving minors. Deputies say the allegations against Fountain date back to the early 1970s. A tip into the sheriff’s office on April 1st sparked the investigation.

Legislation is heading to the House floor that supporters of the bill say will help reduce auto insurance rates, because it would make changes to the state’s legal climate when it comes to crash payments and litgation. The House Civil Law committee approved the legislation on a five to two vote. Shreveport Representative Sam Jenkins voted against it, because he believes insurance companies can do more on their own to lower rates…
Cut 5 (10) “…that side”

And heading to the Senate floor is a bill that would require “truth in labeling” for food products like Almond “milk”, “riced” cauliflower, and “sugar” substitutes. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s the government’s job to keep advertisers honest and prevent products from tricking customers.
Cut 9 (11) “…responsibility”

The Senate ag committee approved legislation that would require truth in labeling for food products. It goes after products that label themselves as Soy milk or Almond milk, which is not really milk. Cauliflower rice is also getting more popular, but Louisiana Rice Industry representative Scott Franklin says it’s not rice…
cut 11 (12) “…here”
The legislation heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.

Heading to the House floor is legislation that brings back sales tax holidays for back to school shopping, hurricane preparedness supplies and hunting gear. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says it’s something the public wants…
cut 8 (10) “…school uniforms”
The House Transportation committee slammed the breaks on a resolution pushed by Jonesboro Rep. Jack McFarland aimed at reducing the number of billboards on Louisiana roadways. Louisiana’s trucking industry backed the effort, because McFarland says ads for crash attorneys are impacting the cost of doing business for truckers.
Cut 12 (11) “…as we drive”
Supporters also say the number of billboards are distracting and take away from Louisiana’s scenery. But Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says placing a moratorium on billboards is the wrong way to address clutter…
cut 14 (13) “…not doing that”
The legislation was killed on a 14-to-3 vote.

The Senate Ag Committee approved and expanded a bill that would require “truth in labeling” for food products like Almond “milk”, “riced” cauliflower, and “sugar” substitutes.
It’s legislation brought by Delhi Senator Francis Thompson who says while most of these “fake” products are not made in the Bayou State, they shouldn’t be outlawed, just forced to be upfront about what’s in the package.
Cut 10 (11) “…not true.”
Legislation has advanced to the House floor that seeks to lower auto insurance rates. Louisiana reportedly has the second-highest average auto insurance rates in the nation and River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says his bill would create a legal environment that would reduce the costs for insurance companies…
Cut 3 (11) “…costs up.”
________________________________
Lawmakers are seeking to bring back sales tax holidays. They were accidentally suspended for seven years when legislators crafted new tax laws last June. The school supply sales tax weekend would occur in August, hurricane preparedness would be in May and the second amendment sales tax weekend would take place in September. Monroe Representative Jay Morris says businesses also like the sales tax holidays…
Cut 7 (12) “…out of state.”
The latest results from the 2019 Louisiana Survey show 70 percent support the state’s criminal justice reforms championed by Governor Edwards and passed by bipartisan majorities in the legislature.

The Senate Ag Committee approved and expanded a bill that would require “truth in labeling” for food products like Almond “milk”, “riced” cauliflower, and “sugar” substitutes.
Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s the governments job to keep advertisers honest, and prevent misleading products from tricking customers.
Cut 9, 11 seconds, responsibility
Legislation has advanced to the House floor that seeks to lower auto insurance rates. Louisiana reportedly has the second-highest average auto insurance rates in the nation and River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says his bill would would lower the state’s threshold for requiring a civil trial to $5,000 from the current $50,000, take away the ability to sue an insurance company directly and extend the time limit to file a suit from one year to two…
Cut 4 (07) “…drive costs down”

______________________________
Campaign numbers for the 2019 governor’s race have been updated. Jeff Palermo looks at what the candidates are reporting…
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”
Fundraising efforts are beginning to spread to help the three historically black churches that were torched in St. Landry Parish get back on their feet. A GoFundMe has raised 50,000 dollars of a 1.8 million dollar goal, Iberia Bank has promised to match donations up to 50,000 dollars along with an initial 6,000 dollar donation, and former Saints tight end Ben Watson has hit the trail to assist in fundraising efforts.

Today at the Capitol, lawmakers will be faced with a crucial question… just what exactly counts as milk? Matt Doyle has the story.

 Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A Pineville man has been charged with 100 counts of first-degree rape. On April 1^st, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s deputies received a complaint of possible criminal sexual conduct involving juveniles. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in the early 1970s and continued into the 80s. On April 9^th, the suspect, 71-year-old Harvey Joseph Fountain, was located and taken into custody. The investigation is on-going.

Lawmakers are seeking to bring back sales tax holidays. They were accidentally suspended for seven years when legislators crafted new tax laws last June. Monroe Representative Jay Morris’ measure would benefit consumers by reinstating a tax holiday for back to school shopping, hurricane preparedness, and hunting supplies

Cut 6 (08) “…for the like.”

The school supply sales tax weekend would occur in August, hurricane preparedness would be in May and the second amendment sales tax weekend would take place in September.

The newspaper the Advocate that covers Acadiana, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans has been awarded a Pulitzer Prize for its reporting of Louisiana’s law that allowed non-unanimous jury verdict for felony cases. Advocate President Judi Terzotis says the staff put in tremendous amounts of effort to achieve the award.

Cut 13 (11) “…the Washington Post.”

At the state capitol this morning, the House Ag Committee debates a bill that would prohibit the labeling of non-dairy products as milk. For instance when you go to the grocery store, you can purchase products called coconut, soy or almond milk. But Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says…
cut 5 (08) “…proteins”
But a spokesperson for a company called Silk says the legislation is unnecessary because people know the difference between plant and animal milk.

The Advocate newspaper has won its first Pulitzer Prize for its series of reports on the state’s former non-unanimous juries law that was later changed, when voters approved a constitutional amendment in November. Advocate President Judi Terzotis says the paper was able to tell the story of racial impacts of the former law on multiple platforms….
cut 15 (10) “…of the story”
It’s only the sixth time a Louisiana publication has won a Pulitzer.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is working to create a new statewide Civil Rights Trail. Nungesser is holding a series of meetings that will help establish locations for the trail and he wants to establish a civil rights museum in New Orleans…
cut 12 (09) “….Civil Rights trail”
Alabama and Mississippi are also developing a civil rights trail.

Many are saddened that a massive fire has destroyed the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Former Alliance Francaise de Lafayette (ah-lee-ans Frahn-says duh Lafayette) President Sabrina Benazzouz (ben-ah-zooz) tells us the first brick was laid in 1163 and “Our Lady” was the sight of numerous historic moments such as the crowning of English King Henry 4th, made famous by Shakespeare, to the beatification of Joan De Arc.
Cut 8 (09) “…those years.”
The Cathedral housed the most famous, and largest stained glass piece on earth, the Rose Window.

The Senate Agriculture Committee is considering legislation today that would strictly define what can and cannot be labeled as “milk”. This comes in response to the rising popularity of products like almond, coconut, and soy “milk”.

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the definition would be strict.

Cut 4 (09) “…ect…”

If approved the Department of Health would be tasked with enforcement.

The Advocate Newspaper has received the prestigious Pultizer Prize, for its coverage of Louisiana being one of only two states that allowed non-unanimous guilty verdicts. Advocate President Judi Terzotis says the newspaper had a team dedicated to covering the story for eight months and knew their reporting was making an impact when it landed the constitutional amendment in the hands of voters.

Cut 14 (10) “…communities deserve.”

It’s not a total loss, but the devastating fire that ripped through the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has many Francophile Louisianans in mourning today. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

A federal appeals court has agreed with the lower courts in the removal of a Confederate Monument at the Caddo Parish Courthouse. The monument known as “Bloody Caddo” was erected in 1906 and the court has ruled it is on public property.

The 5^th U.S. Courts of Appeals in New Orleans have rejected the claims from the United Daughters of Confederacy Shreveport’s Chapter that the monument is on private property. Caddo Parish Commissioners are now offering the Chapter an opportunity to move the monument to another location that is not in front of the current courthouse.

The Notre Dame Cathedral, it’s one of the most famous Catholic landmarks on earth,and the burning has traumatized many of Louisiana’s nearly 1.4 million Catholics.

Former Alliance Francaise de Lafayette (ah-lee-ans Frahn-says duh Lafayette) President Sabrina Benazzouz says restoring the icon’s former glory might not be possible.

Cut 9 (10) “…anymore″

The newspaper the Advocate that covers Acadiana, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans has been award a Pulitzer Prize for its reporting of Louisiana’s law that allowed non-unanimous jury verdicts in felony cases. Advocate President Judi Terzotis (Ter –Zo-Tis) says the staff put in a tremendous amount of work to achieve the award.

Cut 13 (11) “…the Washington Post.”

A Pineville man is now facing one-hundred charges of first degree rape. 71-year old Harvey Joseph Fountain was taken into custody last week after Rapides Parish Sheriff Deputies received a complaint of possible criminal sexual conduct involving juveniles. Parish officials say the crimes allegedly began in the early 1970s and continued in the 1980s. Initially he was charged with only 50 counts of rape but that increased to 100 when additional victims were identified. Detectives say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible.

Tourism officials are hoping The Louisiana Civil Rights Trail will be a big draw for the state.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”