A bill that would ban wagering on the outcomes of elections advances to the full Senate. Secretary of State Nancy Landry testified in support of the bill, noting that such a rule already exists for election staff.

Cut 4 (12) “…should apply statewide.”

The vote in the Governmental Affairs Committee was unanimous, increasing its odds of eventually ending up on Governor Landry’s desk.

The number of students accepting TOPS funding has been going down for a few years. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says one reason is that some students decide not to continue their education beyond high school.

Cut 10 (12) “…to be eligible.”

A bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee B aims to provide a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A new exhibit opens next Friday in New Orleans, honoring the women who played an essential role in making Mardi Gras what it is today. The Pioneers of Women’s Carnival will feature costumes, photos, ball favors and parade throws. It will be on display at the Presbytere on Jackson Square beginning May 9th.

A bill introduced by Senator Royce Duplessis aims to provide a new legal remedy for people incarcerated under non-unanimous jury verdicts, also known as Jim Crow juries. The bill passed a Senate committee with bipartisan support in a 5-1 vote and now heads to the full Senate. Promise of Justice initiative Attorney Claude Michael Comeau testified in favor of the bill, saying it would allow those convicted by non-unanimous juries to seek post-conviction relief.

Cut 12 (05) “…a new trial.”

Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell has been focusing on Child Abuse cases for 20 years. She testified against the bill, saying when she looks at her non-unanimous verdicts, there’s no question of guilt.

Cut 14 (14) “…not guilty.”

The number of students accepting TOPS funding has been going down for a few years. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says one requirement is that students attend a college within the state of Louisiana, and many students are being lured to other states.

Cut 9 (09)  “…now for students.”

Amtrak will launch a new twice-daily service between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says the goal is to launch the new Mardi Gras line by mid-July.

Cut 16 (12) “…piece of track.”

The Mardi Gras line will also have four stops in Mississippi — Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. Ross says the next phase is to connect New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

Australian-based Woodside Energy is investing 17 and a half billion dollars to build a liquified natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish. Senator Bill Cassidy says this is the first greenfield LNG export facility to move forward since President Trump rolled back the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits.

Cut 13 (14)  “…celebrate 100 days.”

Baton Rouge Police say 18-year-old Carlgene Nash is facing charges of second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon after he allegedly fatally shot 21-year-old Daylon Anthony outside an Amazon distribution facility. Sergeant Darren Ahmed says the investigation is ongoing…

Cut 8 (11) “….as we speak”

Another election integrity bill is making its way through the legislature; and given the lack of opposition in committee, the odds are pretty good that it will end up on the governor’s desk. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Australian-based Woodside Energy Group has announced a 17-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment building a greenfield liquified natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish. It’s the fourth multi-billion dollar economic development project announced by Governor Landry in the last five months. Senator Bill Cassidy

Cut 12 (11) “…can be brighter.”

A bill that would ban wagering on the outcomes of elections advances to the full senate; and given the unanimous vote in the Governmental Affairs Committee, the odds are strong that it could end up on Governor Landry’s desk. Secretary of State Nancy Landry testified in support of the bill…

Cut 3 (10) “…of an election.”

Landry says Louisiana already has some of the most secure elections in the state, and she wants to keep it that way.

A first-degree murder conviction against a death-row inmate has been thrown out. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A federal judge has sentenced 33-year-old Kenneth Leblanc of Lake Charles to 15 years in prison for hiding a cell phone in a bathroom so he can capture an eleven year-old girl undressing. Prosecutors say the phone was positioned to capture someone getting in and out of the shower. Leblanc pleaded guilty to one count of attempted transportation of child pornography.

A man who has spent more than a quarter century on death row in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s nearly two-year-old daughter has had his first-degree murder conviction thrown out. Ouachita Parish District Judge Alvin Sharp ruled that Jimmie Duncan’s conviction was based on what experts say is junk science. Duncan remains behind bars, and Richard Webster with ProPublica says the big question now is – to what degree, if any, is Duncan culpable for the little girl’s death?

Cut 10 (19) “…newly-uncovered evidence.”

Senator Bill Cassidy is hailing the 17-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment that Woodside Energy Group is making in Calcasieu Parish. Cassidy says it’s going to yield thousands of new jobs.

Cut 11 (11) “…year once operational.”

In a Senate committee hearing, lawmakers passed a bill that would ban kratom. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

If you need to go from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, or vice-versa, you’ll soon be able to take the mornin’ train. Amtrak is putting the finishing touches on the new Mardi Gras rail line connecting the two cities. The goal is to launch the service mid-July. Officials say the next phase of the project is connecting New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

An effort to ban the sale of kratom has cleared its first hurdle. The Senate’s Judiciary C Committee approved Monroe Senator Jay Morris’s bill that would make it a crime to possess and distribute Kratom, which acts like a stimulant in low does and as a sedative in high doses…

Cut 4 (12) “….individuals”

Doctors say you can get addicted to kratom and it can lead to psychotic symptoms. But several people testified against the legislation, including Wednesday ForestBear, who uses kratom to manage pain as she suffers from a spinal disorder that causes excruciating pain…

Cut 6 (06) “…regulate”

There are bills filed in this regular session that seek to regulations on kratom, which is not approved for medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The measure heads to the full senate for more discussion.

A Louisiana death row inmate’s conviction was thrown out last week because a judge in Ouachita Parish has determined Jimmie Duncan’s conviction was based on junk science. Duncan is accused of killing his girlfriend’s 23-month old daughter. A bite mark was the key evidence in Duncan’s conviction. Richard Webster has examined the case as part of a ProPublica investigation and says new evidence led to Ouachita Parish Judge Alvin Sharp reconsidering the conviction…

Cut 9 (18) “…to drown”

Duncan remains behind bars and it will be up to the Ouachita Parish District Attorney to re-try him.

The second ranked LSU baseball team defeated Southeastern Louisiana 15 to 2 last night in seven innings. Northwestern State defeated ULM nine to eight.

The FBI said Tuesday that it continues to believe that the man who slammed a truck into revelers on Bourbon Street New Year’s Day acted alone.  That’s despite new reports that Iraqi officials arrested an alleged ISIS member for inciting the attack. In a statement, the agency said yesterday though the investigation is ongoing, they believe Shamsud Din-Jabbar acted alone in carrying out the attack that left 14 people dead and injured dozens.

A man who has spent more than a quarter century on death row in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s nearly two-year-old daughter has had his first-degree murder conviction thrown out.  Jimmie Duncan was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1993 death of little Haley Oliveaux. Richard Webster, who’s been covering the story for ProPublica, says Duncan’s conviction was due in large part to testimony experts now say is junk science.

Cut 8 (14) “…to Jimmie Duncan.”

———————–

Senator Bill Cassidy is hailing the 17-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment that Woodside Energy Group is making in Louisiana. The Australian-based company announced yesterday that it is putting up a greenfield liquified natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish. Cassidy says this is the first greenfield LNG export facility to advance since President Trump rolled back the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits.

Cut 13 (14)  “…celebrate 100 days.”

Amtrak will launch a new intercity train service, the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, this summer, running twice daily between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. The trains will offer scenic travel with morning and evening departures. Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says the service aims to boost tourism, improve regional connectivity, and support local economies.

Cut 15 (12) “…from Baton Rouge.”

Amtrak is getting set to launch the Mardi Gras Service running twice daily between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Senator Bill Cassidy is hailing the 17-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment that Woodside Energy Group is making in Louisiana saying it will bring thousands of new jobs to Calcasieu Parish.

Cut 11 (11) “…year once operational.”

___________________

A bill that would ban the sale of kratom has been approved and moves to the Senate floor. David Lebrano supports the bill and spoke to the dangers of the drug.  Lebrano’s son died from an apparent kratom overdose, and he hopes to prevent others from experiencing this pain.

Cut 5 (11) “…gas station, headshops, anywhere.”

But some critics say the ban will hurt those who use the product medicinally to help manage pain.  Adam Peak who owns Bella Sunrise Smoke Shop, says kratom has been a net positive, helping with overcoming addiction to other drugs and alcohol.

Cut 7 (11) “…an issue of kratom.”

A first-degree murder conviction against a death-row inmate has been thrown out. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The FBI said Tuesday that it continues to believe that the man who slammed a truck into revelers on Bourbon Street New Year’s Day acted alone.  That’s despite new reports that Iraqi officials arrested an alleged ISIS member for inciting the attack. In a statement, the agency said yesterday though the investigation is ongoing, they believe Shamsud Din-Jabbar acted alone in carrying out the attack that left 14 people dead and injured dozens.

——————————-

A bill that would ban the sale of kratom was approved and moves to the Senate floor. Senate Bill 154 is authored by Monroe Republican Jay Morris.

Cut 4 (12) “…and to individuals.”

Proponents of the bill say kratom is dangerous and deadly but others say a ban on the drug would hurt others who use the product medicinally and help manage pain.

Australian-based Woodside Energy Group has announced a 17-and-a-half-billion-dollar investment building a greenfield liquified natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish. The news comes as several other major companies have committed to huge Louisiana investments. Senator Bill Cassidy

Cut 12 (11) “…can be brighter.”