Bills to codify the right to contraception in Louisiana have been filed for the upcoming legislative session. Public Policy Professional Mary Patricia Wray says House Bill 395 and Senate Bill 225 seek to secure the right of birth control for Louisianans.
Cut 6 (11) “…the United States.”
The bills are similar to legislation pending in ten other states. The Louisiana bill will be heard in the three month long regular session that begins next week.

Another bill to be heard will make it illegal to use artificial intelligence to portray someone in a false light. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick…
cut 12 (09) “….not true”
Connick is concerned that candidates for offices will use A-I to spread a false narrative about their opponent.

Stronger penalties are coming for carjackers. It’s the result of legislation authored by Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel and approved in the recently completed crime special session. Schlegel says if a carjacking results in serious injury to the victim, the minimum sentence starts at 20 years…
Cut 21 (10) “…our state.”
Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign the bill this week.

The CDC says you no longer need to isolate for five days if you have COVID. The new guidelines advise to stay home if you’re sick, but you can return to work or school if you are feeling better and fever-free for 24 hours. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Fred Lopez says the CDC still encourages you to play it safe for five days…
Cut 14 (09) “…distancing.”

Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign the bills this week approved in the crime special session, including the legislation that will result in longer prison sentences for car jackers and fentanyl dealers….
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff deputies are looking for the gunman in a drive by shooting that killed 65-year-old Annette Touvell of Lake Charles on Saturday night. Authorities say Touvell was in her home south of Lake Charles watching TV, when multiple rounds of gunfire were fired at the home. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says they have no reason to believe this home or family was specifically targeted.

A White Castle man is missing after he drove a vehicle into a bayou in Assumption Parish early Saturday morning. Trooper Ross Brennan says 64 year old Gilbert Bunch Junior failed to stop for a stop sign at LA Highway 1 and Highway 398.
Cut 3 (07) “…partially submerged.”
Bunch was last seen wearing dark-colored clothing. A passenger in the vehicle survived the plunge into the bayou as he swam to the bank.

Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh has filed legislation for the upcoming regular session to prohibit local governments from using speed or red light cameras to issue tickets. Seabaugh says these devices are being used as a money grab….
cut 5 (10) “…the wayside”
When individuals pay court costs for a ticket written by law enforcement it goes towards funding public defenders, the DA’s office, clerk of courts, crime lab, and various other entities.

Governor Landry is expected to sign this week the bills approved in the recently completed special session on crime. House Bill 7 is among the pieces of legislation approved. Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel says it requires a minimum of a five-year sentence for a person convicted of carjacking. Right now the minimum penalty is two years…
cut 8 (08) “….tackle carjacking”
At least 15 of the bills approved during the tough on crime special session could increase state spending because it will result in longer prison sentences. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Matthew Willard…
cut 29 (11) “…cost”
But the governor’s spokesperson says the legislation will lower crime and less crime means greater economic opportunities for everyone.

Some lawmakers are concerned about the possible misuse of A.I. and have proposed a new law to address it. Marrero Senator Patrick Connick says the public needs to be protected from potential misrepresentation the new technology makes possible…
Cut 10 (11) “…person’s consent.”
Connick’s bill will be heard in the three month long regular session that begins next week.

The CDC says you no longer need to isolate for five days if you have COVID. The new guidelines advise you to still stay home if sick, but you can return to work or school if you are feeling better and fever-free for 24 hours. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Fred Lopez says this mirrors other respiratory illnesses like flu and RSV.
Cut 13 (09) “…as well.”

Governor Landry is expected to sign this week a package of bills approved from the crime special session. One of the bills increases the penalties for those who package fentanly to make it attractive for minors. Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel authored the bill that calls for a 25 to 99-year prison sentence for a person convicted of designing fentanyl so it looks like candy…
Cut 9 (11) “..not acceptable.”

A three-month long regular session begins next week. There will be another attempt by legislators to make it illegal for local governments to use red light or speed cameras as a way to issue traffic tickets. Supporters of the ticket writing cameras say it leads to safer driving habits, but Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh says there’s no evidence to support they do…
cut 6 (08) “…slowing down”
Seabaugh says he’s received positive feedback from other legislators about his bill.

Artificial Intelligence technology continues to advance and a lawmaker concerned about possible misuse has proposed a bill to address it. Colleen Crain has more…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain”

cut 21 celebratory screaming”
That’s the U-L Lafayette softball team celebrating after recording the final out that ended Oklahoma’s NCAA record 71-game winning streak. The Cajuns defeated the Sooners seven to five in ten innings. The win for the Cajuns leaves LSU as the nation’s only softball team still undefeated.

Stronger penalties are coming for carjackers. It’s the result of legislation authored by Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel and approved in the recently completed crime special session. Schlegel says if a carjacking results in serious injury to the victim, the minimum sentence starts at 20 years…
Cut 7 (10) “…our state.”
Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign the bill this week.

The C-D-C says a person who tests positive for Covid no longer has to isolate for five days. A person can return to work or school once they start feeling better and have been fever-free for 24 hours. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Specialist Doctor Fred Lopez says the guidelines are welcome news, but COVID can still lead to serious illness…
cut 15 (09) “…better phase”

A bill to prohibit the use of traffic cameras for speed enforcement by local governments has been filed for the upcoming regular session. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Authorities are looking for a 64-year-old driver who drove into Bayou Lafourche in Assumption Parish early Saturday morning. A passenger in the vehicle swam to safety and last saw the driver, Gilbert Bunch of White Castle, near the vehicle prior to it becoming fully submerged. Bunch was not in the vehicle after it was pulled out of the water.

Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign the bills this week approved in the crime special session, including the legislation that will result in longer prison sentences for car jackers and fentanyl dealers.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

A prayer vigil and anti-violence rally was held in Carencro yesterday in response to the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Jaylon Joiner. Lafayette Parish Sheriff deputies say Joiner was gunned down after he got off a school bus near Carencro Middle School. No arrests have been made.

Now that the special session is over, it’s time to look ahead to the regular session which begins a week from today. Shreveport Senator Alan Seabaugh has filed legislation to prohibit the installation and use of red light and speed cameras by local governments. The Republican says such devices present a guilty until proven innocent approach..
Cut 4 (10) “…your car.”
Seabaugh says the cameras are also not routinely calibrated.

Marrero Senator Patrick Connick has filed a bill to make it illegal to use artificial intelligence to portray someone in false light. Connick’s proposed legislation says a person could face up to six months in prison and fines up to 750-dollars for distributing misleading synthetic media…
cut 11 (10) “….new technology”
Synthetic media includes video or voice recordings generated by algorithms that appear to be a record of actual events.

Governor Jeff Landry is calling the crime special session a great success, Democrats says it failed to address the root causes of crime. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

State Fire Marshall deputies are investigating a couple of deadly housefires that happened yesterday. The first happened was a mobile home fire in Desoto parish yesterday morning around four. The second fatal fire happened in Claiborne Parish around 11:30. Fire officials are still investigating, but say neither home had working smoke detectors.

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The CDC says you no longer need to isolate for five days if you have COVID. The new guidelines advise you still stay home if you’re sick, but you can return to work or school if you are feeling better and have been fever-free for 24 hours. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Fred Lopez says the CDC still encourages you to play it safe for five days, especially if those around you at work or school are vulnerable to the virus or have family members who are.

Cut 14 (09) “…distancing.”

While the new guidelines are welcome news Lopez says COVID still presents a significant threat and remains highly contagious.

Cut 15 (09) “…better phase.”

If you are among the more vulnerable populations, Lopez recommends staying up to date on your booters and along with vaccinations for other respiratory illnesses.

The CDC says you no longer need to isolate for five days if you have COVID. The new guidelines advise you still stay home if you’re sick, but you can return to work or school if you are feeling better and have been fever-free for 24 hours. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Fred Lopez says this mirrors other respiratory illnesses like flu and RSV.

Cut 13 (09)  “…as well.”

Governor Jeff Landry is speaking out on the success of the special session on crime. Lawmakers approved several tough on crime measures, including expanding the methods used to carry out executions, lowering the age one can be charged with a felony from 18 to 17 years old, and toughening up restrictions on parole and probation.

Cut 10 (11) “…that process.”

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The first U.S. manufacturing plant for Japanese Chemical Company UBE, which makes components for electric vehicle batteries, is coming to with a direct investment of half a BILLION dollars.  President of Jefferson Parish Economic Development Jerry Bologna says the synergy from Cornerstone Energy Park played a vital role in UBE’s decision to choose Jefferson Parish. He says they also liked the logistics the area provides…

Cut 4 (10) “…their capital.” 

The project intends to bolster the domestic battery components supply chain and reduce the current reliance on Asian imports. Bologna says the plant in Jefferson Parish will manufacture key elements for EV batteries.

Cut 5 (12) “…those batteries.”

Louisiana offered a competitive incentives package that includes workforce development in order to secure the project.