TRANSCRIPT
You’re listening to Red River Radio News.
Good morning, I’m Jeff Ferrell.
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INTRO:
A new Louisiana state law with stiffer penalties for possessing marijuana within a school zone is now in effect.
Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington has more:
SOT:
“Representative Gabe Firment says Gov. Jeff Landry asked him to sponsor the bill after complaints of individuals smoking or vaping marijuana at LSU football games. “ The main intent of the bill is to create a safe, family-friendly environment. The idea that you've gotta break the law to have fun at a football game really blows my mind.” The new law went into effect August 1st. A person convicted of possessing marijuana within 2,000 feet of a school zone can face up to one year in prison, with or without hard labor, and a fine of up to $1,000. A school zone includes both private and public colleges and universities in addition to K-12 schools. So possession in a private residence and/or dorm room near a school zone is also a violation.”
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INTRO:
Some new Texas laws have taken effect with the arrival of September.
Three of the most notable changes involve electronic repairs, residential solar sales and the use of gold and silver as money.
Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies has more:
SOT:
“If your mobile phone goes on the fritz - it’s now going to be easier and possibly cheaper to fix it under House Bill 2963. It creates a “right to repair” for personal electronic devices. Nathan Proctor is the senior director of the Right to Repair campaign at United States Public Interest Research Group. “This law is a major step forward. It allows Texans to get access to parts, tools, and other things you need to fix modern electronics.”The law applies only to covered electronics first offered for sale in Texas on or after September first.”
* “Another law attempts to rein in deceptive practices in the residential solar industry. Senate Bill 1036 requires solar retailers—including those selling door to door—to register with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.Ann Baddour is with Texas Appleseed: “The new accountability measures that are included in the new law go a long way toward addressing many of the problems that we saw in the market prior to the most recent legislative session.”
* “Using gold and silver as money in Texas gets a boost with House Bill 1056. This new law recognizes qualifying privately produced gold and silver as legal tender in Texas. Republican State Representative Mark Dorazio of San Antonio authored the bill:“How am I supposed to buy groceries or put gas in my car with a gold bar? Fortunately, the technology is available today and allows you to pay for goods and services using a gold card through the convenience of a debit card.”
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READER:
In Arkansas, the state has launched a new active wildfire dashboard to help residents know where fires are burning.
The dashboard displays wildfire locations, acreage affected, and other real-time information, along with year-to-date wildfire totals in Arkansas.
There are currently only five small brush fires active, but so far this year, the state has already seen well over 12-hundred wildfires.
To visit the dashboard click on this link.
<**** FORECAST ****>
The National Weather Service in Shreveport is calling for:
- Three straight days with a chance for showers and thunderstorms, something not seen in a while.
- Today, there’s a 30% chance, mainly after 1:00 p.m. mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
- The chance for rain and storms then drops to 20% the following two days, with Thursday’s high near 95 and 96 Friday.
- Tropical Depression Edouard will continue a slow northwest drift across upper Southeast and into East-Central Texas today. The primary impacts in our area will be mainly limited to Deep East Texas, including flooding, gusty winds and an isolated tornado or two.
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