A Senate-approved bill seeking equal pay for men and women who perform the same job failed to make it out of the House Labor Committee. Vermillion Parish Representative Blake Miguez says this interferes with how companies conduct their business…:
cut 15 (08) “his employment”
Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement on the vote saying women earn and average of 65 cents on the dollar compared to men and the failure of the House Labor Committee to pays the Equal Pay Act is a disservice to the women of this state.

Edwards signed the medical marijuana expansion legislation today and said it was one of the most important and easiest decisions he’s made this session..:
CUT 8 (10) “of Louisiana”

Many people are calling for Jackson Representative Kenny Havard to apologize for bringing an amendment on a human trafficking bill that was offensive to many people. Under the measure, no one under 21 could be a stripper and Havard’s change would have added age and weight limits. The story is making national headlines and sparking outrage from people across the country. New Orleans Sen. Karen Peterson…:
CUT 10 (09) “I made a mistake”
Governor John Bel Edwards said the “joke” was in poor taste.

Attorney General Jeff Landry believes President Obama’s mandate that school’s allow transgender bathrooms or risk losing funding is unlawful. He says we’re supposed to be ruled by the majority, not the minority….:
CUT 5 (10) “complete overreach”

The bill seeking equal pay for men and women who perform the same job failed to make it out of the House Labor Committee. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh says there is already a law on the books that prevents pay discrimination based on gender…:
cut 12 (04) “this bill”
Louisiana has the biggest pay gap in the nation, with women earning on average about 66 cents for every dollar a man makes. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says this wage discrimination is hurting women in Louisiana..:
cut 14 (09) “and women”
The measure failed on a 10-5 vote.

The Strom Prediction Center says there’s a chance for severe weather in southwest Louisiana today. The severe weather threat shifts to southeast Louisiana tomorrow. Strong winds, hail and there’s also a possibility of isolated tornadoes.

Governor John Bel Edwards signed the bill into law that allows more conditions to be added to the list of acceptable ones for medical marijuana. He says this is not a gateway to the legalization of recreational marijuana and he doesn’t he does not want this bill to be an ever expanding list of diseases…:
CUT 7 (08) “out there”
The state is still seeking a grower for the drug.

Attorney General Jeff Landry believes President Obama’s mandate to allow transgender individuals to use the restroom of their gender identity is unlawful. He says the threat of yanking funding from schools is a financial crisis and schools should know they do not have to follow through…:
CUT 4 (08) “immediately”
Landry says the president doesn’t have the authority to force students to share restrooms with members of the opposite sex.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a bill into law that allows patients with a wider variety of medical conditions to receive medical marijuana once it becomes available in Louisiana. He says this is an issue that should stay between doctors and their patients…:
CUT 6 (11) “medicinal marijuana”

Edwards was asked about the stripper age/weight requirement amendment brought by Jackson Representative Kenny Havard on a human trafficking measure Thursday. Edwards said he knows this was intended as a joke, but it was in bad taste…:
Cut 11 (06) “unfortunate incident”
Havard withdrew the amendment and the bill saying strippers should be no younger than 21 advanced on the House Floor.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is telling public schools they do not have to comply with President Obama’s transgender bathroom mandate. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles says possible severe weather will hit southwest Louisiana today. Forecasters say the system along I-10 could bring strong winds up to 60 miles per hour, hail and isolated tornadoes.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a medical marijuana bill into law. The legislation attempts to move the process along in making medical cannabis available and the number of diseases eligible to use the drug has also been expanded. Sheriffs and district attorneys expressed concern this legislation could open the door to the legaliziation of marijuana.

Attorney General Jeff Landry believes President Obama’s mandate to allow transgender individuals to use the restroom of their gender identity is unlawful. Landry says the President’s threat of funds for schools that don’t comply, jeopardizes student safety and creates a public education crisis…
cut 3 (10) “….0.1%”
Landry says he’ll defend the schools, if the federal government takes action against them for failing to follow this order.

The Cajun John Wayne, Clay Higgins, who achieved internet fame through his viral crime stoppers video, has entered Louisiana’s third district Congressional race…
voicer 5 (28) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

More lawmakers and even the governor are still talking about the stripper age/weight requirement “joke” amendment. The proposed change was added on the House floor to a human trafficking bill stating strippers should be no younger than 21, but Jackson Representative Kenny Havard ending up withdrawing. New Orleans Sen. Karen Peterson says Havard should apologize:
CUT 9 (12) “consequences”
Governor Edwards said he knows this was intended as a joke, but it was in bad taste.

At this hour, Governor John Bel Edwards is signing legislation into law that would expand the number of diseases that could be eligible for a prescription of medical marijuana, once it becomes available.

Edwards announced he would sign the bill during his monthly radio show. He was also asked how to address the problem of opiate addiction in Louisiana. He says one key thing to do is to get Narcan, a medication that treats people who overdose, into the hands of first responders and allow it to be administered without a prescription. Edwards says they are also looking into legislative action….
cut 9 (10) “…as well”
You can catch the next governor’s call-in show on June 15th.

The Strom Prediction Center says there’s a chance for severe weather in southwest Louisiana today. The severe weather threat shifts to southeast Louisiana tomorrow. Strong winds, hail and there’s also a possibility of isolated tornadoes.

Legislation is heading to the House floor that would require public school elementary students to recite a portion of the Declaration of Independence every day. The bill passed on a six-to-two vote in House Education. Gonzlaes Representative Ed Price was one of two legislators who voted against it. Price says forcing students to recite this would open the door for more lawsuits…
cut 13 (10) “….more permissive”

That pesky Emerald Ash Borer has shown up in a fourth Louisiana parish. Union Parish is the latest parish where the pest has been detected. Agriculture Commissioner and Forestery Commissioner Mike Strain says the Emerald Ash borer kills ash trees…
cut 5 (10) “…appeal”
Strain the federal government is using wasps to control the emerald ash borer population.

A House committee advances a bill to require students to recite part of the Declaration of Independence every day.
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Emerald Ash Borer, a federally regulated pest, has been reported in 4 north Louisiana parishes. It’s the main bug that affects Ash Trees. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says they’re working with the LSU Ag Center and USDA to control the bug…:
Cut 6 (08) “biological control”
He says you can lose an entire forest of ash trees in 10 years, because of the pest.

A bill aimed at the crime of human trafficking that would set the age one would have to be to work as a stripper is getting national attention over an amendment referred to as a joke. The measure would mean strippers be at least 21, and Representative Kenny Havard’s change dictated weight limits. He later withdrew the amendment. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says the goal of his bill is serious…:
CUT 16 (08) “taken advantage of”
The stripper age bill needs another stop in the Senate before the governor.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says the federal governments transgender mandate to public schools is unlawful overreach. He said the threat that public schools would lose some funds if they didn’t allow students to use restrooms based on their gender identity creates a public education money crisis.

Captain Clay Higgins, aka the Cajun John Wayne, says he has national support for his mission to become the US Congressmen in the 3rd District. The reserved Lafayette City Deputy Marshal said in his announcement Wednesday that he’s descending into the belly of the beast” that is Congress, where “disconnected career politicians” feed off the toil of working folks.

Kenner Representative Julie Stokes is livid about an amendment that was tagged on to the stripper age requirement bill that Jackson Representative Kenny Harvard said was just a joke. The change, which Havard later withdrew, stated strippers should be young a skinny. Stokes says she’s tired of the derogatory comments made about women at the State Capitol…:
Cut 15 (11) “disgusting”
The measure to require strippers be at 21 passed the House.

Today Governor John Bel Edwards is signing the medical marijuana expansion legislation, because he says it’s the right thing to do. But he said on his monthly radio show that he does not support the legalization of recreational marijuana…:
CUT 8 (09) “right now”

A bill to require students to recite part of the Declaration of Independence daily has made it out of the House Education Committee. Denham Springs Representative Valerie Hodges says schools need to prepare students for citizenship….:
cut 12 (10) “primary goal”
The bill heads to the House floor.

The federally regulated insect pest of Ash Trees, the Emerald Ash Borer has been discovered in north Louisiana. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the pest originates in Asia and is now in four Louisiana parishes. He says the main way the Emerald Ash Borer is transmitted is by the moving of firewood…:
cut 4 (06) “burn it”
The pest has been discovered in Union, Bossier, Claiborne, and Webster Parishes and a quarantine is in place.

St. Landry Parish’s Captain Clay Higgins announces he’s decided to run for the third congressional district seat. It’s currently held by Congressman Charles Boustany, who is running for the senate seat being vacated by David Vitter.

Female lawmakers are not happy about a joke a male member of the House made during debate over legislation that requires someone to be at least 21 in order to work as a stripper. Jackson Representative Kenny Harvard proposed an amendment that strippers in Louisiana could only be between the ages of 21-and-28 and less than 160 pounds. Kenner Representative Julie Stokes called the amendment disrespectful and disgusting..:
cut 14 (09) “bad idea”
The bill ended up passing the House 96-0 without Havard’s amendment and it goes back to the Senate for final approval, before heading to the Governor’s desk.

Today Governor John Bel Edwards will hold a bill signing for the medical marijuana expansion legislation. The measure lets new diseases be added to the medical cannabis law. In another release, Edwards says he’s ordered all flags on state buildings be flown at half staff for Former Lt. Governor Bobby Freeman Freeman.

During Governor John Bel Edwards monthly radio call-in show, he was asked about Louisiana’s staggeringly high incarceration rate. He says this problem will be addressed in next year’s legislative session…:
Cut 10 (10) “justice reform”

The pest that eats Ash Trees has been discovered in Union Parish. Emelie Gunn has more on the Emerald Ash Borer in north Louisiana…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”