Medical marijuana legislation is heading to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. The bill by Parks Senator Fred Mills expands the list of conditions medical marijuana can be used once it becomes available. Mills says those with cancer, epilepsy or HIV/AIDS will benefit from this measure.
Cut 10 (10) “my daughters”

Governor Edwards is expected to sign the bill.

A woman who was the on-duty nurse when a patient at a Veterans Home in St. John the Baptist Parish died, is facing charges for allegedly trying to cover up negligence. Inspector General Stephen Street says a resident fell and 58-year-old Cheryl Poirrier failed to keep checking on him, as per policy. He says she then lied about what happened and could go to jail for it…:
CUT 4 (06) “public records”

The spending plan for next fiscal year is moving through the legislature with a proposed $35 million cut to the LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport and about a $15 million cut to the center in New Orleans. Shreveport Health Science Center Chancellor G.E. Ghali says his center already made drastic cuts to reduce their spending and is as lean as it can be when it comes to employees.
CUT 7 (09) “situation”

Ghali says this could impact accreditation and enrollment at his center.

Former Lt. Governor Bobby Freeman has passed away at 82-years-old. His family says Freeman passed away this morning after suffering an aneurysm last week. The St. Martinville native served as Lt. Governor from 1980-88. Edwin Edwards was the governor during Freeman’s second term and says Freeman was an energetic man…
CUT 9 (10) “a problem”

Final passage has been given to legislation that expands the number of diseases that would legally be able to receive a prescripition for medical marijuana once it becomes available in the state. Governor Edwards is expected to sign the bill, despite opposition from sheriffs and district attorneys

Under the current budget proposal for next fiscal year, the LSU Health Science Centers in Shreveport and New Orleans would receive a combined 50-million dollars in cuts to state funding. Jeff Palermo has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I”m Jeff Palermo

A couple of members of Senate Revenue Fiscal Affairs Committee say the state’s too broke to beef up the program to attract more movies. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says even without the film tax credits, they already know move makers will come to Louisiana…
cut 14 (09) “….this tax credit”
Changes to the state’s film tax credit program could come in a potential special session in June.

Senate approved legislation to increase the fines for texting or using social media while driving unanimously passed out of the House Transportation Committee. Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Colomb says using a cell phone while driving is one of the most dangerous things you can do behind the wheel.
Cut 30 (09) “football field”
The bill seeks to raise the fine from $175 to $500 for a first offense.

A former state Department of Veterans Affairs nurse faces jail time after a patient at a veterans home in St. John the Baptist Parish died under her care. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A grass cutting crew found a body this afternoon in the median of Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish. The local coroner has yet to identify the body or cause of death. State Police is not sure how long the body may have been there. An official with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s office says it’s possible the person is a victim of a hit and run.

In these tough budget times, some state senators are concerned about growing Louisiana’s film tax credit program. Lawmakers are reviewing the budget for next fiscal year which currently contains a $600 million dollar hole, and proposals to cut healthcare and education are on the table. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau thinks the movie incentives don’t have a tangible economic impact:
UT 12 (07) “investment”
But others who defend the program says the movie making business does bring money to the state especially at the local level.

Former Lt. Governor Bobby Freeman has passed away at the age of 82 after suffering an aneurysm last week. The Democrat from Plaquemine served as the state’s second highest elected official from 1980 to 1988. His second term was under former Governor Edwin Edwards…
cut 11 (08) “great citizen”
Freeman was also a state legislator, a city judge in Plaquemine and he’s in the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame as he is a former member of the boxing team.

A former nurse with the state Department of Veterans Affairs is facing jail time after a patient died under her care. Inspector General Stephen Street says 58-year-old Cheryl Poirrier of LaPlace was on-duty the night a resident fell at a Veterans Home in St John Parish. He says after a fall, it’s policy to check the patient’s neurological signs for the next 72 hours…:
CUT 3 (12) “the checks”
Poirrier

Former Lt. Governor Bobby Freeman has passed away. Freeman was 82 years old and served as Lt. Governor from 1980 to 88. Edwin Edwards was the governor during Freeman’s second term and says Freeman was a promoter of race relations…
cut 10 (10) “…to him”
Freeman is also an LSU athletic hall of famer as he was on the school’s boxing team.

Senators on the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee voiced concerns today over the state’s film tax credit program, which is credited with bringing movies and jobs to Louisiana, but studies have shown it’s cost the state more than the revenue it produces. However, Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Columb says she understands that many vital services are looking at cuts, but…
cut 13 (11) “…done here”

In Senate Finance, the leaders for the LSU Hospitals and medical schools express their concerns about potential budget cuts to their facilities. LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport Chancellor G.E Ghali says the proposed budget calls for them to receive a 35-million dollar cut…
cut 8 (12) “…science center”
The Senate will have the opportunity to increase funding to LSU’s medical schools.

A former nurse who worked at the Southeast Louisiana War Veteran’s Home in St. John the Baptist Parish faces felony charges after she allegedly fasified records on a patient who died. Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street says 58-year-old Cheryl Poirrier of LaPlace lied on paperwork that she checked on a patient after he fell in his room and that patient passed away a few hours after his fall…
cut (12) “….after the fact”
Street says there’s also surveillance video that shows she didn’t perform any of the checks.

Officials say a grass cutting crew found a body on Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish. The investigation is just beginning, but authorities say it appears the person’s death was caused by foul play. The body was found in the median.

The leaders of the LSU Health medical schools in Shreveport and New Orleans went before lawmakers to express their concerns about large cuts to their facilities. Shreveport Health Science Center Chancelllor G.E. Ghali says the Shreveport hospitals is already as lean as it can be in terms of employees…
cut 7 (09) “….situation”
Ghali is concerned about accrediation and enrollment if they receive a 35-million dollar cut.

The Senate and Revenue Fiscal Affairs Committee, discussed the state’s film tax credit program today and a couple of lawmakers said the state’s too broke to beef up the program to attract more movies. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says even without the film tax credits, they already know move makers will come to Louisiana…
cut 14 (09) “….this tax credit”
Changes to the state’s film tax credit program could come in a potential special session in June.

Under the current budget proposal for next fiscal year, the LSU Health Science Centers in Shreveport and New Orleans would receive a combined 50-million dollars in cuts to state funding. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Two women in Jefferson Parish died in a crash as they were fleeing the scene of a hit and run, according to deputies. They say it happened in Metairie off the I-10 Service Road and the two women were speeding to try to get away from the initial accident in a Mustang, but then crashed, overturned and skid into a utility pole. But the driver and passenger died at the scene.

A woman who was the on-duty nurse when a patient at a Veterans Home in St. Charles Parish died, is facing charges for allegedly trying to cover up negligence. Inspector General Stephen Street says a resident fell and 58-year-old Cheryl Poirrier failed to keep checking on him, as per policy. He says she then lied about what happened and could go to jail for it…:
CUT 4 (06) “public records”
He says our Veterans deserves are highest level of care and this criminal act is going to be taken very seriously.

In these tough budget times, some state senators are concerned about growing Louisiana’s film tax credit program. Lawmakers are reviewing the budget for next fiscal year which currently contains a $600 million dollar hole, and proposals to cut healthcare and education are on the table. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau thinks the movie incentives don’t have a tangible economic impact:
CUT 12 (07) “investment”
But others who defend the program says the movie making business does bring money to the state especially at the local level.

The spending plan for next fiscal year is moving through the legislature with a proposed $35 million cut to the LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport and about a $15 million cut to the center in New Orleans. Chancellor of the New Orleans center, Larry Hollier (OAL-yay) says this will impact many of their programs..:
CUT 6 (11) “neuroscience center program”
The budget proposal for next fiscal year has been approved by the House and is being debated in the Senate Finance Committee.

Former Lt. Governor Bobby Freeman has passed away at the age of 82. The St. Martinville native served as Lt. Governor from 1980-88, and Edwin Edwards was the governor during Freeman’s second term…”
CUT 9 (10) “a problem”
Freeman’s family says he died this morning after suffering an aneurysm last week.

A former Department of Veterans Affairs nurse could spend time behind bars after a patient at a St. Charles veterans home died under her care. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A motorcyclist in Calcasieu Parish died in a Moss Bluff crash. Deputies say 46-year-old Johnny Coe ran off the road for unknown reasons, crashed and was ejected from his bike. Coe was wearing a helmet, but sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A former nurse with the Department of Veterans Affairs is facing jail time after a patient died under her care. Inspector General Stephen Street says 58-year-old Cheryl Poirrier (pour-e-a) was on-duty the night a resident fell at a Veterans Home in St Charles Parish. He says after a fall, it’s policy to check the patient’s neurological signs for the next 72 hours…:
CUT 3 (12) “the checks”
She is charged with one count of malfeasance in office and four counts of filing false public records.

State Senators and leaders from the Edwards Administration have begun discussions on the more than $26 billion dollar spending plan for next fiscal year. House Bill 1 was approved Friday in the lower chamber, and lawmakers are still expected to make more changes to the proposed budget. The state is facing a $600 million dollar shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1st.

A man who was not buckled up died in a single vehicle crash this morning in Calcasieu Parish. State Police say 33-year-old Quincey Darnell Trail of Lake Charles traveled off the road into a ditch, struck a culvert and overturned several times. Trail was pronounced dead at the scene by the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office.

Today is the deadline for taxpayers to file state tax returns. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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