Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter has filed a bill to increase the state’s gasoline tax by 17 cents. Emelie Gunn has more…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A judge rejects a motion for a new trial for Cardell Hayes, the man convicted of manslaughter in the shooting death of former Saints star Will Smith. Hayes attorneys had a man testify that he heard two different gunshots on the night Smith was killed, but testimony was reportedly bizarre and now Hayes is set to be sentenced on Friday.

Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover wants universities to get out of the beer business and has proposed a bill to do so. Both UL Lafayette and LSU have their own trademarked beers. The schools also say companies already use university colors and logos to promote their beers, and they deserve their fair share of that money. But Glover says if that’s the case, then universities should start paying college athletes their share of the revenue they generate….
cut 11 (11) “…as well”
Glover’s bill will be heard in House Education.

Bossier Parish Sheriff deputies arrest six people in a sex tafficking case after undercover agents performed a sting operation at a Bossier City apartment…
cut 7 (09) “….sex act”
That’s Lt. Bill Davis says deputies rescued two teenage girls from the situation.

A Baton Rouge lawmaker has filed a proposal that would increase the state’s gasoline tax by 17 cents. Louisiana motorists pay 38-cents per gallon, 20-cents in state taxes for gasoline. Representative Steve Carter says it’s been over 20 years since Louisiana increased the state tax on gasoline…:
Cut 3 (09) “of dollars”
A group representing small businesses oppose the increase because many do not believe the funds would go to better roads.

The man convicted of shooting and killing former Saints star Will Smith is slated to be sentenced this afternoon. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino believes the jury was making a statement about Cardell Hayes when the reduced the charge from second degree murder to manslaughter. But he says the judge has plenty to consider…:
Cut 25 (08) “for it”
Thus far today the court has been discussing Hayes’ motion for a new trial.

Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover has filed a bill to prevent universities, like LSU and UL-Lafayette, from branding their own beers. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office says a 10 foot long alligator shut down traffic on La Highway 1 for nearly an hour early this morning. They said a passer by reported the gator sighting in the middle of the road about 330am and that its tail had been run over by an 18-wheeler. LDWF removed the gator and determined it was 10 feet, 11 inches and 400 pounds.

A proposal by Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover would put an end to official university beers. LSU and UL-Lafayette already have their own trademarked suds from local breweries. Glover says college’s branding their own alcohol only encourages underage drinking…:
Cut 9 (10) “in particular”
The bill will be heard first in House Education. That committee today advanced a bill that would allow public school students to bring sunscreen to school and apply it on their own. The vote was 12-1 and heads to the full House.

Governor John Bel Edwards monthly call-in radio show takes place this afternoon at 2pm. Ask the Governor can be heard on certain affiliates of the Louisiana Radio Network.

A proposal heading to the House floor would shorten the waiting period for a divorce to be finalized for couples with minor children. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be featured on the popular HBO Television series Hard Knocks. There was some speculation it would be the Saints.

We’re expecting a sentence to be handed down today in the fatal shooting of former Saints star Will Smith. Cardell Hayes faces up to 60 years. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says Judge Camille Buras has a sentence in mind and it’s most likely a lengthy one…
cut 4 (10) “…unusual”
Hayes attorneys are trying to get their client a new trial and so far all of the court action has been on that motion.

Six people have been arrested in Bossier City for human trafficking as a result of an undercover prostitution operation. Bossier Sheriff’s spokesperson Lt. Bill Davis nine people, including four females, traveled in from Little Rock in the back of a U-Haul. Davis says a local man allowed his apartment to be rented out for prostitution.
Cut 6 (10) “some help”
Davis says two teenage girls asked to be rescued from the situation.
A proposal to shorten the wait time for parents with minor children to receive a divorce wins approval from a House committee. The bill reduces that time from one year to six months. Opponents say making it easier for couples to get divorced doesn’t make it easier on the children, but Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson disagrees…
cut 30 (08) “…they decided”
The full House will decide whether to advance the measure to the Senate.

Southeastern Louisiana University is issuing a promise to incoming freshmen not to raise their tuition, if they commit to completing their degree in four years. University President John Crain…:
Cut 13 (09) “more quickly”
Crain says this ground-breaking program is the only one of its kind of Louisiana and it will help with student recruitment and retention.

Legislation to shorten the waiting period to get divorce for couples with minor children has been approved by a House committee. Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson’s bill would reduce the waiting period from a year to six months. He says this is what’s best for the kids…:
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But Gene Mills with the Louisiana Family Forum says the current one year waiting period gives couples more time to resolve their issues…:
Cut 9 (12) “very reconcilable”
The measure now heads to the House floor.

The DeSoto Parish Coroner’s office says Cameron Anthony Hernandez from Diana, Texas, was killed when a tank exploded near Mansfield. Two others were also injured.

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain has halted the sales of Kaput, which is a poison designed to kill wild hogs, but it can also kill black bears and other animals. Strain says they will look at other options to battle the booming feral swine population…
cut 16 (08) “….that large”
Strain says there is an effort to develop a vaccine that would make feral pigs infertile.

Southeastern Louisiana University is issuing a promise to incoming freshmen not to raise their tuition, if they commit to completing their degree in four years. President John Crain…
cut 11 (12) “…four years”
Crain says they’re seeing students taking longer and longer to earn a bachelor’s degree, and the Southeastern Promise encourages students to graduate in four years.

Southeastern Louisiana University is launching a new program that makes a deal with students if they don’t want to see a tuition hike….:
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A proposal to shorten the waiting period by half for a divorce to be finalized if the couple has minor children advances to the House floor. Currently the wait-time is one year. The bill is Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson’s who says the decision to get a divorce is a big one:
Cut 10 (08) “they decided”
Others say one year gives couples more time to change their mind.

Cardell Hayes, the man who shot and killed former Saints star Will Smith, will be sentenced today after being convicted of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino believes the judge will keep in mind that Cardell Hayes did not have much of a criminal record before this incident…:
Cut 5 (08) “self defense”
Still he believes Hays is looking at 20-40 years.

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain is not ready to allow an FDA approved poison to be used to kill off the massive feral hog population. He says they need to come up with something that will keep other animals, like black bears, away from the fatal food…:
Cut 15 (10) “pigs will eat”
He says they are also working to develop a vaccine that would make the feral pigs infertile to address the growing problem of wild hogs.

The sentencing is slated today for, Cardell Hayes, the man who shot and killed Former Saints defensive end Will Smith…:
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Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter filed legislation Tuesday that would raise the state’s gasoline tax by 17 cents. He says the measure would create about $510 million dollars annually for Louisiana’s roads and bridges. House Bill 632 also prohibits DOTD from using the gas tax revenue for operational costs.

Currently couples in Louisiana who get a divorce and have minor children have to wait a year before the split becomes final, but a bill that advanced out of a House committee Tuesday would reduce the wait time by half. The measure faces opposition from those like Southern University law Professor Michelle Ghetti who is against divorce period…:
Cut 8 (12) “of a step family”
But others say the sooner a divorce is final, the sooner the kids can move on and let healing begin.

Southeastern Louisiana University is issuing a promise to students that they won’t raise tuition if a degree is completed in 4 years. SLU President John Crain says this gives students and their families the ability to budget the exact cost of higher education…:
Cut 12 (10) “of higher education”
He calls the Southeastern Promise a game-changer in Louisiana.

A proposal heading to the House floor would shorten the waiting period for a divorce to be finalized for couples with minor children. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office is still looking for a second suspect in connection to a murder in a Prairieville mobile home. They say Donovan Darville and the victim, 27-year-old Clarence Harvey, were childhood friends but a motive for the shooting is not known. The man at large, Jerald Wall, was allegedly driving the vehicle for Darville when the incident took place.

The man convicted of shooting and killing former Saints star Will Smith is slated to be sentenced today. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino believes the jury was making a statement about Cardell Hayes when the reduced the charge from second degree murder to manslaughter. But he says the judge has plenty to consider…:
Cut 6 (08) “for it”
He expects a sentenced in the range of 20-40 years.

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain has delayed the sale of Kaput feral hog bait in Louisiana, saying it poses too large a danger to other animals. Kaput is a poison that can kill wild pigs, but Strain says black bears can overturn the feeders containing the bait and dump the contents…:
Cut 14 (09) “non-target species”
He says they are looking into different kinds of feeders that cannot be accessed by other animals.