The Senate Labor Committee approves a proposal to increase the minimum wage to $8.50 over the next two years. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, and this measure would create a state minimum wage at $8.00 by 2018 and increase to $8.50 by 2019. State Director of the National Federation for Independent Business, Dawn Starns opposes the measure because she says it will create uncertainty for small businesses..:
Cut 3 (10) “in their budgeting”
But Carter says the world doesn’t come to an end when you treat people fairly. He says not only will better wages make for better work environments, it will also help the community…:
Cut 6 (10) “about that”
Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement saying he was pleased the bill advanced, and it’s time to start valuing hard-working families.

The Governor’s monthly call in radio show takes place this afternoon at 2pm on affiliates of the Louisiana Radio Network.

The statue of P.G.T. Beauregard was hauled away in New Orleans by a masked crew last night. Workers took down the monument of the Confederate General as opponents of the removal watched while waving Confederate battle flags and singing the National Anthem…:
Cut 7 (09) “yet wave”
Supporters of the removal threw a party just feet away from the opponents.

A bill by Representative Terry Landry that would eliminate the death penalty for crimes committed on or after August 1st of this year is being heard in the House Criminal Justice committee at this hour. Senator Dan Claitor has the same bill in the Upper chamber that already cleared committee.

A proposal to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana to $8.50 over the next two years was approved by the Senate Labor committee, despite opposition from business groups, who say it will create higher costs for them. Jim Patterson, with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, says other workers will want better compensation too.
Cut 5 (10) “what have you”
The bill heads to the Senate floor.

A 17-year-old Homer teen has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals for allegedly setting a Yorkie on fire. Claiborne Sheriff Ken Baily says they are confident about Carzavian Willis’ role, but more individuals could be arrested…
cut 15 (10) “…taken down”
Willis faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

During the overnight in New Orleans, it took crews seven hours to remove the equestrian statue of Confederate General P.G.T Beauregard. Supporters of the removal threw a party just feet away from the opponents. One onlooker explained why this statue and all Confederate Monuments need to be taken down.
Cut 8 (08) “that nature”
The next monument to go will be of Robert E. Lee.

A compromise has been reached on the criminal justice reform package approved by the Senate. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger will seek to get the lower chamber to agree with the bills that will give Louisiana major sentencing reform for individuals convicted of drug and property crimes…:
Cut 13 (12) “primary accomplishments”
These reforms will save the state $260 million over the next decade.

A third Confederate-era monument has been hauled away in New Orleans. Workers took down a statue of Confederate general P.G.T Beauregard as monument supporters with Confederate battle flags watched. The next statue set to be removed is Robert E Lee, which is the most recognizable of the four statues set for removal.

Governor John Bel Edwards has issues with a House approved bill that would require voter approval before a military monument can be removed…
Voicer 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Senate Labor committee approves a measure that would raise the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $8.50 per hour over the next two years. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter made the argument that cost of everything else is going up, but wages are not….
cut 5 (12) “….clothe them”
A similar bill passed this panel last year, but it didn’t go much father in the legislative process.

Here’s a distrubing story in north Louisiana as a Homer teenager has been arrested for allegedly setting fire to a Yorkie. Claiborne Sheriff Ken Bailey says 17-year-old Carzavian Willis was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, which is a felony that carries a sentence up to 10 years…
cut 16 (09) “….they’ll do”
Bailey says they are not sure who owns the dog.

Governor John Bel Edwards monthly call-in radio show will take place on affiliates of the Louisiana Radio Network this afternoon at 2pm. He announced yesterday an agreement on a criminal justice reform package that seeks to lower the state’s highest-in-the nation incarceration rate. Edwards says the plan will reduce the state’s prison population over the next decade by 10-percent…:
Cut 11 (10) “offender penalties”

The Governor also supports the bill that would raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 which is being heard now in Senate Labor. Ruston Representative Rob Shadoin says he would be hesitant to support such an increase because he believes it would hurt a lot of small businesses…:
Cut 7 (09) “and tackle shop”
But supporters say this modest increase could be huge for families trying to make ends meet.

A crew wearing masks removed the statue of P.G.T. Beauregard last night in New Orleans. It took workers about 7 hours to get the statue, which was one of three declared a public nuisance by the City Council, off of its base.

Governor Edwards responded to the House approved bill that seeks to protect Confederate monuments in the state. He said its divisive and in all his time with the legislature has never seen lawmakers on both sides so passionate about an issue.

A North Louisiana teenager has turned himself in to police after allegedly setting a dog on fire. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A bill to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana is set to be heard today in the Senate Labor Committee. The measure would increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 which supporters say would help workers’ standard of living. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth is concerned about job losses, and says a minimum wage and a living wage are two different things.:
Cut 6 (10) “minimum wage”
Similar measures have failed in years past.

Governor John Bel Edwards doesn’t like the tension he sees among lawmakers over the bill designed to protect Confederate monuments in the state now headed to the Senate…:
Cut 10 (10) “best part”
The third Confederate era statue in New Orleans was removed from its base last night.

A 17-year-old from North Louisiana is facing a serious charge after police say he set a dog on fire. Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey says Carzavian Willis of Homer doused a Yorkie in gasoline, causing severe burns on 80 percent of her body..:
Cut 14 (11) “put down”
Willis is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, which is a felony that carries a sentence up to 10 years.

A compromise has been reached on the criminal justice reform package approved by the Senate on Tuesday. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger will now look to get the lower chamber to agree with the bills that will give Louisiana major sentencing reform for individuals convicted of drug and property crimes…:
Cut 13 (12) “primary accomplishments”
These reforms will save the state $260 million over the next decade.

Governor John Bel Edwards has issues with a House approved bill that would require a vote to remove a military monument. Emelie Gunn has more:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Workers struggled for hours early this morning to remove the statue of Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard in New Orleans. It’s the third Confederate era monument out of four slated for removal in an effort started by Mayor Mitch Landrieu. He says the city should be defined by the future and not the past. Only the statue of Robert E Lee remains.

An agreement has been reached on a criminal justice reform package that seeks to lower the state’s highest-in-the nation incarceration rate. Louisiana District Attorneys Association Executive Director Pete Adams says they support the legislation, because it gives judges alternatives to prison for non-violent offenders…:
Cut 12 (11) “for incarceration”
The state senate approved major provisions of the reform package on Tuesday.

New Orleans Senator Troy Carter hopes legislation to increase the state’s minimum wage will get more support this year than in years past. Today, the Senate Labor Committee takes up Carter’s bill, which would raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 an hour over two years…:
Cut 4 (10) “decent lifestyle”
Opponents say an increase like this would hurt small business.

The third of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans slated for removal has been taken down, as early this morning workers lifted the Beauregard statue off its base.

Governor John Bel Edwards says a bill that seeks to protect Confederate statues is divisive and generates animosity among legislators….:
Cut 8 (09) “do it”
The full House approved a measure filed by Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody that would require voter approval before local governments can remove a military monument. Black lawmakers staunchly oppose the proposal.

Meanwhile the House voted 20-81 to kill legislation that would have prevented dozens of sales tax breaks from coming back in the middle of 2018. The state is facing a more than $1 billion dollar budget gap that hits next year and so far the majority-Republican chamber hasn’t taken action to make a dent in the shortfall.

Today the Senate Labor Committee takes up a proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A proposed 17 cent hike on the state’s gasoline tax has won the approval of the House Ways and Means Committee. Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter says his bill would help fund construction projects, like a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge. He says we cannot continue to let our roads deteriorate.

Cut 13 (10) “unaddressed”

Eunice Representative Phillip Devillier says with this increase, Louisiana would have the 9^th highest gas tax in the country. He says his constituents would gladly pay a little more in taxes if they actually saw construction on roadways.

Cut 16 (08) “have now”

The measure passed 9 to 7 and heads to the House floor.

The Legislative Black Caucus is fuming over a House approved measure to protect confederate monuments. The measure still has to be approved by the Upper Chamber, and Chairman and New Orleans Representative Joseph Bouie is calling on senators to reject the bill.

Cut 5 (08) “and legislature”

The bill was approved by the House on a 65 to 31 vote.

A Slidell man is facing a murder charge after allegedly beating his 7-week-old son to death. St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith says the infant, Karter Smith, was pronounced braindead at the hospital, and his father 25-year-old Anthony Dearmas was charged with first degree murder.

Cut 11 (08) “to live, folks”

The parish coroner says Karter sustained 7 fractures in his skull.