Today the Senate Labor Committee takes up a proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage. Jeff Palermo has more…

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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…

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A Homer teenager has turned himself in to police after allegedly setting a dog on fire. Halen Doughty has more…

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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”

Carter says this modest increase could be huge for families trying to make ends meet. He calls it a fairness bill, because working people deserve an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. He notes the cost of everything else is going up, but wages are not.

Cut 5  (12)  “clothe them”

West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth is concerned about job losses, if the state raised the minimum wage, because some businesses can’t afford to pay higher wages. He adds that a minimum wage and a living wage are two different things.

Cut 6 (10) “minimum wage”

Ruston Representative Rob Shadoin says he would be hesitant to support such an increase, because he represents a lot of small business owners. He says this much of an increase would hurt a lot of small businesses.

Cut 7 (09)  “and tackle shop”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says a bill that seeks to protect Confederate Monuments from being removed, as divisive and generating animosity among legislators. The measure passed the House on Monday. Black lawmakers staunchly oppose the proposal and the governor took notice of the passion that this legislation brought out during the debate.

Cut 8 (09) “do it”

The bill filed by Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody requires voter approval before local government can remove a military monument. Edwards says requiring a vote for any statue to be removed causes many problems. He says the master plan at LSU has the Troy Middleton Library being replaced…

Cut 9 (10)  “for LSU”

Edwards says the Confederate Monuments represent historical figures and there is a certain place for them, which should depend on the will of the people. He says if removed from their original location, the statutes should be moved to a museum where they can teach people.

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Governor John Bel Edwards announces 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”

Edwards says these reforms will also save the state $260 million over the next decade and much of the savings will be used on programs to reduce the recidivism 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 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.

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A 17-year-old is facing a serious charge after police say he set a dog on fire. Claiborne Sheriff Ken Bailey says Carzavian Willis of Homer doused a Yorkie in gasoline, causing severe burns on 80 percent of her body.

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Willis turned himself in to police Monday evening. Bailey says their investigation was complicated by finger pointing among several juveniles who may have been involved. He says they are confident about Willis’ role, but more arrests could be made as this case unfolds.

Cut 15 (10) “taken down”

Bailey says they’re not sure who owned the dog. Willis is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, which is a felony that carries a sentence up to 10 years. The suspect has been released on a $15,000 bond. Bailey says this teenager clearly needs to be behind bars.

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The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus believes white supremacy is behind legislation seeking to protect confederate monuments. Halen Doughty has more…
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On a nine-to-seven vote, the House Ways and Means committee approved a bill that would increase the state tax on a gallon of gasoline by 17-cents. Lake Charles Representative Stephen Dwight voted against it…
cut 15 (09) “…a jump”
Supporters say a higher tax will fund highway improvements. The gas tax hike proposal now heads to the full House.

Governor John Bel Edwards announces 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 30 (10) “offender penalties”
The state senate approved major provisions of the reform package on Tuesday.

Tomorrow, the Senate Finance committee will debate legislation that seeks to raise the state’s mininum wage from $7.25 an hour to $8.50 an hour by January 2019. The proposal faces opposition from Republicans. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says minimum wage and living wage are two different things…
cut 29 (10) “….minimum wage”
Supporters say working people deserve an honest day’s pay for an honest’s day work.

A proposal to raise the state’s gasoline tax by an additional 17-cents a gallon cleared its first legislative hurdle as it was approved by the House Ways and Means committee. It has the support of state Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson..
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The measure heads to the House floor and it will need approval from two-thirds of the representatives.

The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus is offended over House approved legislation aimed at protecting the state’s confederate monuments. Chairman and New Orleans Representative Joseph Bouie says this bills supersedes the authority of local municipalities who have voted to remove such statues.
Cut 3 (08) “white supremacy”
Bouie says it’s their hope the Senate rejects the measure.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest of a father accused of beating his 7 week old baby to death. 25-year-old Anthony Dearmas of Slidell is booked with first degree murder in the death of Karter Smith. Sheriff Randy Smith says Dearmas told detectives why he killed his child…:
Cut 12 (07) “sad excuse”
The parish coroner says Karter sustained 7 fractures to his skull and had bleeding inside his brain.

Allergist Dr. Sanjay Kamboj (San-jay Kam-bozh) with the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans says this is the worst allergy season he’s seen. He recommends washing your face immediately when coming back inside to remove the pollen, which is particularly high this year..
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Kamboj says a warmer than normal winter is partly to blame for the bad allergy season.

A measure to increase the state’s gasoline tax by 17 cents passes out of the House Ways and Means Committee. Emelie Gunn has more…
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Governor John Bel Edwards says a deal has been reached on a package of bills that seeks to lower the state’s highest-in-the nation incarceration rate. Edwards says the plan will reduce the state’s prison population by 10-percent through expanded parole and probation opportunites and shorter minimum sentences for some felons.

A Slidell man is facing first-degree murder charges after he allegedly beat his 7-week-old son to death. St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith says doctors determined severe head injuries to Karter Smith and deputies questioned his 25-year-old father Anthony Dearmas…:
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Smith says Dearmas also admitted he was frustrated due to Karter’s constant crying.

An LSU New Orleans Health Sciences Center allergist says this is the worst allergy season he’s seen as there’s been a 10-to-20 percent increase in patients suffering from symptoms consistent with outdoor allergies. Doctor Sanjay Kamboj (San-jay Kam-bozh) says with virtually no winter, there were only two days this year where there was no pollen count…
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Kamboj recommends washing your face immediately when coming back inside to remove the pollen.

The House Ways and Means Committee approves a proposal to up the state’s gasoline tax by 17 cents. Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter says his bill would help fund a new Mississippi River Bridge to alleviate congestion on the Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge. He says Louisiana cannot continue to let our roads deteriorate.

Cut 13 (10) “unaddressed”

But Eunice Representative Phillip Devillier says this increase would make Louisiana’s gasoline tax the 9^th highest in the country. He says his constituents would gladly pay a little more in taxes if they actually saw construction on roadways.

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The measure passed on a 9 to 7 vote now heads to the House floor.

Members of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus are outraged the House approved a bill to protect confederate monuments. Chairman and New Orleans Representative Joseph Bouie says lawmakers have more important issues facing them.

Cut 4 (12) “our citizens”

The House voted 65 to 31 to advance the bill prohibiting the removal of military monuments.

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

Cut 11 (08) “to live, folks”

Black lawmakers are fuming mad that the bill designed to protect Confederate monuments passed out of the full House. Supporters say they want to let voters decide if a statue in their city is a nuisance or not. But Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Joseph Bouie is calling on senators and the governor not to pass this bill…:
Cut 5 (08) “and legislator”

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest of a father accused of beating his 7 week old baby to death. 25-year-old Anthony Dearmas of Slidell is booked with first degree murder in the death of Karter Smith. Sheriff Randy Smith says Dearmas told detectives why he killed his child…:
Cut 12 (07) “sad excuse”
The parish coroner says Karter sustained 7 fractures to his skull and had bleeding inside his brain.

Today the full Senate is taking up criminal justice reform, and the governor announces a “compromise” package has been reached with District Attorneys’ and Sheriffs’. This is a major part of the Governor’s agenda this session as he wants to reduce the state’s prison population. He says changes have been made in the package to address concerns about certain violent crimes and habitual offender penalties. The negotiated plan would save the state $262 million dollars over 10 years.

Allergy season is particularly bad this year and experts blame the warmer than normal winter keeping the pollen around. Allergist Dr. Sanjay Kamboj (San-jay Kam-bozh) with the LSU Health Sciences Center advises people who get the symptoms of a runny nose or a post nasal drip to cover up when going outside by wearing a hat or a mask. He also recommends washing your face immediately when coming back inside to remove the pollen….:
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Louisiana’s Black Legislative Caucus believes white supremacy is behind legislation seeking to protect confederate monuments…:
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An Allergist with the LSU Health Sciences Center says in all his years as a doctor, this is the worst allergy season he’s ever seen. Dr. Sanjay Kamboj (San-jay Kam-bozh) says there has been a 10 to 20-percent increase in the number of patients coming in with allergies problems…:
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He blames the warm winter which never really burned off the pollen.

A Slidell man is facing first-degree murder charges after he allegedly beat his 7-week-old son to death. St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith says deputies responded to a call about an infant who was not breathing last Wednesday. He says after seeing the severe head injuries to Karter Smith, deputies questioned his father, 25-year-old Anthony Dearmas…:
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Smith says the infant was transported to a local hospital, where doctors later determined the 7-week-o ld was brain dead. Dearmas’ charges were upgraded to first degree murder and he was booked into the St. Tammany Parish jail.

The surging LSU baseball team hosts Northwestern State tonight. The 5th ranked Tigers have won eight of their last ten. Coach Paul Mainieri believes his team’s recent play has put them in position to be a national seed in the NCAA Tournament….
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Mainieri says there’s a chance Bryce Jordan can be available for post-season play. The former Barbe star took batting practice for the first time on Monday since tearing his ACL right before the start of the regular season. Jordan would have to be medically cleared.

Also tonight…28th ranked McNeese State hosts Houston, Southeastern Louisiana faces 17th ranked Southern Miss in Biloxi and UNO battles Tulane at Turchin Stadium.

Former Texas Tech wide receiver Jonathan Giles has announced that he will transfer to LSU. The six-foot, 195-pounder led the Red Raiders with 69 catches for 1,158 yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore last year. He’ll have two years of eligibility after he sits out the 2017 season.

The Advocate newspaper reports running back Adrian Peterson could earn up to 12.5 million dollars if he plays well for the Saints over the next two years. The two-year deal with New Orleans includes incentives for reaching various benchmarks for rushing yards and touchdowns.

In other NFL news…former Cajuns wide receiver Al Riles has signed with the Colts, while ex UL Lafayette linebacker Otha Peters inks a deal with Seattle.

ESPN’s Jeff Goodman reports Louisiana Tech guard Jacobi Boykins has withdrawn from the NBA draft.

Tongiht is the NBA draft lottery, the Pelicans have a four-percent chance of receiving a top-three pick.