A bill to ban cell phone while driving passed the House Transportation committee. Kelley Ray has more.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

A senate bill that requires juveniles to wait until they are 18 before getting married cleared committee today. Current law allows kids to get married with their parents’ consent as early as 12 years old. Ginger Lecompte is with women united she says 70 percent of child marriages don’t last and it puts young people in a bad spot.

LeCompte says it just makes sense to mandate that kids wait until they are 18 to get married.

Cut 13 (13) “full time job”

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A bill to extend foster care benefits in Louisiana from 18 years old to as much as 21 years old in some cases was passed by the Senate Finance Committee.  The money committee agreed to the legislation, even though it will cost the state an additional million dollars. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says it’s a tragedy that a foster child gets put on the street once they turn 18

Gatti believes that most 18-year-olds will stay in foster care if benefits are extended to 21…

Cut 8 (11) “towards graduation”

One-million-dollars from the BP settlement would be used to finance the extension. The bill next heads to the Senate floor.

The department of wildlife and fisheries wrapped up a two year investigation resulting in one man and one juvenile being charged with numerous crimes. 25 year old Kaenon Constantin and an un-named juvenile have been charged with violating the endangered act by killing two endangered whooping cranes, hunting from a public road, and obstruction of justice.

Constantin faces 65 thousand dollars in fines and up to ten years in jail.

A senate bill that requires juveniles to wait until they are 18 before getting married cleared committee today. Current law allows kids to get married with their parents consent as early as 12 years old. Ginger Lecompte is with women united she says 70 percent of child marriages don’t last and it puts young people in a bad spot.

Cut 12 (14)   “career training”

A bill that makes it illegal to place your hands on your cell phone while driving passed the House Transportation committee. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s measure says you can’t text or hold your phone, while behind the wheel. Jennifer Smith from Stop Distractions dot org says studies have shown cell phones divide your attention…

Cut 9 (14) “your brain.”

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A bill to eliminate the death penalty in cases of first degree murder, child rape, and treason has cleared a senate panel. New Orleans Senator J.P. Morrell’s legislation would apply to offenses after August 1st 2018. Catholic Bishop Shelton Fabre (FOB) testified in favor of the measure.The measure passed on a 4-1 vote, after the testimony from Fabre….

Cut 5  (07) “more violence”

Capital crimes would receive a life prison sentence under the legislation approved by the Senate committee.

A bill to extend foster care benefits in Louisiana from 18 years old to as much as 21 years old in some cases was passed by the Senate Finance Committee.  The money committee agreed to the legislation, even though it will cost the state an additional million dollars. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti of Bossier City says it’s a tragedy that once a foster child gets put on the street once they turn 18

Gatti believes that most 18-year-olds will stay in foster care if benefits are extended to 21…

Cut 8 (11) “towards graduation”

A bill to eliminate the death penalty in cases of first degree murder, child rape, and treason has cleared a senate panel. New Orleans Senator J.P. Morrell’s legislation would apply to offenses after August 1st 2018. Catholic Bishop Shelton Fabre (FOB) testified in favor of the measure.

Morrell says he authored the bill, because the death penalty has not reduced violent crimes.  Fabre says the death penalty is just matching violence with violence.

Cut 4 (13) “how bad.”

A bill to extend foster care benefits in Louisiana from 18 years old to as much as 21 years old in some cases was passed by the Senate Finance Committee.  The money committee agreed to the legislation, even though it will cost the state an additional million dollars. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti believes that most 18-year-olds will stay in foster care if benefits are extended to 21…

Cut 8 (11) “towards graduation”

One-million-dollars from the BP settlement would be used to finance the extension. The bill next heads to the Senate floor.

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A 24-7 Wall Street report shows Louisiana is one of the least taxed places to live in the country. Louisiana taxpayers are tied for fifth in the least amount of taxes paid to local and state governments when compared to other states. LSU economist Doctor Jim Richardson says this state has been a low tax state for years.

Cut 10 (11) “at all”

The Senate approves a bill that makes it clear bestiality is illegal in Louisiana. There is a law that says people can’t have sex with animals, but it’s unenforceable, because it’s contained in legislation that was ruled unconstitutional in 2003, because it criminalized sex between two males or females. Morrell says its important the state has a way to arrest someone for bestiality.

Morrell says the law protects does who have to touch animals in private areas, because they are either a doctor or for scientific research. He says some have complained his legislation is too ambiguous, but that’s not the case…

Cut 14 (04) “explaining it”

A bill to eliminate the death penalty in cases of first degree murder, child rape, and treason has cleared a senate panel. New Orleans Senator J.P. Morrell’s legislation would apply to offenses after August 1st 2018. Catholic Bishop Shelton Fabre (FOB) testified in favor of the measure.

Cut 3 (:09) “culture of death”

A bill to extend foster care benefits in Louisiana from 18 years old to as much as 21 years old in some cases was passed by the Senate Finance Committee.  The money committee agreed to the legislation, even though it will cost the state an additional million dollars. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti of Bossier City says it’s a tragedy that once a foster child gets put on the street once they turn 18

After benefits for foster children are taken away, if they end up in trouble, Gatti says more money is spent taking care of their needs in jail that in a foster home…

Cut 7 (12)  “foster kids”

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The Senate approves a bill that makes it clear bestiality is illegal in Louisiana. There is a law that says people can’t have sex with animals, but it’s unenforceable, because it’s contained in legislation that was ruled unconstitutional in 2003, because it criminalized sex between two males or females. Morrell says its important the state has a way to arrest someone for bestiality

Cut 13 (05)  “to children”

Mini pig

Louisiana Sheriff Association Executive Director Michael Ranatza told the House Appropriations committee that there are 13-hundred people in local jails that have been waiting to go on trial for at least four years. Ranataza says sheriff departments are spending a lot of money to house those who are accused.

The full Senate approves legislation that allows students to wear bulletproof backpacks in a school. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says he filed the legislation in response to the tragic school shooting in Florida in which 17 people were killed…
cut 9 (10) “…guarantee”
The measure heads to the House for more discussion. Legislation that increases penalties for teachers who engage in sexual relationships with students is set for a hearing in a senate committee today. Bossier city senator Ryan Gatti says it makes such an offense a felony.

The Senate approves legislation to allow children to wear bulletproof backpacks at public schools…
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Senate also approves a bill that makes it clear bestiality is illegal in Louisiana. A law on the books prohibits crimes against nature, but it also outlaws sodomy and it was ruled unconstitutional in 2003. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says its important the state has a way to arrest someone for bestiality
Cut 13 (05) “to children”
A 24-7 Wall Street report shows Louisiana taxpayers are tied for fifth in the least amount of taxes paid to local and state governments. LSU economist Doctor Jim Richardson says this state has been a low tax state for years….
Cut 10 (11) “at all”
The report shows Louisiana residents pay just 8-percent of their income to state and local governments.

Coming up for discussion in a Senate committee this morning is a bill that would increase the penalties for teachers who engage in sexual acts with students. Louisiana has seen its share of teachers arrested for having sex with students. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says his proposal calls for a prison sentence between 5 to 40 years if convicted…
cut 16 (08) “…a felony”

A survey by 24-7 Wall Street shows Louisiana residents pay just 8-percent of their income to state and local governments. Jim Shannon has more.
Voicer 2 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

Louisiana Sheriff Association Executive Director Michael Ranatza told the House Appropriations committee that there are 13-hundred people in local jails that have been waiting to go on trial for at least four years. Ranataza says sheriff departments are spending a lot of money to house those who are accused.

The full Senate approves legislation that allows students to wear bulletproof backpacks in a school. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says he filed the legislation in response to the tragic school shooting in Florida in which 17 people were killed…
cut 9 (10) “…guarantee”
The measure heads to the House for more discussion.

And in the House Transportation Committee today, a bill will be heard that makes it illegal to handle your phone while driving. Texting and driving is currently illegal in Louisiana, but advocate Suzanne Salter says very few ticekts are written…
cut 6 (11) “…than five”
Salter’s daughter was killed in 2014 wreck caused by a texting driver.

Louisiana students performed poorly on the National Assessment of Education Progress exams. The state’s fourth-graders had the worst math scores in the nation and finished 49th in reading. Eighth graders didn’t perform much better, 50th in math and 48th in reading. Last year was the first time, fourth graders took the math portion of the exam on a computer.

Emotional testimony is expected this morning in the House Transportation committee where they’ll vote on a “hands free” bill while driving. Suzanne Salter says the measure by Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval doesn’t say you can’t talk on a cell phone while driving, it just can’t be in your hand…
cut 5 (10) “….steering wheel”
Salter’s daughter was killed in a car wreck caused by a texting driver.

A 24-7 Wall Street report says Louisiana is ranked fifth in the nation in the least amount of taxes paid to local and state governments. LSU Economist Doctor Jim Richardson….
cut 11 (08) “…property taxes”
The report shows Louisiana residents pay just eight percent of their income to state and local governments.

The Senate has approved legislation that makes it clear Louisiana prohibits the sexual abuse of animals. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says the bill also makes it illegal to traffick animals for sex acts, which he says happens in Louisiana…..
cut 14 (04) “….explaining it”
But despite its passage, 10 senators voted against the bill. Morrell said during floor discussion some lawmakers believed the legislation was too ambiguous. The measure still needs House approval before heading to the governor’s desk.

The Senate also approved a bill that allows students to wear bulletproof backpacks in school.