Governor Edwards says he’s confident progressive voters in the state won’t abandon him at the polls over his decision to sign one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bans. Matt Doyle has the story.
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The “Truth in Labeling” bill targeting plant based food substitutes has been signed into law by Governor Edwards . Kevin Barnhart has more…
cut 2 (30) I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s not concerned about losing votes over his decision to sign a series of abortion restrictions during the legislative session.
Edwards says his support for the fetal heartbeat abortion ban that would functionally ban abortion six weeks after pregnancy should not have come as a surprise, given his past support for pro-life policy.
Edwards received harsh criticism from national level Democrats after the signatures and is now one of the party’s highest positioned pro-life members.
There’s been rumblings that a second, pro-choice Democrat could enter the race for Governor to capitalize on discontent among progressive voters. Edwards says he’s confident Louisiana Democrats still have his back.
Polling suggests that potential pro-choice progressive candidate could get some traction if they were to run for Governor to the left of Edwards.
The national Democratic party platform is definitively pro-choice, but Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Director Stephen Handwerk says the state party is still rallying behind Edwards, because he shares their values in other areas.
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Governor Edwards has signed the “Truth in Labeling” bill into law prohibiting Louisiana food producers from using terminology like “meat” or “milk” when labeling substitute products created from plants, or “rice” when labeling cauliflower-based substitutes. Senator Frances Thompson authored the bill.
Cut 6 (07) “…is packaged right.”
Opponents of the bill say restrictive language for labeling is a violation of First Amendment rights. Thompson says similar labeling measures are picking up steam across the country.
The Department of Ag will enforce the regulations when they begin in October 2020 with violators of the law receiving a $500 fine per day per violation. Thompson says the goal of the law is not to put anyone out of business.
Cut 8 (10) “…meat or milk.”
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A DOTD worker was killed Wednesday in Simsboro when an 18 wheeler collided with a DOTD truck on LA Highway 563. The worker was standing behind the truck replacing road signs along with the highway.
With an increase of road construction this time of year Louisiana State Police spokesperson trooper Michael Reichardt warns motorist to be more alert.
A toxicology sample was taken at the scene and the accident remains under investigation.
Reichardt says drivers need to remember to keep their eyes on the road, partiucarlly in construction zones.
Reichardt says the Move Over Law is in effect to keep everyone safe, not just first responders and law enforcement.
50- year old Johnny Cole of West Monroe was pronounced dead on the scene.
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Over a million dollars worth of cocaine was found floating 50 miles off the Louisiana coast by a work boat that hauled it back into Port of Iberia and turned the contraband over to authorities.
Iberia Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Major Wendall Raborn says the million-dollar buoy of blow was prepped and wrapped for a waterborne pickup that never came…
The total package weighed in at 75 pounds.
Raborn says they aren’t certain how the package got left stranded on the high seas, but it could have come from an aerial drop from the cartels that just didn’t find it’s mark.
Raborn says the ship captain made the right call immediately phoning in his find to the authorities. He says if you stumble upon a stash, phone it in ASAP…
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Cut 16 (08) “…initial release”
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