The House Transportation Committee put the brakes on a bill that would allow residents to vote on whether or not they want traffic enforcement cameras. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A Covington man has been arrested after allegedly trying to run over an 8-year-old and then ramming a sheriff’s deputy on the interstate. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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FEMA is looking for Louisiana workers to help during disaster response. Supervisor of Human Resources Specialist, Carisa Berkeley says they’re looking to hire 100 reservists from southeast Louisiana to work in FEMA’s public assistance program. She says they’re interested in hiring people with a range of work experience.

Cut 3 (11) “and response”

Berkeley says their reservist program is made up of 23 groups that handle different aspects of disaster response. She says the more robust of a workforce they can create in these areas, the better the response they can offer.

Cut 4  (09) “type of response”

Berkeley says people can view the job openings and apply at LaWorks.net. She says the deadline to apply is tomorrow at midnight. She says this job can help someone advance their own career and at the same time rebuild a community.

Cut 5  (09)  “back together”

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A bill that requires specific training during driver’s education courses on how motorists should behave during a traffic stop received approval from the House Transportation Committee. Plaquemine Representative Chad Brown is the author of the measure…

Cut 6 (10) “traffic stop”

The measure now heads to the full House. Brown says this is just common sense legislation.

Cut 7 (07)  “occupant bill”

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A measure that would leave it up to voters to decide if the state should allow traffic enforcement cameras died in the House Transportation Committee on a 14 to 1 vote.  Author of the bill, Covington Representative Paul Hollis, says he conducted a poll on support for traffic cameras and only 11-percent of those surveyed were in favor of keeping red light and speed cameras.

Cut 8 (09) “about money”

New Iberia Representative Terry Landry says using traffic cameras as a way to enforce red lights and speeding violations is part of the evolution of technology. He also says that putting this up for a vote prohibits local governments from making their own decisions.

Cut 9 (07)  “from them” 

Bogalusa Representative Malinda White says there should be no fear of traffic cameras because drivers should follow the law and not run red lights. She says eliminating traffic enforcement cameras promotes bad behavior.

Cut 10 (11) “are around”

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A Covington man is behind bars after police say he tried to run over an 8-year-old then rammed a sheriff’s deputy on I-12. Capt. Daniel Seuzeneau with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says they received a 911 call about a domestic dispute between 34-year-old Shawn Porrovecchio and his girlfriend.

Cut 11 (09) “inside the vehicle”

Seuzeneau says Porrovecchio also threw baseballs at both the child and his mother. He says deputies spotted the suspect on Highway 21, where he led police in a chase to Interstate 12.

Cut 12 (10) “to crash”

Seuzeneau says both the deputy and the suspect sustained minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals. He says they’re just lucky no one was seriously injured in this incident.

Cut 13 (07) “minor injuries”

Porrovecchio was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail on a list of charges, including attempted first degree murder and domestic abuse.

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A Tulane University professor has filed a lawsuit to keep the city from removing a statue of Confederate General P.G.T Beauregard, which is at the main entrance of New Orleans City Park. Richard Marksbury argues that the City Park Improvement Association is the true owner of the monument and Mayor Mitch Landrieu would need their approval before taking it down.

Cut 14 (08) “those two”

The Beauregard monument is one of four military statutes that are set to be removed by the city of New Orleans in the coming weeks. Marksbury is seeking a temporary restraining order from a judge to halt its removal.

Cut 15 (11) “been done”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser supports the efforts to stop the removal of the Confederate Monuments. Marksbury says if this suit is unsuccessful, he will ask the 4^th Circuit Court of Appeals and see what can be done at that level.

Cut 16  (10)  “city park”

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e House takes up a bill today that would ban corporal punishment in Louisiana schools. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The regular session ends in one month and Jeff Palermo tells us where legislators are with two big issues….

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A bill that would give residents the chance to vote on if they want to remove traffic enforcement cameras will be heard before the House Transportation Committee. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (25) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Today the full House is scheduled to take up a proposal to ban corporal punishment in public schools. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says 19 other states have similar laws on the books. She says children need a safe haven at school.

Cut 4  (09) “abused”

Norton says currently 12 lawsuits are pending around the country stemming from spankings in schools. She says one of pending suits is in the Bayou State and allowing children to be paddled only leaves cash-strapped public schools open to more litigation from angry parents.

Cut 5  (10)  “corporal punishment”

The measure was narrowly approved by the House Education Committee on a 6 to 5 vote. Corporal punishment is allowed in 38 of Louisiana’s 69 school districts. Norton says asking teachers to spank their students also puts an additional strain on the educators.

Cut 6 (10) “the parent”

Opponents to the bill say parents can opt their children out of spankings by signing a form.

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The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors has just named Dr. Chris Maggio the new president of Northwestern State University. Maggio says he’s honored and humbled to accept the position and has been with the university for 29 years.

Cut 7 (11)  “forward”

Maggio succeeds Dr. Jim Henderson who recently became president of the University of Louisiana System. Maggio plans to continue to prioritize higher education given the uncertainty in the legislature.

Cut 8 (09) “education”

Maggio says their world class faculty and academic programing draws in students from all over. He says their Natchitoches campus is warm and inviting, creating the perfect atmosphere for students.

Cut 9 (11)  “on campus”

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A measure to be heard before the House Transportation Committee today would give residents the chance to vote on removing red light or speed cameras that issue traffic tickets. Covington Representative Paul Hollis says enforcement cameras are money grabs for local government.

Cut 10 (09) “to stop”

Hollis says traffic cameras are scams and trample on drivers’ first amendment rights. He says motorists don’t get a chance to confront their accuser.

Cut 11 (10) “a fine”

Over the years lawmakers have brought up various bills to try to regulate traffic cameras and stop cites from installing them, but they have not fared well in the legislature. Local government say they help reduce crashes, especially at intersections. Hollis says he’s confident that given the opportunity, voters will support removing all traffic enforcement cameras.

Cut 12 (10) “right”

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We’re nearing the halfway point of the legislative session, and the legislature still has a long way to go. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says lawmakers tend to be most productive as they get closer to a deadline. The session ends June 8th and Dubos says most of the work will likely get done in the final two weeks.

Cut 13 (10) “gotten done”

The budget remains the biggest priority. The House has sent next fiscal year’s spending plan over to the Senate for approval. It appropriates 97.5 percent of the revenues that the State Treasury will make available. The governor says this will lead to difficult cuts, so Dubos expects the Senate will add money to the budget bill.

Cut 14 (08) “own ideas”

Another key agenda item is criminal justice reform. Dubos expects lawmakers to focus primarily on nonviolent crime during this session. He says it will take the 2018 session to accomplish the goal of overall reform.

Cut 15 (08) “to tackle”

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Lafayette native Antoine Duplantis’ fifth hit of the game sent home the winning run yesterday as the Tigers won a wild contest versus South Carolina, seven to six in ten innings. Duplantis had four singles and one double as the Tigers had 17 hits. Coach Paul Mainieri says when Duplantis is feeling good at the plate, he’s hard to get out…

Cut 16 (14) “big way”

LSU lost 3-2 on Friday, but came back to win on Saturday and Sunday to take the series against the Gamecocks and stay within one game back of the conference leaders Florida and Mississippi State. Mainieri wasn’t surprised the series against South Carolina was tightly played…

Cut 17 (18)  “Super Regional”

Greg Deichmann had three hits on Sunday and drove in two runs, including the game tying run in the 9th inning….

Cut 18 (17)    “the weekend”