The massive amounts of rainfall Louisiana has experienced in the last month has caused some problems with the corn crop. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The House will hear three measures this week that seek to help ex-inmates reenter society. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Only two weeks are left until Tax Day, which means time is running out to file federal taxes. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________________

This season’s corn crop is off to a soggy start after record amounts of rainfall during March. LSU Ag Center corn specialist Dan Fromme says it’s been a challenging year so far. He says we’ve seen rain in excess of 20 inches and some corn fields are still underwater.

cut 4  (09)  “as well”

Fromme says this will have a significant impact on the economy. He says the corn that came up early on in the year has been sitting in water for a while.

Cut 5  (07)  “root system”

Fromme says there are still a few weeks left to plant corn and the hope is for dry weather. He says before the corn planting season is over, they’ll have around 400 to 450-thousand acres planted.

Cut 6 (09)  “the air” 

___________________________________________________

Three proposed bills aim to help ex-prison inmates reintegrate into society are set to be heard on the House floor this week. One would create a certificate of employability that former-felons could show potential employers. Holly Harris, Executive Director for the US Justice Action Network, says people getting out of jail need opportunities to help reduce the recidivism rate.

CUT 7 (12)  “to prison”

Another proposal would establish three new “reentry courts” in the state, in addition to 9 that are already in place. The new programs would be established in Houma, Lake Charles, and Livingston. Harris says these programs are essential to criminals who are trying to get their lives back on track.

Cut 8  (08)  “reentry process”

One of the bills would encourage people to become mentors to offenders who are under court supervision. Harris says there are of other ways Louisiana can reduce its incarceration numbers down.

Cut 9 (06)  “sentencing reform”

___________________________________________________

There are only two weeks left until Tax Day, which is April 18, and time is running out to file federal taxes. IRS Spokesperson Lea Crusberg says usually April 15^th is the deadline, but those who like to wait until the last minute have a couple of extra days to work with.

Cut 10 (10) “this year”

Crusberg advises people not to get in a hurry filing taxes, because careless mistakes can be made, like forgetting to sign or putting the wrong social security number on their return. She says filing taxes electronically can help avoid these errors.

cut 11 (04) “the math”

Crusberg says people who make less than $62-thousand a year are eligible for free electronic filing. She says those individuals who live in one of the 30 parishes that have been declared a federal disaster area are allowed to file after April 18^th and that information can be found at I-R-S-dot-gov.

cut 12 (07) “this year”

______________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards has told state Democratic Party leaders to get behind Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell in the US Senate race.  UL Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says Edwards endorsement of the populist politician from north Louisiana is a real boost for his campaign….

Cut 13 (08)  “Foster Campbell”

Edwards says Campbell has shown he can win elections when people don’t believe a Democrat can or should win. But Cross says Edwards endorsement does not guarantee a spot in the runoff, because this will be a race that will focus on national issues…

Cut 14 (09)  “inside track” 

Cross says Edwards endorsement does not bode well for the other prominent Democrat in the race, New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard, who comes from a family that’s been long supported by the Democratic Party….

Cut 15 (08) “Memorial Day”

____________________________________________________________________

There’s about two more weeks to go in spring football and LSU Coach
Les Miles likes the improvement from his quarterbacks. Brandon
Harris, Danny Etling and Justin McMilan each completed passes for a high
percentage in a scrimmage on Saturday, with Harris leading the trio with
246 passing yards. Miles says there’s more confidence with the group…

Cut 16  (16)  “good offense”
Miles liked what he saw from sophomore defensive end Arden Key, who had
six tackles and one sack. The coach freshman linebacker Devin White from
North Webster High School was also impressive…

Cut 17 (10) “in tackles”

Miles says the story of Saturday’s scrimmage was the play of the
quarterbacks…

Cut 18 (12) “today”

Slidell police are searching for a wanted man after a search of his home found human remains and animal bones in a makeshift altar. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

================

With all the new sales tax laws going into effect today, compliance could be a problem. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

===================

Police are searching for a man in the New Orleans area after a search warrant led to a gruesome discovery of human remains and animal bones in a Slidell home. Sgt. Daniel Seuzeneau with the Slidell Police Department says 31-year-old Joshua Roques’ home contained ritualistic items unlike anything he’s ever seen.

CUT 3 (12)  “animal bones”

Seuzeneau says the makeshift altar was surrounded by ritualistic materials, candles, and blood. But he says they do not think the human bones are related to a homicide.

CUT 4 (09)  “very bizarre”

Seuzeneau says Roques is wanted on multiple charges, including cremating human remains, unlawful disposal of remains, opening graves, mutilating human remains, and possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. He says they believe Roques maybe trying to flee the state, as he is originally from California.

CUT 5 (09)  “Louisiana plates”

============================

Compliance could be a problem for businesses and vendors as new sales tax laws go into effect today. That’s according to Jason Decuir, an attorney with Ryan’s tax service. Decuir says the numerous sales tax exemptions that have been temporarily removed are causing headaches for those who are in charge of collecting taxes.

CUT 6 (10) “how long”

Decuir says some businesses will find it difficult to collect the right amount of tax. For instance, sales of Girl Scout cookies is subject to a tax, as well as, admission to various museums and the selling of newspapers at a grocery store. He says Louisiana already has a sales tax system that ranks the worst in the country.

CUT 7 (06) “to navigate”

Decuir says if vendors don’t collect the right amount of taxes, it will cause problems with the state trying to solve the budget deficit. He says this is difficult for some businesses, because many haven’t had to collect sales taxes on certain items before.

CUT 8 (09) “of tax”

=========================================================

Monroe and Shreveport broke records for rainfall totals during the month on March. Shreveport received 12.8 inches, which is the highest amount since 1945 and Monroe set a record with 24.4 inches of rain. Jason Hansford with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says much of this rain fell during the span of a few days.

CUT 9 (10) “day record”

Hansford says historic amounts of rain fell in north Louisiana during the month of March. He says there are many bayous and rivers still at flood stage and the recent rainfall isn’t helping, but…

cut 10 (06)  “next week”

Hansford says it’ll be tough to beat the rainfall amounts north Louisiana saw during March 2016. He says we likely won’t see these levels again during our lifetime.

Cut 11 (09) “to go”

===========================================================

Seven Louisianans have died in crashes between cars and trains within the last three months. These tragedies have prompted the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission to urge motorists to always obey alerts at railroad crossings. Spokesperson Mark Lambert says for the entire year of 2014, there were seven train related deaths so this increase is alarming…

cut 12 (10) “as well”

Lambert says train related crashes are tragic accidents that we see far too often. He says sometimes, motorists get impatient and drive around the railroad crossing arms.

Cut 13 (08)  “can’t win”

Lambert says when you see train tracks, even if they don’t have crossing arms or lights, always think a train is coming. Also, he says don’t get too close to the tracks when you’ve stopped.

cut 14 (07)  “the tracks”

=================================================

Legislation to allow drivers to park on the wrong side of the road in residential areas passed in the Senate Transportation Committee. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

A proposed bill that seeks equal pay for men and women was approved by the Senate Labor Committee. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

According to AAA, quarterly gas prices are lower than they’ve been in over a decade, as the average price for a gallon of gas in the state is $1.88. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________________

Three weeks into the regular legislative session and things are still moving slow. The biggest piece of legislation so far has been the minimum wage bill clearing the Senate Labor Committee. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says legislators were burnt out after a tough special session.

cut 4  (08)  “school reform”

Pinsonat expects the voucher program along with teacher reforms to be big issues discussed during this session. He says the TOPS program is also another topic that will be heard.

Cut 5  (08)  “have TOPS”

Pinsonat says legislators have raised various taxes like on alcohol and cigarettes but still haven’t raised enough revenue for the next fiscal year. He says anything that has to do with the budget will be a hot topic in the coming weeks before the session ends on June 6^th.

Cut 6 (10)  “next year” 

___________________________________________________

A bill to make it legal to park on the wrong side of the road in residential areas has passed in the Senate Transportation Committee. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says currently it’s illegal to park in the opposite direction, but he believes the law was intended for highways only. He says it doesn’t pose a public safety hazard in residential areas.

CUT 7 (10)  “an hour”

Martiny says parking the wrong way on a residential street is not a safety problem. He says ticketing drivers parked like this is subject to abuse by local officials for economic gain.

Cut 8  (09)  “budget problem”

Martiny says uniformly parked cars look nicer, but it isn’t the government’s place to make sure everything looks pretty in your subdivision.

Cut 9 (08)  “statute”

___________________________________________________

A bill seeking equal pay for men and women in Louisiana has been approved by the Senate Labor Committee. According to data from the US Census Bureau, women make 65-cents for every $1 a man makes, and that gap is even wider for minority women Author of the bill, New Orleans Senator JP Morrell, says this is not acceptable.

Cut 10 (10) “than men”

Governor John Bel Edwards went before the committee to tout his support for the measure. He says women deserve equal pay for equal work to their male counterparts.

cut 11 (07) “of us”

Dawn Starns, with the National Federation for Independent Business, opposes the legislation. She says legislation is already in place to protect equal pay.

cut 12 (07) “business owners”

Renee Amar, with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, says determining what is “comparable work” could pose a problem for employers. She also says things like education, experience, and market prices determine how much an employee is paid.

Cut 13 (06)  “their wages”

______________________________________________

Drivers are paying the cheapest quarterly gas prices in 12 years. That’s according to Triple-A, who says Americans have saved almost $10-billion on gas this year compared to the same period in 2015.  AAA spokesperson Mike Right says people are well on their way to significant savings on gas this year.

Cut 14 (06)  “gasoline bill” 

Right says this is leading to a record-breaking number of motorists out on the roads, according to US Department and Transportation numbers. The average price for a gallon of gas in Louisiana is about $1.88. Right says we could see prices at the pump increase in the coming months.

Cut 15 (08) “Memorial Day”

Right says greater demand for gas and refineries’ annual maintenance are driving up prices. But he says even with those factors, gas prices will not get as high as they were this time last year.

Cut 16  (06)  “last year”

_____________________________________

The 14th ranked LSU Baseball team looks for its first series win in SEC play this weekend as they visit Auburn for a three-game series that starts tonight. The Tigers are 2-and-4 in league play and have lost three of their last four overall. Sophomore right-hander Alex Lange will start tonight on the mound tonight for the Tigers.

Cut 17 (10) “as possible”

LSU enters this weekend’s action, tied for fifth place in the SEC West. Starting shortstop Kramer Robertson says they are trying to remain loose.

Cut 18 (12) “good results”

Southeastern Louisiana takes a 15-game winning streak into this weekend’s home series against Nicholls. The Lions are led on the mound by senior left-hander Kyle Cedotal, who is 4-2 with a 1.15 ERA. S-L-U Coach Matt Riser says Cedotal will get the start tonight.

Cut 19 (17) “go out”

The Lions are 20-6 on the season, 9-0 in the Southland Conference. Riser says his team is motivated to reach the NCAA Tournament after missing it last year.

Cut 20 (18) “ballclub”

Lafayette’s own local celebrity, 23-year-old MacKenzie Bourg, will find out tonight if he’ll advance to the Top 3 on the final season of American Idol. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (32)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

================

The Senate Labor Committee has approved the bill to increase the state’s minimum wage to $8.00 an hour in 2017 and then to $8.50 in 2018. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

===================

A bill to allow hunters to wear blaze pink in addition to hunter’s orange passes out of the House. Author of the legislation Bogalusa Rep. Malinda White says all this does is give another option that has been proven to be safer. She says Wisconsin has already passed this law and other states are looking into doing the same…

CUT 3 (07)  “safety”

White says the blaze pink attire would be simple and without embellishment to meet the 400 square inches of color requirement. She says pink will stand out in the woods.

CUT 4 (08)  “and yellows”

White says men can wear blazing pink too.

CUT 5 (09)  “that here”

============================

Lafayette’s own local celebrity, 23-year-old MacKenzie Bourg, will find out tonight if he’ll advance to the Top 3 on the final season of American Idol. The Fox signing competition show resumes at 7pm where the voting results from last week will be announced, at the contestant with the lowest total will be eliminated. MacKenzie’s dad, Rudy Bourg, says his son is an inspiration…:

CUT 6 (08) “last second shot”

If MacKenzie makes it through tonight, fans can vote for him by texting “7″ to 21523, call 1-866-IDOLS-07 or online at american-idol-dot-com-slash-vote. Lots of folks from Acadiana will be on tonight’s show from footage taken at MacKenzie’s homecoming parade last Saturday in Lafayette. Thousands of fans gathered for the celebration and Mr. Bourg says it was absolutely surreal…:

CUT 7 (07) “overwhelming”

Mackenzie made local headlines when he made it onto “The Voice” during season 3, but was eliminated in the live rounds. Mr. Bourg says it’s incredible that five years ago his son was fighting for his life due to a sudden illness, and now he’s where he’s at today…:

CUT 8 (09) “at life”

=========================================================

The bill to increase the state’s minimum wage to $8.00 an hour beginning next year, and then to $8.50 in 2018 passed out of the Senate Labor Committee with a 4-3 vote. Governor John Bel Edwards testified in support of increasing the minimum wage today. Edwards says Louisiana households are unable to afford their basic necessities. He says it’s not just high school and college students who are working for minimum wage.

CUT 9 (06) “monthly expenses”

The bill now heads to the Senate floor. Edwards says this is an investment in Louisiana families, which is an investment in our state as a whole. He says this slight increase in minimum wage would help solve the problem of childhood poverty in the state.

cut 10 (08)  “and raising”

Baton Rouge business owner Mark Johnson opposes the increase because he says it would impact small businesses production costs.

Cut 11 (09) “bottom line”

Johnson says this would leave business owners with difficult decisions about absorbing the new costs.

cut 12 (06) “your choices”

===========================================================

Even though Republican US Senator David Vitter is leaving office at the end of this year, he’s still holding town hall meetings across the state getting feedback from voters. Vitter held a town hall meeting in Ascension parish this morning, and he will have another one today in Rapides parish. Vitter says he’s hearing primarily about jobs and highway improvements.

Cut 13 (09)  “is important”

Vitter says during his final year in office he will be focusing on chemical safety reform and improving infrastructure access. He says he still plans on getting out of politics once his term ends in January.

cut 14 (09)  “our lives”

There are eight well-known candidates that are running for the open seat. Vitter doesn’t plan on making any endorsements for the US Senate race until after the primaries.

cut 15 (08) “the race” 

===========================================================

Today the Senate Labor Committee is scheduled to hear a proposal that would raise the minimum wage to $8.00 an hour beginning next year, and then to $8.50 in 2018. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The state sales tax will increase to five cents starting tomorrow along with a few other taxes. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

A bill has been approved by the House Health and Welfare Committee that would require legislative approval to waive work requirements for food stamp benefits. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________________

The Senate Labor Committee is expected to hear a proposal today to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana from $7.25 to $8.00 an hour, beginning next year, and then to $8.50 in 2018. State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business Dawn Starns says businesses already pay competitively based on what they can afford.

cut 4  (07)  “of poverty”

Starns says once entry-level employees get this pay raise, upper-level employees will expect one as well. She says this will hit smaller businesses’ bottom line, and they just can’t afford that right now.

Cut 5  (07)  “in jobs”

Governor John Bel Edwards is in support of a higher minimum wage and so is Louisiana Budget Project director Jan Moller. Moller says $7.25 an hour is not a living wage…

Cut 6 (12)  “ends meet” 

Moller says the current minimum wage is not enough to get by. He says this is a modest proposal that will not lead to job loss in Louisiana.

CUT 7 (06)  “25-cents”

___________________________________________________

Tomorrow the state sales tax will increase from four cents to five cents until June 30, 2018. LSU Marketing Professor Dr. Dan Rice expects some people looking to make a major purchase will try to get that out of the way before the increase goes into effect. But he says this likely won’t change consumer’s purchasing habits.

Cut 8  (10)  “quite frankly”

Rice says most consumers are aware of the higher sales tax, but doesn’t see many stores reducing their prices to offset the tax increase.

Cut 9 (09)  “minority”

Also, state taxes on cigarettes and alcohol will increase on Friday. Rice says shoppers making big purchases, like vehicles or furniture, will likely see a difference after the sales tax goes up.

Cut 10 (08) “situation”

___________________________________________________

A bill to prevent peeping Toms from using drones to spy on people received unanimous support from the House Criminal Justice Committee. Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter says his bill will somewhat duplicate existing laws by adding the use of an unmanned aircraft to video surveillance crimes.

cut 11 (09) “those crimes”

The bill now heads to the House floor for debate. Hunter says the purpose of this bill is to keep up with the times and make sure criminals do not have an out for using a drone as a way to invade someone’s privacy.

cut 12 (08) “and prosecuted”

Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says she wants to make sure that kids playing with drones can’t get arrested under this new proposal.

Cut 13 (07)  “with that”

______________________________________________

The House health committee approves a bill that calls for legislative approval to waive work requirements for food stamp recipients. Under federal law, people are required to either work or perform 20 hours a week of community service in order to qualify for food stamps, but that isn’t the case in Louisiana, because it receives a waiver. Monroe Representative Jay Morris says this legislation would require people to work to receive SNAP benefits.

Cut 14 (10)  “time to time” 

Republicans have criticized Governor John Bel Edwards’ decision to waive the work requirements for food stamp recipients, which average nearly 200-dollars in monthly benefits.  Morris says unemployed able-bodied adults should be required to take steps towards getting a job before they receive government assistance…

Cut 15 (07) “for society”

The state Department of Children and Family Services recently estimated there are 31-thousand able bodied adults who would lose their benefits, if they were required to find work. The governor’s attorney Matthew Block says they are working to make sure there are enough job training and job placement services before re-instating the work requirements.

Cut 16  (13)  “SNAP benefits”

_____________________________________

It’s the final day at LSU for the legendary voice of the Fighting Tigers, Jim Hawthorne, as he is retiring effective today. Hawthorne has been on the radio call for thousands of LSU events over the past 35 years. He says he has enjoyed his time announcing for the Tigers.

Cut 17 (06) “forget it”

As the Voice of the Tigers, he has broadcast all six of LSU’s national championships in baseball, two national titles in football and three Final Four appearances for the men’s basketball team. Hawthorne says his only regret is the ending of this year’s men’s basketball season.

Cut 18 (12) “so be it”

Hawthorne is looking forward to retirement and spending more time visiting his family and traveling with his wife. He says he is just about done cleaning out his office.

Cut 19 (13) “so many years”

A bill heading to the House floor would extend the waiting period for an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

================

The Department of Corrections is investigating whether incarcerated rapper C-Murder recorded a new single while in Angola. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (26)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

===================

A bill has passed out of the House Health and Welfare Committee that would extend the waiting period for an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. The only exception is if the women has to travel more than 150 miles to the nearest abortion clinic. Cindy Collins with the Louisiana Abortion Recovery Alliance says the current law does not give women enough time to reflect on their options.

CUT 3 (12)  “enough time”

The bill now heads to the House floor for further consideration. No one spoke out in opposition, but pro- choice groups are concerned about another legal hurdle that could be facing women who are seeking an abortion. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says extending this longer waiting period is necessary to allow women to make the right decision.

CUT 4 (04)  “can do”

Five other states have similar waiting periods. Monroe Representative Katrina Jackson says this decision will emotionally affect a woman for the rest of her life.

CUT 5 (10)  “time period”

============================

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of murdering his wife and dumping her body in the spillway canal near Palmetto. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says 52-year-old Sam Clark, Jr. admitted to police he shot 28-year-old Kimberly Perkins Clark twice in the head on the spillway levee bridge. Guidroz says the couple had a very abusive relationship…

CUT 6 (05) “pretty rough”

Guidroz says detectives had plenty of physical evidence to tie Clark to the murder of his wife before he confessed. He says the couple was driving over the bridge in Sam Clark’s truck before she was killed.

CUT 7 (10) “the water”

Clark is charged with second degree murder.  Guidroz says they believe Kimberly Clark was dead for about 12 to 15 hours before her body was found.

CUT 8 (10) “called us”

=========================================================

Louisiana could get hit with two to four inches of rain today as a severe weather system moves into the state. Forecaster with the National Weather Service in Shreveport Patrick Omundson advises people to be on the lookout for severe weather threats.

CUT 9 (09) “winds too”

Omundson also cautions people to watch out for lightening today. He says much of the state will get around two inches of rain, but isolated areas could get more.

cut 10 (04)  “as well”

Much of north Louisiana is under a flash flood watch. Omundson says the flash flooding risk is greater, because of all the backwater left from the recent flooding.

Cut 11 (11) “significant flooding”

===========================================================

A measure to create protection for public school students who are parents or expectant mothers has been passed out of the Senate Education Committee. New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop says the Louisiana Expectant and Parenting Students Act will help both mothers and fathers receive a diploma.

cut 12 (09) “young people”

The bill now heads to the full Senate for more debate. Metairie Rep. Stephanie Hilferty is a co-author of the legislation. She says statistically only 40 percent of teen mothers finish high school and 30 percent of female students that drop out say the reason was due to pregnancy.

Cut 13 (10)  “child’s birth”

Hilferty says as much support a mother can get from the state while in the high school environment will reap substantial rewards. She says teen pregnancy has a generational effect if we don’t help these parents return to high school after their maternity leave.

cut 14 (10)  “older parents”

===========================================================

The Senate advances legislation that would make Louisiana in federal compliance with the Real ID Act. The bill’s author, Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Colomb, says this is a measure that was passed by Congress…:

cut 15 (09) “Homeland Security” 

The proposal passed 31-7 and heads to the House. A similar bill received legislative approval last year, but it was vetoed by former Governor Bobby Jindal. Colomb says her bill this year includes language that would give citizens the option…:

cut 16 (04) “to get one”

(Governor John Bel Edwards says he will sign the bill if it passes.)

Two bills on abortion will likely be heard today in the House Health and Welfare Committee. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Louisiana could see severe weather today and tomorrow. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating is up to 52-percent in Louisiana, according to a recent poll paid for by Rebuild Louisiana. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________________

The national Storm Prediction Center says Louisiana is one of several states at risk for severe weather today and tomorrow. Forecasters say damaging wind, hail and tornadoes are possible. State Climatologist Barry Keim says heavy rainfall is also a concern…

cut 4  (07)  “a problem”

Keim says two large weather systems are moving through the state, bringing with them the treat for all sorts of severe weather.

Cut 5  (10)  “into Friday”

In late February, Louisiana experienced a tornado outbreak and earlier this month widespread historic flooding occurred, which is still impacting several parishes. Keim hopes this latest storm system is not a repeat of these two events…

Cut 6 (11)  “heavy rainfall” 

___________________________________________________

Two bills regarding abortion are expected to be heard in the House Health and Welfare Committee today. One of the measures would extend the waiting period for a person seeking an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. Deanna Wallace, Legislative Director for Louisiana Right to Life, says this proposed law is looking out for the well-being of the mother.

CUT 7 (08)  “process”

Wallace says studies show there is a statistic drop in the suicide rate when states adopt a longer waiting period because abortion can effect a woman’s mental health. She says when a mother has more time to make an informed and cautious decision.

Cut 8  (10)  “that child”

Wallace says another bill would require all doctors performing abortions in Louisiana to be board eligible or certified. She says it ensures the doctors are committed to the safety of their patients and it’s a common sense bill.

Cut 9 (08)  “the law”

___________________________________________________

Beginning April 1, the state tax will increase on all types of alcohol by one to two cents per serving. Executive Director of the Beer Industry League of Louisiana John Williams says although the state tax on beer in Louisiana has not been increased since 1948, Louisiana has always had a relatively high alcohol tax.

Cut 10 (09) “the rate”

This tax hike is permanent, and it does not have an expiration date like other similar bills that were passed in the special session. Williams says someone will have to absorb these costs, either consumers or alcohol retailers.

cut 11 (05) “obviously”

The new tax is expected to bring in nearly $5 million between April 1 and June 30. Williams says the brewery industry is growing in the state, and this increased tax will hurt them…

cut 12 (06) “tax”

-______________________________________________

A new poll shows Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating is at 52-percent. The poll was paid for by Rebuild Louisiana, which is a pro-Edwards organization. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says a previous poll found Edwards’ support at 42-percent, so these numbers are not outside the realm of possibility.

Cut 13 (11)  “of Louisiana”

The poll also asked respondents about issues the governor is supporting in the regular session. It found nearly 90-percent of respondents favor equal pay for men and women. Additionally, 73-percent support raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 an hour. But Stockley says a republican-controlled legislature has a different stance.

Cut 14 (09)  “to doing” 

Stockley says the governor could use this poll to his advantage in showing legislators that their constituents support his proposals.

Cut 15 (08) “to see”

A majority of those polled also favor investing in a passenger rail service that connects New Orleans and Baton Rouge, as well as accepting federal funding to expand the state Medicaid program.

State health officials are advising flood victims to check their home for mold. Emelie Gunn has some tips…

CUT 1 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

 The F.D.A. has pushed back the date to enforce calorie content menu labeling. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (24) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The head of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association says it’s very quiet out there when it comes to production. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (24) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________________

A report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services finds Medicaid expansion will improve mental healthcare in Louisiana. Director for the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services Vikki Wachino says in states where Medicaid was expanded, there was an increase in residents receiving regular preventive care and a decrease in patients skipping medications because of costs.

cut 4  (09)  “their economy”

Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Richard Frank says expanding Medicaid offers states unique opportunities to address mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. He says it brings people into effective treatment and is fully paid for under Obamacare.

Cut 5  (07)  “coverage”

The report says 81-thousand Louisianans who suffer from mental illnesses or substance abuse would likely qualify for Medicaid after the expansion. Frank says states can be expected to have a more productive workforce, because expanding treatment means healthier and more productive citizens.

Cut 6 (05)  “healthy” 

___________________________________________________

State health officials have tips to clean up and remove mold from flooded homes. Gina Lagarde, with the state Department of Public Health, says mold can cause coughing, itchy eyes and headaches. She advises when you’re cleaning up mold to wear protective gear, because spores can be released into the air.

CUT 7 (08)  “the mold”

Lagarde says look for water stained, water lined, and dark spots on the ceiling or walls. She says if you smell a musky order or earthy scent, you likely have mold…

Cut 8  (08)  “the home”

Lagarde says making sure you area is dry and fixing the moisture problem is just as important as cleaning the mold, because it can come back if damp. She says ventilation throughout the home is key to keeping the mold out.

Cut 9 (10)  “recurrence”

___________________________________________________

The Food and Drug Administration is delaying enforcing rules to require chain-restaurants to post a calorie content on their menu until 2017. Pennington Biomedical Research Center Professor Dr. Catherine Champagne understands the challenges restaurants face in posting calorie information on their menu, but it would greatly benefit those who watch their calorie intake.

Cut 10 (10) “in advance”

Champagne says the biggest challenge will be enforcing the calorie content rule. She says often times menus change, so it makes it difficult for businesses to have up to date nutritional information.

cut 11 (10) “all times”

Champagne believes adding the calorie content of food to menus will be beneficial for people who care about what they eat. She says those that are conscious of what’s going into their bodies will be the people that pay attention to the labels.

cut 12 (09) “the population”

-______________________________________________

Drilling activity has hit an all-time low in Louisiana. That’s according to Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association. Briggs says 25 rigs are running in the Gulf of Mexico and only five are in operation on land in south Louisiana…

Cut 13 (09)  “that low”

With oil trading at around 40-dollars a barrel, there’ s not much hope that rig activity will pick up in the near future. Briggs says this could lead to more layoffs and businesses in the oil and gas industry shutting down…

Cut 14 (11)  “hang on” 

Briggs says it’s a depressing time right now, but the industry will come back. He says on the bright side several financial institutions in New York are looking to take advantage of the slow activity and invest in the industry now…

Cut 15 (08) “buying production”

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is not happy with how Louisiana is allocating its delegates and he’s threatening a lawsuit. Don Molino has the story…

CUT 1 (27)  “I’m Don Molino”

================

Hollywood South is in bad shape since a law was passed last year that essentially puts a cap on Louisiana’s film tax incentives. Michelle Southern speaks with Celtic Studios Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn..:

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

===================

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has tweeted out that a lawsuit is coming over the possibility he could receive fewer delegates from Louisiana than Senator Ted Cruz, even though Trump won the Louisiana Presidential Primary. State republican party executive director Jason Dore says they’ve followed the rules when it comes to allocating the delegates

CUT 3 (08)  “the delegates”

Trump has 18 delegates from Louisiana and so does Cruz, who lost by two-percent of the popular vote during Louisiana’s March 5th presidential primary. Dore says at issue is what will happen with the five delegates awarded to Senator Marco Rubio, who has since dropped out of the race and five other delegates that have been unallocated since the primary…

CUT 4 (11)  “certain way”

Dore says it’s likely the five delegates awarded from Rubio and the five unallocated delegates will remain uncommitted until the Republican National Convention…

CUT 5 (08)     “final decision”

============================

Hollywood South has taken a major hit over the past year since the legislature passed a measure that puts a cap on Louisiana’s film tax incentives. That’s according to Celtic Media Centre Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn. He says what’s scaring films away is the manner in which lawmakers capped the movie credits, which he compares to retail mail in rebate coupons…:

CUT 6 (10) “somewhere else”

Mulhearn says film executives are choosing to spend their money in states & nations where they know for sure obligations will be honored. He says the biggest film union in Louisiana reports that only 37% of their members are employed right now…:

CUT 7 (05) “out of work”

Mulhearn says they haven’t had any major movies filming at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge since August. He says Louisiana’s film industry could be saved if lawmakers consider proposals to change the way the movie tax credit program is capped during the potential second special session…:

CUT 8 (08) “issuance cap”

=========================================================

Four more parishes have been added to the Presidential Disaster Declaration area, which means victims of the historic flooding are eligible for federal assistance. One of those parishes is Rapides and their homeland security director Sonya Wiley-Gremillion says 60 homes were flooded along the Red River…

CUT 9 (06) “unrepairable”

The other three parishes added to the major disaster declaration are Jackson, Red River and Sabine parishes, bringing the total number of parishes eligible for federal assistance to 30. Wiley-Gremillion says affected families in her parish will likely take advantage of the federal aid…

cut 10 (10)  “that group”

Wiley-Gremillion says many of their flood victims still have not begun the clean-up process…

Cut 11 (09) “extremely difficult”

=========================================================

Another person has died following an ATV crash at Muddy Bottoms in Webster Parish, and three others are injured. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Bobby Igo says two all-terrain vehicles slammed into each other at the park Friday evening, and the crash killed 40-year-old Alissa Wiley of Dry Prong and injured three others…:

cut 12 (10) “collision”

Igo says this is the fourth fatality at the park since 2014. He says the park is on private property and the people who visit and pay to go to the events sign consent forms before they ride…:

Cut 13 (08)  “private business”

Muddy Bottoms issued a statement say they are fulling cooperating with law enforcement and that their hearts and prayers go out to the families of the individuals involved. Igo says thousands and thousands of people show up at these events, and the majority drive responsibly and don’t get hurt…:

cut 14 (09)  “ultimate consequence”

(Igo says no charges have been filed in this incident at this time.)

=======================================================

The Public Service Commission holds a special meeting today on the sale of the Cleco  to a foreign investment group. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

It was a common belief that vipers, which are venomous snakes like cottonmouths, had the fastest strike, but new research from UL-Lafayette suggests that isn’t true. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (24) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

A proposed bill would establish the process by which pharmacies go about selling medical marijuana, including a 5-thousand dollar application fee. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________________

The Public Service Commission is expected to meet today for a special hearing on the sale of Pineville-based CLECO to Macquarie Infrastructure. The PSC rejected the proposal last month, and since then two sides have revised terms they say would further benefit the utility company’s employees and customers. PSC member Foster Campbell says “real” money from the sale should go to customers..

cut 4  (06)  “not enough”

CLECO says during the last meeting with the sale was turned down, inaccurate statements were made that they hope to clear up today. Commissioner Lambert Boissiere says, no matter what the new proposal entails, they all want to see rate reductions for CLECO customers…:

Cut 5  (04)  “anyone else”

CLECO and Macquarie have offered additional commitments including 100 million dollars of immediate rate relief for customers, and a 15 million dollar contribution to economic development in Louisiana. Commissioner Clyde C. Holloway says they want to know where all this money is coming from…:

Cut 6 (10)  “with money” 

___________________________________________________

Vipers, which are venomous snakes like rattlesnakes and cottonmouths, were thought to have the quickest strike, but researchers at UL-Lafayette say that’s not the case. Doctoral student David Penning says their study shows that all snakes can strike quickly.

CUT 7 (09)  “snake world”

Penning says to observe snakes striking they filmed them with cameras capable of capturing high-speed action. He says they noticed that nonvenomous Texas rat snakes struck with the same velocity and acceleration as vipers.

Cut 8  (06)  “as vipers”

Penning says it takes a snake 70 milliseconds to strike, and it takes a human 200 milliseconds just to blink. He says what people can take away from this study is that they should not try to grab a venomous snake before it strikes.

Cut 9 (10)  “animals alone”

___________________________________________________

It appears pharmacies who want to sell medical marijuana in the state will have to jump through a lot of hoops. Based on a bill moving through the legislature, an application fee of $5-thousand would be needed to cover inspections, background checks and paperwork. And Ville Platte Representative and pharmacist Harvey LeBas says federal law prohibits the sale of medical marijuana in the same facility where other prescriptions are sold.

Cut 10 (07) “Medical marijuana”

LeBas says once medical marijuana is available, it will only be sold at ten different locations around the state. He says there are still a lot of unknowns surrounding the issue.

cut 11 (09) “start somewhere”

LeBas says this situation will not be like what’s happening in Colorado. These dispensaries will only offer medications derived from the plant for medical uses, not the actual plant itself. He says this will be quite an investment for pharmacies, between the application fee and opening a new facility.

cut 12 (07) “to be seen”

-______________________________________________

Legislative hearings begin today on the state’s spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. Over the course of the next two months, legislators will have to pass a budget that will contain 750-million dollars in cuts from the previous year. Governor John Bel Edwards says since he’s been in office, 170-million dollars in budget cuts have been put in place…

Cut 13 (07)  “about to do”

Edwards says despite the recent cuts to state funding and revenue increases, legislators will have to make some more difficult cuts, because of the large shortfall they are still facing…

Cut 14 (11)  “750-million dollars” 

By law, legislators must approve a balanced budget. Edwards predicts legislators will find out during this regular session that state government can’t sustain anymore deep cuts

Cut 15 (07) “more revenue”