The AARP of Louisiana wants to see more funding so that seniors can live at home instead of institutional care. Eric Gill has more…

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A bill that would let voters decide whether or not they think pot should be legal for personal use gets a hearing at the Capitol today. Scott Carwile reports…:

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There will be a homecoming celebration tonight in Abbeville for a local Top 6 finalist on NBC’s “The Voice”, Koryn Hawthorne. Michelle Southern reports…:

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The AARP of Louisiana wants to see more funding so that seniors can live at home instead of institutional care. Based on their survey, 90-percent of Louisiana voters say home and community based services are important to stay in their own home as they age. Interim State Director, Denise Bottcher, says these services are necessary for seniors to live outside of a nursing home…

cut 4  (10)  “and independently”

The telephone survey interviewed a thousand registered voters age 45 and older. She says their survey shows that 83-percent of respondents support funding to provide more services for seniors living at home…

Cut 5  (11)  “it is they want”

Bottcher says the state only spends 37-percent of its Medicaid budget on services to help seniors stay at home. She hopes this legislative session produces funding so more seniors can avoid institutional care and take some of the burden off of family caregivers…

Cut 6 (11)  “at home”

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The legislation by Baton Rouge Representative Dalton Honore that would let voters decide whether or not recreational marijuana should be legal in Louisiana gets a hearing today. LSU Public Policy Polling Research Director Mike Henderson says they’ve surveyed residents and there seems to be a decline in opposition to pot for adult use over the past couple of years…:

CUT 7 (05)  “three points”

Recreational marijuana for adult use is legal in Oregon, Washington D.C., Colorado, Alaska and Washington. Henderson says when it comes to pot, there used to be a 14 point difference with opposition out-polling support and that’s fallen by half in the last two years. He doesn’t think Louisianians would make it legal now, but likely in the next 10 years…:

Cut 8  (07)  “less often” 

The survey found support for legalization of marijuana for personal use is at 45 percent, lagging opposition at 52 percent. He says the strongest support comes from younger Louisianians who don’t show up at the polls as often…:

Cut 9 (08)  “of support”

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There will be a homecoming celebration tonight in Abbeville for a local Top 6 finalist on NBC’s “The Voice”, Koryn Hawthorne. The aspiring young singer will ride in a homecoming parade at 5pm then put on a special concert in Magdalen Square downtown. Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza says Koryn has been singing in their community since she was a child…:

Cut 10 (09) “great talent”

Piazza they couldn’t be more proud of Koryn and her success on the popular singing competition show and the exposure she is helping bring to their small town…:

cut 11 (06) “on her behalf”

Piazza says fans are encouraged to bring signs in support of Hawthorne to the parade which is open to all. He says they are expecting a huge crowd…:

cut 12 (09)   “great turnout”

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This is the last week Stephen Moret will be the Louisiana Economic Development Secretary before he begins his job as LSU Foundation President. He says one of the most rewarding things about the last 7 years for him is how much Louisiana’s business climate ranking has improved..:

Cut 13 (11)  “most of them”

Site Selection has rated Louisiana’s economic development efforts No. 2 in the nation in its ranking for Top Competitive States for 2014. Moret says the ranking is a tribute to the professional, diligent efforts of the outstanding staff at LSU. He says the best feeling over the years is meeting someone who’s gotten a job they helped bring here…:

Cut 14 (12) “single time”

On the Jim Engster Show, Moret says no LED Secretary successor has been named yet, but he believes it will be within in the next few days. Moret believes one of the biggest wins over the last several years has been the bringing in of Electronic Arts, or EA, to Baton Rouge…:

Cut 15  (08)  “industry sector”

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It’s a busy week for the Ragin Cajuns baseball team. The players are taking finals and then on Friday, U-L Lafayette will welcome South Alabama to Tigue Moore Field for a three-game series. The Jaguars are in first place in the Sun Belt, while the Cajuns are 2.5 games back and in third place. Coach Tony Robichaux says his club needs to hit better after losing two of three to Appalachian State last weekend…

Cut 16  (11)  “gonna face”

Robichaux says South Alabama is the top hitting team in the Sun Belt, even though they’ve only hit nine home runs…

Cut 17 (12)  “in walks”

The Cajuns have been starting three freshmen in their weekend rotation and Robichaux says they’ll have to grow up a lot this week and pitch well

Cut 18 (18) ”   three things “‘

It has been announced that Governor Bobby Jindal has another book coming out in October. Eric Gill has more…

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The House Ways and Means Committee approved two proposed tax increases by Plaquemine Representative Karen St. Germain to help fund road and bridge projects in the state. Jeff Palermo reports…

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It has been announced that Governor Bobby Jindal has another book coming out in October. The book is entitled “American Will: The Forgotten Choices That Changed Our Republic.” ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says that while this book’s subject matter is history, this is really a campaign book…

CUT 3 (09)  “presidential field”

Jindal calls the book a call to arms for the future. In the book, the governor reviews historical events ranging from the Louisiana Purchase to the Cold War. Stockley says this is an example of Jindal trying to stay in the conversation in a Republican presidential field that is getting more and more crowded…

CUT 4 (10)  “cabinet possibility”

Jindal previously released the book “Leadership and Crisis” in 2010. The governor says he will not announce his decision on running for president until after the conclusion of the current legislative session. Stockley says, with more candidates entering the presidential race, Jindal is currently in a position where he has to decide sooner rather than later…

CUT 5 (10)  “is closing”

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The Baton Rouge Police Department says the missing two year old girl, whose mother was located murdered Saturday, has been found safe. Corporal L’Jean McKneely says A’Kyleana Latham, or AK as her family calls her, was discovered alone…:

CUT 6 (06)  “was notified”

McKneely says the child’s father, who is from Texas, is now in town and the little girl will probably be released into his custody. He says they do not believe AK’s dad is a suspect…:

CUT 7 (07) “all avenues”

McKneely says the little girl’s mother, 24-year-old Taylor Latham, was discovered shot and killed inside a vehicle on Monday. He says they are thrilled AK was found but this investigation isn’t over…:

CUT 8 (09)  “a call”

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The House Ways and Means Committee approved two proposed tax increases by Plaquemine Representative Karen St. Germain to help fund road and bridge projects in the state. There is currently a $12 billion backlog of road improvements in the state. St. Germain says Louisianians expect their roads to be properly maintained…

CUT 9 (08)  “actually usable”

The current gas tax in Louisiana is 20-cents per gallon. HB 777 was amended to raise the tax by 10-cents per gallon. St. Germain says that could generate up to $300 million for road and bridge improvements. She says improved roadways will also benefit the state’s business and industry…

cut 10 (10) “arduous task”

The last gas tax increase in Louisiana was in 1984. HB 778 increases the state’s sales tax by one percent with those revenues going toward specific highway projects. Both bills will now go to the House floor for debate. St. Germain says the state has waited too long to address this issue…

cut 11 (05)  “the can out”

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Slidell Police arrest 22-year-old Antwonetta Jones on second-degree murder charges as investigators believe she discarded her baby inside a trash compactor. Chief Randy Smith says Jones gave birth to the child in a bathtub and within 12 hours the child died…

cut 12 (10)  “infant child”

Smith says Jones put the infant in a box, and brought the deceased baby to the dumpster of an apartment complex. He says the baby was alive for several hours, but some point the newborn began choking and quit breathing and that’s when Jones panicked…

cut 13 (10)  “to a hospital”

Smith says Jones lived with her mother, but no one knew that the 22-year-old was pregnant…

cut 14 (07) “what to do”

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