Governor John Bel Edwards spoke today before the Senate Labor committee in support of a bill that would raise the minimum wage to $8.00 an hour, then $8.50 in 2018. The governor says the current minimum wage of $7.25 is not enough to money to make ends meet…:
CUT 30 (10) “expenses”
Those who oppose the increase argue that the higher pay rate would negatively impact small businesses. The Committee approved a bill today that would establish the Louisiana Equal Pay Act.

A bill is heading to the House floor that calls for legislative approval to waive work requirements for food stamp recipients. Monroe Representative Jay 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 recently estimated 31-thousand able bodies adults would lose their benefits, if they they were required to find work.

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 already a winner…:
CUT 6 (08) “last second shot”
Lots of folks from Acadiana will be on tonight’s show from footage taken at Bourg’s homecoming parade last Saturday in Lafayette.

The state sales tax increases by a penny starting tomorrow, and new taxes on cigarettes and alcohol also go into effect. LSU Marketing Professor Dr. Dan 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”
He says most people won’t even notice a difference.

Starting tomorrow, the state sales tax goes up from four to five cents. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says this increase will likely not change consumer’s purchasing habits…
cut 8 (10) “…quite frankly”
The state tax on cigarettes and alcohol also goes up tomorrow.

A bill is heading to the House floor that calls for legislative approval to waive work requirements for food stamp recipients. The governor’s attorney, Matthew Block, says they want to make sure there’s enough job training and job placement services, before re-instating the work requirements…
cut 16 (13) “….SNAP benefits”
The state recently estimated 31-thousand able bodies adults would lose their benefits, if they they were required to find work.

At this hour, the Senate Labor committee debates a bill that would raise the mininum wage to 8-dollars an hour next year and then $8.50 in 2018. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal entered a plea of not guilty to charges he violated federal civil rights laws. Prosecutors accuse Ackal of ordering the beatings of at least three pre-trial inmates in 2011. Nine of Ackal’s former deputies have already pleaded guilty in the case.

The House Health and Welfare Committee advances a measure that would require legislative approval to waive work requirements for food stamps. Jeff Palermo has more..:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

In House Criminal Justice, a bill moved unanimously that would make it against the law to spy on someone with a drone. But Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says she wants to make sure that kids playing with these devices can’t get arrested under this new proposal…:
Cut 13 (07) “with that”
The measure now heads to the House floor for debate.

The full House approved the hunters “blaze pink” bill which would allow ladies another option from hunter orange. Supporters say the measure might encourage more women to hunt, and it heads to the Senate after a 95-5 vote.

Tomorrow the state sales tax will increase from four cents to five cents until June 30, 2018. LSU Marketing Professor Dr. Dan Rice says most consumers are aware of this, but he doesn’t see many stores reducing their prices to offset the higher tax…:
Cut 9 (09) “minority”
Also, state taxes on cigarettes and alcohol will increase on Friday.

Governor John Bel Edwards is slated to appear today before the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations in order to testify in support of a bill which increases the minimum wage in Louisiana to $8.00, then $8.50 in 2018. The Governor is also expected to give testimony supporting legislation which establishes the Louisiana Equal Pay Act.

The House Health and Welfare Committee advances a measure that could put new conditions on how the state would operate the food stamp program, ultimately with the goal of implementing work requirements. Monroe Representative Jay Morris says able-bodies adults without kids should work or perform community service 20 hours a week in order to receive SNAP benefits…:
CUT 14 (10) “time to time”
The measure would require legislative approval to waive federally mandated work requirements for food stamp recipients.

Today is the official last day at LSU for the legendary voice of the Fighting Tigers, Jim Hawthorne, as he begins retirement. Hawthorne has been on the radio call for thousands of LSU events over the past 35 years, and says he’s enjoyed his work immensely…:
Cut 17 (06) “forget it”
He says he’s looking forward to spending time with family and traveling with his wife.

The state sales tax increases by a penny starting tomorrow, and new taxes on cigarettes and alcohol also go into effect. LSU Marketing Professor Dr. Dan 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”
He says most people won’t even notice a difference.

A bill to increase the minimum wage is set to be heard today in the Senate Labor Committee. State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business Dawn Starns says this would be bad for their members…:
CUT 5 (07) “in jobs”
But those in favor say an increase from $7.25 to $8.50 and hour will help pull people out of poverty.
Cut 6 (06) “ends meet”
That’s Louisiana Budget Project director Jan Moller.

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”

Southeast Louisiana is under a tornado watch through 9 this morning, according to the National Weather Service. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through tomorrow for the region as 1-2 inches of rainfall are in the forecast. In north Louisiana, heavy rainfall is also expected this afternoon and tonight as Flood Warnings continue.

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 duplicates 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.

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”
Also, state taxes on cigarettes and alcohol will increase on Friday.

The injury plagued Pelicans fell to the San Antonio Spurs last night 100-92 on the road. Alexis Ajinca (ah-LEX-ee A-GIN-za) topped the Pelicans with 18 points, one of seven New Orleans players who posted double-digit scoring out of the nine who played. Meanwhile, star Anthony Davis, whose season has been over for more than a week, tells ESPN he’s very bored and thinking about picking up drawing or some other hobby.

The Saints have restructured the contract of running back Mark Ingram which gives them $3.6 million dollars in salary cap space, according to NFLPA records. Most of Ingram’s pay was converted to a signing bonus, which saves New Orleans $1.49 million dollars off the cap this year.

It’s reported former Tiger standout wide receiver Brandon LaFell, has reached a deal with the Bengals. LaFell played in 11 games for the New England Patriots last season.

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”
Hawthorne is looking forward to retirement and spending more time visiting his family and traveling with his wife.

The Baton Rouge Advocate is reporting that the “Les Miles clause”, which would allow LSU to terminate assistants’ employment six months after the head coach’s departure, is starting to be removed from contracts. The report says the clause is not in the contracts of new assistant coaches Jabbar Juluke & Dameyune Craig, and was removed from defensive line coach Ed Orgeron’s new deal.

Louisiana native and Kentucky Debry-winning jockey Calvin Borel is retiring from horse racing after 33 years. The 49-year-old has over five-thousand victories, including three Kentucky Derby wins in four years.

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”

10 parishes in southeast Louisiana are under a tornado watch until 9 this morning, according to the National Weather Service. The areas remain under a slight risk for severe weather today as strong storms move northeast. A Flash Flood watch remains in effect through this evening for southeast Louisiana. Most all of north Louisiana is under a flood warning.

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”
But Louisiana Budget Project director Jan Moller says that’s exactly what a higher minimum wage would do…:
CUT 7 (06) “25-cents”
The governor supports the measure.

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”

Three people from Louisiana serving time for drug-related offenses have had their prison sentence commuted by President Barack Obama. The trio is part of a group of 61 throughout the nation who will all mostly be released July 28th. The inmates from Louisiana are Kevin County of New Orleans, Roy Lee Debose of Shreveport and John E Milton III of Baton Rouge.

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 they believe Kimberly Clark was dead for about 12 to 15 hours before her body was found.

CUT 8 (10) “called us”

Clark is charged with second degree murder.

A measure to create protection for public school students who are parents or expectant mothers has been passed out of the Senate Education Committee. Metairie Rep. Stephanie Hilferty 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”

The bill now heads to the full Senate for more debate.

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…

Voicer 5 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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. The bill now heads to the House floor for debate.

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. 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 only exception is if the women has to travel more than 150 miles to the nearest abortion clinic.

The Senate advances legislation that would make Louisiana in federal compliance with the Real ID Act.  A similar bill received legislative approval last year, but it was vetoed by former Governor Bobby Jindal. Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Colomb says her bill this year includes language that would give citizens the option…:

cut 16 (04) “to get one”

The proposal passed 31-7 and heads to the House