07:30 Newscast, April 22nd, 2016

Governor John Bel Edwards signs a historic order that would require able bodied adults with no children to take steps towards finding work in order to receive SNAP benefits…:
Cut 13 (10) “job training”
Starting July 1st.

There’s talk of ending the regular legislative session early, so lawmakers have time to get ready for a second special session. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Planned Parenthood advocates rallied on state Capitol steps after a House committee approved a bill to defund Planned Parenthood. Unitarian Minister Rev. Darcy Roake says nearly 20 pieces of anti-women’s health legislation has been filed, three of those bills aimed directly at defunding Planned Parenthood. She says the organization provides preventive health care and accurate sexual health information.:
CUT 7 (10) “religious values”
The House passed a bill this week that would ban the most common procedure used in second-trimester abortions.

Today is Earth Day and Louisiana’s First Lady, Donna Edwards, has launched a new recycling imitative to commemorate the annual event which demonstrates support for environmental protection. She reminds folks that plastic bottles, aluminum cans, most paper, and even ink cartridges are recyclable…:
CUT 6 (10) “their part”

 

06:45 Sportscast, April 22nd, 2016

The LSU baseball team brings a five game winning streak into its SEC showdown series with Mississippi State, which begins tonight at 7 PM at Alex Box Stadium. The Bulldogs will start Dakota Hudson on the mound in game one. He could be a top ten pick in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft. Coach Paul Mainieri says his team won’t be intimidated…:
Cut 16 (25) “kind of challenges”
LSU enters the series ranked fifth in the country by Baseball America, while Mississippi State is seventh.

The 20th ranked Ragin Cajuns will host Texas State for three games at the Tigue. UL Lafayette has won 13 of its last 16 and they are in second place in the Sun Belt.

ULM returns to Sun Belt play today as they begin a three-game series in Jonesboro against Arkansas State. The Warhawks are six and nine in league play, while A-S-U is 5-and-13.

Tulane will face Central Florida this weekend in AAC action.

Louisiana Tech faces a tough test in league play this weekend when Old Dominion comes to Ruston for a three game Conference USA series.

Two of the top teams in the Southland square off this weekend as McNeese State hosts Southeastern for a three game series in Lake Charles.

Northwestern State makes their first regular-season trip to Central Arkansas since 2012.

As an Orleans Parish grand jury considers the evidence to charge Cardell Hayes in the fatal shooting of former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith, Hayes’ lawyer wants his client to appear before the panel to answer their questions.

Saints guard Tim Lelito has announced on Instagram that he’s signed his restricted free agent tender, which keeps him in Black and Gold for another season.

 

06:30 Newscast, April 22nd, 2016

Governor John Bel Edwards signs an executive order that requires able-bodied adults without children to participate in job training and work assistance programs in order to receive food stamp benefits….:
Cut 15 (09) “federal government”
Starting July first, unemployed able-bodied adults will have to visit one of the 59 Louisiana Workforce Commission Centers.

Legislative leaders want to end the regular session early, so they could prepare for a special session that Governor Edwards plans to call to address the 750-million dollar revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. Senate President John Alario says this would also allow legislators to meet with constituents to discuss what they would like to see done at the Capitol…:
cut 12 (06) “a discussion”
The next special session needs to be held before the start of the next fiscal year.

Planned Parenthood supporters rallied on the state Capitol steps to advocate for women’s health. Emelie Gunn was there…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome was lit up in purple last night in a tribute to the legendary musician Prince who died Thursday at the age of 57.

 

LRN AM Newscall April 22, 2016

Planned Parenthood supporters rallied on the state Capitol steps to advocate for women’s health. Emelie Gunn was there…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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 There’s talk of ending the regular legislative session early so lawmakers have time to get ready for a second special session, which is expected to begin in June. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Able-bodied adults without children will soon be required to participate in job training programs in order to get food stamps, because of an executive order signed by Governor John Bel Edwards. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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First Lady Donna Edwards has announced a new recycling initiative at the Governor’s Mansion in honor of Earth Day, which is today. Mrs. Edwards says she and the governor have been recycling ever since they lived in Hawaii many years ago…

cut 4  (09)  “the military”

The first lady is encouraging Louisiana residents to do their part in recycling as much trash as they can. Edwards says as an educator, it’s important to teach young kids the importance of recycling and to lead by example. She says it’s easy to start in your home or workplace.

Cut 5  (09)  “a habit”

Edwards says plastic bottles, aluminum cans, most paper, and even ink cartridges are recyclable. She says we produce a lot of trash each day…

Cut 6 (10)  “their part”

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Planned Parenthood advocates rallied on state Capitol steps after a House committee approved a bill to defund Planned Parenthood. Unitarian Minister Rev. Darcy Roake says nearly 20 pieces of anti-women’s health legislation has been filed, three of those bills aimed directly at defunding Planned Parenthood, which provides preventive health care and accurate sexual health information.

CUT 7 (10)  “religious values.” 

Roake aimed some of her frustration at Governor John Bel Edwards, who has described himself as pro-life.  She says injustice is being done to us as human beings as anti-abortion bills described as protecting the health of women continues to move through the legislative process.

Cut 8  (10)  “of legislation” 

New Orleans Dr. Julie Finger spoke before advocates and says Planned Parenthood is committed to providing women safe and reliable healthcare. She says many legislators try over and over to limit access to reproductive health.

Cut 9 (10)  “legal abortion”

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Legislative leaders seek to end the regular session early, so they could prepare for a special session that Governor John Bel Edwards plans to call to address the 750-million dollar revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. Senate President John Alario says the next special session needs to be held before the start of the next fiscal year.

Cut 10 (09) “operate on”

The regular session is set to end June 6th and lawmakers will likely approve a budget that cuts state spending by 750-million dollars. Alario says special session will be needed to restore cuts to higher education, TOPS, public schools and health care, but that doesn’t necessarily mean raising more taxes.

cut 11 (10) “a whole”

Alario says ending the regular session early will give lawmakers a break, as they have been in one session after another since February. He says this will also allow legislators to meet with constituents to discuss what they would like to see done at the Capitol.

cut 12 (06) “a discussion”

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Governor John Bel Edwards has signed an executive order that requires able-bodied adults without children to participate in job training and work assistance programs in order to receive food stamp benefits. Edwards says this will prepare individuals for successful careers.

Cut 13 (10)  “job training”

Starting July first, unemployed able-bodied adults will have to visit one of the 59 Louisiana Workforce Commission Business and Career Solutions Centers. Edwards says these career centers have proven to be effective. He says in 2015, many people found jobs in Louisiana through the centers.

Cut 14 (06)  “Louisiana jobs” 

Republican lawmakers have been pushing for the governor to add work requirements to food stamp recipients. Edwards says for the past 19 years, Louisiana has received a waiver from the federal government, which allowed people to receive food stamps without working. He says this is an historic order and hopes other states will follow our lead.

Cut 15 (09) “federal government”

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The LSU baseball team brings a five game winning streak into its SEC showdown series with Mississippi State, which begins tonight at 7 PM at Alex Box Stadium. The Bulldogs will start Dakota Hudson on the mound in game one. He could be a  a top ten pick in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft. Coach Paul Mainieri says his won’t be intimidated…

Cut 16  (25)  “kind of challenges”

LSU enters the series ranked fifth in the country by Baseball America, while Mississippi State is seventh. The Bulldogs have the third highest team batting average in the SEC and Mainieri says the key for his pitchers is to limit traffic on the basepaths…

Cut 17 (13) “certainly helps”

In the SEC West standings, both LSU and Mississippi State trail Texas A&M for first place. The Tigers are one game back, while the Bulldogs are two games back. Mainieri says it makes that a lot is on the line this weekend at the Box….

Cut 18 (19) “part of the country”

18:30 LRN Newscast April 21, 2016

Able-bodied adults without children will soon be required to participate in job training programs in order to get food stamps, because of an executive order signed by Governor John Bel Edwards. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Should schools still teach children how to write in cursive? The Senate Education Committee says “Yes” as they approved a bill by Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell that requires cursive writing to be taught to public school students by the third grade…

cut 10 (07) “…our part”
The senate floor will hear the bill next.

The Senate approved a bill to expand the list of diseases medical marijuana can be used to treat. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt supports the bill because of the huge influx of emails she received from parents of children who need this medicine because medical marijuana is the only drug that works for them.

CUT 8 (06) “for them”

The bill now moves to the House.

Louisiana lawmakers are standing up for the little guys, and girls, looking to make a few dollars at their neighborhood lemonade stand. A bill unanimously passed in the Senate to exempt these kids from having to pay an occupational license tax. Norco Senator Gary Smith says some children in the state have been ticketed for selling lemonade without a license.

CUT 3 (08)  “lemonade stand”

The measure now heads to the House.

17:30 LRN Newscast April 21, 2016

The Senate Education Committee approved a bill that would require public schools to teach cursive writing by the third grade. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is concerned about kids not using cursive for their signature, which she says is an identity that students carry with them for their entire lives.

CUT 9 (09) “an X”

Several states have a similar requirement.

A bill that would criminalize sanctuary cities in Louisiana was approved by the House Judiciary Committee today. A sanctuary city is considered a jurisdiction that doesn’t enforce immigration law without a court order. The measure sparked debate over whether this would promote racial profiling….

cut 14 (08) “…profiling”
That was Amite Representative Robby Carter who was going back and forth with Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges. The bill heads to the House floor for more discussion.

A bill by Parks Senator Fred Mills to include HIV, epilepsy, and other diseases in the list of diseases medical marijuana can treat passed in the Senate. He says people are leaving the state to seek this treatment elsewhere. He read a text from the mother of an epileptic girl, who had to go to Colorado to get the medication she needs.

CUT 7 (06) “come home”

The measure now moves to the house.

The Senate unanimously passed a bill to protect kids with lemonade stands from being ticketed for not having an occupational license. The proposal exempts minors, who sell less than $500 a year worth of product, from having to pay the license tax. Houma Senator Norby Chabert says local officials need to exercise something that he says is lacking in government- common sense.

CUT 4 (10) “being fined”

The measure now heads to the House.

16:45 LRN Sportscast

After a late night at Alex Box Stadium, the LSU baseball team had a practice this afternoon as they get ready for a big SEC series against Mississippi State. The Tigers won their fifth straight last night as they defeated Southeastern Louisiana 11-4. The two teams had to wait out a two-hour, 24-minute rain delay.

Mississippi State also had a late night last night as they played a 14-inning affair against ULM. The Bulldogs won one to nothing in Biloxi.

ULM returns to Sun Belt play on Friday as they begin a three-game series in Jonesboro against Arkansas State. The Warhawks are six and nine in league play, while A-S-U is 5-and-13.

The 20th ranked Ragin Cajuns will host Texas State for three games at the Tigue. UL Lafayette has won 13 of its last 16 and they are in second place in the Sun Belt with a 10-5 record. Gunner Leger pitches tomorrow and first pitch is at 6 PM.

Saints guard Tim Lelito has announced on Instagram that he’s signed his restricted free agent tender, which keeps him in Black and Gold for another season. Lelito will receive a salary of one-point-six million dollars.

LSU announces Robert Kirby has returned to coach Johnny Jones’ coaching staff. Kirby has been named an associate head basketball coach. He’ll replace David Patrick, who took a job as an assistant at TCU. Kirby was also at LSU during the 2012-13 season, which was Jones’ first season.

16:30 LRN Newscast April 21, 2016

The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved a bill to require that students be taught cursive writing by the third grade. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order that requires able-bodied adults without children to participate in work training in order to receive SNAP benefits. The order goes into effect July 1, and an estimated 47-thousand food stamp recipients will be affected.

The Senate approves a measure to expand the list of diseases medical marijuana can be used to treat. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny spoke in opposition. He says we shouldn’t legalize something just because other states are.

CUT 6 (08) “do it” 2x

The bill now moves to the House.

A House committee approved a measure that seeks to outlaw sanctuary cities in Louisiana. The term is applied to cities in the US that have policies designed to not prosecute undocumented immigrants. Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges who says sanctuary cities are a national security threat…:

cut 12 (04) “in our country”

Opponents of the bill are worried about it opening the doors for racial profiling. The bill now moves to the full House.

15:30 LRN Newscast April 21

Should schools still teach children how to write in cursive? The Senate Education Committee says “Yes” as they approved a bill by Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell that requires cursive writing to be taught to public school students by the third grade…
cut 10 (07) “…our part”
Mizell is concerned that kids will not know how to write their name or read a letter in cursive. The senate floor will hear the bill next.

The full senate has approved a bill that expands the list of diseases that will be able to use medical marijuana once it becomes available in Louisiana. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt supports the bill, she’s heard from parents of children who suffer from seizures, epielpsy and multiple sclerosis and medical marijuana is the only drug that works for their children.
CUT 8 (06) “for them”
The bill now moves to the House.

Jurisdictions that don’t follow federal immigration law could be punished under a bill that’s heading to the House floor. The measure targets what are known as “sanctuary cities.” Attorney General Jeff Landry supports the bill, but Amite Representative Robby Carter is concerned it could lead to racial profiling…
cut 13 (10) “….tell us”
The bill’s author, Denham Springs Representative, Valarie Hodges says sanctuary cities are a national security threat.

A bill that would let adult motorcycle riders decide if they want to wear a helmet or not failed to get enough votes to pass in the House. New Iberia Representative Terry Landry opposes the bill because of safety concerns…
Cut 15 (09) “a helmet”
Another vote on the bill is expected on Tuesday.

14:30 LRN Newscast April 21

A bill that would criminalize sanctuary cities in Louisiana was approved by the House Judiciary Committee today. A sanctuary city is considered a jurisdiction that doesn’t enforce immigration law without a court order. The measure sparked debate over whether this would promote racial profiling….
cut 14 (08) “…profiling”
That was Amite Representative Robby Carter who was going back and forth with Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges. The bill heads to the House floor for more discussion.

The full senate approves a bill so that local police officers can’t ticket children for operating a lemonade stand in front of their house…
cut 3 (08) “….leamonade stand”
The measure by Norco Senator Gary Smith, was unanimously approved and heads to the House for its approval.

The Senate education committee signs off on a bill that would require Louisiana public schools to teach cursive writing. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is the author of the legislation and she says too many children are depending on keyboards and tablets to write…
cut 11 (09) “…to read”
The measure heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.

Legislation is heading to the House floor that would expand the state’s hate crime law to protect policemen, firefighters and other first responders. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says unfortunately they are seeing more instances where criminals are targeting police…
cut 30 (12) “….rode by”
Harris’ bill calls for a longer prison sentence for certain crimes against police officers.