The bill to expand the list of diseases for which medical marijuana can be prescribed finally passed the Senate, after previously falling one vote short. Metairie Senator Conrad Appel opposes the bill, citing sources that says this would lead to increased use of the drug for non-medical purposes…:
CUT 5 (12) “has increased” 3x
The measure would add seizure disorders, HIV, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy and other diseases to the medical marijuana law passed last year. The bill is by Parks Senator Fred Mills who 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 bill now moves to the House.

A bill that would mandate that public schools teach cursive writing by the third grade passed unanimously out of the Senate Education Committee. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell authored the bill, because she is concerned about kids not using cursive for their signature, which she says is an identity that students carry with them through their entire lives…:
CUT 9 (09) “an X”
The bill moves to the Senate floor.

Children have been getting tickets for selling lemonade on the side of the road according to one lawmaker who wants to see it stop. A Senate measure to exempt minors from paying taxes on sales less than $500 a year is headed to the House. Houma Senator Norby Chabert says local officials need to exercise something that he says is lacking more and more in government- common sense…:
CUT 4 (10) “being fined”

A measure that would outlaw sanctuary cities in Louisiana advanced out of a House committee. The term is applied to some cities in the US that have policies designed to not prosecute undocumented immigrants. The bill is by Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hudges who says sanctuary cities are a national security threat…:
CUT 12 (04) “in our country”
Attorney General Jeff Landry supports the bill saying this would give officers a tool to ask a possible offender what their immigration status is. But Amite Representative Robby Carter feels that would lead to racial profiling…:
CUT 13 (10) “tell us”
The bill will go before a full House vote now.

A bill that would mandate that public schools teach cursive writing by the third grade passed unanimously out of the Senate Education Committee. It now heads to the Senate floor.

The Senate approved a measure to expand the list of diseases that medical marijuana can be used to treat. Halen Doughty has more..:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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 minors, who sell less than $500 a year worth of product, from having to pay an occupational license tax. Norco Senator Gary Smith says this might be hard to believe…but:
CUT 3 (08) “lemonade stand”
The measure now heads to the House.

A Corrections Cadet at the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center is under arrest and has been terminated for allegedly trying to sneak in the synthetic marijuana drug “Mojo” to an inmate. Officials say a security supervisor noticed that 26-year-old Tierra Lewis of Port Allen had dropped the drug package in the parking lot when she noticed other officers were being surprise searched. She confessed to the crime and is facing charges which could land her in jail for 10 years.

A lawmaker from Baton Rouge would like high school students to take a national survey on sexual risks. Representative Patricia Smith says the proposal could help reduce the high number of teen pregnancies and STDs in Louisiana…:
CUT 11 (11) “deal with it”
Despite opposition from those who feel sex talks should happen in the home and not at school, the measure advanced out of House Education and now heads to the full House.

The bill which would give adult motorcyclists the option to wear a helmet narrowly failed in the House. Oil City Representative Jim Morris spoke in support of the bill saying many other states do not require a helmet, and Louisiana is pushing motorcycle tourists away…:
Cut 16 (09) “carry it”
But the opposition cited safety concerns and though the bill failed 49-46, it could come back up.

A measure is heading to the House floor that would allow public high school students to participate in a national survey on sexual risks. Louisiana resident Victoria Kelly testified in the House Education Committee about how she would have been embarrassed to take this survey…
cut 13 (10) “….sexual education”
The measure passed on a seven to four vote, but it might not have enough support on the House floor.

Another bill heading to the House floor would prohibit state agencies from asking on a job application if a person has a criminal record. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey is concerned ex-convicts will not reveal their criminal history during the interview…
cut 8 (10) “….you don’t”
Despite the objection, the House Governmental Affairs committee passed the bill.

The House failed to pass a bill that would allow motorcycle riders over 21 years old to choose whether not to wear a helmet. Michelle Southern has the story…
voicer 5 (30) “….I’m Michelle Southern”

The US Treasury’s decision to put anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman on the front of the 20-dollar bill has generated a lot of discussion. Summer Steib, with the LSU Women’s Center says the original plan was to replace Alexander Hamilton with a woman on the 10-dollar bill, but the new Broadway hit “Hamilton” boosted his popularity…
cut 4 (06) “…on there”
Tubman is the first woman to appear on US currency in 100 years.

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 concerns about safety. He says wearing a helmet improves a rider’s chance of surviving a motorcycle accident….:
Cut 15 (09) “a helmet”
The vote on the bill was 49 yeas and 46 nays, which was not enough to pass, but the it can be brought up again.

A House Committee advanced a bill that would help the Tensas Parish town of St. Joseph with their water problems. Residents in St. Joe have been dealing with brown murky water, and they say local officials have been slow to come up with a solution. The measure heading to the House Floor would give the state authority to intervene. There was no objection.

A bill that would prohibit state employers from asking job applicants about their criminal record until after the interview process moves to the full House. Baton Rouge Rep. Denise Marcelle is the author of the bill and she says the purpose is to get the person with a criminal record an interview and explain their story…:
Cut 9 (10) “decision”
But those who oppose are worried the applicant would lie about their history.

The House Education Committee approved a bill to allow high school students to participate in a national survey on sexual risks. Louisiana resident Victoria Kelly also spoke in opposition to the bill. She says the questions are invasive, and she would have been embarrassed to take this survey when she was in high school…:
Cut 13 (10) “sexual education”
Supporters believe it would help the teen pregnancy and STD problem.

A bill that would allow officials to charge a person with a hate crime if they target law enforcement heads to the House floor. Jeff Palermo has the story..:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The bill that would expand the number of diseases that medical marijuana would cover under the law advances on its second try in the state Senate. On Tuesday, the upper chamber voted 19-16 in favor of the bill but it needed 20 to pass. Parks Senator Fred Mills brought his bill up again on 4/20 and the measure advanced 21-16. It now heads to the House.

Should high school students take a national survey on sex risks? A bill that would allow it cleared the House Education Committee on Wednesday. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds opposed because he says this issue should be discussed at home, not in school…:
cut 12 (08) “over that”
Supporters believe the legislation could reduce teen pregnancies and STD cases. The bill now heads to the House floor.

Harriet Tubman should begin appearing on the $20 bill around 2020, according to the US treasury department. Summer Steib with the LSU Women’s Center says this is an exciting time for women…:
Cut 5 (12) “movement”
Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Helen Keller were other candidates for the newly-designed currency.

State employers couldn’t ask job applicants about their criminal history until the interview process under a bill approved by a House committee. Baton Rouge Rep. Patricia Smith says the idea is to have a face to face discussion with potential employees first…:
CUT 7 (08) “background check”
Opponents site concerns over the possibility that this would allow violent criminals to slide through undetected. The measure heads to the House floor.

Parishes in the central and western portions of our state are under a Flash Flood Watch through this afternoon. National Weather Service forecasters say soils are saturated in these areas, and additional rainfall today will be more likely to cause localized flooding.

A 26-year-old Vidalia woman was killed in a single vehicle crash in Concordia Parish last night, according to State Police. Investigators believe Lauren Franklin lost control of her vehicle before it overturned and became submerged in a bayou.

Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, according to the Department of Treasury. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A measure which would allow motorcyclists to ride without a helmet stalls in the state House, but the vote was close. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox, who opposes, told a story of a biker he knows whose life was saved because he was wearing a helmet…:
CUT 17 (07) “he lived”
The bill can be brought up again.