There’s a heated debate going on at this hour in a Senate Committee on legislation that attempts to prevent local governments from removing Confederate monuments. The bill would create a statewide commission that would have to grant a waiver before a monument could be moved. Confederate monument supporter Leslie Tassin says monuments of Confederate soldiers are a history lesson…:
CUT 6 (04) “brighter future”
An argument by opponents is that it shouldn’t be up to the state what happens to city property.

An online campaign calls for Natchez to secede from Mississippi and join Louisiana after our neighboring lawmakers approved a bill that allows people there with religious obligations to deny services to gay people. Casey Hughes launched the change-dot-org petition hoping the governor would not sign the bill, but he did yesterday….:
CUT 3 (08) “to everyone”
Over 700 people have so far signed the petition.

Two Acadiana men who were reported missing off the coast of Cameron Parish have been located, and according to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries were alive. LDWF spokesman Adam Einck says the two men left in an aluminum boat Tuesday morning, but didn’t return by the evening…:
CUT 1 (09) “sinking boat”
He says the 20-year-old and 19-year-old are not doing well and one of them had to be revived with CPR. More on this as it develops.

A Senate Committee has unanimously approved a proposal that would ban the sale of aborted fetal tissue. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says there are already laws in place about killing babies in the womb or immediately after birth. He hopes this bill fills a gap in the law about selling organs…:
Cut 16 (07) “an organ”
This bill comes as a response to allegations that Planned Parenthood sold organs from aborted fetuses.

The House Education Committee is taking up several bills that propose changes to the TOPS scholarship program. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey has a proposal that would raise the GPA requirement to retain the scholarship once a recipient is in college. Ivey says changes like this will keep the program intact for more students in the future…
cut 10 (05) “….pretty quickly”
There’s also a bill that would make the scholarship a loan that students would have to pay back if they drop out or fail classes.

A state senate committee has given approval to banning the sale of aborted fetal tissue. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says his main emphasis is to make sure people can’t profit from the selling of parts of an aborted fetus…
cut 15 (10) “….that process”
Before heading to the Senate floor, the bill was amended so mothers would not be criminalized for donating stem cells or unbilical cord blood.

A rally in support of legislation to have 17-year-olds charged as juveniles rather than adults takes place on the State Capitol steps today. Meg Garvey with the Youth Justice Coalition says this bill allows 17-year-olds the opportunity to be in a system that’s rehabilities and addresses their needs…
cut 13 (11) “….public safety”
Governor John Bel Edwards is also expected to speak at this rally.

US Representative Ralph Abraham is in Cuba today. Abraham is there to talk about how Lousiaina can be a trade partner with the island country once the trade embargo is lifted…
cut 6 (08) “….the latest”
Abraham says Cuba currently gets its rice from Asia, but Louisiana rice would make for sense for both sides.

The big discussion today at the Capitol will be centered around the TOPS scholarship program. A bill by Kenner Representative Julie Stokes would make students pay back TOPS money if they drop out or fail. She says lawmakers will look at an amendment so student would not be penalized if they are able to graduate later…:
Cut 8 (06) “a loan”
Another bill would raise the GPA requirements to retain the scholarship once a recipient is in college.

A rally in support of legislation to have 17-year-olds charged as juveniles rather than adults takes place on the State Capitol steps today. Meg Garvey with the Youth Justice Coalition says 17-year-old in the juvenile justice system could help kids get back on the right track, as studies show convicted teens are 34 percent less likely to re-offend….:
cut 12 (09) “in life”
Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to speak at the rally.

Congressman Ralph Abraham of Richland Parish is in Cuba today where he’s hoping to make Louisiana a trade partner once the US lifts the embargo. He says right now Cuba is getting their rice and other imported goods from Vietnam and Taiwan:
Cut 5 (10) “the globe”
Abraham says it’s time to empower the Cuban people and help their economy grow. He says beef, poultry, corn, and soybeans will hopefully follow shortly after they secure a deal to send Louisiana rice to Cuba.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office says a pedestrian was struck by a train in Calhoun Tuesday evening, and suffered fatal injuries. They identify the victim only has a young female juvenile that lives in the area. The accident is currently under investigation and no further details are being released at this time.

Today the House Education Committee will discuss several proposed changes to the TOPS Scholarship Program. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Two men shot in Algiers early Tuesday morning are Australian college students visiting New Orleans after an academic competition, according to a statement released on the their school’s website. The New Orleans Police Department has confirmed the two men were shot in Algiers early Tuesday and that they took a cab there to meet a drug dealer. Both are reported to be in stable condition.

US Representative Ralph Abraham arrives in Cuba today seeking to make Louisiana a trade partner with the island once the U.S. lifts the trade embargo. The Richland Parish Republican says exporting Louisiana rice to Cuba would make a lot of sense for both sides and the Port of New Orleans is only 36 hours away..:
cut 4 (09) “farmers”
Abraham says beef, poultry, corn, and soybeans will hopefully follow shortly after they secure a deal to send Louisiana rice to Cuba.

A Senate Committee unanimously approves a proposal that would ban the sale of aborted fetal tissue. This bill comes as a response to allegations that Planned Parenthood sold organs from aborted fetuses. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says this should never happen…:
CUT 14 (11) “for research”
The measure heads to the Senate floor.

Today the House Education Committee will discuss several proposed changes to the TOPS scholarship program. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey has a proposal that would raise the GPA requirement for keeping TOPS…:
CUT 9 (10) “increase performance”
Ivey’s proposal is to bump those minimums to 2.5 for freshmen and and 2.75 for sophomores on.

A rally in support of legislation to have 17-year-olds charged as juveniles rather than adults takes place on the State Capitol steps today. Meg Garvey with the Youth Justice Coalition says Louisiana is one of only 9 states that routinely prosecutes 17-year-olds as adults…:
cut 11 (09) “and unfair”
Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to speak at the rally.

A Senate committee approved a proposed bill that would prohibit selling organs collected from aborted fetuses. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

LSU officials announced proposed rule changes for students tailgating at sporting events, aimed at reigning in binge drinking. They say these guidelines came about amid concern over the estimated 50 students who have to be taken to a hospital on any given football weekend, usually because of drinking too much. The changes would mean student groups would have to register their tailgate and possibly hire a third party vendor to serve alcohol only to students 21 and up.

The House Education Committee meets today to discuss a variety of proposals that would change the TOPS Scholarship Program as we know it. Kenner Representative Julie Stokes sponsors legislation that would make the scholarship a loan that students would have to pay back if they drop out or fail classes. She says when you offer something for free, there will always be people who will abuse the system…:
CUT 7 (05) “for me”
There are other measures on the table that seek to raise the requirements in order to be awarded money from TOPS.

There is now a $5000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person who murdered a couple in Kenner on Monday. 28-year-old Dawn Scott and 31-year-old Raynell Kimbrough were found in their bed shot multiple times and cops say the incident happened while their three young children were in the apartment. Anyone with information on these homicides should call Crimestoppers.

A group of high school aged kids will rally on the state Capitol steps in support of legislation to prosecute 17-year-olds in juvenile court. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Today Governor John Bel Edwards will attend the Champions for Change Event hosted by the STAR Center, and honoring Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne.

The measure that would allow people to be buried with their pets in cemeteries did not make it out of a Senate Committee today. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

Another national rating agency has dropped Louisiana’s credit rating by one notch, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy. This is the second rating downgrade in just two months, as Moody’s Investor Services lowers the state’s rating in February. These rating determine interest rates so borrowing money could become more expensive for Louisiana.

A state lawmaker tells higher education officials not to expect any additional revenue and they need to come up with a plan on how to educate our future workforce with existing dollars. Covington Representative John Schroeder says higher education should restructure itself based on the dollars that are available now…

cut 14 (07)  “down the road”

Schroeder says after raising hundreds of millions of dollars in the special session, he doesn’t see legislature passing any more tax increases.

Lawmakers advanced a bill to the Senate floor that would increase the fine for texting or using social media while driving. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor helped move the bill out of committee.

CUT 8 (10) “the distraction”

A state lawmaker tells higher ed officials not to expect any additional revenue and they need to come up with a plan on how to educate students with exisiting dollars. Covington Representative John Schroeder says after raising hundreds of millions of dollars in the special session, he doesn’t see the legislature passing any more tax increases…
cut 13 (09) “…money coming”
A bill that would allow pets to be buried with their owners failed to get approval from a Senate committee today. Gerald Melancon, with the Louisiana Cemetery Board, says this proposed law would give cemeteries problems, if the owner never wanted to be buried with the pet, but the family wants it to happen…
cut 11 (09) “…that owner”
The author of the bill says he’ll bring the legislation back again next year.

LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson says the school is debating whether or not it will grow medical marijuana. Lawmakers gave the ag centers at LSU and Southern the first right of refusal to produce the prescription drug. Richardson says they are considering their options…:
CUT 4 (08) “or out”
He says several bills on medical marijuana in this regular session outline the regulations that could help them make a decision.

Seat belt fines would double on a first offense under a bill that advances out of the House Transportation Committee. New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger says under this legislation, the maximum fine would be 75 dollars. He feels this would help more people buckle up …:
CUT 7 (10) “use a seat belt”
The bill moves to the full House.