A bill to increase the penalty for violating the state’s seatbelt law has passed out of the House Transportation Committee.  New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger says the higher the penalty, the better the compliance.

CUT 6 (09) “a year”

Leger says under the proposed law, the fine would double to 50 dollars for the first offense of not wearing a seatbelt.

Bill Richardson, LSU Vice President for Agriculture, says the school is debating whether or not it will grow Louisiana’s medical marijuana. He says several proposed bills that outline the regulations could help them make a decision. Richardson says they are still a ways away from offering medical marijuana to the public.

CUT 3 (09)  “years away”

When lawmakers approved medical marijuana legislation last year, they gave the ag centers at LSU and Southern the first right of refusal to grow the plant.

A state lawmaker says it’s time to restructure higher education. Jeff Palemro has the story…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana’s credit rating was downgraded by Fitch Ratings today, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy. Kennedy says this is what happens when you spend more than you take in for 7 years. Moody’s Investor Service already downgraded the state’s credit rating earlier this year.

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”

A Senate committee has approved a proposal that would prevent adult entertainment venues from hiring dancers who are under 21. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says this bill would protect young women and reduce human trafficking in the state. Opponents of the bill say it would limit the number of women who enter this industry for good reasons.

LSU is unsure about whether or not they will grow Louisiana’s medical marijuana, according to LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson. Richardson says growing the prescribed marijuana could cost upwards of $15 million, and the school doesn’t have that in the budget right now. He says they are looking into third-party investors, but there is a lot of uncertainty about the financial impact.

CUT 5 (08)  “next week”

Lawmakers gave the ag centers at LSU and Southern the first right of refusal to be growers after medical marijuana legislation was approved last year.

The legislature has advanced a bill to the Senate floor that would increase the fines against drivers who are caught texting or using social media while behind the wheel. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor helped move the bill out of committee.

CUT 8 (10) “the distraction”

The measure that would let pet owners be buried with their furry friends stalls in a Senate committee today. Metarie Senator Conrad Appel says opponents are asking for clarity in the language, but his bill is already very general. He says cemeteries would have the power to figure out how they want to do this, and also the right to refuse burying pets…:
cut 12 (08) “the cemetery”
But the Louisiana cemetery Association wants it written into the law exactly how and where they would bury the pets, and what to do with spots that are already sold in human remains only areas.

Shreveport Police arrest a man they say is accused of visiting a local park and exposing himself to people there. They said multiple complaints came in, including one in which the offender allegedly asked a juvenile to look at him while he was exposed. 38-year-old Michael Daniels was developed as a suspect and he’s charged with five counts of Obscenity with $100,000 bond.

LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson says the school is debating whether or not it will grow medical marijuana. When lawmakers approved the legislation last year, it 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.

Five more parishes are now eligible for disaster assistance for residents affected by recent severe storms and flooding. They are Catahoula, East Carroll, Franklin, Lincoln and St. Helena. The Louisiana Workforce Commission says some residents in disaster declared parishes are also eligible for disaster unemployment insurance, but the deadlines to enroll are approaching.

During a rally today of people with development disabilities, Governor John Bel Edwards told the crowd that lawmakers would be back for a second special session to raise more revenue.

The measure that would allow people to be buried with their pets in cemeteries did not make it out of a Senate Committee today. Gerald Melancon, with the Louisiana Cemetery Association, says the language in the bill that says pets would be in different sections needs clarification. He says cemeteries already have spots sold with the promise there would only be human remains there…:
CUT 9 (10) “this section”
It’s Metairie Senator Conrad Appel’s bill and he says it states folks who would want to be buried with their pets would have to buy a spot in another section, -and- do it in advance…:
CUT 10 (08) “goldfish section”
Melancon said they’d like to see more work on the bill and it was deffered.

Seat belt fines would double on a first offense under a bill that advances out of the House Transportation Committee today. New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger says under this legislation, the second and third offense would increase to 75 dollars from 50 dollars. He feels this would help more people buckle up and ultimately save lives…:
CUT 7 (10) “use a seat belt”
The bill now moves to the full House.

House Transportation also voted in favor of the REAL ID license bill after almost 2 hours of debate. The vote was 10-5 and now heads to the House floor. A similar bill has already passed in the Senate.

A bill has passed out of the House Transportation Committee to increase the penalty for violating the state’s seat belt law. Author of the bill is New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger and he says under the proposed law, the fine would double to 50 dollars for the first offense of not wearing a seat belt. He says the higher the penalty, the better the compliance..

CUT 6 (09) “a year”

Leger says under this legislation, the second and third offense would increase to 75 dollars from 50 dollars.

LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson says the school is debating whether or not it will grow medical marijuana. He says several proposed bills in this regular session outline the regulations that could help them make a decision. Richardson says they are still a ways away from offering medical marijuana to the public…:
CUT 3 (09) “years away”

A federal judge has reached a $20-billion settlement with BP over the 2010 Gulf oil spill. Don Molino has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

Governor John Bel Edwards is speaking at this hour at Disability Rights Day along with Oil and Gas Day in Baton Rouge at the Capitol.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says, as so many people in Louisiana are working to put their lives back together following devastating flooding, residents are urged to beware of price gouging. He says it is outrageous and unlawful for merchants to wrongfully profit from the horrific events.

Today a senate committee will hear a proposal by Metairie Senator Conrad Appeal that would allow people to have their pets buried next to them in cemeteries. Haley Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (31) “….reporting”

And in House Transportation, the panel has approved a bill that would double the fine to 50-dollars for not wearing a seat belt. State Police spokesperson, Sergeant Nick Manale, says not wearing a seatbelt can turn a fender bender into a fatal accident…
cut 6 (07) “….laws of physics”

Five more parishes have been added to the exisiting federal disaster declaration in Louisiana as result of last month’s historic flooding. The five parishes added are Catahoula, East Carroll, Franklin, Lincoln and St. Helena Parishes. These parishes are now eligible for government assistance to help those impacted by the flooding.

An entrepenuer from Louisiana has created a Seafood Locator App. Sheldon Williams says once you launch the app, you can see 15 affiliate seafood shops and see what their prices are for boiled crawfish, shrimp, crabs, raw oysters and more…
cut 14 (13) “…all on the app”
Williams says the app works well for those living in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but they are looking to expand it to other areas like in Lafayette and Thibodaux.

A federal judge Monday approved BP’s civil settlement over its 2010 Gulf oil spill for an estimated $20 billion dollars. Eric Smith, Director of the Tulane Energy Institute said this should put a stop to any potential litigation against the oil giant…:
Cut 9 (10) “as a result”
The money will go towards Clean Water Act penalties and to cover environmental damage, and it will be paid out over 16 years.

If you’d like to be buried with your pet, it could soon be a possibility in Louisiana, as a Senate Committee takes up such a proposal today at the Capitol. Patrick McCausland, president of Heaven’s Pets in Metairie, says the measure would give cemeteries the option to allow this…:
CUT 12 (09) “from there”

A New Orleans entrepreneur has developed an app which consumers can use to find the best price on seafood in town. Sheldon Williams says the Seafood Locator App does the searching for you…:
Cut 13 (12) “favorite places”
You can get Seafood Locator for free on Apple and Android devices.

A cost-of-living increase for retired state workers measure advanced out of a Senate committee on Monday. Lawmakers tied the raise to two other bills that would revamp state retirement systems, and officials say all three proposals would have to pass the Legislature and be signed by the governor in order for the raise to take effect. It would mean a 1.5 percent-2 percent increase in their monthly pension checks.

The fine for texting or posting on Facebook while driving would go from $175 to $500 under a bill set to be heard in the Senate Transportation Committee today. State Police Sgt. Nick Manale says this is a huge problem in Louisiana…:
CUT 5 (11) “vehicle”
A House Committee will hear a measure today to double the fines for not wearing a seat belt.

A federal court has approved a $20 billion dollar settlement that was announced last year in the 2010 BP oil spill. Coastal marshes were damaged by the oil in Louisiana, and the decision clears the way for the state receive restoration funding. Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute, Eric Smith, says the settlement isn’t even close to what BP has actually paid…:
Cut 8 (06) “double that”

A New Orleans entrepreneur has developed an app which consumers can use to find the best price on seafood in town. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Senate committee is set to debate a bill today that would allow pets to be buried with their owners. It’s currently illegal in Louisiana, but Patrick McCausland, president of Heaven’s Pets in Metairie, says a few states have already started allowing this…:
CUT 11 (04) “this decision”
He says if the measure passes, cemeteries would have the option to allow this, not forced.

A $20-billion settlement has finally been reached regarding the BP oil spill in 2010. The money, paid over 16 years, will go towards Clean Water Act penalties and to cover environmental damage. Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute, Eric Smith, says Louisiana will get some money out of the deal…:
CUT 7 (06) “restoration efforts”
Smith says with all the uncertainty surrounding the state’s operating budget, it’s unclear if the money will still go towards the coast.

If you love Louisiana seafood and you’re always on the lookout for the best price, there’s an app for that. New Orleans Entrepreneur Sheldon Williams developed an app called Seafood Locator. He says once you launch it, you’ll see the 15 affiliate establishments closest to you that sell your favorite seafood…:
Cut 15 (09) “in the app”
Seafood Locator is free for Android and Apple devices.

Today a Senate Committee will hear a proposal by Metairie Senator Conrad Appel that would allow people to have their pets buried next to them in cemeteries. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Mandeville Police say a deadly shooting Monday morning at a gas station appears to have been in self-defense. Police said video from the scene shows the man who ended up fatally shot, berating the clerk and then getting into a huge fight and continuously attacking the shooter. No charges have been filed against the shooter, and the case will now be turned over to the DA’s Office for further review.