A bill that would allow public high school students to participate in a national sex survey scarcely got enough votes to pass the House. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says Louisiana has a high rate of STDs and pregnancy among teens. Opponents of the bill say it’s the parents’ place to talk about these things with their kids, but Smith says that isn’t working:
CUT 3 (09) “policy”
Students would not be required to participate, and parents would be able to opt their child out. The measure heads to the Senate.

The Powerball jackpot for tonight’s drawing is up to $348 million dollars, according to the Louisiana Lottery. The cash value of the prize is $292 million.

The East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s office arrested a parent they say cussed out a principal and threatened to blow up Capitol Middle School. 32-year-old Jamie Bell was booked on charges of assaulting a school teacher, terrorizing, unlawful disruption of operation of a school and entering after forbidden.

Officials in Caldwell Parish is investigating the case of a man they say was recently released from jail, and is now dead following a hostage situation and a standoff with deputies. They say two women went to check on Kenneth Magourick, who then held them against their will. When deputies responded, they said Magourick came outside and pointed a gun, then went down. It is unclear if Maqourick killed himself or was shot by law enforcement.

Former St. Landry Captain Clay Higgins, who achieved fame for his viral crime stoppers videos, has released another one where he addresses a few of his concerns about our country, even hinting that he may consider running for public office. Higgins told the Jim Engster Show the response to his video has been incredible…:
Cut 13 (09) “the country”
Higgins says if he decides to run for office, he’ll make the announcement sometime next week.

220 chimpanzees at the UL Lafayette research lab in New Iberia will be re-located to a sanctuary in Georgia. President of Project Chimps Sarah Baeckler Davis says the Georgia sanctuary is the perfect environment to house the retired chimps…
cut 5 (10) “…a kitchen”

State health officials are offering guidance on how people can prevent the transmission of the Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch, with the department of health and hospitals, says the mosquito that carries Zika will be active in Louisiana this summer, but it won’t just be mosquitoes that can spread the virus…:
Cut 10 (11) “feel ill”

Is the Cajun John Wayne considering a run for political office? Captain Clay Higgins has received national attention for his Crime Stopper Videos and now the former spokesperson for the St. Landry Parish’s Sheriff’s office has released another video talking about problems created by career politicians in Washington DC. Higgins told the Jim Engster Show that before he decides to run for an elected office, he wanted to put his feelings about the state of the nation out there…
cut 14 (10) “….nation faces”
Higgins says if he decides to run for office, he’ll make the announcement next week.

A 21-year-old Thibodaux man faces several charges after he was arrested for stealing school bus and driving it while intoxicated. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office says Jordon Molaison hot-wired the bus from a home in Chackbay and began driving it. Deputies say they pulled the stolen bus over and allegedly found that Molaison busted a camera inside the bus and had a blood alcohol content above the legal limit.

State health officials are offering guidance on how people can prevent the transmission of Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch, with the department of health and hospitals, says Southeastern Louisiana, and Lake Pontchartrain in particular, will be high risk areas because that’s where the mosquito that carries Zika lives….:
cut 12 (10) “areas are”
Welch advises people to clear any standing water out of their yards, and wear long sleeves, pants and mosquito repellent.

Louisiana is the 4th worst state for working moms, according to a study by the personal finance website, WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzalez says in terms of daycare quality, Louisiana scored a 57 out of 150 points. She says the state also has a lot of single mothers living in poverty…:
Cut 8 (10) “in poverty”

Governor John Bel Edwards is set to speak at at the Rotary Club in Baton Rouge today. The state of the state is slated to begin at noon.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will be transferring 220 retired research chimpanzees to a facility in northern Georgia, as part of a partnership with the nonprofit organization Project Chimps. President Sarah Baeckler Davis says this is the first time a non-federal program has released an entire population of research chimpanzees…:
Cut 6 (06) “retirement facility”
She says the Georgia sanctuary will be the perfect environment to house the retired chimpanzees.

The Powerball is getting big again. The jackpot for tonight’s drawing is $348 million dollars. The cash value is 226.1 Million dollars.

The Department of Health and Hospitals is working to spread the word about ways to prevent the spread of the Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch says if someone has a partner who has traveled to South America or the Caribbean, they need to take extra precautions, especially if the woman is pregnant…:
cut 11 (09) “her baby”
He says the mosquito that carries Zika will be active in Louisiana this summer.

Louisiana is the 4th worst state for working moms, according to a study by the personal finance website, WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzalez says the state also ranked 43rd for the gender pay gap…:
Cut 9 (07) “at least”
She says the study considered things like cost of daycare, professional opportunities, and work and life balance.

Former famed St. Landry Captain Clay Higgins has released another video, which seems to hint the he may run for public office. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

220 retired research chimps at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s New Iberia research center will move to a new sanctuary in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Project Chimps negotiated with the university, and starting in June the chimps will start moving to the 236-acre sanctuary….:
cut 4 (07) “moved here”

A study finds Louisiana ranks as the 4th worst state for working moms. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (25) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Could famed former St. Landry Parish Captain Clay Higgins be considering a run for public office? The man dubbed The Cajun John Wayne released another viral video this week saying if he is called by the people of this state and nation to serve, he would step up to the plate…:
CUT 15 (08) “these things”
Higgins says if he decides to run for office, he’ll make the announcement sometime next week. The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

Governor John Bel Edwards is slated to deliver the State of the State address at noon today. The speech will take place at the Baton Rouge Rotary Club.

State health officials are offering guidance on how people can prevent the transmission of Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch, with the department of health and hospitals, says the mosquito that carries Zika will be active in Louisiana this summer, but it won’t just be mosquitoes spreading the virus…:
Cut 10 (11) “feel ill”
Welch advises people to clear any standing water out of their yards, and wear long sleeves, pants and mosquito repellent.

Organizers with the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival say rain on the second weekend made the overall attendance drop from 2015. They said about 425,000 festers came to the fairgrounds track this year in The Big Easy, where last year that number was about 460,000.

The state department of health and hospitals is providing guidance to prevent the spread of the Zika virus. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana is the 4th worst state for working moms, according to a study by the personal finance website, WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzalez says they looked at the cost of daycare, professional opportunities, and work and life balance:
CUT 7 (07) “ranked 47th”
Gonzalez says Louisiana also ranked 43rd for the gender pay gap.

Captain Clay Higgins, who achieved fame for his viral crime stoppers videos, has released another video where he addresses a few of his concerns about our country, even hinting that he may consider running for public office. Higgins told the Jim Engster Show the response to his video has been incredible…:
Cut 13 (09) “the country”
Higgins says if he decides to run for office, he’ll make the announcement sometime next week.

The full House narrowly voted Tuesday on a proposal that would allow high school students to take a national sex survey. Baton Rouge Representative Pat Smith says this analysis would play a major part in reducing the staggering number of teen pregnancies and STDS in Louisiana. Those in opposition say the test is not appropriate and sex should be taught at home not school. The vote was 53-40 to send the measure over to the Senate.

A bill to expand the list of diseases for which doctors can prescribe medical marijuana passes out of the House Health and Welfare Committee. Michelle Southern has more…
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

220 research chimps at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s New Iberia research center are moving to a new sanctuary in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Project Chimps is a non-profit organization and has negotiated with the university to move the chimps there over the next few years. President Sarah Baeckler Davis says beginning in June, chimps will start the move to the 236-acre sanctuary.

Public school students could start getting lessons in personal finance management. Legislation by Minden Representative Gene Reynolds advanced in the House Education Committee with no objection. Reynolds says this bill would not create a financial literacy course…:
CUT 3 (07) “whole idea”

The bill now moves to the House floor.

Another bill aimed at public schools by New Orleans Representative Walt Leger would require students to have wellness exams before going in to kindergarten and sixth grade. He says this ensures that any health issue a student might have can be caught early…:
CUT 5 (07) “and otherwise”

The measure passed on a 59-37 vote and moves to the Senate.