The Edwards administration is urging the Senate to reject the House amendments that were made to the proposed budget for next fiscal year. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told the Senate Finance committee that the spending plan the House approved is not acceptable, because it will result in deep cuts to programs that assist the elderly and disabled…:
Cut 10 (09) “shortfall”
The Senate Finance committee is expected to approve its own version of the budget in the coming days.

A bill that says underage drinkers shouldn’t spending time in jail received final legislative passage. The measure eliminates the mandate that someone under 21 sit behind bars up to six months if they are caught with an alcoholic beverage. The violation still carries a $100 fine, and offenders could still be cited — but it wouldn’t show up on criminal history records.

NOAA issues its 2016 Atlantic hurricane season outlook today. Emelie Gunn has more on what federal forecasters might predict…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Louisiana is the first state in the nation to expand its hate crime laws to protect police, EMS and firefighters. Governor Edwards signed the Blue Lives Matter bill into law. The NAACP opposes and thinks it won’t hold up in court. But Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says this is long overdue…:
CUT 14 (09) “in place”

Governor Edwards has signed the Blue Lives Matter Bill into law, which makes Louisiana the first in the nation to expand its hate crime laws to protect police, firefighters and EMS crews. Author of the legislation, Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says the new law allows prosecutors to seek tougher penalties against individuals who intentionally target first responders because of their profession.
Cut 13 (12) “in jail” 2x
President of the Louisiana NAACP, Ernest Johnson says this law is just a knee jerk reaction to the Black Lives Matter campaign and unnecessary.
Cut 15 (09) “our firefighters”
Five other states have tried to pass similar bills, but they all failed to pass.

Governor John Bel Edwards could issue the call for the next special session as early as today, according to Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

NOAA will issue its outlook for the 2016 hurricane season today. State climatologist Barry Keim expects the federal forecasters will predict an average season. He says there are two factors working against each other, cooler than normal sea surface temperature, which is an indication for fewer storms, and La Nina coming later this season, which is an indicator for more storms.
CUT 7 (08) “normal season”

Every student would be guaranteed that at least part of their TOPS scholarship would be funded if lawmakers have to make some cuts to the program, under a bill nearing final passage. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says it would be better to reduce the award for all than to cut some 13-thousand students out of the program…
CUT 5 (12) “this year”
The bill has one more stop in the Senate before heading to the governor’s desk.

Governor Edwards has signed the Blue Lives Matter Bill into law, which makes Louisiana the first in the nation to expand its hate crime laws to protect police, firefighters and EMS crews. The new law allows prosecutors to seek tougher penalties against individuals who intentionally target first responders because of their profession.

A Senate-approved measure that would let patients see physical therapists without a doctor’s referral receives the support of the House as it nears final passage. But West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says patients should see a doctor before seeing physical therapists, because doctors have more medical training. He says if physical therapists missed something in a diagnosis, they could seriously injure that person.
cut 10 (05) “real problem”
But Ville Platte Representative Harvey LeBas aruged physical therapists have the necessary training…
cut 12 (08) “…disease states”
The measure passed on a 65-33 vote in the House and heads back to the Senate for concurrrence on House Language.

The House has approved a bill that would require cursive writing to be taught in public schools. The Senate still has to agree to House changes. Under the proposed law, the cursive writing requirement would go in effect for the 2017-18 school year.

Earlier today the price of oil rose above 50 dollars a barrel for the first time since October. Executive Director at LSU’s Center for Energy Studies David Dismukes says this marks an important milestone and it might put an end to the job losses in this industry…:
CUT 6 (10) “woods yet”
Crude oil was below 30 dollars a barrel earlier this year.

In case the legislature is not able to fully fund TOPS, a bill that would ensure all students get at least part of their scholarship is nearing final passage. Currently, 51-thousand students receive TOPS. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says, without this bill, 13-thousand students could lose their award which would be bad for the state’s economy…:
CUT 3 (05) “do it”
The measure passed the House and now heads back to the Senate so changes made to the bill can be approved.

Patients would not have to see a doctor before visiting a physical therapist under legislation that’s close to final passage. Ville Platte Representative Havey LeBas says Louisiana is only one of seven states calls for you to get a doctor’s referral to see a physical therapist. Lebas says because of this, P-T grads are leaving Louisiana…
cut 11 (07) “…other states”
The measure passed the House on a 65-33 vote and heads to Senate for concurrence on House amendments.

An investigative report by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums finds that the Baton Rouge zoo is not at fault for the deaths of two elderly giraffes, who died in March during a severe thunderstorm. Baton Rouge zoo director Phil Frost says they welcomed the findings of report and were glad the investigators found that the zoo did all they could for the animals…
cut 14 (10) “…that too”

In case the legislature is not able to fully fund TOPS, a bill that would ensure all students get at least part of their scholarship is nearing final passage. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The House has approved a bill that would require cursive writing to be taught in public schools. The measure goes back to the Senate for concurrunce on House changes. Under the proposed law, the cursive writing requirement would go in effect for the 2017-18 school year.

A Senate-approved bill that would allow patients to see physical therapists without a doctor’s referral is nearing final passage. There is opposition. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says patients should see a doctor before seeing physical therapists, because doctors have more medical training…:
CUT 9 (08) “doctor’s training”
Supporters of the proposed law say the bill will empower patients.

Oil rose above the $50 mark this morning for the first time since October. Executive Director at LSU’s Center for Energy Studies David Dismukes says the biggest catalyst for the uptick has been the recent fires in Canada….:
CUT 7 (10) “to that”
Dismukes also says the rise in the price of crude oil could possibly stave off additional job losses in the oil industy.

Today the price of crude oil tops 50 dollars a barrel for the first time since October. Executive Director at LSU’s Center for Energy Studies David Dismukes says this might put an end to the job losses in this industry. He says with oil trading at 50-dollars a barrel, it’ll be interesting to see if there will be an uptick in production…
CUT 8 (10) “the operators”

Legislation to ensure all TOPS students get at least part of their scholarship award is on its way to final legislative passage. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says without this bill 13-thousand students could lose their scholarships due to funding issues, which would hurt the state’s economy. He says this could keep more Louisiana students in the state.
CUT 4 (09) “at home”

A Senate-approved measure that would let patients see physical therapists without a doctor’s referral receives the support of the House as it nears final passage. But West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says patients should see a doctor before seeing physical therapists, because doctors have more medical training. He says if physical therapists missed something in a diagnosis, they could seriously injure that person.
cut 10 (05) “real problem”

Ville Platte Rep. Harvey LeBas says physical therapists have the necessary training to see patients and take care of them.

The Baton Rouge Zoo releases the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums final inspection report of the zoo after two giraffes died in March. Zoo director Phil Frost says they’re pleased the report found the staff responded as an experienced and knowledgeable team. He says he requested an audit by the association because the giraffe deaths were unusual.
Cut 13 (10) “do that”