The Florida school shooting that left 16 children and one adult dead has sparked a new push for gun control legislation. Matt Doyle has Governor Edwards’ thoughts on gun control.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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A House committee is expected today to hear Representative Jack McFarland’s legislation that would require Medicaid patients to pay a copay at an E-R for non-emergency treatment.  Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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State Police is asking the public not to share unsubstantiated threats through social media.  Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards addresses the issue of gun control during his monthly call-in radio show. Edwards says in the wake of the latest mass shooting in Florida, he’s calling for a more robust background check system for firearm purchases.

Cut 4  (11) “the people” 

Edwards says he would like to see a purchasing ban for those on the No-Fly list, and firearm bans for those who commit violent crimes, and have a history of mental illness.

Edwards also came out against aftermarket additions that alter the capabilities of legally purchased automatic rifles.

Cut 5  (08)  “to people”

Florida shooter Nickolas Cruz was 18-years-old when he lawfully purchased ten rifles from South Florida dealers. Edwards says legislators may need to look at increasing the legal purchasing age for such weapons.

Cut 6 (11)  “should consider.”

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The special session grounded to a halt yesterday after a vote on a tax reform bill that would have kept a quarter of the one penny sales tax intact, and remove some of the special sales tax exemptions for specific industries was postponed indefinitely. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says it was the bill with the most momentum, and its failure could tank the entire session.

Cut 7 (09)  “measures again”

The tax bill would have plugged 300-million-dollars of the one billion dollar looming budget gap.

Lawmakers were optimistic heading into the capitol Monday, but Alford says the political realities of an impending election and a bitter partisan divide didn’t take long to grind the session to a halt.

Cut 8 (08) “simple matter”

Alford says if the session burns out without a solution, the legislature’s failure to work together to find a deal could become campaign talking point for Edwards’ 2019 re-election campaign.

Cut 9 (12)  “with it”

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A House committee is expected today to hear Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland’s legislation that would require Medicaid patients to pay a copay if they use an emergency room for non-emergency treatment.  McFarland says the bill is an attempt to stop Medicaid patients from using the ER for a common cold or minor medical issues…

Cut 10 (09) “emergency room.”

The New Orleans Democratic Socialists of America Health Care Chairman Haley Sauicer (So-shea) says Medicaid recipients don’t abuse the system in receiving care…

Cut 11 (09) “on Medicaid.”

The special session is at a tipping point after a first attempt at tax reform failed in the House Ways and Means committee. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”.

The State Department of Education is launching the “Be Irreplaceable. Be a Teacher” campaign.  Teacher of the Year Kim Eckert announced the 100-thousand-dollar campaign which is an effort to convince high school and college students to make a career in the teaching profession.

Cut 3 (07) “look like.”

Across Louisiana, students, teen aged boys mainly, have been arrested for terrorizing school mates in the wake of the mass shooting in south Florida.  LSU Pediatric psychologist Joy Osofsky (Oh-saf-ski) says it’s her belief that kids are simply mimicking what they see.

Cut 6  (12)  “are scared”

Many high school students love to participate in sports, unfortunately there isn’t enough referees to officiate some of those games. LHSAA Assistant Executive Director Keith Alexander blames the unruly crowds at some games that have gotten completely out of hand.  Sometimes extreme measures have to happen…

Cut 10 (08) “empty stadium.”

This is the Louisiana Radio Network Legislative Report, I’m Kelley Ray…

The special session is at a standstill after the House Ways and Means committee failed to approve any tax reform measures today. Lake Charles Representative Stephen Dwight brought a bill up for vote to make permanent a quarter of a one-cent sales tax that is set to expire….
cut 14 (09) “….of it”
Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey voiced his opposition…
cut 15 (12) “…two years”
No word on when the House Ways and Means commmitte will meet again. The special session must wrap up its work two weeks from today.

On his monthly call-in radio show, Governor Edwards said he remains optimistic a solution to the fiscal cliff can be reached, but compromise is hard.

The Florida school shooting that left 16 children and one adult dead has sparked a new push for gun control legislation. Matt Doyle has Governor Edwards’ thoughts on gun control.
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

A bill to require Medicaid patients to pay a copay if they use an emergency room for non-emergency treatment is expected to be heard Thursday in a House committe. Supporters say visits to the E-R for minor medical issues drives up health care costs, but opponents say the bill will result in low-income individuals not getting the care they need.

The special session is at a tipping point after just three days. The first major piece of tax reform legislation, aimed at plugging a portion of the billion dollar fiscal cliff, has stalled in the House Ways and Means committee. Lake Charles Republican Representative Stephen Dwight says this failure could doom the special session.

Cut 12 (07) “is over.”

The bill would renew a quarter of the expiring penny sales tax, and remove some of the special sales tax exemptions for certain industries and generate an estimated 300-million-dollars a year.  Baton Rouge Democratic Representative Ted James rejects the idea that this is the only fix to the fiscal cliff that would gut popular programs like TOPS.  He says Republicans won’t allow other solutions to be entertained.

Cut 13 (10) “I’m not”

The State Department of Education is launching the “Be Irreplaceable. Be a Teacher” campaign.  It’s an effort to convince high school and college students to make a career in the teaching profession.  But Teacher of the Year Kim Eckert says it’s a challenge to bring in new teachers to Louisiana due to lower teacher pay.   She’s urging teachers to speak openly with lawmakers and education officials and it starts with this campaign…

Cut 5  (11)  “gonna be.”

Police are reporting copycat type incidents throughout Louisiana since the mass school shooting in Florida.  LSU Pediatric psychologist Joy Osofsky (Oh-saf-ski) says there is a danger that kids are becoming star stuck by these killers, relishing that they are in control…

Cut 8 (10) “be identified.”

The latest threat was made against Northwood High School in Blanchard in Caddo Parish…

The special session is at a standstill after the House Ways and Means committee failed to approve any tax reform measures today. Lake Charles Representative Stephen Dwight brought a bill up for vote to make permanent a quarter of a one-cent sales tax that is set to expire….
cut 14 (09) “….of it”
Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey voiced his opposition…
cut 15 (12) “…two years”
No word on when the House Ways and Means commmitte will meet again. The special session must wrap up its work two weeks from today.

On his monthly call-in radio show, Governor Edwards said he remains optimistic a solution to the fiscal cliff can be reached, but compromise is hard.

The State Department of Education has launched the “Be Irreplaceable. Be a Teacher” campaign. Teacher of the Year Kim Eckert says the 100-thousand-dollar campaign is an effort to convince high school and college students to make a career in the teaching profession.
Cut 3 (07) “look like”
The campaign will use TV, radio, billboards and web advertising in an effort to reach Generation Z.

Next week it’s the girls state high school basketball championships in Alexandria and the week after it will be the boys turn in Lake Charles. But the LHSAA is having trouble having enough basketball referrees during the season. Assistant Executive Director Keith Alexander says unfortuantely rowdy fans can prevent some from wanting to be a ref. He says the LHSAA has had to take some extreme measures before…
cut 10 (08) “…empty stadium”

The special session is at a tipping point after a first attempt at tax reform failed in the House Ways and Means committee. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”.

Louisiana schools have been responding to social media threats as mainly teen aged boys are mimicking what they saw last week in Florida. LSU Health New Orleans professor Joy Osofsky says it’s important for parents to talk with their children during these difficult times…
cut 7 (05) “…what happened”

The State Department of Education has launched a campaign called “Be Irreplaceable. Be a Teacher”. Teacher of the Year Kim Eckert says it’s an effort to get high school students and those in the first couple of years in college interested in becoming a teacher. Eckert says the campaign will attempt to attract Generation Z through television, radio and billboard ads…
Cut 4 (09) “anything else.”
You can find more information at Be-A Teacher-L-A-dot-com.

And the L-H-S-A-A has a need for more basketball referees and officials for spring sports…..
cut 11 (10) “…active official”
That’s Keith Alexander, who is an assistant executive director for the LHSAA. He says you can find more information at their website.

One other note…Saints-Pelicans Owner Tom Benson has been hospitalized because of the flu. He is said to be resting comfortably.

The special session is at a tipping point after just three days. The first major piece of tax reform legislation, aimed at plugging a portion of the billion dollar fiscal cliff, has stalled in the House Ways and Means committee. Lake Charles Republican Representative Stephen Dwight says this failure could doom the special session.

Cut 12, 7 seconds, is over

The bill would renew a quarter of the expiring penny sales tax, and remove some of the special sales tax exemptions enjoyed by certain industries. The bill would generate an estimated 300 million a year.

Baton Rouge Democratic Representative Ted James rejects the idea that this is the only fix to the cliff, he says Republicans won’t entertain other options

Cut 13, 10 seconds, I’m not

Law enforcement and schools systems statewide have seen an increase in online threats in the wake of last week’s mass shooting at a high school in Florida. Jim Shannon has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

A large part of the state is under a tornado watch until 5 PM. The watch box covers southwest, central and northeast Louisiana.

And the wife of the French Settlement police chief was arrested for allegedly driving drunk Saturday night after officers initially noticed suspicious behavior coming from her vechicle outside of the police station.

The State Department of Education has launched the “Be Irreplaceable. Be a Teacher” campaign.  Teacher of the Year Kim Eckert says it’s a challenge to bring in new teachers to Louisiana, since nearby states pay an average of 17-hundred-dollars more.  She hopes this campaign will urge teachers to speak openly with lawmakers and education officials to help attract new educators…

Cut 5  (11)  “gonna be.”

Across Louisiana, students, teen aged boys mainly, have been arrested for terrorizing school mates in the wake of the mass shooting in south Florida. Police are reporting incidents all over the state. LSU Pediatric psychologist Joy Osofsky (Oh-saf-ski) says it’s her belief that kids are simply mimicking what they see.

Cut 6  (12)  “are scared”

While many high school students are ready and able to participate in sports, there isn’t enough referees to officiate those games.  LHSAA Assistant Executive Director Keith Alexander says some sports have plenty of refs, while it’s harder to find officials who will work basketball games.  He believes the crowds, especially if they get unruly, make a difference.

Cut 9 (10) “the court.”

Owner of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans Tom Benson is in the hospital.  The 90- year old has flu like symptoms and is in ICU, but is resting comfortably.