Baton Rouge Police have arrested a 50-year-old Slaughter woman who is accused of fatally poisoning her male partner. Meshell Hale has been charged with second-degree murder for the death of Damian Skipper, who died from Barium poisioning in 2015. B-R-P-D Sergeant Don Coppola says New Orleans Police started the investigation into Hale after her husband, 42-year-old Arthur Noflin, was found dead and burnt beyond recognition in a truck. Coppola says before Noflin’s death, he complained of the same symptoms that Skipper experienced before his death….
cut 14 (08) “…Damian Skipper”
A warrant details that Hale allegedly purchased 500 grams of barium with a Paypal account.

A town councilman in LaFourche Parish has been charged with his third D-U-I. State Police arrested 39-year-old Wayne Bourgeois of Lockport after he allegedly side-swiped another vehicle. Bourgeois says he regrets the incident and he’ll appear in court July 6th.

The second special session of 2018 ended without a sales tax bill passing that would replace 648-million dollars in expiring sales taxes. A Senate backed tax bill that renewed half of the expiring penny sales tax to fund higher ed, healthcare, and TOPS was six votes short of passage. Louisiana Budget Project director Jan Moller says if the revenue can’t be raised in an expected third special session, 500 million dollars of cuts will be distributed across state government…..
cut 10 (11) “…this budget”
Higher education would be cut by 96-million dollars and TOPS would be funded at 70-percent. University of Louisiana system President Doctor Jim Henderson says its disappointing…
cut 3 (08) “…of those people”

Googling “how common is barium poisoning “on your phone might not be a good idea if you plan on poisoning someone. That information is in the warrant for 50-year-old Meshell Hale of Slaughter who was arrested and charged with second degree murder in the 2015 poisoning death of a Damian Skipper. Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Don Coppola says the New Orleans homicide detectives assisted in the arrest.
Cut 13 (10) “were working”
Other google searches documented in the warrant: “How bad does Barium Taste? – truly”,and “heart stopping drugs.”

The reward has trippled for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in last week’s fatal shooting of 29-year-old Cameron Mack and his four-year-old daughter Cali in LaPlace The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s office has announced a 15-thousand dollar reward. They’ve been searching for the gunman, who fatally shot the two as they were walking up the stairs to their home.

Fiscal conservatives applaud the failure of a sales tax bill in the second special session, while left leaning groups are concerned about proposed cuts…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

As it stands now, the taxpayer funded TOPS scholarship program is only funded at 70-percent for next fiscal year. University of Louisiana System President Doctor Jim Henderson says it will look bad if legislators do not fully fund the progam…
cut 5 (11) “…to send”

A third special session is likely after lawmakers failed to address the fiscal cliff as the second special session of the year ended last night at midnight. 648-million dollars in temporary taxes are set to expire on July 1st and many House Republicans are not willing to pass a sales tax bill to replace much of the lost revenue. Americans for Prosperity State Director John Kay says it’s time to reduce state spending…
Cut 11 (06) “the budget”
The budget approved by legislators would reduce higher education funding by 96-million dollars and TOPS would be funded at 70-percent. UL System President Doctor Jim Henderson says he holds out hope that revenue will be found in the expected third special session to cover up the shortfall…
cut 4 (11) “…work on”

A report is recommending a reduction in the use of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Kevin Barnhart has more.
Cut 2 (28) ” I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A budget approved by lawmakers in the final hour of the second special session would reduce higher education funding by 96-million dollars and TOPS would be funded at 70-percent.  President of the University of Louisiana System Dr. Jim Henderson says the idea of cuts to higher ed and TOPS is disappointing.

Cut 3 (08)   “…of those people.” 
Dr. Henderson says going back on the promise of a fully funded TOPS scholarship is a message that the state should not want to convey to the students.

As another special session failed this year, the governor has a few options to move forward. Political consultant Roy Fletcher says the governor may have to accept the House plan, which would set the sales tax rate at 4.3 percent after July 1^st.  Fletcher says everyone has to compromise.

Cut 7 (11)  “the governor”

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Governor Edwards has signed legislation that expands the number of diseases that can receive prescriptions for medical marijuana once it becomes available later this summer. But will we see an attempt to legalize the receational use of pot. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James anticipates a bill next year to green light recreational use…
cut 9 (11) “…pay down our debt”
Governor Edwards has previously said he opposes legalizing recreational marijuana use.

Now, your commodity price report

The state legislature approved a budget as the special session ended last night, but a sales tax proposal did not make it through, which means TOPS and public colleges are underfunded for next fiscal year. A bill to replace an expiring one-cent sales tax with a half-cent tax failed by six votes in the House. Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s embarassed by the lack of cooperation in the legislature…
cut 15 (12) “….underfunded”
Edwards says another special session will be held. Political consultant Roy Fletcher says the governor may have to accept the House plan, which would set the sales tax rate at 4-point-3-percent after July 1st…
cut 6 (11) “…out of here”

More illnesses will be eligible to be treated with medical marijuana under a bill signed by the governor. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (30) I”m Kevin Barnhart“

A strong line of thunderstorms is moving through central Louisiana at this hour. The National Weather says half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 miles per hour are possible with these storms and Alexandria, Bunkie, Moreauville, Leesville and DeRidder are some of the communities that could be impacted.

The second special session of the year crashed and burned at midnight last night, when lawmakers failed to pass a sales tax bill and that could result in a 30-percent cut to TOPS and a 20-percent reduction in higher education funding next fiscal year. The key moment was the House rejecting a Senate backed sales tax plan to replace 648-million dollars in expiring revenue. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson laid the blame for the session’s failure at a large group of House Republicans….
Cut 13 (12) “human beings”
The Americans for Prosperity-Louisiana released a statement commending lawmakers who voted against the sales tax bill. State Director John Kay says state government should live within its means and if another special session is called, it would be a waste of taxpayer money.

Under legislation signed by the governor, glaucoma, PTSD, Parkinson’s and other conditions have been added to the list of illnesses that will be eligible to receive a prescription for medical marijuana once it becomes available at selected pharmacies later this year. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says his bill will also result in a cost savings for the state….
cut 8 (09) “….fiscal savings”

The Secretary of State’s office has been warning the public that Louisiana has aging voting machines and now we have a price tag for replacing them, 60 million dollars. The feds have offered to chip in with nearly 6 million to get the process started. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says it will not happen overnight.
Cut 4 (10) “five parishes”

A second special session ended last night without an agreement on how to replace an expring one-cent sales tax, leaving the state short when it comes to fully funding TOPS and higher ed. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 3 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle”
Governor Edwards is expected to call another special session.

Scattered thunderstorms are possible today across Louisiana and we are already seeing heavy rainfall from a cluster of storms moving through northwest Louisiana.

More Louisiana residents will have the ability to treat ailments with medical marijuana once it becomes available later this year. The bill had bipartisan support in what was an otherwise contentious regular session. Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the bill which was authored by Baton Rouge Representative Ted James.
Cut 7 (:12) “…make life more enjoyable”
PTSD and Parkinsons are among the conditions now eligible for medical pot under this legislation.

A new study finds that chemotherapy may no longer be needed for those diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. LSU Health New Orleans Director of Precision Medicine, Doctor Lucio Miele (Mee-Lah) says the results are expected to spare up to 70-thousand patients a year in the U-S the ordeal and expense of chemotherapy…
cut 12 (08) “…there was no guidance”

The state legislature approved a budget as the special session ended last night, but a sales tax proposal did not make it through the process, which means TOPS and public colleges are underfunded for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. State agencies are also looking at a cut. A bill to replace an expiring one-cent sales tax with a half-cent tax failed by six votes in the House. Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s embarassed by the lack of cooperation in the legislature…
cut 15 (12) “….underfunded”
Governor Edwards says the body’s failure means another special session will be called, costing taxpayers 50-thousand dollars a day.

Americans for Propserity-Louisiana is applauding House members for what they say taking a principled stand against tax increases. The group says state government needs to live within its means.

The Secretary of State’s office is accepting proposals to replace the state’s 10-thousand Election Day and Early Voting Machines. Meanwhile, interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says the department is moving on after the resignation of Tom Schedler, who is named in a sexual harassment lawsuit. Ardoin says steps have been taken to correct alleged mistakes in the past…
cut 6 (10) “….behavior”

Good news for women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, a new study finds chemotherapy may no longer be needed. Doctor Lucio Miele (MEE-LAH) says researchers have found that chemotheraphy treatment in up to 70-percent of the cases could cause problems if the cancer returns…
cut 11 (07) “….hormone therapy and chemotherapy”
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women.

For the second time this year, a special session has ended without the passage of a tax bill to avoid deep cuts across state government when the new fiscal year starts July 1st. The House and Senate could not agree on a sales tax proposal. House GOP leaders did not like the Senate’s proposal which would have generated 500 million dollars. Governor John Bel Edwards calls it a sad day for the state and a minority in the House let politics take priority over people…
cut 16 (09) “…do better”
Lawmakers were able to approve a budget for next fiscal year, but without additional revenues it will result in a 30-percent cut to TOPS, colleges would see a 96-million dollar reduction, public safety programs and the department of children and family services would also see cuts . It’s similar to a budget approved in the regular session, which the governor vetoed.

Governor Edwards has signed legislation that expands the number of diseases that can receive prescriptions for medical marijuana once it becomes available later this summer. But will we see an attempt to legalize the receational use of pot. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James anticipates a bill next year to green light recreational use…
cut 9 (11) “…pay down our debt”
Governor Edwards has previously said he opposes legalizing recreational marijuana use.

A report is recommending a reduction in the use of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Kevin Barnhart has more.
Cut 2 (28) ” I’m Kevin Barnhart”