Industrial hemp and CBD regulation clears a key Senate committee, but not without having a laundry list of regulations attached to the activity on it’s way to the Senate floor…
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A statewide framework regulating rideshare services clears a legislative hurdle in the Senate Judiciary Committee A. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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Legislation that would keep secret the identities of companies that sell Louisiana lethal injection chemicals is headed to the Senate…
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Legislation to legalize industrial hemp production and CBD oil in Louisiana cleared the Senate Ag Committee on a 5-2 vote, but not without a list of amendments that heavily regulate both products.
It’s a key hurdle to clear for the proposal, as it received the backing of Senate Ag Chair Francis Thompson, who previously opposed the bill, but backed it after the regulations were added.
Cut 4 (08) “… activity.”
Governor Edwards says he backs industrial hemp regulation, and if he were to sign it into law the crop could be grown as early as 2020.
Not everyone was comfortable with the idea. Jonesborough Senator Jim Fannin says it could just be another financially risky fad, a fad with little peer reviewed research available for interested farmers to study.
Cut 5 (12) “…jeopardy.”
The CBD regulations stipulate that the only CBD that can be sold in state would be products that follow yet-to-be-established federal guidelines.
Ag Commissioner Mike Strain supports the efforts, including the new regulations that have been tacked on. He says the plant will be safe for growth because it must be tested within two weeks of it’s harvest for THC, and…
Cut 6 (11) “…percent.”
The bill heads to the Senate floor.
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Legislation to establish a statewide framework for rideshare services like Lyft and Uber advances out of Senate Judiciary A on a 2-1 vote, the same committee where the measure has died the two previous years. Metairie Senator Senator Danny Martini oppose the measure because rideshare companies will still not follow the same regulations as taxis.
Cut 7 (08) “…regulate this industry.”
Owner of United Cab Company in New Orleans Leonard Guidroz says the taxi cab industry and rideshare industry provide the same service, so he believes that cabs should be deregulated in an effort to compete.
Cut 8 (05) “…as a taxi cab.”
New Orleans Uber driver Gwendolyn Wallace says she relies on the rideshare industry as her full time means of employment, adding the service itself regulates each individual driver and has more checks and balances than taxis.
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Rideshare is currently only available in six cities around the state. Public policy manager for Lyft Carter Stearn says the availability of rideshare service is beneficial to a community.
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Governor Edwards is backing 18 million dollars in new funding for early childhood education, as a budget battle looms over what kind of education spending should be prioritized.
Edwards says this will get more working class kids into early childhood education programs that prepare them for academic success later in life.
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The wait list for subsidy assistance is about 5,100 kids long.
Edwards says getting this cash through the budget process will go aways towards reducing the significant disparity in outcomes between rich kids and poor kids.
Cut 12 (10) “…do that.”
Edwards is also pushing for a permanent 1,000 dollar teacher pay raise, a 500 dollar support personnel pay raise, and 39 million in new K-12 education spending.
Superintendent of Education John White says the money is tantamount to a short-term economic stimulus, and a long term investment in the workforce.
Cut 13 (12) “…children.”
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Hammond Representative Nicky Muscarello’s bill that would conceal the names of pharma companies that sell the state drugs for death penalty lethal injections passes the House floor 68-10.
Muscarello says at least 17 states have similar laws, but this one is closely modeled after a Texas bill that provides full details about what the chemical is, but not who sold it.
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But opponents cried foul about the ethics of keeping contractual details away from taxpayers. Baton Rouge Representative Pat Smith says if pharma companies that make lethal serums are proud of their work, they should have the courage to stand behind it.
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Mucarello says his legislation is necessary because companies won’t sell the state the drug without a secrecy guarantee.
The Hammond Republican was asked what would happen if, after the law is passed, a hypothetical Department of Corrections employee were to leak the sellers to the media. The lawmaker indicated it would likely be a serious criminal offense.
Cut 16 (21) “…aware of”
The bill heads to the Senate.
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Pelicans executive vice -president David Griffin has brought in former Nets scout and G League executive of the year Trajan Langdon to take over duties as the team’s general manager.
Langdon says both Griffin and team owner Gayle Benson are committed to a sustainable team building approach, even if it means the team misses out on the playoffs for a year or two.
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Langdon says he was particularly impressed with Benson’s passion for the team, and her commitment to building a long term winner.
The Pels have seen a dramatic change of fortune over the last six months, going from despair over a franchise cornerstone’s trade demand, to hope after the hiring of a respected NBA operator in Griffin, and finally joy at nabbing the first pick in the draft, destined to be Duke Legend Zion Williamson. Griffin says folks around the league look at the team in a very different light now…