After a couple of weeks of dry weather, tropical moisture will invade the Bayou State starting today…
cut 5 (11) “…two weeks”
The U-S Army Corps of Engineers says the tropical rainmaker is not expected to affect the opening of the Morganza Spillway. The structure is still scheduled to open Sunday.

Colorado State University hurricane researchers have slightly increased their initial forecast issued in early April. The research team calls for 13 more named storms this season. Researcher Jhordanne Jones says conditions in the Pacific could impact the Atlantic season.
Cut 7 (12) “…favor hurricane development.”
A weak El Nino is expected to persist through most of the hurricane season, which helps tear apart hurricanes as they try to form.

For a second year in a row, a bill from Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval to ban handheld cellphone use behind the wheel fails to make it to the Governor’s desk. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The legislative session comes to a close tomorrow at 6 PM. Lawmakers still need to approve a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1st and there’s still a chance they can approve the legislation that would help bring sports betting to Louisiana. The fantasy sports tax and regulation bills also need to pass for residents to participate in online fantasy sports contests.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says prepare for heavy rains this week…
voicer 1 (28) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

State Police say the man who was shot on Bourbon Street last Thursday by a State Trooper was more than five times over the legal limit for alcohol. Authorities say 42-year-old Eric Kullander of New Orleans was driving against traffic towards pedestrians and refused to comply with commands to stop his vehicle, which led to an officer firing his weapon. Kullander continues to receive treatment for his injuries at a local hospital.

U-S Senator John Kennedy is co-authoring a bipartisan bill that’s attempting to help local media outlets receive more ad revenue from Facebook and Google…..
cut 11 (12) “….advertising”
If the legislation passes, antitrust laws would be suspended for four years to give media outlets a chance to negotiate with Facebook and Google for a bigger share of the profits.

Colorado State University researchers are bumping up their projected total of named storms this hurricane season to 14. We’ve already had one named storm, so 13 more are expected. Researcher Jhordanne Jones says the season could be even more active than that, if a weak El Nino does not develop in the Pacific…
cut 8 (08) “….more hurricane activity”
The C-S-U report also notes that Tropical sea surface temperatures have warmed up slightly faster than normal.

A flash flood watch is posted for the southern half of the state as a tropical system is expected to bring two to four inches of rain through Saturday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a trough has formed along the coast, and is expected to bring rains across the entire state.
Cut 4 (09) “…next week”
The U-S Army Corps of Engineers says the potential of flash flooding does not affect the opening of the Morganza Spillway, which is scheduled for Sunday.

A proposal to ban hand held cell phones while driving has failed in this legislative session. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill passed the House, but he could not get the legislation out of a Senate committee. In the time since the bill failed, Huval has filed a House resolution to conduct a study on safe driving while using a cell phone.
Cut 14 (08) “…of our state.”

Senator John Kennedy files legislation that would allow small news media outlets to band together to bargain for better profit sharing from social media giants like Facebook and Google.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Flash flood watches are in effect for most of central and southwest Louisiana through Thursday evening as a rain trough is forming off the coast. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Senator John Kennedy brings legislation allowing small news media outlets to band together to bargain for better profit sharing from social media giants like Facebook and Google.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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For a second year in a row, a bill from Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval to ban handheld cellphone use behind the wheel fails to make it to the Governor’s desk. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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A flash flood watch is in effect for southwest Louisiana, central Louisiana, and Acadiana as the state is expected to see steady rains over the next several days

State Climatologist Barry Keim says a trough a formed along the coast, and is expected to bring rains across the entire state.

Cut 4 (09) “…next week”

The flash flood watch is in effect through Thursday evening.

Keim says after two weeks of some incredibly dry weather, our fortunes are expected to change starting today.

Cut 5 (11) “…two weeks.”

A tropical disturbance is working it’s way up the Mexican Gulf Coast , and there’s a 40 percent chance the disturbance could develop into Tropical Storm Barry.

If you’re worried the deluge could exacerbate the ongoing flood risk on the Mississippi River, Keim says don’t worry about it, because the water we’re about to get won’t be getting into that waterway.

Cut 6 (07) “…small.”

Keim adds the water putting south Louisiana levees at risk is flowing in from the north.

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Colorado State University hurricane researchers are predicting a near-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2019, which is only a slight increase from the initial forecast issued in early April. The research team calls for 13 named storms this season. Researcher Jhordanne Jones says conditions in the Pacific could impact the Atlantic season.

Cut 7 (12) “…favor hurricane development.”

Jones says what causes the season to be average is the uncertainty of the Pacific to continue to warm up.

Cut 8 (08) “…more hurricane activity.”

The current probability of one major hurricane impacting the Gulf Coast is at 30% for this season, but Jones says it is still important to always be ready for a land falling storm.

Cut 9 (08) “…a lot of damage.”

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Senator John Kennedy says he’s got legislation that would address the raw deals smaller news media outlets are getting from social media giants who use their content. Kennedy wants to empower small media outlets by temporarily suspending antitrust laws for them.

He says this would allow them to collectively negotiate for more profit sharing from companies that use their content.

cut 10 (11) “…better deal on profit share”

Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar is co-sponsoring the legislation.

The Republican Junior Senator says Facebook and Google are so big they’ve basically become countries and are increasingly difficult to negotiate with for small companies. He says this has created an environment where media outlets are not getting rewarded for their hard work.

Cut 11 (12) “…advertising”

Kennedy says this bill isn’t about demonizing successful American companies, but about promoting a more competitive negotiating situation between social media, and the people who create content for it.

Cut 12 (11) “not bad.”

Several Democratic presidential candidates have called for using anti-trust laws to “break up” social media giants.

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Legislation to ban the handheld use of cellphones while behind the wheel is dead for the session.  This is the second year Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval has pursued the measure.  Huval says the bill has built momentum, but met it’s fate when Senator Regina Barrow changed her vote in committee, now moving to defer the bill, which had no objection.

Cut 13 (09) “…the bill favorably.”

In the time since the bill failed, Huval has filed a House resolution to conduct a study on safe driving while using a cell phone.

Cut 14 (10) “…of our state.”

Huval says he will continue with the efforts to mirror a law in Georgia that has been in place since July 2018.

Cut 15 (08) “…have been saved.”
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The LSU-Florida State Super Regional Series will begin Saturday at Alex Box Stadium. The Seminoles are much like the Tigers, they had high expectations prior to the season, but struggled during the year and they’ve gotten hot at the right time. The voice of Florida State baseball team Eric Luallen says the Noles are led by slugging third baseman Drew Mendoza, who has hit 16 home runs…

Cut 16  (16) “…for the team”  

The team is also playing for its legendary coach Mike Martin, who has won over two-thousand games, but is still searching for that elusive national title and he’ll retire when this season comes to an end. Luallen says Martin’s final season has been a theme all year

cut 17 (21) “…focus is now.” 

Florida State’s ace of the staff is ten-game winner CJ Van Eyk. They also have a southpaw that starts. Drew Parrish is 8-and-5 with an ERA of 5.07. But he’s struck out 112 in 81.2 innings pitched. Luallen says the home run ball has been an issue for Parrish…

Legislation to ban the handheld use of cellphones while behind the wheel is dead for the session.  This is the second year Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval has pursued the measure.  Huval says the bill has built momentum, but met it’s fate when Senator Regina Barrow changed her vote, now moving to defer the bill, which had no objection.

Cut 13 (09) “…the bill favorably.”

Huval says he will continue with the efforts next year.

An attempt to pull a bill out of House Appropriations that would have paved the way for sports betting legalization failed in the House on a 41 to 48 vote, but it’s not the end of the line for the increasingly controversial topic. The House will take up a vote on a combined fantasy sports/sports betting bill Wednesday. If that legislation fails to get the votes, it will head into a conference committee with a looming 6pm Thursday deadline for the session approaching.

Final legislative approval came on Monday for a measure to give a pay raise of $1000 to teachers, $500 to school support workers, and $39 million in block grant funding for school districts. President of the Louisiana Association of Educators Debbie Meaux says while it is a modest amount, teachers are ecstatic that lawmakers recognize the importance of the raise.

Cut 6 (10) “…southern regional average.”

The legislative instrument results in a $140 million increase to annual school spending.

A bill that would direct 700 million dollars in BP oil spill settlement money to road projects gains final passage. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says the money will find it’s way to every corner of the state, and target projects with the greatest economic impacts.

Cut 9 (11) “….New Orleans”

Lawmakers gave final legislative approval today to a bill that redirects 700-million  dollars in BP oil settlement money  for road improvement projects around the state.

cut 2 (29) I’m Matt Doyle”  

Final legislative approval came on Monday for a measure to give a pay raise of $1000 to teachers, $500 to school support workers, and $39 million in block grant funding for school districts. President of the Louisiana Association of Educators Debbie Meaux believes more money will come in time.

Cut 8 (08) “…find that money.”

The pay raises plus additional funding will cost the state an extra 140 million dollars a year. The raise is the first for Louisiana teachers in ten years, but it does not bring their salary up to the Southern Regional Average

President Donald Trump approves the state’s request for federal assistance to help rebuild public property and infrastructure from the EF-3 tornado that hit Ruston in April. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says over five-hundred structures were damaged in Ruston and about one-hundred of them were totaled. He says the other issue they are dealing with his fraudulent contractors…

Cut 5 (12) “…or what.”

Walker says most of their expenses are from repairing the city’s electrical grid and fiber system, plus debris removal.

25-year-old Christopher O’Neal Houston Jr. of Campti remains in police custody without bond, accused of strangling death of his wife 22-year-old Elonzeya Teal-Houston, who was five months pregnant.  Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Captain Tony Moran says the murder has impacted the investigators as well as the community.

Cut 13 (05) “…murder occurred yesterday.” 

A bill that would direct 700 million dollars in BP oil spill settlement money to road projects gains final passage. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says the money will find it’s way to every corner of the state, and target projects with the greatest economic impacts.

Cut 9 (11) “….New Orleans”

Magee says when federal matching dollars are accounted for, the total investment could top a billion dollars.

Final legislative approval came on Monday for a measure to give a pay raise of $1000 to teachers, $500 to school support workers, and $39 million in block grant funding for school districts. President of the Louisiana Association of Educators Debbie Meaux applauds lawmakers on greenlighting the funding for school districts to help with resources in the classroom.

Cut 7 (10) “…to our children.”

The federal government agrees to pay 75-percent of the rebuilding costs incurred by local governments from the April 25th tornado that killed two people in Ruston. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A tropical disturbance is working it’s way up the Mexican Gulf Coast and is expected to bring extended rains to the state over the next week. There’s a 40 percent chance the disturbance could develop into Tropical Storm Barry, and forecasters say it should not effect the ongoing flood risk on the Mississippi River.