A bill to legalize recreational marijuana is nipped in the bud. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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At the Capitol, a bill to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana is scheduled for committee review today. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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A proposal to clip required training hours for a cosmetology license in Louisiana was advanced by the House of Commerce Committee but opponents were vocal during the session. More from Teiko Foxx.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”
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Legislation to legalize recreational marijuana was snuffed out in House Criminal Justice before it could even be voted on. Bill author, New Orleans Representative Candace Newell says fear-mongering is how cannabis was criminalized to begin with.
Cut 4 (13) “…marijuana illegal.”
Newell says Louisiana shouldn’t continue to criminalize individuals for a substance that in other states the economy has flourished. The Democrat says the legalization in DC has been profitable for the nation’s capital.
Cut 5 (11) “…tax funding.”
State sheriffs, district attorneys, and chiefs of police in Louisiana oppose the legislation as a public safety issue and its potential to harm children. Will Hall of the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy spoke in opposition to the bill.
Cut 6 (09) “…financially.”
A call to vote on the measure was pre-empted by a motion to involuntarily defer the bill by Chalmette Rep. Ray Garofalo. Newell voiced her displeasure over the 9 to 4 vote to in essence remove the bill from consideration this session.
Cut 7 (10) “…very much.”
Newell filed two other marijuana bills this session as well, one to allow for the cultivation and sale of cannabis products and another on the taxation of cannabis.
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A bill to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana goes before the Senate Labor Committee today. Democrat New Orleans Senator Gary Carter’s measure would raise the minimum hourly wage to $10 for January 1st of next year. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says similar bills have been filed for every session since Governor John Bel Edwards took office, but none have passed…:
Cut 8 (07) “…something different.”
Carter’s bill would also provide for periodic raises in the minimum wage; eventually taking it up to $14 an hour by 2028. The fiscal cost to the state of Louisiana would be slight at first; less than $ 200 thousand…but by 2028 that would grow to nearly $3-million. Alford says it’s interesting to note lawmakers are discussing pay raises for teachers, first responders and especially themselves…:
Cut 9 (07) “…in Louisiana.”
Alford says bills to set a higher minimum wage within the state have failed repeatedly in the past…:
Cut 10 (06) “…at the Capitol.”
Alford says, even if the committee approves the bill, he doubts it has enough legislative support to reach the governor’s desk.
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The 37th Annual Festival International De Louisiane begins today through Sunday in downtown Lafayette. Marketing Director Carly Viator Courville says there will be great art, food, and a cultural melting pot of diverse music
Cut 11 (10) “…in Louisiana.”
Festival International – the largest international cultural celebration in the country – draws over 300,000 people over the five-day period and organizers are expecting higher numbers this year. Courville says the lineup is a cultural exchange of music with over 20 musical acts from France, Africa, Belgium, Louisiana, and beyond.
Cut 12 (12) “…the Wailers.”
Courville says this year’s opening ceremony will celebrate Lafayette’s bicentennial year and the city is excited.
Cut 13 (12) “…event off.”
The festival is free to the public. Visit festivalinternational.org.
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Legislation that would chop off the hours required to obtain a cosmetology license in Louisiana from 1,500 hours to 1,200 hours was advanced by the House of Commerce Committee Monday. Slidell Representative Mary Dubbison –the bill’s author- says less time would mean less financial obligation.
Cut 14 (04) “…must repay.”
The measure would not require all cosmetology schools statewide to reduce course hour requirements over seven months. All students would still be required to pass a national exam to become licensed in Louisiana. A very vocal opponent to the bill – Salon Owner Vivian Green says less time means fewer qualified students.
Cut 15 (14) “…wrong, period.”
The reduction in required hours also raised concerns with schools about financial assistance for grant recipients. Dubbison says New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Florida decreased hours to 1200 and other states like Oregon, Vermont, Texas, California, New York, and Massachusetts require less than 1,200 hours.
Cut 16 (06) “…employment sooner.”
House Bill 470 would also require the Board of Cosmetology to create a website through which students could apply, pay fees and see their progress toward a license.
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After getting swept by a red-hot Dallas Baptist team, Louisiana Tech baseball returns to action tonight as they face Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. The Bulldogs are 20-21 overall, nine and nine in Conference USA action. Tech Coach Lane Burroughs is hoping for a strong finish and a deep run in the league tournament…
Cut 17 (20) “…get in that tournament”
Tech was picked to win Conference USA in the preseason, but they find themselves in fifth place in the league with 12 more conference games left. Burroughs says a lack of effort is not why this team has not performed to expectations…
Cut 18 (18) “…the case.”
Burroughs getting a win tonight would be great, but making sure they are among the eight teams that make the Conference USA Tournament is more important…
Cut 19 (14) “…conference tournament.”
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Cut 20 (21) “…speed”