8:30 LRN Newscast May 25

The Senate Judiciary C Committee is set to hear legislation this morning that would decriminalize possession of marijuana for personal use. The measure passed the House on a 68-25 vote and Senate Judiciary C Chairman Franklin Foil says attitudes towards marijuana use in Louisiana are quickly changing…
cut 9 (10) “…happen”

The full Senate will soon vote on a bill that would allow nurse practitioners to practice independently without a doctor’s supervision. The practice was put in place last March because of the pandemic and supporters say it will improve healthcare access. President of the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners Kathy Baldridge says there are five clinics in Avoyelles Parish staffed by nurse practitioners and they have an agreement with an aging doctor…
ctu 14 (11) “…clinic setting”
Opponents of the legislation say it jeopardizes patient safety.

The state marks a milestone as the health department reports the lowest number of Louisianans hospitalized with COVID since March 2020. 271 are in the hospital with COVID and State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the majority of those patients have not been vaccinated.
Cut 10 (07) “…get vaccinated.”
Kanter says over two-thirds of Louisianans 65 and older are fully vaccinated. And because the average age of those in the hospital is decreasing so are fatalities.

Funeral services will be held this morning in Baton Rouge for former Governor Buddy Roemer, who passed away last week at the age of 77. After representing northwest Louisiana in Congress in the 1980s, he was elected as Louisiana’s 52nd governor. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Roemer defeated Edwin Edwards in the 1987 gubernatorial election…
cut 5 (08) “…the dragon”
Pinsonat says Roemer was known as a reformer and did some of his best work in reforming education and campaign finance laws.