The Louisiana House overwhelming approves a bill to expand the medical marijuana program. The bill would assure the ten existing licenses are issued; there are currently only nine … and it would allow licensees to have more than one store. Gretna Representative Joe Marino added an amendment to allow that IF a pharmacy has more than 25-hundred patients…:

CUT 07(12)      “…only nine locations.”

The legislation also shifts regulatory authority from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Health. It moves now to the Senate.

Police in Lafayette say someone shot a 14-year-old boy Monday, and left him to die in a public park. The teen was found in time and rushed to a hospital, where his condition is stabilizing. LPD is asking the public for information on the crime.

The Louisiana House unanimously backs legislation that would allow some retired teachers to return to work, while still receiving their full retirement benefits. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says his bill addresses a statewide teacher shortage. Currently, retired teachers can return to the classroom and collect 25-percent of their final average compensation. Edmonds boosts that percentage up to 50-percent. He was asked why not move the percentage higher…:

CUT 05         (09)    “…we can pass.”

Edmonds bill heads to the Senate for further consideration. The Senate has already passed its own bill with the same intent.

State Police say a Monday morning traffic stop on Interstate 12 in St. Tammany Parish turned into a big drug bust. Sensing the big rig driver and his passenger were acting suspiciously, troopers got permission to search the rig and found 55 pounds of cocaine; worth over $5-million on the street. The two men – both residents of New York State – are in the parish jail.