10:30 LRN Newscast April 25

A bill to prohibit an employer from refusing to hire or fire a person, because they are gay or transsexual was set to be heard in a House committee this morning. But the author of the bill, New Orleans Representative Joe Bouie, decided not to move forward with the legislation, because reportedly the votes were not there. They may bring the bill up again next week.

A New Orleans woman tells WWL-TV in New Orleans that a clerk at a Family Dollar store on the corner of Canal and Broad refused to ring up her items at the cash register, because she is gay. There is cellphone video that shows the clerk saying “I’m not serving them two.” Family Dollar’s corporate office has not responded to the incident.

Authorities in Iberville Parish have identified the body of a female that was found near Whiskey Bay along Interstate 10. The victim’s name is Elizabeth Ferrell of Humble, Texas. Her death is being investigated as a homicide.

The House Transportation Committee is scheduled to hear a bill today that would increase the fines for moving violations when a child under the age of 15 is in the vehicle. Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis believes the increased fines will help stop dangerous driving with children in the car…
cut 15 (08) “….tripled”
Davis doesn’t anticipate much opposition to her bill.

Children programming in French is airing on Louisiana Public Broadcasting. There are about 45-hundred students in French immersion programs in the state. LPB Program director Jason Viso says this popular French speaking kids show from Canada, will give French immersion students a chance to develop their language skills…
cut 13 (07) “….the classroom”
The shows are airing on LPB in the afternoons on Monday through Friday and during select times on the weekends.