Chalmette Representative Raymond Garafalo will reintroduce a bill in the regular session that would allow school educators to carry weapons on campus if they have proper training.  Garafalo first suggested the idea in 2014, but it was defeated by House Criminal Justice committee.  In the wake of recent threats and attacks, Garafalo says allowing guns in the classroom may prevent future mass school shootings…

Garafalo says faculty who choose to voluntarily carry, would be trained appropriately while law enforcement officers would be notified as to who has a weapon and which teachers don’t…

Garafalo says this legislation will be a step in the right direction since the only sure way to stop the violence is to take all guns away…

Cut 6 (08)  “them away.”

There are some big Louisiana Lottery winners that haven’t claimed their prizes, which are in some cases at least 50-thousand-dollars.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says they are seeking a winner who matched four of the five white ball numbers on September 2^nd.  Their ticket is about to expire…

So what happens to the unclaimed lottery winnings?  Chopin says there are roughly between nine and 11-million-dollars in unclaimed money annually that can be won again…

Chopin’s advice is to sign the back of your tickets, then you can check for the winning numbers on the lottery tv show at 9:59pm on the nights they air.  The Lottery also has other means of getting the word out on winning numbers…

Cut 9 (12)  “as well.” (2X)

Gunfire this morning on the campus of Southeastern. University police have confirmed an incident overnight on North Campus involving several individuals. No word if those involved were students. Two individuals were shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries according to a statement from police. There is no present threat at the hammond university and the investigation is continuing.

Medicaid reform legislation was pulled from consideration in the House Health and Welfare Committee before it could be voted on, maintaining the special session’s current run of inaction. The bill would have implemented work requirements for Medicaid recipients. Opelousas Democrat Dustin Miller says the bill was mean spirited and wasteful.

Miller says the proposal was similar to Kentucky’s Medicaid reform that is currently estimated to cost that state roughly 300 million dollars to implement.

But West Monroe Republican Frank Hoffman says the bill would inspire unemployed Medicaid recipients to get a job and provide for themselves.

Cut 11 (11) “of Medicaid.”

Hoffman says the Medicaid program is burdened by a noticeable amount of unemployed people who lack the motivation to work, but Miller says the numbers don’t back that up.

Cut 12 (12) “ten percent.”

Miller says the bill would have endangered the lives of people too sick to work, but Hoffman says the legislation provides protections for those who qualify.