A proposal to raise the legal age to purchase cigarettes, dip, and vape products from 18 to 21 is defeated on the House floor 24-55. Matt Doyle has the story.
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The Advocate reports a Facebook post claiming that former governor Kathleen Blanco had passed away is not true. The Advocate’s Tyler Bridges says he took a phone call from the state’s only female governor today and Blanco said reports of her early demise are greatly exaggerated. The 78-year-old is battling an incurable cancer.

Governor John Bel Edwards is discussing river flooding with his Unified Command Group this afternoon. Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove says they have several pumps working around the clock…
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The Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish might open in June to combat the rising Mississippi River.

NOAA predicts a near-normal hurricane season for 2019 as they estimate the total number of named storms will range from nine to 15, four to eight hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes. Lead hurricane season forecaster Gerry Bell says major hurricanes will not develop until August….
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The U-S was hit by two major storms last year, Michael and Florence.