In case the legislature is not able to fully fund TOPS, a bill that would ensure all students get at least part of their scholarship is nearing final passage. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The House has approved a bill that would require cursive writing to be taught in public schools. The measure goes back to the Senate for concurrunce on House changes. Under the proposed law, the cursive writing requirement would go in effect for the 2017-18 school year.

A Senate-approved bill that would allow patients to see physical therapists without a doctor’s referral is nearing final passage. There is opposition. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says patients should see a doctor before seeing physical therapists, because doctors have more medical training…:
CUT 9 (08) “doctor’s training”
Supporters of the proposed law say the bill will empower patients.

Oil rose above the $50 mark this morning for the first time since October. Executive Director at LSU’s Center for Energy Studies David Dismukes says the biggest catalyst for the uptick has been the recent fires in Canada….:
CUT 7 (10) “to that”
Dismukes also says the rise in the price of crude oil could possibly stave off additional job losses in the oil industy.

Today the price of crude oil tops 50 dollars a barrel for the first time since October. Executive Director at LSU’s Center for Energy Studies David Dismukes says this might put an end to the job losses in this industry. He says with oil trading at 50-dollars a barrel, it’ll be interesting to see if there will be an uptick in production…
CUT 8 (10) “the operators”

Legislation to ensure all TOPS students get at least part of their scholarship award is on its way to final legislative passage. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says without this bill 13-thousand students could lose their scholarships due to funding issues, which would hurt the state’s economy. He says this could keep more Louisiana students in the state.
CUT 4 (09) “at home”

A Senate-approved measure that would let patients see physical therapists without a doctor’s referral receives the support of the House as it nears final passage. But West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says patients should see a doctor before seeing physical therapists, because doctors have more medical training. He says if physical therapists missed something in a diagnosis, they could seriously injure that person.
cut 10 (05) “real problem”

Ville Platte Rep. Harvey LeBas says physical therapists have the necessary training to see patients and take care of them.

The Baton Rouge Zoo releases the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums final inspection report of the zoo after two giraffes died in March. Zoo director Phil Frost says they’re pleased the report found the staff responded as an experienced and knowledgeable team. He says he requested an audit by the association because the giraffe deaths were unusual.
Cut 13 (10) “do that”

The price of oil hit 50-dollars a barrel for the first time since October. Emelie Gunn on what this means for the industry…:
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A Baton Rouge man is in jail on felony child abuse charges amid allegations he forced his 8-year-old nephew to smoke weed. A report indicates the child told hospital staff that 29-year-old Jason Taylor made him smoke mojo which gave him a headache and a racing heart. When officers learned the child tested positive for marijuana, Taylor was booked with cruelty to juveniles.

Physical therapists in Louisiana currently can’t see patients without a doctor’s referral, but a bill that would change that is nearing final passage. Ville Platte Representative Harvey LeBas carried the Senate approved bill on the House floor and said physical therapists are fully capable of seeing patients and taking care of them…:
cut 12 (08) “disease states”
Opponents argue physical therapists don’t have a doctor’s training. The Senate has to approve some changes then the measure will head to the governor.

Every student would be guaranteed that at least part of their TOPS scholarship would be funded if lawmakers have to make some cuts to the program, under a bill nearing final passage. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says it would be better to reduce the award for all than to have some left out…:
CUT 5 (12) “this year”
One more stop in the Senate before heading to the governor’s desk.

In case the legislature is not able to fully fund TOPS, a bill that would ensure all students get at least part of their scholarship is nearing final passage. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Oil rose above the $50 mark this morning for the first time since October. Executive Director at LSU’s Center for Energy Studies David Dismukes says the biggest catalyst for the uptick has been the recent fires in Canada….:
CUT 7 (10) “to that”

A Senate-approved bill that would allow patients to see physical therapists without a doctor’s referral is nearing final passage. In opposition, West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says patients should see a doctor before seeing physical therapists, because doctors have more medial training…:
CUT 9 (08) “doctor’s training”
But Ville Platte Representative Harvey LeBas says Louisiana is one of only 7 states with this kind of law and PT grads are leaving the state as a result.
Cut 11 (07) “other states”
Both the House and the Senate have approved the measure.

In case the legislature is not able to fully fund TOPS, a bill that would ensure all students get at least part of their scholarship is nearing final passage. Currently, 51-thousand students receive TOPS. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says, without this bill, 13-thousand students could lose their award which would be bad for the state’s economy…:
CUT 3 (05) “do it”
The measure passed the House and now heads back to the Senate so changes made to the bill can be approved.

A final investigation into the deaths of two giraffes at the Baton Rouge zoo finds the staff responded as an experienced and knowledgeable team and were not at fault. The American Association of Zoos and Aquariums says the handlers were faced with a challenging situation and they commend the Baton Rouge Zoo for the long-term care of these animals. The zoo requested the investigation after the two giraffes died in March.

Earlier this morning the price of oil rose above 50 dollars a barrel for the first time since October. Executive Director at LSU’s Center for Energy Studies David Dismukes says this marks an important milestone and it might put an end to the job losses in this industry…:
CUT 6 (10) “woods yet”
Crude oil was below 30 dollars a barrel earlier this year.

The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office says a man is under arrest after a 17-year-old woman died of an apparent drug overdose. They say Melissa Sharpe drove the victim to the hospital, and it was determined the woman had been deceased for several hours. She is charged with obstruction of justice. Noah Sharpe is booked with 2nd degree murder in the incident. They’re asking anyone with information on this incident contact authorities.

Louisiana has joined several states seeking to block the Obama administration’s transgender bathroom policy in public schools. The federal government says public schools must allow transgender students to use bathrooms consistent with their gender identity, or risk losing federal funding. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says the President does not have the legal authority to require children to share locker rooms and bathrooms with children of the opposite sex….
cut 13 (06) “…that letter”
Governor Edwards’ office says they were they not consulted about the lawsuit.

Triple-A is predicting this Memorial Day weekend will see it’s highest number of travelers since 2005. Spokesperson Don Redman says gas prices are as low as they’ve been in 11 years and tickets for the top 40 domestic flight routes are 26-percent cheaper this year….
cut 26 (09) “…those prices”

A pro-Edwards group called Rebuild Louisiana is raising dollars to launch a public awareness campaign to help the governor advance his legislative agenda. Edwards’ proposals to raise the minimum wage, require equal pay for men and women, have met resistance, plus analysts say it could be difficult for the governor to raise revenues in another special session. Baton Rouge attorney Mary Olive Peierson is the Chair of Rebuild Louisiana..
cut 9 (10) “…these issues”

LSU AgCenter food scientist Marvin Moncada has developed a “nanosalt” which you can use to flavor your food, but it will reduce your sodium intake. Moncada says they are still in the lab stage, but he expects tests to be conducted with consumers shortly…
cut 11 (08) “…the consumer”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 23-hundred milligrams of sodium per day, but Moncada says most Americans eat double that amount.

11 states including Louisiana are suing the Obama Administration over the letter they sent to public schools saying they must allow students to use the bathroom based on their gender identity, or risk losing federal funding. Attorney General Jeff Landry says they want a judge to declare this directive unlawful…:
CUT 15 (09) “federal courts”
He says the President does not have the legal authority to require children to share locker rooms and bathrooms with children of the opposite sex.

State lawmakers have agreed to raise the GPA requirement for upper-tier TOPS students, who also receive a stipend to help pay for their higher education costs. The legislation heading to the governor’s desk would raise the GPA requirement to 3.25 for a TOPS Performance Award and 3.5 for a TOPS Honors Award.

The lowest gas price in 11 years is putting over 38 million Americans on the road this Memorial Day weekend. Don Redman with AAA says be careful out there this weekend, it’s gonna be packed..:
CUT 5 (10) “rush hours”

An LSU AgCenter scientist creates a nanosalt to reduce the sodium content in food. Jeff Palermo has more..:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Over 38 million Americans are expected to travel over the Memorial Day weekend this year. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A group of concerned citizens has formed to raise money in efforts to push Governor John Bel Edwards legislative agenda. Chairman of Rebuild Louisiana, Mary Olive Pierson says in addition to the budget, they have several concerns…:
CUT 8 (06) “big ticket items”
She says their biggest concern is the $600 million dollar budget.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says Louisiana is joining 10 other states in a lawsuit aimed at preventing the Obama Administration from forcing transgender bathrooms on public schools. He says Washington continues to try to wreak havoc on our learning institutions…:
CUT 14 (07) “harmful policy”
The White House has no comment on the suit.

An LSU AgCenter scientist has discovered a new way to reduce the sodium content in food. Marvin Moncada developed nanosalt, which is salt in a powder form that is about one-thousand times smaller than kosher salt. Moncada says nanosalt is a natural alternative to reducing the amount of salt content in foods…:
Cut 10 (08) “to cover”
He says the powerful flavor would still be present but with 25-50 percent less sodium.