A bill that would require women to wait 72 hours instead of 24 hours before getting an abortion sails out of the House Health and Welfare Committee today. The only exception is if the women has to travel more than 150 miles to the nearest abortion clinic. Cindy Collins with the Louisiana Abortion Recovery Alliance says the current law doesn’t give women time to think about it…:
CUT 3 (12) “enough time”
No one spoke in opposition. The bill now heads to the House floor for further consideration.

A Zachary man is dead following a fire in a storage shed where he was living behind a family member’s home, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. They say the body of 64-year-old George Matthews Jr was pulled from the structure, which had no working utilities, and initial indications are that the victim died of smoke inhalation.

Louisiana could see severe weather today and tomorrow. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The rapper known as C-Murder, offender Corey Miller who is serving life at Angola for killing a 16-year-old, is out with a new video and the Department of Corrections wants to know if it was recorded in prison. They say Miller claimed everything released by his label was created before he was incarcerated. But the investigation remains open as his daughter claimed in an online publication that Miller recorded the song, “Dear Supreme Court/Under Pressure” – while in jail.

The Storm Prediction Center is calling for an enhanced risk for severe weather across north Louisiana today. State Climatologist Barry Keim hopes this is not a repeat of the devasting flooding that occurred three weeks ago…
cut 6 (11) “….heavy rainfall”
A flash flood watch is in effect until seven PM for much of north Louisiana.

A House committee approves legislation that would require women seeking an abortion to wait at least 72 hours before the procedure can be done after their initital meeting with the doctor. Current law calls for a 24-hour waiting period. Deanna Wallace with Louisiana Right to Life supports this measure…
cut 8 (10) “….that child”
The bill heads to the House floor for more discussion.

A new poll paid for by Rebuild Louisiana, which is a group that supports Governor John Bel Edwards, finds strong support among voters for some of the governor’s core initatives in this legislative session. That includes an increase to the state’s minimum wage. But ULM Political science professor Joshua Stockley says the republican-controlled legislature has a different stance…
cut 14 (09) “….to doing”
So far, lawmakers have yet to discuss raising the mininum wage to above eight dollars an hour in this session.

In two days, a higher state tax on alcohol goes into effect. Executive director of the Beer Industry League of Louisiana, John Williams, says unfortunately someone will have to absorb these costs, either consumers or alcohol retailers…
cut 11 (05) “….obviously”
The new state tax is expected to provide the state with an additional five million dollars in revenues through June 30th.

Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating is up to 52-percent in Louisiana, according to a recent poll paid for by Rebuild Louisiana. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A man from Palmetto is under arrest for allegedly killing his wife and throwing her body into a canal, according to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. They say 52-year-old Sam Clark Jr confessed to the murder of 28-year-old Kimberly Perkins Clark, who died from two gunshot wounds to the head.

Two abortion bills are on the agenda today in the House Health and Welfare Committee. One would extend the waiting period for a woman seeking to end her pregnancy from 24 to 72 hours. Deanna Wallace, Legislative Director for Louisiana Right to Life, says another bill would require all doctors performing abortions in Louisiana to be board eligible or certified….:
Cut 9 (08) “the law”
She says the measures are keeping the health of women in mind.

Smokers and alcohol drinkers will be paying more for cigarettes and adult beverages starting Friday when new taxes kick in. Executive Director of the Beer Industry League of Louisiana John Williams says the local brewery industry is growing in the state, and this increased one cent tax per drink will hurt them…:
cut 12 (06) “tax”
The alcohol tax hike is permanent.

Two bills regarding abortion are expected to be heard in the House Health and Welfare Committee today. One of the measures would extend the waiting period for a person seeking an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. Deanna Wallace, Legislative Director for Louisiana Right to Life, says this proposed law is looking out for the well-being of the mother…:
CUT 7 (08) “process”
Another bill on the table would require all doctors performing abortions in Louisiana to be board eligible or certified.

A new poll shows Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating is at 52-percent. The survey was paid for by a pro-Edwards organization. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says a previous poll found Edwards’ support at 42-percent, so these numbers are not outside the realm of possibility…:
Cut 13 (11) “of Louisiana”

The National Weather Service places south Louisiana under a marginal risk for severe weather, central Louisiana at “slight”, and north Louisiana at “enhanced” risk. State Climatologist Barry Keim says two large weather systems are moving through the state…:
CUT 5 (10) “into Friday”
He says the potential doesn’t appear to be super high for another one of these gully washers like we had a couple weeks ago that led to all the flooding.

Did rapper C-Murder, who is severing life in Angola for killing a 16-year-old, record a rap song from prison? Authorities say the video for a new single, “Dear Supreme Court” appears to have been put together following Corey Miller’s conviction, not before. In the song Miller suggests the judge in his trial was acting on political ambitions and that witnesses were paid off.

A poll paid for by a pro John Bel Edwards organization finds the governor’s approval rating is a 52%. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockely says Edwards could use these numbers to his advantage in showing lawmakers that their constituents support his proposals…:
CUT 15 (08) “to see”
The survey also showed a majority of respondents support Edwards’ agenda when it comes to equal pay for women and raising the minimum wage.

Starting Friday, the state tax will increase on all types of alcohol by one to two cents per serving. Executive Director of the Beer Industry League of Louisiana, John Williams, says although the state tax on beer in Louisiana has not been increased since 1948, it’s always been high…:
Cut 10 (09) “the rate”

Louisiana could see severe weather today and tomorrow. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Denham Springs man is under arrest on murder charges for allegedly opening fire on two victims — one of which who died, in the first homicide of the year for the Livingston Parish city. Cops believe 24-year-old Brian Allen of Denham Springs confronted the victims when an argument ensued leading to the shooting. The deceased victim is identified as Derick Stewart of Walker.

Two bills on abortion will likely be heard today in the House Health and Welfare Committee. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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Fire officials say a 64-year-old Zachary man died in an overnight East Baton Rouge Parish fire. They report the man lived in a shed type structure with no utilities behinda family memeber’s home. Investigators said they determined the blaze started on a bed, but the exact cause has not yet been determined.

The national Storm Prediction Center says Louisiana is one of several states at risk for severe weather today and tomorrow. Forecasters say damaging wind, hail and tornadoes are possible. State Climatologist Barry Keim says heavy rainfall is also a concern…:
cut 4 (07) “a problem”
Keim says the hope is that this storm system won’t be similiar to the tornado outbreaks we’ve seen over the past month.

A man from West Monroe died in a crash when a Mack concrete mixer hit him head on in Union Parish Tuesday. They say the incident claimed the life of 35-year-old Christopher Hawthorne.

The tax on a pack of cigarettes will go up to $1.08 on April 1. The cigarette tax went up 50 cents last year. Bill Bailey, owner of Smoker’s Paradise in Pineville, says he hasn’t seen a dramatic decrease in customers since the increase, but it gradually goes down. He says there is a huge trend of cigarette smokers switching to small cigars…

CUT 4 (09)  “the shelf”

The Department of Transportation says roadways have suffered nearly 20 million dollars’ worth of damage due to the recent flooding. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says it will take a lot of time and effort to fix and maintain the damaged roads. He says they’re currently working to assess the damage and find out how many miles of roadway need to be repaired.

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Wilson says the state already has nearly a 13-billion dollar backlog on road repairs before the massive flooding created more damage.

The Public Service Commission has approved the sale of the Pineville-based utility company Cleco to Macquarie Infrastructure for $4.9 billion. The deal passed with a 4-1 vote by the PSC. Cleco spokesperson Robbyn Cooper says this sale will have great benefits for Cleco’s ratepayers.

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CEO for the Alliance for Affordable Energy Casey DeMoss says they are concerned about the long-term future of the utility company

A 60-year-old man from northeast Texas was tragically killed after he was accidentally run over by a dragster driven by his own brother at the Thunder Road Raceway in Gillam. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Cindy Chadwick says the two were part of a racing crew that was conducting test runs at the park…:

CUT 6 (08) “of his injuries”

Starting on April 1st, smokers will pay a $1.08 tax on a pack of cigarettes. A new tax brings the cost of a pack up 22 cents. Bill Bailey is the owner of Smoker’s Paradise in Pineville and he says smokers already get taxed an unfair amount. He says legislators continue to target the tobacco users because they are the minority…:
CUT 3 (10) “for money”
It’s expected the 22 cent increase will generate 11 million dollars between April 1st and June 30th. The state tax on alcohol and the state sales tax will also increase by a penny on April 1^st.

The chief financial officer for the state’s health department says the expansion of Medicaid would save the state 124-million dollars next fiscal year. Jeff Reynolds says that would help avoid some cuts as a result of a 750-million dollar revenue shortfall, but there’s still a concern about the future of privatized LSU hospitals.

Two bills on abortion will likely be heard Wednesday in the House Health and Welfare Committee. Emelie Gunn has more…

Voicer 5 (31) “…I’m Emelie gunn

A new poll shows Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating is at 52-percent. The poll was paid for by Rebuild Louisiana, which is a pro-Edwards organization. The poll also asked respondents about issues the governor is supporting in the regular session. It found nearly 90-percent of respondents favor equal pay for men and women. Additionally, 73-percent support raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 an hour.