President Donald Trump has signed a federal disaster declaration that will help Ruston, Louisiana Tech, Morehouse and Union Parishes pay for damages done by tornado outbreak on April 25th. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says the declaration does not provide assistance for the hundreds of homes that sustained damage in the area, but he hopes that changes…
cut 4 (07) “…sanitary environment”
Walker says over five-hundred structures were damaged in Ruston and about one-hundred of them were totaled.

Public school teachers will see a one-thousand dollar increase in their pay on July 1st as a result of a resolution approved by the state legislature. The raise is the first for Louisiana teachers in ten years, but it does not bring their salary up to the Southern Regional Average. Louisiana Association of Educators President Debbie Meaux believes more money will come in time…
cut 8 (08) “…find that money”

Lawmakers gave final legislative approval today to a bill that redirects 700-million dollars in BP oil settlement money for road improvement projects around the state. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 2 (29) I’m Matt Doyle”

And the state legislature has given final approval to a bill that will create a new crime of harassment of a school or recreation athletic contest official. If someone is found guilty of threatening or injuring an official, he or she could receive up to 90 days in jail, along with mandatory counseling and community service work.

President Donald Trump approves the state’s request for federal assistance to help rebuild public property and infrastructure from the EF-3 tornado that hit Ruston in April. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says this is huge for a city of their size…
cut 3 (08) “…75-percent of that back”
Louisiana Tech suffered another nine-point-five million dollars in uninsured damages. For now, the declaration does not provide assistance for the 373 homes that sustained damage in Lincoln, Morehouse and Union parishes.

The state legislature has approved the legislative instrument that will give K-through-12 teachers a 1,000 dollar pay raise, support personnel a 500 dollar raise and public schools will receive an additional 39 million dollars in state aid. Denham Springs Representative Rogers Pope pushed for the measure’s passage on the House floor…
cut 5 08) “…support”
The passage marks a significant victory for Governor Edwards, who made teacher pay raises his top legislative priority.

The bill that establishes the regulatory framework for online fantasy sports contests to take place in Louisiana now has the bill to legalize sports betting attached to it. Kevin Barnhart reports both measures might not receive final passage before the legislative session ends Thursday night…
voicer 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The dates and times have been set for LSU’s Super Regional Series against Florida State. The best out of three series will begin Saturday at Alex Box Stadium at 2 PM. Game Two is Sunday at five PM and if a Game Three is needed, it will begin at 7:30 on Monday.

For a second time, the U-S Army Corps of Engineers pushes back the opening of the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish. The original plan was to open the spillway last Sunday, but it was delayed until Thursday and now Corps spokesperson Ricky Boyette says Sunday June 9th is the day they plan to remove at least one bay on the structure. Boyette on the possibility they may not have to open the Morganza at all…
cut 9 (09) “…open”

A House vote is scheduled today on a bill that contains both fantasy sports tax regulation rules and a measure that would give voters a chance to legalize sports betting at casinos. Fairness for Fantasy sports spokesperson Ryan Berni says tying the two issues together could result in both proposals NOT passing. Berni hopes lawmakers remove sports betting from the Fantasy sports bill….
cut 12 (06) “…of the voters”

Lawmakers have approved the legislative instrument that gives teachers a one-thousand dollar pay raise and school support workers a five-hundred dollar increase in pay. Earlier in the session, the House desired to give educators a 12-hundred raise and Abita Springs Representative Scott Simon wishes they would have stuck that…
cut 6 (06) “…could have”

Following a 31-7 favorable vote in the Senate, a bill to allow medical marijuana patients to use cannabis inhalers is on the way back to the House for final legislative approval….
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The House has given final legislative passage to the public school financing plan that contains a one-thousand dollar pay raise for teachers, five-hundred dollar increase for school support workers and the measure also contains a 39-million dollar block grant for school districts. The pay raises would go into effect after July 1st.

Industrial hemp and CBD oil legalization clears the Senate and is headed back to the House with amendments. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The legislative session must come to a close by 6 PM Thursday night and there’s still a push to set the minimum age to get married at 17. Amendments have been added to the legislation to allow those under 17 to get married, if a judge approves. Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry says a conference committee featuring both House and Senate members will be needed to figure out what kind of law they need to pass…
cut 5 (13) “…with this bill”

Nearing final legislative passage is a bill that would prohibit Louisiana food manufacturers from labeling a food like cauliflower rice if it doesn’t contain rice. The same goes for a veggie patty, if it doesn’t contain meat. Monroe Representative Katrina Jackson voted for the bill, because she says the labeling is confusing…
cut 10 (10) “…alternative products”

The legislative session ends Thursday at six PM and there is still a chance the legislature approves a bill to let voters decide on whether to legalize sports betting. Kenner Senator Danny Martiny has attached his fantasy sports betting bill to a measure that regulates fantasy sports. Martiny says he didn’t want to take this step, but House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry is preventing a vote in the full House…
cut 12 (11) “…process is about
House Appropriations deferred Martiny’s bill last week and there is a legislative procedure to remove that measure out of Appropriations, but it takes Henry to be present in the House for a vote to occur.

LSU catcher Saul Garza was voted as the Baton Rouge Regional’s co-Most Oustanding Player as he helped the Tigers defeat Southern Miss six to four last night. The Tigers advance to the Super Regionals where they’ll face Florida State.

On a 58-29 vote, the House approves a bill that prohibits Louisiana food manufacturers from labeling a food cauliflower rice if it doesn’t contain rice. The legislation also prohibits a food being called a veggie meat patty, if it doesn’t contain meat. Crowley Representative John Stefanski is a co-author…
Cut 9 (12) “….what it is”
Opponents say the labeling of a food called cauliflower rice is not tricking consumers in thinking that its rice.

A bill that allows farmers to legally grow hemp heads towards final passage after receiving approval from the Senate. Hemp proponents say the plant, and it’s derivatives, can be found in thousands of different products. Franklin Senator Brent Allain noted two of the most popular applications…
Cut 7 (06) “…oil.”
The legislation calls for the Department of Agriculture to regulate the product and perform routine tests of crops to ensure their THC level, a hallucinogenic chemical, is not above .03 percent.