New Orleans Senator JP Morrell’s proposed constitutional amendment to remove the 4.45 percent state sales tax on purchases of diapers and feminine hygiene products failed to gain two-thirds support, but he brought the measure back up for a second vote, this time not as a constitutional amendment but proposing to put the state sales tax exemption in statute….
cut 9 (06) “….longer be required”
That proposal passed on a 29-5 vote and heads to the House for more consideration.

Louisiana’s Community College system will offer a new two-year associate degree in cloud computing in partnership with Amazon Web Services. Delgado interim chancellor Doctor Will Wright says this will help students get tech-related jobs…
cut 14 (10) “….aerospace”

The full House is set to debate and vote today on a proposed 30-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year. The proposal heading to the floor does not contain an additional 39-million dollars for public schools. Louisiana Federation of Teachers legislative director Cynthia Posey says that type of investment is badly needed…
cut 5 (13) “….crumbling”
Once the budget proposal is approved by the House, it will head to the Senate. The upper chamber is more likely to add that additional 39-million in public school dollars.

A new report indicates when parents can’t find affordable child care, it carries a heavy cost for Louisiana….
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor Edwards will hold a press conference today at 3 PM and according to his office, its to announce a major public-private partnership between higher ed institutions and one of the world’s leading companies.

And there’s a flash flood watch in effect for today for northwest and north central Louisiana.

A House committee advances legislation that would move regulatory power of the state’s medical marijuana program from the Ag Department and into the Department of Health. Making the product available to the public has faced repeated delays and grower GB Sciences President John Davis says the current process is broken…
Cut 7 (10) “…work.”
The Ag Department says they found pesticides in the medical marijuana grown by GB Sciences, but Davis the pesticides must have come from the ag department’s lab.

La Tech Athletics Director Tommy McClelland says their baseball, softball and soccer stadiums were all destroyed by last month’s twister and they are weighing options when it comes to rebuilding on their old grounds or picking new locations…
cut 14 (09) “….effective”
McClelland says they also have to figure out where softball and baseball will play their home games next season.

Legislation that would take the regulatory powers for the production of medical marijuana away from the state Ag Department and give it to the Louisiana Department of Health has advanced to the House floor. The bill is in response to the repeated delays that have taken place in making the product available to the public. During testimony, Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain defended his department’s actions by saying their number one concern is patient safety….
cut 9 (12) “….safety”
Strain says they’ve found a pesticide in a batch of medical marijuana grown by GB Sciences, but the biopharmaceutical research company says that pesticide must have come from the department of ag’s own lab.

Louisiana Tech ended its 12-game losing streak to LSU baseball by thumping the Tigers 12-1 at Alex Box Stadium last night.

The Council for a Strong America releases a report that says Louisiana loses one-point-one billion dollars each year because of a child care crisis. CEO of Committee of 100 Michael Olivier says there’s over five-thousand infants and toddlers who are on a waitlist for state funding, so they can go to child care…
cut 5 (09) “…child care”
House Republicans are pushing for more state funding to reduce the child care wait list.

Louisiana Tech athletics director Tommy McClelland says based on preliminary estimates the school’s baseball, softball and soccer stadiums must be completely rebuilt, because of last month’s EF-3 tornado.
cut 13 (08) “…today’s dollars”
McClelland says discussions are underway on how to pay for and where to build new baseball and softball stadiums.

A new report indicates when parents can’t find affordable child care, it carries a heavy cost for Louisiana. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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A bill has advanced to the House floor that would transfer regulatory control of the state’s medical marijuana program from the Department of Ag to the Department of Health as frustration grows over the delays of getting the product to the public. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Three Louisiana Tech team’s fields appear to be totaled as a result of the EF-3 tornado that tore through Ruston last month. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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A Council for a Strong America report says the state needs to do more in making sure parents are able to find child care. CEO of the Committee of 100 Michael Olivier says the infant and child care crisis is costing the state $1.1 billion each year and that’s lost earnings and productivity

Cut 4 (10) “…they can afford.”

5,000 kids are currently on a state waiting list for funding to pay for child care education.  Olivier says hopes the legislature allocates $31 million in funding to eliminate the waiting list. But Governor Edwards is pushing for the state to spend more money on public education and his plan is to increase funding for early childhood education next year.

Olivier says it is not just parents who take on the financial burden of lost productivity when they are not able to find suitable childcare.

Cut 5 (08) “…this child care.”

Olivier says early childhood care and education is vital for helping build a better society and will offer a better payoff in preparation as children go into the later years of education.

Cut 6 (10) “…a better society.”
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A House committee advances legislation that would move regulatory power of the state’s medical marijuana program out of the Ag Department and into the Department of Health. Making the product available to the public has faced repeated delays and grower GB Sciences President John Davis is tired of the wait.

Cut 7 (10) “…work.”

GB Sciences is partnered with the LSU AgCenter to grow part of the state’s medical marijuana crop.

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain surprised the committee by revealing they discovered a pesticide and mercury in GB’s crop, but Davis says they’ve independently tested every facet of their growing process, and there’s no mercury to be found. Davis says it’s another example of a deteriorating line of communication.

Cut 8 (07) “…meeting”

Strain says the amount of mercury was within safe levels.

Strain defended his department against accusations they have been responsible for the frequent delays. The Commissioner says they’ve followed every protocol necessary to ensure the plant is safe for consumption.

Cut 9 (12) “…safety″

The legislation is being brought by Opelousas Representative Dustin Miller.

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Governor Edwards has deemed May as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month. With the weather more favorable for hitting the road on two wheels, State Police Sgt. Jared Sandifer says motorcycles are more present on the roadways, and LSP is offering a refresher course for riders.

Cut 10 (09) “…the advanced rider.”

So far in 2019, 20 people have died and nearly 300 have been injured in motorcycle accidents on stat roads. Sandifer says the popular courses are offered in many areas around Louisiana.

Cut 11 (08) “…around the state.”

Sandifer says in addition to the Motorcycle Safety, Awareness and Operator Training Program, law enforcement needs the help of those behind the wheel to be extra cautious on the roadways to keep an eye out of bikers.

Cut 12 (08) “…see at times.”

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Preliminary estimates show the devastating EF-3 tornado that ripped through Ruston likely destroyed Louisiana Tech’s softball, baseball, and soccer fields.

Athletic Director Tommy McClelland says the estimates aren’t final, but they do not expect at this time that the facilities are usuable

Cut 13 (12) “…mother”

Two people were killed in the deadly incident last month.

Between insurance and federal funds, McClelland expects to have some funds to work with to get those three program’s back up and running. But there’s a major question left to answer, do they rebuild on old ground, or pick new locations for the three fields?

Cut 14 (10) “…effective.”

While they sort through the wreckage, the school is working to find out where the teams will be playing for their upcoming seasons. McClelland says they’re hoping to find a season long, single location solution for all three teams, but if not…

Cut 15 (09) “ideal.”