The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says prepare for heavy rains this week…
voicer 1 (28) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

State Police say the man who was shot on Bourbon Street last Thursday by a State Trooper was more than five times over the legal limit for alcohol. Authorities say 42-year-old Eric Kullander of New Orleans was driving against traffic towards pedestrians and refused to comply with commands to stop his vehicle, which led to an officer firing his weapon. Kullander continues to receive treatment for his injuries at a local hospital.

U-S Senator John Kennedy is co-authoring a bipartisan bill that’s attempting to help local media outlets receive more ad revenue from Facebook and Google…..
cut 11 (12) “….advertising”
If the legislation passes, antitrust laws would be suspended for four years to give media outlets a chance to negotiate with Facebook and Google for a bigger share of the profits.

Colorado State University researchers are bumping up their projected total of named storms this hurricane season to 14. We’ve already had one named storm, so 13 more are expected. Researcher Jhordanne Jones says the season could be even more active than that, if a weak El Nino does not develop in the Pacific…
cut 8 (08) “….more hurricane activity”
The C-S-U report also notes that Tropical sea surface temperatures have warmed up slightly faster than normal.

A flash flood watch is posted for the southern half of the state as a tropical system is expected to bring two to four inches of rain through Saturday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a trough has formed along the coast, and is expected to bring rains across the entire state.
Cut 4 (09) “…next week”
The U-S Army Corps of Engineers says the potential of flash flooding does not affect the opening of the Morganza Spillway, which is scheduled for Sunday.

A proposal to ban hand held cell phones while driving has failed in this legislative session. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s bill passed the House, but he could not get the legislation out of a Senate committee. In the time since the bill failed, Huval has filed a House resolution to conduct a study on safe driving while using a cell phone.
Cut 14 (08) “…of our state.”

Senator John Kennedy files legislation that would allow small news media outlets to band together to bargain for better profit sharing from social media giants like Facebook and Google.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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”