The Louisiana House has started debating a 30-billion dollar budget that proposes a 12-hundred dollar teacher pay raise, but not 39 million dollars requested by the governor for increased public education funding. Louisiana Federation of Teachers legislative director Cynthia Posey is concerned that the teacher pay “raise” isn’t really a raise…
Cut 4 (08) “…stipend.”
But House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says the pay raise will become permanent once the M-F-P is approved, which is the funding formula for public schools and that measure is making its way through the legislative process.

A large portion of the state is under a slight risk for severe weather today. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 11 (08) “….at some risk”
There’s been significant street flooding in Bossier City that’s led to water rescues and evacuations.

A constitutional amendment to exempt diapers and tampons from the state sales tax fails in the Senate, but the measure got a second chance at life before discussion wrapped for the day. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Voicer 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The prime minister of South Korea will join Governor Edwards at 10:30 this morning for an economic development announcement in Lake Charles.

Across north Louisiana we are seeing flooded roads and power outages from strong thunderstorms. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this unsettled weather pattern will continue….
cut 12 (04) “….next week”
Floodwaters led to the brief closure of both the east and west lanes of I-20 near Greenwood. High water issues are also a problem in Bossier Parish.

The state Senate approves legislation that would exempt diapers, tampons and other feminine hygiene products from the state’s 4.45 percent sales tax. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt voted against it, because she says the savings for families would not be significant…
cut 7 (12) “…65-cents a week”
Currently the state exempts sales taxes on food for home consumption, utilities and prescription drugs.

The House will tackle a budget today that includes a pay raise for teachers, but does not include any additional funding for public education. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The full House soundly rejected a proposal to elect Louisiana’s governor and lieutenant governor jointly. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger’s proposal would have the governor and lieutenant governor on the same ticket, like president and vice-president. Opponents say this proposal would lead to the expansion of the governor’s power and more partisanship.

Much of the state is under a slight threat for severe weather today and flash flood watches are also posted. Kevin Barnhart has more on the nasty weather that’s impacting the state….
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The U-S Army Corps of Engineers may have to reopen the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish for a second time this year, which would be a first in the 90-year history of the flood control structure. The Mississippi River is expected to reach a height that will trigger the spillway’s reopening.

The full House convenes this morning to discuss and likely vote on a proposed 30-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year. The spending plan currently calls for teachers to receive a 12-hundred dollar increase in pay, but it does not include an additional 39-million dollars for public schools, which has been requested by the governor. Louisiana Federation of Teachers legislative director Cynthia Posey says they support the governor’s proposal, a one-thousand dollar pay raise for teachers and an additional 39-million for public schools…
cut 6 (11) “….surplus”

Governor Edwards and Amazon Web Services are partnering to provide a cloud computing degree program for the 12 schools in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. Edwards made the announcement yesterday afternoon…
cut 15 (09) “…coming to me”
Edwards says this collaboration will help address the growing number of tech employers who are seeking workers with cloud computing skills.

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.