An effort being supported by the Louisiana trucking industry due to truckers being upset over trial attorneys demonizing the industry could cap number of billboards in the state. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Voicer 3 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The latest installment of the Louisiana survey finds that 81-percent of Louisiana residents support an increase in the minimum wage from the current $7.25 an hour to $8.50 an hour. Governor Edwards is pushing a constitutional amendment that would increase the minimum wage to 9 bucks an hour in 2020.

The Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana has broken ground on a new biomedical research complex in Shreveport that will add 25 new jobs to the area. Officials say the Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy will use new technology to help develop diagnosis and therapy for chronic diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson….
cut 6 (10) “…we’ve established’

31 of the 105-members of the state house of representatives are term-limited and can not run for their seat again this October. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton is one of several House members looking to serve in the upper chamber…
cut 9 (09) “…another story”
Norton has already announced that she will seek to become the next senator that represents District 39, which is currently occupied by Senator Greg Tarver, who has yet to announce if he’ll seek re-election.

Legislation set to be debated during this legislative session would cap the number of billboards in the state. Currently, there are seven-thousand billboards and Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland says the billboards are a distraction for drivers and makes highways less scenic…
cut 14 (08) “….and federal highways
But a spokesperson for Lamar Advertising calls the legislation anti-business.

The Louisiana ACLU is asking the state legislature to change state law to end mandatory life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole. Executive Director Alanah Odoms Hebert says this doesn’t mean those serving life sentence for second-degree murder should be released…
cut 11 (11) “…considered”
Louisiana is one of six states where adults serving life sentences are never eligible for parole.

Construction has started on the Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy on a $14- million dollar expansion in Shreveport. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the company works in the next generation of radiopharmaceutical treatment for diseases like cancer. The expansion will result in two dozen new jobs…
Cut 4 (08) “…these research scientists.”
The center will be operated by the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana and Governor Edwards says they are a leader in the field of molecular imaging and research.

There are 16 senators and 31 House members serving their last year of their 12-year term in the state legislature as term limits will create a huge turnover. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says the Senate will lose some influential members…
cut 8 (12) “….to fill”
Voters approved term limits for lawmakers in 1995.

There are bills in the House and Senate that seek to cap the number of billboards in Louisiana at around their current number, which is seven-thousand. Metairie Senator Conrad Appel says his bill is not a violation of the First Amendment…
cut 15 (11) “….can cause accidents”
But outdoor advertising giant, Lamar calls the legislation an assault on their company.

For 16 senators and 31 House members this will be their last session in their current seat because of term limits. Voters approved 12-year term limits for legislators in 1995 and this is the second time there will be a large turnover. Winnfield Senator Gerald Long says there’s even more turnover than that…
cut 7 (10) “….to choose”

The ACLU has a blueprint for reducing the Louisiana prison population by half. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A Caddo Parish judge has sentenced 67-year-old John Essary to 16 months for prison after he pleaded to cruelty to the infirmed. Prosecutors say Essary had not moved his 68-year-old wife from the couch in months and as a result she became unresponsive, severely malnourished and suffered from life-threatening wounds.

Two pieces of legislation have been filed aimed at reducing the number of billboards in the state. Jonesboro Rep. Jack McFarland says the goal of his House resolution isn’t aimed at any particular industry that uses the advertisements.
Cut 13 (10) “…of the billboards.”
But Metairie Senator Conrad Appel has a bill that would seek to reduce the number of trial attorney billboards, especially the ones that appear to go after the trucking industry.

The ACLU of Louisiana has released a blueprint on how to cut the state’s prison population by 50 percent. One recommendation is to change the multiple offender statute that substantially ramps up penalties for offenders who’ve committed the same crime previously. Executive director Alanah Odoms Hebert says it’s better to fix the cause of the crimes…
Cut 10 (09) “…of poverty”
Hebert says the ACLU also recommends ending mandatory life prison without possibility of parole.

Construction is underway on a innovative biomedical research complex in Shreveport. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the 14-million dollar Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy expansion will deliver next-generation diagnostic, treatment and research techinques through advanced radiopharmaceuticals. He says the new medical equipment will enable C-M-I-T physicians and scientists to diagnose, treat and mange chronic diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s…
cut 5 (10) “…in northwest Louisiana”
The capital investment will result in 25 new jobs for northwest Louisiana.

Governor John Bel Edwards laid out his legislative agenda to lawmakers on the first day of the 2019 legislative session. Edwards spoke for nearly 40 minutes during a joint session of the House and Senate and said his top priority is to give teachers a one-thousand dollar increase in pay…
cut 11 (06) “…teachers deserve more”
Edwards is also seeking a 500-dollar increase in pay for school support workers and he wants to see more money put into the classroom, increasing the public school education budget for just the second time in the last 10 years.
But House Education Chairman Nancy Landry is not on board with that proposal….
cut 15 (10) “…urgency there”
Landry says she’d rather see an increase in funding for early childhood education.

Congressman Clay Higgins didn’t hold back in a video filmed just steps away from the charred remains of the St. Mary Baptist Church.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A Houma man is facing one count of second-degree murder and several other charges for allegedly setting fire to a person’s vehicle and the blaze spread to the victim’s home and upstairs unit of a two-story garage. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says 37-year-old David Mason has been booked for the March 31st incident.
Cut 4 (09) “…of criminal conspiracy.”

The 2019 legislative session is underway at the State Capitol. Since it is a fiscal session, lawmakers can debate tax bills and there is a proposal to increase the state’s gasoline tax. Americans for Prosperity State Director John Kay helped defeat a similar proposal in 2017 and he says anti-tax crusaders will be back to stop this year’s push…
cut 11 (11) “…enough”

There is widespread support to give teachers a one-thousand dollar pay raise. And Republicans also want to allocate more money for early childhood education. House Education Chairman Nancy Landry says additional dollars would help working families pay for high quality daycare…
cut 16 (10) “….critical time period”
The session will conclude in early June.

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins has released a video message for the person or persons that have set fire to three historically black churches in St. Landry Parish….
cut 7 (10) “….or the other”
The three fires are considered suspicious, but investigators have stopped just short of saying the fires are linked. The F-B-I is now assisting in the investigation.

Back to the legislative session, lawmakers will need to set up the rules for Louisiana residents to participate in online fantasy sports betting. Voters in 47 of the 64 parishes have voted to allow fantasy sports betting in their parish, but River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says the legislation that needs approval would include geo fencing, so that players can’t play fantasy online sports in parishes that voted against it…
cut 9 (10) “…kings”