A mother and son were killed from a possible tornado that swept through Ruston early this morning. Responders say the two victims died after a tree fell on their home in Lincoln Parish. The twister left behind extensive damage, especially in Ruston. State Police Troop F spokesperson Michael Reichardt says the clean up effort will take some time…
cut 6 (11) “…some of the parish”
Louisiana Tech also sustained damage to their dorms and athletic facilties. But university president Les Guice is celebrating the fact that everyone on campus avoided the worst…
cut 15 (11) “….are safe”
Governor John Bel Edwards will talk about state assistance in a press conference this afternoon.

A proposed consitutional amendment to raise the minimum wage to nine-dollars an hour on July 1st, 2020 received approval from the Senate Labor Committee. Business organizations oppose the legislation. NFIB Louisiana director Dawn Starns says a mandated wage increase would negatively impact small businesses and result in a net loss of 36,000 jobs in the state.
Cut 12 (08) “…want to help.”
The measure heads to the Senate floor. A minimum wage hike proposal died in the upper chamber last year.

Heading to the House floor is legislation to legalize hemp production in Louisiana. During discussion of the bill in the House Ag committee. Jennings Representative John Guinn was questioning Ag Commissioner Mike Strain on when hemp production became illegal in America…
cut 9 (11) “…interesting”
The 2018 Farm Bill now allows states to regulate the production of industrial hemp.

Two people were killed when a tornado went through Ruston during the early morning hours causing widespread and extensive damage through the city of Ruston and on the Louisiana Tech campus. National Weather Service forecaster CS Ross says the twister hit Ruston just before two A-M…
cut 5 (14) “…as well”
Ross says there’s also been reports of damage in the Sabine Parish town of Converse and Downsville, which is located on the border of Lincoln and Union parishes.

Governor Edwards has cancelled plans to testify at the state capitol for bills that he supports and instead he’ll travel to Ruston to get a first hand look at the damage and what state resources the city needs.

A large portion of Louisiana is under a tornado watch until three PM this afternoon. The watch area covers Acadiana and all of southeast Louisiana.

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling for three televised debates prior to the October election. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says it’s interesting that Edwards is willing to debate his challengers and previous incumbents refusal to face their challengers has contributed to the public’s distrust of politicians.
Cut 14 (11) “…more debates”
Republican challenger Eddie Rispone says three debates are an apropriate number, while Ralph Abraham says there should be six debates, one in each Congressional district.

LSU Ag Center researcher Chris Green is using grant dollars to study whether various components of medical marijuana can be used to treat epileptic seizers. Green is using tiny zebrafish to develop treatments…
cut 7 (11) “…we do”

The governor’s office confirms two people are dead after a likely tornado roared through Ruston early this morning. No details have been reported on how the individuals died. Extensive damage has been reported throughout the city, even on Louisiana Tech’s campus, where the softball stadium and soccer field sustained damage. Classes have been canceled for the day.

Two former LSU Tigers are expected to hear their names called tonight in the first round of the NFL draft. Jeff Palermo has the story…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Raising the minimum wage, pay secrecy and legislation to allow farmers to grow hemp will be the hot topics for discussion at the state capitol today. Opposition is expected against all three topics, even industrial hemp, because of its close association to marijuana. But Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says you can’t get high from smoking the hemp that Louisiana farmers will produce…
cut 5 (06) “…point-three percent”
The minimum wage and pay secrecy bills will be heard in Senate Labor.

The LSU Ag Center has received a 500-thousand dollar grant to see how various components from a cannabis plant treats epileptic seizures in zebrafish. Chris Green is conducting the research…
cut 8 (08) “…don’t know”
The grant comes from G-B Sciences, which is LSU’s growing partner of medical marijuana that could be available to patients next month.

The House Health and Welfare Committee has approved legislation that would increase Louisiana’s legal smoking age from 18 to 21-years-old. It passed on a 10–2 vote, Stonewall Representative Larry Bagwell was one of two no votes, because he believes 18-year-olds are old enough to decide whether they should smoke…
cut 15 (11) “…do that here”
Supporters of the age change say it will save lives and reduce health care costs.

A House committee has decided the state boxing and wrestling commission should no longer regulate pro wrestling events in Louisiana. New Orleans resident Brett Landry says states like Texas and Florida have no pro wrestling regulation and house WWE training facilities. He says that could expand to the Big Easy…
Cut 11 (09) “…to broaden”
The House floor will have more discussion on this topic.

The House approves legislation aimed at addressing the factors that result in the state’s high auto insurance rates. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says his bill lowers the jury threshold from 50-thousand to five-thousand dollars, which Talbot says would lead to more cases settled out of court and lower costs for insurance companies. But LaPlace Representative Randal Gaines is skeptical…
Cut 7 (05) “…either side.”
Additional debate on the bill will take place in the Senate.

54-year-old Jessie Guillory of Lake Charles, who allegedly attacked a nurse at a Baton Rouge hospital has been booked for manslaugher after the nurse he allegedly attacked died from her injuries. Baton Rouge Police Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says their investigation has determined the victim, Lynne Truxillo, was trying to help a fellow nurse…
Cut 4 (11) “ struck”
Guillory allegedly slammed Truxillo’s head into a desk and she also injured her leg trying to get away from him.

The House Health and Welfare committee approves legislation to increase the legal age to smoke from 18 to 21-years-old. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman believes this proposal will result in fewer people choosing to smoke, resulting in a healthier Louisiana…
cut 13 (08) “…for many”
The measure also raises the legal age to vape to 21-years-old. That brought opposition from individuals who own vaping stores…
cut 14 (10) “….to decide”
Despite the opposition, the committee approved the bill to raise the legal smoking age to 21 in Louisiana and it heads to the House floor for more discussion.

A bill heading to the House floor would remove professional wrestling from the State Boxing and Wresting Commission’s oversight. Supporters of the legislation say it will bring more pro wrestling events to Louisiana, but the chairman of the Boxing and Wrestling Commission Buddy Embanato says they’ve already reduced the promoter’s fee to help bring more matches to the state…
cut 12 (12) “…the industry”
Supporters of the bill say since pro wrestling is choreographed, there’s no reason to regulate it, like boxing.

A Lake Charles man has been charged with manslaughter in the beating death of a Baton Rouge nurse. Authorities say 54-year-old Jessie Guillory attacked Lynne Truxillo at a nurses station inside Baton Rouge General Mid City on April fourth and she died from her injuries days later. Baton Rouge Sergeant L’ Jean McKneely says after Truxillo died….
cut 5 (05) “…that incident”
McKneely says the coroner’s report shows Guillory’s beating contributed to Truxillo’s death.

NFL-dot-com’s Ian Rapoport is reporting the Saints will pick up defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins fifth-year option. Rankins had a career-high eight sacks and 12 tackles for a loss last season, but tore his Achilles tendon in the playoff win over Philadelphia. He’s expected to start the season on the physcially unable to perform list, but the team must believe he’ll make a full recovery from that injury.

The NCAA has approved changes to both targeting and overtimes rules in college football. When it comes to targeting, the instant replay judge must now confirm that targeting occurred on a defenseless player and the contact was directed at the head or neck area for a targeting penalty to be confirmed. If the instant replay judge can’t, the call on the field will not stand. And when it comes to O-T, if a game reaches the fifth overtime, both teams will alternate two-point conversion attempts, instead of starting a drive from the opponents 25 yard line.

Drew Bianco’s two out, three-run homer in the second provided the spark the LSU baseball team needed last night to beat Lamar five to three. Fellow freshman Landon Marceaux also pitched three shutout innings to pick up the win.

In Ruston, for the second time this season, junior second baseman Hunter Wells hit a walk off homer. Wells blast lifted the Bulldogs to a five-four win over Little Rock. La Tech Tech is at McNeese tonight.

Southern Miss scored four runs in the ninth inning last night to beat the Ragin Cajuns seven to six. Jacob Schultz, who was spectacular against LSU last week, gave up four runs on three hits and suffered his second loss of the season.

ULM rallied to beat Southern five to four. Logan Wurm hit an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Warhawks their first lead and then scored what turned out to be the game winning run. ULM begins a series at Arkansas State on Friday.

Also last night, Southeastern slammed Tulane 10 to 3 and Arkansas thumped Northwestern State 19 to 2. Those two teams play again today in Fayetteville

It’s a busy day of committee meetings at the state capitol today. The House Health and Welfare panel is expected to hear testimony today that would prohibit those under the age of 21 from purchasing tobacco products. The current minimum age is 18. The bill’s author, West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman, says 11 other states have enacted similar laws…
cut 8 (07) “…everywhere”

Nicholls State has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to build a coastal center on the Thibodaux campus. School president Doctor Jay Clune says the facility will be a hub for wetlands protection research…
cut 5 (11) “….campus”
Clune says Nicholls is developing a coastal engineering program.

The chairwoman of the Louisiana Democratic Party spoke openly about her gambling addiction in a Senate committee meeting during discussion of legislation that would legalize sports betting. Matt Doyle has the story.
Voicer 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

That legislation is sponsored by Metairie Senator Danny Martiny and it would allow sports betting at the state’s riverboat casinos, racetracks and the land-based casino in New Orleans. It heads to the Senate floor for more discussion. Martiny says it could generate an additional 60-million dollars in revenues.