Ella Brennan, a Queen of New Orleans Cuisine, has passed away at the age of 92. As an influential member of the Brennan family, she helped shape and guide the New Orleans food scene in iconic restaurants like Commanders Palace. Food Critic Tom Fitzmorris says few people had her talent for turning restaurants into world famous culinary institutions.
Cut 12 (08) “to her”
Brennan sheparded some of New Orleans most iconic chefs, like Paul Prudomme and Emeril Lagasse through stints at Commanders and her other venues.

A tougher anti-bestiality law is in effect as a result of Governor John Bel Edwards’ signature. Louisiana Director of the Humane Society of the United States, Julia Breaux Melancon, says it contains a provision that many other states do not have…
cut 5 (05) “…happy about that”

The governor signs legislation by Senator Fred Mills that hopefully will bring down drug prices. Matt Doyle has the story.
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle “

Sears is closing 72 stores nationwide and two of them will shut down in Louisiana, one in Lake Charles and the other in Alexandria.

I-10 East in Scott remains closed at this hour as a result of a fatal wreck. One person reportedly died in the multiple vehicle crash that involved an 18-wheeler. Police say a driver who crossed the median was killed.

The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committee made major changes to a sales tax renewal bill by removing more exemptions, which means businesses will be forced to pay more in sales taxes, while consumers would pay 4.3 percent state sales tax. The proposal would raise 642-million dollars, which covers the projected revenue shortfall, Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau voted for it and criticized Republicans for proposing to reduce government spending, but not identifying what shouldn’t be funded…
cut 14 (08) “…from us”
A House Republican leader doesn’t think the lower chamber will agree to the senate changes.

Governor John Bel Edwards signs into law this afternoon legislation that give some convicted felons there voting rights back. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith’s legislation was rejected in previous sessions, Edwards thanks her for her persistence…
cut 8 (09) “…thanked her”

Governor John Bel Edwards signs into law tougher penalties for those convicted of bestiality. At first there was some pushback on this legislation. Louisiana Director of the Humane Society of the UNited States, Julia Breaux Melancon, says much of the controversy came from misinformation of the bill’s goal…
cut 4 (10) “….supreme court”

The governor is signing legislation by New Iberia Senator Fred Mills that’s aimed at pushing down drug prices by requiring prescription benefit plans (that prescription card in your wallet) inform consumers when they get rebates from drug manufactures. Mills says before, your drug plan could hide those rebates, and pocket money that should have been going back to you, but now…
Cut 9 (10) “prescription drugs”

The House and the Senate disagree on how much revenue a sales tax bill should produce. Both versions would set the state sales tax at 4.3 percent, but the Senate version would remove several sales tax exemptions that currently benefit businesses. Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux says he’s interested in producing enough revenue to avoid budget cuts…
cut 15 (11) “….600″
If the House and Senate can’t come together on a revenue generating measure, another special session will be needed after the current one expires June 4th.

Governor John Bel Edwards is busy signing bills from the regular session, including a new law that restores the voting rights for thousands of convicted felons…
cut 7 (08) “…pass it”
This new laws says if you’ve been out of prison for five years, but still on probation or parole, you can now vote.

Authorities one person was killed two others injured in a major crash involving an 18-wheeler on Interstate 10 west of Scott. I-10 eastbound is closed in the area.

Even though Corvallis is 24-hundred miles away from Baton Rouge, expect to see LSU fans at this weekend’s regional. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Voicer 2 (30) ” I’m Jeff Palermo”

It was a heated night in Senate Revenue as the committee made huge changes to GOP House Chairman Lance Harris’ tax bill. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “Im Matt Doyle”

A bill requiring public schools to display, and instruct students on the motto “In God We Trust” was signed by the governor after facing little opposition in the legislature. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow on why she filed the bill….
Cut 10 (07) “school system”

Governor John Bel Edwards will hold a bill signing ceremony this afternoon for legislation that restores voting rights to individuals who have served time on felony offenses, and have been out of prison for five years, but are still on parole or probation. Edwards says giving people back their rights reinvests them in their communities.
Cut 6 (09) “of crime”
Voting Rights Advocates Voice of the Experienced estimate this will restore rights to 70,000 Louisianans.

An anti-bestiality law has been signed by Governor Edwards despite initial pushback by supporters of Louisiana’s unconstitutional anti-sodomy law. Louisiana Director of the Humane Society of the United States, Julia Breaux Melancon, was surprised by the early objections to the legislation. She says the new law will strengthen prohibitions on bestiality and animal cruelty…
cut 3 (12) “…pedohilia”

A Senate committee made major changes to GOP House Chairman Lance Harris’ sales tax bill, so the proposed legislation would raise enough revenue to fill a projected budget shortfall for next fiscal year. The panel removed more sales tax exemptions for businesses, but Harris doesn’t see the Senate version passing the House…
Cut 13 (09) “the bill”
The revised sales tax bill would produce an extra 300-million dollars. The special session is set to end June 4th and if a sales tax plan is not done, another special session will likely take place.

New Orleans actor John Goodman declines to comment when asked about the cancellation of the TV sitcom “Roseanne.” ET found Goodman at an auto repair shop in New Orleans and he said he’d rather say nothing than to cause more trouble. A racist tweet sent by Roseanne Barr forced ABC to take the popular show off the air.

Starting with the 2019-20 school year, public schools will be required to display the motto “In God We Trust” and the schools will have also have to teach students about the motto. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says she doesn’t see the new law infringing upon someone’s religious opinion and it is a motto in which this country was founded on…
cut 11 (07) “…prayer”
The legislation is not expected to cost schools that much money, because they could display the motto on paper.

A Senate committee approves a sales tax bill that would generate 300-million dollars more in state revenues than what the House approved. The author of the legislation, Alexandria Republican Lance Harris, predicts the House will not go a long with the Senate changes. The special session ends June 4th and it remains to be seen if the two chambers can agree on a sales tax plan that would address a 648-million dollar shortfall.

Starting with the 2019-20 school year, Louisiana public schools will be required to display the motto “In God We Trust” in their buildings. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the nation was built on a Christian foundation and students need to know that….
cut 12 (09) “…at home”
Barrow says the law also requires instruction about the national motto.

US Senator Bill Cassidy says just because last year’s Obamacare repeal failed, doesn’t mean he will stop chasing healthcare reform. The Senator has released a plan, he says will help expand access and drive down prices. Cassidy says the first step is enforcing price transparency for medical care providers.
Cut 4 (11) “place else”

Despite the 24-hundred mile distance from Baton Rouge, die-hard LSU baseball fans will make the trip to Oregon for the Corvallis Regional. Sean Fredenburn with the LSU Alumni Association Portland chapter says if there is a good number of Tiger fans in Corvallis they can make their presence known.
Cut 8 (13) “pretty amazing”

The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee has made significant changes to a House approved tax plan so that it will generate even more revenue than what the lower chamber wanted. Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux echoed the thoughts of many of the committee members, they want to produce enough revenue to avoid budget cuts…
cut 15 (11) “….600”
The projected shortfall for July 1st is 648 million dollars. The House approved a tax plan that generates close to 400-million dollars and House Republican Caucus Chairman Lance Harris predicts the votes are not there in the lower chamber to approve the Senate’s plan.

Sears announces its closing 72 stores nationwide, because of dismal sales. No word on what will happen with the 33 Sears stores in Louisiana.

Health care reform has taken a back seat to other issues in Washington D-C, but Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy says he continues to look at his colleagues on what can be done to lower health care costs…
voicer 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Corvallis, Oregon, is nearly 2500 miles away from Baton Rouge, but you can still expect a good contingent of LSU Fans at this weekend’s NCAA Regional at Oregon State. Sean Fredenburg with the LSU Alumni Association Portland Chapter says…
Cut 7 (8) “out here”

The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committee made major changes to a sales tax renewal bill by removing more exemptions, which means businesses will be forced to pay more in sales taxes. The proposal would raise 642-million dollars, which nearly adresses the entire projected revenue shortfall and Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says the legislation would prevent deep cuts. Luneau also criticized Republicans for proposing to reduce government spending, but not identifying what shouldn’t be funded…
cut 14 (08) “…from us”
The House approved a sales tax bill that would generate 365-million dollars that can be used to fill a 648-million dollar revenue shortfall. A House Republican leader predicts the Senate’s version is unlikely to pass in the lower chamber.

Starting with the 2019-20 school year, public schools will be required to display the motto “In God We Trust” and the schools will have also have to teach students about the motto. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says she doesn’t see the new law infringing upon someone’s religious opinion and it is a motto in which this country was founded on…
cut 11 (07) “…prayer”
The legislation is not expected to cost schools that much money, because they could display the motto on paper.

On paper LSU and Northwestern State face a difficult Regional in Corvallis, Oregon. You can bet there will be LSU fans arriving today and tomorrow in the Pacific Northwest and Sean Fredenburg with the LSU Alumni Association Portland Chapter says Louisiana fans will find lovely weather…
cut 9 (08) “…it’s beautiful”
Meanwhile, the Bayou State is expecting triple digit heat this weekend.