The state legislative auditor has completed an audit on sexual harassment in state government and concludes the state should do a better job of educating its workers. Jeff Palermo has more

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A bill that would allow companies like Uber to operate across the state passed the House on a resounding 97-1 vote. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The Pelicans return to New Orleans with a two games to nothing series lead over Portland after a 111 to 102 victory last night. Jrue Holiday scored a career playoff-high 33 points. And on the defensive end, Holiday held Damian Lillard to 17 points. Head Coach Alvin Gentry says Holiday has been playing at a high level for awhile…

Cut 3 (10) “tonight”

A modest Holiday says he’s just doing what his teammates expect out of him…

Cut 4 (09) “right now”

Game 3 is Thursday night at the Smoothie King Center. The Pels are just the seventh team in NBA history to win the first two games of an opening round playoff series on the road. Gentry says they still have to get two more wins to advance to the next round…

Cut 5  (10) “go off”

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The full House has approved legislation that gives residents a chance to vote on whether fantasy sports betting should be legal in their parish. The bill’s author, River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot, explained to the rest of the House how the fantasy sports games work…

Cut 6 (06)  “to play”

Currently, fantasy sports websites like Draft Kings and Fan Duel do not allow Louisiana residents to play in their contests. Talbot says all his legislation does is legalize it in parishes, if it’s approved by a majority of residents in November…

Cut 7 (10)  “regulate it”

The measure still needs Senate approval.

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The state’s legislative auditor has completed a sexual harassment survey of thousands of state workers and concluded that the state should do a better job of educating its workers on the issue. Auditor Daryl Purpera says the state spent more than five million dollars on sexual harassment claims over the past 9 years. He says there is no clear cut process on what to do.

Cut 8 (:12) “those claims.”

The audit was triggered by the resignation of one of Governor John Bel Edwards top aide’s over accusations of sexual harassment. Purpera adds without a standard procedure the issue may continue.

Cut 9 (10) “that report”

Purpera admits the state’s employee base is very diverse and a sexual harassment policy would have to be custom fit for some of the different agencies.

Cut 10 (:09) “should have.”

The audit findings largely came from the Office of Risk Management.

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On a 97-1 vote, the House passed legislation that would permit companies like Uber to operate across the state, without needing to make local agreements. The bill, by Speaker Taylor Barras, would bring Louisiana in line with the vast majority of other states’ rideshare regulations. Barras says it’s a big benefit with a small price tag.

Cut 11 (07) “in workforce.”

Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton said her mind was changed after talking to her son about the benefits of the service for people who don’t own a vehicle….

Cut 12 (10)   “to win”

Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover was the one dissenting vote. He expressed concerns that the background check system used to clear Uber drivers was not reliable.

Cut 13 (11) “law enforcement agencies.”

The bill moves onto the Senate

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The Democratic Caucus is pushing back against a budget that will be discussed tomorrow on the House Floor that includes 648 million dollars in cuts to higher education and healthcare. Caucus Chairman Robert Johnson says the budget discriminates against Democratic constituencies, while funding projects in Republican areas of the state.

Cut 14 (09)  “that’s immoral”

The caucus is also pushing back against part of the budget that fully funds TOPS, but cuts the higher education budget.

Johnson says Republicans aren’t properly considering, and explaining just how damaging these cuts would be to Louisianans.

Cut 15 (11) “of cuts.”

Baton Rouge Representative Democrat Patricia Smith says so far, the GOP have resisted any efforts to cut a bargain that would adequately fund state programs.

Cut 16  (10) “for cuts”

The caucus is calling on lawmakers to vote against the budget, and instead replace expiring revenues in a special session.

Sports betting is off the books for the foreseeable future in Louisiana. Don Molino has the story.

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Don Molino.”

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A Senate committee approves a bill that would ban abortions 15-weeks after conception, but its uncertain if it will get final legislative approval. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31) I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A bill that would make it illegal to hold and use your phone while driving was narrowly defeated in the House. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Sports betting will not be legal in Louisiana anytime soon as a push to allow parishes to vote on allowing it in casinos was shot down six to three in Senate Finance. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny, the bill’s sponsor, says if the US Supreme Court expands sports gaming nationwide, Louisiana could lose out on a lot of tourism to its neighbors.

Cut 4  (10) “we don’t.” 

Martiny says the opposition wasn’t interested in expanding gambling in the state.

Cut 5  (07)  “respect that”

Martiny says keeping sports gaming illegal in Louisiana isn’t going to keep Louisianans from placing bets on their favorite sports.

Cut 6 (11) “of it.”

The US Supreme Court could rule on allowing sports betting in all 50 states this spring.

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A Senate committee approves legislation that would prohibit abortions in Louisiana after 15 weeks from conception, but there are concerns the legislation could bring upon unintended consequences. Kaplan Senator Jonathan Perry urged the bill’s author to work on the language of the bill with an attorney, before bringing it up to the Senate floor

Cut 7 (07)  “it can hurt”

An attorney said if “Roe versus Wade” is overturned, this legislation could actually weaken Louisiana’s pro-life laws by allowing abortions within 15 weeks of pregnancy. But the bill’s author, Shreveport Senator John Milkovich, urged the committee to pass his legislation so its in place if the federal appeals court upholds Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban

Cut 8 (05)  “after 15 weeks.”

Pro choice advocates were on hand to testify against the 15-week abortion ban. Amy Irvin of the New Orleans Abortion Fund says the legislation will cost the state thousands of dollars to defend

Cut 9 (07)  “costly litigation”

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A bill allowing judges to inform juries about whether or not a victim in a car crash was wearing a seat belt died in a Senate Committee. The bill was promoted as potentially leading to smaller settlements in some cases, which would drive insurance rates down. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt, the bill’s sponsor, says we should trust judges to make the right call.

Cut 10 (08) “a jury”

But the bill received opposition from Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti, who says the bill punishes victims with lower settlements in crashes that weren’t their fault.

Cut 11 (06) “everyday thing”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon could not guarantee that insurance rates would go down as a result of the bill, and Gatti says it’s emblematic of problems with the bill as a whole.

Cut 12 (09) “be reduced”

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A bill to ban drivers from using their phone with their hands while on the road failed to pass the House floor after an, at times, contentious debate. The legislation by Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval was inspired by the traffic deaths of a constituent’s child. Huval says it’s a bill designed to save lives.

Cut 13 (12)  “they know”

On an 11-7 vote, a House committee killed Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith’s proposal to ban bump stocks on guns. Jim Shannon has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

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The leaders at LSU’s medical schools railed against a proposed budget that’s heading to the House floor. Matt Doyle has more.

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If you are a parent, you may find it hard to feed your child if they are a picky eater. About one in four kids develop an eating problem. Most quickly outgrow the fast-food and junk food only phase, but a few need professional assistance. Ochsner Pediatrician Dr. Myriam Ortiz says don’t force them to eat what they don’t want to. It could be due to other issues…

Cut 3 (09) “appetite slump”

Ortiz says it’s important not to become frustrated with your child. She also warns against bribing your child. You could be training them in a way that is not conducive with what you are trying to accomplish…

Cut 4 (07) “certain behaviors.”

In some cases, Ortiz says if your child isn’t eating, there could be a bigger underlying problem…

Cut 5  (11) “with them.”

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A House committee killed Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith’s proposal to ban bump stocks on guns. Authorities say a bump stock was used to kill more than 50 people in Las Vegas last October by allowing semi-automatic guns to shoot rapid-fire. Smith says something like that can happen here too.

Cut 6 (11)  “are gathered”

Kyle Galotta, who opposes the bill, says the Las Vegas shooting should not mean the end of Bump Stocks.

Cut 7 (10)  “bad precedent”

NRA spokesperson Erin Luper says they oppose the state ban on bump stocks, because there is legislation pending in Washington to ban them nationwide.

Cut 8 (06) “looks like.”

The measure failed on an 11-7 vote.

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Chancellors of two LSU Health Sciences Centers delivered impassioned testimonies in front of the Senate Finance Committee, calling on legislators not to pass the proposed budget apporved by the House Appropriations Committee that they say would devastate healthcare. Shreveport Chancellor G.E. Ghalli says the proposed cuts are impossible to make.

Cut 9 (10) “to cut”

The budget will be discussed on the House floor Thursday.

New Orleans Chancellor Larry Hollier says the proposed spending plan cuts funding for the five statewide residency programs by 43 percent. He says those programs provide crucial services to the most vulnerable paitents.

Cut 10 (11) “care of.”

Both Chancellors called on the legislature to not pass a budget until the 648 million dollar fiscal cliff, which is the result of expiring revenue in July, is potentially replaced in a possible special session.

Hollier says this budget, heading to the House floor, would result in a mass exodus of medical professionals from the state, and the devastation of the residency program.

Cut 11 (07) “in workforce.”

House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry, who’s in favor of the proposed budget, released a statement saying “We’re trying to pass a responsible budget with the dollars we have available.”

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Congressman Clay Higgins campaign reports the former law enforcement officer has raised 218-thousand dollars during the first quarter of this year and has 211-thousand dollars on hand. Higgins had just 50-thousand dollars in the bank at the end of 2017. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Higgins finally has his campaign fundraising operation going

Cut 12 (10)   “to win”

Republican attorney Josh Guillory and Democrat Phillip Conner, a physician from Lake Charles, are two candidates raising money to challenge Higgins this fall. Cross says Higgins will need to raise a lot more…

Cut 13 (11) “try anything.”

Cross says Higgins didn’t raise a lot of money when he was elected in 2016, but he’ll need more cash this time around

Cut 14 (12)  “this time”