Louisiana is bracing for the threat of severe weather today and tomorrow. Don Molino has more from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness…
voicer 1 (27) “….reporting”

Here’s the line of the day from the state capitol. It was delivered by Ruston Representative Rob Shadoin…
cut 6 (07) “…alright”
Shaadoin was talking about a bill that attempted to set up an oversight commission to watch for misconduct involving the state’s district attorneys. The measure failed to pass.

Shreveport Police have a man in custody following Thursday’s domestic situation in which the victim, 27-year-old Rannita Williams, was shot and killed on Facebook live. The video shows the shadow of 36-year-old Johnathan Robinson pacing back and forth holding a gun in the video. Police Chief Alan Crump says it was a very tense situation…
Cut 9 (13) “scene in”
One officer was shot in the wrist, but is expected to make a full recovery.

Individuals suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, intractable pain, severe muscle spasms and P-T-S-D would be able to receive a prescription for medical marijuana under legislation that was approved by the full House. The bill is sponsored by Baton Rouge Representative Ted James…
Cut 13 (07) “enjoyable”
The measure still needs Senate approval. Its expected medical marijuana will be available to Louisiana patients later this year.

There is a moderate to enhanced risk for severe weather for north Louisiana today and into tonight. And northeast and southeast Louisiana are under a flash flood watch. Torrential downpours could result in flooded roadways. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says if the water is high on the roadway, turn around….
cut 4 (06) “…flooded roadways”
At the state capitol today a bill was defeated that sought to set up an oversight panel for district attorneys. Sarah Mojula from the Southern Povery Law Center expressed support for the legislation, because it would make sure there wouldn’t be any misconduct…
cut 8 (09) “…public defenders”
But nearly every district attorney in the state was present for the bill and it has been killed for the session.

Individuals suffering from Parkinson’s disease, intractable pain and P-T-S-D would be able to receive a prescription for medical marijuana under legislation approved by the full House. In 2016, the state legislature set up the framework for the legal dispensing of medical marijuana and 10 different conditions would be eligible for a prescription. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James bill would add to that list and he hopes it will result in more people using medical pot, instead of pain killers
Cut 15 (11) “right direction”
Its expected medical marijuana will be available to Louisiana patients later this year.

The state has activated its Crisis Action Team because of the likelihood of severe weather today and tomorrow. Portions of north Louisiana are under an enhanced and moderate risk for the development of tornadoes. GOHSEP spokesman Mike Steele says southeast Louisiana could see 2 to 4 inches of rain with isolated areas receiving as much as 6 inches…
Cut 3 (06) “heavy rains”

Individuals suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, intractable pain, and P-T-S-D would be able to receive a prescription for medical marijuana under legislation approved by the full House. Leesville Representative James Armes says he recently hosted 17 wounded vets at Fort Polk…
Cut 14 (11) “bill passed”
The measure still needs Senate approval.

The proposed Federal Farm bill contains work requirements for able-bodied 18 to 59-year-olds who receive SNAP benefits. A beneficiary would have to work or enroll in a work training program at least 20 hours a week. Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham hopes this will provide recipients with the tools they need to become productive citizens…
Cut 6 (10) “their lifestyle.”
The 47th annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is expected to draw up to 300-thousand people this weekend. There will be food, music and rides for everyone to enjoy. Spokesperson Donald Lanier…
Cut 11 (10) “we’re at.”
Lanier says there’s plenty of strawberries to go around, despite all that cold weather we saw in January.

Legislation that would prohibit smoking inside bars and casinos statewide failed to get out of the House Health and Welfare Committee today. Jim Shannon has more..
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

The F-B-I is now offering a five-thousand dollar reward for information leading to a missing four-year-old child in Claiborne Parish. Authorities have been looking for Junior Phillips since he went missing on April 5th. Ponds near his home were searched, but turned up nothing. A vigil for the little boy will take place tonight.

The fiscal cliff is smaller, but there is still a sizable revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. The Revenue Estimating Conference lowered the budget deficit from nearly 1-billion dollars to 648-million dollars. House Speaker Taylor Barras anticipates the House will approve a budget next week that will contain over 600-million dollars in cuts…
cut 6 (10 ) “…pass it”
Governor Edwards is pushing legislators to end the regular session early, so a special session can be called to address the fiscal cliff.

For the second time in the last five months, a family from Acadiana has claimed a Powerball jackpot prize. Lousiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says an attorney came in this week to claim a 56-million dollar prize that was won by a Lafayette family and last fall they had a winner from Eunice…
cut 10 (07) “…that area”

The revenue shortfall for next fiscal year has been lowered from 994 million dollars to 648-million dollars. The Revenue Estimating Conference confirmed that new budget deficit number after hearing the state has received an increase in personal income taxes, because of changes to federal tax laws. But state legislators are still faced with cutting 648-million dollars for the budget that begins July first. House Speaker Taylor Barras says a House vote on next year’s budget is expected next week…
cut 7 (07) “….next Thursday”
It’s unclear if the Senate will accept a budget that contains 648-million dollars in cuts. If they don’t, a special session would be necessary to raise revenues to cover up the budget gap.

A Shreveport police officer was shot in the wrist and another woman was seriously injured in a standoff today in the Caddo Heights neighborhood. Authorities say a man suspected in the shootings has surrendered and he was not injured. The officer who was shot is expected to be okay.
Legislation that would prohibit smoking inside bars and casinos statewide failed to get out of the House Health and Welfare Committee today. Jim Shannon has more..
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

A Lafayette family has come forward to claim its 56-million dollar Powerball jackpot prize. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says the mother of the family has been playing the lottery for years and their tax attorney says the family is deserving of their new found fortune…
cut 9 (08) “….their lives”

Legislation that would prohibit smoking inside bars and casinos statewide failed to get out of the House Health and Welfare Committee today. If passed, it would virtually ban smoking in just about every public building in the state. Brent Rochon is a cardiologist who testified in favor…
cut 12 (10) “…the smoke”
But the gaming industry was there in opposition. Alton Ashy represents video poker…
cut 13 (10) “…your decision”
The bill’s author, Representative Dustin Miller, can still bring the bill back before the panel and he does plan on making changes to the legislation.

The fiscal cliff is smaller, but there is still a sizable revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. The Revenue Estimating Conference lowered the budget deficit from nearly 1-billion dollars to 648-million dollars. House Speaker Taylor Barras anticipates the House will approve a budget next week that will contain over 600-million dollars in cuts…
cut 6 (10 ) “…pass it”
Governor Edwards is pushing legislators to end the regular session early, so a special session can be called to address the fiscal cliff.

For the second time in the last five months, an Acadiana area family has claimed a Powerball jackpot. A tax attorney representing the Moore Family Trust out of Lafayette brought their 56-million dollar ticket from the March 24th drawing to Louisiana Lottery headquarters. Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says on what the family plans do their with their winnings…
Cut 8 (10) “as well.”
Chopin says the Moore Family Trust received over 23-million dollars after state and federal tax withholdings.