Legislation that makes it illegal to have your hands on your phone while driving is set to be heard by the House Transportation committee today. Don Molino has the story
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”
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A survey by 24-7 Wall Street shows Louisiana residents pay just 8-percent of their income to state and local governments. Jim Shannon has more.
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”
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The Senate approves legislation to allow children to wear bulletproof backpacks at public schools. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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Emotional testimony is expected in the House Transportation committee today as a bill will be heard, requiring drivers to use only hands free communication devices. Suzanne Salter from will testify in favor. Salter says her daughter was killed in 2014 by a teenage driver who was texting at the time of the fatal crash..
Cut 4 (09) “her phone”
Salter says the bill by Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval doesn’t say you can’t talk on a cell phone while driving, it just can’t be in your hand…
Cut 5 (10) “steering wheel”
State law says you can’t text while you drive. But Salter says by making it illegal to have your hands on your cellphone while behind the wheel, enforcement will be easier. She says right now, very few tickets are written for texting and driving…
Cut 6 (11) “than five.”
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Lawmakers approve legislation to allow students to have a bulletproof backpack at school. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says parents are looking at ways to make sure their children can protect themselves, if a shooter enters the school. He says this is one option
Cut 7 (12) “200 dollars”
The vote for the bill was 34-2. New Orleans Senator J-P Morrell was one of the two no votes. Morrell says police officers wearing bulletproof vests still receive serious injuries if struck by a bullet and the bulletproof backpacks can’t guarantee that a bullet would just bounce off a child
Cut 8 (12) “enter a school”
Morrell says he’d rather pass legislation to make sure mentally disturbed individuals can’t get their hands on a gun. Walsworth says parents are more worried than ever about sending their children to school and a bulletproof backpack could be the only thing that protects them
Cut 9 (10) “guarantee”
(The measure now heads to the House.)
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A 24-7 Wall Street report shows Louisiana is one of the least taxed places to live in the country. Louisiana taxpayers are tied for fifth in the least amount of taxes paid to local and state governments when compared to other states. LSU economist Doctor Jim Richardson says this state has been a low tax state for years.
Cut 10 (11) “at all”
But Richardson says there is some give and take when it comes to taxes paid…
Cut 11 (08) “property taxes”
The report shows Louisiana residents pay just 8-percent of their income to state and local governments. Richardson says despite what this report says, many will think they always pay too much in taxes…
Cut 12 (08) “taxed enough”
The report shows that state income tax collections per capita is 13th lowest, and property tax collections is 8th lowest.
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The Senate approves a bill that makes it clear bestiality is illegal in Louisiana. There is a law that says people can’t have sex with animals, but it’s unenforceable, because it’s contained in legislation that was ruled unconstitutional in 2003, because it criminalized sex between two males or females. Morrell says its important the state has a way to arrest someone for bestiality
Cut 13 (05) “to children”
Morrell says the law protects does who have to touch animals in private areas, because they are either a doctor or for scientific research. He says some have complained his legislation is too ambiguous, but that’s not the case…
Cut 14 (04) “explaining it”
But there were Senators who did vote against it. The measure passed on a 25-10 vote and heads to the House for more discussion.
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Legislation that increases penalties for teachers who engage in sexual relationships with students is set for a hearing in a Senate committee today. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says it makes such an offense a felony and it also expands the law to include coaches and team managers and doctors. He says the bill was inspired by the sexual abuse charges against former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar
Cut 15 (11) “take it seriously”
Louisiana has seen its share of teachers arrested for having a sexual relationship with a student. Gatti says under this law a teacher could face a prison sentence between 5 and 40 years
Cut 16 (08) “a felony”
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LSU is anxious to get its starting middle infield back. Shortstop Josh Smith has been out since the opening weekend with a bad back and second baseman Brandt Broussard just got the split off his surgically repaired thumb. Coach Paul Mainieri says not having them in the line-up has led to the team’s struggles at the plate
Cut 17 (16) “going in”
Mainieri says Smith should face live pitching this week and first baseman Bryce Jordan should only miss a week with a bone bruise in his knee. LSU will host Tennessee this weekend, but tonight they face 25th ranked La Tech at Alex Box. Mainieri says the Bulldogs are excellent on the mound
Cut 18 (19) “twice”
LSU is 20-13 on the season and ranked 23rd in the D-1 poll. Mainieri says they are not playing to their standards, but there are reasons for that