The Senate passed a bill that would allow teachers to pray in public schools with students. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The woman who has accused Secretary of State Tom Schedler of sexual harassment has come forward to the Louisiana Radio Network to tell her story. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (47) I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Senate passed a proposal that will allow school employees to pray with students during the class hours. Before joining in the group prayers, students would have to have a signed request form signed by their parents. The bill’s sponsor, Bossier Senator Ryan Gatti, says it’s a response to recent legal actions taken against his parish.

Cut 3 (12) “like that”

Gatti says denying students the ability to pray with faculty flies in the face of local culture.

Cut 4 (08) “gag order”

Gatti says prayer is allowed in many other state institutions, such as the legislature, and as such should not be restricted in schools. He anticipates his bill will receive approval in the House…

Cut 5  (08) “we pray”

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The woman who has accused Secretary of State Tom Schedler of sexual harassment is speaking out, exclusively to the Louisiana Radio Network. Dawn Ross, who is a longtime employee of the Secretary of State’s office, says she was the recipient of unwanted sexually charged emails, gifts and advances by Schedler since 2007 and she eventually had enough

Cut 6 (:10)  “multiple times”

Schedler has described the relationship as consensual. But Ross says she tried to keep the relationship only to the friendship level and made it clear to him that’s all she was seeking…

Cut 7 (07)  “texts”

Ross says Schedler also stalked her and would show up unannounced in public settings. She says the Secretary of State even bought a townhome in the same complex as her…

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Ross, who also worked for a time as Schedler’s secretary, says the final straw came last April, when Schedler started screaming at her when she asked for time off. Ross says Schedler banished her from the office and assigned her to a room with nothing to do and was told to stay out of sight. She says that continued for about three months….

Cut 9 (15) “my attorney”

US Senator John Kennedy says it saddens him, but he believes Secretary of State Tom Schedler should resign because of the sexual harassment allegations made against him by a longtime employee. When the accusations first surfaced, Kennedy said he’s withholding judgement, but his views have changed.

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The Louisiana Red Cross is joining a national push to install hundreds of thousands of smoke detectors in homes around the country. “Sound the Alarm” will see Red Cross volunteers visiting homes to install alarms, and educate families on fire safety. Greater New York Regional CEO Josh Lockwood says its been a wildly successful program so far.

Cut 10 (07) “since 2014”

Lockwood says despite big publicity pushes, reinforcing the importance of fire safety, many homes still lack a working smoke detector.

Cut 11 (11) “each day”

Lockwood says along with alarm installation, volunteers will be handing out crucial fire safety tips like…

Cut 12 (09)   “reconvening outside”

The drive kicks off in Louisiana tomorrow in Baton Rouge and Marrero.

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Is six-foof-six pass rusher Marcus Davenport the missing piece to a Super Championship defense? New Orleans traded up in Thursday night’s first round of the NFL draft to select the freak athlete from Texas-San Antonio. Saints sideline reporter Kristian Garic says drafting Davenport comes with a risk, since they gave up their 2019 first round pick for him

Cut 13 (11) “winning a championship”

Davenport was the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year last year and finished his career at the University of Texas at San Antonio with 22 sacks. Garic says Davenport is a gifted athlete, who needs some polish

Cut 14 (09)  “pretty quickly”

The Saints have one third round selection tonight and then four more picks on Saturday. Garic says his sources around the league believe the Saints will look to add to their defensive line

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The nation could be facing a truck driver shortage of over 100 thousand by 2022, and that means higher prices for consumers. Matt Doyle has more.

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If you are a concealed handgun permit owner, you could bring a gun into school or university building, under a bill heading to the House floor. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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35,000 Bald Cypress will be planted in Terrebonne Parish as part of a new project the joins NGOs and private in the fight against wetland loss. Mike Farrar.

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The nation faces a truck driver shortage, and that could hurt your pocketbook. The American Trucking Association says they expect to see a 106,000 driver shortage by 2022. Louisiana Motor Transport Association Executive Director Chance McNeely says it’s resulting in longer delivery times and higher prices for consumers.

Cut 4  (09) “industry” 

The industry is facing a unique problem in that as the economy expands, more shipping is needed, but McNeely says the number of drivers appears to be dropping, just as demand has begun increasing.

Cut 5  (08)  “get worse”

Trucking doesn’t seem to have the same pull it used to. McNeely says average pay sits between 40 to 50 thousand, depending on the job, but one regulation in particular is keep young people from considering the industry.

Cut 6 (10) “hit 21”

In an example of the problems caused by the driver shortage: Tyson Foods blamed the 200 million dollars in new costs that they’ve passed to retailers on the shipping industries struggles.

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Concealed carry permit holders could bring a gun into a school or university building under legislation heading to the House floor. The controversial measure cleared the House Criminal Justice Committee on a narrow 9-8 vote. Erath Representative Blake Miguez says his legislation doesn’t arm teachers, just visitors who have a concealed handgun permit

Cut 7 (04)  “self defense”

All Democrats on the panel opposed the measure. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle argued concealed handgun permit holders do not have the same level of training as law enforcement….

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Louisiana Federation of Teachers legislative director Cynthia Posey says allowing non-law enforcement to bring guns into a school will create a disruption…

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Miguez says education groups might oppose this legislation, but responsible gun owners would applaud the passage of this bill…

Cut 10 (10) “self defense”

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A Senate-approved bill to allow foster kids to stay in the system until they turn 21, or graduate high school, which ever happens first, cleared a House committee. Currently, foster kids are forced out of the foster care program when they turn 18, regardless of their high school degree progress. Louisiana Budget Project Coordinator Dylan Waguespack says hundreds of kids are effected every year.

Cut 11 (09) “foster care”

A foster care teenager by the name of Ella recounted the story of how earlier families difficulties put her behind in school, and under current law are putting her chance of obtaining her diploma at risk.

Cut 12 (13) “bit longer”

Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says kids who age out before graduating are at high risk of falling into homelessness or crime.

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A partnership between coastal advocates and private business is leading to the planting of 35,000 bald cypress in Terrebonne Parish Wetlands. Senior adviser to the Americas Wetlands Foundation Sidney Coffee says its part of a string of smaller projects.

A domestic violence firearms bill cleared a House panel that further restricts possession of a gun by someone who is under a protective order. Jim Shannon has more

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A new AAA foundation student finds Louisiana ranks second in the country with the highest rate of fatal hit-and-run crashes per capita. Michael Farrar has more….

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A domestic violence firearms bill cleared a House panel that further restricts possession of a gun by someone who is under a protective order. Currently its prohibited for an abuser to have a weapon, this bill prohibits among other things carrying a concealed weapon. Mariah Wineski is the executive director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

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Domestic Violence survivor and advocate Tiffany Morgan was shot in the face by an angry boyfriend. Morgan says she’s been diagnosed with severe depression and PTSD as a result of her traumatic experience…

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The Senate-approved bill heads to the House floor. It requires offenders to declare in open court what firearms they possess. Morgan says this bill would help domestic violence victims.

Cut 5  (09) “piece of mind”

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Louisiana now ranks second in the nation with the highest hit and run rate of fatal crashes per capita, according to a new survey from the AAA foundation. The national study concluded there is a hit and run fatality every minute in the nation. Don Redman is with AAA

Cut 6 (:10)  “of fatalities”

Redman says the report found most victims of fatal hit and run crashes are pedestrians and bicyclists…

Cut 7 (07)  “pedestrians”

Redman says there are two big factors on why Louisiana ranks second in the nation for fatal hit and run crashes.

Cut 8 (:12) “impaired driving”

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A woman is under arrest for allegedly stealing a horse, and selling it for 1,000 dollars cash on the internet. 27-year-old Sarah Broussard of Scott was booked into the Lafayette Parish Jail on the charge of Theft of Property valued over 500 dollars. Ag Commisioner Mike Strain says the purchaser had no clue the horse was stolen.

Cut 9 (05) “the internet”

The horse was being housed in Lafayette Parish, while its owner lived elsewhere. Strain says the owner had no clue the horse had been swiped.

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Strain says this incident is a good reminder to all livestock purchasers to check the papers before you drop the cash.

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Concerns are being raised about a House bill that includes an application for funding a Boy Scouts project, but did not include an application for a girl scouts project. Girl Scouts Louisiana East spokesperson Mary-Patricia Wray says neither project is guaranteed to be funded, but allowing both applications to be considered would send a message of equality.

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The Girl Scouts are seeking funding for a project that would prevent a lake in Tangipahoa from spilling into the Tangipahoa River. Wray says the lake is a valuable part of the community.

Cut 13 (10) “community use”

Wray says if they don’t get the funding, it could lead to an ecological disaster.

Cut 14 (09)  “back up”