Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating has slipped nine percentage points to 54-percent according to a new Southern Media and Opinion Research poll. The statewide poll also found an increase in the percentage of respondents who are concerned about the state’s future. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says 52-percent say it’s heading in the wrong direction…..
cut 15 (11) “…more revenue”
The full House has approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow voters decide this fall, whether convicted felons should be banned from running for elected office until eight years after they served their sentence. Norco Representative Gregory Miller says Louisianians already have a hard time trusting elected officials…
cut 10 (10) “….good bill”

A bill heading to the Senate would make it easier for Louisiana voters to recall elected officials. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

University of Louisiana System President Doctor Jim Henderson is coming up on his 10-thousandth tweet and he’ll provide a 500-dollar scholarship to a U-L school for the student that comes up with what he should say with his 10-thousandth tweet…
cut 7 (08) “…tweet”
Tweet at Doctor Henderson with the hashtag J-H-10-K to enter the contest.

A new poll shows Governor John Bel Edwards popularity is slipping. Southern Media and Opinion Research had his approval rating at 63-percent last September. A survey conducted earlier this month puts his approval rating at 54-percent. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says African American residents give Edwards’ a very positive rating, while only 44-percent of white voters feel that way about the governor…
cut 14 (09) “….popularity”

St. Landry Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says they’ve solved a six-year-old cold case thanks to the suspected killer coming forward with information. Guidroz says 23-year-old Phillip Lafleur, who is incarcerated in LaSalle Pairsh on a murder charge, has confessed to killing his great uncle Dale LaFleur over money and he dumped his body in the Atchafalaya River…
cut 12 (10) “…in the water now”
Former Sons of Guns star Will Hayden will spend life behind bars for raping young girls. Michelle Southern reports…:
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Jefferson Davis statue in New Orleans was taken down. This is the second Confederate era monument of four slated for removal by the city. Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a news release that putting the Confederacy on a pedestal in prominent public places is a bad prescription for our future.

The House Education Committee approved a bill to increase the minimum GPA requirement for TOPS from 2.5 to 2.75. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil says he’s heard frustration from voters, about the uncertainty of the scholarship program and this could help cut down on costs.
Cut 12 (10) “four year window”
The proposed change would go into effect with the Class of 2021.

A bill heading to the House Floor would lift the one year ban for individuals convicted of a drug related felony to receive food stamps and welfare benefits after being released from prison. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says the ban was originally placed as a deterrent not to commit drug related crimes, but it hasn’t work.
Cut 10 (11) “our community”

The House Criminal Justice Committee shot down a proposal that would allow residents to carry concealed guns without permits. Jimmy Williams of Louisiana Carry argued that requiring a permit gives lawbreaking criminals the upper hand…
cut 7 (10) “…willing to”
But Cissy Rowley, a shooting victim in the 2015 Lafayette movie theater shooting spree, urged the panel to rject the bill. She says the permitting process is needed to vet people who should not be concealed carrying a firearm….
cut 9 (08) “….respect that”
The bill was defeated on an eight to five vote. The bill’s author, Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey, says he plans to bring the proposal back up next year.

A bill that would raise the minimum GPA from 2.50 to 2.75 to receive the TOPS scholarship was approved by the House Education committee on a nine to three vote. Baton Rouge Franklin Foil says he authored the legislation in an effort to cut costs and it has the support of the Council for a Better Louisiana, president Barry Erwin….
cut 13 (11) “…period of time”
The measure now heads to the House floor.

A 12-year-old is dead after cops say he accidentally shot himself in the head. Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot says the boy was handling a semi-automatic handgun…:
Cut 3 (11) “the chamber”
He says the child later died from his injuries, and this is a tragic accidental incident in which no charges will be filed.

The House Criminal Justice Committee shot down a bill that would have allowed Louisiana residents to conceal carry a gun without a permit. Dr. Kenneth Flaming of Louisiana Carry says it can take up to a year before a CCP is approved, and can cost between $300 and $500…:
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Cissy Rowley is a Lafayette theater shooting victim. She says without the permit requirement, gun owners could carry their weapons concealed with little or no training…:
Cut 8 (10) “a gun before”
The bill was shelved on an 8-5 vote.

And a judge in New Orleans has denied a request that would prevent the city from removing a statue of Confederate Army General P.G.T. Beauregard

High school students would have to graduate with a 2.75 GPA in order to qualify for TOPS under a bill approved by the House Education committee. The current minimum GPA is 2.50. James Callier with the Taylor Foundation opposed the measure, because he said it would hurt needy students…
cut 14 (11) “…one year”
The bill, which would take effect with the graduating class of 2021, passed on a 9-3 vote and heads to the House floor.

The Pineville-based utility company Cleco presented Governor John Bel Edwards with a seven-million dollar check that the state economic development department can use to create jobs in their 23 parish service area. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill…
cut 11 (10) “….in Louisiana”
Legislation that would have allowed residents to conceal a gun in public without a permit failed to get approval from a House committee. Jimmy Williams of a group called Louisiana Carry argued in front of the panel that requiring a permit gives criminals the upper hand…
cut 7 (10) “…willing to”
But the measure was shot down on an eight to five vote.

A 12-year-old southwest Louisiana boy is dead after he accidentally fatally shot himself with a semi-automatic pistol. That’s according to Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot who says they believe the boy was trying to intimidate his little brother with the gun…
cut 4 (10) “…intentional thing”
Fontenot says no charges will be filed.

Another big part of Governor John Bel Edwards’ agenda for the legislative session has been shot down, as the House Ways and Means committee did not advance a proposal to shift the tax burden from individuals to businesses. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says many lawmakers aren’t interested in raising taxes on businesses…:
Cut 15 (12) “touch it”
Governor Edwards called the action by the Ways and Means committee a severe case of misplaced priorities and a disservice to the people of Louisiana.

Up for debate at the capitol today is a bill to raise the minimum grade point average in order to qualify for the TOPS scholarship. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil is proposing to increase the required GPA from 2.5 to 3.0 for gradudating high school seniors starting with the class of 2021.

A bill that would ban so-called sanctuary cities fails to get the 70 votes needed to pass the full House. The bill is aimed at New Orleans which has a policy that prohibits officers from questioning the status of individuals who commit or report a crime. State Representative Gary Carter voiced his concern this legislation could lead to racial profiling of Hispanics…:
Cut 12 (07) “no”
The measure failed on 64-32 vote.

The personal finance website Wallethub finds Louisiana is the worst state in the country for police officers Analyst Jill Gonzales says Louisiana has a very high crime rate, so police officers are busy and pay for law enforcement officers is next to last in the country…..
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Louisiana also ranks last in the number of police deaths per one-thousand officers.