Louisiana has joined several states seeking to block the Obama administration’s transgender bathroom policy in public schools. The federal government says public schools must allow transgender students to use bathrooms consistent with their gender identity, or risk losing federal funding. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says the President does not have the legal authority to require children to share locker rooms and bathrooms with children of the opposite sex….
cut 13 (06) “…that letter”
Governor Edwards’ office says they were they not consulted about the lawsuit.

Triple-A is predicting this Memorial Day weekend will see it’s highest number of travelers since 2005. Spokesperson Don Redman says gas prices are as low as they’ve been in 11 years and tickets for the top 40 domestic flight routes are 26-percent cheaper this year….
cut 26 (09) “…those prices”

A pro-Edwards group called Rebuild Louisiana is raising dollars to launch a public awareness campaign to help the governor advance his legislative agenda. Edwards’ proposals to raise the minimum wage, require equal pay for men and women, have met resistance, plus analysts say it could be difficult for the governor to raise revenues in another special session. Baton Rouge attorney Mary Olive Peierson is the Chair of Rebuild Louisiana..
cut 9 (10) “…these issues”

LSU AgCenter food scientist Marvin Moncada has developed a “nanosalt” which you can use to flavor your food, but it will reduce your sodium intake. Moncada says they are still in the lab stage, but he expects tests to be conducted with consumers shortly…
cut 11 (08) “…the consumer”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 23-hundred milligrams of sodium per day, but Moncada says most Americans eat double that amount.

Kids who use the internet to play games could be chatting with predators without knowing it. A bill headed to the governor’s desk would let parents check online usernames through the state’s sex offender database. Metairie Representative Cameron Henry says the penalty for sex offenders not providing their online information would be the same as not registering at all…
CUT 8 (12) “release are”
Governor Edwards is expected to sign the bill.

Also on the governor’s desk, is legislation that would require muncipiliaties to place signs at the intersections where red light cameras are installed. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says under the law, if a warning sign is not posted, the fine could be challenged…
cut 11 (08) “….collect fines”
The measure faced little opposition at the capitol.
A report out of Tulane University says if cuts needs to be made to TOPS, it would be more beneficial to state if needs based students were protected first. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 5 (30) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

State lawmakers have agreed to raise the GPA requirement for upper-tier TOPS students, who also receive a stipend to help pay for their higher education costs. The legislation heading to the governor’s desk would raise the GPA requirement to 3.25 for a TOPS Performance Award and 3.5 for a TOPS Honors Award.

Louisiana is one of 11 states that is suing the Obama administration over its recent transgender bathroom policy in public schools. The federal government has told public schools that transgender students should use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity. The lawsuit says the Obama administration is running roughshod over commonsense policies and the directive should be ruled unlawful.

Legislation that would require muncipiliaties to place signs at the intersections where red light cameras are installed is sitting on the governor’s desk waiting for his signature. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says under the law, if a warning sign is not posted, the fine could be challenged…
cut 11 (08) “….collect fines”
The measure faced little opposition during the legislative process.

Sex offenders will be required to register their email addresses and online usernames with State Police, thanks to a bill by state Representative Cameron Henry that’s heading to the governor’s desk…
voicer 2 (29) “….I’m Michelle Southern”

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the adult smoking rate in the US is falling faster than it has in the past 20 years. Here in Louisiana, Renee Underwood, with the department of health and Hospitals, says the state quit line has helped more than 16-thousand smokers just in the last year…
cut 13 (07) “….or older”

A House-approved bill that would have punished so called “sanctuary cities” for implementing policies that are deemed to protect illegal immigrants, failed to get enough votes to pass out of a Senate committee. The Louisiana Sheriffs Association opposed the bill and Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand was vocal in his dislike…
cut 8 (08) “…(08) “…unsafe”
Normand added that it’s the federal government’s job to combat illegal immigration. The proposal could have hurt New Orleans and Lafayette’s ability to borrow money for construction projects.

A House-committee voted against a proposed program that would allow law enforcement agencies to automatically scan motorists license plates. Supporters say the program would be used to catch car thieves and uninsured motorists, but opponents raised concerns about a private vendor making a nice profit from the fine money.

The Pastor Protection Act, which gives legal protections for clergy members who refuse to marry a same sex couple, failed to get enough votes to pass out of a Senate committee. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…reporting”

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted for legislation that would ban abortions in cases where the fetus is determined to have a genetic abnormality. The House-approved measure passed on a three to one vote. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor raised concerns the proposed law is unconstitutional, but despite his objection, the panel advanced the measure to the full senate.

Atlanta, not New Orleans will host Super Bowl 53 in 2019. The Big Easy made a proposal to NFL owners who are meeting in Charlotte today, but the vote went Atlanta’s way. Some considered New Orleans a long shot, because Atlanta is in the process of building a new stadium.

House-approved legislation that sought to penalize so called “sanctuary cities” died in a Senate committee today. The legislation was designed to force New Orleans and Lafayette to follow federal immigration laws. New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison spoke out against the bill..
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Attorney General Jeff Landry supported the legislation as he would have authority to determine which municipalities should be defined as sanctuary cities.

A Senate committee voted down the “Pastor Protection Act” which would have provided legal protections for clergy who refuse to perform a same sex marriage ceremony. Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson tried to argue that his legislation is necessary, because of last year’s US Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage…
cut 5 (08) “…thiese issues”
But democratic senators on the committee argued the legislation is not needed and the Act is actually putting discrimination into the law.

Fifth District US Representative Ralph Abraham says he’s introduced legislation that attempts to stop President Obama’s order that calls on public schools to let transgender students use the bathroom consistent with their gender identity. Abraham says there’s support for his legislation…
cut 15 (09) “…to it”
Abraham’s bill clarifies in federal law that the term “sex” refers to a person’s biological sex, not their gender identity.

Legislation to withhold funding for construction projects in cities that don’t enforce federal immigration laws died in a Senate committee. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 2 (27) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted for legislation that would ban abortions in cases where the fetus is determined to have a genetic abnormality. The House-approved measure passed on a three to one vote. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor raised concerns the proposed law is unconstitutional.

5th District Representative Ralph Abraham introduces legislation that seeks to combat what he says is an executive overreach on the issue of transgender bathrooms in public schools. President Obama issued a decree that public schools must let transgender students use the bathroom consistent with their gender identity, or risk losing federal funding. Abraham says the President can’t threaten to withhold money that is appropriated by Congress….
cut 13 (09) “…the president”
Abraham’s believes his legislation has enough support in Congress to pass.

The ribbon was cut on the new Curtis Coleman Memorial Bridge that connects Alexandria with Pineville over the Red River. Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett…
cut 10 (10) “..entire region”
Mallett says the new bridge cost 83-million dollars.