The Louisiana House will spend the day debating the state’s budget plan for next fiscal year. A major issue is the funding of the TOPS scholarship. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says it might take a special session next month to raise revenues to fully fund the program…
cut 6 (04) “…..fully funded”

The state House Labor committee has cancelled its hearing on a bill that would require private employers to pay men and women workers the same for equal work. No indication was given on why the meeting was cancelled. Tulane Business professor, Doctor Mark Rosa, this is not an easy issue for many businesses….
cut 12 (10) “…promotional chances’
There’s no word if the equal pay bill will get a hearing at a future date.

A bill that would allow patients direct access to physical therapists instead of receiving a doctor’s referral nears final legislative passage after it was approved by a House committee. Micheel Southern has more….
voicer 2 (31) “…reporting”

State Police is seeking two vehicles that struck and killled a skateboarder near the Southeastern Louisiana campus in Hammond last night. Twenty-six-year-old Erin Gerhard of Independence was killed. Police say they are looking for a truck and a dark-colored sedan.

A Senate committee barely passed legislation to add members of the LGBT community to Louisiana’s anti-discrimination laws. Jeff Palermo has more…
voicer 1 (28) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Houma man has been arrested on an aggravated animal cruelty charge for shooting his neighbor’s pit bull. Authorities say Karl Kohman shot the two-year-old dog with a .22 caliber handgun because he bit his son who was walking in the neighbor’s yard. Kohman also faces a charge of illegal use of a weapon.

The House Education committee approves legislation would give public students the option to attend any school in their district. Associate Executive Director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, Donald Songy, has concerns about what would happen if 15 spots were open at a school and dozens of parents were trying to get their children in that school…
cut 13 (06) “….other situation”
Despite the objection, the bill heads to the House floor.

A bill that calls on Louisiana to enforce surrogacy contracts is moving closer to final legislative passage. Currently, a baby born to a surrogate is considered that woman’s child. Author of this legislation, Lafayette Representative Stuart Bishop, says….
cut 9 (09) “….the child”
This bill heads to the Senate floor for final legislative passage.

Legislation that seeks to protect gays and transgender individuals from discrimination is heading to the Senate floor after barely getting enough votes to pass out of a committee. Author of the measure, New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says there shouldn’t be any discrimination in the law…
cut 4 (10) “…treated fairly”
The Louisiana Family Forum and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry oppose the bill.

A bill is heading to the House floor that would allow students to attend any public school in their district. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater supports the proposal. He says this opens the doors for children to attend the best schools, no matter where they are zoned, provided the school they choose has room for more students…
cut 10 (09) “…public system”
Opponents says the measure will create chaos for school leaders.

The House Health and Welfare Committee unanimously approved legislation that would establish a Bullying Awareness and Treatment Taskforce aimed at ending bullying in Louisiana. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says a large number of Louisiana students are being bullied, and many are too afraid to speak up about it.
cut 14 (11) “bullying them”
Norton says this taskforce would include representatives from the Department of Education, as well as the Department of Health and Hospitals’ mental health services.

A solider at Fort Polk has reportedly died during a training exercise at the Joint Rediness Taining Center. A base spokesperson says the incident occurred during a live fire and the soldier was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The name of the Solider will be released pending next of kin notification.

A House committee has put the brakes on a measure that would allow a private company to scan motorists license plates in an effort to catch those who are driving without insurance or using a stolen vehicle. The Senate approved bill didn’t get enough votes in the House Criminal Justice committee, because of concerns over data privacy and other issues.

The House Education committee supports legislation that would allow public school students to attend any school in their district, provided that there is room at that school. Associate Executive Director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, Donald Songy, says principals usually don’t know their capacity until the school year begins and wonders how many students would be able to switch schools…
cut 12 (04) “….to manage”
Currently students who attend “D” or “F” graded schools can attend another school in their district.

A measure that would broaden the state’s anti-discrimination laws to include LGBT individuals and people with disabilities is waiting for debate on the Senate floor. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says if you protect one group from discrimination, you should protect everyone…
cut 6 (07) “….at will”
The bill passed out of committee on a two-to-one vote.

Legislation that calls on Louisiana to enforce surrogacy contracts is close to final legislative passage…
voicer 2 (31) “…reporting”

Students could be allowed to attend any public school in their district, under a proposal approved by the House Education Committee. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

The full House is set to vote this afternoon on legislation that expands the number of diseases that would be eligible to be treated by medical marijuana. Right now there are only three conditions. The legislation is facing opposition from law enforcement who are concerned that this bill is pathway to the legaliziation of recreational marijuana use.

A bill that would set up a legal framework in Louisiana between parents and surrogate mothers now moves to the full Senate for final legislative passage. The proposed law would grant immediate custody of the child to the genetic parents rather than the surrogate mother. Norco Sen. Gary Smith says this measure will protect Louisiana families…
cut 7 (10) “…be involved”
Currently, a baby born to a surrogate is considered that woman’s child.

Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Lafayette this afternoon. He’s holding a Medicaid Expansion Event at the Southwest Louisiana Health Services Center at 1:30.

The governor has signed into law a measure that leads to the renaming of a Bossier Parish bridge in honor of slain Shreveport police officer Thomas LaValley. LaValley was killed last August while responding to a call about suspicious activity.

Legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or disability is heading to the Senate floor after it was approved on a two to one vote by a Senate committee. The author of the measure, New Orleans Senator JP Morrell…
cut 5 (11) “…like them”
There’s also a bill in the Senate that says businesses can’t ban employment based on sexual or gender identity.

A measure that calls on Louisiana to enforce surrogacy contracts is moving closer to final legislative passage. Louisiana Right to Life’s Diana Wallace is concerned a surrogate may be pressured to have an abortion, if it turns out she will have more than one child…
cut 8 (10) “….live birth’
If the bill is approved by the full Senate, it heads to the governor’s desk.

Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft says the autopsy is complete on the body of two-year-old Willow Rain Renteria-Molina, but authorities are not releasing the cause of death. 33-year-old Rodney Bailey of DeRidder is the person of interest in the case and is in jail on felony drug charges.

Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton’s bill that creates a Bullying Awareness and Treatment Task Force is advancing to the House floor. Norton says this group would identify how and where bullying starts and how it progresses. She says the taskforce findings could also help adults…
cut 16 (11) “…level too”

Governor Edwards has signed legislation designed to control the cost of the TOPS program in future years. Starting in 2017, TOPS students will have to pay a portion of their tuition, if the legislature does not agree to raise the TOPS payment to match tuition hikes. Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue, says this won’t solve all of the TOPS funding issues, but it’s a start…
cut 7 (05) “…we have”
Similar legislation was vetoed by former Governor Bobby Jindal.

A big vote on the House Floor is expected Wednesday over legislation that expands the number of the diseases that would be able to get a prescription for medical marijuana once the drug becomes legally available. Alan Pesch has a son that suffers from Crohn’s Disease and is encouraging the lower chamber to vote “yes”….
cut 11 (10) “…to Louisiana”
Sheriffs and district attorneys have raised concerns about the bill.

An attack on a police officer or firefighter would be considered a hate crime under a measure headed to the Senate floor for final legislative passage. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says the hate crime law currently covers violence against people because of their race, gender, religion, age, disability or nationality — and this bill expands that…
cut 15 (07) “…or EMS”
The measure has been dubbed as the “Blue Lives Matter” bill.

Legislation that seeks to protect gays and transgender individuals from discrimination is heading to the Senate floor after barely getting enough votes to pass out of a committee. Author of the measure, New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says there shouldn’t be any discrimination….
cut 24 (10) “…treated fairly”
The Louisiana Family Forum and business groups oppose the measure.

The TOPS Scholarship is no longer guaranteed to cover a student’s full tuition, as Governor Edwards has signed a bill into law that decouples the award amount from tuition increases…
voicer 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Flags are at half-staff over the State Capitol and public buildings in honor of Frank Levingston of Webster Parish. He was the oldest verified American World War Two vet, until he passed away last week at the age of 110.

Gonzales Police have arrested a 21-year-old mother from Prairieville after it was learned her two-year-old child ate methamphetamine.Sergeant Steven Nethken says the child was taken to a Baton Rouge hospital and Tyler Dauzat was arrested…
cut 5 (09) “…minor child”
Nethen says Dauzat told investigators her child got the meth out of her purse.

The photo of a service dog in the yearbook for West Monroe’s Good Hope Middle School is receiving national attention. The dog’s name is Presley and his headshot is next to her 14-year-old owner who has muscular dystrophy. The school’s yearbook advisor Sonya Hogg says it was a no-brainer to include Presley in the school yearbook.
cut 14 (08) “….love her”