A new study shows if Louisiana lawmakers loosen the restrictions on the dispensing of medical marijuana it could be a multi-million dollar industry. Cannabis Association spokesperson Jesse McCormick says the report also shows medical marijuana could generate between 5 and 13-million dollars in revenue, if a four-percent tax was placed on the sale of the product….
cut 9 (12) “….are doing”

Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says he would like to see movies share with Louisiana some of their profits, if a successful film was shot in the Bayou State. Nungesser says he would like to see legislators and producers discuss if this is feasible…
cut 5 (07) “….that works”
LSU has finished two-days of town hall meetings to get feedback from students on possible new rules that attempt to crack down on binge drinking on campus before home football games. LSU’s Dean of Students Maria Fuentes-Martin says most students are not happy with the proposed changes…
cut 12 (07) “…other activities”

Many college sports fans are not happy with a bill that would restrict college athletic teams in the state, excluding LSU, from traveling more than 375 miles to play games. The proposed law also does not apply to football or basketball or postseason action. Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter, says state dollars are scarce and public dollars shouldn’t be used on long road trips for non-revenue generating sports…:
Cut 13 (09) “great distances”
It’s unclear when Carter’s bill will come up for debate in committee.

Legislation aimed at preventing the removal of Confederate monuments failed to get out of a senate committee. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is the author of the bill…
cut 8 (08) “…shared history”
The measure failed to advance out of committee on a five to four vote. Democrats opposed the measure while Republicans voted yes.

On the House side, there were three bills that would have put limitations on the TOPS scholarship, but none of them passed out of the Education Committee. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater had one fo the proposals. He says the program has to be altered because of the state’s budget problems…
cut 11 (05) “…a challenge”
The Senate education committee is expected to debate its own set of bills to change TOPS tomorrow.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says one of the two 19-year-old boaters that was rescued off the coast of Cameron Parish this morning has died. LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck says two young men launched an aluminum boat from Joseph’s Harbor yesterday and were found this morning clinging to their sunken boat…
cut 30 (04) “…Joseph’s harbor”
The deceased boater has been identified as 19-year-old Derek Romero of Iberia Parish. The other 19-year-old rescued is expected to survive.

Two new Zika cases have been confirmed in Louisiana, bringing the total number to four – but DHH says they are all okay. Medical Director for the Louisiana Center for Community Preparedness, Dr. Frank Welch says this Zika confirmation is really a few weeks late, because the tests had to be sent to the Center for Disease Control for confirmation….
cut 12 (07) “…positive”
Welch says the two individuals who tested positive for the Zika Virus recently traveled to the Caribbean and South America.

The House Education Committee is taking up several bills that propose changes to the TOPS scholarship program. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey has a proposal that would raise the GPA requirement to retain the scholarship once a recipient is in college. Ivey says changes like this will keep the program intact for more students in the future…
cut 10 (05) “….pretty quickly”
There’s also a bill that would make the scholarship a loan that students would have to pay back if they drop out or fail classes.

A state senate committee has given approval to banning the sale of aborted fetal tissue. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says his main emphasis is to make sure people can’t profit from the selling of parts of an aborted fetus…
cut 15 (10) “….that process”
Before heading to the Senate floor, the bill was amended so mothers would not be criminalized for donating stem cells or unbilical cord blood.

A rally in support of legislation to have 17-year-olds charged as juveniles rather than adults takes place on the State Capitol steps today. Meg Garvey with the Youth Justice Coalition says this bill allows 17-year-olds the opportunity to be in a system that’s rehabilities and addresses their needs…
cut 13 (11) “….public safety”
Governor John Bel Edwards is also expected to speak at this rally.

US Representative Ralph Abraham is in Cuba today. Abraham is there to talk about how Lousiaina can be a trade partner with the island country once the trade embargo is lifted…
cut 6 (08) “….the latest”
Abraham says Cuba currently gets its rice from Asia, but Louisiana rice would make for sense for both sides.

A state lawmaker tells higher ed officials not to expect any additional revenue and they need to come up with a plan on how to educate students with exisiting dollars. Covington Representative John Schroeder says after raising hundreds of millions of dollars in the special session, he doesn’t see the legislature passing any more tax increases…
cut 13 (09) “…money coming”
A bill that would allow pets to be buried with their owners failed to get approval from a Senate committee today. Gerald Melancon, with the Louisiana Cemetery Board, says this proposed law would give cemeteries problems, if the owner never wanted to be buried with the pet, but the family wants it to happen…
cut 11 (09) “…that owner”
The author of the bill says he’ll bring the legislation back again next year.

LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson says the school is debating whether or not it will grow medical marijuana. Lawmakers gave the ag centers at LSU and Southern the first right of refusal to produce the prescription drug. Richardson says they are considering their options…:
CUT 4 (08) “or out”
He says several bills on medical marijuana in this regular session outline the regulations that could help them make a decision.

Seat belt fines would double on a first offense under a bill that advances out of the House Transportation Committee. New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger says under this legislation, the maximum fine would be 75 dollars. He feels this would help more people buckle up …:
CUT 7 (10) “use a seat belt”
The bill moves to the full House.

Today a senate committee will hear a proposal by Metairie Senator Conrad Appeal that would allow people to have their pets buried next to them in cemeteries. Haley Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (31) “….reporting”

And in House Transportation, the panel has approved a bill that would double the fine to 50-dollars for not wearing a seat belt. State Police spokesperson, Sergeant Nick Manale, says not wearing a seatbelt can turn a fender bender into a fatal accident…
cut 6 (07) “….laws of physics”

Five more parishes have been added to the exisiting federal disaster declaration in Louisiana as result of last month’s historic flooding. The five parishes added are Catahoula, East Carroll, Franklin, Lincoln and St. Helena Parishes. These parishes are now eligible for government assistance to help those impacted by the flooding.

An entrepenuer from Louisiana has created a Seafood Locator App. Sheldon Williams says once you launch the app, you can see 15 affiliate seafood shops and see what their prices are for boiled crawfish, shrimp, crabs, raw oysters and more…
cut 14 (13) “…all on the app”
Williams says the app works well for those living in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but they are looking to expand it to other areas like in Lafayette and Thibodaux.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser told a House budget committee he could close several state parks, museums and historic sites if his agency is forced to take up to a 30-percent reduction in state financing. Nungesser says he’s looking at looking at ways to reduce state costs to keep these sites open…
cut 15 (10) “….save money”
Nungesser he’s also looking into private-public partnerships as well.

A man and a woman were fatally shot in their Kenner apartment early this morning. Three children were also in the home, but they were not hurt. Lt. Brian McGregor with the Kenner Police Department says the discovery was made after one of the children went to a neighbor’s house…:
CUT 3 (07) “were notified”
He says a 10 year old boy, two year old and infant were inside the house, but unharmed. The incident is being treated as a double homicide.

Cops say it was a trio of children who robbed a pizza delivery driver at gunpoint in Houma. Captain Dawn Foret, with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, says a 12 and 13 year old were arrested for armed robbery, and a 17 year old suspect, Leroy Miles, is at large….:
CUT 7 (10) “his vehicle”
She says anyone with information on the whereabouts of Miles is urged to contact Crimestoppers.

Tragedy occurred during a triathlon at Sam Houston Jones State Park. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Kim Myers says 25-year-old Taurean Blake of Sulphur drowned during the swimming portion of the event….
cut 12 (10) “…continued CPR”
Witnesses say they saw Blake starting to struggle after he swam for about 100 yards.

Budget cuts are putting Louisiana’s state parks and historic sites at risk of closing, according to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (31) “….I’m Halen Doughty”

A federal judge in New Orleans approves a 20-billion dollar settlement that BP will have to pay for its role in the 2010 oil spill. The oil giant will pay five-point-five billion dollars in civil Clean Water Act penalties and Louisiana is one of five states that will also be compensated.

A mother and father were shot and killed in their Kenner apartment while their kids were inside. A 10-year-old, 2 year old and infant were unharmed. Kenner Police Lt. Brian McGregor says the couple was shot many times in their bedroom…:
CUT 4 (04) “at this time”
He says a vehicle was seen fleeing the scene this morning. A motive for the murders is unknown.

A man was shot by an off-duty State Police detective after allegedly breaking into his unmarked police car early Sunday in Ascension Parish. Sheriff Jeff Wiley says a neighbor alerted the cop around 430am that his police unit was being burglarized, so he armed himself, went outside and caught the man in the act…:
CUT 8 (06) “prepared to use it”
He says the off-duty detective shot the alleged thief as the suspect reached for a gun. The burglar survived and will be arrested when released from the hospital.