Louisiana clerks of court who turn away gay couples seeking a marriage license could face lawsuits for refusing to do so. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

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An associate professor at LSU has been fired after using foul language and telling sexually-themed jokes to students. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana clerks of court who turn away gay couples seeking a marriage license could face lawsuits for refusing to do so. Chairman of the Forum for Equality, Chris Otten, says they have sent a letter to the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association putting them on notice…

CUT 3 (10)  “federal law”

The Jindal Administration has stated that they are waiting on a ruling from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Louisiana’s gay marriage law before complying with the Supreme Court’s decision. Otten is hopeful the court will rule soon and officials in all 64 parishes will immediately begin issuing licenses…

CUT 4 (11)  “significant problems”

He says if clerks refuse to follow the Supreme Court’s ruling, they could be sued for violating a civil rights protection statute under federal law. The Jefferson Parish clerk-of-court began issuing same-sex marriage licenses and several other parishes are doing the same.Sarah Jane Brady with Forum For Equality Louisiana says she hopes to see all parishes getting on board…:

CUT 5 (10)  “married”

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The US Supreme Court rules a controversial drug called midazolam can be used for lethal injections. Gary Clements, an anti-death penalty lawyer in New Orleans, is disappointed with the ruling, because the sedative did not perform like it should have in executions in Arizona, Ohio and Oklahoma

CUT 6 (10)  “lot of sense”

This case originated in Oklahoma over concerns that it violated the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. Louisiana’s lethal injection protocol allows for midazolam, but has never used it. And Clements wonders if Louisiana ever will

CUT 7 (06) “other options”

Last week, a federal judge in Baton Rouge put on hold any execution in Louisiana until July of 2016, until the state determines how they will carry out a death sentence. Clements says despite today’s 5-4 decision, there is hope that one day any form of capital punishment will be prohibited

CUT 8 (10)  “unconstitutional”

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An associate professor at LSU has been fired after using foul language and telling sexually-themed jokes to students. Teresa Buchanan was terminated after school administrators stated her language and humor created a hostile learning environment. Professor Kevin Cope, LSU Faculty Senate President, says this incident stems from a false sense of the protection of students…

CUT 9 (09)  “to be productive”

Buchanan was dismissed even after a five faculty member committee in March recommended she keep her job. Buchanan taught elementary education at the school. Cope says there is a big difference in using bad language and targeting bad language. He says if you call someone a so-and-so, that’s something that would require discipline…

cut 10 (10) “matter, altogether” 

Buchanan says she will fight her termination in court. LSU has no comment pending potential litigation. Cope feels Buchanan has a strong case and a good chance of having this decision reversed. Cope says if the school is going to take this attitude on foul language, it should extend beyond the classroom…

cut 11 (04)  “of the coaches”

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The National Weather Service is now calling for the Red River in Shreveport to crest Tuesday at 31-feet. Hydrologist C.S. Ross says this revised forecast puts the crest a few inches lower than what was previously expected

cut 12 (06)  “this morning”

Ross says the projected 31-foot crest is six feet lower than the crest in mid-June. He says impact from flood waters will be minimal…

cut 13 (05)  “in Shreveport”

Ross says the Red River will likely fall back below flood stage on July 2nd, but remain high through the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend

cut 14 (11) “late August”

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Yahoo reports Louisiana has the second most lightning strikes in the country right after Florida. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A UCLA Williams Institute study finds same sex marriages could bring millions into Louisiana. Scott Carwile speaks with the study author to find out how…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

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Louisiana appears to be the only state still fighting the Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriages. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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In Louisiana Radio Network’s ongoing gubernatorial Q&A, we asked the four major candidates about agriculture. We asked, if elected, would you propose a budget that keeps funding levels for the Department of Agriculture and the LSU and Southern AgCenters at least at their current level? Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says it’s important to keep funding these entities because agriculture has a $12 billion economic impact on the state…

cut 4  (08)  “our culture”

Democratic Amite Representative John Bel Edwards says he’s committed to maintain funding to the AgCenters. He says, since 2008, state funding for the LSU AgCenter has been cut 23-percent and Southern’s AgCenter funding has dropped by 30-percent…

Cut 5  (10)  “state’s economy”

US Senator David Vitter says it’s important to stabilize the budgets for these entities. He says since 2008, the number of full-time employees at the LSU AgCenter has decreased by 31-percent…

Cut 6 (12)  “reverse that” 2X

Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle says he’s committed to continue funding at current or higher levels. He says as as goes Louisiana’s farming, in a lot of ways, so goes Louisiana’s economy as a whole…

CUT 7 (10)  “development plan”

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A report by Yahoo says Louisiana has the second most lightning strikes a year in the country.  Louisiana trails Florida but is just ahead of Mississippi. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we average about 827,000 strikes a year and lightning has caused 142 fatalities since 1959, or about 2.5 deaths a year.

Cut 8  (07)  “time outdoors” 

Keim says Louisianians spend most of our time hunting, fishing, and participating in other outdoor activities which increases our vulnerability to lightning strikes. He also debunks a myths about what happens when lightning hits.

Cut 9 (09)  “by lightning”

According to State Farm, Louisiana ranks 4th in the nation for lightning claims. In 2014, State Farm paid 6.5 million for more than 13-hundred insurance claims related to lightning stikes in Louisiana. Keim advises people to get in a car or go inside if lightning gets bad during a thunderstorm and no matter what, don’t hide under a tree. He says be careful when touching metal objects when lightning can be seen.

Cut 10 (07) “to be”

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According to a UCLA Williams Institute study, same sex marriages in Louisiana could mean a 28 million dollar boost to the economy over the next three years. Study author Lee Badgett says many small businesses will thrive if this estimate proves true.

cut 11 (11)  “and florists”

Badgett says there are about 4,000 gay couples living in Louisiana and it is expected that half will get married within the next three years. She says they used the US census to calculate the economic impact these marriages could have on the state.

cut 12 (10)  “different factors”

Badgett says this will also increase the amount of jobs available in the wedding fields. She says the state government will find sales tax revenue from hotels and restaurant meals.

Cut 13 (11)  “and families”

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Despite a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, Louisiana is still not recognizing same-sex marriages. The Jindal Administration has said they are waiting on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to rule on a case involving Louisiana’s same-sex marriage ban. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says the state is fighting an uphill battle…

Cut 14 (12) “marriage licenses”

Clerks of Court are holding off on issuing marriage licenses until a 25-day period concludes where Supreme Court decisions can be challenged. State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says the decision has no mandate or order from the highest court that makes the decision final. Ciolino says this statement sends the message  Louisiana intends to fight the federal government over a civil rights issue…

Cut 15  (06)  “perhaps baffling”

Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that states must recognize same-sex marriage, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will likely move forward with its case on gay marriage. The ruling by the appeals court will most likely be a formality, and Ciolino says the state won’t have to wait long for its decision…

Cut 16  (03)  “days or weeks”

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According to 24-7 sports, LSU football’s 2016 recruiting class is ranked number one in the country. With national signing day still several months away, the Tigers have 17 verbal commitments, including two five-star prospects, cornerback Saivion Smith from Florida and St. Thomas Aquinas defensive tackle Edwin Alexander from Hammond. 24-7 sports, Shea Dixon, says Coach Les Miles has hired some great recruiters…

Cut 17 (17) ” in the country” 

Dixon says not only is LSU receiving verbal commitments from some talented football players, they are also filling positions of need, especially on the defensive side of the ball

Cut 18 (12) “outside linebacker”

Ten of LSU’s commitments are from Louisiana. Dixon says the Tigers are also doing the well in Texas, as four of their verbal pledges are from the Lone Star state

Cut 19 (20) “…Erick Fowler “

It is now illegal in Louisiana to post or share nude images of people on the internet without their consent. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

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Same sex couples are celebrating the US Supreme Court’s landmark decision that legalizes gay marriage. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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It is now illegal in Louisiana to post or share nude images of people on the internet without their consent. Governor Bobby Jindal signed Kenner Representative Julie Stokes’ “revenge porn” bill into law. Stokes says she is not surprised the governor signed the measure…

CUT 3 (07)  “things like this”

The new law makes it a crime to share an explicit image of someone on the internet without their permission. Stokes says she’s read and heard about many people who have had this happen to them…

CUT 4 (10)  “that they’re used”

She says there are numerous cases of “revenge porn” that has caused irreparable damage to victims. Violators of the law could face up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Stokes says this legislation sends a strong message…

CUT 5 (12)  “the line somewhere”

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Same sex couples across Louisiana are celebrating today’s historic Supreme Court ruling that legalizes gay marriages in every state. Matthew Patterson, with Equality Louisiana, says it’s hard to put into words what this decision means to gay and lesbian couples…

CUT 6 (09)  “actually happen”

But Gene Mills, with the Louisiana Family Forum, says the Supreme Court has stripped all Americans of the freedom to debate and decide marriage policy through the democratic process

CUT 7 (08) “policy”

Patterson says the Supreme Court made the right decision in this case, because individual liberties should not be left up to individual voters or states to protect…

CUT 8 (10)  “to be married”

Mills says the Supreme Court has created a litigation rich environment, because there will be churches who will seek to stand by their religious belief that marriage is only between a man and a woman…

CUT 9 (11)  “wave of litibation”

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On the heels of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision legalizing same-sex marriage, Clerks of Court offices in Louisiana are initially holding off issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. Louisiana Clerks of Court Association Executive Director Debbie Hudnall says they will not issue licenses until the Supreme Court challenge period is over…

cut 10 (11) “or decision” 

Hudnall says Supreme Court rules allow for a 25-day challenge period for any judgement or decision. She says clerks are going to do what they’re legally required to do, but for right now, same-sex couples are not able to get a marriage license in Louisiana…

cut 11 (09)  “any license”

(A statement from the Attorney General’s Office said that it has found nothing in today’s decision that makes the Court’s order effective immediately. Therefore, there is not yet a legal requirement for officials to issue marriage licenses or perform marriages for same-sex couples in Louisiana. The AG’s Office will be watching for the Court to issue a mandate or order making today’s decision final and effective and will issue a statement when that occurs.)

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is taking part in Operation Dry Water this weekend. The operation calls for increased patrols on the water to check for boaters driving while drunk. LDWF Spokesperson Adam Einck says they’ve participated in this federal event since 2009.

cut 12 (11)  “for DWI”

Einck says we’re getting close to the 4th of July and the boating season is in full force. He says LDWF’s boaters safety course has helped to keep fatalities on the water lower than ever.

cut 13 (09)  “do so”

Einck says patrols will be checking the hot spots for drinking this weekend. He says many people aren’t aware that DWI laws on the water are the same as if you were driving a car.

cut 14 (07) “9 yards”

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