More lawmakers and even the governor are still talking about the stripper age-weight requirement joke amendment. Michelle Southern reports…
voicer 2 (30) “….I’m Michelle Southern”

Meanwhile in the House Labor committee, a bill was rejected that called for men and women workers to be paid the same for equal work. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh says there’s already a law on the books regarding pay discrimination…
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The vote was 10-5 against the legislation.

Governor John Bel Edwards signed the bill into law that allows more conditions to be added to the list of acceptable ones for medical marijuana. He says this is not a gateway to the legalization of recreational marijuana and he does not want this bill to be an ever expanding list of diseases…:
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The state is still seeking a grower for the drug.

Attorney General Jeff Landry believes President Obama’s mandate to allow transgender individuals to use the restroom of their gender identity is unlawful. Landry says schools should know they do not have to follow through, even though the President is threatening the yanking of federal funds if not followed…
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Landry says the president doesn’t have the authority to force students to share restrooms with members of the opposite sex.

New Orleans Senator and chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party Karen Peterson is demanding an apology from Jackson Representative Kenny Havard, who jokingly offered up an amendment to a bill that said strippers must be young and skinny. Peterson asked for the apology whil speaking on the Senate floor…
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The House Labor committee rejected the governor-backed equal pay legislation, requiring businesses to pay men and women the same for equal work. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says Louisiana has the largest gender pay gap in the nation and this bill would fix it…
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Business groups opposed the legislation.

The governor signed a bill into law that allows patients with a wider variety of medical conditions to receive medical marijuana once it becomes available in Louisiana. Edwards this legislation could help hundreds of families…

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The legislation also attempts to speed up the process of getting medical marijuana in the hands of the patient.

Attorney General Jeff Landry believes President Obama’s mandate to allow transgender individuals to use the restroom of their gender identity is unlawful. Landry says the President’s threat of defunding schools that don’t comply, jeopardizes student safety…
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Landry says he’ll defend the schools, if the federal government takes action against them for failing to follow this order.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a medical marijuana bill into law. The legislation attempts to move the process along in making medical cannabis available and the number of diseases eligible to use the drug has also been expanded. Sheriffs and district attorneys expressed concern this legislation could open the door to the legaliziation of marijuana.

Attorney General Jeff Landry believes President Obama’s mandate to allow transgender individuals to use the restroom of their gender identity is unlawful. Landry says the President’s threat of funds for schools that don’t comply, jeopardizes student safety and creates a public education crisis…
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Landry says he’ll defend the schools, if the federal government takes action against them for failing to follow this order.

The Cajun John Wayne, Clay Higgins, who achieved internet fame through his viral crime stoppers video, has entered Louisiana’s third district Congressional race…
voicer 5 (28) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

More lawmakers and even the governor are still talking about the stripper age/weight requirement “joke” amendment. The proposed change was added on the House floor to a human trafficking bill stating strippers should be no younger than 21, but Jackson Representative Kenny Havard ending up withdrawing. New Orleans Sen. Karen Peterson says Havard should apologize:
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Governor Edwards said he knows this was intended as a joke, but it was in bad taste.

At this hour, Governor John Bel Edwards is signing legislation into law that would expand the number of diseases that could be eligible for a prescription of medical marijuana, once it becomes available.

Edwards announced he would sign the bill during his monthly radio show. He was also asked how to address the problem of opiate addiction in Louisiana. He says one key thing to do is to get Narcan, a medication that treats people who overdose, into the hands of first responders and allow it to be administered without a prescription. Edwards says they are also looking into legislative action….
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You can catch the next governor’s call-in show on June 15th.

The Strom Prediction Center says there’s a chance for severe weather in southwest Louisiana today. The severe weather threat shifts to southeast Louisiana tomorrow. Strong winds, hail and there’s also a possibility of isolated tornadoes.

Legislation is heading to the House floor that would require public school elementary students to recite a portion of the Declaration of Independence every day. The bill passed on a six-to-two vote in House Education. Gonzlaes Representative Ed Price was one of two legislators who voted against it. Price says forcing students to recite this would open the door for more lawsuits…
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That pesky Emerald Ash Borer has shown up in a fourth Louisiana parish. Union Parish is the latest parish where the pest has been detected. Agriculture Commissioner and Forestery Commissioner Mike Strain says the Emerald Ash borer kills ash trees…
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Strain the federal government is using wasps to control the emerald ash borer population.

Female lawmakers are not happy about a joke a male member of the House made during debate over legislation that raises the age from 18 to 21 to be hired as a stripper by a club. Jackson Representative Kenny Harvard proposed an amendment that strippers in Louisiana could only be between the ages of 21-and-28 and less than 160 pounds. Kenner Representative says the amendment was disrespectful and disgusting….
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Havard says the amendment was just a joke. But Stokes says she’s tired of the degratory comments made about women at the State Capitol…
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The bill ended up passing 96-0 without Havard’s amendment and goes back to the Senate for final approval, before heading to the Governor’s desk.

A House committee advances a Senate-approved bill that would give sheriff departments in nine parishes the ability to automatically scan motorists license plates in an effort to nab motorists who do not have auto insurance. Jeff Palermo has the story…
voicer 2 (30) “….I’m Jeff Palermo

The Blue Lives Matter bill, which would charge people with a hate crime if they enact violence on police, firefighters or EMS, is headed to Governor John Bel Edwards desk. The Senate gave final passage on a 33-3 vote.

A House committee supports a bill that would give law enforcement agencies the ability to scan motorists license plates. The bill’s author, Lake Charles Senator, Ronnie Johns, says the goal of this legislation is to help authorities catch motorists who do not have auto insurance…
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But Wendy Adams with the Libertarian Party says it would put people at risk for theft and fraud because a driver’s private information would be stored…
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Despite Adams’ testimony the measure passed the House Criminal Justice Committee on an eight to three vote and and it heads to the full House for consideration. It’s already passed the Senate.

Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden has announced his candidacy for the 2nd Congressional District Seat, challenging incumbent Cedric Richmond. Holden says he has accomplished great things for Baton Rouge in his 12 years as mayor. He adds he’s worked with other mayors to improve southeast Louisiana and intends to do that as a US Representative..
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Holden and Richmond are both Democrats.

Democratic US Senate candidate Foster Campbell held a press conference today to discuss what he would do if elected as our U.S. Senator. Many analysts say a democrat will have a hard time winning this race but, Campbell says his values reflect the residents of Louisiana, not party lines…
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