New Orleans state Representative Austin Badon is once again pushing legislation that would lessen the penalties for some marijuana possession arrests. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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Medical marijuana is one step closer to becoming legal in Louisiana as Senate Bill 143 moves out of committee and heads to the Senate Floor. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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New Orleans state Representative Austin Badon is once again pushing legislation that would lessen the penalties for some marijuana possession arrests. Badon says House Bill 149 in no way legalizes marijuana for either medical or recreational use. He says the bill only brings fairness to sentencing for simple marijuana possession…

CUT 3 (09)  “subsequent convictions”

He says the bill will keep current provisions for first convictions, but lowers the penalties for second and subsequent convictions. Badon says this would bring much needed reform to Louisiana’s drug law. He adds that this measure would take simple marijuana possession out of the state’s “Three Strikes You’re Out” law…

CUT 4 (11)  “for life”

This is the third time Badon has filed this legislation and he hopes the third time is the charm. He says the Louisiana District Attorney Association is not opposed to the bill. Badon has also reached out to the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association who vehemently opposed the measure last year…

CUT 5 (10)  “in Louisiana”

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State Police is investigating the shooting of an armed teenager in Livingston Parish early this morning. L-S-P Lt. JB Slaton says authorities responded to a 9-1-1 call of a suicidal person and when deputies arrived at the home, 19-year-old Matthew Peyronnin, was on the front porch with a shotgun raised in the direction of the officers…

CUT 6 (06)  “several rounds”

Slaton says after being confronted with a weapon, a Livingston Parish Deputy fired his weapon and his bullets struck Peyronnin….

CUT 7 (07) “four rounds”

Peyronnin was transported to a hospital in Baton Rouge and is in stable condition, with non-life threatening injuries. Slaton says Peyronnin will be booked on attempted second-dgree murder of police officer charges……:

CUT 8 (09)  “the deputies”

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Legislation that requires sex education to be taught in seventh through 12th grade in every public  schools in Orleans Parish was approved by the House Education Committee today .New Orleans councilwoman LaToya Cantrell, a supporter of the proposed law, says comprehensive sex education needs to be mandatory…

CUT 9 (09)  “new cases”

Under current law, sex ed may be offered in Louisiana public schools, but it must promote abstinence until marriage. However,  Cantrell says the abstinence message is not working…

cut 10 (06) “they need”

The bill passed House Ed on an 8-to-6 vote and the controversial topic now heads to the full house for more debate. During committee debate, a resident of New Orleans expressed her concerns about the legislation…

cut 11 (11)  “to condemn”

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Medical marijuana is one step closer to becoming legal in Louisiana as Senate Bill 143 moves out of committee and heads to the Senate Floor. There were many people who spoke in support of the legislation by New Iberia Senator Fred Mills. Michelle Hall from Vernon Parish says she adopted a little girl who has epilepsy…:

cut 12 (09)  “stop that”

Pete Adams, executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, was the only one who spoke against the bill…:

cut 13 (09)  “diseases”

Mills filed similar legislation last year which failed to pass but he says for 2015 he’s addressed many of the concerns such as dispensing, prescribing and cultivation regulations. Tommy Mead, an LSU Health Sciences Center student, told the committee that medicinal marijuana can help with his physical suffering…:

cut 14 (09) “but I push on”

The legislation moved forward without objection. Adams says his heart goes out to those in committee who are suffering…:

cut 15 (09) “opposition to this”

A bill to raise the state’s cigarette tax to 68-cents a pack gets approval from the House Ways and Means Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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The strong storm activity that swept through southeast Louisiana earlier today has resulted in wind damage and street flooding in the area. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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The severe weather that ripped though the state this morning has left thousands of residents without power. Entergy spokesman Tom Peters says, with storm activity like today, there are several factors that can cause power outages….

CUT 3 (10)  “event like this”

He says it could be a while before power is fully restored…

CUT 4 (09)  “straight line winds”

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The strong storm activity that swept through southeast Louisiana earlier today has resulted in wind damage and street flooding in the area. Frank Rivette, with the National Weather Service, says trees and power lines are down throughout the region. He says the damage caused by these storms is fairly widespread…

CUT 5 (10)  “squall line moved”

He says they still have to survey the area to determine if any damage was the result of tornadoes. Rivette says downpours with these storms has caused street flooding in several communities. He says the area may not be out of the woods just yet…

CUT 6 (11)  “severe weather overnight”

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The family of 27-year-old Kris Beall of Pineville, who was competing in a regatta in Mobile Bay when a powerful storm capsized several sailboats, says he is among the dead. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Seth Johnson says the incident happened Saturday afternoon…

CUT 7 (12) “Bay off guard”

The family says Beall’s body was one of two recovered, although authorities have yet to release names of the victims. Over 100 sailboats and more than 200 people were participating in the regatta when the storm hit. Johnson says the storm was quite powerful…

CUT 8 (10)  “at the time”

Beall’s wife reported his death in a Facebook post Sunday. Four people remain missing and officials say they are focused on finding them. Johnson says the storm caught boaters by surprise…

CUT 9 (10)  “that took place”

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The House Ways and Means Committee approves a bill that increases he state’s cigarette tax from 36-cents per pack to 68-cents, to match the tax rate in Mississippi. The bill’s author, Bogalusa Representative Harold Ritchie, originally proposed a tax increase of over one-dollar, but agreed to the lower tax, so the measure would be approved…

cut 10 (06) “….trying to do”

The tax proposal passed on a 11-5 vote. It’s expected to generate an estimated 67-million dollars for the state annually, which could be used towards the one-point-six billion dollar shortfall. Opposition came from convenience store owners, like former state senator Fred Hoyt…

cut 11 (09)  “and food”

Ritchie’s bill originally proposed a tax increase from 36-cents per pack to $1.54, which is a national average. Jack Casanova is a cigarette wholesaler and he says such an increase will have an impact on jobs and bring security concerns…

cut 12 (09)  “major issue”

Health advocates lined up to speak in favor of a higher tax on cigarettes.  Frances Gilcreast, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, is a former smoker and told the committee about how smoking has impacted her file…

cut 13 (09)  “lung cancer”

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Today is the start of Navy Week in Shreveport/Bossier — an opportunity for the community to meet Sailors and learn about their missions. Lead Navy week planner Gary Ross says events include free concerts, demonstrations, commemorative events, school visits and participation in service projects…:

cut 14 (11) “contact”

Ross says this is one of 12 Navy Weeks their Office of Community Outreach is hosting in 2015. He says the US Navy Parachute team, the Leapfrogs, are also in town for the week…:

cut 15 (09) “jump into”

You can get a full list of the Navy Week events online at navy-outreach-dot-org. Ross says Shreveport/Bossier is such an Airforce town that it’s good to bring in the Navy to let everybody know what they are all about:

cut 16 (07) “as well”

The $22.9 million makeover of the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria begins today after numerous delays. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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A bill to increase the state’s tax on cigarettes by $1.18 is expected to be debated today in the House Ways and Means Committee. Jeff Palermo has a preview…

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

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For homeowners looking at purchasing solar panels to reduce their utility costs. Jeff Palermo reports the attorney general’s office says do your homework first…

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

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The $22.9 million makeover of the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria begins today after numerous delays. The project is finally getting underway after voters approved a bond issue to renovate the facility two-and-a-half years ago. Rapides Police Jury President Richard Billings says everyone’s excited these changes are finally being made…

cut 4  (10) “what we want”

He says the coliseum last held an event over a year ago. Billings says, when complete, the venue will be practically brand new with renovations happening both outside and inside the building…

Cut 5  (10)  “for entertainers”

The renovations are expected to take 20 to 22 months to complete. Billings says he can’t wait for people to visit the new facility when construction is complete. He says renovations, so to speak, won’t stop with the building itself…

Cut 6 (11)  “many, many years”

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Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott will be laid to rest today after his sudden death last week in a Baton Rouge hotel while on business at the Capitol. Preliminary findings reveal the 67-year-old died of previously diagnosed heart disease. Pete Adams is the Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association…:

CUT 7 (09)  “very intelligent”

Caddo District Court proceedings are suspended today in honor of Scott’s funeral at the Broadmoor Baptist Church. Adams says Scott was the kind of person who was kind to everyone and didn’t have a mean bone in his body..:

Cut 8  (09)  “worked very hard” 

Scott was found by two employees in his office at the Lod Cook Hotel and Conference Center at LSU after he didn’t show up for breakfast. A special election for a new Caddo DA is expected to happen in conjunction with this fall’s gubernatorial race. The first assistant is currently the acting DA. Adams says Charles was a true leader in their organization.:

Cut 9 (10)  “to the highest standards”

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The House Ways and Means Committee will consider this morning a bill that will raise the state’s cigarette tax from 36-cents per pack to $1.54 per pack, which is the national average. Stasha Rhodes, with the American Heart Association in Louisiana, says the measure has an excellent chance at passing, because of the state’s massive budget shortfall…

Cut 10 (06) “possible solution”

Rhodes says not only will an increase in the cigarette tax help the state’s budget situation now, it will result in fewer people smoking, which should result in cost savings in the future…

cut 11 (11) “15.4 million dollars”

The state is facing a one-point-six billion dollar budget shortfall. Rhodes says the cigarette tax increase under consideration today would generate 223-million dollars in new revenue for the state, which is why they think it has an excellent chance at passing…

cut 12 (11)   “7,000 lives”

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The Louisiana Attorney General’s office urges consumers to research the costs and benefits of solar panels before purchasing them. The director of the public protection division of the state’s A-G’s office, Sam Pleasant, says homeowners can be attracted by a promise of reduced energy costs from solar power systems, but sometimes there are some significant up front costs

Cut 13 (09)  “up front”

Pleasant says Attorney General Buddy Caldwell recommends that potential solar panel buyers should get at least three written proposals or price quotes and speak with people who have first-hand experience in purchasing them….

Cut 14 (10) “recoup savings”

Pleasant says they issued this alert now, because warmer weather prompts many consumers to look at ways to save money on utility bills. She says you can contact your utility provider to see if they’ll perform an energy efficiency audit of your home, which can determine if it’s even worth getting solar panels

Cut 15  (08)  “solar system”

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The Pelicans season is over after getting swept by Golden State in their four-game playoff series. Even though New Orleans didn’t win a game in the postseason, Anthony Davis showed he’s one of the top players in the league. Davis had 36 points and 11 rebounds in the series finale…

Cut 16  (17)  “next year”

Head Coacn Monty Williams believes Davis’ first experience in the playoffs will only fuel him to become a better player…

Cut 17 (10)  “next year”