Many of Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards priorities in this legislative session never gained traction with a republican dominated legislature. Jeff Palermo has the story….

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Mike the Tiger, the beloved mascot of the LSU Fighting Tigers, has been diagnosed with a rare, life threatening form of cancer. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Governor John Bel Edwards legislative agenda for this regular session has NOT done well. A proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage has been bottled up in the Senate, an effort to require women and men receive equal pay for equal work was killed by a House committee.  Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says republicans in the legislature have no problem voting against these issues…

CUT 3 (10)  “crazy about”

The governor’s attempts to limit charter schools or vouchers has also fallen on deaf ears by a legislative body that has a republican majority. Pinsonat says Louisiana is a red state and there’s not much support for a higher minimum wage or fewer charter schools…

CUT 4 (06)  “with their base”

Pinsonat says Edwards’ inability to get a majority of his legislative agenda accomplished in the regular session, could hurt his efforts during an anticipated special session next month that would seek to raise revenue to address a 600-million dollar budget shortfall…

CUT 5 (08)  “by the legislature”

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LSU’s mascot, Mike the Tiger, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, spindle cell sarcoma. Mike’s attending vet, Dr. David Baker, says they’ve discovered a tumor in the right side of Mike’s skull. Baker says because of the proximity to normal tissues in Mike’s head, the tumor is inoperable, and the condition is incurable. He says Mike will undergo radiation treatment, but there could be complications with the anesthesia.

CUT 6 (12) “episodes”

Mike will receive an innovative stereotactic radiotherapy treatment at the Mary Bird Perkins cancer treatment facility in Baton Rouge. Baker says this kind of treatment has never been done on a tiger before. He says the center will absorb much of the costs for the radiation treatment.

CUT 7 (10) “will be”

Doctors say the treatment should be able to prolong Mike’s life for another year or two. Baker says the logistics of transporting the tiger to the facility will be more time-consuming than the treatment itself. He says Mike doesn’t appear to be in any pain.

CUT 8 (09) “of greeting”

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The House Transportation Committee gave the green light today to a Senate approved measure that would make it the law for oncoming traffic to stop for a school bus on a two-lane road with a continuous turn left turn lane. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says the rule would apply on roadways with that lane in the middle where you could either turn left or right…:

CUT 9 (09) “has to stop”

The measure passed without objection and now heads to the House floor. New Iberia Representative Terry Landry says this bill is needed because many motorists get confused about the law…:

cut 10 (09)  “those lanes”

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The victim in a Baton Rouge fatal shooting early this morning has been identified as 34-year-old Broderick Brooks, who was a school board member in East Feliciana Parish. Brooks had been a member of the school board for about five and a half years. Fellow school board member Beth Dawson says the news of Brooks’ death came as a shock to everyone.

Cut 11 (04) “many ways”

Brooks was reportedly found dead in the driver’s seat of his vehicle in north Baton Rouge with multiple gunshot wounds around 3:30 this morning. There are no known motives or suspects, and investigation is ongoing. Dawson says Brooks was very active in the school board and in the community.

cut 12 (06) “own church”

Brooks also worked as the community outreach director for RKM, a health clinic in Clinton, for seven years, and he previously served as editor of the Baker Observer, a newspaper that closed in 2009. Dawson says she’s known Brooks since he was in middle school. She says he has always been there when someone needed him.

Cut 13 (02)  “very much so”

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Lawmakers have just two weeks to go in the regular session, and they’re still dealing with budget problems. Jeff Palermo has more…

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New Orleans officials are in Charlotte for the NFL owners meetings, ready to make their presentation tomorrow to host the Super Bowl in 2019. Emelie Gunn has more…

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A state legislator is launching an online campaign to raise awareness about gender inequality and sexism in Louisiana, using the hashtag #ItsNoJoke. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Just two weeks are left in the regular session, and the budget is still the biggest issue for lawmakers. Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says legislators are trying to fund priorities like TOPS and safety net hospitals with a $600 million budget shortfall.

cut 4  (08)  “gonna be”

Alford says legislators are working on funding all of the public-private hospitals that care for the poor, and parents of TOPS students are also paying close attention to the debate over the funding for the scholarship program.

Cut 5  (06)  “doing that”

Alford says there are a lot of moving pieces to the budget problem, including an entirely separate budget bill requested for the Attorney General’s Office. Alford says lawmakers may not be able to address everything during this session.

Cut 6 (11)  “there about”

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New Orleans is seeking to host the Super Bowl in 2019 and those who will present a bid to the NFL owners on Tuesday are already in Charlotte putting the finishing touches on their presentation. New Orleans competition to host the 2019 Super Bowl is Atlanta, Miami and Tampa Bay. President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Jay Cicero says they go in as the underdogs.

CUT 7 (10)  “Super Bowl” 

The NFL will also award Super Bowl bids for 2020 and 2021 but New Orleans can’t host those years because the College Football National Championship has already been awarded to the Crescent City in 2020 and Mardi Gras falls during the Super Bowl weekend in 2021.  Cicero says while New Orleans doesn’t have a new stadium it’s still a great Super Bowl destination…

Cut 8  (10)  “Superdome” 

Cicero says the NFL can get everything they want by giving New Orleans the bid for 2019 and the newer stadiums the chance to host in the following years. He says they’ve worked hard with the Saints to improve their proposal after losing the 2018 bid to Minneapolis.

Cut 9 (07)  “maybe thinking”

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Health experts will share information about the Zika Virus with the public during a 5:30 PM meeting at LSU Health New Orleans Human Development Center. A panel of experts will discuss where the virus is, where it’s expected to go, and other important information. Dr. Robert Maupin with LSU Health New Orleans says the CDC has released a report showing the number of Zika cases in the US, but local transmission has yet to occur in the states.

Cut 10 (11) “mainland US”

Health leaders want people who live in the southeastern states to be as prepared as possible for a potential Zika outbreak. Maupin says the biggest risk for contracting the disease right now is still in countries where it is prevalent, such as South America and the Caribbean. He says once travelers return home they can spread the disease, and at the meeting they will address how to avoid spreading the virus.

cut 11 (10) “current evidence”

Maupin says most people with Zika do not show symptoms at all, but those that do will see symptoms similar to the flu. At tonight’s meeting, the panel will inform the public about testing recommendations and how to recognize Zika symptoms. He says pregnant women, in particular, need to take precautions to prevent getting the disease because it can lead to serious birth defects.

cut 12 (09) “birth defects”

Faculty experts at LSU Health New Orleans and state health secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee will be on the panel at the meeting, and they will provide essential information about the virus and share types of preparation that are underway at the state level.

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Between one representative’s not-so-funny joke about strippers and the legislature shooting down a proposal to get equal pay for men and women, it hasn’t been a good week for women in Louisiana. One state lawmaker hopes to change that with a new campaign for women’s rights called “It’s No Joke.” New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says she started this campaign to combat gender inequality.

Cut 13 (12)  “significant changes”

Moreno says she wants to work towards ending sexism and inequality. She says this online petition, using the hashtag #ItsNoJoke, is raising awareness about women’s issues. She hopes that once legislators hear from constituents about this, it could bring about real change.

cut 14 (11)  “for women”

Moreno says there are many feminist groups in the state, and she wants to bring them all together so real progress can be made towards equality. She says the campaign is not just for women. Supporters of women’s rights can also get involved.

Cut 15 (08) “and supporters”

More information about the #ItsNoJoke campaign is available at morenocampaign.com.

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The LSU Baseball team leaves for Hoover, Alabama today where they’ll play tomorrow night in the SEC Tournament against Tennessee. The Tigers nearly swept top ranked Florida over the weekend as they took two of three from the Gators. But it wasn’t enough to get a first round bye in the SEC Tourney. Coach Paul Mainieri is not disappointed…

Cut 16  (13)  “ashamed of”

It’s the first time LSU will have to play in the opening round of the SEC Tournament since it expanded in 2012. LSU has won the sEC Tournament five times under Mainieri and admits it will be more difficult this year, because they have to play on Tuesday….

Cut 17 (13)  “to do so” 

If the Tigers lose on Tuesday they are eliminated and then wait to see if they’ll host an NCAA regional.  If they win, then it’s a double elimination tournament until the semifinals on Saturday. Shortstop Kramer Robertson says they’ll try to stay in Hoover as long as they can…

Cut 18 (13) “win a championship”