The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Beau Chene High School teacher who is also an assistant football coach for allegedly kissing a student inside a classroom. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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LSU students gathered at the state Capitol today to protest cuts to the university. Jeff Palermo reports.

CUT 2 (32) “reporting”

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LSU students rallied at the Capitol today to protest cuts to the university. Officials say the proposed cuts could result in the closing of of satellite campuses and drastic losses of academic programs and faculty on the main campus. LSU President King Alexander says students have every right to be concerned about these cuts…:

CUT 3 (08)  “or three”

Alexander says an LSU degree should be one that’s highly valued in our economy, but if these cuts go through it will affect students ability to get a quality degree…:

CUT 4 (09)  “for our students”

Alexander says there are many scenarios higher ed is looking at in the face of massive reductions. He says cuts need to be mitigated substantially or colleges throughout the state may consider filing for bankruptcy…:

CUT 5 (10)  “for students”

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The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Beau Chene High School teacher who is also an assistant football coach for allegedly kissing a student inside a classroom. They say 25-year-old Gregory Fontenot is charged with one count of prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and a student. Lt. Clay Higgins says the alleged incident happened around February…

CUT 6 (08)  “years old”

Higgins says the alleged kiss took place in a classroom after school. He says Fontenot denies the allegation…

CUT 7 (07) “by the detectives”

School Board officials say Fontenot has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Higgins says the charge against Fontenot indicates, perhaps, some degree of consent by the student…

CUT 8 (07)  “day in court”

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The Baton Rouge Police Department is now saying that former LSU player and potential first round draft pick La’el Collins will not be interviewed about the murder of a pregnant woman until after the NFL draft. Cpl. Don Coppola says there has been contact between Collins and the police…

CUT 9 (04)  “Mr. Collins”

Authorities say Collins is not a suspect in the murder of 29-year-old Brittney Mills but think he may have some information that can be helpful in their investigation since the two had previously been in a relationship. Coppola says detectives would like to interview Collins as soon as possible…

cut 10 (06) “after the draft”

The NFL Draft begins tonight and runs through Saturday. Police have yet to name a suspect in Mills’ death. Coppola says details of the meeting with Collins are up in the air at this time…

cut 11 (07)  “place and time”

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State Police announce a recent multi-state operation which resulted in the rescue of six missing or exploited children. Lt. JB Slaton says between April 14th-16th, several agencies took part in an initiative which is designed to teach troopers how to recognize at-risk children who are exploited for sexual purposes…:

cut 12 (08)  “endangered children”

Slaton says the participants in the operation included nine states and two municipalities. He says in addition to rescuing the children, the operation also saved one adult victim, made four initial arrests and launched three investigations…:

cut 13 (10)  “other states”

Slaton says two of Col Mike Edmonson’s main initiatives is going after criminals who exploit children for sexual purposes — and partnerships in training to do that…:

cut 14 (09) “but I push on”

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…

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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”