A bill to expand the number of diseases that could use medical marijuana in Louisiana is sitting on the governor’s desk. The measure by state senator Fred Mills received final legislative approval and Mills says those with cancer, epilepsy or HIV/AIDS will benefit…:
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Governor Edwards is expected to sign the bill, but Mills says it will probably be another year or two before the public has access to medical marijuana.

State Police say a man they believe called in a bomb threat that resulted in the evacuation of the State Capitol and a nearby casino last night is being examined for mental health issues. So far no charges have been filed.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office has charged a 17-year-old with murder in the stabbing death of a 69-year-old man. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says this was a burgalry that turned violent.

Wendy’s’ announces they’ll put kiosks in six-thousand restaurants around the country by the end of the year to take customers’ orders. It’s to combat the push to increase minimum wage for fast food workers. Tulane Business Professor Mark Rosa doesn’t think customers will mind…
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Rosa anticipates the kiosks will go in restaurants in states where minimum wage is the highest.

A group of scientists is already examining the effect of last week’s oil spill about 90 miles off the coast of Louisiana. About 88-thousand gallons of oil spewed into the Gulf from a Shell oil field. Florida State University oceanographer, Doctor Ian MacDonald. says even though this is considered a minor spill, Shell’s and the Coast Guard’s cleanup efforts are not good enough…
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Final passage has been given to legislation that expands the number of diseases that would legally be able to receive a prescripition for medical marijuana once it becomes available in the state. Governor Edwards is expected to sign the bill, despite opposition from sheriffs and district attorneys

Under the current budget proposal for next fiscal year, the LSU Health Science Centers in Shreveport and New Orleans would receive a combined 50-million dollars in cuts to state funding. Jeff Palermo has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I”m Jeff Palermo

A couple of members of Senate Revenue Fiscal Affairs Committee say the state’s too broke to beef up the program to attract more movies. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says even without the film tax credits, they already know move makers will come to Louisiana…
cut 14 (09) “….this tax credit”
Changes to the state’s film tax credit program could come in a potential special session in June.

Senate approved legislation to increase the fines for texting or using social media while driving unanimously passed out of the House Transportation Committee. Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Colomb says using a cell phone while driving is one of the most dangerous things you can do behind the wheel.
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The bill seeks to raise the fine from $175 to $500 for a first offense.

A former state Department of Veterans Affairs nurse faces jail time after a patient at a veterans home in St. John the Baptist Parish died under her care. Halen Doughty has more…
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A grass cutting crew found a body this afternoon in the median of Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish. The local coroner has yet to identify the body or cause of death. State Police is not sure how long the body may have been there. An official with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s office says it’s possible the person is a victim of a hit and run.

In these tough budget times, some state senators are concerned about growing Louisiana’s film tax credit program. Lawmakers are reviewing the budget for next fiscal year which currently contains a $600 million dollar hole, and proposals to cut healthcare and education are on the table. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau thinks the movie incentives don’t have a tangible economic impact:
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But others who defend the program says the movie making business does bring money to the state especially at the local level.

Former Lt. Governor Bobby Freeman has passed away at the age of 82 after suffering an aneurysm last week. The Democrat from Plaquemine served as the state’s second highest elected official from 1980 to 1988. His second term was under former Governor Edwin Edwards…
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Freeman was also a state legislator, a city judge in Plaquemine and he’s in the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame as he is a former member of the boxing team.

A former nurse with the state Department of Veterans Affairs is facing jail time after a patient died under her care. Inspector General Stephen Street says 58-year-old Cheryl Poirrier of LaPlace was on-duty the night a resident fell at a Veterans Home in St John Parish. He says after a fall, it’s policy to check the patient’s neurological signs for the next 72 hours…:
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Poirrier

Former Lt. Governor Bobby Freeman has passed away. Freeman was 82 years old and served as Lt. Governor from 1980 to 88. Edwin Edwards was the governor during Freeman’s second term and says Freeman was a promoter of race relations…
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Freeman is also an LSU athletic hall of famer as he was on the school’s boxing team.

Senators on the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee voiced concerns today over the state’s film tax credit program, which is credited with bringing movies and jobs to Louisiana, but studies have shown it’s cost the state more than the revenue it produces. However, Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Columb says she understands that many vital services are looking at cuts, but…
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In Senate Finance, the leaders for the LSU Hospitals and medical schools express their concerns about potential budget cuts to their facilities. LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport Chancellor G.E Ghali says the proposed budget calls for them to receive a 35-million dollar cut…
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The Senate will have the opportunity to increase funding to LSU’s medical schools.

A former nurse who worked at the Southeast Louisiana War Veteran’s Home in St. John the Baptist Parish faces felony charges after she allegedly fasified records on a patient who died. Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street says 58-year-old Cheryl Poirrier of LaPlace lied on paperwork that she checked on a patient after he fell in his room and that patient passed away a few hours after his fall…
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Street says there’s also surveillance video that shows she didn’t perform any of the checks.

Officials say a grass cutting crew found a body on Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish. The investigation is just beginning, but authorities say it appears the person’s death was caused by foul play. The body was found in the median.

The leaders of the LSU Health medical schools in Shreveport and New Orleans went before lawmakers to express their concerns about large cuts to their facilities. Shreveport Health Science Center Chancelllor G.E. Ghali says the Shreveport hospitals is already as lean as it can be in terms of employees…
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Ghali is concerned about accrediation and enrollment if they receive a 35-million dollar cut.

The Senate and Revenue Fiscal Affairs Committee, discussed the state’s film tax credit program today and a couple of lawmakers said the state’s too broke to beef up the program to attract more movies. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says even without the film tax credits, they already know move makers will come to Louisiana…
cut 14 (09) “….this tax credit”
Changes to the state’s film tax credit program could come in a potential special session in June.

Frank Selas, the former Monroe TV personality known as Mr. Wonder, entered a plea of “not guilty” to 13 counts of child abuse from an alleged incident that occurred on a 1979 camping trip in Rapides Parish. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says this will be a difficult case for the D-A’s office to prosecute…
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Selas’ attorney is Mike Small. Meche calls Small a legend of Louisiana trial courtrooms.

The state’s proposed spending plan for next fiscal year is being discussed in the Senate Finance Committee, after receiving approval by the House. Leaders of the LSU Medical School in Shreveport and New Orleans are concerned about a proposed 35-million dollar cut to their facility, which doctors say will lead to cuts to medical programs.

Legislation requiring a minimum of three years in prison if you commit a felony with a gun that results in a fatality is nearing final legislative passage. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern’

It’s National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Amanda Pumilia, with the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, says owners should take steps to prevent their dogs from biting people and there are things citizens who do not have dogs can do to avoid being bitten…
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