Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith’s bill that would allow high school students to participate in a national survey on sexual risks failed to get approval in the Senate Education committee. Smith explained the survey could help Louisiana reduce teen pregnancy and rates of sexually transmitted diseases among teens…
cut 15 (09) “…run rampant”
But opponents say these invasive questions would not help in anway and the measure was voted down on a four to two vote.

The Revenue Estimating Conference met this morning and did not change next fiscal year’s revenue forecast, which lawmakers were hoping for to reduce the budget deficit. Economist Manfred Dix says low tax collections impacted the estimates…:
CUT 9 (07) “relatively low”
Leaders says legislators may need to take another look at raising revenues when they meet for a second special session next month.

State police are looking for two vehicles involved in a fatal hit and run that took the life of a skateboarder in Hammond. Trooper Dustin Dwight says 26-year-old Erin Gerhard was skateboarding down the right side of University Avenue near S-L-U’s campus around 10pm last night…:
CUT 3 (09) “the scene”
Dwight says troopers believe the vehicles involved are a pickup truck and a dark colored sedan.

Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft said today that an autopsy has determined two-year-old Willow Rain Renteria-Molina died a day before she was reported missing by her mother. Her body was found last Friday in Beauregard Parish, but they believe the little girl was killed in Vernon. Sheriff Craft says the babysitter, 33-year-old Rodney “Donny” Bailey Junior remains a person of interest, but investigators are not ruling out the possibility someone else could be involved.

State lawmakers did not get good news from the Revenue Estimating Conference when it comes to reducing the size of next year’s budget deficit, which stands at 600-million dollars. Economists say the state’s economy is still struggling, so higher than anticipated revenues is not expected. Senate President John Alario says a June special session is likely…
cut 11 (08) “…June time”

State Police is searching for two vehicles who were involved in a fatal and and hit run crash that claimed the life of a skateboarder near the Southeastern Louisiana campus in Hammond last night. Trooper Dustin Dwight says they are seeking a truck and a dark colored sedan…
cut 5 (07) “….they can”
The crash claimed the life of 26-year-old Erin Gerhard of Independence.

Legislation to allow sex surveys to be given to public school students fails in a Senate committee. Emelie Gunn has more…
CUT 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Fruit of the Loom distribution center that’s been in Vidalia for over 20 years will close, meaning 167 people will be out of work. The company, Martin Mills, a subsidiary of Union Underwear Company, said it would offer various employment services with the help of the state’s dislocated worker unit. They said the first jobs will be terminated no sooner than July 10th.

The Louisiana House will spend the day debating the state’s budget plan for next fiscal year. A major issue is the funding of the TOPS scholarship. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says it might take a special session next month to raise revenues to fully fund the program…
cut 6 (04) “…..fully funded”

The state House Labor committee has cancelled its hearing on a bill that would require private employers to pay men and women workers the same for equal work. No indication was given on why the meeting was cancelled. Tulane Business professor, Doctor Mark Rosa, this is not an easy issue for many businesses….
cut 12 (10) “…promotional chances’
There’s no word if the equal pay bill will get a hearing at a future date.

A bill that would allow patients direct access to physical therapists instead of receiving a doctor’s referral nears final legislative passage after it was approved by a House committee. Micheel Southern has more….
voicer 2 (31) “…reporting”

State Police is seeking two vehicles that struck and killled a skateboarder near the Southeastern Louisiana campus in Hammond last night. Twenty-six-year-old Erin Gerhard of Independence was killed. Police say they are looking for a truck and a dark-colored sedan.

A Senate committee barely passed legislation to add members of the LGBT community to Louisiana’s anti-discrimination laws. Jeff Palermo has more…
voicer 1 (28) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Houma man has been arrested on an aggravated animal cruelty charge for shooting his neighbor’s pit bull. Authorities say Karl Kohman shot the two-year-old dog with a .22 caliber handgun because he bit his son who was walking in the neighbor’s yard. Kohman also faces a charge of illegal use of a weapon.

The House Education committee approves legislation would give public students the option to attend any school in their district. Associate Executive Director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, Donald Songy, has concerns about what would happen if 15 spots were open at a school and dozens of parents were trying to get their children in that school…
cut 13 (06) “….other situation”
Despite the objection, the bill heads to the House floor.

A bill that calls on Louisiana to enforce surrogacy contracts is moving closer to final legislative passage. Currently, a baby born to a surrogate is considered that woman’s child. Author of this legislation, Lafayette Representative Stuart Bishop, says….
cut 9 (09) “….the child”
This bill heads to the Senate floor for final legislative passage.

Legislation that seeks to protect gays and transgender individuals from discrimination is heading to the Senate floor after barely getting enough votes to pass out of a committee. Author of the measure, New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says there shouldn’t be any discrimination in the law…
cut 4 (10) “…treated fairly”
The Louisiana Family Forum and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry oppose the bill.

A bill is heading to the House floor that would allow students to attend any public school in their district. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater supports the proposal. He says this opens the doors for children to attend the best schools, no matter where they are zoned, provided the school they choose has room for more students…
cut 10 (09) “…public system”
Opponents says the measure will create chaos for school leaders.

The House Health and Welfare Committee unanimously approved legislation that would establish a Bullying Awareness and Treatment Taskforce aimed at ending bullying in Louisiana. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says a large number of Louisiana students are being bullied, and many are too afraid to speak up about it.
cut 14 (11) “bullying them”
Norton says this taskforce would include representatives from the Department of Education, as well as the Department of Health and Hospitals’ mental health services.

A solider at Fort Polk has reportedly died during a training exercise at the Joint Rediness Taining Center. A base spokesperson says the incident occurred during a live fire and the soldier was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The name of the Solider will be released pending next of kin notification.

A House committee has put the brakes on a measure that would allow a private company to scan motorists license plates in an effort to catch those who are driving without insurance or using a stolen vehicle. The Senate approved bill didn’t get enough votes in the House Criminal Justice committee, because of concerns over data privacy and other issues.

The House Education committee supports legislation that would allow public school students to attend any school in their district, provided that there is room at that school. Associate Executive Director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, Donald Songy, says principals usually don’t know their capacity until the school year begins and wonders how many students would be able to switch schools…
cut 12 (04) “….to manage”
Currently students who attend “D” or “F” graded schools can attend another school in their district.

A measure that would broaden the state’s anti-discrimination laws to include LGBT individuals and people with disabilities is waiting for debate on the Senate floor. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says if you protect one group from discrimination, you should protect everyone…
cut 6 (07) “….at will”
The bill passed out of committee on a two-to-one vote.

Legislation that calls on Louisiana to enforce surrogacy contracts is close to final legislative passage…
voicer 2 (31) “…reporting”

Students could be allowed to attend any public school in their district, under a proposal approved by the House Education Committee. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

The full House is set to vote this afternoon on legislation that expands the number of diseases that would be eligible to be treated by medical marijuana. Right now there are only three conditions. The legislation is facing opposition from law enforcement who are concerned that this bill is pathway to the legaliziation of recreational marijuana use.

A bill that would set up a legal framework in Louisiana between parents and surrogate mothers now moves to the full Senate for final legislative passage. The proposed law would grant immediate custody of the child to the genetic parents rather than the surrogate mother. Norco Sen. Gary Smith says this measure will protect Louisiana families…
cut 7 (10) “…be involved”
Currently, a baby born to a surrogate is considered that woman’s child.

Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Lafayette this afternoon. He’s holding a Medicaid Expansion Event at the Southwest Louisiana Health Services Center at 1:30.

The governor has signed into law a measure that leads to the renaming of a Bossier Parish bridge in honor of slain Shreveport police officer Thomas LaValley. LaValley was killed last August while responding to a call about suspicious activity.