Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says two arrests have been made in connection to the case of a 7-year-old that was accidentally shot and injured at Moss Bluff Elementary on Monday. He says they charged the father and brother of the child who brought the loaded gun to school…:
CUT 26 (09) “in the house”
He says the child should have never had access to the gun which went off by mistake at school and struck the 7-year-old. 50-year-old Michael Dugas and 17-year-old Jake Dugas were charged with negligent injuring. The elder Dugas was also charged with improper supervision of a minor.

A measure that would penalize adults if they let a child who is 12 years old or younger handle a fully automatic weapon passed out of the House Criminal Justice Committee on a 7 to 6 vote. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says young children too small to operate these weapons:
Cut 7 (10) “that gun”
Adults would face fines if they violate the proposed law which was why some lawmakers opposed.

A measure that would prohibit public universities from having their name or images to market alcoholic beverages was voluntarily deferred in the House Education Committee. Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover filed this bill because he believes LSU and UL-Lafayette licensed “official” beers promote underage drinkings…:
Cut 9 (12) “get sick”
But others don’t like this bill because it helps the schools financially and higher ed is dealing with enough cuts.

New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis has been named to the All-NBA first team for the second time in his five year career. Davis finished the season ranked fourth in the NBA points per game, seventh in rebounds per game and second in blocks per game, becoming just the eighth player in NBA history to finish the season ranked among the top seven of all three categories.

A measure that would establish statewide regulations for ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft is approved by the full House. The bill would end local agreements like the one in The Big Easy where riders are charged a 50 cent fee. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter was upset this bill would supersede that arrangement…:
Cut 4 (08) “state level”
Other lawmakers suggested New Orleans is trying to get the most money possible out of the business which isn’t fair to consumers.

A measure that would prohibit public universities from having their name or images to market alcoholic beverages was voluntarily deferred in the House Education Committee. Some say this encourages college kids to drink, but Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says given the massive cuts to higher education, schools need this opportunity to generate funds…:
Cut 10 (10) “our kids”
Local brewing companies also opposed the bill.

A measure that would make it illegal for adults to allow a children 12 and under from handling fully automatic guns heads to the House floor.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

ULM Athletic Director Brian Wickstrom’s contract will not be extended. In a release, ULM President Dr. Nick Bruno said he knew it was Wickstrom’s eventual goal to move to a larger program, and he’s pleased with all that was accomplished with Warhawks athletics with him at the helm. Wickstrom has been with the Warhawks since July 2013, his his contract expires on June 30th.

A measure to prohibit adults from letting a child who is 12 years old or younger handle a fully automatic machine gun passed out of the House Criminal Justice Committee. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says she brought forth this bill after a nine year old girl accidentally shot and killed her instructor with an Uzi sub-machine gun in Arizona…:
Cut 6 (10) “United States”
The bill heads to the floor on a 7 to 6 vote.

US Senator John Kennedy spoke on the Senate floor about a Medicaid reform bill. It would require adults ages 18 to 55, that have no dependents and are not disabled, to work 20 hours a week, go to school or do community service to receive the health benefits…:
CUT 25 (08) “Medicaid”
He said the Medicaid work requirement is similar to the current work mandate for food stamps.

State regulations for Uber and Lyft are heading to the Senate. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The House unanimously approves a bill that would slightly lower littering fines in Louisiana. Under the measure the fine for second offense simple littering would drop from $1000 to $900.

A bill to regulate Uber and Lyft statewide is heading to the Senate. Jackson Representative Kenny Havard says these ride sharing services keep people safe, offer an affordable ride, and provides thousands of employment opportunities. He says very rarely do lawmakers get a chance to do something that really affects people’s lives…:
Cut 3 (09) “fatal accidents”
The measure would establish a blanket set of statewide regulations.

Governor John Bel Edwards said on his monthly call-in radio show that lawmakers will likely have to come back for yet another special session following the current one. He says a meeting of the minds needs to take place again because lawmakers have to resolve the budget problems…:
Cut 10 (10) “just gone”
He says the budget passed by the House is irresponsible and will never become law.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy spoke on the Senate floor about his Medicaid reform bill. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office says they’ll be holding a news conference this afternoon to give an update on the accidental shooting at Moss Bluff Elementary earlier this week. What we know now is that a first grader apparently brought a gun to school in his book sack, it fell and was picked up by another student when it discharged and hit the 7-year-old injuring him and sending him to the hospital for surgery.

A proposal to increase the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour by 2019 wins approval in the Senate Labor Committee. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says his bill would ensure workers earn a decent wage, which will boost morale and lower turnover rates for employers.

Cut 4 (10) “better employees”

But Jim Patterson with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says this will drive up costs for businesses. He says once low wage employees start making more, other workers will want a raise too.

Cut 5 (10) “what have you”

The measure now heads to the Upper Chamber and possibly the Senate Finance Committee, where it was killed last year.

A proposal to end the death penalty in Louisiana was rejected by the House Criminal Justice Committee. Bishop of the Diocese of Houma Shelton Fabre testified in support of the bill saying every human life is sacred, and an execution will bring back a loved one or heal wounds.

Cut 13 (11) “ever done”

The proposal failed on an eight to nine vote.

The second confederate monument to come down in New Orleans was hauled away last night. It took crews 7 hours to get the statue of PGT Beauregard off its base. Supporters celebrated just feet away from opponents. One spectator explains why the monuments have to go.

Cut 8 (08) “that nature”

The next monument to come down will be Robert E. Lee.

Opponents and supporters of the removal of the statue of Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard watched as crews took it down in New Orleans:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A proposal that aims to resolve Louisiana’s opioid epidemic is heading to the Senate floor. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno’s bill would limit first time opioid prescriptions for acute conditions to a 7 day supply…:
Cut 10 (09) “our state”
She says 4 out of 5 heroin users say they started with painkillers.

The Senate Labor Committee approves a proposal to increase the minimum wage to $8.50 over the next two years. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says giving workers a decent wage would boost morale and lower turnover rates…:
Cut 4 (10) “better employees”
But opponents say this would hurt businesses and cause the cost of everything to go up.

A 17-year-old from North Louisiana is facing a serious charge after police say he set a dog on fire. Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey says Carzavian Willis of Homer doused a Yorkie in gasoline, causing severe burns on 80 percent of her body..:
Cut 14 (11) “put down”
Willis is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, which is a felony that carries a sentence up to 10 years.

The Senate Labor Committee approves a proposal to increase the minimum wage to $8.50 over the next two years. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, and this measure would create a state minimum wage at $8.00 by 2018 and increase to $8.50 by 2019. State Director of the National Federation for Independent Business, Dawn Starns opposes the measure because she says it will create uncertainty for small businesses..:
Cut 3 (10) “in their budgeting”
But Carter says the world doesn’t come to an end when you treat people fairly. He says not only will better wages make for better work environments, it will also help the community…:
Cut 6 (10) “about that”
Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement saying he was pleased the bill advanced, and it’s time to start valuing hard-working families.

The Governor’s monthly call in radio show takes place this afternoon at 2pm on affiliates of the Louisiana Radio Network.

The statue of P.G.T. Beauregard was hauled away in New Orleans by a masked crew last night. Workers took down the monument of the Confederate General as opponents of the removal watched while waving Confederate battle flags and singing the National Anthem…:
Cut 7 (09) “yet wave”
Supporters of the removal threw a party just feet away from the opponents.

A bill by Representative Terry Landry that would eliminate the death penalty for crimes committed on or after August 1st of this year is being heard in the House Criminal Justice committee at this hour. Senator Dan Claitor has the same bill in the Upper chamber that already cleared committee.

Governor John Bel Edwards monthly call-in radio show will take place on affiliates of the Louisiana Radio Network this afternoon at 2pm. He announced yesterday an agreement on a criminal justice reform package that seeks to lower the state’s highest-in-the nation incarceration rate. Edwards says the plan will reduce the state’s prison population over the next decade by 10-percent…:
Cut 11 (10) “offender penalties”

The Governor also supports the bill that would raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 which is being heard now in Senate Labor. Ruston Representative Rob Shadoin says he would be hesitant to support such an increase because he believes it would hurt a lot of small businesses…:
Cut 7 (09) “and tackle shop”
But supporters say this modest increase could be huge for families trying to make ends meet.

A crew wearing masks removed the statue of P.G.T. Beauregard last night in New Orleans. It took workers about 7 hours to get the statue, which was one of three declared a public nuisance by the City Council, off of its base.

Governor Edwards responded to the House approved bill that seeks to protect Confederate monuments in the state. He said its divisive and in all his time with the legislature has never seen lawmakers on both sides so passionate about an issue.

A North Louisiana teenager has turned himself in to police after allegedly setting a dog on fire. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A bill to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana is set to be heard today in the Senate Labor Committee. The measure would increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 which supporters say would help workers’ standard of living. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth is concerned about job losses, and says a minimum wage and a living wage are two different things.:
Cut 6 (10) “minimum wage”
Similar measures have failed in years past.

Governor John Bel Edwards doesn’t like the tension he sees among lawmakers over the bill designed to protect Confederate monuments in the state now headed to the Senate…:
Cut 10 (10) “best part”
The third Confederate era statue in New Orleans was removed from its base last night.

A 17-year-old from North Louisiana is facing a serious charge after police say he set a dog on fire. Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey says Carzavian Willis of Homer doused a Yorkie in gasoline, causing severe burns on 80 percent of her body..:
Cut 14 (11) “put down”
Willis is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, which is a felony that carries a sentence up to 10 years.

A compromise has been reached on the criminal justice reform package approved by the Senate on Tuesday. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger will now look to get the lower chamber to agree with the bills that will give Louisiana major sentencing reform for individuals convicted of drug and property crimes…:
Cut 13 (12) “primary accomplishments”
These reforms will save the state $260 million over the next decade.