The Louisiana Survey finds 47 percent of respondents support religious freedom laws for businesses to refuse service based on sexual orientation. Dr. Michael Henderson with the LSU Public Policy Research Lab says 56 percent of residents think transgender people should use the bathroom of their birth gender.

Cut 7 (10) “nationally”

The survey also finds three-fourths of Louisianans support legal protections from discrimination at work based on sexual orientation.

A bill by Shreveport Senator John Milkovich seeks to end bullying in the Bayou State. Milkovich says children deserve a safe place to learn. He says that’s why his bill empowers teachers to do whatever it takes to keep students safe.

Cut 23 (09) “police involved”

The state has selected the same contractor it had originally denied to handle the federal flood aid program. The details still need to be hammered out, according to the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Julie Baxter Payer, but it looks like IEM will be the lead on helping homeowners rebuild.

Cut 9 (09) “cost figure”

IEM was the same firm originally chosen to do the work, but the state scrapped the contract because it was too costly.

Louisiana is the trashiest state in America. That’s what State Parks Director Robert Barham told lawmakers at a budget hearing this week. He says if you don’t believe him, just look at the litter in ditches on the side of the road. He says he’s been to all 50 states, and he’s never seen anything like the litter here in the Bayou State.

Cut 24 (10) “in shame”

The 2017 Louisiana Survey finds opinion is divided on religious freedom laws and the use of public bathrooms by transgender individuals…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The state has selected the same contractor it had originally denied to handle the federal flood aid program. The details still need to be hammered out, according to the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Julie Baxter Payer, but it looks like IEM will be the lead on helping homeowners rebuild…:
CUT 9 (07) “cost figure”

Distracted driving is an epidemic in Louisiana according to Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Dr. Katara Williams. She says last year there were over 2,500 crashes linked to this risky habit….:
Cut 12 (09) “on the roadway”
She says all it takes is 5 seconds to make a decision that could cost you your life.

One person is dead and another seriously injured following a fiery crash between a fuel truck and a dump truck on Interstate 310 south in St. Charles Parish. State Police Trooper Melissa Matey say two other vehicles were also involved in the wreck….:
Cut 3 (08) “crash that happened”
She says they will reopen the I-310 South as soon as LSP has finished its investigation and it’s safe for drivers.

Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Dr. Katara Williams says distracted driving is an epidemic in the Bayou State…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Authorities have fired a Mandeville Police Department cop who was allegedly driving her patrol car drunk. They say Becky White is accused of arriving to a Ponchatoula bar after hours intoxicated in her marked cop car on March 27th. There is no criminal investigation into the matter and further questions are being diverted to the Ponchatoula Police Department. White was Mandeville Police Department’s Special Olympics representative.

LSU Public Policy Rearcher Director Michael Henderson is surprised that the Latest Louisiana Survey showed three-fourths of Louisianans support the legal protection from discrimination at work based on sexual orientation, even across party lines…:
Cut 8 (09) “the workplace”
He also says only 47-percent of residents support religious refusal of services to same sex couples.

Authorities are still not sure why a Vermillion Parish man set fire to a home killing an 89-year-old Ponchatoula woman who lived there. Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they do know that 26-year-old Timothy Rouchon of Abbeville was acquainted with the victim, Dorothy Poche…:
Cut 15 (07) “I believe”
Rouchon faces charges including second degree murder and aggravated arson.

Higher Education leaders plead with legislators not to cut state funding to Louisiana colleges. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

An active duty member at Ft. Polk has been detained in Vernon Parish after authorities discovered what could be bomb making materials in Kisatchie National Forest. The man’s apartment complex was evacuated as hazmat teams searched for hazardous substances in the home. The search comes after a fire broke out in the forest, believed to be caused by the suspicious materials.

ULM researchers are looking at ways to use a compound from extra virgin olive oil to treat and prevent Alzheimer’s. Dr. Amal Kaddoumi says oleocanthal is effective at removing a particular protein that inhibits brain function. She says a grant from the Board of Regents will help fund clinical trials.

Cut 8 (05) “clinical trial”

She believes this compound could one day be used to prevent the disease.

The food delivery app Waitr now has a web ordering option customers can use without the app. Sonny Mayugba with Waitr says it’s a great platform for customers, but…

Cut 6 (09) “the consumers”

Waitr was founded in Lake Charles in 2015, and over 2 thousand restaurants partner with the company.

Bullying has become more and more of a problem in schools throughout the state, and a north Louisiana lawmaker has filed a bill that hopes to curb some of that mean behavior among students. Shreveport senator and attorney John Milkovich says the measure gives teachers the power take all steps necessary to prevent bullying and keep students safe…:
Cut 14 (12) “right thing”
He says instances of bullying wuold also have to be reported to law enforcement under the proposal.

Higher ed leaders are asking lawmakers to spare colleges any further cuts. LSU President F King Alexander says especially with TOPS not being fully funded, legislators should know students are choosing other states schools enough as it is:
Cut 12 (12) “of TOPS”

ULM researchers are working to develop treatments for cancer and Alzheimer’s from a compound found in extra virgin olive oil. The research is funded through a $200-thousand grant from the state Board of Regents. El Sayed (El-sigh-ed) says they hope to launch a ULM food or drink product that could help prevent these diseases….:
Cut 9 (11) “prevention”
He says some early trials found this compound actually worked better than chemo.

State Fire Marshal investigators are looking into whether unattended cooking may have led to a house fire where a man’s body was recovered in Ville Platte. They say 55-year-old Jessie Bias was located in the structure which suffered heavy interior damage as a result of the blaze. Investigators have established that the fire originated on the stove in the kitchen where melted remnants of a cooking pot were discovered.

A Shreveport lawmaker is trying to tackle bullying in Louisiana with a bill to be heard in the Senate education committee. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter has filed a bill that would require any trucks over a certain weight, including school buses and 18-wheelers, go ten miles below the posted speed limit. He says he got the idea after the highly traveled Atchafalaya Spillway reduced speed for big rigs, which was a good move in terms of safety for all motorists.

The Lousiana founded food delivery app Waitr has expanded its services to internet browsers. Chief Marketing Officer Sonny Mayugba says a lot of people browse the internet, especially at work, and now restaurants can feature their food to a bigger market…:
CUT 5 (10) “ordering online”
Waitr is currently available in the majority of the Bayou State, except for Alexandria, which is expected to be on board soon.

Higher Ed leaders are pleading with the legislature to spare colleges any more cuts this session. LSU President F King Alexander says the state’s flagship campus is looking at its 17th reduction in over 9 years…:
Cut 11 (10) “student spending”
The hearing on finances for higher ed went on for hours, but it’s too early in the session to tell if legislators can spend more on Louisiana colleges.

Higher Education leaders plead with legislators not to cut state funding to Louisiana colleges. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

According to a new study, Louisiana is ranked the worst state in the country for distracted driving. The 2016-2017 safe driving report by the car insurance comparison website EverQuote, found roughly 45 percent of all trips in the Bayou State include phone use.

The on-demand food delivery app, Waitr, recently added a web ordering option and restaurants are already benefiting. Chief Marketing Officer for Waitr, Sonny Mayugba (My-ou-ba), says they received feedback from consumers and restaurants urging the company to develop Waitr-app-dot-com
Cut 4 (10) “business”
Waitr was founded in Lake Charles in 2015 and over 2-thousand restaurants partner with the company.

ULM researchers are working to develop treatments for cancer and Alzheimer’s from a compound found in extra virgin olive oil. Dr. Amal Kaddoumi, whose research focuses on Alzheimer’s, says she is seeing good results from the initial tests….:
Cut 7 (08) “one mechanism”
She says they believe this compound could one day be used to treat and even prevent Alzheimer’s and different types of cancer.

During a legislative budget hearing, higher education leaders said the state’s colleges can’t take a $17 million dollar reduction in state funding as the governor is proposing. Louisiana Community and Technical College President Monty Sullivan says doing more with less is not possible at this point…:
CUT 10 (07) “to happen”
It’s too early in the session to tell if legislators can spend more on Louisiana colleges.

An anti-bullying measure is being proposed by a north Louisiana lawmaker. Shreveport senator and attorney John Milkovich says his bill requires that instances of bullying be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours….:
Cut 13 (10) “it’s real”
The bill will first be heard by the Senate education committee.

The food delivery app Waitr has expanded their ordering options to web browsers and restaurants are thrilled. Emelie Gunn has more:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Gas prices keep rising the closer we get to the summer months. The average cost at the pump for a gallon of regular statewide is up a penny from the prior day to $2.21 — up a nickle from last week.

The group Truth in Politics seeks to tell Louisiana residents the truth about Governor John Bel Edwards’s tax plan. Executive Director Kelli Bottger says they are launching a digital ad campaign to keep lawmakers from raising taxes on businesses.

Cut 6 (11) “really want”

The Governor’s Office referred to TIP has a deep-pocketed special interest group.

The Louisiana Budget Project has also studied Governor Edwards’ tax plan and determined 95 percent of Louisiana taxpayers would receive a tax cut. Executive Director Jan Moller says only the top five-percent of wage earners would pay higher taxes.

Cut 12 (12) “next year” 2x

The Louisiana Budget Project is a left leaning non-profit.

College Choice ranks Louisiana Tech University’s elementary education program fourth in the nation and first in the state. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has written a letter to President Trump asking him to protect Louisiana’s confederate monuments. The letter comes after the New Orleans City Council voted to remove the monuments in place around the city. Nungesser says the memorials have been in place for a hundred years, and if you try to erase history, it has a habit of repeating itself.