A proposed law would exempt items like tampons and diapers from the state sales tax. Emelie Gunn has more on the measure filed by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell…:
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Former Sons of Guns reality TV star Will Hayden has been found guilty on both counts of aggravated rape for which he was on trial. The jury only took a little more than an hour to make the call, and the verdict was unanimous and comes with a mandatory life sentence. Hayden’s conviction is for raping two young girls over the course of two decades.

It’s a beautiful day for a good Louisiana festival, and there is no shortage of them this weekend. The Baton Rouge Blues Fest is underway, as is the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival. And in Lake Charles there’s a huge party going down at the Crawfish Festival. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says it might be impossible to visit every festival here..:
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In North Louisiana revelers are gathering for the big Street Rod Reunion in Bossier City. And the popular French Quarter Festival is happening in New Orleans.

The widow of former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith is suing the man convicted of killing her husband. Racquel Smith filed in Orleans Parish Civil Court on Friday, seeking damages from Cardell Hayes. The 29-year-old is awaiting sentencing for murdering Smith and injuring Racquel. Hayes faces between 20 and 60 years in prison.

A New Orleans lawmaker has filed a bill that would eliminate the state sales tax when purchasing feminine products. Senator J.P. Morrell’s measure would exempt items like tampons and diapers. Supporter of the bill, executive director of Lift Louisiana, Michelle Ehrenberg, says these products are not luxury items for women.

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Ehrenberg says this is common sense legislation.

Some federal leaders say President Trump should have received Congressional approval before authorizing a military strike on an air base in Syria. But retired Major General Ron Richard from Louisiana said on WRKF’s Talk Louisiana that he supports the President’s surprise attack.

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Richard says this action was necessary given the heinous attack on innocent people.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says a Baton Rouge man has been arrested after he allegedly cashed in his deceased parent’s retirement checks from the Teacher’s Retirement System. Landry says 42-year-old Lester Joseph has been charged with 201 counts of felony theft and two counts of identity theft.

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Joseph claimed over $400 thousand in undue benefits.

Festival season is in full swing, Lt. Governor Billy says it’s a great time to for locals to show off the Louisiana lifestyle and hospitality.

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The Blues Festival in Baton Rouge, the Ponchatoula Strawberry festival, French Quarter Fest, and the Crawfish Festival in Lake Charles are underway this weekend.

A proposal to be taken up in the legislative session that begins Monday would exempt items like tampons and diapers from the state sales tax. Lift Louisiana Executive Director Michelle Ehrenberg says supports the bill and says this is common sense legislation.

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She says the cost savings will help women living in poverty.

Criminal justice reform will be a key priority for Governor John Bel Edwards during the legislative session. He says we have to do something to lower the state’s incarceration rate.

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Edwards says the proposals will be consistent with the findings of the Criminal Justice Reinvestment Task Force.

Republican members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation fully support the United States missile attack on an air base in Syria. Retired Major General Ron Richard from Louisiana was a guest on WRKF’s Talk Louisiana and says the president made the right move following Syria’s chemical attack on civilians.

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Richard says this action was necessary given the heinous attack on innocent people.

Festival season is underway in the Bayou State. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says with over 400 festivals, there’s something to do every weekend in every city around the state. He says he wants to visit them all, but with new festivals popping up every year, it seems impossible.

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The legislative session begins Monday. One of Governor John Bel Edwards’ priorities will be raising the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour. Edwards says in 2017, $7.25 an hour is inadequate to pay for the basic cost of living.

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Edwards adds several other states have already increased their minimum wage well above the federal minimum.

A Baton Rouge man has been arrested after allegedly collecting his dead mother’s teaching retirement checks for 18 years. Attorney General Jeff Landry says if convicted, 42-year-old Lester Joseph should serve time behind bars.

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Joseph faces more than 200 counts of felony theft.

A jury finds former Sons of Guns star Will Hayden guilty of rape. The jury reached a unanimous verdict after deliberating for just an hour. Hayden was convicted on two counts of aggravated rape and one count of forcible rape for sexually assaulting two preteen girls between 1990 and 2014. Hayden will serve a mandatory life sentence.

It’s festival season in the Bayou State. Jeff Palermo has more on the festivals underway around the state…

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Republican members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation support the president’s decision to launch a missile attack on a Syrian airbase. Military expert Maj. General Ron Richard of Louisiana says this action was necessary given the heinous chemical attack on civilians, and these missiles caused serious damage.

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A Baton Rouge man faces over 200 counts of theft after allegedly cashing his dead mother’s retirement checks from the state’s Teacher’s Retirement System. Attorney General Jeff Landry says 42-year-old Lester Joseph’s father was the beneficiary for his wife’s retirement checks after Ruby Joseph passed away in 1997.

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Joseph collected over $400 thousand in undue benefits.

A bill filed for the regular session would exempt tampons from the state sales tax. Lift Louisiana Executive Director Michelle Ehrenberg supports the bill and says Louisiana women living below the poverty line could use any extra savings they can get.

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But she does expect some push back since women’s issues bills haven’t had much success in the legislature.

Festival season is in full swing in all corners of the Bayou State. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the Blues Festival gets underway in the Capitol City, while the Crawfish Festival kicks off in Lake Charles. He says there’s plenty to do in Louisiana this weekend.

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Louisiana holds over 400 festivals a year.

Governor John Bel Edwards has some big priorities for the legislative session that begins Monday. One of those is raising the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour, a hike he calls modest but meaningful. Edwards says in 2017, $7.25 an hour is inadequate to pay for the basic cost of living..:
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Another key item on the Governor’s legislative agenda is criminal justice reform.

Lt. Governor Billy says festival season is in full swing and it’s a great time to for locals to show off the Louisiana lifestyle and hospitality..
Cut 4 (07) “new friend”
The Blues Festival is getting underway in Baton Rouge, the Ponchatoula Strawberry festival is also this weekend as is the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans and Crawfish Festival in Lake Charles.

A New Orleans lawmaker has filed a bill that would eliminate the state sales tax when purchasing feminine products. Senator J.P. Morrell’s measure would exempt items like tampons and diapers. Supporter of the bill, executive director of Lift Louisiana, Michelle Erenberg, says these products are not luxury items for women….:
Cut 12 (10) “of money”
Erenberg says this is common sense legislation.

President Trump is being praised by several members of the Louisiana Congressional delegation for the missile strike against Syria, including Senator John Kennedy. Kennedy calls Syrian’s president a thug who cannot murder his own citizens and children without expecting consequences. Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise also approved of the missile strike. The Republican Representative from Metairie called it a “clear message.”

Republican members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation fully support the United States missile attack on an air base in Syria. Military Expert Major General Ron Richard from Louisiana was a guest on WRKF’s Talk Louisiana and says the president made the right move following Syria’s chemical attack on civilians…:
Cut 6 (10) “took place”

A Baton Rouge man faces over 200 counts of theft for allegedly cashing his dead mother’s retirement checks for 18 years. Attorney General Jeff Landry says 42-year-old Lester Joseph stole over $400 thousand from the state’s Teacher’s Retirement System…:
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He hopes this action is a clear warning to would-be criminals looking to defraud our State.

It’s festival season in the Bayou State. Jeff Palermo has more on the festivals underway around the state…:
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Louisiana’s junior U.S. Senator, John Kennedy, praised today’s confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court. He said it was the right move to put someone in such a role who truly understands how to interpret the law, not make it.

Researchers and doctors are looking at different ways to treat addiction at the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s annual conference that’s underway in New Orleans. Addiction Specialist Ross DeLeonardo with LSU Health New Orleans says they’re working to develop new maintenance drug treatments like a rod put under the skin.

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Critics of maintenance medications say users can abuse the drugs.

The Department of Transportation breaks ground on a project to widen I-10 from I-49 to the Atchafalaya Basin. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says this will increase the highway’s capacity for the 60-thousand people who drive the 7 mile stretch every day.

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The Bayou State gets a big gain in economic development, as Lotte Chemical’s headquarters is moving from Houston to Lake Charles. LED Secretary Don Pierson says the Korean based company is partnering with Westlake Chemical out of Taiwan on a $2 billion ethane cracker at the junction of Interstates 10 and 210.

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Pierson says Lotte also added a $1 billion plant at the junction.

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival kicks off today. Festival King Bill Wheat says people should get their strawberries soon because the season is winding down.

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The weekend festival draws around 200 thousand people a year.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine’s annual conference is underway in New Orleans where doctors address new ways to treat opioid addiction. Addiction Specialist at LSU Heath New Orleans Ross DeLeonardo Jr., says unlike methadone clinics where users have to wait in line daily, maintenance medications would gives an addict an alternative and chance to get their lives in order…:
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The Department of Transportation has broken ground on a project to widen a 7 mile section of Interstate 10 from I-49 to the Atchafalaya Basin. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says this should alleviate congestion in the Lafayette area and lead to a smoother ride for a very important highway:
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He says 60-thousand people drive this stretch of highway every day.

Richland Parish Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham issued a statement in response to the United States attack on a Syrian air base. He says the use of chemical weapons on innocent women and children is a war crime that cannot go unanswered and he strongly supports the president’s move. Abraham is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

The Strawberry Festival kicks off today in Ponchatoula. Halen Doughty has more on this weekend’s festivities…:
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