The bill that increases the minimum age for strippers to 21-years-old heads to Governor John Bel Edwards’ desk to be signed into law. Lake Charles Sen. Ronnie Johns wants to curb human trafficking. He says great strides have been made with the Department of Children and Family Services on this issue…:
Cut 13 (09) “human trafficking”
This is the same measure which had the brief controversial joke amendment that sought to dictate a stripper’s appearance. There were no comments on it when the Senate gave final approval Monday.

The Tangipahoa Parish NAACP is calling for the resignation of school Superintendent Mark Kolwe (Cole-Wee) after Amite High valedictorian Andrew Jones was not permitted to walk at graduation because he had facial hair.
Tangipahoa NAACP President Patricia Morris says this has more to do with Jones’ race than his goatee…:
cut 4 (08) “about it”
Kolwe issued a statement saying, rules are rules.

Governor John Bel Edwards has a full day of events in Alexandria today. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Senate gave final passage Monday to a measure that would yank funding from Planned Parenthood if the organization starts performing abortions in Louisiana. The governor is expected to sign the bill.

Governor John Bel Edwards legislative agenda for this regular session has NOT done well. A proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage has been bottled up in the Senate, an effort to require women and men receive equal pay for equal work was killed by a House committee. The governor’s attempts to limit charter schools or vouchers has also fallen on deaf ears by a legislative body that has a republican majority. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Louisiana is a red state and there’s not much support for a higher minimum wage or fewer charter schools…

CUT 4 (06)  “with their base”

Pinsonat says Edwards’ inability to get a majority of his legislative agenda accomplished in the regular session, could hurt his efforts during an anticipated special session next month that would seek to raise revenue to address a 600-million dollar budget shortfall…

CUT 5 (08)  “by the legislature”

The House Transportation Committee gave the green light today to a Senate approved measure that would make it the law for oncoming traffic to stop for a school bus on a two-lane road with a continuous turn left turn lane. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says the rule would apply on roadways with that lane in the middle where you could either turn left or right…:

CUT 9 (09) “has to stop”

The measure passed without objection and now heads to the House floor.

Legislation to require retail pet stores in the state to keep records and post breeders names along with licensing information now heads to the House floor for final legislative passage. Author of the bill, Metairie Sen. Danny Martiny, says this specifies where these animals come from and two other requirements.

Cut 23 (10) “is located”

Things aren’t looking good for the governor’s legislative agenda. A proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage has been bottled up in the Senate, and an effort to require women and men receive equal pay for equal work was killed by a House committee.  Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says republicans in the legislature have no problem voting against these issues…

CUT 3 (10)  “crazy about”

The House Transportation Committee unanimously passed a Senate approved measure to require oncoming traffic to stop for a school bus on a two-lane road with a continuous turn left turn lane. New Iberia Representative Terry Landry says this bill is needed because many motorists get confused about the law…:

cut 10 (09)  “those lanes”

The measure now heads to the House floor.

LSU’s mascot, Mike the Tiger, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, spindle cell sarcoma. Mike’s attending vet, Dr. David Baker, says they’ve discovered a tumor in the right side of Mike’s skull. Baker says because of the proximity to normal tissues in Mike’s head, the tumor is inoperable, and the condition is incurable. He says Mike will undergo radiation treatment, but there could be complications with the anesthesia.

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Doctors say the treatment should be able to prolong Mike’s life for another year or two.

Police have identified the victim of the fatal shooting early this morning in North Baton Rouge as 34-year-old Broderick Brooks, a member of the East Feliciana Parish school board. Fellow school board member Beth Dawson says Brooks was very active in the school board and in the community.

cut 12 (06) “own church”

Mike the Tiger, the beloved mascot of the LSU Fighting Tigers, has been diagnosed with a rare, life threatening form of cancer, spindle cell sarcoma. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 2 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A Benton man was accidentally electrocuted Sunday morning in Bossier Parish, according to the sheriff’s office. They say 41-year-old George William Chambers was riding his horse when he made contact with a low-hanging power line. The horse was also electrocuted. Deputies say Chambers was a 20-year veteran with the Bossier City Fire Department and he leaves behind a wife and two children.

Governor John Bel Edwards hasn’t had the easiest time in office especially when it comes to his legislative agenda. The governor’s attempts to limit charter schools or vouchers has also fallen on deaf ears by a legislative body that has a republican majority. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Louisiana is a red state and there’s not much support for a higher minimum wage or fewer charter schools…:
CUT 4 (06) “with their base”
He says all this could mean Edwards will have a hard time in an anticipated special session.

The House Transportation Committee gave the green light today to a Senate approved measure that would make it the law for oncoming traffic to stop for a school bus on a two-lane road with a continuous turn left turn lane. New Iberia Representative Terry Landry says this bill is needed because many motorists get confused about the law…:
cut 10 (09) “those lanes”
The measure heads to the House floor.

LSU’s mascot, Mike the Tiger, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. The 11-year-old’s attending vet, Dr. David Baker, says they’ve discovered a tumor in the right side of Mike’s skull, making it inoperable and the condition is incurable. He says Mike will undergo radiation treatment, but there could be complications with the anesthesia…:
CUT 6 (12) “episodes”
He says, with treatment, Mike could leave 1-2 years.

An East Feliciana Parish School Board member and minister was found shot to death in a vehicle in Baton Rouge, according to cops. They say 34-year-old Broderick Brooks of Jackson was located in the drivers seat of the car and suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The case is under investigation.

Governor John Bel Edwards legislative agenda for this regular session has NOT done well. A proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage has been bottled up in the Senate, an effort to require women and men receive equal pay for equal work was killed by a House committee. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says republicans in the legislature have no problem voting against these issues:
CUT 3 (10) “crazy about”
He says this also means Edwards could have a hard time with his efforts during an anticipated special session.

The city of New Orleans has put on hold the process of taking bids to select a contractor to remove four monuments with ties to the Confederacy or white supremacy, WWL-TV reports..

LSU’s live tiger, Mike VI, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Doctor David Baker, Professor at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and Mike’s attending vet, says student caretakers noticed swelling on the right side of the 11-year-old tiger’s face, and he was taken on May 12th to the hospital for physical examination and diagnostic tests…:
CUT 1 (06) “of his skull”
Dr. Baker says Mike will be treated by experts at Mary Bird Perkins in order to extend his life another 1-2 years, but sadly there is no cure.

New Orleans representative Helena Moreno has a started a campaign to raise the level of awareness regarding women issues in this state. Moreno started the “It’s No Joke” campaign after a House committee voted against an equal pay bill and a joke amendment was proposed saying that strippers need to be young and skinny. She wants supporters of women’s rights to get involved:
Cut 15 (08) “and supporters”

New Orleans officials are getting ready to make their presentation tomorrow to host the Super Bowl in 2019. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The House Transportation Committee gave the green light today to a Senate approved measure that would make it the law for oncoming traffic to stop for a school bus on a two-lane road with a continuous turn left turn lane. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny…:
CUT 9 (09) “has to stop”
The measure passed without objection and now heads to the House floor.

LSU announces its live mascot, Mike the Tiger, has a rare form of cancer impacting his face, but he does not appear to be in pain. He will undergo a form of radiation therapy that will reduce complications, but eventually the tumor will resume growth. LSU says it is estimated that without treatment Mike VI could live 1-2 months; with treatment, perhaps 1-2 years. A news conference will be held at 10:30 for questions.

The regular legislative session must end by 6pm, two weeks from today. Jeremy Alford with lapolitics.com says legislators are working on funding all of the public-private hospitals that care for the poor, and parents of TOPS students are also paying close attention to the debate over the funding for the scholarship program…:
Cut 5 (06) “doing that”
He says there is just as much uncertainty today about the budget and the $600 million dollar shortfall as their was in January.

New Orleans is presenting a bid to the NFL today to host the Super Bowl in 2019. President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Jay Cicero says Atlanta, Miami and Tampa Bay are also in the running, so The Crescent City is going in as the underdog. But he says even though New Orleans doesn’t have a new stadium, it’s still a great Super Bowl destination…:
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Those presenting the bid are already in Charlotte putting the finishing touches on their presentation for Tuesday.

Between one representative’s not-so-funny joke about strippers and the legislature shooting down a proposal to get equal pay for men and women, it hasn’t been a good week for women in Louisiana. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno hopes that once legislators hear from constituents about this her campaign, #ItsNoJoke, it could bring about real change.

cut 14 (11)  “for women”

There are two weeks left in the regular session. Jeff Palermo has more…:”
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Two more people have been arrested in connection with the double homicide at a residence in St. Francisville, according to authorities, bringing the total number of people charged in the slayings to 5. Longtime friends 56-year-old Clinton Nicholson and 55-year-old Brian Mooney were shot to death around 3am Saturday in a mobile home. 22-year-old Paul Bourque of Youngsville and 19-year-old Kristofer Cockerham are booked with first degree murder. Three other women were already charged with principal to murder.

With the temperatures rising, concerns about the spread of the Zika virus heightens, though officials say there has been no evidence of local transmission in mainland US. Dr. Robert Maupin, Gynecology Professor at LSU Health New Orleans, says they are holding a public meeting today to discuss Zika and answer questions. He says the biggest risk is travelers…:
CUT 11 (10) “current evidence”
Maupin says the biggest risk for contracting the disease is South America and the Caribbean.

A 5-year-old child died in LaPlace after shooting herself when playing with her father’s handgun, according to cops. The St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office says Haley Moore fired the weapon in front of her siblings.

A 56-year-old man from Clarence is dead following a Natchitoches Parish crash where State Police believe was caused, in part, because the driver was drunk. They say John Turner lost control of the vehicle and ran off the road before crashing into a ditch and overturning several times. Turner was not restrained and was pronounced dead on the scene.

The regular session ends 2 weeks from today on June 6th and the budget is still a major issue lawmakers are dealing with. Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says, with a $600 million dollar shortfall in the state’s finances for next fiscal year, legislators may not be able to address everything during this session…:
Cut 6 (11) “there about”

Health experts will share information about the Zika Virus with the public today at LSU Health New Orleans. Dr. Robert Maupin,Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology says pregnant women, in particular, need to take precautions to prevent getting infected…:
cut 12 (09) “birth defects”
The panel will meet at 5:30 at the LSUHNP Human Development Center.

A state legislator is launching an online campaign to raise awareness about gender inequality and sexism in Louisiana, using the hashtag #ItsNoJoke. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

New Orleans is seeking to host the Super Bowl in 2019 and those who will present a bid to the NFL owners on Tuesday are already in Charlotte putting the finishing touches on their presentation. New Orleans competition to host the 2019 Super Bowl is Atlanta, Miami and Tampa Bay. President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Jay Cicero says they go in as the underdogs..:
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