During Governor John Bel Edwards’ short time in office, his main priority has been the state’s massive budget deficit. But he says he wants to tackle other issues during his term. Edwards told the Baton Rouge Rotary Club he is committed to the creation of a high speed commuter train between Baton Rouge and New Orleans…:
cut 4 (09) “would work”
Edwards says advancing online educational technology is another area where he’d like to see expansion.

A Gonzales man is under arrest on animal cruelty charges after Ascension Parish Deputies responded to a complaint and located a dog tied to a pole at a residence severely malnourished, and with visible sores on its nose, legs and blood behind his ears. The Sheriff’s Office says the suspect, 39-year-old John Green, was also charged for not having a rabies tag or proper vaccination records for his dog. A GoFundMe account has been set up where people can donate to help fund the dog’s recovery. His name is Prince Adams.

Former-Monroe TV personality “Mr. Wonder” has given up on fighting extradition from California back to Rapides Parish to face child sex charges that date back to 1978. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson, Lt. Tommy Carnline, says they are pleased the case against Frank Selas is moving forward…:
cut 11 (11) “stand trial”
Carnline says Selas will go to court in Rapides Parish on two counts of aggravated rape, three counts of sexual battery, and eight counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

There were no big Powerball winners in last night’s drawing meaning the prize now goes up to $415 million dollars for Saturday. That’s with a $269 million dollar cash value.

Governor John Bel Edwards has spent the majority of his days in office focusing on the budget deficit but there are other areas he’d like to address. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A House committee killed a bill to allow the families of wrongfully convicted inmates receive compensation if the inmate dies before being compensated. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana’s teen pregnancy rate has dropped from a rate of 69 to 37.5 over the past decade, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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During the governor’s short time in office, his main priority has been the state’s massive budget deficit. But John Bel Edwards wants to address tackle other issues during his term. Edwards told the Baton Rouge Rotary Club he is committed to the creation of a high speed commuter train between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

cut 4  (09)  “would work”

Edwards says advancing online educational technology is another area where he’d like to see expansion. He says young adults should have the opportunity to get their G-E-D through classes on the internet…

Cut 5  (09)  “available online”

Edwards says in next year’s regular legislative session, sentencing and criminal justice reform will be one of his top priorities…

Cut 6 (10)  “been committed”

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A proposal to alter the conditions under which a person who was wrongfully convicted could be compensated is dead for the session. Phillip Rozeman’s uncle was murdered 35 years ago, and Glenn Ford spent 30 years in jail for the crime, which he did not commit. Ford was not compensated for his time behind bars, because he was implicated in crimes related to the murder. Rozeman spoke in opposition, saying if Ford was not involved, there wouldn’t have been a murder.

CUT 7 (07)  “the trigger” 

Pete Adams, Executive Director of the District Attorney’s Association, also opposes the bill. He says the compensation is meant for people who are wrongfully convicted, not for those who get their convictions overturned.

Cut 8  (11)  “that down” 

But Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle supports the bill. She says these people have been failed by the system, and they deserve compensation.

Cut 9 (09)  “death row”

Marcelle says people who are wrongfully convicted spend most of their lives being punished for something they didn’t do.

Cut 10 (07) “grow up with”

The author of the bill, Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover, plans to bring the bill back again next year.

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Former-Monroe TV personality “Mr. Wonder” has given up on fighting extradition from California back to Rapides Parish to face child sex charges that date back to 1978. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson, Lt. Tommy Carnline, says they are pleased the case against Frank Selas is moving forward.

cut 11 (11) “stand trial”

Selas was living in San Diego when the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office announced charges against him for allegedly sexually abusing boys during a camping trip. Carnline says it’s unclear when Selas will return to Rapides Parish.

cut 12 (08) “as possible”

Carnline says Selas will go to court in Rapides Parish on two counts of aggravated rape, three counts of sexual battery, and eight counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Cut 13 (06)  “37 years”

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Louisiana’s teen birth rate has declined substantially over the last decade. A report from the Centers for Disease Control shows Louisiana’s teen birth rate is 37.5 for 2013-14, which is a decrease from the 2006-07 rate of 69. Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Rebekah Gee says this is great news for Louisiana. Gee says she thinks teens are practicing safer sex, or better yet abstinence.

cut 14 (09)  “birth control”

Louisiana now ranks 7^th in the country for teen births. Gee says there’s been a trend to use more effective birth control in teens who have decided to have sex to keep these teen pregnancy rates down.

Cut 15 (09) “the arm”

Gee says parents can also help prevent teen pregnancy by having these difficult conversations with their children.

Cut 16  (06)  “mom or dad” 2x

A House committee killed a bill to allow the families of wrongfully convicted inmates receive compensation if the inmate dies before being compensated. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards doesn’t want to give 40-thousand state workers a pay raise next year. It’s because the state is looking at a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall. The Civil Service Commission has the final say and plans on making a decision on the governor’s request next month.

A proposal that would have limited travel of college athletic teams other than LSU is dropped. Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter decided against moving forward with his legislation. Carter still told the House Education Committee that instead of the state paying for long road trips, the money could be used to hire new professors or fund the TOPS scholarship program…
cut 8 (09) “….with TOPS”

A bill heading over to the House would allow public high school students to participate in a national sex survey. Parents would have the ability to opt their children out. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody says the survey is also anonymous…
cut 5 (10) “…their behavior”
The legislation heads to the Senate for more discussion.

Ted Cruz and John Kasich have both dropped out of the presidential race, and Donald Trump is now the presumptive Republican nominee. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says not all Republicans will be happy to see Trump uncontested at the convention, but he doesn’t think the GOP will look for another nominee.

Cut 13 (07)  “some of that”

The House barely passed a measure to allow high school students to participate in a national sex survey. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle supports the legislation. She says lawmakers need to do something to prevent the cases of STDs and teen pregnancy from continuing to increase.

CUT 4 (09)  “the problem”

The measure passed 53-40 and now moves to the Senate.

Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter has withdrawn his bill to restrict college athletic teams, except LSU, from travelling more than 375 miles. Carter says he’s trying to make a point on the state’s priorities. He says there are a lot of out of student athletes using state dollars to travel when this money could be used to prevent cuts on the academic side….

CUT 7 (04) “be spent”

Tonight’s Powerball jackpot has climbed to $348 million. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says Louisiana has had 15 Powerball jackpot winners. She says the last jackpot winner from Louisiana was in May of 2014. She says a Louisianan is due to win the grand prize again

Cut 11 (10) “in 2008″

Chopin says this is the 9^th largest jackpot in Powerball history.

Donald Trump is now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, as both Ted Cruz and John Kasich have both dropped out of the race. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says Trump might start to reign in some of his controversial comments to get more voters to rally behind him..:
cut 12 (08) “the convention”
Cross says not all Republicans will be happy to see Trump uncontested at the convention, but he doesn’t think the GOP will look for another nominee.

Should a national sex survey be allowed in public high schools? Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith barely got enough votes in the House for her bill she feels would lower the STD and teen pregnancy rate in Louisiana. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says lawmakers need to do something to prevent these cases…:
CUT 4 (09) “the problem”
The measure moves to the Senate.

A measure that wouldn’t allow college athletic teams in Louisiana to travel more than 375 miles to play games has been withdrawn. The exception would have been LSU. Baton Rouge Rep. Steve Carter, says he’s trying to make a point on the state’s priorities. He says travel money could instead be used to prevent cuts on the academic side…:
CUT 7 (04) “be spent”
But he told the House Education committee he’s decided not to push the measure further.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a woman’s body found in Lake Pontchartrain just west of the entrance canal to the lower section in the Bonnet Carre Spillway, in Norco. Detectives say the body was in an advanced decomposition state. She was wearing a red and white plaid button down shirt, a white under shirt, and a blue sports bra. The incident is still under investigation.

The House has approved a measure to allow public high school students to participate in a national survey on sexual risks. Don Molino has more…:
CUT 1 (22) “I’m Don Molino”

The Powerball Jackpot for tonight’s drawing is up to $348 million. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says this jackpot is one of the top ten biggest jackpots in lottery history…:
CUT 9 (08) “jackpot ever”
The cash value of the jackpot is 226.1 Million.

A bill that would restrict college athletic teams in Louisiana, except for LSU, from traveling more than 375 miles to play games has been withdrawn. Baton Rouge Rep. Steve Carter, says he’s decided not to push his measure further, but told the House Education Committee we’re using taxpayer dollars to fund athletic programs when the state is in a massive budget deficit:
CUT 6 (09) “TOPS kids”
Carter says he’s trying to make a point on the state’s priorities.

A Senate committee shot down the House approved measure that would allow lawmakers to decide whether of not people who receive food stamps should have to work. The 4-2 vote fell along party lines with Democrats in opposition, and GOP support.

A bill that would allow public high school students to participate in a national sex survey scarcely got enough votes to pass the House. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says Louisiana has a high rate of STDs and pregnancy among teens. Opponents of the bill say it’s the parents’ place to talk about these things with their kids, but Smith says that isn’t working:
CUT 3 (09) “policy”
Students would not be required to participate, and parents would be able to opt their child out. The measure heads to the Senate.

The Powerball jackpot for tonight’s drawing is up to $348 million dollars, according to the Louisiana Lottery. The cash value of the prize is $292 million.

The East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s office arrested a parent they say cussed out a principal and threatened to blow up Capitol Middle School. 32-year-old Jamie Bell was booked on charges of assaulting a school teacher, terrorizing, unlawful disruption of operation of a school and entering after forbidden.

Officials in Caldwell Parish is investigating the case of a man they say was recently released from jail, and is now dead following a hostage situation and a standoff with deputies. They say two women went to check on Kenneth Magourick, who then held them against their will. When deputies responded, they said Magourick came outside and pointed a gun, then went down. It is unclear if Maqourick killed himself or was shot by law enforcement.

Former St. Landry Captain Clay Higgins, who achieved fame for his viral crime stoppers videos, has released another one where he addresses a few of his concerns about our country, even hinting that he may consider running for public office. Higgins told the Jim Engster Show the response to his video has been incredible…:
Cut 13 (09) “the country”
Higgins says if he decides to run for office, he’ll make the announcement sometime next week.

State health officials are offering guidance on how people can prevent the transmission of Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch, with the department of health and hospitals, says Southeastern Louisiana, and Lake Pontchartrain in particular, will be high risk areas because that’s where the mosquito that carries Zika lives….:
cut 12 (10) “areas are”
Welch advises people to clear any standing water out of their yards, and wear long sleeves, pants and mosquito repellent.

Louisiana is the 4th worst state for working moms, according to a study by the personal finance website, WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzalez says in terms of daycare quality, Louisiana scored a 57 out of 150 points. She says the state also has a lot of single mothers living in poverty…:
Cut 8 (10) “in poverty”

Governor John Bel Edwards is set to speak at at the Rotary Club in Baton Rouge today. The state of the state is slated to begin at noon.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will be transferring 220 retired research chimpanzees to a facility in northern Georgia, as part of a partnership with the nonprofit organization Project Chimps. President Sarah Baeckler Davis says this is the first time a non-federal program has released an entire population of research chimpanzees…:
Cut 6 (06) “retirement facility”
She says the Georgia sanctuary will be the perfect environment to house the retired chimpanzees.

The Powerball is getting big again. The jackpot for tonight’s drawing is $348 million dollars. The cash value is 226.1 Million dollars.