A bill to prevent members of the LGBT community from being fired because of their sexual orientation or gender identity has won the approval of a Senate committee. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 2 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Louisiana House unanimously passed a bill that would outlaw a procedure commonly used in second-trimester abortions. Supporters call the method a “dismemberment” abortion. But those who oppose say restricting abortions further is a detriment to women’s health. The measure now heads to the Senate after a lower chamber 83-0 vote.

Governor John Bel Edwards says priority number one for him right now is stabilizing the budget, because we must focus on moving Louisiana forward. He says there are many policy related issues that are going to be on the back burner until we can deal with the present crisis — the $600 million dollar budget shortfall…:
Cut 8 (09) “and do that”
He says he doesn’t see any way they could avoid a second special session.

A poll paid for by the Louisiana Cannabis Association finds that 72-percent of Louisiana voters support legislation which legalizes medical marijuana as a treatment for more diseases. Jesse McCormick is glad to see a majority of voters support the use of medical cannabis to help relieve pain for people who suffer from different diseases, like cancer and HIV…:
Cut 10 (07) “understand”
A Senate approved bill expanding diseases the medical marijuana law would cover is awaiting hearing in the lower chamber.

The man who allegedly shot former Saints player Will Smith has been indicted on charges of murder and attempted murder. Cardell Hayes pleaded not guilty and his bond is 1.75 million dollars. His attorney said in court today that the prosecution is trying to jam an indictment down. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the DA is just going through the procedure according to the law….:
CUT 5 (09) “of Louisiana”
Hayes was also indicted on charges of aggravated assault and aggravated damage to property to go along with the murder and attempted murder charge.

A measure that would prevent businesses from firing a person based on their sexual orientation was approved by a Senate committee today. But Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns voted against the proposal. He says it could pose problems for business owners…:
cut 15 (12) “of that”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he never said he planned to take vouchers from students who currently have them, as pro voucher groups claim. He says many areas of the state have to take cuts in order to fill a shortfall. Baton Rouge mother Pamela Gauthier says her son Joseph has Down syndrome and struggled in public school because teachers didn’t have adequate resources. But she says thanks to the voucher program, Joseph is now excelling at a private school…:
cut 12 (09) “Fs and Ds”
Edwards is not happy about special interests falsely calling him a liar.

A measure that would prohibit commonly used second trimester abortions received support from the full House today. The bill’s author claims the procedure is a “dismemberment abortion” and should not be allowed because of its torturous nature. Opponents say that description is misleading. The vote was 83-0 and now heads to the Senate.

Cardell Hayes was indicted today on charges of murder for former Saints player Will Smith, and attempted murder of Smith’s wife. Legal analyst Tim Meche says he’s not surprised the D-A’s office was able to get an indictment, before the defense was able to call witnesses to the stand during today’s preliminary hearing…:
CUT 4 (10) “the witnesses”.
After the indictment, Hayes plead not guilty to four charges. His bond has been set at 1.75 million dollars.

The FBI has created a devoted phone line for tips about the newly reopened missing child case of Wesley Dale Morgan of Clinton who was last seen in 2001. Authorities report the phone has not stopped ringing with tips so a dedicated line has been created for anyone who may know where Wesley Morgan is. The number is 1- (800) CALL-FBI.

You couldn’t hire or fire someone based on their sexual orientation under a bill that was approved in a Senate committee today. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says discrimination is still alive, and lawmakers need to do what they can to protect people from that in the workplace…:
cut 14 (09) “whatever reason”
Opponents are worried this would hurt businesses.

The Louisiana Federation for Children held a news conference today featuring parents whose children benefit from the student voucher program. New Orleans single mother Corrine Celestine is upset over the proposed cuts…:
Cut 11 (08) “next generation”
But Governor John Bel Edwards says, despite ads running to the contrary, every student who currently has a voucher will get to keep it…but several areas of the state have to be cut to help fill next fiscal year’s shortfall.

The alleged shooter of the former Saints player Will Smith has been indicted on charges of second degree murder and attempted murder. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it looks like the Orleans Parish District Attorney is handling the case against Cardell Hayes cautiously…:
CUT 3 (12) “cautiously”
The indictment came down during the middle of a preliminary hearing that was called to establish probable cause against Hayes.

A poll commissioned by the Louisiana Cannabis Association reveals 72 percent of Louisiana voters are in favor of the medical marijuana legislation. Just 13 percent surveyed by JMC Enterprises opposed patients’ usage of medical marijuana. A bill to extend use of medical marijuana to those with serious medical conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, seizure disorders and epilepsy passed through the Louisiana State Senate.

Governor Edwards pushed back today against a special interest group that’s airing an attack ad claiming he broke promises about keeping the voucher program. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (24) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Two people are dead in an officer involved shooting which occurred in the Calcasieu Parish town of Carlyss. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says a woman was found dead and a man died while exchanging gunfire with deputies, but it is unclear if the male was hit by deputies or if he killed himself. He says they believe the man killed the woman…:
CUT 8 (09) “shooting”

Reports out of New Orleans say Cardell Hayes has been indicted for the murder of former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith, and also for the attempted murder of Smith’s wife.

A bill to prevent members of the LGBT from not being hired or being fired because of their sexual orientation has won the approval of a Senate committee. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 2 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

State Police is once again looking for a vehicle involved in a hit and run with a cyclist. This time in Assumption Parish they believe a white Ford Super Duty hit the person on a bike, then fled the scene in Paincourtville last night.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he never said he was going to take school vouchers away from students who already receive them, as certain special interest groups are claiming. He challenged a pro-voucher man at a news conference…:
cut 10 (10) “not gonna find it”
Edwards says part of his budget cut plan for next fiscal year includes trimming each voucher so that all recipients could keep them.

The recreational red snapper season in Gulf federal waters will only last 9 days this year, from June 1 through June 9. US Representative Garret Graves of Baton Rouge says he’s not happy about this and when he was a kid, you could go fishing with parents and grandparents year-round…:
CUT 5 (05) “federal waters”
Graves says he doesn’t want to rely on bureaucrats in Washington to tell us when and where we can fish.

A Senate committee has approved the bill to prevent members of the LGBT community from being fired or turned down for jobs because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says we need to protect people from discrimination…:
Cut 13 (07) “recourse”
But opponents say this could pose problems for business owners in the state.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the special interest group that’s running attack ads accusing him of breaking his promise about keeping existing school vouchers is not telling the truth. He told reporters Thursday that no student currently receiving a voucher, would lost it…:
CUT 9 (08) “receive them”
Edwards says he’s been told by the Department of Education that there is no plan to take a voucher away from a student, and that he is disingenuously being called a liar.

Two people are dead after a shootout involving a police officer in the small southwest Louisiana town of Carlyss. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says his officers were responding to a 911 call for an armed robbery when they got another call from a man saying people were running through his field close to the location of the burglary. Mancuso says deputies met the individuals in the field…:
CUT 6 (08) “drops”
The sheriff says the suspect either died from a gunshot wound from one of his deputies or he killed himself.

KATC is reporting that a Vermilion Parish teacher is behind bars accused of rape. They say James Harber, a 7th grade teacher at JH Williams Middle School, was booked by Abbeville Police with two counts of second-degree rape and one count of first-degree rape.

Lots of folks are talking about the bill that would require cursive to be taught in public elementary schools, which cleared the full Senate. Bossier City Sen. Ryan Gatti says many historic documents were written in cursive. He says our children need to be able to read and write in script, not just from their iPads or iPhones…:
Cut 10 (05) “to paper”
The vote was unanimous and the measure now heads to the House.

The recreational red snapper season in Gulf federal waters will only last 9 days this year, from June 1 through June 9. US Representative Garret Graves of Baton Rouge says is not happy about NOAA Fisheries’ announcement. But Graves says Louisiana’s control of red snapper fishing has been extended nine miles off the coast, which gives fishermen more opportunity to fish red snapper..:
CUT 3 (04) “this year”
Anglers this year will be limited to two red snapper per person a day, provided they are at least 16 inches.

Two people are dead in an officer involved shooting which occurred in the Calcasieu Parish town of Carlyss. The Sheriff’s Office says a woman was found dead and a man died while exchanging gunfire with deputies, but it is unclear if the male was hit by deputies or if he killed himself. They say a CPSO cop car was hit three times and deputies believe the male was shooting to kill. Authorities are still investigating to find what caused the shooting.

The mother of a young girl with a seizure disorder told lawmakers she moved to Colorado for the only drug that helps, medical marijuana…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A bill to extend the waiting period for an abortion from 24 to 72 hours has been approved by a senate committee. Amy Irvin of the New Orleans Abortion Fund also spoke in opposition. She says women can take as much time as they need after the consultation before having the procedure, regardless of the mandated waiting period.

cut 12 (09) “the clinic”

Despite opposition, the measure now heads to the Senate floor.

A horrifying display of animal abuse is breaking hearts across the state. A small dog was brutally beaten and thrown into a fire in New Orleans’ City Park. That’s according to Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Louisiana Humane Society, who says the Humane Society is asking people to be vigilant for signs of animal abuse and to keep the memory of the City Park Dog in their hearts.

CUT 5 (07)  “short life”

The FBI is reopening the 15-year-old case of a little boy who went missing from his front porch in Clinton. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (26)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A missing child from Mamou has been found in Jackson, Mississippi. State police say the child’s non-custodial mother, Elaine Freeman, took 12-year-old Jalon Bradley out of school shortly after 3pm on Tuesday. Authorities issued an endangered missing child advisory because there was concern Jalon could be in danger. Freeman is now in police custody.

A House committee rejected a proposal today that would require movie theaters to install metal detectors. Author of the legislation, Shreveport Rep. Barbara Norton, says this bill is about protecting the lives of our loved ones. She was upset that many of her colleagues voted against the measure.

CUT 7 (07) “our children”

The vote was 6-5 against the legislation.

A Senate Committee approved a bill to triple the waiting period for an abortion. Sancha Smith, the State Director for Concerned Women for America, spoke in favor of the measure because she says women need more time to consider all of their options, before making this decision.

cut 10 (07) “a life”

The measure passed on a five to two vote and heads to the Senate floor.

The Louisiana Humane Society has declared a city-wide animal abuse alert in New Orleans after a dog was brutally beaten and burned. Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Louisiana Humane Society, says they are still trying to find the people responsible for this gruesome crime, because they are clearly dangerous.

CUT 4 (06)  “of time”

The unnamed dog is being affectionately referred to as the City Park Dog.

The case of a 2-year-old that went missing in Clinton 15 years ago is being reinvestigated by the FBI. Avery Davidson, a former WAFB reporter, covered Wesley Morgan’s disappearance in 2001. Davidson says the child was playing on the front porch when his mother went inside and came back outside to find the little boy was gone. He says there was a huge search after his disappearance…

Cut 13 (10)  “he was”