The State Department of Agriculture has been put in charge of establishing the regulations for the legal dispensing of medical marijuana. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says one of the big questions is how much they will need…:
CUT 4 (11) “to produce”
He says the agency is in touch with LSU and Southern’s Ag Centers about developing the drug.

The National Right to Life convention this week in New Orleans will also feature a Republican presidential candidate debate on Friday but Governor Bobby Jindal won’t be there. His office says there is a scheduling conflict but that the Governor would be there as keynote speaker Thursday night on opening day. Jindal is campaigning in New Hampshire today.

The National Journal reports that Republican US Representative Charles Boustany has told donors he will run for US Senate next year, if Senator David Vitter is elected governor. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Boustany will be a strong candidate, but will likely face some tough competition from his own party…:
CUT 13 (09) “a lot of money”
If Vitter is elected as governor, he will appoint a person to finish out the remainder of his term.

Cox Communications says it has no plans to air the Miss USA pageant which takes place on Sunday In Baton Rouge and was dropped by NBC and Univision last week due to comments made by Miss Universe owner Donald Trump. The Reelz channel agreed to air the show but it’s only available on AT&T, DirecTV and Dish Network, not Cox.

An annual statewide survey from LSU that finds- while consumer sentiment grew nationally by 10 percent,-Louisiana’s confidence rate is now 10 points below the national average. Michael Henderson with the LSU Public Policy Research lab says it points right to lower oil prices…
CT 4 (07) Q: “similar pattern here”

The St. Helena Parish Sheriff’s office says a 12-year-old boy has died on the 4th of July when riding on a utility terrain vehicle being driven by an adult. Detective Joe Chaney says 36-year-old Joshua Tharpe of Baton Rouge and the juvenile were riding the UTV on a wet sand bar and took a sharp sudden turn…:
cut 12 (10) “on the child”
Tharpe has been charged with vehicular homicide.
——————————–
If Louisiana Senator David Vitter is successful in his bid for governor, Lafayette Representative Charles Boustany says he is prepping a campaign to seek Vitter’s seat. The National Journal reports Boustany has hired an experienced Senate Campaign manager, and has told supporters quote-“you cannot wait to make your plans.”

Eye doctors say they’re seeing a spike in the number of technology crazed youth suffering from computer vision syndrome…:
CUT 2 (25) “I’m Michelle Southern”

An annual statewide survey from LSU finds that consumer confidence has fallen below the nation for the first time in recent years. Michael Henderson, research director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, says the Louisiana Consumer Sentiment Index fell by six points from the end of the third quarter of 2014 to the end of the first quarter this year…
CUT 3 (06) “six months earlier”
He says the main culprit is the drop in oil prices.

The Sheriff’s Office in St. Helena Parish says a 12 year-old boy is dead following a a Fourth of July accident involving a UTV. Detective Joe Chaney says 36-year-old Joshua Tharpe of Baton Rouge was charged with vehicular homicide, and he says they are still working to determine what happened and if Tharpe was being negligent..:
cut 13 (07) “homicide”
————————–
The Office of Motor Vehicles began issuing drivers’ licenses today for same-sex married couples who wish to legally have the same last name of their spouse. State Police Lt. JB Slaton says for ALL motorists, licenses will now be good for 6 years instead of four. He says it will cost four dollars more, but it should lead to shorter lines…
cut 11 (10) “going to help”

It’s called “computer vision syndrome,” and a rising number of younger people are suffering, stemming from too much time on smart phones and tablets. Dr. Monica Monica, spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, says the extended close vision call actually cause the eye muscles contract, and dry eyes…
CUT 8 (09) Q: “devices’
And she advises to take periodic breaks.

An LSU survey that tracks consumer sentiment finds that consumer confidence in this state has fallen below the national average…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

It was a Fourth of July display that did a little more than light up the sky in Sabine Parish at Toledo Bend near the Texas line. Six people -who were celebrating the fourth-were sent to the hospital after lightening struck a nearby tree at an RV park. Authorities believe all six were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
——————————–
For same-sex married couples in Louisiana who want to change their last name on their drivers’ license to reflect the same name as their spouse, can do this starting today. State Police Lieutenant JB Slaton says they must bring a certified marriage license, along with social security records to the OMV…
CUT 10 (08) Q: “social security level”

Too much time on smart phones and tablets are creating a rising number of youth who are developing eye strain. It’s called computer vision syndrome, and Dr. Monica Monica, spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, says it’s hitting millennials and younger harder than most groups…
CUT 7 (10) Q: “taking breaks”
She says about about 68 percent of millennials suffer from the condition, and when it happens, people need to take periodic breaks.

An annual statewide survey from LSU finds that consumer confidence in Louisiana has fallen below the nation for the first time in recent years. Michael Henderson, research director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, says the Louisiana Consumer Sentiment Index fell by six points from the end of the third quarter of 2014 to the end of the first quarter of 2015…:
CUT 3 (06) “six months earlier”
While Louisiana’s consumer confidence was falling, consumer sentiment grew nationally by nearly 10-points.

Same-sex couples who want to change their last name on their driver’s license to reflect the same name as their spouse can do so starting today. State Police Lieutenant JB Slaton says you must bring a certified marriage license and social security records to the OMV..
CUT 10 (08) “social security level”

The St. Helena Parish Sheriff’s office says a 12-year-old boy died on the 4th of July when riding on a utility terrain vehicle and the adult driver is arrested. Detective Joe Chaney says 36-year-old Joshua Tharpe of Baton Rouge and the juvenile were riding the UTV on a wet sand bar and took a sharp sudden turn…:
CUT 12 (10) “on the child”
Chaney says Tharpe was charged with vehicular homicide and has since been released on a $100,000 bond. The invesitgation is ongoing.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office is invesitgation an apparent accidental shooting which claimed the life of an unidentified woman. Cops say they were told by the victim’s estranged husband that the two were handling a firearm when it discharged by mistake and struck the woman. She was dead when deputies arrived. The investigation is ongoing.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says it will use the announced BP settlement money to ensure Louisiana will remain Sportsman’s Paradise for years to come. The agreement means the state will receive at least $6.8 billion for damages associated with the 2010 oil spill. LDWF Secretary Robert Barham…:
Cut 17 (12) ” culture”
Details of the complex settlement will be worked through over the next 60 days according to state leaders.

State Police say that same-sex couples in Louisiana will be able to change their name on their driver’s license starting today. The Office of Motor Vehicles is letting folks alter their license and vehicle registration. The move shows Louisiana continues to get in line with the US Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage.

Gubernatorial Candidate John Bel Edwards begins his statewide tour today. Michelle Southern has more on how this will help his campaign…:

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

The family of the 12 year old boy from Watson who died after a utility terrain vehicle accident on July 4th has set up a GoFundMe Account online to help with hospital and funeral expenses. The St. Helena Parish Sheriff’s office has arrested the driver of the UTV, 36-year-old Joshua Tharpe, and charged him with vehicular homicide. Investigators believe Tharpe made a sharp turn and flipped the vehicle, killing the boy.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards is on the campaign trail today as he kicks off his first statewide tour. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Edwards needs to get his name out there as most voters don’t know much about him…:
CUT 12 (07) “at all”
The planned tour includes 25 cities across Louisiana as well as impromptu stops through Sunday.

The Department of Health and Hospitals says the summer is a great time to get kids vaccinated as the upcoming school year rapidly approaches. DHH Immunization Medical Director Dr. Frank Welch says children first entering school need proof they’ve had vaccinations for polio, mumps and measles, hepatitis, chickenpox and diphtheria…:
CUT 15 (11) “6th grade”

Secretary of State Tom Schedler announces a major overhaul of the state’s geauxBIZ-dot-com website making it easier to start a business in Louisiana. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office arrests a man for allegedly raping a woman he met over social media. They say 25-year-old Matthew Melancon met the victim at her apartment after they’d been chatting online for about four to five months. It was there that cops believe the suspect drugged then abducted the woman. Melancon was released on a $40,000 bond.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham says the portion of the $6.8 billion in the 2010 Gulf Oil spill BP penalty money the agency is getting will go towards ensuring Sportman’s Paradise thrives for years to come…:
CUT 18 (06) “by this event”

DHH reminds parents to vaccinate children as the school year is rapidly approaching. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 3 (24) “reporting”

Secretary of State Tom Schedler announces a major overhaul of the state’s geauxBIZ-dot-com website. It allows business owners to complete the legal steps necessary to start a business in one easy visit. Schedler says feedback from the site has been overwhelmingly positive as they work out a few kinks..:
CIT 5 (09) “working smooth”
Again that’s geauxBIZ.com (geaux spelled the Cajun way.)

Louisiana Radio Network asked the 4 major gubernatorial candidates about what they’d plan to do in rebuilding Louisiana’s coastline. US Senator David Vitter says serious projects need to take place right away…:
CUT 8 (08) “studying things”
Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says he’s committed to implementing the coastal restoration master plan…:
CUT 9 (09) “into the plan”

Secretary of State Tom Schedler announces a major overhaul of the state’s geauxBIZ-dot-com website. The website was launched in 2009 as a way for people to easily find information necessary to start and maintain a business. Schedler says this upgrade to the site means doing business in Louisiana just got easier…:
CUT 4 (10) “opening their business”
Again that’s geauxBIZ.com (geaux spelled the Cajun way.)

Extremely tragic 4th of July for one Livingston Parish family as a 12-year-old boy from Watson loses his life after being thrown from a utility terrain vehicle. The 36-year-old driver was arrested. Apparently the two were riding on wet sand when Joshua Tharpe made a sudden turn causing the child to fall from the vehicle. The St. Helena Parish Sheriff’s office charged Tharpe with vehicular homicide.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says they are still looking for a man in an apparent drowning at Niblett’s Bluff Park located between Tommey and Starks, Louisiana. The investigation revealed 28-year-old Shannon Godfrey was celebrating the 4th of July with family when he jumped into water to retrieve a ball during a game and never resurfaced. Divers have been unable to locate him and the search continues.

Louisiana Radio Network asked the 4 major gubernatorial candidates about what they’d plan to do in rebuilding Louisiana’s coastline. Amite Representative John Bel Edwards on the announced billions in BP settlement money for the 2010 Gulf oil spill…:
CUT 7 (09) “no other purpose”
Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle..:
CUT 10 (09) “master plan”
We’ll have US Senator David Vitter and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne’s response in the upcoming newscast.