Today the House Civil Law Committee will hear Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson’s controversial religious freedom bill. Johnson says HB 707 would prevent adverse treatment from the state of any person or entity on the basis of their religious views on marriage, while opponents feel this bill legalizes discrimination. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat doesn’t think the outlook for this bill is good…

cut 4 (07) “probably not”

On the flip side, the committee is also expected to hear New Orleans Representative Austin Badon’s anti-discrimination bill.

The US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hears legislation today that seeks to expand offshore drilling and provides Louisiana with additional dollars from oil and gas produced in federal waters off the state’s coast. Recently elected Senator Bill Cassidy is the author of the bill that supporters say could create over 200-thousand jobs

cut 7 (08) “with that”

Louisiana and three other gulf states currently receive hundreds of millions of dollars for hosting offshore energy production.

To recognize National Dog Bite Prevention Week, State Farm compiled claims data and found that Louisiana ranks 14th in the United States in a 2014 analysis of dog bite injury claims. The company says it paid out nearly $3 million dollars here for dog bite claims last year. Spokesman Roszell Gadson says they want people to be mindful of safety when it comes to unfamiliar animals…

cut 13 (10) “proper shots”

Gadson says while an overwhelming majority of interactions with dogs don’t result in injury, most dog bites to children could be prevented.

Flash Flood Watches and Warnings have been issued across north Louisiana as heavy rains have pounded the area throughout the morning. Jason Hansford with the National Weather Service says they’ve had reports in the Shreveport area of up to six inches of rain this morning…
CUT 3 (07) Q: “Bossier City area”
In Ruston, an unidentified 11 year-old boy died in a car that was swept away by rushing water. The driver and another child occupant were able to escape.

Governor Bobby Jindal has formed an exploratory committee to help him decide on whether or not to make a presidential run. He has been considering a run for several months and has stated he will make a final decision by the end of June. Michael Henderson, Director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab, says this is not a surprising move…
CUT 6 (08) “of the moments”
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Four arrests by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office have been made in connection of the death of a 54 year-old woman reported missing in April. Those arrested included her ex-husband, 64 year-old Hamid Ghassemi who alleged planned the murder for hire scheme to kill his 54 year-old wife Teherah, whose body was found in St. Helena Parish…
CUT 10 (09) Q; “a human body”
That’s State Police Col. Mike Edmunson. Daniel Richter of Walker, Skyler Williams and Tyler Ashpaul, both of Denham Springs, are all charged with first-degree murder.

The Louisiana cigarette tax increase of 32 cents has passed a Senate Panel, but as the legislative process continues to deal with the budget crisis, at least one lawmaker says that tax amount could go up even more…
CUT 14 (09) q” final disposition”
That’s New Orleans Senator JP Morrell.

As north Louisiana is pounded by rain today, rushing floodwaters in Ruston have claimed the life of an 11 year-old boy inside a car that was swept away. The driver and another child occupant were able to escape. In Columbia, sandbagging had be be done as more than 7 inches of rain fell; after that…
CUT 5 (10) Q: “Columbia, Louisiana”
That’s Jason Hansford with the National Weather Service in Shreveport.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office arrests four including the ex-husband of a 54-year-old woman who has been missing since early April in an apparent murder for hire plot. Detectives believe 64-year-old Hamid Ghassemi hired 33-year-old Daniel Richter of Walker and two other associates, to kill his wife Taherah. State Police Col Mike Edmonson says the confessions were chilling…:
CUT 9 (06) “no remorse”
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With Governor Bobby Jindal still yet to decide whether he’ll run for president, he HAS formed an exploratory committee to look at his options. If he does decide to run, Michael Henderson, Director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab says he has some work to do…
CUT 7 (11) Q: “gain some momentum”
Right now, Jindal is receiving rather low numbers in the polls.

A series of tax bills approved by a Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committee, has also passed out of the House. Collectively, the bills should raise about 615 million dollars, but they are facing major opposition from business lobbyists. Benton Senator Robert Adley says he understands the concern, but huge cuts to higher ed and health care would be devastating…
CUT 13 (07) Q: ‘health care’

Flash Flood Watches and Warnings have been issued across north Louisiana. In Ruston, flooding claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy, as the car he was riding in was swept away by flood waters. The driver escaped; while another 7 year-old occupant was found clinging to a tree sometime later. He’s in stable condition.

The state senate begins the process of approving House-approved bills that raise an estimated 615-million dollars in state revenues. Jeff Palermo has the story….
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”
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A South Louisiana apparent murder for hire plot has four people arrested. Sixty four year-old Hamid Ghassemi allegedly hired 33-year-old Daniel Richter of Walker, along with 17-year-old Skyler Williams and 20-year-old Tyler Ashpaul, both of Denham Springs to kill his wife, 54 year-old Tahereh Ghassemi. (Authorites found her body in St. Helena Parish, and did some quick work after that…)
CUT 11 (09) Q: “her body”
That’s State Police Col. Mike Edmonson who says the ex-husband paid the other three 10 thousand dollars to kill his wife.

Governor Bobby Jindal has formed an exploratory committee in efforts to help him in deciding whether or not to make a presidential run…
CUT 8 (10) Q: ‘the poll numbers’
That’s Michael Henderson, Director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab.

The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee is in the process of approving a series of tax bills that passed in the House which raise an estimated 615 million dollars. The bills help stave off large cuts to public colleges and health care. Some of them reduce rebate and tax credit programs for businesses. Benton Senator Robert Adley on why these bills need to pass…:
CUT 12 (10) “hospitals and universities”
All of these tax bills head to the Senate Finance Committee for more discussion.

Authorities say the Baton Rouge woman who’s been missing since April was found buried in St. Helena Parish over the weekend and four people, including her ex husband, are arrested in connection with the murder. Detectives believe 64-year-old Hamid Ghassemi paid an employee and two other men $10,000 to kill 54-year-old Tahereh Ghassemi. An autopsy reveals cause of death was gunshot wound to the head. The four suspects are being held without bond.

Governor Bobby Jindal has formed an exploratory committee in efforts to help him in deciding whether or not to make a presidential run in 2016. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

Ruston Police say an 11-year-old boy died after being trapped in a car swept away during flash flooding which has plagued most of north Louisiana. He was apparently being driven to school by his grandmother who was able to escape the car along with another 7-year-old but the 11 year old did not make it out. Flash Flood warnings are posted throughout north Louisiana.

Governor Bobby Jindal has formed an exploratory committee in efforts to help him in deciding whether or not to make a presidential run in 2016. Jindal has stated he will make a final decision by the end of June. Michael Henderson, Director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab, says this is not a surprising move…:
CUT 6 (08) “of the moments”
This is seen as a sign of how serious Jindal is about running for the GOP presidential nomination.

East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Beau Clark says the cause of the death of Tahera Ghassemi, who has been missing since early April, is a gunshot wound to the head. Detectives believe the woman’s ex husband paid three men $10,000 to murder her. State Police Col Mike Edmonson says this is pathetic…:
CUT 10 (09) “a human body”
The four are being held without bond.

Cops say an 11-year-old died in flood waters in Ruston today as the area deals with flash flood watches and warnings issued across north Louisiana. Jason Hansford with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says there have been reports of up to 5 inches of rain already in the Monroe area…:
CUT 4 (06) “Caldwell Parish”
He says there were reports the Shreveport area got up to six inches of rain this morning.

Officials in Tangipahoa Parish say a tornado that touched down Sunday in Tickfaw injured three people and damaged several homes. The National Weather Service says the twister had wind speeds of up to 110-miles-per-hour. They say three homes were destroyed or had major damage.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office arrests four including the ex-husband of a 54-year-old woman who has been missing sine early April in an apparent murder for hire plot. Detectives believe 64-year-old Hamid Ghassemi hired a man who worked for him, 33-year-old Daniel Richter of Walker and two other associates, to kill Tahereh Ghassemi. State Police Col Mike Edmonson says the confessions were chilling…:
CUT 9 (06) “no remorse”
Apparently the three suspects who shot and killed the woman split $10,000 paid to them by Hamid Ghassemi to kill his ex-wife. They are all being held without bond.

Governor Bobby Jindal announces the formation of a presidential exploratory committee to examine his chances at The White House. The committee also launched BobbyJindal.com seeking donations and supporters. On the web page Jindal says “we must fight to make sure the next generation is not the first generation to inherit fewer opportunities than their parents.

Flash Flood Watches and Warnings have been issued across north Louisiana as heavy rains have pounded the area throughout the morning. Cops say an 11-year-old drowned when his grandmother’s car got caught up in flood waters in Ruston. Jason Hansford with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says they’ve had reports in the Shreveport area of up to six inches of rain this morning…:
CUT 3 (07) “Bossier City areas”

May is Foster Care Month which is why the Department of Children and Family Services is making an extra push to recruit foster families. Scott Carwile reports…:
CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says the body of a woman who’s been missing since early April has been found in St. Helena Parish and four people, including her ex husband, have been arrested in an apparent murder-for-hire plot. Investigators believe 54-year-old Tahera Ghassemi’s former husband, 64-year-old Hamid Ghassemi, paid three men $10,000 for the murder. Additional details are being released at this hour.

The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee meets this morning to talk about the revenue generating bills sent to them from the House. Among items up for discussion are reductions in business tax benefits and a scaling back of film and solar tax credits. Jeremy Alford of La-Politics.com says the Senate will likely look at limiting those two programs further and putting a higher amount on the cigarette tax..:
CUT 14 (09) “entire answer”
The House passed 11 bills that would increase revenues by 615-million dollars.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission begins a statewide “Click It or Ticket” campaign today focusing on back seat passengers, pickup trucks, and low compliance areas. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

Governor Bobby Jindal announces W.R. Grace & Co. announced Advanced Refining Technologies will make a capital investment of $135 million dollars to build a residue hydro-processing catalyst production plant at the existing Grace manufacturing facility near Lake Charles. The company will retain 295 jobs and the project will create 30 new direct jobs.

May is Foster Care Month which is why the Department of Children and Family Services is making an extra push to recruit foster families…

cut 2 (31) “reporting”

State Police say a three vehicle crash on I-49 in Evangeline Parish killed a Covington couple. They say one car became disabled in the roadway after being struck by lightning. A wrecker truck following that car stopped in time to avoid a collision, but a third car ran into the wrecker. The driver of that car, 22-year-old Austin Jones, and a passenger, 24-year-old Destinee Jones, died as a result of their injuries. A 1-year-old in their car was restrained in a child safety seat and suffered minor injuries.

Today begins a statewide “Click It or Ticket” campaign focusing on back seat passengers, pickup trucks, and low compliance areas. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lt. Col. John LeBlanc says they provide extra funding for law enforcement to increase patrols through the campaign…

cut 6 (09) “rate goes up”

Their 2014 seat belt survey showed 84-percent of Louisiana motorists buckled up, the highest rate to date.

17-year-old Koryn Hawthorne of Abbeville will compete in the finals of NBC’s “The Voice”. Hawthorne had to battle another contestant to advance and a Twitter vote moved her into tonight’s finals. Hawthorne’s principal at Lighthouse Christian School, Tiffany Spraggins says their students were showing teachers how to set up Twitter accounts so they could all vote for #TeamKoryn…

cut 11 (09) “fun experience”

The finals are tonight at seven.