The House Health and Welfare committee clears legislation prohibiting an abortion, if the decision to terminate the pregnancy is based on sex selection. Houma Representative Lenar Whitney is the author of the bill and she says the use of abortion as a means for sex selection is a social problem in a number of Asian countries where male children are widely preferred over females…:
CUT 9 (09) “baby girls”
There was no objection and the measure heads to the full House.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is under arrest for allegedly beating his pregnant girlfriend so badly, the unborn child’s heart stopped beating. Captain Dawn Foret says they received a complaint that 36-year-old Tyson Cheavis of Gibson repeatedly abused his 27-year-old pregnant girlfriend…:
CUT 3 (08) “pregnancy recently”
Cheavis was arrested and charged with second degree feticide and two counts of second degree battery.

A man who applied to be a youth baseball coach in Bossier Parish ended up making off with nearly $3000 in payments from players and sponsors. Lt. Bill Davis says 25-year-old Robert Martin III is wanted for felony theft. Detectives believe Martin may have fled the area or the state. Davis says they hope somebody comes forward who knows the whereabouts of Martin…
CUT 8 (10) “pretty low down”
He says it’s obvious Martin had no intention of every coaching the children.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office has arrested the former school bus driver who got into a crash on March 12th for operating while intoxicated. They say John Bernard was booked into jail on $40,000 bond. No students were seriously injured in the crash. Investigators say tests showed Bernard had a blood alcohol level of .04 percent at the time of the crash.

Legislation has been passed without objection that would prohibit someone from getting an abortion based on sex selection. Houma Representative Lenar Whitney says she filed this bill because there are major problems in Asia where males are preferred over girls in birth. Committee Chairman Joe Lopinto read off the list of groups and individuals who oppose the bill, but none of them spoke out against the measure….
CUT 11 (12) “for choice”
The bill heads to the House floor for more debate.

St. Bernard Parish President Dave Peralta has been indicted for three counts each of perjury and also filing false campaign reports. The charges were handed up today which essentially accuse Peralta of gambling campaign donations at casinos in New Orleans. He claims the money spent at casinos was campaign related and not gambled.

The Shreveport Police Department says two men have been charged after a four year old was shot and killed presumably by a 6 year old by a in a hotel room earlier this week. They say 19-year-old Anthony Perot and 25-year-old Jeveara Johnson are each booked with a single count of felon in possession of a firearm. Investigators believe these two were in the room at the time of the incident but they are not charged in the death of the child.

Baton Rouge Representative Dalton Honore has pulled his legislation that would have put recreational marijuana legalization on a ballot. Honore says times are changing and he’s glad the conversation about marijuana has been started this session, but his particular measure had too much opposition and he knew it wouldn’t pass…:
CUT 12 (09) “opposed to it”
Honore says he talked to everyone on the House Criminal Justice Committee who agreed this might be something to do one day, but not at this time.

The issue of whether or not recreational marijuana should be legal in Louisiana won’t be on a ballot in 2016. Baton Rouge Representative Dalton Honore pulled his measure at the Capitol today. He doesn’t think the people of Louisiana are ready for pot to be legal here, but he’s glad the conversation is starting…:
CUT 13 (06) “little farther”

Bossier Parish Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a Haughton man wanted for swindling nearly $3000 from a youth baseball league. Lt. Bill Davis says 25-year-old Robert Martin III applied to be a coach and collected money for the job but had no intention of supporting the league or players…:
CUT 7 (05) “with our children”
When league officials discovered Martin had a criminal record which made him ineligible to coach the children, they asked him to return the money and any equipment but he never showed up. If you know where this man is please contact authorities.

The House Health and Welfare Committee approves a bill that would prohibit abortions in Louisiana that are based on the gender of the unborn baby. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

TMZ is reporting that former LSU Tiger La’el Collins told police that he was in New Orleans attending a Pelicans playoff game the night his former girlfriend, who was eight months pregnant, was murdered. Sources say his GPS records on his cell phone will back up his story. Authorities spoke with Collins on Monday.

The House Health and Welfare committee unanimously approves legislation that would prohibit a doctor from performing an abortion if the decision to terminate the pregnancy was based on sex selection. It’s Houma Representative Lenar Whitney’s bill and she says this is a major problem in Asian countries where males are preferred over females…:
CUT 9 (09) “baby girls”
The bill heads to the House floor for more debate.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office arrests a man who allegedly beat his pregnant girlfriend up so badly she lost their baby. Captain Dawn Foret says the victim admitted she went to a hospital after an assault and ws told her unborn child did not have a heartbeat…:
CUT 4 (08) “his girlfriend”
Cheavis is charged with second degree feticide and two counts of second degree battery.

Baton Rouge Representative Dalton Honore has pulled his legislation that would have put recreational marijuana legalization on a ballot. Honore says times are changing and he’s glad the conversation about marijuana has been started this session, but his particular measure had too much opposition and he knew it wouldn’t pass…:
CUT 12 (09) “opposed to it”
Honore says he talked to everyone on the House Criminal Justice Committee who agreed this might be something to do one day, but not at this time.

A bill that would loosen penalties for people convicted of simple marijuana possession did pass out of the same committee today.

Bossier Parish Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a Haughton man wanted for swindling nearly $3000 from a youth baseball league. Lt. Bill Davis says 25-year-old Robert Martin III applied to be a coach and started collecting checks and sponsor money. He says it’s apparent that everything with Martin was not on the up and up…:
CUT 6 (09) “out the door”
Martin is wanted for felony theft.

Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton has decided to pull her bill that would ban the supplying of a child 12 years or under with an UZI submachine gun…:
CUT 1 (12) “next year”
The chairman of the House Criminal Justice Committee Joe Lopinto says there were several cards in opposition to Norton’s bill.

It’s being reported that the parents of twin two-year-old girls who were killed in a house fire last year have been indicted in the deaths of their daughters. Apparently the mother, Andrea Aaron, has been charged with two counts of second degree murder and the father charged with two counts of “accessory after the fact.” We’ll have more on this developing story.

A bill that would let voters decide whether or not they think pot should be legal for personal use is awaiting hearing at the Capitol. Scott Carwile reports…:
CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is behind bars accused of beating his pregnant girlfriend so badly, she lost the baby. Captain Dawn Foret says they received a complaint from a concerned citizen that there were multiple instances of abuse involving 36-year-old Tyson Cheavis of Gibson and his 27-year-old girlfriend…:
CUT 3 (08) “pregnancy recently”
Cheavis was arrested and charged with second degree feticide and two counts of second degree battery.

Legislation that would let voters decide whether or not recreational marijuana should be legal in Louisiana gets a hearing today. LSU Public Policy Polling Research Director Mike Henderson says a survey here shows there’s been a decline in opposition to pot for adult use over the past couple of years…:
CUT 7 (05) “three points”
The survey found support for legalization of marijuana for personal use is at 45 percent, lagging opposition at 52 percent.

The AARP of Louisiana wants to see more funding so that seniors can live at home instead of institutional care. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

We found out last night on NBC’s The Voice that Koryn Hawthorne of Abbeville is going to the semifinals which means tonight’s homecoming will be featured on next week’s episodes. Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza says they expect a huge crowd for the parade & concert downtown…:
CUT 12 (09) “great turnout”
He says they encourage fans to bring signs.

A bill by Baton Rouge Representative Dalton Honore that would let voters decide on the legalization of recreational marijuana in Louisiana gets a hearing today. LSU Public Policy Polling Research Director Mike Henderson says their survey found current support for legalizing marijuana for personal use is at 45 percent. He says the strongest support comes from younger Louisianians who don’t show up at the polls as often…

cut 9 (08) “of support”

Recreational marijuana for adult use is legal in Oregon, Washington D.C., Colorado, Alaska and Washington.

This is the last week Stephen Moret will be the Louisiana Economic Development Secretary before he begins his job as LSU Foundation President. Moret believes one of the biggest wins over the last several years has been the bringing in of Electronic Arts, or EA, to Baton Rouge…

cut 15 (08) “industry sector”

He says one of the most rewarding things about the last 7 years for him is how much Louisiana’s business climate ranking has improved.

There will be a homecoming celebration tonight in Abbeville for a local Top 5 finalist on NBC’s “The Voice”, Koryn Hawthorne. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (29) “reporting”

The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office says a pilot is dead after a crop duster crash between Basile and Eunice yesterday. Authorities say 32-year-old Jed Toups of Basile crashed his plane after he clipped a few trees and then crashed into a tree. Toups is survived by his three children and his wife, who is pregnant with their fourth child. The Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is being turned over to the FAA.

A bill that would let voters decide whether or not they think pot should be legal for personal use gets a hearing at the Capitol today. Scott Carwile reports…

cut 2 (31) “reporting”

Shreveport Police say a man is fighting for his life after an early morning shooting. When authorities arrived on the scene, they found 20-year-old Corey Davenport suffering from a gunshot wound to the lower abdomen. Davenport was transported to a local hospital for life-threatening injuries. Detectives are working to identify a suspect and motive for the shooting.

AARP of Louisiana wants to see more funding so that seniors can live at home instead of institutional care. Interim State Director, Denise Bottcher, is hopeful this legislative session produces funding so more seniors can avoid nursing homes and take some of the burden off of family caregivers…

cut 6 (11) “at home”

Their survey shows that 83-percent of respondents support funding to provide more services for seniors living at home.

Tonight in Abbeville, there will be a homecoming celebration for a local Top 6 finalist on NBC’s “The Voice”, Koryn Hawthorne. Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza says they couldn’t be more proud of Koryn and her success on the popular singing competition show and the exposure she is helping bring to their small town…

cut 11 (06) “on her behalf”

A homecoming parade will begin at 5pm followed by a special concert in Magdalen Square downtown.

Based on an AARP of Louisiana survey, 90-percent of Louisiana voters say home and community based services are important to stay in their own home as they age. Interim State Director, Denise Bottcher, says their survey also shows that 83-percent of respondents support funding to provide more services for seniors living at home…

cut 5 (11) “it is they want”

She hopes this legislative session produces funding so more seniors can avoid institutional care.

Baton Rouge Representative Dalton Honore’s bill that would let voters decide whether or not recreational marijuana should be legal in Louisiana gets a hearing today. LSU Public Policy Polling Research Director Mike Henderson says doesn’t think Louisianians would make it legal now, but likely in the next 10 years…:

cut 8 (07) “less often”

Their survey found support for legalization of marijuana for personal use is at 45 percent, lagging opposition at 52 percent.

This is Stephen Moret’s last week as Louisiana Economic Development Secretary before he begins his job as LSU Foundation President. Moret says the best feeling over the years is meeting someone who’s gotten a job they helped bring here…

cut 14 (12) “single time”

On the Jim Engster Show, Moret says no LED Secretary successor has been named yet, but he believes it will be within in the next few days.

There will be a homecoming celebration tonight in Abbeville for a local Top 5 finalist on NBC’s “The Voice”, Koryn Hawthorne. The aspiring young singer will ride in a homecoming parade at 5pm then put on a special concert in Magdalen Square downtown. Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza says Koryn has been singing in their community since she was a child…:

cut 10 (09) “great talent”

Piazza says fans are encouraged to bring signs in support of Hawthorne to the parade which is open to all.