New Orleans musical icon and six-time Grammy winner Dr. John has died. Actor Harry Shearer and fellow New Orleans musician Irma Thomas remember the legendary artist.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The feds have rejected a request to release individual assistance for victims of the April tornadoes that ripped through Lincoln, Morehouse, and Union Parishes. FEMA says they determined that the impact to the individuals and households from this event was not of such severity and magnitude to warrant the designation.”

Fantasy sports legalization fails to get a final vote after a last second filibuster on the Senate floor from the same legislator who brought an ultimately doomed sports betting bill. Two bills had to be approved in the last fifteen minutes of the session for fantasy sports to be OK’d. The first passed by a comfortable margin, but when the second was brought up, Metairie Senator Danny Martiny took the floor and appeared to run out the clock…

Cut 7 (07) “….vote”

That’s Fairness for Fantasy Sports spokesperson Ryan Berni, who says the filibuster subverted the will of Louisiana voters who approved the activity last fall.

CBD sales were legalized in the same legislation that allows industrial hemp production, and the ATC is now accepting applications from retailers interested in selling the products. ATC Commissioner Juana Lombard says there will be limits on the kinds of products available…

Cut 10 (09) “…beverages.”

A last second filibuster kills fantasy sports legalization as the session came to an end yesterday. Matt Doyle has the story…

cut 2 (31) I’m Matt Doyle”  

Six-time Grammy winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and New Orleans native Dr. John has died. New Orleans actor Harry Shearer says the music of Dr. John has impacted his life dating back to his first album.

Cut 5 (08) “…to Mac for that.”
Dr. John was 77.

CBD sales were legalized in the same legislation that OK’d industrial hemp production, and the ATC has begun accepting applications from retailers interested in selling the products.

ATC Commissioner Juana Lombard says retailers will need to come in and apply like they would for an alcohol, but they won’t have to take out a newspaper posting. After that…

Cut 9 (12) “….registration.”

The temporary permit will last through January. A permanent license can be obtained by working with the Department of Health on labeling requirements.

Two of college baseball’s best programs meet for a best out of three Super Regional Series on Saturday at Alex Box Stadium. The winner will advance to the College World Series. Kendall Rogers of D-1-baseball-dot-com says the Seminoles are playing their best baseball

Cut 12 (09)   “…right now.”

New Orleans has lost one of its most recognizable voices as six-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dr. John has passed away following a heart attack. Fellow Big Easy musician Irma Thomas, who recorded several songs written by Dr. John, says she had heard of his recent illness, but his death still comes as a surprise, adding he’ll be greatly missed by the city.

Cut 4 (09) “…to New Orleans.” 
Dr. John was 77.
Fantasy sports legalization fails to get a final vote after a last second filibuster on the Senate floor from the same legislator who brought an ultimately doomed sports betting bill. Fairness for Fantasy Sports spokesperson Ryan Berni says it’s a travesty that one legislator would seek retribution for his failed legislation by snubbing over 60 percent of voters that approved fantasy sports last year.

Cut 6 (09) “…anyway”

Louisiana farmers could be planting hemp by early next year after a legalization effort is signed into law. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control has begun work to permit retailers who wish to sell hemp-derived CBD products.

The 2019 Legislative session wrapped up Thursday at 6pm. Kevin Barnhart looks at what happened in the final moments before adjournment.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

Governor Edwards signs industrial hemp legalization into law, potentially clearing a path for the first crop in Louisiana to be planted early next year. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain.

Cut 13 (10) “40 degrees.”

Edwards celebrated the end of the first legislative season of his tenure to not feature special sessions and says the passage of most of his legislative agenda points the state in the right direction. Edwards says the over 300-million-dollar surplus the state ran last year made for smoother sailing when crafting a budget, as opposed to previous years’ fiscal chaos…

Cut 7 (10) “…session.”

The Democrat touted the fact that that surplus was largely invested into education.

House Republican Chairman Lance Harris feels overall it’s been a great session.  Harris says among the most positive pieces of legislation was the controversial fetal heartbeat abortion ban, which has already been signed into law by Governor Edwards, but he bemoaned the fact that once again, legislation targeting the state’s sky high auto insurance rates crashed and burned…

Cut 11 (10) “…in the country.”

Governor Edwards put a cap on what may have been the least contentious legislative session of his four year tenure. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Matt Doyle”

____________________________

The 2019 Legislative session wrapped up yesterday at 6pm. Kevin Barnhart looks at what happened in the final moments before adjournment.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

_______________________________________________

Louisiana farmers could be planting hemp by early next year after a legalization effort is signed into law. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

____________

The opening of the Morganza Spillway has been pushed back again, this time with no new date set. Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Ricky Boyett says the river levels are coming in a little lower than originally projected.

Cut 4 (10) “…on a daily basis.”

Boyett says it is possible the opening will still have to take place depending on weather conditions producing a rain event that requires the operation. Officials are monitoring the levels on at the Red River Landing, which is north of the spillway, to make sure the river level does not surpass the 62-foot mark.

Cut 5 (05) “…Morganza control structure.”

Boyett says the Corps is working as a 24/7 operation inspecting the levee to make sure the structure is in good shape.

Cut 6 (09) “…address any issues.”

The postponement is good news for farmers whose crops would have been lost by spillway flooding. Nearly a third of the 112 square miles of the spillway is used as farmland.

 ________________________________________

Governor Edwards celebrated the end of the first legislative season of his tenure to not feature special sessions and says the passage of most of his legislative agenda points the state in the right direction.

Edwards says the over 300-million-dollar surplus the state ran last year made for smoother sailing when crafting a budget, as opposed to previous years’ fiscal chaos…

Cut 7 (10) “…session.”

Opponents say the surplus is evidence that the Legislature did not need to pass a .45 percent sales tax renewal last year.

The Governor took a victory lap on his flagship proposal to secure a 1,000 dollar teacher pay raise and 39 million in new K-12 spending. Opponents fought the 39 million, preferring to invest more in early childhood education, but Edwards says in the end they got the best of both worlds…

Cut 8 (06) “…excellent”

Higher ed also received 47.2 million more dollars in this year’s budget than last year’s.

But it wasn’t all wins. Despite making it a campaign pledge in 2015, Edwards failed for the fourth year in a row to win a minimum wage increase, and Louisiana remains one of the few states at the 7.25 an hour federal minimum…

Cut 9 (10) “for it.”

Edwards backed a proposal to raise the minimum to nine dollars an hour.

___________________________________________________

The 2019 Legislative session is in the books. House Republican Chairman Lance Harris feels overall it’s been a great session.  Harris says among the most positive pieces of legislation was the controversial fetal heartbeat abortion ban, which has already been signed into law by Governor Edwards.

Cut 10 (09) “…thoughts and beliefs.”

However, Harris says there were some measures that for one reason or another didn’t make it through the session. Among them, the effort to save Louisiana drivers money on their auto insurance rates.

Cut 11 (10) “…in the country.”

Harris was in favor or making an effort to also save Louisiana taxpayers money by lowering the state’s sales tax rate. That effort ultimately failed this session.

Cut 12 (11) “…again next year.”

_________________

Governor Edwards signs industrial hemp legalization into law, potentially clearing a path for the first crop in Louisiana to be planted early next year.

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says if everything goes according to plan, Louisiana will join dozens of other states for the next planting season.

Cut 13 (10) “40 degrees.”

The feds are expected to release their requirements for hemp regulation later this year.

Strain says even though there was an extensive discussion of what hemp legalization would look like in the legislature, parties involves will still have to sign off on a final plan before the feds can OK it.

Cut 14 (11) “…USDA.”

There were some concerns early in the process about a lack of research involving hemp growth in Louisiana. Strain says because the plant is just now becoming legal, it may take a few years for our growers to get access to optimal varieties of the plant.

Cut 15 (10) “grow here”

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LSU and Florida State will meet tomorrow in a best of three Super Regional Series. The winner will advance to the College World Series. The Seminoles shocked college baseball observers by easily winning the Athens Regional. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri says F-S-U hit .375 and smacked 10 home runs during their three games at Georgia

Cut 16  (22) “…our hitters”  

LSU center fielder Zach Watson swung a hot bat last weekend as he hit two home runs. Watson says he likes the feel of postseason baseball…

cut 17 (13) “.Omaha” 

A political analyst says Governor Edwards is sitting pretty in the Governor’s race after racking up some big wins in the Legislative session…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Legislators have until 6 o’ clock tonight to finish their work for the 2019 session. They have to pass a budget, but there are no contentious battles there. There are still discussions occurring behind closed doors regarding fantasy sports tax and regulation bills and whether they should include sports betting legislation.

Many legislators were off to a late start this morning as south Louisiana was swamped today with a severe weather system creating localized flooding and even tornadoes. State climatologist Barry Keim says the system dumped dangerous amounts of water on some communities…

Cut 3 (11) “…region.”

37-year-old William Johnson died during the heavy rain event in Baton Rouge when his car flooded. Keim says the severe amount of rainfall was more than initially predicted, but this whole weather system has been unusual from the start.

Livingston Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Lori Steele says teams are surveying the wind damage from what is believed to be a tornado outbreak in various areas of the parish.

Cut 10 (10) “…that’s near Taylor.”

Some areas that saw flooding in 2016 are also experiencing issues today.  Steele discourages residents from sightseeing as many roads are impassable due to water and fallen trees.

South Louisiana was swamped today with a severe weather system creating localized flooding and even tornadoes. State climatologist Barry Keim says the system dumped dangerous amounts of water on some communities…

Cut 3 (11) “…region.”

Severe weather impacting southeast Louisiana has produced road flooding and reports of a tornado outbreak.  East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome says the flood waters resulted in one death, adding the heaviest rains came today during rush hour traffic.

Cut 9 (09) “….one hour timeframe.”

37-year-old William Johnson died in Baton Rouge when his car flooded today.

___________________________________________________

Political analyst Clancy DuBos says Governor Edwards has terrific momentum heading into the fall governor’s election after a successful legislative session. Dubos says the 1,000-dollar teacher pay raise, the 39 million in new education spending, and tens of millions of dollars in new infrastructure funds for New Orleans may win Edwards a second term.

Cut 6 (10) “…New Orleans”

New Orleans will get a 50-million-dollar funding injection, with an additional 27 million a year from redirected revenue generated by the hospitality industry.

Two of the biggest names in sports, Peyton Manning and Les Miles, are among the eleven that will be inducted this weekend into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches. Former LSU baseball coach and A-D  Skip Bertman hired Miles after Nick Saban left for the Miami Dolphins

Cut 12 (12)   “…antytime.”

South Louisiana is getting swamped today with a severe weather system creating localized flooding and even tornadoes across the region. State climatologist Barry Keim says the system is working it’s way across Louisiana, running west to east, and has already dumped dangerous amounts of water on some communities…

Cut 3, 11 seconds, region

One person died from the event in Baton Rouge when their car flooded.

Political analyst Clancy DuBos says Governor Edwards has terrific momentum heading into the fall governor’s election after a successful legislative session. But Edwards is taking some hits from his left flank as many pro-choice Democrats fume over his signing of one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bans. DuBos suspects those voters will still turn out for the Democrat.

Cut 7 (12) “….Edwards”

Edwards Is running against Republicans Eddie Rispone and Congressman Ralph Abraham.

Two of the biggest names in sports, Peyton Manning and Les Miles, are among the eleven that will be inducted this weekend into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches. Former LSU baseball coach and A-D  Skip Bertman hired Miles after Nick Saban left for the Miami Dolphins

Cut 12 (12)   “…antytime.”

Miles won 77-percent of his games while at LSU, including a national championship in 2007. Manning led the Colts and Broncos to Super Bowl victories and goes down as one of the NFL’s All-time greats.

Political analyst Clancy DuBos says politically Governor Edwards has terrific momentum heading into the fall governor’s election after a successful legislative session. Dubos says the 1,000-dollar teacher pay raise, the 39 million in new education spending, and tens of millions of dollars in new infrastructure funds for New Orleans may win Edwards a second term.
Cut 6 (10) “…New Orleans”
Education saw a 140-million-dollar total increase in new funding.
The Saints Hall of Fame Class of 2019 has been announced and former Governor Kathleen Blanco will receive the Fleur de Lis award for her efforts to get the Saints back to New Orleans by spearheading repairs to the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina.
Cut 11 (10) “…going to dispair.”
The ceremony takes place this October.

Voters will get to decide whether or not the state protects the right to abortion on the 2020 ballot, but the amendment does not provide exceptions for rape or incest, which promoted a heated Senate floor argument…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Today is the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied northern France, which was the turning point of World War Two. Some 10-thousand men from the Allied forces lost their lives on the beaches of Normandy. Louisiana US Senator Bill Cassidy says every American should take time to think about these brave soldiers…
cut 30 (10) “…around the world”

The Legislature approves a constitutional amendment that would allow voters on to decide if the state does not protect the right to an abortion, If Roe Vs. Wade is overturned.

Republican Senator Beth Mizell believes it’s necessary to show the state is pro-life. She had an intense argument with Democrat Karen Carter Peterson about rape and incest exceptions while sharing a mic on the Senate floor. Peterson says the law isn’t just without those exceptions, but Mizell says that’s only a fraction of abortion cases…

Cut 6 (07) “…of convenience.”

Labor issues found little traction this legislative session, despite backing from Governor Edwards, who made working-class wage issues a core part of his election pitch four years ago. Political Analyst Bernie Pisonat…

Cut 8 (09) “…failed again”

Edwards pushed for a minimum wage increase from the current 7.25 an hour to nine dollars an hour.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco is to be inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame this October alongside Reggie Bush and Marques Colston.  Kevin Barnhart has the story

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Louisiana’s First American Idol Laine Hardy says he’s ready to start working on his new album. It’s been only three weeks since he was named the countries newest Idol but he’s ready to get out of Hollywood and go to Nashville. Hardy says he’s excited about going to Music City because it’s closer to home.