After months of high-water and swollen waterways, St. Martin Parish is getting ready for even higher river levels once the Morganza Spillway opens Sunday.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”
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The Senate will hear arguments on a bill banning drivers from touching their cell phone while behind the wheel after the proposal passed the House amid heated debate.
Cut 2 (30) “…google maps…”
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A bill that would outlaw abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected receives final passage in the House without any exemptions for rape and incest victims. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “..Kevin Barnhart”
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The House and Senate are at odds over whether or not to include a 39-million-dollar funding increase for public schools, on top of a 1,000-1,200 dollar pay raise for teachers.
A portion of the 39 million would help keep increased benefits costs from a pay raise from falling back on educators and Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says the rest goes to the kids.
Cut 4 (07) “…as well.”
Both the House and Senate appear to agree on at least a 1,000-dollar teacher and 500 dollar support personnel pay raise.
Carter says Louisiana educators are about 2,200 dollars below the southern regional average, but teachers unions, the Governor, and some lawmakers have laid out a path back to the average.
Cut 5 (10) “…than that.”
The union president says his members are frustrated that their pay is notably lower than other states, but they’re willing to take baby steps towards a better wage…
Cut 6 (06) “…plan.”
Carter made the comments on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.
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The Morganza Spillway is four days away from opening and Pointe Coupee, St Landry, St Martin, Iberia, Iberville, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes are preparing for flooding.
St. Martin Parish President Chester Cedars says they’ve been fighting high water nearly all year, but officials are cautiously optimistic that they will be spared the worst.
Cut 7 (10) “…parish”
The state’s only non-contiguous Parish faces different challenges in it’s northern and southern regions. Cedars says they’re asking residents to stay off the levees in the north portion of the Parish while the waters swell.
Cut 8 (09) “feet.”
When the Spillway last opened in 2011, the Atchafalaya River rose to 23.1 feet at Butte La Rose.
The southern portion of the parish has been under a state of emergency since March, but Cedars says they do not expect much additional flooding in that area due to the sinking of a barge in Bayou Chene that will act as a temporary flood gate .
Cut 9 (07) “…down south″
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A bill banning drivers from holding their phone while behind the wheel is headed to the Senate after an at-times heated discussion on the House floor.
Slidell Representative Kevin Pearson says the legislation will save money on insurance rates, but more importantly, likely save the lives of Louisiana drivers, particularly teens.
Cut 10 (07) “…your life”
But opponents hammered home the argument that the proposal was government overreach. New Orleans Representative Gary Carter says if a cop even thinks you might be touching your phone…
Cut 11 (07) “…objectionable.”
He added a third offense would result in the suspension of a driver’s license.
The legislation led to a lengthy back and forth between Erath Representative Blake Miguez and Pearson, who argued about whether the penalty was just another traffic cash grab by the state…
Cut 12 (11) “…driver”
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Louisiana’s version of the fetal heartbeat bill has received final passage in the House. Similar bills in other states have drawn criticism. Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges says she supports the bill because a heartbeat is the measure by which someone is determined to be living.
Cut 13 (10) “…human rights violation.”
Baton Rouge Representative Ted James introduced an amendment to the bill that would see exemptions of the law applied to cases of rape or incest.
Cut 14 (11) “…to do that.”
The amendment failed to pass.
Among the opposition of the amendment was Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh who says children are not punished for the sins of their father, adding the way a child is conceived should not be a death sentence for the child.
Cut 15 (10) “…this is not.”
Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle responded to the suggestion from Rep. Seabaugh of executing rapists instead of allowing a victim to have an abortion.
Cut 16 (10) “…all the way.”
The measure is not expected to take effect anytime soon. Under the proposal, the restriction of abortions would not be enforceable until a federal appeals court rules on upholding a similar law in Mississippi. The bill is on the way to the desk of Governor Edwards, who has since released a statement confirming he is preparing to sign the bill.
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Stony Brook returns to the scene of its greatest athletic achievement in school history. The Seawolves upset LSU in the 2012 Super Regionals to advance to the College World Series for the first time in school history. Stony Brook and LSU meet again on Friday in the regional opening round. Seawolves head coach Matt Senk fondly remembers his last trip to Baton Rouge
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Stony Brook has a 31-21 record. They received an automatic bid by winning the American East Tournament. Senk’s Stony Brook team played at Arkansas earlier this season, so they got a taste of playing in an SEC atmosphere
Michael Wilson is Stony Brook’s top position player. He’s hitting .346 with nine home runs and 43 RBIs. Senk’s top two pitchers are Bret Clarke and Greg Marino and either one could start tomorrow night against LSU