The push to trigger a constitutional convention is picking up steam, as this year’s version of the bill gained a majority vote in the House, but not the two thirds needed for passage. The convention is aimed at rewriting the rules on Louisiana’s finances. President of the Louisiana Association of Business and industry Stephen Waguespack says it puts voters in control of what is “protected” spending.

Cut 7 (11)  “themselves”

Two Louisianans have put together a petition that’s gathered nearly 13,000 signatures asking to state not to remove the 37,000 Medicaid recipients from the program in light of letters sent out warning that budget cuts could eliminate their programs. One of the petition’s creators, social worker Andrea Centofanti says even the potential for a loss of coverage reflects very poorly on the state.

Cut 6 (06) “populations”

The National Retail Federation anticipates an increase in spending for Mother’s Day. A 20 year veteran of retail marketing and CEO of FUEL Partnerships, Erik Rosentrauch, says spending is expected to reach $23 billion in 2018, a 61% increase since 2009. People between the ages 35-44 are projected to spend the most, averaging $224. Rosentrauch recommends experiential gifts, like sending mom out for a spa day or a concert. He says experiential gifts last longer than material items, allowing the family to continually celebrate their mothers.

Cut 13 (08)  “happiness value” 

Lsu Alumnus and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise will deliver the keynote address at LSU’S 295^th Commencement today. He will also deliver the keynote address to the law center’s commencement ceremony on June 1^st.

A petition is nearing 13,000 signatures that asks the state not to kick 37,000 Medicaid recipients off the program, and potentially out of nursing homes. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The push to trigger a constitutional convention is picking up steam, as this year’s version of the bill gained a majority vote in the House, but not the two thirds needed for passage. The convention is aimed at rewriting the rules on Louisiana’s finances. President of the Louisiana Association of Business and industry Stephen Waguespack:

Cut 8 (08)  “80 times”

Heart wrenching testimony was presented in favor of a bill that would make it illegal to touch your phone while driving. The bill passed Senate Transportation. Gabrielle from East Baton Rouge Parish says she was hit by a truck on I-10 that was going 75 miles per hour, and the driver didn’t react until a half a second before impact because they were on their phone.

Cut 14 (11) “do that”

The National Retail Federation anticipates an increase in spending for Mother’s Day. A 20 year veteran of retail marketing and CEO of FUEL Partnerships, Erik Rosentrauch, says spending is expected to reach $23 billion in 2018, a 61% increase since 2009. People between the ages 35-44 are projected to spend the most, averaging $224.

Cut 11 (04) “on her”

Rosentrauch says that Mother’s Day is the third highest spending holiday behind Christmas and the Back-to-School season.

Sunday is Mother’s Day and the National Retail Federation anticipates that Americans will spend 23 billion dollars on mom. Becca Dill has more.

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Becca Dill”

Heart wrenching testimony was presented in favor of a bill that would make it illegal to touch your phone while driving. And a New Iberia woman told the panel how she received a call while in Puerto Rico, preparing for her wedding, that her father had been hit by a man who was on his phone while behind the wheel.

Cut 16 (11) “paying attention”

Two Louisianans have put together a petition that’s gathered nearly 13,000 signatures asking to state not to remove the 37,000 Medicaid recipients from the program in light of letters sent out warning that budget cuts could eliminate their programs. One of the petition’s creators, social worker Andrea Centofanti says the letters are a blow to people who already have a lot to deal with. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the letters were mailed to seniors to encourage them to get a head start on trying to qualify for other programs in the event their coverage is canceled, but Centofanti says many of those patients don’t qualify for anything else.

Cut 5  (08)  “sometimes”

Lsu Alumnus and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise will deliver the keynote address at LSU’S 295^th Commencement today. He will also deliver the keynote address to the law center’s commencement ceremony on June 1^st.

Momentum is building for a constitutional convention, as the bill gained more support in the House than it has in previous years. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

Heart wrenching testimony was presented in favor of a bill that would make it illegal to touch your phone while driving. The bill passed Senate Transportation. Susan says her daughter died in front of her small children who had just been dropped off after she was hit pulling out of a driveway by a driver who was on his phone.

Cut 15 (10) “of her”

Two Louisianans have put together a petition that’s gathered nearly 13,000 signatures asking to state not to remove the 37,000 Medicaid recipients from the program in light of letters sent out warning that budget cuts could eliminate their programs. One of the petition’s creators, social worker Andrea Centofanti says the letters are a blow to people who already have a lot to deal with.

Cut 4  (11) “eviction notice” 

The National Retail Federation anticipates an increase in spending for Mother’s Day. A 20 year veteran of retail marketing and CEO of FUEL Partnerships, Erik Rosentrauch says that Mother’s Day is the third highest spending holiday behind Christmas and the Back-to-School season. People are projected to spend most of their money on flowers, dining, and jewelry. The National Retail Federation estimates that Americans will spend an average 180 dollars per person.

Cut 12 (12) “4.4 billion dollars”

A petition is nearing 13,000 signatures that asks the state not to kick 37,000 Medicaid recipients off the program, and potentially out of nursing homes. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Heart wrenching testimony was presented in favor of a bill that would make it illegal to touch your phone while driving. The bill passed Senate Transportation. Gabrielle from East Baton Rouge Parish says she was hit by a truck on I-10 that was going 75 miles per hour, and the driver didn’t react until a half a second before impact because they were on their phone.

Cut 14 (11) “do that”

The National Retail Federation anticipates an increase in spending for Mother’s Day. A 20 year veteran of retail marketing and CEO of FUEL Partnerships, Erik Rosentrauch, says spending is expected to reach $23 billion in 2018, a 61% increase since 2009. People between the ages 35-44 are projected to spend the most, averaging $224.

Cut 11 (04) “on her”

Lsu Alumnus and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise will deliver the keynote address at LSU’S 295^th Commencement today. He will also deliver the keynote address to the law center’s commencement ceremony on June 1^st.

52 percent of the high school class of 2017 qualified for TOPS this year, a nearly 1,000 student increase over the class of 2016.  Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White says TOPS needs to be maintained, even with its large price tag.

Cut 10 (08) “better outcomes”

Governor John Bel Edwards punched back against lawmakers who criticized his decision to mail nursing home eviction warnings resulting from a potential Medicaid cut, and who are stalling on approving the 648 million dollars in revenue needed to fund healthcare and TOPS. Governor Edwards:

Cut 14 (15)  “that revenue”

Edwards says he now supports renewing a portion of the expiring penny sales tax to close the budget gap.

It will be easier to recall an elected official in Louisiana, if the Governor signs a bill into law that has cleared the legislature. A 31-1 senate vote sent HB 54 by Mandeville  Representative Paul Hollis to the governor’s desk.  The bill lowers the threshold on how many signatures are needed to have a recall election held.

Cut 3 (11) “and 1/3rd”

An off-duty Slidell police officer, Dennis Neyland, aided the release of a kidnapped 83-year-old woman in Downtown Baton Rouge on Wednesday afternoon. Baton Rouge Police spokesperson, Sergeant L’Jean McKneely  that after the victim withdrew a reported 800 dollars in cash from the ATM, she refused to follow Raymond’s commands to move the vehicle…

Cut 13 (08) “wasn’t okay”

The Baton Rouge Police arrived to arrest Raymond on armed robbery, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, and battery of a police officer..

Governor John Bel Edwards punched back against lawmakers who criticized his decision to mail nursing home eviction warnings resulting from a potential Medicaid cut, and who are stalling on approving the 648 million dollars in revenue needed to fund healthcare and TOPS. But Edwards says with a rebounding economy, they won’t need to renew all of the expiring taxes.

Cut 15 (12) “talking about”

Edwards says he now supports renewing a portion of the expiring penny sales tax to close the budget gap.

Louisiana high schools posted an all-time high of 78.1 percent of four year graduation for the class of 2017. 52 percent of students qualified for TOPS, and Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White says the program needs to be maintained.

Cut 10 (08) “better outcomes”

It will be easier to recall an elected official in Louisiana, if the Governor signs a bill into law that has cleared the legislature. A 31-1 senate vote sent HB 54 by Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis to the governor’s desk. Hollis says even with this change to our recall laws, Louisiana still has a high standard when it comes to the process of removing an elected official.

Cut 5  (12) “registered voters”

An off-duty Slidell police officer, Dennis Neyland, aided the release of a kidnapped 83-year-old woman in Downtown Baton Rouge on Wednesday afternoon. The officer rescued the woman after fighting with the suspect in the middle of a road near Laurel and 4th. Baton Rouge Police spokesperson, Sergeant L’Jean McKneely…

Cut 13 (08) “wasn’t okay”

Raymond is charged with armed robbery, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, and battery of a police officer.

It will be easier to recall an elected official in Louisiana, if the Governor signs a bill into law that has cleared the legislature. A 31-1 senate vote sent HB 54 by Mandeville Representative Paul Hollis to the governor’s desk.  The bill lowers the threshold on how many signatures are needed to have a recall election held.

Cut 3 (11) “and 1/3rd”

37,000 letters warning Medicaid patients that their programs could be canceled go out today. Jeff Palermo gets reaction from Republican legislators.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A bill strengthening laws against animal sexual abuse passed the House unanimously and heads back to the Senate for final passage. Conservative Christian groups oppose it, because they say it could undermine Louisiana’s unconstitutional anti-sodomy law. Lafayette Representative Jean-Paul Coussan weighed in, with commentary from Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey.

Cut 6 (08)  “the state”

Louisiana high schools posted an all-time high of 78.1 percent of four year graduation for the class of 2017. That’s an increase of eleven percent over the last ten years. Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White says it’s a 4,000 student increase over last year.

cut 8 (10) “thirty two”

37,000 letters are being mailed out to recipients of four Medicaid programs that reads “Because of possible budget cuts, these programs may end as of July 1, 2018.” 20,000 of those recipients are nursing home residents who could be thrown out as a result. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny tried to douse some of the growing fires by letting the 37,000 letter recipients know that the Senate has no intention of passing a budget that cuts their programs.

Cut 8 (10)  “medical schools”

Western Global Airlines will invest three million dollars in a new facility in Shreveport, which could lead to 170 direct jobs. Louisiana Economic Development estimates that an additional 308 new jobs will be created by the facility run by the Florida based company. Secretary Don Pierson says the state will pitch in a million dollars in maintenance repair, because it’ll help put people back to work who lost their jobs when Continental Express Jet left the city.

Cut 11 (10) “the US”

Two medical marijuana bills passed the Senate with amendments and are headed to the House. One bill would add additional categories, such as PTSD to the already existing list diseases medical marijuana is eligible to treat, and the other would allow the treatment to be given to autism patients

Houma Senator Norby Chabert says allowing medical marijuana to be prescribed to more illnesses is a first step in combating the opioid crisis.

He closed with an impassioned plea to Senators who were on the fence.

Cut 17 (10)  “for it”

Governor John Bel Edwards will be holding a news conference this morning at 11 a.m. in Lafayette at the UHC Medical center. , the governor and other speakers will discuss the looming fiscal cliff and deep cuts to health care in the current budget bill passed by the House of Representatives, including the impact they will have on partner hospitals like UHC.

Two medical marijuana bills are getting closer to final passage. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Western Global Airlines will invest three million dollars in a new facility in Shreveport, which could lead to 170 direct jobs. Louisiana Economic Development estimates that an additional 308 new jobs will be created by the facility run by the Florida based company. Secretary Don Pierson says there’s quite a few reasons why the shipping company, which conducts business with UPS and FedEx, chose the north Louisiana location.

Cut 10 (10) “the US”

37,000 letters are being mailed out to recipients of four Medicaid programs that reads “Because of possible budget cuts, these programs may end as of July 1, 2018.” 20,000 of those recipients are nursing home residents who could be thrown out as a result. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says after multiple failed attempts to fund the programs, people need to start preparing for the worst.

But many Republicans are balking at the release of those letters, saying they amount to a political stunt. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton, who voted for the House spending plan that included the Medicaid cuts, says the panic isn’t justified because the process isn’t over. She accused Governor John Bel Edwards of playing politics and using the letters as a scare tactic targeting the state’s most vulnerable.

Cut 6 (06) “one has”

Dardenne hit back at House Republicans who voted for the budget, yet criticized the mailing of the letters, saying this is what the deep budget cuts that fiscal hawks advocate for look like.

Cut 7 (10)  “dire consequences”