New Orleans returns home with a 2-0 series lead after shocking the Trailblazers in Portland. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Entergy has announced that the tax savings from the federal tax reform bill will be passed back to customers starting in May. The savings will be implanted in two stages through September. Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May says by fall, the average customer will be saving six bucks a month.

Cut 7 (12)  “per month”

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The full House will consider a budget today that funds TOPS, but includes deep cuts in healthcare and higher education. The budget has come under fire from leading Democrats, including Governor John Bel Edwards who says the cuts are a massive blow to crucial state services.

Cut 10 (11) “dollars”

The state education board approved a plan to include opioid abuse prevention education in Louisiana public school curriculum. Press Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Education Sydni Dunn says educators can bring a unique set of skills to the fight against opioid addiction.

Cut 14 (10) “of prevention”

New Orleans returns home with a 2-0 series lead after shocking the Trailblazers in Portland. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Electric bills for Entergy customers are going down a few bucks, and just in time for summer. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (28) I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The House is set to discuss a budget today that would fully fund TOPS, but slash funding for higher education and healthcare. Michael Farrar has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

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The Pelicans are rolling back into New Orleans up 2-0 in their first round playoff series against the Trailblazers, after a suffocating defense sucked the life out of Portland’s star duo of CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard. Pelicans Senior Vice President of Sales Mike Stanfield says New Orleans’ stars are putting on a clinic.

Cut 4  (09) “special team.” 

Stanfield says over the course of one of the most successful seasons in a decade, the fans have bought in, and turned up.

Cut 5  (07)  “sixth man”

The team is planning to throw a party for fans in attendance, with free tee-shirts, pep rallies, a fan fest outside, and…

Cut 6 (08) “exciting atmosphere.”

Game three tips off Thursday at 8pm with a potential series clinching game four on Saturday at 4pm.

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Entergy has announced that the tax savings from the federal tax reform bill will be passed back to customers starting in May. The savings will be implanted in two stages through September. Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May says by fall, the average customer will be saving six bucks a month.

Cut 7 (12)  “per month”

May says the savings are the result of the trillion dollar tax cut, as well as upgrades to Entergy’s infrastructure.

Cut 8 (09)  “lower cost.”

And the saving will come just in time to blunt the impact of dreaded Louisiana summer electric bills.

Cut 9 (07)  “going up”

Customers will see an additional drop of about two dollars a month after Katrina/Rita costs fall off in October.

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The full House will consider a budget today that funds TOPS, but includes deep cuts in healthcare and higher education. The budget has come under fire from leading Democrats, including Governor John Bel Edwards who says the cuts are a massive blow to crucial state services.

Cut 10 (11) “dollars”

Edwards says it’s a budget that’s so bad, it shouldn’t even be in consideration.

Cut 11 (10) “this long”

The Democratic Caucus is calling on its members to vote against the budget. They say it unfairly targets Democratic constituencies, while funding institutions in GOP districts.

But GOP House Delegation Chairman Lance Harris says the budget has one success, and that’s fully funding TOPS.

Cut 12 (09) “already planned”

Harris says the budget being discussed is not final, and a great tool for identifying where to start in a future special session.

Cut 13 (08)  “that process”

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The state education board approved a plan to include opioid abuse prevention education in Louisiana public school curriculum. Press Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Education Sydni Dunn says educators can bring a unique set of skills to the fight against opioid addiction.

State legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera (Per-Pair-Uh) says the state spent more than five million dollars on sexual harassment claims over the past 9 years. Purpera (Per-Pair-Uh) says their audit also concluded there is no clear cut process on what an employee should do if a harassment incident occurs…

Cut 8 (:12) “those claims.”
The audit also found that 77-percent of state employees never reported harassment they felt they experienced.

The Democratic Caucus is pushing back against a budget that will be discussed tomorrow on the House Floor that includes 648 million dollars in cuts to higher education and healthcare. Caucus Chairman Robert Johnson says the budget discriminates against Democratic constituencies, while funding projects in Republican areas of the state.

Cut 14 (09) “that’s immoral”
The caucus is also pushing back against part of the budget that fully funds TOPS, but cuts the higher education budget.

A bill that would allow companies like Uber to operate across the state passed the House on a resounding 97-1 vote. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Entergy expects to reduce your electric bill starting in May and by the fall season, Entergy says average customers should save six bucks a month.  The savings are due to a trillion dollar federal tax cut, plus upgrades to Entergy’s infrastructure. The utility company says the decrease will come just in time to help consumers with Louisiana’s summer electric bills. Customers should see another drop of about two dollars a month after Katrina/Rita costs fall off their electric bills in October.

The state’s legislative auditor has completed a sexual harassment survey of thousands of state workers and concluded that the state should do a better job of educating its workers on the issue. Auditor Daryl Purpera says without a standard procedure the issue may continue.

Cut 9 (10) “that report”

The audit findings largely came from the Office of Risk Management.

On a 97-1 vote, the House passed legislation that would permit companies like Uber to operate across the state, without needing to make local agreements. The bill, by Speaker Taylor Barras, would bring Louisiana in line with the vast majority of other state’s rideshare regulations. Barras says it’s a big benefit with a small price tag.

Cut 11 (07) “in workforce.”

The bill moves onto the Senate.

A bill to ban drivers from using their phone with their hands while on the road failed to pass the House floor after an, at times, contentious debate. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey says the bill is unnecessary nanny state legislation.

Cut 15 (10) “be responsible”

And the Pelicans are rolling into New Orleans with a 2-0 series lead after shocking the Trailblazers in Portland. Anthony Davis is averaging 28 points and 13 boards but maybe the biggest impact has come from star point guard Jrue Holliday, who’s averaging 27 points while completely locking down the Blazers high scoring backcourt duo of CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard. Game three tipoff is at 8pm tomorrow.

And now here’s commodity prices.

The state’s legislative auditor has completed a sexual harassment survey of thousands of state workers and concluded that the state should do a better job of educating its workers on the issue. Jeff Palermo has more

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Pelicans return to New Orleans with a two games to nothing series lead over Portland after a 111 to 102 victory last night. Jrue Holiday scored a career playoff-high 33 points. And on the defensive end, Holiday held Damian Lillard to 17 points. Head Coach Alvin Gentry says Holiday has been playing a high level for a while…

A modest Holiday says he’s just doing what his teammates expect out of him…

Cut 4 (09) “right now”

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The full House has approved legislation that gives residents a chance to vote on whether fantasy sports betting should be legal in their parish. The bill’s author, River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says

Currently, fantasy sports websites like Draft Kings and Fan Duel do not allow Louisiana residents to play in their contests. Talbot says all his legislation does is legalize it in parishes, if it’s approved by a majority of residents in November…

Cut 7 (10)  “regulate it”

A bill to ban drivers from using their phone with their hands while on the road failed to pass the House floor after an, at times, contentious debate. The legislation by Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval was inspired by the traffic deaths of a constituent’s child. Huval says it’s a bill designed to save lives.

Cut 13 (12)  “they know”

The Pelicans return to New Orleans with a two games to nothing series lead over Portland after a 111 to 102 victory last night. Jrue Holiday scored a career playoff-high 33 points. And on the defensive end, Holiday held Damian Lillard to 17 points. Head Coach Alvin Gentry says Holiday has been playing a high level for a while…

Cut 3 (10) “offensively”

The full House has approved legislation that gives residents a chance to vote on whether fantasy sports betting should be legal in their parish. The bill’s author, River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot, explained to the rest of the House how the fantasy sports games work…

Cut 6 (06)  “to play”

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Sports betting is off the books for the foreseeable future in Louisiana. Don Molino has the story.

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Don Molino.”

A bill allowing judges to inform juries about whether or not a victim in a car crash was wearing a seat belt died in a Senate Committee. The bill was promoted as potentially leading to smaller settlements in some cases, which would drive insurance rates down. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt, the bill’s sponsor, says we should trust judges to make the right call.

Cut 10 (08) “a jury”

Sports betting will not be legal in Louisiana anytime soon as a push to allow parishes to vote on allowing it in casinos was shot down six to three in Senate Finance. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny, the bill’s sponsor, says if the US Supreme Court expands sports gaming nationwide, Louisiana could lose out on a lot of tourism to its neighbors.

Martiny says keeping sports gaming illegal in Louisiana isn’t going to keep Louisianans from placing bets on their favorite sports.

Cut 6 (11) “of it.”

A Senate committee approves legislation that would prohibit abortions in Louisiana after 15 weeks from conception, but there are concerns the legislation could bring upon unintended consequences.

Pro-choice advocates were on hand to testify against the 15-week abortion ban. Amy Irvin of the New Orleans Abortion Fund says the legislation will cost the state thousands of dollars to defend

Cut 9 (07)  “costly litigation”

The US Supreme Court could rule on allowing sports betting in all 50 states this spring.

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A bill allowing judges to inform juries about whether or not a victim in a car crash was wearing a seat belt died in a Senate Committee. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon could not guarantee that insurance rates would go down as a result of the bill, and Bossier City senator Ryan Gatti says it’s emblematic of problems with the bill as a whole.

Cut 12 (09) “be reduced”

A bill to ban drivers from using their phone with their hands while on the road failed to pass the House floor after an, at times, contentious debate.

The bill received stiff opposition from Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton, who frequently clashed with Huval during her questioning.

Cut 14 (11) “still distracted”

A bill that would make it illegal to hold and use your phone while driving was narrowly defeated in the House. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Sports betting will not be legal in Louisiana anytime soon as a push to allow parishes to vote on allowing it in casinos was shot down six to three in Senate Finance. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says the opposition wasn’t interested in expanding gambling in the state.

Cut 5  (07)  “respect that”

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A Senate committee approves legislation that would prohibit abortions in Louisiana after 15 weeks from conception, but there are concerns the legislation could bring upon unintended consequences. Kaplan Senator Jonathan Perry urged the bill’s author to work on the language of the bill with an attorney, before bringing it up to the Senate floor

An attorney said if “Roe versus Wade” is overturned, this legislation could actually weaken Louisiana’s pro-life laws by allowing abortions within 15 weeks of pregnancy. But the bill’s author, Shreveport Senator John Milkovich, urged the committee to pass his legislation so its in place if the federal appeals court upholds Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban.

Cut 8 (05)  “after 15 weeks.”

A bill allowing judges to inform juries about whether or not a victim in a car crash was wearing a seat belt died in a Senate Committee. The bill was promoted as potentially leading to smaller settlements in some cases, which would drive insurance rates down

A Senate committee approves a bill that would ban abortions 15-weeks after conception, but its uncertain if it will get final legislative approval. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31) I’m Jeff Palermo”

Sports betting will not be legal in Louisiana anytime soon as a push to allow parishes to vote on allowing it in casinos was shot down six to three in Senate Finance. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny, the bill’s sponsor, says if the US Supreme Court expands sports gaming nationwide, Louisiana could lose out on a lot of tourism to its neighbors.

Cut 4  (10) “we don’t.” 

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A bill allowing judges to inform juries about whether or not a victim in a car crash was wearing a seat belt died in a Senate Committee. The bill was promoted as potentially leading to smaller settlements in some cases, which would drive insurance rates down.

But the bill received opposition from Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti, who says the bill punishes victims with lower settlements in crashes that weren’t their fault.

Cut 11 (06) “everyday thing”

A bill to ban drivers from using their phone with their hands while on the road failed to pass the House floor after an, at times, contentious debate. The legislation by Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval was inspired by the traffic deaths of a constituent’s child. Huval says it’s a bill designed to save lives.

Cut 13 (12)  “they know”

Sports betting is off the books for the foreseeable future in Louisiana. Don Molino has the story.

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Don Molino.”

A Senate committee approves legislation that would prohibit abortions in Louisiana after 15 weeks from conception, but there are concerns the legislation could bring upon unintended consequences. Kaplan Senator Jonathan Perry urged the bill’s author to work on the language of the bill with an attorney, before bringing it up to the Senate floor

Cut 7 (07)  “it can hurt”

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A bill allowing judges to inform juries about whether or not a victim in a car crash was wearing a seat belt died in a Senate Committee. The bill was promoted as potentially leading to smaller settlements in some cases, which would drive insurance rates down. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt, the bill’s sponsor, says we should trust judges to make the right call.

Cut 10 (08) “a jury”

The Pelicans went up 2-0 on the Blazers in their first-round series Tuesday night with a 111-102 road win. They did this thanks in part to main man Anthony Davis—who picked up a 22-point double-double—but mostly because point guard Jrue Holiday took the game over and willed the Pelicans to a narrow victory.