Louisiana is receiving a 1.2 billion dollar block grant from the federal government to build up flood protection projects in parishes impacted by the historic 2016 floods that caused an estimated 8.7 billion dollars in damage. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the block grant will go right to the state and skip the red tape.

Cut 12, 10 seconds, for decades

The northern half of Louisiana is under an enhanced risk for severe weather this afternoon and into tonight. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a cold front will sweep through the state bringing the chance for flash flooding, but more concerning is the chance for tornadoes

Cut 9 (08) “pretty bumpy”

Expect temperatures as low as 50 in north Louisiana this weekend.

Big crowds are expected this weekend for Wrestlemania 34 which will take place Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. A fan convention called WrestleMania Axxess is underway at the Morial Convention Center. Bliss says it should be an amazing few days in the Big Easy…

Cut 8 (11) “over again”

75-thousand pro wrestling fans are expected to pack the Superdome and millions will watch on the WWE television network.

Louisiana State say an unidentified male tried to enter a Troopers car last night in New Orleans. Police later apprehended a juvenile and charged him with attempted carjacking of the unmarked police vehicle. Sergeant Jared Sandifer says the trooper observed the juvenile attempt to gain entrance into his vehicle and pulled his gun.

Cut 4 (11) “for that.”

Some scary moments for a Louisiana State Trooper last night in New Orleans as a yet unidentified person attempted to get into his vehicle. Police later apprehended a juvenile and charged him with attempted carjacking of the unmarked police vehicle. Sergeant Jared Sandifer says tt all started when a strange car just pulled up.

Cut 3 (09) “troopers vehicle”

Big crowds are expected this weekend for Wrestlemania 34 which will take place Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Hotel occupancy in the Big Easy is expected to be around 95-percent and when the city hosted Wrestlemania in 2014, the economic impact was 164-million dollars. WWE Superstar Alexia Bliss….

Cut 6 (08)  “thirty percent”

A bill legalizing the prescription of medical marijuana to children with autism passed the House on a 71-21 vote and heads next to the Senate. Harvey Representative Rodney Lyons, the bill’s sponsor, says he was moved by stories from his constituents who have family members who struggle with autism.

Cut 14 (08) “of life.”

Two TOPS bills have advanced out of committee that would raise requirements for receiving full TOPS. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Cajun Navy Relief will hold their first Search and Rescue Games this weekend in Henderson Bay in the Atchafalaya basin. Jeff Palermo has the details

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Two bills by Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey that would raise the minimum requirements to receive, and keep TOPS were passed out of the House Education Committee. One bill, would send students who score 2.5-2.75 GPAs and a 20 ACT to a two year college instead of a four-year university. Ivey says community colleges are a better place for those students.

Cut 7 (06)  “tremendous things”

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Wrestlemania 34 will be held Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.   It marks the first time WWE has visited the Crescent City since 2014.   Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the last event drew 75,000 fans from 50 states and 36 countries…

Cut 11 (09) “their stars.”

Nungesser says he is not surprised that the WWE chose to come back to New Orleans after hosting the even just four years ago. He says economic impact is huge for the hosting city…

A bill legalizing the prescription of medical marijuana to children with autism passed the House on a 71-21 vote and heads next to the Senate. Harvey Representative Rodney Lyons, the bill’s sponsor, says he was moved by stories from his constituents who have family members who struggle with autism.

Lyons says the families who care for autistic children need more positive legislation like this.

Cut 16 (06) “be heard.”

Cajun Navy Relief will hold its first Search and Rescue Games on Saturday in the Atchafalaya Basin. The games will serve as a training exercise for disaster rescue scenarios in extreme flooding. Spokesperson Amy Jones says the Games also give the volunteer rescue group a chance to work with new GPS equipment. This week, Colorado State researchers revealed they expect three strong hurricanes to strike the U.S. this year. Jones says the dire forecast makes these training games all that more important…

Cut 6 (09) “training event.”

Any boaters and dispatchers involved with real life search and rescue operations can sign up and participate.

Patrick Taylor Foundation Executive Director James Callier Callier says

Two bills by Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey that would raise the minimum requirements to receive, and keep TOPS will keep kids out of school.

Cut 10 (10) “to school”

The bills head to the House floor

Wrestlemania 34 will be held Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.   It marks the first time WWE has visited the Crescent City since 2014.   Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the last event drew 75,000 fans from 50 states and 36 countries…

Nungesser says that New Orleans’ atmosphere makes it the perfect city to host a wild event that WWE brings…

Cut 13 (11)  ” in Louisiana.”

A bill legalizing the prescription of medical marijuana to children with autism passed the House on a 71-21 vote and heads next to the Senate. Harvey Representative Rodney Lyons

says allowing these prescriptions sends a message of support to those families.

Cut 15 (12) “their voice”

A big tourism weekend is expected in New Orleans as Wrestlemania 34 takes place on Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Kelley Ray has the story…

Cut 3 (25) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

Cajun Navy Relief will hold its first Search and Rescue Games on Saturday in the Atchafalaya Basin. The games will serve as a training exercise for disaster rescue scenarios in extreme flooding. Spokesperson Amy Jones says the Games also give the volunteer rescue group a chance to work with new GPS equipment…

Jones says markers will be “hidden” in several locations and will need to be “rescued” just like in a real disaster scenario…

Cut 5  (10)  “return them.”

==============================—————

Two bills by Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey that would raise the minimum requirements to receive, and keep TOPS were passed out of the House Education Committee. One bill, would send students who score 2.5-2.75 GPAs and a 20 ACT to a two year college instead of a four-year university.

But Patrick Taylor Foundation Executive Director James Callier says it’s not right to keep those students, who are disproportionately minorities, out of a four year college program.

Cut 8 (07)  “assesment.”

The other bill would raise the standards needed to keep TOPS once awarded. Incoming freshman would need to keep a 2.75 GPA after 48 hours of classes, up from the current 2.5. Currently students can carry a 2.3 for their first three semesters, and Ivey says that’s just too low of a bar for aid.

Cut 9 (07)  “achievement is”

Two TOPS bills have advanced out of committee that would raise requirements for receiving full TOPS. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Cajun Navy Relief will hold its first Search and Rescue Games on Saturday in the Atchafalaya Basin. The games will serve as a training exercise for disaster rescue scenarios in extreme flooding. Spokesperson Amy Jones says the Games also give the volunteer rescue group a chance to work with new GPS equipment…

Cut 4  (11) “natural disaster.” 

============————————

Wrestlemania 34 will be held Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.   It marks the first time WWE has visited the Crescent City since 2014.   Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the last event drew 75,000 fans from 50 states and 36 countries…

Nungesser says he is not surprised that the WWE chose to come back to New Orleans after hosting the even just four years ago. He says economic impact is huge for the hosting city…

Cut 12 (06) “Orlando.Florida”

A bill legalizing the prescription of medical marijuana to children with autism passed the House on a 71-21 vote and heads next to the Senate. Harvey Representative Rodney Lyons, the bill’s sponsor, says he was moved by stories from his constituents who have family members who struggle with autism.

Cut 14 (08) “of life.”

The Cajun Navy Relief will hold their first Search and Rescue Games this weekend in Henderson Bay in the Atchafalaya basin. Jeff Palermo has the details

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Two bills by Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey that would raise the minimum requirements to receive, and keep TOPS were passed out of the House Education Committee. One bill, would send students who score 2.5-2.75 GPAs and a 20 ACT to a two year college instead of a four-year university. Ivey says community colleges are a better place for those students.

Cut 7 (06)  “tremendous things”

==========————————————————–

Wrestlemania 34 will be held Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.   It marks the first time WWE has visited the Crescent City since 2014.   Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the last event drew 75,000 fans from 50 states and 36 countries…

Cut 11 (09) “their stars.”

Nungesser says he is not surprised that the WWE chose to come back to New Orleans after hosting the even just four years ago. He says economic impact is huge for the hosting city…

Pig guts

A bill that would force students who lose TOPS to repay the money is headed to the House floor. Jim Shannon has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

Baton Rouge Police officer Howie Lake was back at work today for the first time in nearly two years. He was one of the two officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling. Since that time he was on paid administrative leave and then served a three-day suspension starting on Monday. It’s unclear what his role will be on the force going forward.

Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter has filed a bill on behalf of the governor’s office that’s designed to prevent hazing on college campuses. Carter says the legislation requires colleges and universities to provide hazing education and prevention during orientation…

Cut 3 (11) “on hazing”

Colorado State Researchers predict above average activity for the upcoming hurricane season, but nothing like the historic 2017 season that devastated the Gulf. 14 named storms are predicted for this year, below the 17 named storms last year. Dr. Michael Bell says there’s a one in three chance the Gulf Coast gets hit this season.

Cut 6 (08)  “thirty percent”

A bill that would force students who lose TOPS to repay the value of the scholarship passed a house committee on an eight to five vote. The legislation by Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo would charge students who drop out, or lose eligibility while in school. Garofalo says his bill isn’t mean spirited, it’s responsible.

Cut 15 (09) “that gift”

But New Orleans Representative Joseph Bouie says the bill targets working class students who often times lose eligibility after a few years when bills start piling up.

Cut 14 (11)   “to school”

The bill heads to House Appropriations.

A bill that expands illnesses that medical marijuana can be prescribed for clears a House Committee. State Representative Ted James bill adds Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, muscle spasms, and intractable pain to diagnoses that physicians will be able to prescribe medical marijuana for when it becomes available in Louisiana. Rep James…

Cut 9 (08) “save lives.”

Dr. Will Hall, with the Louisiana Baptist Coalition, warned the committee that not enough research has been done to determine the out-come of increasing the access to medical marijuana.

Cut 10 (:11) “etcetra.”

And a bill legalizing the use of medical marijuana for children with autism passed on a 71 to 21 vote.

A bill that would force students who lose TOPS to repay the money is headed to the House floor. Jim Shannon has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

Baton Rouge Police Department officer Howie Lake is back on the job today. He was one of two officers involved in the shooting death of Alton Sterling. The other officer, Blane Salamoni was fired for his involvement in which he shot Sterling at least six times. Lake was suspended for three days following an internal investigation by the BRPD.

A bill that expands illnesses that medical marijuana can be prescribed for clears a House Committee. State Representative Ted James bill says his motivation is because his constituents are leaving the state to go to other states to get medical marijuana, because they have tried the drug and it works.

Cut 12 (08)   “will help.”

The vote for the legislation was 8-to-4 and it now heads to the House floor.

Colorado State Researchers are predicting above average activity for the upcoming hurricane season, but nothing like the historic 2017 season that devastated the gulf. 14 named storms are predicted for this year, below the 17 named storms last year. Dr. Michael Bell says there’s a one in three chance the gulf coast gets hit this season.

Cut 6 (08)  “thirty percent”