The Pastor Protection Act, which would allow clergy members to refuse to marry a same sex couple, failed to get enough votes to pass the Senate Judiciary Committee. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

================

Legislation to withhold funding for construction projects in cities that don’t enforce federal immigration laws died in a Senate committee. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (27)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

===================

On a three-to-two vote a Senate committee voted against The Pastor Protection Act, which would have provided protection for religious organizations if they refuse to perform a same sex marriage. Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says this bill is NOT as expansive as some of the religious freedom bills passed in other states.

CUT 3 (11)  “its scope”

But New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says pastors and clergy members are already protected under the Religious Freedom Protection Act. He says he doesn’t see a need for this bill.

CUT 4 (10)  “a problem”

But Johnson says religious freedom protection is becoming more and more narrow. He says the Obama Administration even said that each state will have to figure out how to balance protecting people’s rights once gay marriage was legalized.

CUT 5 (08)  “these issues”

This bill won easy approval in the House on an 80-18 vote, but New Orleans Senators Karen Peterson and Morrell fought against this legislation in Senate Judiciary B. It received opposition from LGBT groups and Morrell expressed their concerns during debate in committee today.

CUT 6 (09) “in law” 2x

===============================================

A House-approved bill that would punish so-called sanctuary cities by making it difficult for them to borrow money for construction projects was defeated in a Senate committee. The legislation was designed to force New Orleans and Lafayette to follow federal immigration laws. New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison spoke out against the bill…

CUT 7 (10) “sanctuary city”

Supporters of the legislation said this bill would help keep cities safe from illegal immigrants. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand spoke out in opposition about the unintended consequences this measure brings to his community…

CUT 8 (08) “unsafe”

Normand says this Sanctuary City legislation is not needed and makes no sense…

CUT 9 (12) “by business”

===================================================

Governor John Bel Edwards and other state and local officials cut the ribbon today on the Curtis Coleman Memorial Bridge over the Red River in Rapides Parish. Rodney Mallet with the Department of Transportation says this new bridge will benefit all drivers in Cenla.

cut 10 (10)  “entire region”

Mallet says this bridge will be good for the region as it continues to grow because it connects Pineville and Alexandria and is also the cut through to I-49. He says a lot of time and money went into building the new US 71 bridge.

Cut 11 (09) “this bridge”

Mallet says all four lanes of the bridge are now open, which he says will benefit people cutting through from one highway to another. He says the old bridge, the OK Allen Bridge, was not up to date on its safety standards.

cut 12 (09) “central Louisiana”

===================================================

5th District Representative Ralph Abraham introduces legislation that seeks to combat what he says is an executive overreach on the issue of transgender bathrooms in public schools. President Obama issued a decree that public schools must let transgender students use the bathroom consistent with their gender identity, or risk losing federal funding. Abraham says the President can’t threaten to withhold money that is appropriated by Congress.

Cut 13 (09)  “the president”

Abraham says his bill clarifies the term “sex” to refer to a person’s biological sex, not their gender identity. He says a person’s gender shouldn’t be based on how they feel that day, and he says he’s tired of the President pushing his liberal agenda before he leaves office.

cut 14 (09)  “are concerned”

Abraham says the term “sex” has been widely interpreted to refer to biological sex for 40 years, and his bill reduces the ambiguity suddenly surrounding the word. He says he expects a positive response to the bill.

cut 15 (09) “to it”

===================================================

NAACP members in Tangipahoa Parish are calling for school Superintendent Mark Kolwe to resign after a black honor student was not allowed to walk in the graduation ceremony at Amite High School. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

New Orleans sports officials present their pitch to the NFL owners in Charlotte today to host the 2019 Super Bowl. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards has a full day of events in Alexandria today. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________________

Members of the Tangipahoa Parish Chapter of the NAACP are calling for the resignation of school Superintendent Mark Kolwe. This is because 4.0 African American student and athlete Andrew Jones was not allowed to walk at his graduation ceremony at Amite High School because of his facial hair. Tangipahoa NAACP President Patricia Morris says this has more to do with Jones’ race than his goatee.

cut 4  (08)  “about it”

Morris says this race war in the school district goes beyond just not letting a student walk at graduation. She also believes Jones was targeted because he was also the school’s valedictorian.

Cut 5  (10)  “the advantage”

Morris says Jones was told to shave his beard for the first time just before the ceremony, and when he refused, the school tried to take his awards.

Cut 6 (11)  “his cap”

Superintendent Kolwe has issued a statement saying it’s regrettable that any student, particularly an honor student, should not get to participate in the graduation ceremony. However, the statement says, Jones made that decision himself by failing to comply with the rules applicable to all other students and gave him multiple opportunities to shave before the ceremony started.   ___________________________________________________

New Orleans sports officials make their pitch to the NFL owners today to host the 2019 Super Bowl in the Louisiana Superdome. Atlanta, Miami, and Tampa are the other cities competing against the Big Easy. CBS Sports.com NFL Insider Jason La Canfora says the age of the Superdome hurts New Orleans’ bid….

CUT 7 (10)  “those teams” 

But La Canfora says New Orleans still has a fighting chance. He says even with the Superdome blackout in the 2013 Super Bowl, the city received outstanding reviews about the great atmosphere leading up to the game.

Cut 8  (09)  “destination spot” 

La Canfora says the fact that Saints owner Tom Benson is 88-years-old and this could be his last shot to host the Super Bowl in New Orleans also resonates with some of the NFL owners. He says the vote will be close….

Cut 9 (09)  “settle it”

___________________________________________________

Legislation to require retail pet stores in the state to keep records and post breeders names along with licensing information now heads to the House floor for final legislative passage. Author of the bill, Metairie Sen. Danny Martiny, says this specifies where these animals come from and two other requirements.

Cut 10 (10) “is located”

State Director of the Human Society of the United States Julia Breaux says currently, if you purchase a dog or a cat from a pets store, you have no way of knowing where the animal originated from. She says the Department of Health and Hospitals is in support of the bill.

cut 11 (05) “pet stores”

Breaux says there are some exceptions in the legislation.

cut 12 (05) “pet stores”

_______________________________________________

The bill that increases the minimum age for strippers to 21-years-old heads to Governor John Bel Edwards’ desk to be signed into law after the Senate gave final approval. Lake Charles Sen. Ronnie Johns, says he’s authored the bill as a way to combat human trafficking and he’s been working with the Department of Children and Family Services on this issue…

Cut 13 (09)  “human trafficking”

This is the same legislation that received the joke amendment by Jackson Rep. Kenny Havard to cap the age of strippers to 28-years-old and weigh no more than 160 pounds. But there were no comments about that amendment when the Senate gave final approval. During the controversy, Johns has been focused on creating a more pro-active approach to human trafficking.

cut 14 (07)  “out there”

Havard has not apologized for proposing his controversial amendment. During work on the House floor on Monday, Havard took some ribbing from Lafayette Rep. Nancy Landry on one of his resolutions on overweight truck movement on state highways.

Cut 15 (07) “today”

===========================================================

LSU freshman left-hander Jake Latz will start on the mound tonight for the Tigers when they take on Tennessee in the SEC Tournament. Latz has only appeared three games this season as he recovered from elbow surgery. But Coach Paul Mainieri says Latz pitched well on Saturday and hopes his arm troubles are behind him…

Cut 16  (05)  “this season”

Mainieri also had the option to use seven-game winner Alex Lange, who last pitched three innings on Thursday, because the game was halted because of severe weather. Mainieri says Lange will pitch Wednesday night against Florida, if the Tigers win tonight…

Cut 17 (08)  “rush him back” 

LSU enters the SEC Tournament with 11 victories in their last 12 games and they’ve put themselves in a position to possibly be a Top 8 National seed and host up until the College World Series. Mainieri says his team is worthy of Top 8 national seed consideration….

Cut 18 (10) “NCAA Tournament”

___________________________________________________________

Louisiana Tech will look to beat Rice for a fourth consecutive time when the two teams meet in the Conference USA Tournament on Wednesday morning in Hattiesburg. Bulldogs Coach Greg Goff doesn’t think what happened last week will have a bearing on what happens this week…

Cut 19 (15) “this tournament”

Louisiana Tech is seeking its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1987. The Bulldogs have won 10 of their last 12, since losing a tough heart breaking extra inning game to Texas San Antonio. Shortstop Chandler Hall says the team learned a tough lesson from that loss…

Cut 20 (14) “at today”

Many of Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards priorities in this legislative session never gained traction with a republican dominated legislature. Jeff Palermo has the story….

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

================

Mike the Tiger, the beloved mascot of the LSU Fighting Tigers, has been diagnosed with a rare, life threatening form of cancer. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

===================

Governor John Bel Edwards legislative agenda for this regular session has NOT done well. A proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage has been bottled up in the Senate, an effort to require women and men receive equal pay for equal work was killed by a House committee.  Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says republicans in the legislature have no problem voting against these issues…

CUT 3 (10)  “crazy about”

The governor’s attempts to limit charter schools or vouchers has also fallen on deaf ears by a legislative body that has a republican majority. Pinsonat says Louisiana is a red state and there’s not much support for a higher minimum wage or fewer charter schools…

CUT 4 (06)  “with their base”

Pinsonat says Edwards’ inability to get a majority of his legislative agenda accomplished in the regular session, could hurt his efforts during an anticipated special session next month that would seek to raise revenue to address a 600-million dollar budget shortfall…

CUT 5 (08)  “by the legislature”

===============================================

LSU’s mascot, Mike the Tiger, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, spindle cell sarcoma. Mike’s attending vet, Dr. David Baker, says they’ve discovered a tumor in the right side of Mike’s skull. Baker says because of the proximity to normal tissues in Mike’s head, the tumor is inoperable, and the condition is incurable. He says Mike will undergo radiation treatment, but there could be complications with the anesthesia.

CUT 6 (12) “episodes”

Mike will receive an innovative stereotactic radiotherapy treatment at the Mary Bird Perkins cancer treatment facility in Baton Rouge. Baker says this kind of treatment has never been done on a tiger before. He says the center will absorb much of the costs for the radiation treatment.

CUT 7 (10) “will be”

Doctors say the treatment should be able to prolong Mike’s life for another year or two. Baker says the logistics of transporting the tiger to the facility will be more time-consuming than the treatment itself. He says Mike doesn’t appear to be in any pain.

CUT 8 (09) “of greeting”

===================================================

The House Transportation Committee gave the green light today to a Senate approved measure that would make it the law for oncoming traffic to stop for a school bus on a two-lane road with a continuous turn left turn lane. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says the rule would apply on roadways with that lane in the middle where you could either turn left or right…:

CUT 9 (09) “has to stop”

The measure passed without objection and now heads to the House floor. New Iberia Representative Terry Landry says this bill is needed because many motorists get confused about the law…:

cut 10 (09)  “those lanes”

===================================================

The victim in a Baton Rouge fatal shooting early this morning has been identified as 34-year-old Broderick Brooks, who was a school board member in East Feliciana Parish. Brooks had been a member of the school board for about five and a half years. Fellow school board member Beth Dawson says the news of Brooks’ death came as a shock to everyone.

Cut 11 (04) “many ways”

Brooks was reportedly found dead in the driver’s seat of his vehicle in north Baton Rouge with multiple gunshot wounds around 3:30 this morning. There are no known motives or suspects, and investigation is ongoing. Dawson says Brooks was very active in the school board and in the community.

cut 12 (06) “own church”

Brooks also worked as the community outreach director for RKM, a health clinic in Clinton, for seven years, and he previously served as editor of the Baker Observer, a newspaper that closed in 2009. Dawson says she’s known Brooks since he was in middle school. She says he has always been there when someone needed him.

Cut 13 (02)  “very much so”

===================================================

Lawmakers have just two weeks to go in the regular session, and they’re still dealing with budget problems. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

New Orleans officials are in Charlotte for the NFL owners meetings, ready to make their presentation tomorrow to host the Super Bowl in 2019. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

A state legislator is launching an online campaign to raise awareness about gender inequality and sexism in Louisiana, using the hashtag #ItsNoJoke. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________________

Just two weeks are left in the regular session, and the budget is still the biggest issue for lawmakers. Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says legislators are trying to fund priorities like TOPS and safety net hospitals with a $600 million budget shortfall.

cut 4  (08)  “gonna be”

Alford says legislators are working on funding all of the public-private hospitals that care for the poor, and parents of TOPS students are also paying close attention to the debate over the funding for the scholarship program.

Cut 5  (06)  “doing that”

Alford says there are a lot of moving pieces to the budget problem, including an entirely separate budget bill requested for the Attorney General’s Office. Alford says lawmakers may not be able to address everything during this session.

Cut 6 (11)  “there about”

___________________________________________________

New Orleans is seeking to host the Super Bowl in 2019 and those who will present a bid to the NFL owners on Tuesday are already in Charlotte putting the finishing touches on their presentation. New Orleans competition to host the 2019 Super Bowl is Atlanta, Miami and Tampa Bay. President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Jay Cicero says they go in as the underdogs.

CUT 7 (10)  “Super Bowl” 

The NFL will also award Super Bowl bids for 2020 and 2021 but New Orleans can’t host those years because the College Football National Championship has already been awarded to the Crescent City in 2020 and Mardi Gras falls during the Super Bowl weekend in 2021.  Cicero says while New Orleans doesn’t have a new stadium it’s still a great Super Bowl destination…

Cut 8  (10)  “Superdome” 

Cicero says the NFL can get everything they want by giving New Orleans the bid for 2019 and the newer stadiums the chance to host in the following years. He says they’ve worked hard with the Saints to improve their proposal after losing the 2018 bid to Minneapolis.

Cut 9 (07)  “maybe thinking”

___________________________________________________

Health experts will share information about the Zika Virus with the public during a 5:30 PM meeting at LSU Health New Orleans Human Development Center. A panel of experts will discuss where the virus is, where it’s expected to go, and other important information. Dr. Robert Maupin with LSU Health New Orleans says the CDC has released a report showing the number of Zika cases in the US, but local transmission has yet to occur in the states.

Cut 10 (11) “mainland US”

Health leaders want people who live in the southeastern states to be as prepared as possible for a potential Zika outbreak. Maupin says the biggest risk for contracting the disease right now is still in countries where it is prevalent, such as South America and the Caribbean. He says once travelers return home they can spread the disease, and at the meeting they will address how to avoid spreading the virus.

cut 11 (10) “current evidence”

Maupin says most people with Zika do not show symptoms at all, but those that do will see symptoms similar to the flu. At tonight’s meeting, the panel will inform the public about testing recommendations and how to recognize Zika symptoms. He says pregnant women, in particular, need to take precautions to prevent getting the disease because it can lead to serious birth defects.

cut 12 (09) “birth defects”

Faculty experts at LSU Health New Orleans and state health secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee will be on the panel at the meeting, and they will provide essential information about the virus and share types of preparation that are underway at the state level.

_______________________________________________

Between one representative’s not-so-funny joke about strippers and the legislature shooting down a proposal to get equal pay for men and women, it hasn’t been a good week for women in Louisiana. One state lawmaker hopes to change that with a new campaign for women’s rights called “It’s No Joke.” New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says she started this campaign to combat gender inequality.

Cut 13 (12)  “significant changes”

Moreno says she wants to work towards ending sexism and inequality. She says this online petition, using the hashtag #ItsNoJoke, is raising awareness about women’s issues. She hopes that once legislators hear from constituents about this, it could bring about real change.

cut 14 (11)  “for women”

Moreno says there are many feminist groups in the state, and she wants to bring them all together so real progress can be made towards equality. She says the campaign is not just for women. Supporters of women’s rights can also get involved.

Cut 15 (08) “and supporters”

More information about the #ItsNoJoke campaign is available at morenocampaign.com.

===========================================================

The LSU Baseball team leaves for Hoover, Alabama today where they’ll play tomorrow night in the SEC Tournament against Tennessee. The Tigers nearly swept top ranked Florida over the weekend as they took two of three from the Gators. But it wasn’t enough to get a first round bye in the SEC Tourney. Coach Paul Mainieri is not disappointed…

Cut 16  (13)  “ashamed of”

It’s the first time LSU will have to play in the opening round of the SEC Tournament since it expanded in 2012. LSU has won the sEC Tournament five times under Mainieri and admits it will be more difficult this year, because they have to play on Tuesday….

Cut 17 (13)  “to do so” 

If the Tigers lose on Tuesday they are eliminated and then wait to see if they’ll host an NCAA regional.  If they win, then it’s a double elimination tournament until the semifinals on Saturday. Shortstop Kramer Robertson says they’ll try to stay in Hoover as long as they can…

Cut 18 (13) “win a championship”

he White House has announced that a new rule goes into effect December 1 that requires employers to pay workers who make less than $47-thousand a year over time if they work more than 40 hours a week. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

================

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed two pro-life bills into law. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

===================

A new rule from the White House goes into effect on December 1 that would require employers to pay their workers overtime if they work more than 40 hours a week and make less than about $47-thousand a year. This would affect about 35% of salaried workers. LSU Economist Stephen Barnes says this will impact business owners more than anyone.

CUT 3 (10)  “fairly painful”

Critics says this is too drastic of a change for employers. Barnes says employees will be affected in a variety of ways depending on their pay scale and their work load.

CUT 4 (12)  “work done”

The new threshold will be updated every 3 years, and the Labor Department estimates this could result in an additional $12 billion in pay for workers over the next 10 years. Barnes says some workers may feel more pressure to get more work done in a 40 hour period. But he says for the most part, workers should enjoy this.

CUT 5 (09)  “about that”

===============================================

Authorities say someone crashed a stolen 18-wheeler in Caddo parish early this morning. Caddo Parish Sheriff Spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says they got a call around 6am from someone saying an 18-wheeler had overturned on I-49 North at Louisiana Highway Two.

CUT 6 (06) “its side”

Chadwick says the 18-wheeler was stolen from a truck stop in Texarkana, Arkansas, just before the crash, and the theft is still under investigation. She says the driver who stole the 18-wheeler has not been located.

CUT 7 (06) “as well”

Chadwick says she doesn’t understand why someone would steal an 18-wheeler because it would not be very low key.

CUT 8 (12) “no idea”

===================================================

Governor John Bel Edwards’ daughter Samantha is getting married tomorrow to Jonathan Ricau. The wedding ceremony will be in Amite at St. Helena Catholic Church and the reception will follow a few hours later at the Governor’s Mansion. Edwards says the planning is going well and Samantha is excited.

CUT 9 (07) “the aisle”

Samantha and Jonathan met in 2012 and both graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University. She is the oldest daughter of the governor and First Lady Donna. Edwards says it’s a miracle he gets to walk Samantha down the aisle.

cut 10 (09)  “might be”

===================================================

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed two pro-life bills into law, one measure increases the wait time for a woman to receive an abortion to 72 hours and the second requires doctors performing abortions to be board certified. Louisiana Right to Life Legislative Director Deanna Wallace says the legislation increasing wait time gives women more of a chance to reach out before being forced to have an abortion if they don’t want to have one.

Cut 11 (10) “unborn children”

Wallace says the bill  to require an abortionist to be board certified or under the direct supervision of a board certified physician is common sense legislation to protect the health and safety of women. She says currently all doctors that perform abortions in Louisiana are board certified, this just codifies that standard of care.

cut 12 (08) “that way”

Wallace says this truly is a victory for women in the state. She says she’s thankful Governor John Bel Edwards signed these two bills into law.

Cut 13 (06)  “against women”

===================================================

As we approach a big travel weekend, motorists can expect to see prices at the pump up more than 6 cents from the prior week. Senior Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski from GasBuddy.com says they’ve got the current statewide average for a gallon of regular at about $2.06…:

cut 14 (07)  “Memorial Day weekend”

Laskoski says prices haven’t been this low since 2008. He says even though we’re seeing these increases, prices in Louisiana are still down almost 40 cents from this time last year…:

cut 15 (08) “this summer”

With many kids already out on summer vacations, Emelie Gunn spoke with a doctor on some tips to keep your children safe while in the water….

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

A bill that would allow universities to lower their out-of-state tuition to bring in more students from other states is nearing final passage. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Jackson Representative Kenny Havard says he won’t apologize for his joke that strippers should be young and skinny. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________________

With summer vacation already underway for most schools, here’s a doctor that provides some tips to make sure your kids stay safe this break. Baton Rouge General family practitioner Dr. Kristen Ducote warns parents that drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional fatalities in kids 14 and under. She says it’s important to invest in swimming lessons for your children.

cut 4  (07)  “the water”

Ducote says kids should always wear a life jacket when out on the boat, jet skiing or even fishing. She says if you’re at the beach make sure your children are swimming with a buddy, never alone.

Cut 5  (07)  “and under”

Ducote says it’s important to always keep an eye out on your kids even if they’re swimming in shallow water. She also warns parents with Memorial Day coming up, stay sober when your children are around the water.

Cut 6 (08)  “been avoided”

___________________________________________________

A bill is nearing final legislative passage that would allow universities to lower their out of state tuition in an effort to attract more students from neighboring states. There was concern about lowering tuition in light of the budget deficit. But Ruston Representative Robert Shadoin says bringing in more students could help curb those losses.

CUT 7 (08)  “we’re experiencing” 

Vice President for External Affairs for the University of Louisiana system Rachel Kincaid this would also help universities bring in more international students. She says it’s a good way for the state to bring in more money.

Cut 8  (08)  “resident students” 

The measure has passed the House and it cleared the Senate Education committee earlier this week. Metairie Senator Conrad Appel sits on that panel and says out of state students would not take precedence over in state students.

Cut 9 (06)  “Louisiana students”

___________________________________________________

The American Sugar Cane League says the 2016 Louisiana sugar cane crop is showing great potential and could possibly surpass last year’s 1.4 million tons of raw sugar. Senior Agronomist Herman Waguespack says we had a mild winter and hopes hurricane season will be quite so it doesn’t disrupt the crops.

Cut 10 (08) “somewhat”

Waguespack says farmers worried their rutted fields from the massive rainfall last winter would cause root damage to the crops. He says Louisiana is now one of only three states that produce sugar, including Florida and Texas, Hawaii has closed its last sugar mill. He says the Bayou State is the second biggest producer of sugar cane in the country.

cut 11 (05) “in production”

Last year, 380-thousand acres of Louisiana sugar cane was harvested producing an economic impact of 2 billion dollars. Waguespack still remains hopeful for a similar season even after the recent downpours this spring put farmers behind in field work.

cut 12 (06) “we have”

_______________________________________________

Jackson Representative Kenny Havard is not sorry for his amendment intended as a joke that said strippers in Louisiana must be young and less than 160 pounds. The amendment which was attached to a bill that raises the age of exotic dancers to 21 has received national attention. Havard spoke with reporters after adjournment and says he regrets if he offended anyone, but….

Cut 13 (07)  “politically incorrect”

Havard’s remarks have been called sexist, disrespectful and disgusting. He defended his joke by saying that it didn’t mention female strippers specifically.

cut 14 (08)  “160 pounds”

House speaker Taylor Barras of New Iberia spoke on the House floor about the incident. He says it seems ridiculous that he has to ask elected state officials to be respectful.

Cut 15 (12) “to determine”

===========================================================

Attorney General Jeff Landry is telling public schools they do not have to comply with President Obama’s transgender bathroom mandate. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

================

More lawmakers and even the governor are still talking about the stripper age/weight requirement “joke” amendment. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

===================

Attorney General Jeff Landry believes President Obama’s mandate to allow transgender individuals to use the restroom of their gender identity is unlawful. Landry says the President’s threat of defunding schools that don’t comply jeopardizes student safety and creates a public education crisis.

CUT 3 (10)  “o.1%”

Landry says the president doesn’t have the authority to force students to share restrooms with members of the opposite sex. He says his message to public schools is they do not have to follow through with the mandate.

CUT 4 (08)  “immediately”

Landry says he’ll defend the schools, if the federal government rakes action against them for failing to follow this order. He says we’re supposed to be ruled by the majority, not the minority.

CUT 5 (10)  “complete overreach”

===============================================

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a bill into law that allows patients with a wider variety of medical conditions to receive medical marijuana once it becomes available in Louisiana. Edwards says this is an issue that should stay between doctors and their patients.

CUT 6 (11) “medicinal marijuana”

Sheriffs and district attorneys opposed the legislation over concerns about “creep”. But Edwards says this is not a gateway to the legalization of recreational marijuana. He also says he does not want this bill to be an ever expanding list of diseases for which medical cannabis can be prescribed.

CUT 7 (08) “out there”

People diagnosed with things like cancer, AIDS, and seizure disorders will soon be able to get medical marijuana in Louisiana. The legislation also attempts to speed up the process of getting medical cannabis in the hands of patients. The state is still seeking a grower for the drug. Edwards says signing this bill is one of this easiest decisions he’s made during this session, but also one of the most important.

CUT 8 (10) “of Louisiana”

===================================================

More lawmakers and even the governor are still talking about the stripper age/weight requirement “joke” amendment that ended up hitting the House Floor Wednesday. The change was added to a human trafficking bill stating strippers should be no younger than 21, but Jackson Representative Kenny Havard ending up withdrawing. New Orleans Sen. Karen Peterson says Havard should apologize:

CUT 9 (12) “consequences”

The story is making national headlines and sparking outrage from people across the country. Peterson says this is embarrassing and Havard should realize how many people he’s hurt and offended…:

cut 10 (09)  “I made a mistake”

The amendment suggested strippers should be young and skinny.  Governor Edwards said he knows this was intended as a joke, but it was in bad taste…:

Cut 11 (06) “unfortunate incident”

===================================================

A Senate-approved bill seeking equal pay for men and women who perform the same job failed to make it out of the House Labor Committee. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh voted against it because he says there is already a law on the books that prevents pay discrimination based on gender.

cut 12 (04) “this bill”

But Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says there is still a gender pay gap. He says no one would say that women are less capable of performing these jobs, so there’s only one other reason for the wage gap.

Cut 13 (07)  “against women”

Louisiana has the biggest pay gap in the nation. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says this wage discrimination is hurting women in Louisiana.

cut 14 (09)  “and women”

Vermillion Parish Representative Blake Miguez voted against the legislation. He says it interferes with how companies conduct their business.

cut 15 (08) “his employment”

Governor John Bel Edwards supports this proposal, and it is a significant defeat for his legislative agenda. The measure failed on a 10-5 vote.

===================================================

The pest that eats Ash Trees has been discovered in Union Parish. Emelie Gunn has more on the Emerald Ash Borer in north Louisiana.

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The House Education Committee has approved a bill to require students to recite part of the Declaration of Independence every day, like they do with the Pledge of Allegiance. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Captain Clay Higgins, who achieved internet fame through his viral crime stoppers videos, has announced he is running for Congress. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________________

The federally regulated insect pest of Ash Trees, the Emerald Ash Borer, has been found in Union Parish. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain says the pest originates in Asia and was first found in the U.S. in 2002 and is now in four Louisiana parishes. He says the main way Emerald Ash Borer is transmitted is by the moving of firewood.

cut 4  (06)  “burn it”

The United States Forestry Service identified the invasive pest and over 470 traps to catch the insect have been installed. Strain says the emerald Ash Borer doesn’t attack hardwoods or pine trees.

Cut 5  (10)  “appeal”

The Emerald Ash Borer is now in Union, Bossier, Claiborne, and Webster Parishes and a quarantine is in place. Strain says you can lose an entire forest of ash trees in 10 years, because of the pest. He says they’re working with the LSU Ag Center and USDA to control the bug.

Cut 6 (08)  “biological control”

___________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards says he’ll sign a bill today that expands the list of medical conditions for which medical marijuana can be prescribed. Under the legislation by St. Martin Parish Senator Fred Mills, individuals with seizure disorders and cancer could use medical cannabis once it becomes available. Edwards says it’s just the right thing to do.

CUT 7 (10)  “someone better” 

Edwards spoke on his monthly call-in radio show about signing of the medical marijuana bill. The governor says, however, he does not support the legalization of recreational marijuana. But he says he’s happy to let Colorado and Washington do that if that’s what they want.

Cut 8  (09)  “right now” 

Edwards was asked how he would address the problem of opiate addiction in Louisiana. He says one key thing to do is to get Narcan, a medication that treats people who overdose, into the hands of first responders and allow it to be administered without a prescription. Edwards says they are also looking into legislative action.

Cut 9 (10)  “as well”

One caller asked the governor about what can be done to reduce Louisiana’s incarceration rate. Edwards doesn’t think there are more criminals here than anywhere else, so the incarceration rate shouldn’t be so high. He says this problem will be addressed in next year’s legislative session.

Cut 10 (10) “justice reform”

___________________________________________________

A bill to require students to recite part of the Declaration of Independence daily has made it out of the House Education Committee. Author of the bill, Denham Springs Representative Valerie Hodges says kids should understand this important historic document.

cut 11 (09) “the Bible”

Hodges says many Americans wouldn’t be able to pass the citizenship test because although they live here, they don’t know about much our country. She says schools need to prepare students for citizenship.

cut 12 (10) “primary goal”

Gonzales Representative Eric Price was one of two legislators who voted against the measure. He says forcing students to recite this would open the door for more lawsuits.

Cut 13 (10)  “more permissive”

The measure passed on a 6-2 vote and heads to the House floor.

_______________________________________________

Female lawmakers are not happy about a joke a male member of the House made during debate over legislation that raises the age from 18 to 21 to be hired as a stripper at a dance club.  Jackson Representative Kenny Harvard proposed an amendment that strippers in Louisiana could only be between the ages of 21-and-28 and less than 160 pounds. Kenner Representative Julie Stokes called the amendment disrespectful and disgusting…

cut 14 (09)  “bad idea”

Havard says the amendment was just a joke. But Stokes says she’s tired of the derogatory comments made about women at the State Capitol…

Cut 15 (11) “disgusting”

The bill ended up passing the House 96-0 without Havard’s amendment and it goes back to the Senate for final approval, before heading to the Governor’s desk. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says the goal is to keep young women from entering the dangerous world of human trafficking…

Cut 16  (08)  “taken advantage of”

===========================================================

The LSU Tigers begin their final regular season series tonight against number one ranked Florida. Alex Lange will pitch tonight, but game two’s starter is Riley Smith. The junior right-hander from Texas has pitched well lately and Coach Paul Mainieri wanted to give him a shot against the Gators…

Cut 17 (15)  “we recruited” 

Florida comes into the Box with an overall record of 43-9, 18-8, which is the best record in the SEC. They also have the top pitching staff in the league, with a team ERA of 2.92. Mainieri is impressed with the collection of arms Florida has…

Cut 18 (16) “then them”

LSU center fielder Jake Fraley says his teammates are confident they can hit good pitching…

Cut 19 (14) “nine innings”

Baton Rouge mayor of 12 years, Kip Holden, announces he will run for the 2nd Congressional District seat currently held by Cedric Richmond. Michelle Southern has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Tonight, the Cajun John Wayne, Captain Clay Higgins, announces his political aspirations as he’s expected to announce a run for US Senate or the third Congressional district.

The Blue Lives Matter bill, which would charge people with a hate crime if they enact violence on police, firefighters or EMS, is headed to Governor John Bel Edwards desk. The Senate gave final passage on a 33-3 vote.

Democratic US Senate candidate Foster Campbell held a press conference at the Old Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge to discuss what he would like to get accomplished if elected as US Senator this fall. Campbell says coastal restoration is on the top of his list…
cut 8 (10) “…pay for it”
Campbell is one of several well-known candidates seeking to replace David Vitter, who is not running for re-election.

Legislation is heading to the governor’s desk that would result in Louisiana becoming the sixth state in the nation to prohibit a commonly used second-trimester abortion procedure. Opponents say this legislation would prohibit the safest method of a second-trimester abortion. But Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell disagrees…
cut 4 (04) “….dismemberment abortion”
State courts have blocked similar laws from taking effect in Kansas and Oklahoma.

Baton Rouge mayor of 12 years, Kip Holden announces he will run for the 2^nd Congressional District seat currently held by Cedric Richmond. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

================

Sheriff’s vehicles could soon be equipped with cameras to catch uninsured drivers, as a bill has won the approval of both the Senate and now a House committee. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

===================

Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to sign legislation that would result in Louisiana becoming the sixth state in the nation to prohibit a commonly used second-trimester abortion procedure. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell described on the Senate floor the type of abortion this bill will prohibit…

CUT 3 (11)  “piece by piece”

The legislation is called the Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Act. But opponents of the measure say this legislation would prohibit the safest method of second-trimester abortion. Mizell disagrees…

CUT 4 (08)  “dismemberment abortion”

Five other states have passed similar laws, but State Court have blocked the laws from taking effect in Kansas and Oklahoma.

===============================================

Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden has announced his candidacy for the 2^nd Congressional District Seat, challenging incumbent Cedric Richmond. Holden says he has accomplished great things for Baton Rouge in his 12 years as mayor, and he hopes to do the same in Congress. Holden adds he’s worked with other mayors to improve southeast Louisiana and intends to do that as a US Representative.

CUT 5 (07)  “Washington, DC”

Holden says if elected, he will focus on the issues of the people, not Washington’s issues. He says global issues will be there, and he will work on those. But he wants to focus on what’s happening in the 2^nd congressional district.

CUT 6 (07) “this district”

Holden says we need to keep creating jobs and to provide the kinds of jobs to keep people here. He says he has a proven track record as a mayor in helping capital city industries expand.

CUT 7 (08) “do business”

Holden and Richmond are both Democrats. Richmond has represented the district since 2011.

===================================================

Democratic US Senate candidate Foster Campbell held a press conference today in Baton Rouge to discuss what he would do if elected as our U.S. Senator. Campbell says we need to address coastal restoration in Louisiana.

CUT 8 (10) “pay for it”

The Public Service Commissioner says his message to the people is don’t give up, help is on the way. Campbell says he also wants to raise the national minimum wage to 10 dollars an hour because no one in Louisiana can live off of $7.25.

CUT 9 (09) “a problem”

Campbell says if elected he will expand high-speed internet to Louisiana’s poorest people. Many analysts say a democrat will have a hard time winning this U.S. Senate race but Campbell says his values reflect the residents of Louisiana.

cut 10 (07)  “than 30”

===================================================

A bill that would authorize a private company to install cameras that read license plates has been approved by a House committee. The cameras would be installed in sheriff’s vehicles in nine parishes to catch uninsured motorists. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns authored the bill. He says we need to endure that all drivers have liability insurance.

Cut 11 (11) “the time”

The bill would also classify driving without insurance as probable cause for police to pull over a vehicle. Johns says this bill is simply about making sure people are obeying the law.

cut 12 (08) “insurance”

But Wendy Adams with the Libertarian Party opposes the bill. She says it would put people at risk for theft and fraud because driver’s private information would be stored.

Cut 13 (09)  “personal privacy”

Similar legislation has passed through the legislature before, but it was vetoed by former governor Bobby Jindal. Adams says this is a prime example of government overreach.

cut 14 (09)  “crony capitalism”