Two children were killed in Livingston Parish after being hit being struck by an apparent drunk driver. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

The man who is accused of shooting and killing former-Saints defensive end Will Smith is claiming he was not the aggressor. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

Baton Rouge Police are looking to arrest another gunman in the shooting that killed two Southern University students and injured another man. 22-year-old Ernest Felton has already been arrested and charged with Attempted Second Degree Murder and Illegal Use of a weapon. Sgt. Don Coppola says investigators are working to determine who fired the gun killing the two women.

CUT 3 (08)  “young ladies”

Coppola says gunfire was exchanged between Felton and the 24-year-old injured victim after the victim drove up to the social gathering at the apartment complex. He says investigators believe the women were not the intended targets of the shooting.

CUT 4 (08)  “gunfire exchange”

Coppola says they’re confident they will be making another arrest in the near future. He says the victims were 19-year-old Lashunte Benton of Lake Charles and 19-year-old Annette January of Indiana.

CUT 5 (04)  “hospital”

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

State Police say two children are dead after a fatal wreck on a highway in Livingston Parish last night. Trooper Bryan Lee says impairment is suspected on the part of two of the four vehicles involved. Lee says the two children killed were ages four and six and they were standing on the road as adults were attempting to remove a garbage compactor from the road…

CUT 6 (09) “those vehicles”

Lee says the vehicle that struck the five people on the side of the road was driven by 26-year-old Jerry Ervin of Holden, who is believed to have been impaired. He says they also believe 50-year-old Travis Rose of Denham Springs was drunk and left the garbage compactor in the road after it fell out of his truck.

CUT 7 (09) “no insurance”

Lee says the two children, four-year-old Samuel Shropshire and six-year-old Khaiden Ramsey were pronounced dead at the scene. He says 34-year-old Michelle Ramsey, a 16-year-old male, and a 15-year-old female were transported to a hospital with serious injuries after being struck by Ervin.

CUT 8 (08) “this week”

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

Today Governor John Bel Edwards declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Louisiana. According to Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana, there were over 12-thousand victims of child abuse and neglect in 2014, the latest year statistics are available. State Police Major Doug Cain says kids are our most important resource, and everyone needs to do what they can to them.

CUT 9 (12) “look into it”

Pinwheels lined the front of the state capitol as a display of child abuse prevention awareness. The pinwheel serves as a symbol for the childhood that all children deserve. Cain says the public can also get involved in raising awareness about this issue.

cut 10 (07)  “it represents”

Cain says police deal with cases of child abuse throughout the state. He says it’s something they are working to put an end to by arming law enforcement officers with the tools and training necessary to recognize and prevent abuse.

Cut 11 (11) “change it”

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

A legal expert says a claim of self-defense will be hard to prove in the murder of former Saints standout Will Smith. Cardell Hayes is facing a charge of second-degree murder, but attorney John Fuller spoke with Hayes, who says he was not the aggressor in the incident. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says police will have to look at witness testimony to see exactly what happened.

cut 12 (09) “piece this together”

Police have referred to the shooting as a road rage incident. But Fuller the story is much more complex. So far police have not uncovered a weapon in Smith’s vehicle. Foret says if Hayes wants to use self-defense as a claim, it will be hard to prove unless police find that Smith had a gun.

Cut 13 (09)  “in this case”

Hayes is being held on a one million dollar bond. Foret says the investigation is still ongoing, but at this point forensic evidence seems to tell a different story than what Hayes is suggesting.

cut 14 (08)  “the defendant”

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

Most parishes north of Interstate 10 are under a severe thunderstorm watch until seven o’ clock tonight. CS Ross, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, advises people to keep an eye to the sky. He says scattered thunderstorms have the potential to produce severe weather threats.

cut 15 (07) “or two” 

Ross says they are getting reports of one inch hail in the Texarkana area and parts of northern Texas. He says the rainfall associated with these storms will be brief, but heavy.

cut 16 (05) “of rainfall”

The first woman to enlist in the infantry in the U.S. army is a native of Robeline. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Louisiana is still facing a 750-million budget deficit after the special session, and Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to call another session to close the budget shortfall. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Lawmakers have been scrambling to resolve a historic budget shortfall for months, and now State Treasurer John Kennedy says we may end this fiscal year with a surplus. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A Natchitoches Parish woman is the first female to enlist in an infantry combat position in the U.S. Army. 25-year-old Grace Barnett of Robeline was in law enforcement for three years and has been working to go into the infantry since the department of defense allowed women in this role. She says it’s a great honor to serve her country on the front lines.

cut 4  (10)  “larger scale”

Barnett says patriotism runs in her blood. She says it took her as a surprise that she was actually the first woman to enlist in the infantry.

Cut 5  (10)  “at me”

Barnett says she’ll spend the next 14 months training and building up her endurance before she ships out. She says she hopes to be an example for other women.

Cut 6 (10)  “about doing” 

___________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to call another special session to address the state’s 750-million shortfall for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. Edwards says they have not set a date for the session, but it will likely come before the fall to stave off more cuts to state services.

CUT 7 (05)  “for success”

So far two credit rating agencies have downgraded Louisiana’s credit rating. Edwards says that’s hardly an endorsement for how the state handled its business during the previous special session. He says lawmakers need to stabilize the budget, and they need to do it sooner rather than later.

Cut 8  (05)  “Louisiana is”

Edwards says legislators simply have to do better, as not enough revenue was raised during the last special session to close the budget gap. He says they must find a way to keep critical programs open.

Cut 9 (06)  “to begin with”

___________________________________________________

The investigation continues today into the fatal shooting of former Saints defensive end Will Smith. Smith was gunned down after he was involved in a minor car wreck with 28-year-old Cardell Hayes. New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison says Hayes shot Smith in the city’s Lower Garden District…

Cut 10 (12) “the law”

Court records show Hayes won a settlement with the city of the New Orleans over the fatal shooting of his mentally ill father. Smith reportedly just finished eating with a former New Orleans police officer who was named as a defendant in that suit. Harrison says it’s too early to tell in the investigation if Hayes and Smith knew each other.

cut 11 (08) “right now”

Harrison says Hayes has been charged with second-degree murder..

cut 12 (10) “as such”

___________________________________________________________

After all the concerns about the budget crisis, State Treasurer John Kennedy says Louisiana may actually end this fiscal year with a surplus. In December, the state revenues were down 15-percent, but now revenues are only down 6-percent. Kennedy says he can’t make any predictions but…

Cut 13 (10)  “this year”

Kennedy says a few months ago, he would thought a surplus was impossible. He attributes an increase in tax collections to the rise in state revenue.

Cut 14 (06)  “personal income” 

Kennedy says a surplus is possible, if revenue figures continue to rise and tax increases that came out of the special session generate more than what the legislative fiscal analysts predicted….

Cut 15 (09) “as well”

__________________________________________________________

The Saints and their fans are mourning the death of former defensive end Will Smith, who was killed during what police are calling a road rage incident. Smith and another man exchanged words after a fender bender involving their vehicles in New Orleans on Saturday night. Police say the other man pulled out a gun and fatally shot Smith. Saints offensive tackle Zach Strief played with Smith and says he’s been dealing with a lot of different emotions…

Cut 16  (14)  “how could this happen”

Strief made his comments on WWL radio in New Orleans. Smith played nine seasons for the Saints. The 34-year-old retired after the 2012 season and remained a resident of New Orleans. Strief hopes Smith’s tragic killing will lead to change…

Cut 17 (09) “is it take”

Twenty-eight-year-old Cardell Hayes was arrested for the fatal shooting of Smith. He’s been charged with second-degree murder. Strief says an argument should never turn into a gun fight and the shooting gives New Orleans a black eye….

Cut 18 (16) “it really does”

Believe it or not, there is an election tomorrow. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball program lost its head coach Tyler Sumitt who admitted he had an affair, and reports say it was with a player. Jeff Palermo has more on the reaction in north Louisiana.

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

It may come as a surprise to many Louisianans, but there is an election tomorrow in 41 parishes. Polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says this election typically has a low voter turnout because so many people aren’t aware there’s an election.

CUT 3 (08)  “in March”

Schedler says in addition to local runoff elections, there are also tax renewals up for vote in several parishes. He says you can check the GeauxVote app to see exactly what’s on the ballot in your precinct.

CUT 4 (08)  “G-E-A-U-X”

Schedler says the early voting turnout was very low, as only about 34-tousand people casted ballots. He expects the turnout for this election to be around 11-percent and encourages everyone to exercise their right to vote.

CUT 5 (09)  “the other”

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

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival begins today and there are lots of activities for festival goers. Festival Spokesperson Shelley Matherne says there will be tons of organizations selling delicious food, as well as, games, carnival rides, and a parade. She says this is the state’s biggest free festival.

CUT 6 (09) “Mardi Gras”

This year hasn’t been a good one for the strawberry industry given the recent flooding but Matherne says that won’t stop anyone from having a great time at the festival.

CUT 7 (10) “local farmers”

Festival Queen Danielle Rodriguez says the festival is near and dear to her heart because her family has a history of strawberry farming. She says this is a great event for the entire family.

CUT 8 (10) “second home”

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

The now former head coach of the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters, Tyler Summitt, suddenly resigned Thursday after admitting to having an inappropriate relationship. The 25-year-old is the son of legendary head coach, Pat Summitt, and he’s married. Gene Ponti is the Sports Director at KTVE in Monroe. He says everyone is totally shocked at this news…:

CUT 9 (09) “and for the program”

In a statement, Summitt said he negatively affected the people he loved and hopes to repair those relationships. Ponti says a scandal like this is a black eye on any sports program, and on women’s basketball as a whole…:

cut 10 (10)  “are in a hole”

SB Nation is reporting the woman Summitt had an affair with is a player and she’s pregnant. Summitt was the youngest head coach in women’s basketball. Ponti says even though his age was criticized by some, a popular public sentiment was that he was wise beyond his years…:

Cut 11 (09) “some people thought”

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

Governor John Bel Edwards says he’ll spend the weekend putting the finishing touches on the proposed budget for next year, which will contain a 750-million cut in state spending. Edwards says the spending plan for next fiscal year he’ll present to lawmakers on Tuesday will be very sobering.

cut 12 (08) “of Louisiana”

Healthcare, higher ed, TOPS, social services, and other vital programs are expected to receive cuts. Edwards says many state services will receive much less funding this year because of the massive budget deficit.

Cut 13 (08)  “priorities”

Lawmakers were able to raise over a billion dollars in the special session, but it wasn’t enough to close the budget gap. Because taxes cannot be raised during this regular session, another special session may be necessary. Edwards says his administration will release more details on Tuesday.

cut 14 (11)  “balanced budget”

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

State Police have been called in to investigate after a woman was run over by a police vehicle while sunbathing on the beach in Grand Isle. Sgt. Nick Manale says two women were tanning near the dunes area when the truck drove near them and one was able to get out of the way in the nick of time. He says the woman struck by the vehicle received moderate injuries.

cut 15 (06) “several surgeries” 

Manale says the victim’s injuries are not life threatening. He says the name of the police officer driving the vehicle has not been released.

cut 16 (08) “the department”

Scandal has hit the Louisiana Tech women’s basketball program. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival starts today but recent flooding ruined a lot of the state’s berry crop. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

With the support of Governor John Bel Edwards, a Senate committee passed two bills that alter the TOPS scholarship program. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________________

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is monitoring the deer population for chronic wasting disease, which has been confirmed in Arkansas and Texas. Dr. Jim LaCour with DWF says CWD is a fatal, progressive neurological disease that affects deer, including the white-tailed deer in Louisiana.

cut 4  (11)  “disease”

LaCour says this disease basically eats holes in the deer’s brain and there is no cure. He says infected deer are not symptomatic in the beginning, but they show signs of CWD as it progresses.

Cut 5  (08)  “of weight”

A big concern is that deer infected with CWD can spread the disease, before symptoms develop. LaCour says currently there have not been any cases of CWD in Louisiana. He says DWF is monitoring the deer population for signs of the disease, and they do have a plan in place if the disease is ever discovered in Louisiana.

Cut 6 (12)  “sample it” 

___________________________________________________

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival begins today but it wasn’t a great year for strawberries, because of the massive flooding in Tangipahoa and Livingston Parishes last month. Strawberry farmer Eric Morrow says 90% of his crop was damaged and he won’t have much to show for this year’s harvest.

CUT 7 (07)  “of that”

Morrow says the rain came at the wrong time and ruined a lot of green fruit. He says will not make any money this year, because he lost the majority of his crop and so did several other strawberry producers.

Cut 8  (06)  “their pocket”

Morrow says he’ll have to hope his other crops do well to make up with the loss of strawberries, because he’s not expecting any federal assistance because government aid doesn’t usually go for specialty crops.

Cut 9 (04)  “our own”

___________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards supports legislation passed out of a Senate committee that attempts to control the cost of the TOPS scholarship program. One of the bills would cap the amount a TOPS recipient receives at next year’s level and it stays there even if tuition rises. Edwards says it’s a bill he voted for as a legislator last year and he favors its passage this year…

Cut 10 (12) “tuition increases”

Edwards says although legislators did well in the special session, they did not generate enough revenue to fully fund TOPS. He says that’s why another special session is needed to raise more money.

cut 11 (07) “fund TOPS”

On Tuesday, the Edwards will propose its spending plan for next fiscal year to lawmakers. The governor says because of a 750-million dollar shortfall, the state doesn’t have enough money to fully fund the scholarship program…

cut 12 (04) “don’t have it”

_______________________________________________________________

A bill that adds parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities as a firearm free zone passes out of a House Criminal Justice Committee on an 8 to 6 vote. Prairieville Rep. Tony Bacala disagrees with the legislation. He says the majority of tragic shootings happen by people should be in jail.

Cut 13 (10)  “the innocent”

The legislation faces opposition from gun rights supporters but Baton Rouge Rep. Denise Marcelle understands we have the right to bear arms but the safety of our children and loved ones is more important.

Cut 14 (09)  “do something” 

New Orleans Rep. Jimmy Harris is the author of the legislation. Harris says this bill wasn’t created to infringe on anyone’s rights, but to keep people safe.

Cut 15 (09) “foolishness”

The massive flooding the state experienced in March has caused up to 15 million dollars in damages to the agriculture industry. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

Two bills that attempt to resolve the TOPS funding problems were approved by the Senate Education Committee today. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

A Natchez man is now in custody after fatally shooting his estranged wife and another man multiple times in their Vidalia home while the woman’s two children slept nearby. Vidalia Assistant Police Chief Bruce Wiley says witnesses saw the suspected gunman fleeing the home in the early morning hours on Wednesday…

CUT 3 (09)  “a motorcycle”

Wiley says 35-year-old Curt Thornton was arrested after a Mississippi police officer pulled Thorton over for riding his motorcycle without a helmet. He says the two children, both under 10 years old, did not hear the gunshot. He says the female child called 911 at 7 a.m. when she found her mom and another man dead.

CUT 4 (07)  “that age”

Wiley says Curt Thornton and his estranged wife Angela Thornton were reportedly having problems, so Thornton allegedly shot her and 36-year-old Ken Tibbs.

CUT 5 (09)  “the situation”

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

The House has approved a bill that would extend the waiting period to get an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says five other states have similar waiting periods. He says this waiting period gives women facing crisis pregnancies time to look at their options without an impending deadline.

CUT 6 (06) “later regret”

No one spoke out in opposition to the proposal. Hoffman says the waiting period does not apply to women who live more than 150 miles from the nearest abortion clinic. He says women have a lot to consider when making this decision.

CUT 7 (07) “mother’s decision”

The bill now heads to the Senate.

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

The director of the famous LSU Golden Band from Tigerland has been placed on paid administrative leave, and his lawyer says it’s the result of a witch hunt. Attorney Jill Craft says her client, Roy King, has been there 18 years and is well liked by his students. She says this action truly came out of the blue…:

CUT 8 (10) “ridiculous”

Craft says there was a move by the School of Music’s Administration, to try to get some of the athletic funds that go toward the Tiger Band, for things that have nothing to do with the band. She says King came forward to try to stop that from happening, then suddenly was placed on leave pending results of an investigation…:

CUT 9 (10) “purposes”

In a statement, LSU said this is not as a result of any alleged dispute between King and the School of Music, and the university plans not to comment further. Craft says it is not clear exactly what the probe hopes to uncover, and there is a huge problem with placing someone irresponsibly on paid administrative leave.:

cut 10 (08)  “he hasn’t”

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

The massive March flooding across the state has cost the agriculture industry up to 15 million dollars. That’s according to LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry, who says corn was impacted the most, as about 40-thousand acres were covered in water and some fields are still underwater.

Cut 11 (09) “excessive rains”

Guidry says about 3 to 4 million dollars in corn was lost and it’ll cost farmers about 150 dollars per acre to replant. He says another commodity that was affected by the flooding was wheat.

cut 12 (08) “and flooding”

Guidry says in the southern part of the state, strawberry production was impacted. He says hundreds of cattle died after their pastures were flooded.

Cut 13 (11)  “be moved”

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

The Senate Education Committee approves two bills that addresses the funding issues surrounding the TOPS scholarship program. One of the measures would cap the amount students currently receive and it would not go any higher if even tuition increases. Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue says his legislation basically puts a cap on the amount a student receives…

cut 14 (11)  “of the bill”

Governor John Bel Edwards supports this legislation, because TOPS is facing major funding problems in light of a 750-million dollar budget deficit. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth opposed this bill last year, but he’s heard from plenty of students in his district who are worried about the future of TOPS….

cut 15 (08) “our students” 

The other TOPS funding bill heading to the Senate floor is a bill by Jennings Senator Blade Morrish and it would reduce the amount each TOPS recipient receives, if the state doesn’t have enough money to fund TOPS at its current level…

cut 16 (10) “million dollars”

Both of these bills head to the Senate floor for more discussion.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has suggested that movie producers who film in Louisiana share their profits so the state can keep the film tax exemptions in place. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

 LSU is thinking about restricting drinking by student organizations on campus during football tailgates. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

 A study provides information on what kind of industry medical marijuana could be for the Bayou State, if laws were passed to loosen the restrictions. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________________

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has proposed that Hollywood South shares some of their profits in order to keep the film tax exemptions in place. Nungesser says he hopes to build a partnership with movie producers who come to Louisiana.

cut 4  (10)  “a pertnership”

Nungesser says movies and TV shows have had a good track record in Louisiana, such as Jurassic World and NCIS: New Orleans. He says legislators and producers need to sit down and see what will work and what would not.

Cut 5  (07)  “that works”

Nungesser says he spoke with producers at the Grammy’s in Hollywood, and he says he hasn’t heard a good reason why this would not work out for everyone.

Cut 6 (06)  “that before” 

___________________________________________________

A study paid for by the Louisiana Cannabis Association finds medical marijuana use could be a 200 to 330 million dollar industry, if the state loosens its restrictions on who could use the prescription drug. Spokesperson Jesse McCormick says under current law only about 4-thousand people can be legally prescribed medical marijuana. He says if medical marijuana was also available to those with chronic pain and other serious ailments, the number of eligible patients increases to as much as 105-thousand…

CUT 7 (10)  “helping patients”

Even though the dispensing of medical marijuana is legal in Louisiana, it could be another couple of years before it’s available. There is legislation in this session that would allow those with chronic pain, HIV, seizure and spasm disorders to also use the drug once it becomes available. McCormick says the study shows how many people could actually benefit from medical cannabis…

Cut 8  (10)  “healthcare dollars”

The study also shows medical marijuana could generate between 5 and 13-million dollars in tax revenue, if a four-percent tax was placed on the sale of the product….

Cut 9 (12)  “are doing”

___________________________________________________

A debate is underway on the LSU campus over whether the university should restrict drinking by its students on campus during football game days. LSU is considering several regulations that are designed to crack down on binge drinking and prohibit items like couches, punch bowls, and kegs from student association tailgates. LSU’s Dean of Students Maria (Ma-dee-ah) Fuentes-Martin says she doesn’t want to see another student hurt because of current tailgating practices.

Cut 10 (10) “our practices”

Fuentes-Martin feels like she’s taking a proactive step. But she says during town hall style meetings on campus, she received a lot of opposition.

cut 11 (06) “destroy that”

 The proposed new tailgating rules for students will be presented to President F. King Alexander for his consideration. Fuentes-Martin says she’s gotten some positive feedback, but for the most part students aren’t happy with this proposed change.

cut 12 (07) “other activities”

_______________________________________________________________

A bill has been filed that would restrict college athletic teams in the state, excluding LSU, from traveling more 375 miles to play in games. The proposed law also does not apply to football or basketball programs or postseason action. The bill’s author, Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter, says state dollars are scarce and public dollars shouldn’t be used on long road trips for baseball, softball and volleyball teams.

Cut 13 (09)  “great distances”

This proposal does not apply to playoffs or championship competitions, and teams would be able to attend competitions hosted by opposing schools that pay for travel costs. Carter says Louisiana’s budget is in bad shape, and legislators have to figure out a way to cut back on spending.

Cut 14 (05)  “some dollars” 

ULM Athletic Director Brian Wickstrom says he understands that Louisiana is facing budget problems, but college sports are important to students. 

Cut 15 (10) “young people”

__________________________________________________________

The 15th ranked LSU baseball team welcomes second ranked Vanderbilt into Alex Box Stadium tonight. Coach Paul Mainieri will start Jared Poche over Alex Lange on the mound tonight. Both pitchers last threw on Saturday, but Mainieri says Poche is more equipped to pitch again on shorter rest…

Cut 16  (16)  “last Friday”

Vanderbilt comes into this series with a 6-3 record in the SEC, 24-5 overall. They have the second best team ERA in the league and they’ve scored the most runs out of any team in the Southeastern Conference. Mainieri says the Commodres have only hit 20 home runs, so they find other ways to score…

Cut 17 (18) “including us”

Vanderbilt’s pitchers have struck out 319 batters, second most in the SEC. Mainieri wants his hitters to embrace the opportunity to face some great pitchers…

Cut 18 (10) “country”

A Natchez resident started a petition for the town to secede from Mississippi after the governor signed a bill that allows people and businesses with religious obligations to deny service to gay people. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (28)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Three bills that would put limitations on the TOPS Scholarship Program failed to make it out of the House Education Committee today. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (26)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

A petition on change-dot-org is calling for Natchez, Mississippi, to secede from the state after legislators there approved a bill that allows individuals and institutions with religious obligations to deny services to gay people. Natchez resident Casey Hughes started the petition hoping the governor would not sign the bill, but he did yesterday. She says she wants to send a message to people who would visit the historic city.

CUT 3 (08)  “to everyone”

Tourism is a huge industry in Natchez, as the town holds wildly popular events throughout the year that draw hundreds of thousands of people. Hughes says this bill could impact tourism.

CUT 4 (07)  “come here”

Hughes says Natchez welcomes all kinds of people, even if the rest of the state does not. She says the petition was mostly a joke, but she wouldn’t mind if her town moved over to the Bayou State.

CUT 5 (08)  “that’d be great”

The petition has been signed by almost 700 people.

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

Legislation that attempted to prevent local governments from removing Confederate monuments failed in a Senate Committee today. The bill would create a statewide commission that would have to grant a waiver before a monument could be altered, moved, or renamed. Confederate monument supporter Leslie Tassin says monuments of Confederate soldiers are a history lesson…

CUT 6 (04) “brighter future”

Tassin says this issue is import now but is more important to future generations so they will have the opportunity to understand the history of Louisiana. He says historic monuments shouldn’t be torn down, new monuments should be built.

CUT 7 (12) “their lives”

Opponents for the legislation believe it shouldn’t be up to the state what happens to city property. Democrats on the panel voted against the bill, while Republicans supported it. Author of the legislation Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell urged legislators to vote favorably to allow the monuments to educate future generations…

CUT 8 (08) “shared history”

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

The House Education Committee rejected a proposal to increase the GPA a college student must achieve to keep their TOPS scholarship. It also said “No” to a bill to make a TOPS recipient pay back some or all of their scholarship if they fail or withdraw from school.  New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says changing TOPS to a loan makes it less of an opportunity for students.

CUT 9 (11) “many students”

Kenner Representative Julie Stokes authored the proposal to make students who don’t graduate pay back their TOPS scholarship. She says a lot of students get to college and have too much fun, then they end up dropping out.

cut 10 (04)  “take it seriously”

Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater proposed a bill that would make TOPS a partial scholarship, in which recipients would receive more money each year. That bill also failed to make it out of committee. Broadwater says lawmakers have to do something to save the TOPS program.

Cut 11 (05) “a challenge”

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

Two new Zika cases have been confirmed in Louisiana, bringing the total number to four – but DHH says they are all okay. Medical Director for the Louisiana Center for Community Preparedness, Dr. Frank Welch says this Zika confirmation is really a few weeks late, because the tests had to be sent to the Center for Disease Control for confirmation.

cut 12 (07) “positive”

Welch says doctors have a much faster method for testing for Zika now. He says these cases were from people who had traveled to South America. Welch says only one in five people who contract Zika actually get sick, and the illness only lasts three to five days.

Cut 13 (03)  “the illness”

Welch says the mosquito that carries the Zika virus is active in Louisiana, but only in the summer. He says so far the only people who have gotten Zika were bit by mosquitos outside of the country.

cut 14 (06)  “has happened”

A group of high school aged kids will rally on the state Capitol steps in support of legislation to prosecute 17-year-olds in juvenile court. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

A Senate committee approved a proposed bill that would prohibit selling organs collected from aborted fetuses. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Today the House Education Committee will discuss several proposed changes to the TOPS Scholarship Program. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________________

US Representative Ralph Abraham arrives in Cuba today seeking to make Louisiana a trade partner with the island once the U.S. lifts the trade embargo. The Richland Parish Republican says exporting Louisiana rice to Cuba would make a lot of sense for both sides and the Port of New Orleans is only 36 hours away…

cut 4  (09)  “farmers”

Abraham says beef, poultry, corn, and soybeans will hopefully follow shortly after they secure a deal to send Louisiana rice to Cuba. He says right now Cuba is getting their rice and other imported goods from Vietnam and Taiwan.

Cut 5  (10)  “the globe”

Abraham says it’s time to empower the Cuban people and help their economy grow. He says that can happen once the trade embargo is lifted…

Cut 6 (08)  “the latest” 

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The House Education Committee meets today to discuss a variety of proposals that would change the TOPS Scholarship Program as we know it. Kenner Representative Julie Stokes has a bill that would make the scholarship a loan that students would have to pay back if they drop out or fail classes. She says when you offer something for free, there will always be people who will abuse the system.

CUT 7 (05)  “for me”

Stokes says many students who drop out of college do it in their freshman year. She says lawmakers will look at an amendment so student would not be penalized if they are able to graduate later.

Cut 8  (06)  “a loan”

Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey has a proposal that would raise the GPA requirement to retain the scholarship once a recipient is in college. The bill would raise the minimum GPA from a 2.3 to a 2.5 for the first year, and from a 2.5 to a 2.75 for the last three years. Ivey says it’s a very small increase to the minimum GPA.

Cut 9 (10)  “increase performance”

Ivey says the TOPS program was always intended to be performance-based. He says these small changes to TOPS will keep the program intact for more students in the future.

Cut 10 (05) “pretty quickly”

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A rally in support of legislation to have 17-year-olds charged as juveniles rather than adults takes place on the State Capitol steps today. Meg Garvey with the Youth Justice Coalition says Louisiana is one of only 9 states that routinely prosecutes 17-year-olds as adults… with a law like this.

cut 11 (09) “and unfair”

Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to speak at the rally. Garvey says a 17-year-old in the juvenile justice system could help kids get back on the right track, as studies show convicted teens are 34 percent less likely to reoffend.

cut 12 (09) “in life”

Garvey says this bill allows 17-year-olds the opportunity to be in a system that’s rehabilitative and that addresses their needs. She says passing this legislation is simply the right thing to do.

Cut 13 (11)  “public safety”

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A Senate Committee has unanimously approved a proposal that would ban the sale of aborted fetal tissue. The bill would create a $5-thousand fine and mandatory 10 year prison sentence for people who sell or transfer organs or other body parts from aborted fetuses. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says he doesn’t want abortion doctors to profit from selling “baby parts.”

Cut 14 (11)  “for research” 

Before heading to the Senate floor, the bill was amended so mothers would not be criminalized for donating stem cells or umbilical cord blood. Gatti says his main emphasis is to make sure people can’t profit from the selling of parts of an aborted fetus.

Cut 15 (10) “that process”

This bill comes as a response to allegations that Planned Parenthood sold organs from aborted fetuses. Gatti says there are already laws in place about killing babies in the womb or immediately after birth. He hopes this bill fills a gap in the law about selling organs.

Cut 16  (07)  “an organ”

The measure that would allow people to be buried with their pets in cemeteries did not make it out of a Senate Committee today. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A state lawmaker says its time to restructure higher education. Jeff Palemro has the story…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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LSU Vice President for Agriculture Bill Richardson says the school is debating whether or not it will grow medical marijuana. He says several bills in this regular session outline the regulations that could help them make a decision. Richardson says they are still a ways away from offering medical marijuana to the public.

CUT 3 (09)  “years away”

When lawmakers approved legislation last year allowing for the dispensing of medical marijuana, it gave the ag centers at LSU and Southern the first right of refusal to produce the prescription drug. Richardson says they are keeping an eye on the proposed legislation this year and considering their options.

CUT 4 (08)  “or out”

Richardson says growing the prescribed marijuana could cost u to $15 million, and the school doesn’t have that in the budget right now. He says they are looking into third-party investors, but there is a lot of uncertainty about the financial impact.

CUT 5 (08)  “next week”

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A bill has passed out of the House Transportation Committee to increase the penalty for violating the state’s seatbelt law.  New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger says under the proposed law, the fine would double to 50 dollars for the first offense of not wearing a seatbelt. He says the higher the penalty, the better your compliance

CUT 6 (09) “a year”

Leger says under this legislation, the second and third offense would increase to 75 dollars from 50 dollars. He says with this increase we can expect to see increased seatbelt usage and the saving of additional lives each year.

CUT 7 (10) “seatbelt”

The bill now moves to the full House. The legislature has also advanced a bill to the Senate floor that would increase the fines against drivers who are caught texting or using social media while behind the wheel. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor helped move the bill out of committee.

CUT 8 (10) “the distraction”

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The measure that would allow people to be buried with their pets in cemeteries did not make it out of a Senate Committee today. Gerald Melancon, with the Louisiana Cemetery Association, says the language in the bill that says pets would be in different sections needs clarification. He says cemeteries already have spots sold with the promise there would only be human remains there…:

CUT 9 (10) “this section”

It’s Metairie Senator Conrad Appel’s bill and he says it states folks who would want to be buried with their pets would have to buy a spot in another section, and do it in advance…:

cut 10 (08)  “goldfish section”

Melancon believes this law would give cemeteries problems if the owner never said he wanted to be buried with the pet, but the family wants it to happen..:

Cut 11 (09) “that owner”

But Appel says there is plenty of language in the bill that gives cemeteries the power to figure out how they want to do this, and also the right to refuse burying pets…:

cut 12 (08) “the cemetery”

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A state lawmaker tells higher education officials not to expect any additional revenue and they need to come up with a plan on how to educate our future workforce with existing dollars. Covington Representative John Schroeder says after raising hundreds of millions of dollars in the special session, he doesn’t see legislature any more tax increases…

Cut 13 (09)  “money coming”

Schroeder says higher education should restructure itself based on the dollars that are available now…

cut 14 (07)  “down the road”

Public colleges and universities have been on the receiving end of multiple budget cuts over the last several years. Lake Charles Representative and former Board of Regents member  Mark Abraham says if the legislature wants bold ideas from higher education officials, universities will need money to get it done…

cut 15 (09) “stay in mediocrity ” 

A federal judge has reached a $20-billion settlement with BP over the 2010 Gulf oil spill. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

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Today a Senate Committee will hear a proposal by Metairie Senator Conrad Appel that would allow people to have their pets buried next to them in cemeteries. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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 A New Orleans entrepreneur has developed an app which consumers can use to find the best price on seafood in town. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Today a Senate committee will hear testimony on a proposed bill that would increase the fine for texting or using social media while driving from $175 to $500. Sgt. Nick Manale with Louisiana State Police says distracted driving causes accidents every day.

cut 4  (03)  “behind the wheel”

Manale says the use of a phone to text or check Facebook is considered distracted driving, which is a big problem in Louisiana.

Cut 5  (11)  “vehicle”

Meanwhile in the House, the Transportation Committee is scheduled to consider a proposal to double the fine for not wearing a seatbelt from $25 to $50 for first offenses. Manale says not wearing a seatbelt can turn a fender bender into a fatal accident.

Cut 6 (07)  “laws of physics” 

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A $20-billion settlement has finally been reached regarding the BP oil spill in 2010. The money will go towards Clean Water Act penalties and to cover environmental damage, and it will be paid out over 16 years. Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute, Eric Smith says Louisiana will get some money out of the deal.

CUT 7 (06)  “restoration efforts”

Smith says with all the uncertainty surrounding the budget, it’s unclear if the money will still go towards the coast. He says the settlement isn’t even close to what BP has actually doled out because of the spill.

Cut 8  (06)  “double that”

Smith says the settlement does contain some good news for BP. He says the judge ruled that other oil companies could not file lawsuits against BP in relation to the spill. He says this should put a stop to any potential litigation against the oil giant.

Cut 9 (10)  “as a result”

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A Senate committee will hear a proposal today that would allow people to be buried next to their pets in cemeteries. Patrick McCausland, president of Heaven’s Pets in Metairie, says he knows this is something many pet owners would like to do for their pets.

Cut 10 (08) “as well”

The proposal by Metairie Senator Conrad Appel, specifies that pets would have to be interred with their owners in a specific area of the cemetery. McCausland says a few other states have already started allowing this.

cut 11 (04) “this decision”

If the measure gets through the legislative process and signed by the governor, it would take effect January 1^st. McCausland says this would simply give cemeteries the option to allow this.

cut 12 (09) “from there”

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A New Orleans entrepenuer has developed an app which consumers can use to find the best price on seafood in town. Sheldon Williams says the Seafood Locator App does the searching for you…:

Cut 13 (12)  “favorite places”

Williams says the establishments they work with are mostly in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas, but they are working to get more on board throughout the state. He says he launched the app in January after years of thinking about new, innovative ways to export our culture to people…:

Cut 14 (13)  “all on the app” 

The free app is available on iTunes or the Google play store. Williams says once you launch the app, you’ll see the 15 affiliate establishments closest to you that sell things like boiled crawfish, boiled shrimp, boiled crabs, raw oysters and more…:

Cut 15 (09) “in the app”

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After scoring 18 runs in its last two games, LSU Coach Paul Mainieri is hopeful his team has broken out of its offensive slump. Prior to Saturday’s doubleheader, the Tigers scored six runs in their last four games. Mainieri believes the team started gaining confidence in the ninth inning of Saturday’s 8-5 loss to Auburn.

Cut 16  (20)  “with your mind”

Mainieri credits catcher Jordan Romero for helping LSU overcome its offensive struggles, as he hit a home run and drove in seven runs during the series against Auburn.

Cut 17 (12) “seizing the moment”

Mainieri is not concerned about ace pitcher Alex Lange despite the sophomore right-hander giving up seven in a loss to Auburn. The Tiger’s skipper credits Lange for battling through a tough performance.

Cut 18 (21) “two to three innings”