The governor has signed legislation requiring private health insurance to cover the cost of fertility preservation for those undergoing medical treatment for cancer or other illnesses that could affect their fertility.  Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis patients will now have the option to freeze their eggs or sperm before treatments begin.

Cut 6 (06)  “…infertile.” 

Davis says this is welcome news to individuals who could be faced with a loss of fertility on top of a cancer diagnosis.

And the “Protecting Teachers Rights Act” which provides teachers and administrators with civil and criminal immunity if they intervene in a physical fight on campus has been signed. Bill author Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges…

Cut 5 (13)  “…protect them.”

Two suspects wanted for a double homicide in Lafayette were taken into custody in West Baton Rouge Parish Tuesday. 21-year-old Zaylin Sion of Carencro and 18-year-old Alayna Moreau of Church Point were apprehended at Motel Six on Frontage Road. The two will be transferred back to Lafayette to face charges.

The LSU Tigers take on Wake Forest tonight and will need to beat the Demon Deacons twice to advance to the Championship Series. There’s a concern LSU does not have enough pitching, but Coach Jay Johnson does not share that concern…

Cut 13 (15) “…be successful” 

Blake Money or Javen Coleman are possible starters for tonight’s game

Senate Finance Chairman Bodi White regrets voting for the $100 million dollar funding cut to the Louisiana Department of Health in the final moments of the legislative session. White says his time was limited and admits he did not read much if any of the budget.

Cut 10 (11) “…should not have.”

L-D-H officials told state senators the 100 million dollar cut could result in a 740-million dollar reduction in funding when you factor in federal matching dollars.

The “Protecting Teachers Rights Act” which provides school employees immunity from civil liability and criminal prosecution if they try to stop fights on school grounds. Bill’s author, Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges says teachers are often in a no-win situation when a fight happens.

Cut 4 (10)  “…or whatever.” 

The bill gained support from the House of Representatives and Senate.

State Treasurer John Schroder is calling on state agencies to accept electronic payment options like PayPal and Venmo. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed into law the “Protecting Teachers Rights Act” which provides teachers and administrators with civil and criminal immunity if they intervene in a physical fight on campus. Bill author, Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges…

Cut 3 (10) “…passed overwhelmingly.”

LSU left-hander Nate Ackenhausen delivered a legendary performance last night as he threw six shutout innings in a five-to-nothing win to eliminate Tennessee from the College World Series. A well-rested Ackenhausen received a text yesterday morning that he would make his first start of the season…

Cut 12 (09) “…all I got” 

LSU needs to beat Wake Forest twice and they play tonight at 6 PM

The parents of 29-year-old Donovan Bailey who was killed in Reserve in 2013 have joined with Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans to increase the reward amount for new tips in the cold case. Crimestoppers President Darlene Causanza says an arrest was made in 2014 …

Cut 8 (13) “…was released.’”

The reward is $17,500 .

According to CreditCards-dot-com Louisiana has the third highest credit card debt in the country. The report compares credit card debt and household incomes across the country. Senior Industry Analyst Ted Rossman says people in Louisiana live on a below-average household income.

Cut 14 (10)  “…it off.”

Senate Finance Chairman Bodi White says it was a big mistake when lawmakers rushed to approve a budget on the final day of the session. It resulted in a 100-million dollar cut to the Louisiana Department of Health at a time when the state has a surplus. White says if he had to do it again, he wouldn’t have brought the budget bill up for a vote in the waning minutes of the session…

Cut 11 (04)  “…special session.”

LDH tells lawmakers the cut will result in a loss of services for Medicaid recipients and a loss of funding for some nursing homes, a graduate medical education program, and mobile cancer screenings.

Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is alarmed to see a cut in funding to Our Lady of Angels Hospital in Bogalusa…

Cut 13 (11) “…happen”  

White is calling on the governor to use his line-item authority and remove the cut from the budget so funding could be restored to L-D-H.

State Treasurer John Schroder is calling on the Louisiana Cash Management Review Board to develop a plan for all state agencies to accept electronic payment options like PayPal and Venmo.

Cut 6 (10)  “…the taxpayer.”

By law, the state treasurer can make the electronic payment process available to state agencies but he can’t require them to use it.

According to CreditCards-dot-com Louisiana has the third highest credit card debt in the country. CreditCards-dot-com Senior Industry Analyst Ted Rossman says using a personal loan as a form of debt consolidation and working with a reputable nonprofit credit counseling agency can help make payments manageable. He also suggests a zero percent balance transfer credit card.

Cut 16 (11) “…tremendous savings.”

State senators express regret over approving a state budget that contained a 100-million dollar cut in funding to the Department of Health. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

LSU toppled Tennessee last night in a 5-to-nothing win. LSU left-hander Nate Ackenahusen threw six shutout innings. The Tigers will need to beat Wake Forest tonight to stay alive. The first pitch is at 6PM.

A new report by CreditCards.com finds Louisiana has the third highest credit card debt burden in the country. The state’s average credit card balance is 54 hundred dollars. Senior Industry Analyst Ted Rossman says people in Louisiana live on a below-average household income.

Cut 14 (10)  “…it off.”

Louisiana ranked 47^th in average household income with an average of $76,000 annually.

The parents of 29-year-old Donovan Bailey who was killed in Reserve in 2013  have joined with Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans to increase the reward amount for new tips in the cold case. President Darlene Causanza (cu-zan-za) hopes increasing the amount will garner new leads in the case.

Cut 7 (13) “…final arrest.”

Anyone with leads should contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111, download the  CSGNO app, or visit crimestoppersgno.org to post a tip.

Senate Finance Chairman Bodi White regrets signing off on a budget that slashed state funding to the Louisiana Department of Health by 100-million dollars. On the final day of the session, budget negotiations went right up until a six o’clock deadline and White admits he paid too much attention to the clock and not what was missing from the 45-billion dollar budget plan
Cut 10 (11) “…should not have.”
Among the cuts in a loss of services for Medicaid recipients who need outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says a mental hospital in his district would also see a cut…
Cut 12 (14) “…no sense”
Governor Edwards is expected to act next week by using his line item veto authority to remove the budget cut so the funding can be restored.

State Treasurer John Schroder says it’s time for state agencies to accept digital payments such as Venmo and Paypal. Schroder says it’s more convenient for the public…
cut 5 (11) “…tot he bank”
Schroder is working with the Cash Management Review Board on a plan for shifting to statewide agency electronic payment acceptance. He hopes to get this done before his term ends.

The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who killed 29-year-old Donovan Bailey in St. John the Baptist Parish in 2013 has been increased to $17,500. Bailey was gunned down on East 13th Street in Reserve. Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans president Darlene Causanza says those with information can and will remain anonymous…
cut 9 (12) “….the arrest”

Senate Finance Chairman Bodi White says a big mistake was made as lawmakers rushed to approve a budget on the final day of the session. That mistake resulted in a 100-million dollar cut to the Louisiana Department of Health at a time when the state is enjoying huge surpluses. White says if he had to do it again, he would not have brought the budget bill up for a vote in the waning minutes of the session…
cut 11 (04) “….special session”
Now White is calling on the governor to use his line item authority and remove the cut from the budget so funding could be restored to L-D-H.

According to credit-card-dot-com, Louisiana has the third highest credit card debt burden with an average credit card balance of 54-hundred dollars. Senior Industry Analyst Ted Rossman says six out of every ten people with credit card debt have been in debt for at least a year, up 50-percent from the previous year…
cut 15 (13) “….sooner than that”
Rossman says his top tip is to sign up for a zero-percent balance transfer card.

State Treasurer John Schroder is calling on state agencies to accept electronic payment options like PayPal and Venmo.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

In his first start of the season, LSU left-hander Nate Ackenahusen threw six shutout innings as the Tigers blanked Tennessee five to nothing to stay alive in the College World Series. Coach Jay Johnson on why he went with Ack…
cut 28 (05) “…I liked”
LSU faces Wake Forest tonight. Need a win to keep their season alive.

During a Tuesday meeting of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, senators expressed their frustration over approving a state budget that contained a 100-million dollar cut to the Louisiana Department of Health. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is alarmed to see LDH is proposing to reduce funding to Our Lady of Angels Hospital in Bogalusa…
cut 13 (11) “…happen”
Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to get his line item veto pen out next week which will lead to restoring the funding.

State Treasurer John Schroder is calling on the Louisiana Cash Management Review Board to develop a plan for all state agencies to accept electronic payment options like PayPal and Venmo. Schroder says the state needs to get on board with this technology.
Cut 4 (11) “…for government.’”
Schroder says the plan will be presented to the full board within 60 days.

A new CreditCards.com report shows Louisiana has the third highest credit card debt in the country relative to income. Teiko Foxx has more…
cut 3 (33) “….I’m Teiko Foxx

The Governor signs into law a bill requiring all high school kids to take and pass a financial literacy course. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.”  

In Gonzales, a Donaldsonville man was fatally shot while police say he broke a window of his ex-girlfriend’s apartment Saturday. 35-year-old Joshua Jones was shot multiple times as he tried to enter the apartment and later died from his injuries.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a bill that creates the Office of the State Child Ombudsman, which will oversee how state agencies are treating children in the state’s care. The legislation comes after multiple toddlers died from overdoses despite warnings. Also, problems at juvenile detention centers. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the bill received unanimous support and Louisiana joins 38 other states that have such an office…

Cut 10 (03)  “…much better.”
Barrow says the office will also assist parents or individuals who are facing accusations of child abuse or endangerment.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has been in Australia for over a week promoting the Bayou State as a tourist spot to Aussies…

Cut 5 (13)  “…this far.”
Nungesser is set to return on Saturday.

Governor Edwards has signed legislation to create an office to advocate on behalf of children under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services and the Office of Juvenile Justice. Bill author Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the Office of State Child Ombudsman will be an independent office serving under the Legislative Auditor’s Office.

Cut 9 (07) “…intended it to be.”

The office is expected to go into effect in the fall.

And the governor has also signed into law a bill requiring all Louisiana high school juniors and seniors pass a financial literacy course. The bill was authored by Tangipahoa Parish Rep. Nicholas Muscarello, who says it’s a good step forward for kids, who are Louisiana’s future…:

Cut 6 (09)  “…in financial literacy.” 

Passage is a requirement for TOPS recipients

Louisiana Department of Health officials provided lawmakers with information on what a 100-million dollar cut in funding will mean for the agency. L-D-H Secretary Stephen Russo told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee when he left the capitol on the final day of the session, he believed the agency was in good financial shape.

Cut 12 (08) “…honest with you” 

He says the cut goes deeper than 100 million because of matching federal funds.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser has been in the land down under for a little over a week to promote international travel to the Bayou State. Nungesser says the mission is to build relationships to get Aussies to see what we have to offer.

Cut 3 (13) “…we have.”

Nungesser will return on Saturday.