29 people were killed in two mass shootings over the weekend. Jeff Palermo has the reaction from elected officials in Louisiana…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The St. Tammany Sheriff’s office is mourning the loss of one of their deputies who was killed in a head-on collision in Mississippi. Corporal Jonathan Panks was reportedly driving back from his own bachelor party in Florida. Mississippi Highway Patrol says another driver on I-10 crossed the median and hit Panks head-on.

After numerous delays, medical marijuana will finally be available at nine licensed pharmacies around the state tomorrow. Pharmacist at Medicis in Lafayette James Thibodaux says the product will come in a droplet form that goes under the tongue with three different strengths to choose from. Other variations are expected in the near future.
Cut 5 (11) “…anything but smokable.”
Medical marijuana is not covered by insurance and a bottle will cost between 90 and 200-dollars.

New Orleans attorney Randy Boudreaux files a lawsuit against the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana State Bar Association saying attorneys are unconstitutionally forced to pay bar fees. General Counsel at the Pelican Institute James Baehr says the association does not handle regulation like similar organizations in other states.
Cut 10 (11) “…of trade associations.”
The Louisiana State Bar Association says it’s in compliance with the law and denies the allegations that are contained in the lawsuit.

Medical marijuana products will be delivered to nine licensed pharmacies tomorrow. An eligible patient will need to be diagnosed as having one of the qualifying conditions and have a prescription from a physician. Pharmacist at Medicis in Lafayette James Thibodeaux says the process is similar to filling other prescriptions.
Cut 4 (08) “…when it’s ready.”

A three-day qualifying period begins tomorrow for the October 12th election. Republican Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain will likely face two Democratic challengers. They claim Strain has dragged his feet on making medical marijuana available to the public. Political Analyst Clancy Dubos says the release of the medicinal pot comes at a good time for Strain…
cut 8 (12) “…that”
Democrats Margee Green and Charlier Greer are Strain’s opponents.

The Louisiana State Bar Association is facing a lawsuit from lawyers who say paying dues to the Bar Association violates their freedom of speech. General Counsel at the Pelican Institute James Baehr says the association will use the dues to lobby for issues that might not represent the members who foot the bill…
cut 11 (09) “…of those issues”
The Louisiana State Bar Association says it is complying with the law.

Louisiana was in the spotlight on Saturday in Canton, Ohio for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductions. Three men with strong ties to Louisiana were enshrined. Former Destrehan star Ed Reed was born in Charity Hospital in New Orleans and later moved to St. Rose. He says that’s where it really began for him…
Cut 15 (14) “…interceptions.”
Former LSU stars Johnny Robinson and Kevin Mawae were also inducted.

Qualifying for the fall statewide elections begin tomorrow and most of the incumbents outside of the governor’s race are not facing any serious challengers…
Cut 2 (30 ) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

State Police allege 35-year-old Reva Hood of Houma was impaired while behind the wheel in a fatal wreck that killed 16-year-old Makayla Gregoire early Sunday. The vehicle hit a tree, Gregoire died, but Hood was not injured. And State Police say a 16-year-old driving a U-T-V led to a fatal wreck that killed her 40-year-old passenger in Natchitoches Parish. Amanda Preble of Ball is the deceased victim.

Medical marijuana will begin to make its way to the nine licensed pharmacies around the state tomorrow. Pharmacist at Medicis in Lafayette James Thibodeaux says the price for a bottle is between 90 and 200-dollars..
cut 6 (09) “..with the cost”
The first batches of medical marijuana will be available in a liquid and patients will use a dropper to put under their tongue.

After a four-decade plus wait, Delhi native and former LSU star Johnny Robinson is finally in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Robinson was a standout safety for the Kansas City Chiefs. His last game was in 1971 and he wondered why he didn’t get elected into the Hall of Fame sooner, but learned God had another plan…
Cut 13 (15) “…on life ”
Also getting into the Hall, Leesville’s Kevin Mawae and Desterhan’s Ed Reed.

Medical marijuana products are being distributed by LSU and GB Sciences to the nine licensed pharmacies across the state on Tuesday.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart ”

Two more mass shootings in the U-S this past weekend brings the total to 251 this year according to the Gun Violence Archive. Twelve of those mass shootings occurred in Louisiana based on the data they released. Three of the incidents happened in Shreveport, one in Alexandria and the rest in southeast Louisiana.

Tomorrow is qualifying for the fall election, and while most eyes are on the governor’s race, there are other statewide races. The most competitive appears to be Insurance Commissioner, where incumbent Jim Donelon is taking on Tim Temple, who has invested 800-thousand dollars in his own campaign. Political analyst Clancy Dubos…
Cut 7 (09) “thing”
Ag Commissioner Mike Strain is facing two challengers, while the rest of the statewide elected officials are not facing any significant challengers at this time.

Three men with strong connections to Louisiana were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past weekend. Former Leesville and LSU star Kevin Mawae was enshrined after a 16-year career in the NFL, in which he made eight Pro Bowls. During his acceptance speech, Mawae thanked numerous former teammates and coaches, including his first offensive line coach at LSU, Kenny Ferro…
Cut 14 (10) “…love you coach”

Louisiana has another significant budget surplus, this time 300 million dollars, good for 10 percent of the total size of the budget that was passed. Legislative Fiscal Office Chief Economist Greg Albrecht says the state is generating a lot more revenue thanks to federal changes in the tax code that have reduced the size of state tax returns, and the steady elimination of a series of corporate income tax deductions over the past four years, which increased state revenue.

Cut 4 (11) “…tax”

That makes three years in a row the state has run a surplus.

Medical marijuana will be available at nine pharmacies statewide starting Tuesday for folks who have prescriptions for a set of diseases that have been authorized by the Legislature. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says even if you have an OK’d disease, you can only get those prescriptions from physicians who have been approved by the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners.

Cut 16 (08) “…pharmacy.”

Governor Edwards and Congressman Ralph Abraham painted two very different pictures of the current status of state at the Louisiana Municipal Association convention in Monroe.  Edwards touted his hard work in pulling the state out of its largest budget deficit and an economy that was deep in the ditch.

Cut 10 (09) “…to a better path.”

But Abraham says the state can do a lot more, and still lags behind the rest of the country when it comes to economic growth.

Cut 12 (10) “…better than that.”

The third man currently on the ballot in the Governor’s race, Eddie Rispone, was absent from the event.

ESPN is reporting that the Pelicans will play on Christmas Day. New Orleans will travel to Denver as the league looks to feature Zion Williamson on what is a big day for the Association. It’s also been reported that Anthony Davis will make his first return trip to the Big Easy on November 27.

The state appears to have a surplus for the third year in a row, as Louisiana brought in 300 million more in taxes than it budgeted. Governor Edwards says the surplus is an example of the state’s improving economy, but Legislative Fiscal Office Chief Economist Greg Albrecht says the state’s slowly improving outlook isn’t the primary reason why revenue is up.

Cut 5 (12) “…side”

Albrecht notes the state has added money to its budgetary forecast to try and compensate for the increased revenue, but their estimates have turned out to be too conservative.

Medical marijuana will be available at select pharmacies Tuesday, but only those with a specific diseases will be allowed access to it. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says that includes HIV, intractable pain, cachexia…

Cut 15 (11) “…dystrophy.”

___________________

Three former Louisiana football stars are among the eight that will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame today. Former Baltimore Ravens superstar safety Ed Reed went to Destrehan High School. His defensive coordinator at Destrehan and current Wildcats head coach Stephen Robicheaux says it’s a well-deserved honor

Cut 6 (09) “…another level.”

Reed spent 12 years in the NFL and holds the record for interception return yards. 

Two former LSU Tigers are also part of the 2019 Hall of Fame Class, Johnny Robinson and Kevin Mawae. Executive Deputy athletics director Verge Ausberry says what an honor for two LSU legends…

Cut 8 (11) “…played at LSU.”

Robinson was an All-SEC running back on the Tigers 1958 national championship team. While Mawae was an all-conference performer on the offensive line for the Tigers in the early 1990s. 

The state appears to have a surplus for the third year in a row, as Louisiana may have collected 300 million more in taxes last fiscal year. Legislative Fiscal Office Chief Economist Greg Albrecht says the surplus is mostly due to two things, one of them is the impact of the Congressional tax reform law

Cut 3 (09) “…paid”

Albrecht says the other reason is the steady elimination of a series of corporate income tax deductions over the past four years.

The LSU/GB Sciences medical marijuana product has been approved for distribution by the Department of Agriculture and nine licensed pharmacies will have access to it on Tuesday. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says testing was extensive.

Cut 14 (11) “…28”

The product will cost about 90 to 200 dollars a bottle.

It’s induction night for the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame and three of the inductees have strong connections to Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Ascension Parish Sheriff deputies arrested four juveniles who allegedly took school buses parked at Donaldsonville High School for a joyride. Two of the buses were driven into an exterior wall at the school. The building sustained moderate damage. No injuries reported, but juveniles are facing felony charges.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Congressman Ralph Abraham painted two very different pictures of the current status of state at the Louisiana Municipal Association convention in Monroe.  Edwards touted his hard work over the last four years to pull the state out of its largest deficit and an economy that was deep in the ditch.

Cut 10 (09) “…to a better path.”

Edwards says no other state in the nation has exceeded Louisiana’s rate of decline in unemployment in the last 12 months, adding the economy is the strongest in the history of the state. But Abraham says the state has so much more potential.

Cut 12 (10) “…better than that.”

The third man currently on the ballot in the Governor’s race, Eddie Rispone, was absent from the event.

The state appears set to run a surplus for the third year in a row, with non-finalized estimates showing Louisiana may have collected 300 million more in taxes last fiscal year. Governor John Bel Edwards credits an improving economy, but Legislative Fiscal Office Chief Economist Greg Albrecht says the state’s slowly improving outlook isn’t the primary reason why revenues are up…
Cut 5 (12) “…side”

The LSU/GB Sciences medical marijuana product has been approved for distribution by the Department of Agriculture and nine licensed pharmacies will have access to it on Tuesday. Only those with a specific set of diseases approved by the Legislature will be allowed access to medical marijuana. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says that includes HIV, intractable pain, cachexia…

Cut 15 (11) “…dystrophy.”

While speaking at the Louisiana Municipal Association Conference in Monroe, Governor John Bel Edwards and one of his Republican contenders, Ralph Abraham, laid out their plans for a better Louisiana. Abraham says he wants to pass serious tax reform…
cut 13 (10) “…of leaving Louisiana”
But Edwards says the state’s economy has grown during his term…
cut 11 (10) “…historic low unemployment”
The other major Republican candidate in the race, Eddie Rispone, did not appear at the forum. Tuesday begins a three-day sign up period for the candidates to officially put their name on the October 12th ballot.

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says medical marijuana will be available at nine licensed pharmacies around the state starting Tuesday.

Governor Edwards told the Associated Press that he expects the state will have a 300-million dollar surplus when the books are closed on the last fiscal year. Legislative Fiscal Office Economist Greg Albrecht says the federal tax reform legislation and a reduction in business tax breaks are the main reasons for the extra dollars…
cut 4 (11) “…tax”
It would be the third year in a row that the state has ended the fiscal year with a surplus.

Eight individuals will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend and three of them have strong ties to Louisiana. Former Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed went to Destrehan High School. His defensive coordinator at Destrehan and current Wildcats head coach Stephen Robicheaux says it’s a well-deserved honor…
cut 6 (9) “..another level”
Former LSU standouts Kevin Mawae and Johnny Robinson are also entering the Hall.

The state appears set to run a surplus for the third year in a row, with non-finalized estimates showing Louisiana may have collected 300 million more in taxes last fiscal year. Legislative Fiscal Office Chief Economist Greg Albrecht says the surplus is mostly due to two things, one of them is the impact of the Congressional tax reform law…
Cut 3 (09) “…paid”
Albrecht says a reduction in tax breaks for businesses is another reason.

Medical marijuana will finally be available to Louisiana patients on Tuesday. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the first batch of medicinal pot produced by G-B Sciences with the help of LSU has passed all tests. Strain says only state approved physcians can write prescriptions…
cut 16 (08) “…pharmacy”
Nine licensed medical marijuana pharmacies around the state will sell the product at a cost between 90 and 200 dollars.

Induction ceremonies are Saturday night for the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame class and three of the inductees have strong connections to Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Voicer 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Ascension Parish Sheriff deputies arrested four juveniles who allegedly took school buses parked at Donaldsonville High School for for a joyride. Two of buses were driven into an exterior wall at the school. The building sustained moderate damage. No injuries reported, but juveniles are facing felony charges.