Lawmakers return to the captiol today after a four-day break from Baton Rouge. The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committee will debate legislation this afternoon that would exempt certain feminine hygiene products and diapers from the state sales tax. Louisiana Budget Project Executive Director Jan Moller supports the proposal…
cut 8 (10) “…budget”
But this legislation failed to get support in 2017.

A bill waiting to be heard in a House committee would not publicize the companies that provide the state with drugs to carry out lethal injections. Hammond Representative Nicky Muscarello says families who had loved ones killed by someone on death row were promised an execution and this legislation would help increase the odds of that happening…
cut 11 (07) “….progress”
Louisiana has not performed an execution since 2010.

Juniors and Seniors at public high schools may soon have the chance to take two college courses, free of charge starting next year…
voicer 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Advocate newspaper reporter Tyler Bridges says reports that indicate former Governor Kathleen Blanco’s death is imminent are not true and she is not under hospice care. But Bridges says it does appear Blanco is in her final stages in her battle against cancer…
cut 6 (07) “…her body’

Governor Edwards says if it reaches his desk, he would sign legislation concealing the identity of companies that sell the state lethal injection chemicals. Matt Doyle spoke to the bill’s sponsor…
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Two people died early Sunday when their vehicle hit a deer while traveling on Highway 821 in Lincoln Parish. State Police say after the Chevy Tahoe hit the deer, the vehicle struck several trees. The driver, 29-year-old Christopher Brady of Choudrant, and his passenger, 27-year-old Savannah Holden of Ruston, died at a local hospital.

The Blanco family wants to set the record straight when it comes to the health of former Governor Kathleen Blanco who has a terminal cancer. Tyler Bridges with the Advocate newspaper says Blanco is to weak to walk, but death is not imminent…
cut 5 (11) “…going forward”
Blanco was first diagnosed with a rare eye cancer in 2011 and she announced in 2017 the cancer had returned.

A Senate Committee is set to hear a proposal today that would exempt feminine hygiene products and diapers from the state sales tax. Louisiana Budget Project Executive Director Jan Moller says the proposal would cost the state 10-million dollars in revenues, but that’s not a lot of money in a 30-billion dollar budget…
Cut 7 (11) “…relief.”
There’s two versions of the proposal, one a bill, and one an amendment that would require two thirds legislative support and over 50 percent of the vote on the October ballot.

Louisiana has not performed an execution since 2010. A main reason is because drugs companies that can make the drugs to kill a person are reluctant to give states the chemicals needed to carry out an execution. Hammond Representative Nicky Muscarello is trying to change that by filing legislation that conceals the identities of companies that sell lethal injection drugs…
cut 12 (08) “….with that”
Governor Edwards says he would sign the legislation if it reaches his desk.

Another bill waiting to be heard in the legislative session is a measure that would allow juniors and seniors at public high schools to take two college courses in high school for free….
cut 15 (08) “…very important”
That’s Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed and it’s another bill that has the governor’s support.

Kathleen Blanco’s family wants the public to know the former governor is not as close to death as reports indicated last week when it was announced she was in hospice care. Advocate Reporter Tyler Bridges spoke with Blanco’s husband, Raymond Blanco, and he says his wife is still active despite her terminal cancer
Cut 4 (12) “…those visits.”
Bridges says the state’s only female governor can no longer walk, but is getting around with the help of an electric wheelchair.

For just the second time in the Louisiana National Guard’s history, an African american female has reached the rank the colonel. Alexandria native Kartina Lloyd has worked in several jobs including chief clinical nurse and deputy commander of clinical and administrative services.

Juniors and Seniors at public high schools may soon have the chance to take two college courses, free of charge starting next year. Kevin Barnhart has the story…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

LSU basketball coach Will Wade will not have to testify in a college hoops bribery trial set to begin next week in New York. Wade and Arizona coach Sean Miller were subpoenaed to testify, but judge Edgardo Ramos ruled that their testimonies would be irrelevant to the bribery charges the two defendants are facing.

The Blanco family wants to set the record straight when it comes to the health of former Governor Kathleen Blanco who has a terminal cancer. Tyler Bridges with the Advocate newspaper says Blanco is to weak to walk, but death is not imminent…
cut 5 (11) “…going forward”
Blanco was first diagnosed with a rare eye cancer in 2011 and she announced in 2017 the cancer had returned.

Hurricane Michael that impacted the Florida Panhandle in October has been upgraded by NOAA as a rare Category 5 hurricane at the time of landfall. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the last Category 5 storm that made landfall on US soil was Hurricane Andrew when it hit Florida and then crossed the Gulf and struck the Bayou State.
Cut 10 (11) “…here as well.”

Three people are behind bars for allegedly planting fake bombs at two northwest Louisiana schools to distract authorities while they robbed nearby banks. State fire marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the three suspects terrorized children and their families…
Cut 8 (09) “…areas”
The two schools impacted were Lakeview High School in Natchitoches Parish and Castor High School in Bienville Parish.

A GoFundMe page for the three St. Landry Parish churches that were burned by alleged arsonist Holden Matthews has raised over two million dollars for reconstruction efforts. Seventh District Missionary Baptist Association representative Mason Jack says it’s been an inspiring turn of events just in time for the Easter weekend.
Cut 13 (06) “…resurrect”

Hurricane Michael that slammed Panama City, Florida, in October has now been upgraded to a Category 5 storm at the time of landfall by the National Hurricane Center. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

After getting thumped 16-9 on Thursday, the LSU baseball team rebounded for a 13-1 win last night over Florida. Game 3 of the series is at 2 PM. Louisiana Tech was also a big winner last night, beating Marshall 19-6.

Kathleen Blanco’s family wants the public to know the former governor is not as close to death as reports indicated this week when it was announced she was in hospice care. Advocate Reporter Tyler Bridges spoke with Blanco’s husband, Raymond Blanco, and he says his wife is still active despite her terminal cancer
Cut 4 (12) “…those visits.”
Bridges says Blanco can no longer walk, but is getting around with the help of an electric wheelchair.

Two-point-one million has been raised through GoFundMe for the three historically black churches burned down by a suspected arsonist. Seventh District Missionary Baptist Association spokesperson Mason Jack…
cut 14 (10) “…ministry”
NOAA now says that Hurricane Michael, which hammered the Florida panhandle last year was a Category Five storm when it made landfall. It’s the fourth storm in recorded history that was a Cat 5 at the time of landfall. Two of those storms reached peak strength along the Gulf Coast. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Hurricane Camille in 1969 was the other……
cut 11 (12) “….our home state”

The 2019 Louisiana Survey shows a majority of Louisiana residents oppose gun restrictions as 57-percent oppose banning the sale of assault weapons and 61-percent oppose banning high capacity ammunition magazines. LSU Public Policy Research Lab director Doctor Michael Henderson says they asked respondents about three different proposals to restrict firearms and only one received majority support…
cut 15 (07) “…other individuals”
Henderson says 69-percent of those polled say a law should be put in place to prevent people with mental illness from purchasing guns.

Three people who allegedly planted fake bombs at schools to help them rob banks in Bienville Parish have been arrested. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”
Legislation is being brought that would conceal the identities of companies that sell lethal injection drugs or equipment to the state. The state has not performed an execution since 2010, and advocates say a big part of that is because drug companies fear retaliation from anti-death penalty consumers. Governor Edwards says he would sign the legislation if it were to make it to his desk.
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East Baton Rouge residents will not have to worry about serving jury duty until at least June after a case out of Shreveport found young adults were not being summoned for jury duty. E-B-R District Attorney Hillar Moore says a computer system glitch prevented people under age 26 from being summoned as potential jurors…
Cut 3 (10) “…beyond me ”
The problem was uncovered during jury selection for the capital murder trial of Grover Cannon.
A GoFundMe page for the three St. Landry Parish churches that were burned by alleged arsonist Holden Matthews has now raised over two million dollars for reconstruction efforts. Seventh District Missionary Baptist Association representative Mason Jack says the donations have surged in the last week.
Cut 12 (10) “…to home”

Three people have been arrested for allegedly planting fake bombs at Bienville Parish schools to distract authorities while they robbed nearby banks. In one instance a school was put on lock-down and the Explosive Ordinance Disposal team was called in to sniff out the suspected bomb.  Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the bomb sniffing dogs combed the premises, but…
Cut 7 (07) “…were found.”
41-year-old Paul Nash of Jonesboro, 47-year-old Lacentrusa Mayweather, and 42-year-old Tabitha Gray of Ball have been booked into the Bienville Parish Prison.

East Baton Rouge residents will not have to worry about serving jury duty until at least June after a case out of Shreveport found young adults were not being summoned for jury duty. The jury service computer glitch means jury trials will have to delayed.  E-B-R District Attorney Hillar Moore says it’s obviously a set back….

Cut 5 (05) “…unfortunately”

Hurricane Michael that slammed Panama City, Florida, in October has now been upgraded to a Category 5 storm by the National Hurricane Center. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

A GoFundMe page for the three St. Landry Parish churches that were burned by alleged arsonist Holden Matthews has now raised over two million dollars for reconstruction efforts.  Seventh District Missionary Baptist Association representative Mason Jack says it’s been an inspiring turn of events just in time for Good Friday and the Easter weekend.

Three people have been arrested for allegedly planting fake bombs at Bienville Parish schools to distract authorities while they robbed nearby banks.Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the plan was to sow terror and confusion to draw local police to one area of the town, while they went to work in another…
Cut 6 (12) “…to commit.”
41-year-old Paul Nash of Jonesboro, 47-year-old Lacentrusa Mayweather, and 42-year-old Tabitha Gray of Ball have been booked.
A computer glitch means East Baton Rouge residents will not have jury duty until June. The problem was uncovered during jury selection for the capital murder trial of Grover Cannon, who is accused of killing Shreveport police officer. E-B-R District Attorney Hillar Moore says jury selection must start over now.
Cut 4 (05) “ be even”
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Hurricane Michael that impacted the Florida Panhandle in October has been upgraded by the National Hurricane Center to a Category 5 hurricane, making it only the fourth storm to hit the United States to receive the classification dating back to 1851. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the upgrade it is intriguing in assessing hurricane probability.
Cut 9 (07) “…the Saffir-Simpson scale.”
A GoFundMe page for the three St. Landry Parish churches that were burned by alleged arsonist Holden Matthews has now raised over two million dollars for reconstruction efforts.The churches are still working out just how much coverage they’ll receive from their insurance companies, but regardless of the deals they cut, Seventh District Missionary Baptist Association representative Mason Jack says they’ll all be getting a slice of the fundraiser once it wraps up.
Cut 14 (10) “…ministry”

East Baton Rouge residents will not have to worry about serving jury duty until at least June after a case out of Shreveport found young adults were not being summoned for jury duty. E-B-R District Attorney Hillar Moore says a computer system glitch prevented people under age 26 from being summoned as potential jurors…

Cut 3 (10) “…beyond me ”

Hurricane Michael that impacted the Florida Panhandle in October has been upgraded by the National Hurricane Center to a Category 5 hurricane, making it only the fourth storm to hit the United States to receive the classification dating back to 1851. Of the four cat 5 storms, two made landfall at peak strength from the Gulf of Mexico.  Hurricane Camille in 1969 made landfall in Mississippi.  Keim says Louisiana is lucky to have dodged the bullet on getting a Cat 5.

Cut 11 (12)   “…our home state.”

Three people have been arrested for allegedly planting fake bombs at Bienville Parish schools to distract authorities while they robbed nearby banks.  Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the three criminals were willing to terrorize children and their families just to make a few bucks, and some of the schools were shut down for days at a time as a result.

Cut 8 (09) “…areas”

41-year-old Paul Nash of Jonesboro, 47-year-old Lacentrusa Mayweather, and 42-year-old Tabitha Gray of Ball have been booked into the Bienville Parish Prison.

A GoFundMe page for the three St. Landry Parish churches that were burned by alleged arsonist Holden Matthews has now raised over two million dollars for reconstruction efforts.  Seventh District Missionary Baptist Association representative Mason Jack says it’s been an inspiring turn of events just in time for Good Friday and the Easter weekend.

Cut 13 (11) “…resurrect”