The House will debate a bill today that would add “place of worship” to the list of locations eligible for “Stand Your Ground” legal protections.

Bill author Houma Representative Beryl Amadee says currently if you shoot a hostile intruder in your church, the legal burden is on you to prove that the shooting was justified, but if the law were to pass…

Cut 7 (12) “…Business.”

Opponents are concerned, saying the legislation does not outline specific situations that would result in legal protection. Louisiana Mom’s Demand Action chapter leader Angel Bradford says the bill does not define a threat…

Cut 8 (09) “…way”

Mom’s Demand Action is an anti-gun violence organization that opposes Stand Your Ground laws, calling them discriminatory.

President Trump tours Sempra Energy’s 10-billion dollar liquefied natural gas export facility this afternoon. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The governor will be attending the two day National Governor’s Association Cybersecurity summit in Shreveport today. Chief of Staff to the Governor Mark Cooper says Governor Edwards will make a big announcement at the event.

Cut 12 (07) “…cyber innovations center.”

President Trump will tour Sempra Energy’s 10-billion dollar liquefied natural gas export facility in Cameron Parish today. Louisiana Oil & Gas Association president Gifford Briggs says the area has a great example to show the President for growth in the energy sector.

Cut 4 (11) “… making that happen.”

American Idol top 3 contestant and Livingston Parish native Laine Hardy will be parading through Livingston this evening starting at 5:15. The celebration will be filmed and used for the show’s pre-finale “Homecoming Week”.

Hardy could be the first Idol winner from the Bayou State and says the experience has been unforgettable the second time around.

Cut 14 (06) “…crazy”

The parade will start at the Livingston Post Office and end at the Fairgrounds.

The National Governor’s Association is holding its Cybersecurity summit in Shreveport. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The two day Cybersecurity summit begins today.

President Trump tours Sempra Energy’s 10-billion dollar liquefied natural gas export facility at 2 o’clock this afternoon. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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A bill that would extend “Stand Your Ground” legal protections to people in churches is set to be heard on the House floor today. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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The National Governor’s Association is holding its Cybersecurity summit in Shreveport. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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President Trump is visiting Cameron Parish at 2pm today to tour Sempra Energy’s 10-billion dollar liquefied natural gas export facility and will highlight job growth in the energy sector. Louisiana Oil & Gas Association president Gifford Briggs the area has a great story to tell the President as relates to the strength of the sector.

Cut 4 (11) “… making that happen.”

Briggs says he’s seen the President take action to strengthen the energy sector in the offshore drilling area.

Cut 5 (11) “…out to do.”

Briggs says the President will see just how big of a role Louisiana could be playing in the energy export market.

Cut 6 (11) “…actual construction phase.”

President Trump will fly to New Orleans for a fundraiser following his time in Cameron Parish. This is his third trip to the bayou state since taking office.

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The House will debate a bill today that would add “place of worship” to  the list of locations eligible for “Stand Your Ground” legal protections.

Bill author Houma Representative Beryl Amadee says currently, if you shoot a hostile intruder in your church, the legal burden is on you to prove that the shooting was justified, but if the law were to pass…

Cut 7 (12) “…Business.”

But opponents are concerned, saying the legislation does not outline specific situations that would result in legal protection. Louisiana Mom’s Demand Action chapter leader Angel Bradford says the legislation is flawed, and has no definition of what actually defines a threat…

Cut 8 (09) “…way”

Mom’s Demand Action is an anti-gun violence organization that opposes Stand Your Ground laws, calling them discriminatory.

Bradford says with the vague wording, this law could be applied to interpersonal conflicts that end in a death, or situations where a trigger happy congregant becomes suspicious of a new attendee, because it does not identify what “unlawful entry” is in the context of an open church…

Cut 9 (11) “…that vauge″

But Amadee says her understanding of the bill is that it only would be applied in cases where a threat is obvious, like the recent, headline grabbing church shootings…

Cut 10 (11) “…protections.”

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Shreveport is hosting the National Governor’s Association cybersecurity summit. Governor John Bel Edwards is the co-chair of the cyber task force for the association and considers the area the cyber corridor of the state. Chief of staff to the Governor, Mark Cooper says the event will see the attendants from all fifty states and will be one of the biggest conferences of the association of the year.

Cut 11 (11) “…from technology companies.”

Cooper says at the summit, Governor Edwards will have a big announcement.

Cut 12 (07) “…cyber innovations center.”

The northwest part of the state has seen job losses as of late, but Cooper says Louisiana’s colleges with tech-savvy programs will be showcased at the event that will be attractive to bringing in new business.

Cut 13 (12) “…businesses popping up.”

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American Idol top 3 contestant and Livingston Parish native Laine Hardy will be parading through the town of Livingston this evening starting at 5:15. The celebration will be filmed and used for the show’s pre-finale “Homecoming Week”.

Hardy could be the first Idol winner from the Bayou State in the show’s 17 seasons, and says the experience has been unforgettable.

Cut 14 (06) “…crazy”

The parade will roll from the Livingston Post Office office to the Livingston Parish Fairgrounds. Parking is not allowed on the route, and Parish officials are recommending visitors park at the fairgrounds.

Hardy says it’s a chance for him to give a warm welcome to all the fans that have voted him through weeks of the program. After the parade ends, he says he’ll be putting on a free concert.

Cut 15 (10) “thank you.”

Hardy will perform on the finale this Sunday night.

The 18-year-old says he credits his success to the musical upbringing he’s had in The Boot.

Cut 16  (09) “…really is” 

Hardy talked with Michelle Southern of Eagle 98.1

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The LSU baseball team is falling in the polls, but Coach Paul Mainieri believes his team can still host an NCAA Regional. Mainieri says for that to occur, the Tigers need a win tonight against UNO and then they must play well against Auburn in a series that starts on Thursday

 cut 17 (22)   “a regional” 

LSU is coming off a much needed win over fourth ranked Arkansas on Saturday. The Tigers got a big boost out of the bullpen from Todd Peterson, who threw four scoreless innings of one-hit ball. The junior from Florida has had his struggles this season, but Mainieri still believes in Peterson…

A proposal to gradually return the state sales tax to four-percent, where it was for many years prior to the Edwards administration clears out of the House Ways and Means Committee. The current state sales tax rate is 4.45 percent, but Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says it’s helping to produce surpluses

Cut 12 (09) “…to them”

The state sales tax increased to five-percent in 2016 to to address a massive budget shortfall. It was lowered to 4.45 percent last year as part of a budget deal and Marksville Representative Robert Johnson is concerned Harris’ legislation will return the state to budget deficits…

Cut 13 (10) “…somewhat refreshing.”

The Edwards administration opposes the legislation. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says an improving economy is creating budget surpluses and rolling back the state sales tax will make it more difficult to fund state services.

A case filed by Angola death row inmates that accused the facility of cruel and unusual punishment for it’s refusal to air condition their cells has been conditionally dismissed after the two sides came to an agreement. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the state fought tooth and nail to keep from having to buy window units for the prisoners, racking up over a million dollars in legal fees, and is likely now spending even more money on the remedial activities than they would have if they agreed to the initial demands…
Cut 11 (10)   “…this case.”
The dismissal could become final by November.
A study in Louisiana looks for a connection between blood sugar levels early in life and mid-life brain health. The study is called the Bogalusa Heart Study and began in the 70s with about 200 child volunteers.  Co-principal investigator Dr. Owen Carmichael, with LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, says now they will test those same volunteers now that they are in their 50s.

Cut 6 (11) “…is actually true.”

Louisiana native Laine Hardy is on the door step of winning American Idol. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

President Donald Trump will be in Louisiana tomorrow to tour Sempra Energy’s Cameron LNG Export Facility in Cameron Parish. White House official says the trip will highlight the president’s efforts to create jobs in the energy industry. Following the trip to southwest Louisiana, the President will attend a big fundraiser in New Orleans.

And there’s a large cybersecurity summit in Shreveport that’s hosted by Governor John Bel Edwards.

A House Committee approves legislation to roll back the state sales tax from 4.45 percent to four-percent. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says he authored the bill, because the state’s budget is growing and the average taxpayer is not seeing a benefit…
cut 14 (07) “…on everything”
The Edwards administration opposes the legislation. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says an improving economy is creating budget surpluses and rolling back the state sales tax will make it more difficult to fund state services.

Federal funds will help pay for research in Louisiana to see if there’s a link between blood sugar levels and mid-life brain health. Doctor Owen Carmichael with LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center says the researchers will use MRI and PET scans to take measurements in the brain, looking for the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s.
Cut 7 (09) “…towards Alzheimer’s disease.”

A proposal to gradually return the state sales tax to four-percent, where it was for many years prior to the Edwards administration clears out of the House Ways and Means Committee. The current state sales tax rate is 4.45 percent, but Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says it’s helping to produce surpluses
Cut 12 (09) “…to them”
The state sales tax increased to five-percent in 2016 to to address a massive budget shortfall.
A case filed by Angola death row inmates that accused the facility of cruel and unusual punishment for it’s refusal to air condition their cells has been conditionally dismissed after the two sides came to an agreement to mitigate the effects of the heat without AC. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the implications of this case are clear.
Cut 10 (11)“…humane.”
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Senator Bill Cassidy has spoken with President Tump about his plan for ending surprise medical billing costs for patients. Cassidy pinpointed the surprise that many patients face when they receive treatment that supposedly is covered by their insurance and get stuck with a bill you might expect if you are uninsured.
Cut 4 (10) “…a bill”
A study in Louisiana looks for a connection between blood sugar levels early in life and mid-life brain health. A collection of scientists with LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Tulane University and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center are working on the research. Co-principal investigator Dr. Owen Carmichael says these results could lead to new blood sugar management guidelines for children.
Cut 8 (10) “…tightly low level.”
The study is called the Bogalusa Heart Study.

A federal judge conditionally dismisses a lawsuit filed by three Angola inmates who complained about excessive heat on death row. Matt Doyle has more……
cut 2 (28) I’m Matt Doyle”

One of the individuals who graduated from LSU this past weekend is a convicted murderer. 37-year-old Andrew Hundley was 15-years-old when he killed a 14-year-old in 1997 and sentenced to life in prison. But Hundley received a second chance at freedom when the Supreme Court made it unconstitutional to sentence juvenile defendants to a mandatory life sentence without parole.

Senator Bill Cassidy has spoken with President Tump about his plan for ending surprise medical billing costs for patients. Louisiana’s Senior Senator says he’s working on legislation and regulations that would require hospitals to be upfront with the total cost of treatments…
Cut 3 (11) “…over it.”
The Republican says he’s been inspired to take on his issue after repeatedly hearing about overcharging incidents from his constituents.

Federal funds will help pay for research in Louisiana to look and see if there’s a link between blood sugar levels and mid-life brain health. Doctor Owen Carmichael with LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center says the researchers will use MRI and PET scans to take measurements in the brain, looking for the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s.
Cut 7 (09) “…towards Alzheimer’s disease.”
Carmichael says 200 people participated in the Bogalusa Heart Study in the 1970s as children and they will take part in this study.

Senator Bill Cassidy has spoken with President Trump about his plan for ending surprise medical billing costs for patients. Louisiana’s Senior Senator says he’s been inspired to take on his issue after repeatedly hearing about overcharging incidents from his constituents.

Cut 5 (11) “…their hand.”

A long-running study is looking for a connection between blood sugar levels early in life and mid-life brain health.  The study is called the Bogalusa Heart Study and began in the 70s with about 200 child volunteers.  Co-principal investigator Dr. Owen Carmichael says now they will test those same volunteers now that they are in their 50s.

Cut 6 (11) “…is actually true.”

These results could lead to new blood sugar management guidelines for children.

A case filed by Angola inmates that accused the facility of cruel and unusual punishment for its refusal to use air conditioning in one section of the prison has been conditionally dismissed after the two sides came to an agreement.  Legal analyst Tim Meche says there will be no A/C, but the state has agreed to provide the inmates with “comfort” activities.

Cut 9 (11) “…water“.

A record breaking 51.3 million tourists visited Louisiana in 2018, a nine percent increase over 2017. The state has now seen 13 straight months of over the year job gains, and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says part of that trend includes the booming tourism industry, that added 2,600 jobs between 2017 and 2018.

Cut 14 (11) “…in Louisiana”

A record breaking 51.3 million tourists visited Louisiana in 2018, a nine percent increase over 2017. That’s according to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser who says the “Feed Your Soul” slogan is making waves, and the state has three areas of focus for tourism that are paying off.
Cut 13 (10) “…is up”
The report, by DK Shifflet, says visitors in Louisiana spent nearly 19 billion dollars in 2018, a seven percent increase since 2017.
Senator Bill Cassidy has spoken with President Tump about his plan for ending surprise medical billing costs for patients. Cassidy pinpointed the surprise that many patients face when they receive treatment supposedly is covered by their insurance and get stuck with a bill you might expect if you are uninsured.
Cut 4 (10) “…a bill”
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Louisiana native Laine Hardy is on the door step of winning American Idol. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The House is expected to take up legislation today that would ban drivers from touching their cell phones while behind the wheel. Bill author, Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval says the proposal is a life saver, and a cost saver…
Cut 10 (11) “…accidents.”
Huval says Georgia recently passed a cellphone ban and the Peach State has seen a 15-percent reduction in commercial vehicle fatalities, and a four-percent reduction in all fatalities, which adds up to 50 lives saved due to the new law.
Senator Bill Cassidy spoke with the President last week about his plan for ending surprise medical billing costs for patients. The Senator says he’s working out legislation and regulations that would require hospitals to be upfront with the total cost of treatments…
Cut 3, 11 seconds, over it
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National Police week kicks off and according to the personal finance website WalletHub Louisiana is ranked the worst state for police officers in 2019. WalletHub spokesperson Jill Gonzales says Louisiana falls well below the average in officer income ranking 49th…
Cut 9 (12) “…54,000″
A record breaking 51.3 million tourists visited Louisiana in 2018, a nine percent increase over 2017. That’s according to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser who cited a report, by DK Shifflet, that says visitors in Louisiana spent nearly 19 billion dollars in 2018, a seven percent increase frin 2017. Nungesser says that’s a ton of money going back into the state and local budgets.
Cut 15 (12) “per household.”
Nungesser says the tourism industry added 2,600 jobs between 2017 and 2018, for a total of 237,200 jobs in the industry total.