The number of eligible graduates in Louisiana achieving TOPS reaches an all time high.    Kelley Ray has more.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

A bill to allow the state’s 15 licensed riverboats casinos to expand their gaming operations on to land and change the rules regarding gaming space has been sitting on the Senate floor for over two weeks, but a vote in the upper chamber could happen today. Senator Troy Carter says many senators are concerned about the numerous pieces of legislation that seek to expand gambling…

Cut 4  (07) “sports betting” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards and state Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee unveiled a report on the economic impact of Medicaid expansion. Edwards says according to the LSU report, Louisiana is saving 317-million dollars in state money and providing medical care to those who can’t afford it…

Governor Edwards says many who have recently diagnosed with cancer, are able to receive medical care with expansion…

Cut 9 (10)  “too late.”

A bill by New Orleans Senator Troy Carter to ban the sale of assault rifles to people under 21 was killed on the Senate floor. The 9 to 26 vote ends that anti-gun legislation for the rest of the session. Baton Rouge area Senator Bodie White says the bill is not strong enough to stop the bad guys.

A bill to allow riverboat casinos to expand gaming operations on to land has been waiting for a vote on the Senate floor, but could get a vote today. Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Governor John Bel Edwards and state Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee unveiled a report on the economic impact of Medicaid expansion. Edwards says according to the LSU report, Louisiana is saving 317-million dollars in state money and providing medical care to those who can’t afford it…

Cut 8 (08)  “the state.”

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The number of eligible graduates in Louisiana achieving TOPS reaches an all time high. More than 19,200 senior high school students qualified for at least one scholarship, up from 18,373 in 2016. Superintendent for the Office of Student Opportunities Ken Bradford says there’s a new college high school option for students to give them a head start…

Cut 11 (11) “focused diploma.”

The senate judiciary A committee voted 4-2 to delay the raise the age act, which was scheduled to go into effect july first. Under the act the state would stop treating 17 year olds as adults and take care of their offenses through the juvenile justice system. The bill now moves to the full senate.

A bill to eliminate the death penalty as a form of punishment for capital murder, rape, and treason has cleared a senate panel. Jeff Palermo reports Catholic Bishop Shelton Fabre testified in favor.

Cut 1 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A bill to extend foster care benefits in Louisiana from 18 years old to as much as 21 years old in some cases was passed by the Senate Finance Committee.  After benefits for foster children are taken away, if they end up in trouble, bill author Ryan Gatti of Bossier City says it’s not cost effective taking care of their needs in jail that in a foster home…

Cut 7 (12)  “foster kids”

A bill that makes it illegal to place your hands on your cell phone while driving passed the House Transportation committee. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s measure says you can’t text or hold your phone, while behind the wheel. Jennifer Smith from Stop Distractions dot org says studies have shown cell phones divide your attention…

Cut 9 (14) “your brain.” (2x)

A Senate bill that requires juveniles to wait until they are 18 before getting married cleared committee today. Current law allows kids to get married with their parents consent as early as 12 years old. Ginger Lecompte is with Women United she says 70 percent of child marriages don’t last and it puts young people in a bad spot.

Cut 12 (14)   “career training”

A bill to eliminate the death penalty in cases of first degree murder, child rape, and treason has cleared a senate panel. New Orleans Senator J.P. Morrell’s legislation would apply to offenses after August 1st. Catholic Bishop Shelton Fabre (FOB) testified in favor of the measure.

Cut 3 (:09) “culture of life.”

A bill to extend foster care benefits in Louisiana from 18 years old to as much as 21 years old in some cases was passed by the Senate Finance Committee.  The committee agreed to the legislation, even though it will cost the state an additional million dollars. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says it’s a tragedy once a foster child gets put on the street once they turn 18

Cut 6 (09)  “up homeless”

A bill that makes it illegal to place your hands on your cell phone while driving passed the House Transportation committee. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s measure says you can’t text or hold your phone, while behind the wheel. Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter is in support of the bill. He almost found out the hard way how easy it is to get distracted…

Cut 11 (11) “my phone.”

A Senate bill that requires juveniles to wait until they are 18 before getting married cleared committee today. Current law allows kids to get married with parents consent as young as 12 years old and permission from a juvenile judge. Ginger Lecompte with Women United says the bill would eliminate the judge’s permission.

Cut 14 (11)   “the parents”

A bill to eliminate the death penalty as a form of punishment for capital murder, rape, and treason has cleared a senate panel. Jeff Palermo reports Catholic Bishop Shelton Fabre testified in favor.

Cut 1 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana students performed poorly on the National Assessment of Education Progress exams. The state’s fourth-graders had the worst math scores in the nation and finished 49th in reading. Eighth graders didn’t perform much better, 50th in math and 48th in reading. Last year was the first time, fourth graders took the math portion of the exam on a computer.

Lawmakers are considering making it illegal for drivers to hold a phone as a measure cleared the House Transportation committee. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval says the legislation allows you to use a hand free device to talk on the phone, but the measure prohibits the use of holding a phone…

Cut 10 (10) “your hand”.

The bill heading to the House floor calls for a 125-dollar fine for first offenders and after a third violation your driver’s license could be suspended.

A bill to extend foster care benefits in Louisiana from 18 years old to as much as 21 years old in some cases was passed by the Senate Finance Committee, even though it will cost the state an additional one million dollars. Senator Ryan Gatti of Bossier City says it’s a tragedy that a foster child gets put on the street once they turn 18.

Cut 6 (09) “up homeless”

Louisiana students performed poorly on the National Assessment of Education Progress exams. The state’s fourth-graders had the worst math scores in the nation and finished 49th in reading. Eighth graders didn’t perform much better, 50th in math and 48th in reading. Last year was the first time, fourth graders took the math portion of the exam on a computer.

A bill to ban cell phone while driving passed the House Transportation committee. Kelley Ray has more.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

A senate bill that requires juveniles to wait until they are 18 before getting married cleared committee today. Current law allows kids to get married with their parents’ consent as early as 12 years old. Ginger Lecompte is with women united she says 70 percent of child marriages don’t last and it puts young people in a bad spot.

LeCompte says it just makes sense to mandate that kids wait until they are 18 to get married.

Cut 13 (13) “full time job”

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A bill to extend foster care benefits in Louisiana from 18 years old to as much as 21 years old in some cases was passed by the Senate Finance Committee.  The money committee agreed to the legislation, even though it will cost the state an additional million dollars. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says it’s a tragedy that a foster child gets put on the street once they turn 18

Gatti believes that most 18-year-olds will stay in foster care if benefits are extended to 21…

Cut 8 (11) “towards graduation”

One-million-dollars from the BP settlement would be used to finance the extension. The bill next heads to the Senate floor.

The department of wildlife and fisheries wrapped up a two year investigation resulting in one man and one juvenile being charged with numerous crimes. 25 year old Kaenon Constantin and an un-named juvenile have been charged with violating the endangered act by killing two endangered whooping cranes, hunting from a public road, and obstruction of justice.

Constantin faces 65 thousand dollars in fines and up to ten years in jail.

A senate bill that requires juveniles to wait until they are 18 before getting married cleared committee today. Current law allows kids to get married with their parents consent as early as 12 years old. Ginger Lecompte is with women united she says 70 percent of child marriages don’t last and it puts young people in a bad spot.

Cut 12 (14)   “career training”

A bill that makes it illegal to place your hands on your cell phone while driving passed the House Transportation committee. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval’s measure says you can’t text or hold your phone, while behind the wheel. Jennifer Smith from Stop Distractions dot org says studies have shown cell phones divide your attention…

Cut 9 (14) “your brain.”

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A bill to eliminate the death penalty in cases of first degree murder, child rape, and treason has cleared a senate panel. New Orleans Senator J.P. Morrell’s legislation would apply to offenses after August 1st 2018. Catholic Bishop Shelton Fabre (FOB) testified in favor of the measure.The measure passed on a 4-1 vote, after the testimony from Fabre….

Cut 5  (07) “more violence”

Capital crimes would receive a life prison sentence under the legislation approved by the Senate committee.

A bill to extend foster care benefits in Louisiana from 18 years old to as much as 21 years old in some cases was passed by the Senate Finance Committee.  The money committee agreed to the legislation, even though it will cost the state an additional million dollars. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti of Bossier City says it’s a tragedy that once a foster child gets put on the street once they turn 18

Gatti believes that most 18-year-olds will stay in foster care if benefits are extended to 21…

Cut 8 (11) “towards graduation”

A bill to eliminate the death penalty in cases of first degree murder, child rape, and treason has cleared a senate panel. New Orleans Senator J.P. Morrell’s legislation would apply to offenses after August 1st 2018. Catholic Bishop Shelton Fabre (FOB) testified in favor of the measure.

Morrell says he authored the bill, because the death penalty has not reduced violent crimes.  Fabre says the death penalty is just matching violence with violence.

Cut 4 (13) “how bad.”

A bill to extend foster care benefits in Louisiana from 18 years old to as much as 21 years old in some cases was passed by the Senate Finance Committee.  The money committee agreed to the legislation, even though it will cost the state an additional million dollars. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti believes that most 18-year-olds will stay in foster care if benefits are extended to 21…

Cut 8 (11) “towards graduation”

One-million-dollars from the BP settlement would be used to finance the extension. The bill next heads to the Senate floor.

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A 24-7 Wall Street report shows Louisiana is one of the least taxed places to live in the country. Louisiana taxpayers are tied for fifth in the least amount of taxes paid to local and state governments when compared to other states. LSU economist Doctor Jim Richardson says this state has been a low tax state for years.

Cut 10 (11) “at all”

The Senate approves a bill that makes it clear bestiality is illegal in Louisiana. There is a law that says people can’t have sex with animals, but it’s unenforceable, because it’s contained in legislation that was ruled unconstitutional in 2003, because it criminalized sex between two males or females. Morrell says its important the state has a way to arrest someone for bestiality.

Morrell says the law protects does who have to touch animals in private areas, because they are either a doctor or for scientific research. He says some have complained his legislation is too ambiguous, but that’s not the case…

Cut 14 (04) “explaining it”

A bill to eliminate the death penalty in cases of first degree murder, child rape, and treason has cleared a senate panel. New Orleans Senator J.P. Morrell’s legislation would apply to offenses after August 1st 2018. Catholic Bishop Shelton Fabre (FOB) testified in favor of the measure.

Cut 3 (:09) “culture of death”

A bill to extend foster care benefits in Louisiana from 18 years old to as much as 21 years old in some cases was passed by the Senate Finance Committee.  The money committee agreed to the legislation, even though it will cost the state an additional million dollars. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti of Bossier City says it’s a tragedy that once a foster child gets put on the street once they turn 18

After benefits for foster children are taken away, if they end up in trouble, Gatti says more money is spent taking care of their needs in jail that in a foster home…

Cut 7 (12)  “foster kids”

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The Senate approves a bill that makes it clear bestiality is illegal in Louisiana. There is a law that says people can’t have sex with animals, but it’s unenforceable, because it’s contained in legislation that was ruled unconstitutional in 2003, because it criminalized sex between two males or females. Morrell says its important the state has a way to arrest someone for bestiality

Cut 13 (05)  “to children”

Mini pig

Louisiana Sheriff Association Executive Director Michael Ranatza told the House Appropriations committee that there are 13-hundred people in local jails that have been waiting to go on trial for at least four years. Ranataza says sheriff departments are spending a lot of money to house those who are accused.

The full Senate approves legislation that allows students to wear bulletproof backpacks in a school. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says he filed the legislation in response to the tragic school shooting in Florida in which 17 people were killed…
cut 9 (10) “…guarantee”
The measure heads to the House for more discussion. Legislation that increases penalties for teachers who engage in sexual relationships with students is set for a hearing in a senate committee today. Bossier city senator Ryan Gatti says it makes such an offense a felony.