Drug felons will soon be eligible to receive food stamps upon their release from jail. Opponents to the measure raised concerns offenders might sell their food stamps to continue their drug habit. LSU School of Public Health criminologist Dr. Peter Scharf says while that is a possibility, it’s less of a risk than the alternative.

Cut 15 (09) “back to jail”

The measure finally passed on a 67 to 26 vote in the House.

Students with disabilities will no longer be subjected to corporal punishment in schools. Michelle Hurst with the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council says students with limited social or communication skills possess more intense and challenging behaviors.

Cut 11 (09) “strategies”

Bills heading to the governor’s desk will implement the criminal justice reform lawmakers promised at the start of the regular session. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A bill is heading to the governor’s desk that will allow public school students to bring sunscreen to school. Sarah Gray of Baton Rouge heads a skin cancer awareness foundation and says this bill protects our kids.

Cut 12 (07) “as well”

A 22-year-old Denham Springs man has been arrested and charged with the murder of a massage therapist who lived in Baton Rouge. 24-year-old Kayla Ann Denham went missing after meeting her first-time client Christopher Landry for a massage. Denham’s body was eventually found in an abandon building. Livingston Sheriff Jason Ard asks the public to keep the family of the victim in their thoughts during this difficult time…
cut 5 (10) “…to the family”
Landry is facing obstruction and murder charges. The sheriff says this is the first time Landry has been accused of a violent crime.

Former U.S. Senator David Vitter has joined a New Orleans law firm. Butler Snow says Vitter will practice in the firm’s business department and focus on business and economic development in the energy sector. Vitter will also continue his work with the lobbyist group Mercury Public Affairs.

Disabled students will no longer be subjected to paddling in public schools, thanks to a bill that won final passage in the legislature. Allison Badgerow testified in support, saying her autistic son is thriving in school after switching to a school district that does not allow spanking.
Cut 10 (11) “three weeks”
She says her son was showing violent tendencies in a school where physical punishment is allowed.

And the legislature has passed legislation that says students can bring sunscreen to school and apply it themselves without a doctor’s note. Sarah Gray of Baton Rouge, heads a skin cancer awareness foundation, and she says it’s sunscreen that protects us the most from damaging UV rays….
cut 14 (08) “….apply sunscreen”
Seven other states have approved similiar legislation.

A Denham Springs man is behind bars after a missing massage therapist’s body was discovered in a vacant building. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A Grant Parish caregiver is behind bars after allegedly stealing $37-thousand from one of her cancer patients. Police say 42-year-old Jennifer Lintzen of Colfax is charged with unauthorized use of an access card, forgery, theft, and exploitation of the infirmed.

Criminal justice reform bills that change sentencing and expand parole eligibility are heading to the governor’s desk. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala opposed the bills because he says the state’s high incarceration rate is driven by crime.

Cut 6 (10) “isn’t even close”

Supporters say it will help reduce the state’s inmate population by 10 percent in 10 years.

Students with disabilities will no longer receive spankings in public schools after a measure to prohibit corporal punishment of disable students wins final legislative passage. Allison Badgerow of St. Charles Parish says her autistic son was set back when teachers physically restrained him to say the pledge of allegiance.

Cut 9 (09) “restraining him”

The body of a missing massage therapist was discovered in a vacant building in Denham Springs, leading to the arrest of 22-year-old Christopher Landry. Livingston Sheriff Jason Ard says 24-year-old Kayla Ann Denham never returned home after meeting Landry at his residence for a massage.

Cut 4 (08) “drug charges”

Landry is charged with second degree murder and obstruction of justice.

Criminal justice reform bills are heading to the governor’s desk. One of the measures provides parole eligibility for murderers convicted in the 70s. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says when these people were sentenced, they had parole eligibility, but the legislature later removed it.

Cut 8 (10) “to 40 years”

The bill would affect around 160 inmates serving life sentences.

Disabled students will no longer be subjected to corporal punishments in schools, thanks to a measure that won final passage. Allison Badgerow testified in support of the measure, saying her autistic son is thriving in school after switching to a school district that does not allow spanking.

Cut 10 (11) “three weeks”

She says her son was showing violent tendencies in a school where physical punishments are allowed.

Another bill heading to the governor’s desk will allow students to bring sunscreen to school. Sarah Gray of Baton Rouge heads a skin cancer awareness foundation. She says studies show regular use of sunscreen can reduce someone’s risk of skin cancer.

Cut 13 (09) “skin cancer”

Gray says this bill protects our kids.

Livingston Parish Sheriff deputies arrest a Denham Springs man following the discovery of a massage therapist’s body in an abandoned building. Sheriff Jason Ard says 24-year-old Kayla Ann Denham of Baton Rouge never returned from a client visit in Denham Springs with Christopher Landry. He says detectives went to the home…:
Cut 3 (11) “on the property”
22-year-old Landry is booked at the Livingston Parish Detention Center for obstruction of justice and second degree murder.

A bill to allow public school students to bring sunscreen to school and apply it themselves without a doctor’s note heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. Sarah Gray of Baton Rouge who heads a skin cancer awareness foundation advocated for the passage of this bill because it protects our kids…:
Cut 12 (07) “as well”
At least seven other states have adopted similar legislation in recent years.

Bills seeking to reform the state’s criminal justice system are heading to the governor’s desk. The measures implement sentencing reform for some offenders and offer parole eligibility for more inmates. Houma Representative Tanner Magee supports the bills…:
Cut 7 (10) “number one”
The governor says this will help reduce the state’s inmate population by 10-percent over the next decade.

Paddling will not be allowed on children in public schools who have disabilities under a bill approved by the legislature. Michelle Hurst with the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council says often times students with limited social or communication skills possess more intense and challenging behaviors:
Cut 11 (09) “strategies”
The House sent the measure to the governor’s desk on an 89-0 vote and he is expected to sign it into law.

Bills heading to the governor’s desk will implement criminal justice reform…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

It will be LSU versus Mississippi State in the Super Regionals and it will get underway Saturday night at 8 PM. The Bulldogs advanced out of the Hattiesburg Regional by beating Southern Miss twice yesterday. The Tigers and Bulldogs met in the final weekend of the regular season in Starkville and LSU swept them to win a share of the SEC Regular season championship.

A 24-year-old massage therapist from Baton Rouge is dead and a client she was meeting is behind bars in Livingston Parish. Sheriff Jason Ard says Kayla Denham was reported missing when she did not return home from an appointment . He says this is a tragic case of a woman who was just out doing her job…:
CUT 25 (08) “as they did”
22-year-old Christopher Landry is charged with second degree murder.

Students with disabilities will now be protected from corporal punishment in public schools under a bill that received final legislative approval. Allison Badgerow of St. Charles Parish is the mother of an autistic child. She says teachers would physically restrain her son during The Pledge of Allegiance…:
Cut 9 (09) “restraining him”
The governor is expected to sign the bill.

Bills seeking to reform the state’s criminal justice system are heading to the governor’s desk. The measures implement sentencing reform for some offenders and offer parole eligibility for more inmates. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala spoke in opposition because he says the state’s high incarceration rate is driven by crime…:
Cut 6 (10) “isn’t even close”
But supporters of the governor’s criminal justice reform package say it will help reduce the state’s inmate population by 10-percent over the next decade.

Paddling will not be allowed on children in public schools who have disabilities under a bill approved by the legislature. The House sent the measure to the governor’s desk on an 89-0 vote and he is expected to sign it into law. Lawmakers previously rejected a proposal banning all corporal punishment across school districts.

A proposal to change the name of the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts has received final passage. The Natchitoches school would be named Jimmy D. Long Sr. Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in honor of the late state lawmaker. The bill was amended by Alexandria Representative Lance Harris to allow the original name on diplomas and transcripts…:
Cut 13 (09) “school’s name now”
Many alumni opposed the measure that heads to the governor’s desk.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office says a man is under arrest in connection to the murder of a massage therapist who was reported missing when failing to return from a client appointment. They say the body of Kayla Ann Denham was located near the address of the appointment and an investigation lead them to charge Christopher Landry with a count of second degree murder and obstruction of justice.

Kill them all. That’s what Congressman Clay Higgins says about Islamic terrorists in a Facebook post following the weekend attack in London. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says the controversial post shouldn’t be a concern for the St. Landry congressman.

Cut 14 (11) “that direction”

The post says every conceivable measure should be taken to hunt down terrorists.

A bill that would add the name of late state lawmaker Jimmy D. Long to the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts wins final passage. But Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says students, faculty, and alumni would rather honor the founder of the school in other ways.

Cut 12 (07) “for anyone”

The measure was finally approved in the Senate on a 28 to 3 vote.

Inmates incarcerated longer than 6 months would get a break on their child support payments under a proposal nearing final passage. But Lafayette Senator Page Cortez is concerned some offenders would refuse to pay up.

Cut 8 (10) “to jail”

Supporters say this gives offenders time to build up the funds to pay child support.

There’s more than just spilled Hand Grenades in the puddles on Bourbon Street. Wisconsin-based Microbe Detectives finds traces of fecal bacteria from horse manure. Chief Technology Officer Trevor Ghylin says no pathogens were found in the sample, but he still doesn’t recommend drinking the street water.

Cut 6 (10) “a little careful”

He says the sample was taken during a trip to New Orleans last September.

A bill to suspend child support payments for felons incarcerated for over six months heads to the House for final legislative passage..:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office says a man is under arrest in connection to the murder of a massage therapist who was reported missing when failing to return from a client appointment. They say the body of Kayla Ann Denham was located near the address of the appointment and an investigation lead them to charge Christopher Landry with a count of second degree murder.

A proposal to change the name of the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts nears final passage. The Natchitoches school would be named Jimmy D. Long Sr. Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in honor of the late state lawmaker who established the school. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says students, alumni, and other stakeholders disagree with the proposal…:
Cut 11 (07) “name changed”
The bill was amended to allow the original name on diplomas and transcripts.

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says every conceivable measure should be taken to hunt down radical Islamic terrorists. The Facebook post in response to the weekend London Attack adds that “For the sake of all that is good and righteous, kill them all.” UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says while some Americans may agree with the comments, they could be used as propaganda by terrorists to fuel radicalization…:
Cut 16 (10) “for the enemy”

Despite strong opposition from alumni, the House approves a bill that would change the name of the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in Natchitoches…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Inmates in jail more than 180 days wouldn’t have to pay child support under a measure nearing final legislative passage. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says this gives an incarcerated parent the time to build up funds to actually pay…:
Cut 9 (09) “this money”

In a Facebook post that closed with “Kill Them All”, Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins calls for war against radical Islamists. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says comments like this likely won’t come as a surprise to supporters of the Cajun John Wayne…:
Cut 15 (11) “to anybody”
But Cross says while some Americans may agree with the comments, they could be used as propaganda by terrorists to fuel radicalization.

You may not have to be told, but water on Bourbon Street is gross according to Milwaukee-based Microbe Detectives. Chief Technology Officer Dr. Trevor Ghylin (Jill-in) says they discovered high concentrations of fecal bacteria, likely from horses, even though the popular French Quarter road is swept nightly…:
Cut 5 (12) “anything like that”