Inmates severing time in Louisiana prisons wouldn’t have to pay child support under a measure that cleared the House Civil Law committee today. While speaking to a representative with the Department of Children and Family Services, Carencro Representative Julie Emerson says an offender is more likely to discuss child support payments, if don’t have huge debts.:
Cut 7 (11) “I agree”
The aim is encourage ex-inmates to find jobs upon release without having to deal with a bunch of child support debt.

A bill that would use riverboat gambling revenue to help fund the TOPS scholarship was shelved today in a House committee. State Representative Franklin Foil of Baton Rouge decided to voluntarily defer the measure after hearing concerns of committee members, including one that stated TOPS is already fully funded under the House-approved budget bill awaiting Senate consideration.

US Senator Bill Cassidy jumped on board with Jimmy Kimmel following the TV show host’s news that his newborn son was born with health problems. Cassidy helped developed a Senate proposal that would allow states to keep Obamacare in place or come up with their own systems. He said on Jimmy Kimmel live that President Donald Trump wants all Americans to be covered…:
Cut 5 (08) “lower premiums”
Cassidy says the nation’s healthcare law needs to pass the “Kimmel Test.”

A 50-year-old man who is employed as a Ville Platte City Marshall has been arrested on two counts of promoting prostitution. Chief Deputy with the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office, Chris Ivey, says deputies discovered this after arresting Maria Joseph for prostitution. He says Joseph told police, Arthur Phillips picked her up…:
Cut 15 (08) “other males”
A $10,000 bond was set.

The stripper age requirement bill advanced with significant amendments out of a Senate committee today. The changes reverted the age limit to work as an exotic dancer back to 18 instead of 21, but requirements were added that would mean strip clubs have to train how to spot human trafficking. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell offered the change and said he and Johns are on the same page with the intent of this bill…:
CUT 11 (10) “to deal with”
The amendment on the human trafficking training also says that failure to comply would result in revocation of beverage license.

Governing magazine’s analysis of federal data finds Louisiana’s median hourly wage fell by 0.5 percent to $15.43 last year. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says the state has lost a lot of high paying jobs in the oil and gas industry since 2015, so it’s not really a surprise…:
Cut 26 (07) “go down”

A measure to end corporal punishment in public schools gets swatted down by the full House. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Former LSU and NBA star Shaqullie O’Neal has told an Atlanta TV channel he plans to run for sheriff in 2020 in either Florida or Georgia.

The stripper age 21 requirement bill advanced out of a Senate committee today, after a long discussion and added amendments. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says he brought the measure back this year after a similar 2016 law was temporarily blocked for being too broad. He told committee members he tightened up the bill that targets human trafficking…:
CUT 25 (10) “girls there”
An amendment to the bill would establish training programs for strip clubs on how to spot human trafficking.

Louisiana US Senator Bill Cassidy appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live to talk about his “Kimmel Test” when it comes to the nation’s health care plan. The talk show host just had a baby born with a preexisting heart condition and told Cassidy what he’d like the “Kimmel Test” to be…:
Cut 4 (13) “that’s the challenge”

The House Civil Law committee approves a bill that could suspend child support payments for parents who are incarcerated for six months or more. Gretna Representative Joseph Marino says the idea behind the bill is to reduce debt for inmates, so they have a better chance to succeed when they are released from prison…:
Cut 6 (10) “right path”
The proposal comes from a recommendation made by the governor’s task force that looked at reducing the state’s incarceration rate.

Corporal punishment will continue in school districts that allow it, as a measure to do away with paddling students died on the house floor. Supporting the bill is New Orleans Representative Joe Bouie who says research shows this form of physical punishment does not work…:
Cut 13 (07) “kids brains”
But opponents say paddling is a better alternative to suspension or expulsion.

Louisiana US Senator Bill Cassidy appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live to talk about his “Kimmel Test” when it comes to the nation’s health care plan. Kimmel recently gave an emotional monologue about how surgery saved his new baby’s life, who was born with a heart defect. Cassidy told Kimmel Congress needs to listen and adequately cover pre-existing conditions:
Cut 3 (08) “so well”
Kimmel says lawmakers could find money to fund a health care bill by not giving millionaires like himself huge tax cuts.

The House has sent a bill to the Senate that would ban the use of tobacco products on school property. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman got 60 “Yes” votes for his proposal…:
Cut 15 (06) “to be done”
He hopes this will help teachers quit smoking.

The full House rejects a bill that would ban corporal punishment in public schools. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says paddling a student will only make him or her more violent. Denham Springs Representative Rogers Pope is a retired school superintendent from Livingston and says paddling is a way to discipline students without sending them home…
cut 14 (10) “…out on the streets”
The bill died on a 61-34 vote.

A barn in West Monroe was featured on the American Pickers TV show on the History Channel. The show travels the nation searching for forgotten antiques to sell. Kaye Caldwell McBride says it was fun filming the episode and discovering lost items of her dad’s collection…
cut 6 (09) “….other stuff”
You can stream the show at history-dot-com.

A measure to end corporal punishment in public schools gets swatted down by the full House. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana is one of just two states to see a decline in median wages between 2013 and 2016, according to Governing magazine’s analysis of federal data. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says that trend might reverse once the oil and gas industry rebounds…:
Cut 8 (09) “popping up”

The bill that would mandate that strippers be 21 is up for a vote in committee today. A similar law passed in 2016, the author says is aimed at curbing human trafficking, was blocked over broad wording. But Jim Kelly who runs the Covenant House in New Orleans supports this bill and says this year its much more specific…:
Cut 11 (10) “strip club”
Strip clubs are still opposed to this proposed law.

The History Channel’s “American Pickers” featured a West Monroe family last night. The show’s hosts, Mike and Frank, travel across America in search of rare artifacts and national treasures. Kaye Caldwell McBride says they were interested in a lot of her late father’s collection in Ouachita Parish:
Cut 5 (10) “in those”
You can stream the episode online at History.com.

According to new analysis of federal data by Governing magazine, Louisiana is one of two states to see a decrease in median wages between 2013 and 2016. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Sheriff Shaqullie O’Neal? The former LSU and NBA star told an Atlanta TV station that plans to run for sheriff in a few years. Shaq said he isn’t joking, and it has nothing to do with politics, but working to help people come closer together trust and respect police again. O’Neal, who has residences in Georgia and Florida, said he hasn’t made up his mind yet where he would run in 2020.

This year’s stripper age requirement bill gets its first hearing in a Senate committee today. The measure is touted as a way to curb human trafficking, and Jim Kelley, Executive Director of Covenant House in New Orleans believes if you have to be 21-years-old to drink in a strip club, you should be 21 to dance naked…:
Cut 12 (07) “young person”

West Monroe is once again the setting for a reality TV show, as the History Channel airs an episode of American Pickers filmed in the Ouachita Parish town. The show’s stars Mike and Frank picked through Pete Caldwell’s collection, at the request of the late collector’s children. Kaye Caldwell McBride says her father was an antique collector for many years…:
Cut 4 (12) “for the show”
The full episode called, “Hello Jell-O” can be viewed online at history.com.

Corporal punishment will continue in school districts that allow it, as a measure to do away with paddling students died on the house floor. Supporting the bill is New Orleans Representative Joe Bouie who says research shows this form of physical punishment does not work…:
Cut 13 (07) “kids brains”
But opponents say paddling is a better alternative to suspension or expulsion.

Governing magazine’s analysis of federal data finds Louisiana’s median hourly wage fell by 0.5 percent to $15.43 last year. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says the state has lost a lot of high paying jobs in the oil and gas industry since 2015, so it’s not really a surprise…:
Cut 9 (07) “go down”
Louisiana is one of just two states to see a decline in median wages between 2013 and 2016. The other was Deleware.

A bill to up the age requirement for strippers to dance in an exotic club from 18 to 21 will be heard before a Senate Committee today…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The full House approves a bill that would ban the use of tobacco products on school property. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman, a former smoker, told Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle that he hopes this legislation helps school employees quit smoking…:
Cut 16 (11) “healthier”

In a 61-34 vote, the full House rejected a measure to ban the spanking of misbehaving kids in public schools. New Orleans Representative Joe Bouie spoke in favor. He says 31 states have banned corporal punishment in schools and research shows this form of physical punishment does not work…
cut 13 (07) “…kids brains”
Opponents to the bill say the state shouldn’t take a form of student discipline away from local school districts.

The House has sent a bill to the Senate that would ban the use of tobacco products on school property. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman got 60 “Yes” votes for his proposal…
cut 15 (06) “…to be done”
Hoffman describes himself as an ex-smoker and told Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle that he hopes this legislation gets teachers and school employees to quit smoking.

A Covington man is behind bars after police say he tried to run over an 8-year-old then rammed a sheriff’s deputy on I-12. Capt. Daniel Seuzeneau with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says they received a 911 call about a domestic dispute between 34-year-old Shawn Porrovecchio and his girlfriend…:
Cut 11 (09) “inside the vehicle”
He says Porrovecchio lead cops on a chase and crashed into a deputy patrol vehicle. He faces many charges including attempted first degree murder.

A bill that requires specific training during driver’s education courses on how motorists should behave during a traffic stop received approval from the House Transportation Committee. Plaquemine Representative Chad Brown is the author of the measure…:
Cut 6 (10) “traffic stop”
The measure now heads to the full House.

A measure that would let voters decide if the state should allow traffic enforcement cameras died in the House Transportation Committee on a 14 to 1 vote. Author of the bill, Covington Representative Paul Hollis, says he conducted a poll on support for traffic cameras and only 11-percent of those surveyed were in favor of keeping red light and speed cameras.
Cut 8 (09) “about money”
Bogalusa Representative Malinda White says motorists shouldn’t fear traffic cameras, if they are not speeding or running red lights. She says eliminating traffic enforcement cameras promotes bad behavior.
Cut 10 (11) “are around”

The full House rejects a bill that would ban corporal punishment in public schools. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says paddling a student will only make him or her more violent. Denham Springs Representative Rogers Pope spoke out against the measure. Pope is a retired school superintendent from Livingston and he says paddling is a way to discipline students without send them home…
cut 14 (10) “…out on the streets”
The bill died on a 61-34 vote.

A measure that would increase the age requirement from 18 to 21 for exotic dance clubs to hire strippers is scheduled to be heard by a Senate Committee Tuesday. The bill has been touted as a way to stop human trafficking. Jim Kelly runs the Covenant House in New Orleans and he’s helped over 90 human trafficking victims recently..
Cut 30 (10) “of 21″

The House Transportation Committee put the brakes on a bill to give voters a chance to see if they want traffic enforcement cameras…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Also in House Transportation today, lawmakers advanced a bill that would require training in driver’s ed on how to act when you get pulled over. Plaquemine Representative Chad Brown says this is just common sense legislation…:
Cut 7 (07) “occupant bill”
The measure now heads to the full House.

A Tulane University professor has filed a lawsuit to keep the city from removing a statue of Confederate General P.G.T Beauregard, which is in New Orleans City Park. Richard Marksbury argues that the City Park Improvement Association is the true owner of the monument and Mayor Mitch Landrieu would need their approval before taking it down.
Cut 14 (08) “those two”
A hearing is set for May 10.

FEMA is looking for Louisiana workers to help during disaster response. Supervisor of Human Resources Specialist, Carisa Berkeley says they want to hire people with a range of work experience…:
Cut 3 (11) “and response”
Find out more at careers.fema.gov.