Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Dr. Katara Williams says distracted driving is an epidemic in the Bayou State…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Authorities have fired a Mandeville Police Department cop who was allegedly driving her patrol car drunk. They say Becky White is accused of arriving to a Ponchatoula bar after hours intoxicated in her marked cop car on March 27th. There is no criminal investigation into the matter and further questions are being diverted to the Ponchatoula Police Department. White was Mandeville Police Department’s Special Olympics representative.

LSU Public Policy Rearcher Director Michael Henderson is surprised that the Latest Louisiana Survey showed three-fourths of Louisianans support the legal protection from discrimination at work based on sexual orientation, even across party lines…:
Cut 8 (09) “the workplace”
He also says only 47-percent of residents support religious refusal of services to same sex couples.

Authorities are still not sure why a Vermillion Parish man set fire to a home killing an 89-year-old Ponchatoula woman who lived there. Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they do know that 26-year-old Timothy Rouchon of Abbeville was acquainted with the victim, Dorothy Poche…:
Cut 15 (07) “I believe”
Rouchon faces charges including second degree murder and aggravated arson.

Louisiana residents are evenly split when it comes to religious freedom laws allowing businesses to refuse service to same sex couples based on their religion. That’s according to results from the 2017 Louisiana Survey. Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab Dr. Michael Henderson says this follows the nationwide trend.
Cut 6 (11) “the nation”
Henderson says he’s surprised only 47-percent of residents support refusal of services because Louisiana is such a conservative state.

A study from EverQuote ranked the Bayou State dead last in the nation for the percentage of drivers using their phones, with 92 percent admitting to doing it in the past 30 days. Louisiana Highway Safety Executive Director Katara Williams..
cut 13 (07) “…your life”
During a budget hearing, higher education leaders said the colleges can’t take a $17 million dollar reduction in state funding as the governor is proposing. Louisiana Community and Technical College President Monty Sullivan says doing more with less is not possible anymore…:
CUT 10 (07) “to happen”
It’s too early in the session to tell if legislators can spend more on Louisiana colleges.

A Shreveport lawmaker is trying to tackle bullying in Louisiana with a bill to be heard in the Senate education committee…
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Higher Education leaders plead with legislators not to cut state funding to Louisiana colleges. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

An active duty member at Ft. Polk has been detained in Vernon Parish after authorities discovered what could be bomb making materials in Kisatchie National Forest. The man’s apartment complex was evacuated as hazmat teams searched for hazardous substances in the home. The search comes after a fire broke out in the forest, believed to be caused by the suspicious materials.

ULM researchers are looking at ways to use a compound from extra virgin olive oil to treat and prevent Alzheimer’s. Dr. Amal Kaddoumi says oleocanthal is effective at removing a particular protein that inhibits brain function. She says a grant from the Board of Regents will help fund clinical trials.

Cut 8 (05) “clinical trial”

She believes this compound could one day be used to prevent the disease.

The food delivery app Waitr now has a web ordering option customers can use without the app. Sonny Mayugba with Waitr says it’s a great platform for customers, but…

Cut 6 (09) “the consumers”

Waitr was founded in Lake Charles in 2015, and over 2 thousand restaurants partner with the company.

Bullying has become more and more of a problem in schools throughout the state, and a north Louisiana lawmaker has filed a bill that hopes to curb some of that mean behavior among students. Shreveport senator and attorney John Milkovich says the measure gives teachers the power take all steps necessary to prevent bullying and keep students safe…:
Cut 14 (12) “right thing”
He says instances of bullying wuold also have to be reported to law enforcement under the proposal.

Higher ed leaders are asking lawmakers to spare colleges any further cuts. LSU President F King Alexander says especially with TOPS not being fully funded, legislators should know students are choosing other states schools enough as it is:
Cut 12 (12) “of TOPS”

ULM researchers are working to develop treatments for cancer and Alzheimer’s from a compound found in extra virgin olive oil. The research is funded through a $200-thousand grant from the state Board of Regents. El Sayed (El-sigh-ed) says they hope to launch a ULM food or drink product that could help prevent these diseases….:
Cut 9 (11) “prevention”
He says some early trials found this compound actually worked better than chemo.

State Fire Marshal investigators are looking into whether unattended cooking may have led to a house fire where a man’s body was recovered in Ville Platte. They say 55-year-old Jessie Bias was located in the structure which suffered heavy interior damage as a result of the blaze. Investigators have established that the fire originated on the stove in the kitchen where melted remnants of a cooking pot were discovered.

A Shreveport lawmaker is trying to tackle bullying in Louisiana with a bill to be heard in the Senate education committee. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter has filed a bill that would require any trucks over a certain weight, including school buses and 18-wheelers, go ten miles below the posted speed limit. He says he got the idea after the highly traveled Atchafalaya Spillway reduced speed for big rigs, which was a good move in terms of safety for all motorists.

The Lousiana founded food delivery app Waitr has expanded its services to internet browsers. Chief Marketing Officer Sonny Mayugba says a lot of people browse the internet, especially at work, and now restaurants can feature their food to a bigger market…:
CUT 5 (10) “ordering online”
Waitr is currently available in the majority of the Bayou State, except for Alexandria, which is expected to be on board soon.

Higher Ed leaders are pleading with the legislature to spare colleges any more cuts this session. LSU President F King Alexander says the state’s flagship campus is looking at its 17th reduction in over 9 years…:
Cut 11 (10) “student spending”
The hearing on finances for higher ed went on for hours, but it’s too early in the session to tell if legislators can spend more on Louisiana colleges.

Higher Education leaders plead with legislators not to cut state funding to Louisiana colleges. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

According to a new study, Louisiana is ranked the worst state in the country for distracted driving. The 2016-2017 safe driving report by the car insurance comparison website EverQuote, found roughly 45 percent of all trips in the Bayou State include phone use.

The on-demand food delivery app, Waitr, recently added a web ordering option and restaurants are already benefiting. Chief Marketing Officer for Waitr, Sonny Mayugba (My-ou-ba), says they received feedback from consumers and restaurants urging the company to develop Waitr-app-dot-com
Cut 4 (10) “business”
Waitr was founded in Lake Charles in 2015 and over 2-thousand restaurants partner with the company.

ULM researchers are working to develop treatments for cancer and Alzheimer’s from a compound found in extra virgin olive oil. Dr. Amal Kaddoumi, whose research focuses on Alzheimer’s, says she is seeing good results from the initial tests….:
Cut 7 (08) “one mechanism”
She says they believe this compound could one day be used to treat and even prevent Alzheimer’s and different types of cancer.

During a legislative budget hearing, higher education leaders said the state’s colleges can’t take a $17 million dollar reduction in state funding as the governor is proposing. Louisiana Community and Technical College President Monty Sullivan says doing more with less is not possible at this point…:
CUT 10 (07) “to happen”
It’s too early in the session to tell if legislators can spend more on Louisiana colleges.

An anti-bullying measure is being proposed by a north Louisiana lawmaker. Shreveport senator and attorney John Milkovich says his bill requires that instances of bullying be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours….:
Cut 13 (10) “it’s real”
The bill will first be heard by the Senate education committee.

The food delivery app Waitr has expanded their ordering options to web browsers and restaurants are thrilled. Emelie Gunn has more:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Gas prices keep rising the closer we get to the summer months. The average cost at the pump for a gallon of regular statewide is up a penny from the prior day to $2.21 — up a nickle from last week.

The group Truth in Politics seeks to tell Louisiana residents the truth about Governor John Bel Edwards’s tax plan. Executive Director Kelli Bottger says they are launching a digital ad campaign to keep lawmakers from raising taxes on businesses.

Cut 6 (11) “really want”

The Governor’s Office referred to TIP has a deep-pocketed special interest group.

The Louisiana Budget Project has also studied Governor Edwards’ tax plan and determined 95 percent of Louisiana taxpayers would receive a tax cut. Executive Director Jan Moller says only the top five-percent of wage earners would pay higher taxes.

Cut 12 (12) “next year” 2x

The Louisiana Budget Project is a left leaning non-profit.

College Choice ranks Louisiana Tech University’s elementary education program fourth in the nation and first in the state. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has written a letter to President Trump asking him to protect Louisiana’s confederate monuments. The letter comes after the New Orleans City Council voted to remove the monuments in place around the city. Nungesser says the memorials have been in place for a hundred years, and if you try to erase history, it has a habit of repeating itself.

Waitr, the food delivery app, has expanded their ordering options to web browsers and restaurants are already benefiting. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Higher Education leaders plead with legislators not to cut state funding to Louisiana colleges. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

A Shreveport lawmaker is trying to tackle bullying in Louisiana with a bill to be heard in the Senate education committee. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The on-demand food delivery app, Waitr, recently added a web ordering option and restaurants are already benefiting. Chief Marketing Officer for Waitr, Sonny Mayugba (My-ou-ba), says they received feedback from consumers and restaurants urging the company to develop Waitr-app-dot-com (waitrapp.com). He expects more restaurants will bring their businesses to the company.

Cut 4  (10) “business”

Waitr is currently available in the majority of the Bayou State, except for Alexandria, which is expected to be on board soon. Mayugba says the majority of people still browse the internet on the computer, not purely on mobile apps. He says their mission is to help restaurants feature their great food to a bigger market.

Cut 5  (10)  “ordering online”

Waitr was founded in Lake Charles in 2015 and over 2-thousand restaurants partner with the company. Mayugba says Waitr is a great platform for a customer but…

Cut 6 (09) “the consumers”

______________________________________

ULM researchers are working to develop treatments for cancer and Alzheimer’s from a compound found in extra virgin olive oil. Dr. Amal Kaddoumi’s research focuses on Alzheimer’s, and Dr. Khalid El Sayed is researching cancer. El Sayed (El-sigh-ed) says in some early trials this compound actually worked better than chemo. Kaddoumi says she is also seeing good results from the initial tests.

Cut 7 (08)  “one mechanism”

Kaddoumi (Kuh-doo-me) says the compound oleocanthal (oh-lee-oh-can-thal) is effective at removing a particular protein that inhabits brain function. The research is funded through a $200-thousand grant from the state Board of Regents. She says with initial tests completed, the next step is testing on human patients.

Cut 8 (05) “clinical trial”

Kaddoumi says they believe this compound could one day be used to treat and even prevent Alzheimer’s and different types of cancer. El Sayed says with this grant, they hope to launch a ULM food or drink product that could help prevent these diseases.

Cut 9 (11)  “prevention”

_________________________________________________________

Higher education leaders made their case during a legislative budget hearing to not cut state funding to public colleges. Governor John Bel Edwards proposed budget  calls for a 17-million dollar reduction in funding for campuses. Louisiana Community and Technical College President Monty Sullivan says their institutions can’t keep doing more with less….

Cut 10 (07) “to happen”

Since 2008, Louisiana has reduced state funding to its public colleges by 700-million dollars. President F King Alexander says the LSU School system is looking at its 17th cut in nine-and-a-half years…

Cut 11 (10) “student spending”

Alexander says despite their money troubles, LSU ranks 24th among flagship institutions for its graduation rate. TOPS is also not fully funded in the governor’s proposed budget. Alexander says students are accepting scholarships to out of state schools as a result…

Cut 12 (12) “of TOPS”

The hearing on finances for higher ed went on for hours, but it’s too early in the session to tell if legislators can spend more on Louisiana colleges.

_______________________________________

A north Louisiana lawmaker seeks to end bullying in Louisiana schools with a comprehensive bill waiting to be heard in this legislative session. Shreveport senator and attorney John Milkovich says his bill requires that instances of bullying be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours.

Cut 13 (10) “it’s real”

The bill also gives teachers the power take all steps necessary to prevent bullying and keep students safe, including using physical force. Milkovich says this would prevent teachers from being suspended for breaking up fights.

Cut 14 (12) “right thing”

Milkovich says students need a safe place to learn. He says that’s why his bill allows teachers to do whatever it takes to keep children safe on school campuses, even if that means taking a bully out of class.

Cut 15 (09) “police involved”

The bill will first be heard by the Senate education committee. A hearing date has not been scheduled.

___________________________________________________

LSU returns to SEC play tonight as the Tigers host Ole Miss for the start of a three-game series. Who will start at first base? Regular starter Jake Slaughter has been struggling with the bat, so Coach Paul Mainieri might turn to Nick Coomes, who got the start there on Tuesday night and had two hits…

Cut 16 (17) “first base”

LSU has struggled to score runs lately, but Coomes has been able to supply some offense. In limited action this year, he’s hitting .364. The Baton Rouge native says he’s being an aggressive at the plate…

Cut 17 (12)  “staying aggressive”

Coomes says if he starts at first base tonight, he’ll be ready….

Cut 18 (09)    to me“

Higher education leaders made their case during a legislative budget hearing to not cut state funding to public colleges. Governor John Bel Edwards proposed budget calls for a 17-million dollar reduction in funding for campuses. Louisiana Community and Technical College President Monty Sullivan says their institutions can’t keep doing more with less….
cut 10 (07) “…to happen”

Since 2008, Louisiana has reduced state funding to its public colleges by 700-million dollars. President F King Alexander says the LSU School system is looking at its 17th cut in nine-and-a-half years…
cut 11 (10) “….student spent”
But Alexander says despite their money troubles, LSU ranks 24th among flagship insitutions for its graduation rate.
The Louisiana Budget Project studied Governor John Bel Edwards’ tax plan and determines 95-percent of Louisianans would receive a tax cut. But many legislators are skeptical and they are concerned about placing an additional tax on companies. Jan Moller with the Louisiana Budget Project says a lot of steps must occur before the tax reform package is approved….
cut 14 (11) “…can happen”
Truth in Politics is a new political group created to tell Louisiana residents the truth about Governor John Bel Edwards’s tax plan. TIP Executive Director Kelli Bottger say stheir biggest concern with Edwards’ proposal is higher taxes on businesses and they will used targeted ads to alert voters..
cut 7 (10) “…we receive”