Public and charter school students could be required to learn cursive writing, as a bill to mandate script is moving through the legislature without opposition. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says kids need to learn to write in cursive so they can read historic documents…:
CUT 3 (10) “education”
The measure passed out of House Education today with an amendment to include charter schools.

Two Alabama football players were arrested in Monroe this morning on drug and weapons charges. Cops say Offensive lineman Cameron Robinson and defensive back Hootie Jones, two former northeast Louisiana prep stars, were sitting in a car that smelled like weed in Forsythe Park around 2am. The University of Alabama has yet to comment on the arrests.

A bill has been approved by the Senate and the House Transportation that would raise the fine for texting or using social media while driving from $175 to $500 for a first offense. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The state Department of Revenue announces there will be no Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday this year. Normally the weekend you can get items like batteries, flashlights and generators without having to pay the state’s sales tax occurs in the last Saturday and Sunday each May, but not in 2016.

A bill to expand the number of diseases that could use medical marijuana in Louisiana is sitting on the governor’s desk. The measure by state senator Fred Mills received final legislative approval and Mills says those with cancer, epilepsy or HIV/AIDS will benefit…:
Cut 10 (10) “my daughters”
Governor Edwards is expected to sign the bill, but Mills says it will probably be another year or two before the public has access to medical marijuana.

State Police say a man they believe called in a bomb threat that resulted in the evacuation of the State Capitol and a nearby casino last night is being examined for mental health issues. So far no charges have been filed.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office has charged a 17-year-old with murder in the stabbing death of a 69-year-old man. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says this was a burgalry that turned violent.

Wendy’s’ announces they’ll put kiosks in six-thousand restaurants around the country by the end of the year to take customers’ orders. It’s to combat the push to increase minimum wage for fast food workers. Tulane Business Professor Mark Rosa doesn’t think customers will mind…
cut 6 (06) “…at it”
Rosa anticipates the kiosks will go in restaurants in states where minimum wage is the highest.

A group of scientists is already examining the effect of last week’s oil spill about 90 miles off the coast of Louisiana. About 88-thousand gallons of oil spewed into the Gulf from a Shell oil field. Florida State University oceanographer, Doctor Ian MacDonald. says even though this is considered a minor spill, Shell’s and the Coast Guard’s cleanup efforts are not good enough…
cut 9 (08) “…minimal”

The bill that would increase the fine for a texting while driving violation to $500 is nearing final legislative approval. Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Colomb says this practice is one of the most dangerous things you can do behind the wheel…:
Cut 13 (09) “football field”
The Senate approved measure is headed to the House floor.

Two players from the Alabama Crimson Tide football team were arrested today in Monroe, according to cops. They say the charges against Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson and safety Laurence Jones are possession of narcotics and stolen firearms. More on this as it develops.

A band of teenagers is facing serious charges after cops say they barged into a woman’s East Baton Rouge Parish home and threatened to set it on fire and kill her son over a debt. An 18-year-old was arrested for home invasion, communicating of false information of planned arson and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Several juveniles were also booked.

Fast food restaurant, Wendy’s, announced they’ll start using self-serving kiosks at over 6-thousand locations. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The medical marijuana expansion bill has received final legislative approval. Parks Senator Fred Mills says LSU and Southern have first right of refusal to grow the state’s medical marijuana, and hopefully they will agree to it now.:
CUT 11 (09) “medical marijuana”

Scientists are in the Gulf to study the effects of the recent 88-thousand gallon Shell oil spill that’s about 90 miles off the coast of Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A proposal that would have banned the open burning of hazardous waste has been dropped by Minden Representative Gene Reynolds. He says the support wasn’t there for his bill he brought due to constituents issues with Colfax Clean Harbors — a waste disposal company. However Reynolds did get the green light on a resolution that would require DEQ and Clean Harbors to discuss cleaner burning options.

The fast food chain, Wendy’s, will offer self-serving kiosks at over 6-thousand locations this year. Tulane Business Professor Mark Rosa says this could be a response to higher minimum wages so he says people pushing for the higher pay should be cautions because this self service technology could lead to the loss of entry level jobs…:
CUT 5 (08) “labor pool”
He says we live in a do it yourself economy and most people won’t mind the self-serve kiosk.

Senate approved legislation to increase the fines for texting or using social media while driving unanimously passed out of the House Transportation Committee. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle supports the proposal and hopes higher fines will get people to stop this dangerous habit…:
Cut 15 (07) “they’re doing”
The bill seeks to raise the fine from $175 to $500 for a first offense.

A bill that would raise the texting or using social media while driving fine to $500 for a first offense is headed to the House floor for final legislative approval. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Legislation that would expand the number of diseases that could be treated with medical marijuana is headed to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
Parks Senator Fred Mills says this measure is just about getting medication to the people who need it…:
cut 12 (07) “no one else”
Governor Edwards is expected to sign the bill.

Researchers are going to the Gulf of Mexico to the site of the more than 88,000 gallons of oil that was spilled from a Shell platform. Ian MacDonald, an oceanographer at Florida State University, said their group was set up to study spills following the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010…:
CUT 8 (07) “effect”
He says they’re going to monitor the spill and research how the oil might affect wildlife.

Wendy’s will offer self-serving kiosks at over 6-thousand of its fast food locations across the country by the end of this year. Tulane Business Professor Mark Rosa says this is what we can expect for the future and other fast food restaurants could move self-service because of higher minimum wages…:
cut 4 (06) “level jobs”
He feels those pushing for a higher minimum wage should be cautious, because this could lead to a loss of entry level jobs.

Medical marijuana legislation is heading to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. The bill by Parks Senator Fred Mills expands the list of conditions medical marijuana can be used once it becomes available. Mills says those with cancer, epilepsy or HIV/AIDS will benefit from this measure.
Cut 10 (10) “my daughters”

Governor Edwards is expected to sign the bill.

A woman who was the on-duty nurse when a patient at a Veterans Home in St. John the Baptist Parish died, is facing charges for allegedly trying to cover up negligence. Inspector General Stephen Street says a resident fell and 58-year-old Cheryl Poirrier failed to keep checking on him, as per policy. He says she then lied about what happened and could go to jail for it…:
CUT 4 (06) “public records”

The spending plan for next fiscal year is moving through the legislature with a proposed $35 million cut to the LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport and about a $15 million cut to the center in New Orleans. Shreveport Health Science Center Chancellor G.E. Ghali says his center already made drastic cuts to reduce their spending and is as lean as it can be when it comes to employees.
CUT 7 (09) “situation”

Ghali says this could impact accreditation and enrollment at his center.

Former Lt. Governor Bobby Freeman has passed away at 82-years-old. His family says Freeman passed away this morning after suffering an aneurysm last week. The St. Martinville native served as Lt. Governor from 1980-88. Edwin Edwards was the governor during Freeman’s second term and says Freeman was an energetic man…
CUT 9 (10) “a problem”

Final passage has been given to legislation that expands the number of diseases that would legally be able to receive a prescripition for medical marijuana once it becomes available in the state. Governor Edwards is expected to sign the bill, despite opposition from sheriffs and district attorneys

Under the current budget proposal for next fiscal year, the LSU Health Science Centers in Shreveport and New Orleans would receive a combined 50-million dollars in cuts to state funding. Jeff Palermo has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I”m Jeff Palermo

A couple of members of Senate Revenue Fiscal Affairs Committee say the state’s too broke to beef up the program to attract more movies. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says even without the film tax credits, they already know move makers will come to Louisiana…
cut 14 (09) “….this tax credit”
Changes to the state’s film tax credit program could come in a potential special session in June.

Senate approved legislation to increase the fines for texting or using social media while driving unanimously passed out of the House Transportation Committee. Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Colomb says using a cell phone while driving is one of the most dangerous things you can do behind the wheel.
Cut 30 (09) “football field”
The bill seeks to raise the fine from $175 to $500 for a first offense.

A former state Department of Veterans Affairs nurse faces jail time after a patient at a veterans home in St. John the Baptist Parish died under her care. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A grass cutting crew found a body this afternoon in the median of Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish. The local coroner has yet to identify the body or cause of death. State Police is not sure how long the body may have been there. An official with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s office says it’s possible the person is a victim of a hit and run.

In these tough budget times, some state senators are concerned about growing Louisiana’s film tax credit program. Lawmakers are reviewing the budget for next fiscal year which currently contains a $600 million dollar hole, and proposals to cut healthcare and education are on the table. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau thinks the movie incentives don’t have a tangible economic impact:
UT 12 (07) “investment”
But others who defend the program says the movie making business does bring money to the state especially at the local level.

Former Lt. Governor Bobby Freeman has passed away at the age of 82 after suffering an aneurysm last week. The Democrat from Plaquemine served as the state’s second highest elected official from 1980 to 1988. His second term was under former Governor Edwin Edwards…
cut 11 (08) “great citizen”
Freeman was also a state legislator, a city judge in Plaquemine and he’s in the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame as he is a former member of the boxing team.

A former nurse with the state Department of Veterans Affairs is facing jail time after a patient died under her care. Inspector General Stephen Street says 58-year-old Cheryl Poirrier of LaPlace was on-duty the night a resident fell at a Veterans Home in St John Parish. He says after a fall, it’s policy to check the patient’s neurological signs for the next 72 hours…:
CUT 3 (12) “the checks”
Poirrier

Former Lt. Governor Bobby Freeman has passed away. Freeman was 82 years old and served as Lt. Governor from 1980 to 88. Edwin Edwards was the governor during Freeman’s second term and says Freeman was a promoter of race relations…
cut 10 (10) “…to him”
Freeman is also an LSU athletic hall of famer as he was on the school’s boxing team.

Senators on the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee voiced concerns today over the state’s film tax credit program, which is credited with bringing movies and jobs to Louisiana, but studies have shown it’s cost the state more than the revenue it produces. However, Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Columb says she understands that many vital services are looking at cuts, but…
cut 13 (11) “…done here”

In Senate Finance, the leaders for the LSU Hospitals and medical schools express their concerns about potential budget cuts to their facilities. LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport Chancellor G.E Ghali says the proposed budget calls for them to receive a 35-million dollar cut…
cut 8 (12) “…science center”
The Senate will have the opportunity to increase funding to LSU’s medical schools.

A former nurse who worked at the Southeast Louisiana War Veteran’s Home in St. John the Baptist Parish faces felony charges after she allegedly fasified records on a patient who died. Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street says 58-year-old Cheryl Poirrier of LaPlace lied on paperwork that she checked on a patient after he fell in his room and that patient passed away a few hours after his fall…
cut (12) “….after the fact”
Street says there’s also surveillance video that shows she didn’t perform any of the checks.

Officials say a grass cutting crew found a body on Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish. The investigation is just beginning, but authorities say it appears the person’s death was caused by foul play. The body was found in the median.

The leaders of the LSU Health medical schools in Shreveport and New Orleans went before lawmakers to express their concerns about large cuts to their facilities. Shreveport Health Science Center Chancelllor G.E. Ghali says the Shreveport hospitals is already as lean as it can be in terms of employees…
cut 7 (09) “….situation”
Ghali is concerned about accrediation and enrollment if they receive a 35-million dollar cut.

The Senate and Revenue Fiscal Affairs Committee, discussed the state’s film tax credit program today and a couple of lawmakers said the state’s too broke to beef up the program to attract more movies. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says even without the film tax credits, they already know move makers will come to Louisiana…
cut 14 (09) “….this tax credit”
Changes to the state’s film tax credit program could come in a potential special session in June.