Lots of folks are talking about the bill that would require cursive to be taught in public elementary schools, which cleared the full Senate. Bossier City Sen. Ryan Gatti says many historic documents were written in cursive. He says our children need to be able to read and write in script, not just from their iPads or iPhones…:
Cut 10 (05) “to paper”
The vote was unanimous and the measure now heads to the House.

The recreational red snapper season in Gulf federal waters will only last 9 days this year, from June 1 through June 9. US Representative Garret Graves of Baton Rouge says is not happy about NOAA Fisheries’ announcement. But Graves says Louisiana’s control of red snapper fishing has been extended nine miles off the coast, which gives fishermen more opportunity to fish red snapper..:
CUT 3 (04) “this year”
Anglers this year will be limited to two red snapper per person a day, provided they are at least 16 inches.

Two people are dead in an officer involved shooting which occurred in the Calcasieu Parish town of Carlyss. The Sheriff’s Office says a woman was found dead and a man died while exchanging gunfire with deputies, but it is unclear if the male was hit by deputies or if he killed himself. They say a CPSO cop car was hit three times and deputies believe the male was shooting to kill. Authorities are still investigating to find what caused the shooting.

The mother of a young girl with a seizure disorder told lawmakers she moved to Colorado for the only drug that helps, medical marijuana…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Medical marijuana has been a big topic at the Capitol. Michelle Hall of Vernon Parish urged a House committee to make the drug accessible for her daughter, who has epilepsy…
cut 8 (06) “….my family”
Hall says they moved to Colorado so her daughter can use medical cannabis and it’s improved her life. Legislators can’t agree over who should have access to medical marijuana.

The House has approved a proposal to prohibit organiziations that perform abortions from receiving state funding…
voicer 4 (26) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”

Cursive writing would be required to be taught in public schools based on legislation that was unanimously approved by the Louisiana Senate. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says former president Abraham Lincoln didn’t use his iPad or Siri to write the Gettysburg Address, he used a quill pen to write the famous speech…
cut 11 (05) “….quill pen”
The measure heads to the full House for more discussion.

The latest campaign finance reports shows US Representative Charles Boustany raised more money than any other candidate in Louisiana’s US Senate race during the first quarter of this year. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says having a seat on the Ways and Means Committee gives Boustany an advantage…
cut 6 (10) “….candidates don’t”

Since passing a law last year that legalizes the dispensing of medical marijuana, there’s been little progress in making the drug available to Louisiana residents. Michele Hall of Vernon Parish told lawmakers she has moved to Colorado so her daughter, who suffers from epilepsy, can get medical canabis from a dispensary called Hailey’s Hope…
cut 9 (10) “…Hailey’s Hope”
Lawmakers are in a disagreement over who should have access to medical marijuana.

The Louisiana House has approved legislation that’s been labeled as a bill to defund Planned Parenthood. The measure would prohibit Medicaid dollars from going to Planned Parenthood, if its New Orleans clinic starts performing abortions. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman…
cut 14 (08) “…future”
Hoffman’s bill is heading to the Senate, but there’s concerns that his proposed legislation violates the Constitution.

Legislation to require curvise to be taught in public schools passed in the full Senate. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 2 (28) “….I’m Emelie Gunn”

Campaign finance totals from the first quarter of 2016 finds US Representative Charles Boustany raised over three million dollars as he runs for US Senate, while one of his opponents, Congressman John Fleming collected two-point-six million dollars during the cycle. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross…
cut 4 (09) “….left out”

A Louisiana woman, who moved to Colorado so her daughter can receive medical marijuana to treat her epilepsy, tells legislators her child is doing much better since starting her cannabis medication. Michelle Hall of Vernon Parish says by no means does her daughter get “high” off the medication…
cut 7 (05) “….pissed off”
Lawmakers are conflicted over how many different illnesses should be allowed to use medical marijuana once it becomes available in Louisiana.

Today is a big day in the Will Smith homicide case. The man accused of fatally shooting the former Saints star, Cardale Hayes, has a preliminary hearing scheduled at 10 AM. But the hearing may not take place, if the district attorney can get a grand jury to indict Hayes. If no indictment, then the hearing will determine if there’s enough evidence to keep Hayes behind bars until a trial.

Latest campaign finance numbers regarding Louisiana’s US Senate race shows Republican candidates Charles Boustany, John Fleming and John Kennedy out raising the major the democrats in the race, Foster Campbell and Caroline Fayard. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the Democrats will continue to lag behind….
cut 5 (05) “….statewide”
Cross says US Representative Charles Boustany is in the best position to raise a lot of dough, because he’s a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

The Louisiana Senate has passed a bill that would require public schools to teach cursive. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti supports the measure, because important documents like the US Consitution and the Magna Carter were written in cursive…
cut 12 (07) “…says cursive”
The measure is heading to the House for more discussion.

Cursive writing would be required to be taught in public schools based on legislation that was unanimously approved by the Louisiana Senate. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says former president Abraham Lincoln didn’t use his iPad or Siri to write the Gettysburg Address, he used a quill pen to write out the famous speech…
cut 11 (05) “….quill pen”
The measure heads to the full House for more discussion.

The Louisiana House voted 85-7 in favor of a bill that would prohibit any organization that performs abortions from receiving state dollars. There’s a concern over whether the proposal is constitutional. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle went back and forth with the bill’s author, Frank Hoffman…
cut 15 (11) “…you guess not”
The legislation heads to the Senate and it has the support of Governor Edwards.

A Louisiana mother of a young girl with epilepsy urges legislators to expand medical marijuana access so she can move back. Halen Doughty reports the family currently lives in Colorado….
voicer 1 (31) “….I’m Halen Doughty”

The man accused of killing former Saints defensive end Will Smith has a hearing scheduled at 10 AM this morning. The hearing could be cancelled if the District Attorney gets a grand jury to indict Cardell Hayes. If the hearing goes on, then witnesses to the shooting will testify to see if there’s evidence for probable cause to keep Hayes in jail. .

The Louisiana House approves a bill to prohibit organizations that perform abortions, like Planned Parenthood, from receiving public funding. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman is author of the legislation….
cut 13 (10) “….other purposes”
The measure heads to the Senate after it passed on an 85-7 vote, despite concerns this legislation is not constitutional.

A bill that would require cursive to be taught in public schools was unanimously approved by the Louisiana Senate. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti spoke in favor of the measure, because many historic documents were written in cursive. He says our children need to be able to read and write in script, not just from their iPads or iPhones…
cut 10 (05) “…to paper”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

Access to medical marijuana has been a big topic in this legislative session. Michelle Hall of Vernon Parish urged a House committee to make the drug accessible for her daughter, who has epilepsy…
cut 8 (06) “….my family”
Hall says they’ve moved to Colorado so her daughter can use medical cannabis and it’s improved her life. It’s unclear if the Louisiana House will go along with a proposal that would make medical marijuana available for more illnesses.

A preliminary court hearing takes place today for Cardell Hayes, the accused killer of former Saints defensive captain Will Smith. The hearing will determine if there’s enough evidence to hold a defendant until a trial. A grand jury has reportedly met on the case, if they indict Hayes, than today’s hearing will be cancelled.

A bill to extend the waiting period for an abortion from 24 to 72 hours has been approved by a senate committee. Amy Irvin of the New Orleans Abortion Fund also spoke in opposition. She says women can take as much time as they need after the consultation before having the procedure, regardless of the mandated waiting period.

cut 12 (09) “the clinic”

Despite opposition, the measure now heads to the Senate floor.

A horrifying display of animal abuse is breaking hearts across the state. A small dog was brutally beaten and thrown into a fire in New Orleans’ City Park. That’s according to Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Louisiana Humane Society, who says the Humane Society is asking people to be vigilant for signs of animal abuse and to keep the memory of the City Park Dog in their hearts.

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The FBI is reopening the 15-year-old case of a little boy who went missing from his front porch in Clinton. Emelie Gunn has more…

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A missing child from Mamou has been found in Jackson, Mississippi. State police say the child’s non-custodial mother, Elaine Freeman, took 12-year-old Jalon Bradley out of school shortly after 3pm on Tuesday. Authorities issued an endangered missing child advisory because there was concern Jalon could be in danger. Freeman is now in police custody.

A House approved bill is heading to the Senate floor that would extend the wait time for a woman seeking an abortion from 24 hours to 72. Michelle Southern has more….
voicer 1 (26) “….I’m Michelle Southern”

And the full House supports legislation that would prohibit the state from allocating Medicaid dollars to any organiziation that performs abortions. This bill would impact Planned Parenthood, who has indicated they plan on performing abortions at its new facility in New Orleans.

The House Criminal Justice Committee shot down a proposal to require movie theaters to install metal dectectors. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala voted against it…
cut 8 (07) “….do anything”
The author of the legislation, Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton, was not happy after the vote came down.
cut 7 (07) “…our children”
Last summer a gunman walked into a Lafayette movie theater and killed two people and injured several more.

A bill to require cursive to be taught in public elementary schools passes through the full Senate. Bossier City Sen. Ryan Gatti spoke in favor of the legislation and says many historic documents were written in cursive. He says our children need to be able to read and write in script, not just from their iPads or iPhones.
Cut 30 (05) “to paper”
The vote was 37 to nothingand it heads to the House for more discussion.

A House committee rejected a proposal today that would require movie theaters to install metal detectors. Author of the legislation, Shreveport Rep. Barbara Norton, says this bill is about protecting the lives of our loved ones. She was upset that many of her colleagues voted against the measure.

CUT 7 (07) “our children”

The vote was 6-5 against the legislation.

A Senate Committee approved a bill to triple the waiting period for an abortion. Sancha Smith, the State Director for Concerned Women for America, spoke in favor of the measure because she says women need more time to consider all of their options, before making this decision.

cut 10 (07) “a life”

The measure passed on a five to two vote and heads to the Senate floor.

The Louisiana Humane Society has declared a city-wide animal abuse alert in New Orleans after a dog was brutally beaten and burned. Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Louisiana Humane Society, says they are still trying to find the people responsible for this gruesome crime, because they are clearly dangerous.

CUT 4 (06)  “of time”

The unnamed dog is being affectionately referred to as the City Park Dog.

The case of a 2-year-old that went missing in Clinton 15 years ago is being reinvestigated by the FBI. Avery Davidson, a former WAFB reporter, covered Wesley Morgan’s disappearance in 2001. Davidson says the child was playing on the front porch when his mother went inside and came back outside to find the little boy was gone. He says there was a huge search after his disappearance…

Cut 13 (10)  “he was”

The FBI is reopening a 2001 case of 2-year-old Wesley Morgan that went missing in Clinton. Former WAFB reporter Avery Davidson covered the disappearance and says the child was playing on the front porch when his mother went inside and came back outside to find the little boy was gone. He says everyone is eager to find out what happened to Wesley Dale Morgan…
cut 15 (10) “15 years”

Legislation that would require movie theaters to use metal detectors was defeated in a House committee. Prairieville Rep. Tony Bacala says if someone wants to shoot up a movie theater, the first person to be killed is the young minimum wage employee working the metal detector that day.
CUT 6 (10) “to react”

Shreveport Rep. Barbara Norton, says this bill is about protecting our loved ones.

Legislation to increase the waiting period to get an abortion to 72 hours passes in a Senate committee. State Director for Concerned Women in American Sancha Smith supports the bill and shared her experience of getting an abortion as a teenager.
CUT 9 (11) “better decision”

Angela Adkins with the Louisiana Organization for Women says women die from illegal abortions because of abortion restrictions.

A small dog was found beaten and thrown into a fire in New Orleans’ City Park. Executive Director of the Louisiana Humane Society Jeff Dorson says this is one of the most horrific cases he’s ever seen. He says the dog was beaten around the head, muzzle, and jaw…
CUT 3 (11) “the pit”