A bill that would let adult motorcycle riders decide if they want to wear a helmet or not failed to get enough votes to pass in the House. New Iberia Representative Terry Landry opposes the bill because of concerns about safety. He says wearing a helmet improves a rider’s chance of surviving a motorcycle accident….:
Cut 15 (09) “a helmet”
The vote on the bill was 49 yeas and 46 nays, which was not enough to pass, but the it can be brought up again.

A House Committee advanced a bill that would help the Tensas Parish town of St. Joseph with their water problems. Residents in St. Joe have been dealing with brown murky water, and they say local officials have been slow to come up with a solution. The measure heading to the House Floor would give the state authority to intervene. There was no objection.

A bill that would prohibit state employers from asking job applicants about their criminal record until after the interview process moves to the full House. Baton Rouge Rep. Denise Marcelle is the author of the bill and she says the purpose is to get the person with a criminal record an interview and explain their story…:
Cut 9 (10) “decision”
But those who oppose are worried the applicant would lie about their history.

The House Education Committee approved a bill to allow high school students to participate in a national survey on sexual risks. Louisiana resident Victoria Kelly also spoke in opposition to the bill. She says the questions are invasive, and she would have been embarrassed to take this survey when she was in high school…:
Cut 13 (10) “sexual education”
Supporters believe it would help the teen pregnancy and STD problem.

A bill that would allow officials to charge a person with a hate crime if they target law enforcement heads to the House floor. Jeff Palermo has the story..:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The bill that would expand the number of diseases that medical marijuana would cover under the law advances on its second try in the state Senate. On Tuesday, the upper chamber voted 19-16 in favor of the bill but it needed 20 to pass. Parks Senator Fred Mills brought his bill up again on 4/20 and the measure advanced 21-16. It now heads to the House.

Should high school students take a national survey on sex risks? A bill that would allow it cleared the House Education Committee on Wednesday. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds opposed because he says this issue should be discussed at home, not in school…:
cut 12 (08) “over that”
Supporters believe the legislation could reduce teen pregnancies and STD cases. The bill now heads to the House floor.

Harriet Tubman should begin appearing on the $20 bill around 2020, according to the US treasury department. Summer Steib with the LSU Women’s Center says this is an exciting time for women…:
Cut 5 (12) “movement”
Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Helen Keller were other candidates for the newly-designed currency.

State employers couldn’t ask job applicants about their criminal history until the interview process under a bill approved by a House committee. Baton Rouge Rep. Patricia Smith says the idea is to have a face to face discussion with potential employees first…:
CUT 7 (08) “background check”
Opponents site concerns over the possibility that this would allow violent criminals to slide through undetected. The measure heads to the House floor.

Parishes in the central and western portions of our state are under a Flash Flood Watch through this afternoon. National Weather Service forecasters say soils are saturated in these areas, and additional rainfall today will be more likely to cause localized flooding.

A 26-year-old Vidalia woman was killed in a single vehicle crash in Concordia Parish last night, according to State Police. Investigators believe Lauren Franklin lost control of her vehicle before it overturned and became submerged in a bayou.

Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, according to the Department of Treasury. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A measure which would allow motorcyclists to ride without a helmet stalls in the state House, but the vote was close. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox, who opposes, told a story of a biker he knows whose life was saved because he was wearing a helmet…:
CUT 17 (07) “he lived”
The bill can be brought up again.

The measure which would let motorcyclists decide whether or not they want to wear a helmet fails in the House. Jackson Representative Kenny Havard supports the legislation…:
Cut 14 (11) “my choice”
But supporters say it’s been proven that helmets save lives. The vote didn’t advance on a 49-46 vote, but the bill can be brought up again.

The US Treasury announces anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman will appear on the $20 bill. Summer Steib with the LSU Women’s Center says this is great news:
cut 6 (10) “very important”
The final concept design is scheduled to be unveiled by 2020.

All 24 of Louisiana’s Jimmy John’s locations are taking part in the chain’s Customer Appreciation Day. Subs are just $1 between 11am-3pm.

The House Education Committee approved a bill to allow high school students to participate in a national survey on sexual risks. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says there is no sexual education in Louisiana public schools:
Cut 10 (09) “absolutely nothing”
Opponents believe sex ed should be taught at home, not school. The measure heads to the House Floor.

Believe it or not, lawmakers say some children have been ticketed for selling lemonade, so a bill moving through the legislature would exempt minors making less than $500 a year from having to pay an occupational tax. Senators voted in favor of the measure 37-0 and it moves to the House.

The band director of LSU’s Tiger Band, Roy King, has been fired by the university after an investigation led to several allegations.
CUT 1 (32) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The House failed to pass legislation that would allow motorcyclists 21 and over to choose whether or not to wear a helmet. Lawmakers against the bill say it isn’t safe to ride without protection and also raised concerns about insurance prices going up. The bill didn’t pass but can be brought up again for another vote.

The former St. Charles Parish District Attorney Harry Morel has plead guilty to obstruction for harassing a witness in attempt to destroy evidence for a federal grand jury. Morel was the DA there for 33 years and resigned in 2012. St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne says they’ve been looking into the allegations made against Morel for a long time….
Cut 11 (09) “for leniency”

Legislation to prevent second trimester abortions, where doctors use forceps to abort a fetus moves on to the full House. Lafayette Doctor Damon Cudihy says this inflicts extreme pain on the unborn child. But Pro-choice attorney Ellie Schilling says this will most certainly be declared unconstitutional.
cut 14 (05) “abortion”

Schilling says this is the safest way to perform a second trimester abortion.

The House Education Committee approved a bill to allow high school students to participate in a national survey on sexual risks. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says there is no sexual education in Louisiana public schools.

Cut 23 (09) “absolutely nothing”

The survey asks questions such as how many sexual partners someone has had, at what age the respondent became sexually active, and what methods they take to prevent pregnancy. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds opposed the bill because he says this issue should be discussed at home, not in school.

cut 24 (08) “over that”

The bill now moves to the House floor.

Legislation to prevent second trimester dismemberment abortions passed in a House committee. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A bill that would prohibit state employers from asking job applicants about their criminal record until after the interview process moves to the full House. Baton Rouge Rep. Patricia Smith supports the legislation and says the idea is to have a face to face discussion about the applicant’s criminal background. But Baton Rouge Rep. Barry Ivey is worried about violent criminals sliding through undetected.

Roy King, who has been the Tiger Band director for 5 years, is no longer employed at the university after an internal investigation was conducted. His attorney Jill Craft says the school made ridiculous allegations, like accusing him of nepotism.

CUT 4 (06)  “nepotism violation”

LSU issued a statement naming Dr. Dennis Llinas as the temporary band director.

The former District Attorney in St. Charles Parish, Harry Morel, plead guilty to obstruction for harassing a witness in an attempt to destroy evidence that he allegedly requested sexual favors in an exchange for lenient plea deals from female defendants. FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeff Sallet says Morel held the freedom, and the lives, of these defendants in his hands.

CUT 9 (11) “sexual interests”

Sallet says there were at least 20 victims of Morel’s crimes.

A bill to prevent second trimester abortions, where doctors use forceps to abort a fetus, received unanimous approval from a House committee. Pro-choice attorney Ellie Schilling says this is the safest way to perform a second trimester abortion. Also, she says the language in the bill confusing to understand.

cut 15 (10) “at all” 

Supporters of the bill say the dismemberment process causes the unborn child pain. The bill now moves to the House floor.

Two people are dead after a mosquito spraying plane crashed at the Slidell airport last night….

cut 7 (04) “…unfortuante”

That’s Slidell Police Sergeant Daniel Seuzeneau, who says the plane struck a powerline. The pilots have been identified as a 68-year-old Wayne Fisher of Slidell and 59-year-old Donald Pechon of Covington.

Former St. Charles Parish district attorney Harry Morel has pleaded guilty to an accusation he harassed a witness and tried to get rid of evidence in a federal grand jury investigation that targeted him. St Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne says Morel also demanded sexual favors from women for help with their cases and highlighted one particular incident…
cut 10 (11) “…her case”
Champagne says there were at least 20 women Morel sexually harassed.

There’s controversy surrounding the firing of LSU Band director Roy King. King’s attorney, Jill Craft, says her client did nothing wrong…
cut 3 (10) “….was terrible”
LSU has not given specific reasons for Kings firing.

Legislation to prevent second trimester dismemberment abortions passed in a House committee today. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 2 (31) “….I’m Emelie Gunn”

State Police say three men were killed in a three-vehicle wreck in Terrebonne Parish near Lucky’s Casino early this morning. All three victims were riding in a Honda Civic and a preliminary investigation reveals none of them were wearing seatbelts. The deceased individuals are from Abita Springs, Folsom and Metairie.

The House Health and Welfare Committee approves a bill that would ban the practice of dismemberment abortion in Louisiana. The method, which is known as D-and-E is used during the second trimester. A doctor provided lawmakers with graphic testimony on what happens…
cut 13 (11) “…baby’s brains”
The bill heads to the House floor and so does a measure that would ban state dollars from going to Planned Parenthood.

LSU has fired its band director Roy King after spending nearly two decades with the Golden Band of Tigerland. King’s attorney Jill Craft says her client’s firing is unjust and if he didn’t check the mail yesterday, he would have found out through the news…
cut 5 (06) “….a letter”
LSU has not given specific reasons for King’s firing.

Former St. Charles Parish DA Harry Morel has plead guility to obstruction for harassing a witness in an attempt to destroy evidence for a federal grand jury that was targeted the longtime prosecutor. Morel resigned in 2012 as there were allegations Morel traded lenient plea deals for sexual favors from defendants. St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne says they found evidence of that…
cut 11 (09) “….for leniency”
Morel faces up to three years in prison for the obstruction charge.

Two people are dead after a mosquito spraying plane crashed at the Slidell airport last night….
cut 7 (04) “…unfortuante”
That’s Slidell Police Sergeant Daniel Seuzeneau, who says the plane struck a powerline. The pilots have been identified as a 68-year-old Wayne Fisher of Slidell and 59-year-old Donald Pechon of Covington.

A bill to prevent second trimester abortions, where doctors use forceps to abort a fetus, was approved by a House committee. Lafayette doctor Damon Cudihy spoke in favor of the bill and gave graphic testimony of what goes on during a dismemberment abortion…:
CUT 12 (11) “inches long”
Pro-choice attorney Ellie Schilling says this legislation presents significant legal problems by prohibiting the most common procedure used in second trimester abortions and will be declared unconstitutional…:
CUT 14 (05) “abortion”
The measure now heads to the full house.

The National Weather Service issues a flash flood watch for the western half of the state until tomorrow afternoon. They predict another 1-3 inches of rain will fall on already saturated ground.

Harry Morel, the former District Attorney in St. Charles Parish, plead guilty to obstruction for harassing a witness in an attempt to destroy evidence for a federal grand jury that targeted the longtime prosecutor. The charge stems from an investigation into allegations Morel requested sexual favors in an exchange for lenient plea deals from female defendants. FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeff Sallet says Morel held the freedom, and the lives, of these defendants in his hands…:
CUT 9 (11) “sexual interests”
Morel faces up to three years in prison and he’ll be sentenced in August for the obstruction charge.

Shreveport firefighters rescued a horse that slipped into flooded waters and was swept away. They say 5-year-old Butter was eating grass when she skid into a drainage ditch with a swift current. Rescuers lassoed Butter and pulled her to safety, and a vet called to check for injuries said the horse was banged up but nothing was broken.