Voters could soon decide if universities in the state get to set their own tuition. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A bill to ban hotels, convention centers and trade shows from blocking personal Wi-Fi hotspots is heading to the governor’s desk. Ville Platte Senator Eric LeFleur says his bill saves people from having to pay for daily access to a company’s WiFi. He says disabling personal hotspots when people pay cellular data plan fees is unfair.

The Raise the Age bill is nearing final passage. The bill would put 17-year-olds back in the juvenile justice system, rather than charging them as adults. Director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Joshua Perry says there has been a huge coalition behind this bill. He says it’s good policy and it’s common sense policy.

Cut 13 (09)  “mistakes”

The legislation passed the House 97 to 3 and heads back to the Senate for approval on minor changes.

The first shooter arrested in the fatal shooting of two Southern students in April, has had his charge upgraded to second-degree murder. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says 22-year-old Ernest Felton was originally charged with attempted second-degree murder, but ballistics analysis and autopsy results led to the upgraded charge. He says Felton has also been charged with obstruction.

CUT 9 (10) “this investigation”

There are numerous scattered thunderstorms across the state today as much of south and central Louisiana are under a flash flood watch through Saturday night. Donald Jones, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says be prepared for locally heavy downpours…
cut 3 (08) “….next week”
Rain and lightening has pushed back the start of the LSU baseball game until 5 PM.

A measure is heading to Senate floor final legislative passage that will result in voters deciding whether colleges should have authority to raise tuition. Currently, it takes a two-thirds vote in the legislature to raise tuition above a certain level. Higher Ed Commissioner Joseph Rallo says letting universities set their own tuition is in the best interest of students…
cut 8 (10) “…amount of tuition”
The Tangiaphoa Parish Sheriff’s office is seeking clues into the murder of three people during a 24-hour period. Two people were found shot to death in an SUV in Natalbany on Thursday and then this morning, the body of 18-year-old Marquise Lightfoot was found about a block away from the double homicide. Sheriff Daniel Edwards…
cut 14 (08) “…rule em”
Edwards says they are offering a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in these recent murders.

Legislation that raises the age a person can be put through the adult criminal justice system is close to final legislative passage. Under the bill 17-years would be put through the juvenile system, instead of the adult, which is good thing for the state, accorrding Joshua Perry, the director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights…
cut 12 (08) “….to children’

It looks like voters will have the opportunity this fall to determine if public colleges should have authority to raise tuition. A constitutional amendment that would place that item on the ballot is close to final passage. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo says Louisiana is the only state that doesn’t allow its institutions to set their own tuition and that puts state colleges at a competitive disadvantage with schools in other states…
cut 7 (10) “….the marketplace”
Currently, it takes a two-thirds vote from the state legislature to raise tuition above a certain level.

A judge in New Orleans has refused to lower the bond for the man accused of killing former Saints star Will Smith. Cardell Hayes will remain in prison on a 1.75 million dollar bond for the April 9th shooting.

Flash flood watches are in effect for most parishes in south and central Louisiana until Saturday night. Donald Jones is with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles…
cut 5 (07) “…of days”
The weather has already caused delays at the baseball regionals in Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

A bill to increase the age for an individual being charged for a violent crime from 17 to 18 is close to final legislative passage. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

Voters could soon decide if universities in the state get to set their own tuition. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A bill that lets people use their phone on their own mobile hotspot at hotels, convention centers or trade shows is headed to Governor John Bel Edwards desk. Opponents says this measure would ensure that people wouldn’t be forced to buy into a company’s Wi-Fi program in order to have mobile internet access. Disabling personal hotspots now carries a fine of $10,000.

The state House approved the Raise the Age bill Thursday. The measure, which would change the minimum age to charge someone as an adult from 17 to 18, easily passed on a 97-3 vote. Director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Joshua Perry says charging 17-year-olds as juveniles will make communities safer…:
CUT 11 (10) “avoid re-offending”
Louisiana is currently one of nine states where 17-year-olds who commit minor offenses are treated as adults.

Much of south Louisiana is under a flash flood watch though Saturday night. Donald Jones with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says flash flooding will be a big concern, particularly in the western part of the state:
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He says the rain likely won’t taper off until Sunday evening into Monday..

The charges on the first shooter arrested in the killings of two Southern University students in April have been upgraded to second-degree murder. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says 22-year-old Ernest Felton says ballistics analysis and autopsy results led to the upgraded charge. He says Felton is also charged with obstruction…:
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Lashunte Benton and Annette January were killed in the shooting.

Flood watches are posted throughout south Louisiana through Saturday due to a strong low pressure system moving eastward through Texas. Donald Jones is with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles…:
CUT 5 (07) “of days”

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office has called an afternoon press conference to discuss the case of the two bodies that were found in Natalbany yesterday, and the additional deceased victim located in the same area Friday morning. They say it is not yet determined if the two scenes are connected.

A measure to prohibit abortions because of a genetic abnormality moves closer to final legislative passage. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Much of south Louisiana is under a flash flood watch though Saturday night. Donald Jones with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says we’re in for some heavy rain throughout the weekend…:
CUT 3 (08) “next week”
He says the heavy rain will move through Louisiana in waves.

Deputies in Richland Parish say they’ll be reviewing surveillance footage this weekend to try to get some answers as to why their only K-9 Officer, Duke, died. The dog’s handler, Deputy John Cummings, said Duke wasn’t in his kennel during feeding time Wednesday, but was later located inside a patrol unit near death due to heat exposure. The K9 passed away at the Caldwell Animal Clinic. Richland Parish Sheriff Lee Harrell says he has no reason to believe Cummings’ story is false, and hopefully the neighbors security video will shed some light on what happened.

The Baton Rouge Police Department has upgraded the charges on the initial man who was arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of two Southern University students in April. They say 22-year-old Ernest Felton is booked on two counts of second-degree murder in the slayings of Lashuntae Benton and Annette January. 25-year-old Brandon Henderson was arrested Thursday on counts of second degree murder in connection to the shootings.

Louisiana voters could decide this fall if universities should have the authority to set their own tuition as a result of a proposed constitutional amendment that is close to receiving final legislative passage. Currently, the legislature must approve a tuition hike if it goes above a certain percentage. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo says the proposed change to the constitution gives schools the power to lower and increase tuition depending on the market…:
CUT 6 (07) “they want”
Rallo says Louisiana is the only state that doesn’t allow its institutions to set their own tuition and that puts state colleges at a competitive disadvantage with schools in other states.

Lawmakers have yet to approve a budget for next fiscal year, and the regular session ends in just a few days. Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says in the budget’s current posture, TOPS and safety net hospitals are underfunded. He says lawmakers will have to raise more revenue in the special session to reduce cuts to these programs. He says lawmakers will likely try to raise between $300 and $450 million.

Cut 6 (11) “slice it”

Alford says the next special session will begin just 30 minutes after adjournment for the regular session on Monday at 6 PM.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a body that was found in the yard of a residence in Natalbany. Police say the scene is being treated as a homicide. But it has not been determined if this discovery is related to yesterday’s double homicide. State Police have been called in to assist in the investigation.

A bill that would prohibit abortions because the fetus has a genetic abnormality moves closer to final legislative passage. Baton Rouge Sen. Dan Claitor spoke out against the legislation because he says it goes against a woman’s constitutional right to have an abortion.Claitor says when becoming a Senator he took an oath to follow the U.S. Constitution.

cut 11 (10) “to myself”

The Senate voted in favor of the bill 29-6 and it heads back to the House for approval of minor changes.

The House approved a measure to require fourth through sixth graders in public schools to recite a passage from the Declaration of Independence every day. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton voted against the bill because she says Thomas Jefferson, who authored the document, owned slaves.

Cut 15 (10) “any slaves”

Despite opposition, the measure now heads to the Senate.

A bill that would require public school students in fourth through sixth grade to recite a passage from the Declaration of Independence moves to the Senate. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The state House approved the Raise the Age bill Thursday. The measure, which would change the minimum age to charge someone as an adult from 17 to 18, easily passed on a 97-3 vote, and now just goes back to the Senate for concurrence before Governor John Bel Edwards signs it. Louisiana is currently one of nine states where 17-year-olds who commit minor offenses are treated as adults.

Officials say another body has been located in Natalbany, just a day after a double homicide was reported in Tangipahoa Parish. Deputies are treating the scene as a murder at this time, and have not ruled out the possibility it’s related to Thursday’s double murder.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood watch for most of south Louisiana. They say 2-4 inches of rain could accumulate, which isolated areas receiving 5-8 inches.

A 9-thousand dollar reward is being offered for information regarding the fatal shooting of two Whooping Cranes in Acadia Parish. LDWF Spokesperson Adam Einck says people need to understand the whooping crane is one of the most endangered birds in the world. He says that’s why this illegal act is so serious…:
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Einck says they’re currently tracking 38 Whooping Cranes and recently a pair of birds hatched a few eggs.

The regular session must end on Monday, and the budget picture remains uncertain for the fiscal year that begins in July. Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says the spending plan that lawmakers eventually agree on will be 600-million dollars short of funding state services….:
Cut 5 (11) “special session”
The special session will begin just 30 minutes after adjournment for the regular session.

Despite opposition from those who feel it’s unconstitutional, a bill banning women from getting abortions because the fetus has genetic problems moves closer to final legislative passage. Baton Rouge Sen. Regina Barrow co-sponsors says the measure…:
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The Senate sent the measure back to the House for approval of minor changes.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says there is a $9000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons who shot two endangered whooping cranes found in Acadia Parish. LDWF Spokesperson Adam Einck says $2,000 in private donations were collected for the reward money, and organizations also contributed….:
Cut 8 (09) “5-thousand”
The deaths of the two whooping cranes are a major loss for this species.

Most of South Louisiana is under a flash flood watch through tomorrow, as a slow moving disturbance over Texas brings in Gulf moisture, according to the National Weather Service. Several inches of rainfall may result…and impacts include localized to potentially widespread flooding of low lying and poorly drained areas.

A measure to prohibit abortions because of a genetic abnormality moves closer to final legislative passage. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Lawmakers are in the final days of the regular session, and they have yet to approve the budget proposal for next fiscal year. Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says HB1 will likely go into a conference committee before the session ends…:
cut 4 (12) “agree on”

The measure requiring 4th-6th sixth graders in public schools to recite part of the Declaration of Independence every day won the approval of the House. But opponents argue it’s not fair to make such a mandate, as Thomas Jefferson, who authored the document, owned slaves when it was written — and so did many founding fathers…:
Cut 13 (12) “of purpose”
The measure passed on a 70-23 vote.

The two men who were found shot to death in an SUV Thursday morning in Tangipahoa Parish have been identified as 31-year-old Charleston Mitchell of Hammond, and 31-year-old Randy Darnell Bickham of Springfield. The victims were located in Natlabany, and the search is on for the killer.

A flash flood watch is in effect for much of south Louisiana until tomorrow evening. Forecasters say showers and thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rainfall are rolling through the state over the next couple of days.