A recent discovery could change the whole dynamic of the Will Smith murder case. Police say a loaded 9mm gun was found in the former-Saints defensive end’s vehicle. Legal analyst Chick Foret says this could help alleged shooter Cardell Hayes’ defense that he was not the aggressor…:
Cut 10 (06) “at best”
Foret says the public perspective on the situation may continue to change as more evidence comes to light.

A bill that would allow the sale of raw milk from farmers to consumers is once again set to be heard by lawmakers today, after two failed attempts. Food safety has been cited as the major reason the sale of raw milk on farms is banned, but raw milk supporter Audry Salvador, a mother from Sulphur, says there are far more dangerous things to consume…:
CUT 5 (07) “raw milk”
Testimony is scheduled for debate in the Senate Health and Welfare committee.

A bill that would require businesses to pay men and women the same for similar work passed in the Senate with a 28-10 vote. Businesses groups oppose the bill, saying it could result in unnecessary litigation. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says he worked with business lobbyists to address those concerns…:
Cut 15 (06) “lawsuits”
The measure heads to the House for more discussion.

Gov. John Bel Edwards and Monsanto announced the company’s decision to expand its Luling manufacturing site with a $975 million capital investment over the next three years. When completed in early 2019, the Louisiana expansion project will create 95 new direct jobs averaging $76,500 per year, plus benefits, and 20 new contractor jobs.

A fully-loaded nine-millimeter handgun was in the vehicle Will Smith was driving the night he was fatally shot in New Orleans. That’s according to the NOPD, who also found a fully loaded revolver inside the Hummer belonging to Cardale Hayes, who has been charged with second-degree murder.

Legislation to protect clergy from sanctions if they refuse to perform a same-sex marriage passes out of a House committee…
voicer 2 (31) “…..I’m Halen Doughty”

Governor John Bel Edwards presented his proposed budget for the next fiscal year and it contains big reductions in state funding for the TOPS scholarship program and hospitals that provide care to the poor. Edwards says only having a third of the money needed to pay for TOPS is another reason why they need a second special session…:
CUT 4 (07) “fund it”
The governor says a second special session could begin as early as June 7th.

A senate committee has advanced to the Senate floor a bill that raises the adult prosecution age from 17 to 18-years-old. A 15-year-old high school student spoke in favor of the bill. She says her brother was arrested at 17 and spent a week in jail without any school…
cut 8 (10) “….my brother”
Louisiana is just one of nine states that has 17-year-olds in their adult criminal justice system.

Governor John Bel Edwards proposed budget for next fiscal year calls for cuts to education funding, as a result of a 750-million dollar revenue shortfall. Michelle Southern has the story…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

A bill that would require businesses to pay men and women the same for similar work passed in the Senate with a 28-10 vote. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says studies show in Louisiana a woman makes on average 65-cents to every dollar a man earns. The measure now heads to the House, where it’s expected to face tough opposition.

A bill that allows clergy members to refuse to conduct a same-sex marriage passed in a Senate committee. Opponents are concerned about the potential for backlash as religious freedom bills approved in other states have received. But Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says those bills are much broader than his proposal, which is strictly limited to churches and religious leaders.

cut 14 (08)  “protection left”

The bill now moves to the House floor.

Another proposal would increase the age at which a person can be prosecuted as an adult form 17 to 18. A high school student went before the committee supporting the legislation because his friend was arrested at 17. He says the adult prison system is not a place for juveniles because his friend lost his pride and it couldn’t be restored.

CUT 7 (09) “is today”

The legislation heads to the full Senate.

The Pastor Protection Act passed in the House Civil Law Committee today on a 7-3 vote. The bill now heads to the House floor, with the support of Governor John Bel Edwards. But he says pastors are already protected under Louisiana law.

cut 15 (07) “under threat” 

Lester Perryman, with the Human Rights campaign, opposes the bill, also questioning why Louisiana needs this legislation.

A bill that would increase the age from 17 to 18 for a person to be prosecuted as an adult was approved by a Senate committee. Criminal justice expert Ed Mulvey says a 17 year-old offender is better off in the juvenile justice system…

CUT 6 (10) “adult system”

The legislation will now move to the full Senate.

Governor John Bel Edawrds presented his proposed budget for the next fiscal year. The proposal has 792-million in cuts to state psending, including a 46-million dollar cut to higher education. Edwards says not only is higher ed receiving looking at another cut in funding, but so are public schools.

CUT 5 (06)  “education”

Edwards is calling for a new task force to help develop long term budget solutions.

Many are remembering the life of former LSU and Saints running back Hokie Gajan, who died from cancer at age 56 last night. LSU’s all-time leading rusher Charles Alexander says Gajan always put the team first and never worried about being in the headlines.

Cut 11 (10) “good guy”

He says Gajan was always eager to be on the football field

Legislation to protect clergy from sanctions if they refuse to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony passes out of a House committee….
voicer 2 (31) “…..I’m Halen Doughty”

The governor’s proposed budget for next fiscal year calls for cuts to the TOPS scholarship program, public-private hospitals for the poor, colleges and public schools. Edwards says the spending plan looks like this way because of a 750-million dollar shortfall…
cut 3 (07) “…revenue needs”

A senate committee has advanced to the Senate floor a bill that raises the adult prosecution age from 17 to 18-years-old. A 15-year-old high school student spoke in favor of the bill. She says her brother was arrested at 17 and spent a week in jail without any school…
cut 8 (10) “….my brother”
Louisiana is just one of nine states that has 17-year-olds in their criminal justice system.

Sad day for LSU and Saints fans. That’s because the former running back and analyst on Saints radio broadcasts Hokie Gajan passed away at the age of 56 after a battle with cancer. Gajan blocked for former LSU running back Charles Alexander, who says Gajan loved being on the football field…
cut 10 (10) “….football”
Saints play-by-play man Jim Henderson called Gajan a man’s man.

Governor John Bel Edwards proposed budget for next fiscal year calls for cuts to education funding, including the TOPS program, as a result of a 750-million dollar revenue shortfall. Michelle Southern has the story…
voicer 1 (30) “…reporting”

Many are taking time today to remember the life of former LSU and Saints running back Hokie Gajan. The Saints color commentator since 2000 passed away last night at the age of 56 after a battle with a rare form of cancer.

A proposal that raises the age a person in Louisiana should be prosecuted received approval from a Senate committee. The proposed law sends 17-year-old non-violent offenders into the juvenile justice system, instead of the adult. An 18-year-old student told the panel about his 17-year-old friend who lost his pride in the adult system…
cut 7 (09) “….is today”
The measure heads to the full Senate.

Heading to the full House is a bill that provides protections for clergy who refuse to marry gay couples. Lester Perryman, with the Human Rights Campaign, questions why Louisiana needs this legislation…
cut 12 (07) “…to do so”
But the bill passed out of committee on a seven to three and Governor Edwards says he’s okay with the bill.

Governor John Bel Edwards today told lawmakers that deep cuts would be spread over several state services under the latest budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. The plan says DHH would be reduced by $408 million, TOPS by $183 million, higher ed $46.1 million and 55 million slashed from K-12 public education. Edwards says another special session could come as soon as June 7th.

Many people are remembering the great life of former LSU and Saints running back Hokie Gajan, who passed away from cancer at the age 56 last night. LSU’s all-time leading rusher Charles Alexander played with Hokie for two years in college and says Gajan was the ultimate teammate…:
CUT 9 (07) “football with”
Gajan announced he’d been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer near the end of 2015. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The House Civil Law Committee advances the “Pastor Protection Act” today on a 7-3 vote. The bill would allow ministers and clergy members to refuse to conduct a same sex marriage. Lester Perryman, with the Human Rights campaign, raises concern about the potential for backlash — as other religious freedom bills approved in Georgia, North Carolina and Mississippi have received…:
Cut 13 (08) “other states”
Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says those bills are much broader than his proposal, which is strictly limited to churches and religious leaders..:
cut 14 (08) “protection left”
The measure heads to the House Floor.

The Governor’s Office says a more than $1.7 million dollar disaster grant has been given to the state to help provide temporary jobs in the Louisiana parishes devastated by the recent storms and flooding.

Governor John Bel Edwards tells lawmakers the administration’s spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st contains $792 million dollars in cuts to state spending. He says health care, TOPS and — in terms of education, higher ed is not the only service looking at cuts. Public schools are included…:
CUT 5 (06) “education”
He says they need another special session and it could begin as early as June 7th.

A Senate committee approves legislation that would increase the age to 18 for a suspect to be prosecuted as an adult. Currently, individuals 17 and over are put into the adult criminal system once charged with a crime. Criminal justice expert Ed Mulvey says a 17 year-old offender is better off in the juvenile justice system…:
CUT 6 (10) “adult system”
The legislation will now move to the full Senate.

More information keeps coming out about the fatal shooting of former Saints defensive end Will Smith. Surveillance video has surfaced that appears to show Smith was involved in a hit-and-run incident with a vehicle driven by the man that is accused of killing him. Cardell Hayes is facing a second-degree murder charge and his attorney has said Hayes was not the aggressor in this incident.

A Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputy has been fired following his arrest for allegedly touching a woman in a sexually inappropriate manner while he was on duty. In a release, the sheriff’s office says they received a complaint that Deputy Cody Onxley, while at work, went to the home of the victim under false pretenses and touched her during the encounter. Onxley was charged with sexual battery and malfeasance in office and was terminated from his job.

Governor John Bel Edwards presented his proposed budget for the next fiscal year to lawmakers today, and it contains 792-million dollars in cuts to state spending. Under the administration’s plan, health care and the TOPS scholarship program would see big reductions in state funding. Edwards says only having a third of the money needed to pay for TOPS is another reason why they need a second special session…:
CUT 4 (07) “fund it”
The governor says a second special session could begin as early as June 7th.

Southern University will hold a candlelight vigil tonight for the two students that were shot and killed outside of a party near the LSU campus. Interim Athletic Director Roman Banks says the 19 year old girls, Annette January and Lashuntae Benton, were student athletes and good kids doing nothing wrong:
CUT 15 (04) “take place”
An arrest has been made in connection with the shooting, but nobody has been charged for the murders at this time.

The House Civil Law Committee is hearing testimony at this hour on the “Pastor Protection Act,” which would allow a clergy member or religious organization to deny participation in a same sex marriage. Matthew Patterson with Equality Louisiana believes this bill would expand to any organization with religious affiliations…:
Cut 13 (07) “to people”
But supporters say all this bill does is protects a person’s religious beliefs.

The defense attorney in the Will Smith case believes once all of the evidence comes out, his client will be innocent. Cardell Hayes has been charged with second degree murder in the fatal shooting of the former New Orleans Saints player, who was killed after a three-car fender bender turned violent in New Orleans. Hayes’ lawyer is John Fuller…:
CUT 1 (09) “on that night”
He hopes more details of the incident will come out in a preliminary hearing.

Governor John Bel Edwards presented a proposed budget for next fiscal year that calls for a 792-million dollar reduction in state funding. Under the proposed spending plan, DHH would receive a 409-million dollar cut and higher education’s cut would be 46-million dollars. Edwards says this is not the budget he wanted to present to lawmakers and it’s why another special session is needed…
cut 3 (07) “…revenue needs”
The proposed budget also calls for a 183-million dollar cut in TOPS, which could mean recipients will only have part of their tuition paid for.

In the House Civil Law committee this morning, they’ll discuss the “Pastor Protection Act.” Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says it will allow a clergy member or religious organiziation to deny participation in a same sex marriage….
cut 11 (07) “….against”

This afternoon, the Senate is expected to vote on a bill to require employers to pay men and women equally for similar work. Governor John Bel Edwards supports the measure. He says it’s a carefully crafted piece of legislation that would not be too onerous on businesses…
cut 5 (10) “…rectify it”
Business groups are opposed to the legislation.

Southern University will hold a memorial tonight for the two students fatally shot while attending an off-campus party in Baton Rouge. Lashuntae Benton and Annette January were killed. Interim athletic director Roman Banks says Benton, who was from Lake Charles, volunteered her time as an athletic trainer.
cut 16 (09) “…eventually”
One person has been arrested in connection with the shooting and police are expecting to make another arrest.