Governor Bobby Jindal says he will not back down from religious liberty. Jindal made the statement in reaction to a lawsuit filed by the Louisiana ACLU and others who are challenging an executive order signed by the governor back in May that seeks to protect those who oppose same-sex marriage. Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson supports Jindal on this issue…

cut 15 (08) “completely unfounded”

Jindal’s executive order was signed, after Johnson’s religious freedom bill was defeated in a House committee.

A pack of cigarettes will cost you an extra 50 cents today as the state’s new tax of cigarettes goes into effect. The state legislature approved a law that raises the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 36 cents to 86 cents. Bill Bailey, owner of Smoker’s Paradise in Pineville, is concerned it could hurt his business.

cut 4 (10) “whatever reason”

Proponents of the tax increase say revenue generated will go to health care in Louisiana.

The four candidates for Governor were asked during a debate at the Farm Bureau Convention what is the biggest challenge they’ve ever faced in their personal life. Senator David Vitter made reference to his prostitution scandal that lead to him apologizing for a “serious sin.” He says it caused issues in his marriage many years ago…

cut 8 (09) “stronger”

Louisiana’s gubernatorial primary election is October 24th.

The American Automobile Association says almost 42 million Americans will hit the road for the Fourth of July holiday, which is the most in eight years. They say the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.55.

A lawsuit has been filed challenging Governor Bobby Jindal’s controversial order that sought to protect individuals who oppose same-sex marriages. Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman says this order goes beyond the scope of what the Louisiana Constitution allows a governor to do…:
CUT 13 (12) “to uphold”
Jindal says the executive order protects religious liberty and he will not back down from defending it.

State Police say a trooper who conducted a traffic stop in Rapides Parish was injured and shot at during an altercation with the driver. Authorities say the trooper was hit in the head with an unknown object and they are looking for the individuals who were involved. State Police say they were in a 90s model Chevrolet Caprice with a gray paint job or primer color.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says if the Baton Rouge hosted Miss USA pageant is not televised, the state Department of Tourism will withhold payment of $50,000. NBC says they aren’t going to air the pageant due to ties with Donald Trump who they feel made offensive comments about immigrants…:
CUT 12 (09) “the broadcast”
Miss USA is slated for July 12th.

Wal Mart says the cake made at the Slidell location with the design of an ISIS flag was made by mistake by an employee who didn’t know what it was. Chuck Netzhammer originally ordered a “Heritage Not Hate” Confederate flag cake, but the bakery did not honor the request so he then ordered the ISIS image which was made and sold to him…:
CUT 7 (08) “beheading Christians”
That was from a video he made on YouTube.

A lawsuit has been filed challenging Governor Bobby Jindal’s “Marriage and Conscience Order”, saying it creates a class of persons who are protected over others; due to their opposition to same-sex marriage. Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman says -with Jindal’s order- he clearly went against the state constitution…
CUT 15 (07) Q: “to do that”

Wal-Mart has apologized for making a cake at its Slidell store with the ISIS flag on it after denying a man’s request to design one with the Confederate flag. Chuck Netzhammer originally ordered a “Heritage Not Hate” Confederate flag cake, but the bakery did not honor the request, as his Youtube video outlines…:
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Which, they granted.
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Governor Bobby Jindal has signed into law legislation that reduces the penalties for simple marijuana possession…
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Eric Gill”

First, it was NBC that pulled the plug on the broadcast of the Miss USA Pageant, resulting from major shareholder Donald Trump’s comments against Mexican immigrants. Now there are no hosts on stage, as professional dancer Cheryl Burke and MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts have both withdrawn from the competition which is to be held in Baton Rouge July 12th. No comment from NBC as of yet.

Governor Bobby Jindal’s “Marriage and Conscience Executive Order” is facing a lawsuit, that alleges it creates a class of persons who are protected over others due to their opposition to same-sex marriage. The Louisiana ACLU, Forum for Equality, and several others filed the suit against the governor…
CUT 14 (07) Q: “to protect you”
The governor released a statement saying “religious liberty is fundamental to our freedom, and I will not back down from it.”

A Louisiana man who was refused a requested Confederate flag design on a cake at a Slidell Walmart, is speaking out after his follow-up request for a cake with an ISIS battle flag was granted. Chuck Netzhammer outlined what happened in a Youtube video…
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Walmart has issued an apology.
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Governor Bobby Jindal has signed into law legislation that reduces the penalties for simple marijuana possession. New Orleans State Representative Austin Badon is thrilled his measure was signed into law. Badon says this legislation will help a lot of people in Louisiana…
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Badon says he likes the fact that the law will give people a second chance.

Even though Louisiana drivers will now only have to renew their licenses every six years instead of the previous four years, the price tag for a vehicle title will go up $50 beginning Wednesday. That change, along with the official driving record fee increase of 10 dollars and the new cigarette 50 cent-per-pack tax hike will be in place when the new state laws take effect July 1st.

A lawsuit has been filed by the Louisiana ACLU, Forum for Equality, and 6 individuals challenging Governor Bobby Jindal’s “Marriage and Conscience Order”.…
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The civilian labor force in Louisiana set a record in May, growing by over 91 hundred jobs over the month and by 68,168 over the year. According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission those employed in the state grew to 2 million, 65 thousand, 471.
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Pot possession penalties in Louisiana have been reduced after Governor Bobby Jindal signed the bill from New Orleans representative Austin Badon into law. The legislation drops the maximum sentence from 20 years in prison down to eight. Badon says people arrested for simple possession need counseling, not jail time…
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Now, a first offense with 14 grams of marijuana would carry up to 15 days in jail.

Now that NBC has pulled the TV broadcast plug on the Miss USA Pagent on July 12th, one Baton Rouge Councilman is upset that city and state will lose much needed national exposure. On the Jim Engster Show, John Delgado says it’s unfortunate…
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A lawsuit has been filed challenging Governor Bobby Jindal’s “Marriage and Conscience Order”. The suit alleges it creates a class of persons who are protected over others due to their opposition to same-sex marriage. Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman says this order goes beyond the scope of what the Louisiana Constitution allows a governor to do…:
CUT 13 (12) “to uphold”
The governor’s office has yet to comment.

The Orlanes Parish District Attorney says he wants the death penalty for a man who they believe killed a NOPD officer while handcuffed in the squad car. 33-year-old Travis Boys is indicted for first degree murder in the death of 45-year-old Officer Daryle Holloway on June 20th. Boys is also ordered held without bond.

Wal Mart says the cake made at the Slidell location with the design of an ISIS flag was made by mistake by an employee who didn’t know what it was. Chuck Netzhammer originally ordered a “Heritage Not Hate” Confederate flag cake, but the bakery did not honor the request so he then ordered the ISIS image which was made and sold to him…:
CUT 7 (08) “beheading Christians”
That was from a video he made on YouTube. Wal-Mart, who has pulled all Confederate flag items, has apologized for the ISIS cake.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says if the Baton Rouge hosted Miss USA pageant is not televised, the state Department of Tourism will withhold payment of $50,000. NBC says they aren’t going to air the pageant due to ties with Donald Trump who they feel made offensive comments about immigrants…:
CUT 12 (09) “the broadcast”
Miss USA is slated for July 12th.

Decreased marijuana penalties have now been signed into law in Louisiana. Under the measure, a first offense of simple possession of less than 14 grams of pot would face up to 15 days in jail. A second conviction drops from a felony to a misdemeanor. New Orleans State Representative Austin Badon…:
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The Shreveport Police Department says a woman is under arrest after alerting authorities that a child was missing, when it turns out the 17 month old was never removed from a vehicle at the residence. They say 22-year-old Macy Bates was arrested and charged with a single count of child desertion for allegedly leaving the child inside the car and also a charge of DWI after driving around the neighborhood impaired in search of the child.

In response to NBC dropping the Baton Rouge hosted Miss USA pageant amidst comments they found offensive made by Donald Trump, Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says they are still moving forward with all events. He says a welcoming reception is being held downtown on Thursday…:
CUT 11 (09) “the broadcast”
He says the state office of tourism isn’t going to pay the pageant the originally agreed upon $50,000 if the event isn’t on TV.

This is just in…The ACLU and others have filed a lawsuit which challenges Governor Bobby Jindal’s Religious Freedom executive order. Plaintiffs feel it goes beyond his constitutional authority as governor.

Governor Bobby Jindal has signed into law legislation that reduces the penalties for simple marijuana possession. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

The National Weather Service now says the Red River will crest in Shreveport today at 31 feet, nearly two feet lower than previously thought. This is still a foot above flood stage, but authorities say flooding will probably be limited to some minor backwater flooding in southern Bossier Parish. The river is expected to begin a slow recede sometime Wednesday.

A Baton Rouge City Councilman is upset that they’re losing out on international exposure because NBC is dropping the Capitol City hosted Miss USA Pageant over offensive Donald Trump comments. As a guest on the Jim Engster Show, Councilman John Delgado says the three hour broadcast was a big infomercial for the city…:
CUT 9 (12) “backs out”

Wal-Mart has apologized for making a cake at its Slidell store with the ISIS flag on it after denying a man’s request to design one with the Confederate flag. Chuck Netzhammer outlines what happened in a YouTube video…:
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A spokesman for Wal-Mart told ABC News that the store associate did not know what the design meant and it was a misunderstanding.

Governor Bobby Jindal has signed into law legislation that reduces the penalties for simple marijuana possession. New Orleans Representative Austin Badon is thrilled this measure didn’t get the veto pen. He says the new law will help a lot of people in Louisiana…:
CUT 3 (12) “periods of time”
One of the biggest changes in the law is that now a first offense for simple possession of less than 14 grams is 15 days in jail.

Jindal has also signed the medical marijuana dispensing bill. But Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it could be another two years before this actually happens. He says they are totally starting from scratch with rules being made to even obtain seeks…:
CUT 15 (10) “being treated”

A study ranks Louisiana 5th in the country for the most couch potatoes per capita. Emelie Gunn has more on why we rank so high…:
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City leaders in Baton Rouge are trying to figure out what to do about the fact that NBC has decided not to air the Baton Rouge held Miss USA pageant. The Capitol City had boasted of the huge event’s national exposure on television, but the network announced that because of ties to Donald Trump, who made offensive comments about immigrants, they won’t be broadcasting the pageant.

Some are concerned that the recent Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage could potentially lead to lawsuits against churches. Scott Carwile has more…

cut 1 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

The National Weather Service now says the Red River will crest in Shreveport today at 31 feet, nearly two feet lower than previously thought. This is still a foot above flood stage, but authorities say flooding will probably be limited to some minor backwater flooding in southern Bossier Parish. The river is expected to begin a slow recede sometime Wednesday.

Same-sex couples are turning up at clerks of court offices across the state to get their marriage license. Louisiana was the last state to start issuing licenses after the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling legalizing gay marriage last week. Sarah Jane Brady, executive director for Forum for Equality, is thrilled that clerks of court around the state are allowing same sex couples to get married…

cut 9 (09) “good actions of people”

many parishes began issuing licenses on Monday.

Louisiana comes in at number 5 for the states with the most couch potatoes per capita, according to a study by Estately-dot-com. Lead blogger Ryan Nickum says the Louisiana summer heat is one factor on why we have so many couch potatoes. He says his study found that people who live in colder climates, tend to get out more expect for Ohio that ranked number one…

cut 12 (08) “air conditioning”

Nickum hopes this study will open people’s eyes and push them to get up and moving.