Same sex couples are showing up at clerks of court offices across the state to get their marriage license. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 3 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor Bobby Jindal has signed into law two pieces of legislation dealing with marijuana. One measure sets up the framework so Louisiana can legally dispense medical marijuana. However, officials say it will be another two years before medicinal marijuana is available to residents. The second bill signed into law reduces the penalties for simple marijuana possession.

Some are worried that the recent Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage could potentially lead to lawsuits against churches. Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn says, as he reads the ruling, lawsuits are not something that should be of concern. However, he says the four dissenting Supreme Court Justices seemed to be concerned about lawsuits against churches when they wrote their dissent…

cut 6 (04) “of concern”

Horn says it’s his understanding that the ruling gives protection to churches and pastors.

An Estately.com study shows Louisiana comes in fifth for states with the most couch potatoes per capita. Lead blogger Ryan Nickum says the state came in 5th for hours per day watching TV and saw a correlation with watching TV and the obesity ranking throughout all states. He hopes this study opens people’s eyes and pushes them to get up and moving…

cut 11 (10) “at it”

Nickum says the Louisiana summer heat is a factor on why we have so many couch potatoes.

Scott Kirkland and Kenneth Parker received one of the first same-sex marriage licenses in the state Monday. The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association initially advised parish clerks to wait 25 days before issuing the licenses, but many parishes started yesterday, knowing it was unlikely the nation’s highest court would reverse its decision legalizing gay marriage. Kirkland says it was important for them to get a license in Louisiana…

cut 8 (09) “ceremony and party”

Louisiana was the last state to start issuing licenses.

Some are concerned that that Supreme Court ruling could potentially lead to lawsuits against churches. Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn says lawsuits are not something that should overly concern churches. But he says the Supreme Court ruling sort of negates ultimate protection for churches who refuse to perform or host same-sex marriages due to their religious beliefs…

cut 5 (12) “right now”

Governor Bobby Jindal has signed legislation into law that establishes a framework for the legal dispensing of medical marijuana. State Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says LSU and Southern’s AgCenter’s will have first opportunity to grow the weed that will turn into a pill for medical purposes…

cut 14 (11) “the product”

Strain says it could be another two years before anyone can get a prescription for medicinal marijuana filled.

According to a study by Estately.com, Louisiana comes in number 5 for the states with the most couch potatoes per capita. Lead blogger Ryan Nickum says they came up with this ranking by calculating 8 different factors, including hours per day watching TV and Laz-E-Boy retailers per capita…

cut 10 (10) “video games”

Nickum says the state also came in 5th for hours per day watching TV.

There is some concern that the recent Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage in the United States could potentially lead to lawsuits against churches. Louisiana Baptist Convention President Steve Horn says it’s his understanding that the ruling gives protection to churches and pastors. But he says that doesn’t mean the issue could not come up in the future…

cut 4 (11) “in that regard”

But he says lawsuits are not something that should overly concern churches.

One of the first same-sex marriage licenses in the state went to Scott Kirkland and Kenneth Parker. Louisiana was the last state to start issuing licenses and Kirkland says it was frustrating when they couldn’t get one after the Supreme Court ruling on Friday…

cut 7 (09) “enough it did”

Kirkland and Parker arrived at the East Baton Rouge Clerk of court’s office shortly before 2 PM on Monday.

Governor Bobby Jindal has signed into law a bill that establishes a framework for the legal dispensing of medical marijuana. But state Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says it could be another two years before anyone can get a prescription for medicinal marijuana filled. Stain says that’s because numerous steps need to be accomplished first…

cut 13 (13) “of rules”

Strain says they must start with the Board of Medical Examiners creating a set of rules for the prescription, then the Board of Pharmacy has to adopt a set of regulations and a document that describes the production parameters.

Many parishes have started issuing same-sex marriage licenses today, after holding off on doing so on Friday, when the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in all 50 states. Scott Kirkland and his partner, arrived at the East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court’s office shortly before two PM today. Kirkland says it was important for them to get a license in Louisiana…
cut 28 (09) “…and a party”
The Clerks of Court Association has given local officials the go-ahead to issue the licenses as soon as they are ready.

Governor Bobby Jindal has signed into two law two pieces of legislation dealing with marijuana. One of the measures sets up the framework so that Louisiana can legally dispense medical marijuana. But officials say it will be another two years before medicinal marijuana is available to Louisiana residents. And the governor signed into law a bill that reduces pot possession penalties.

The US Supreme Court rules a controversial drug called midazolam can be used for lethal injections. Gary Clements, an anti-death penalty lawyer in New Orleans, says midazolam is allowed in Louisiana but isn’t used. He wonders if it ever will…:
CUT 7 (06) “other options”
Last week, a federal judge in Baton Rouge put on hold any execution in Louisiana until July of 2016, to give the state time to determine how they will carry out a death sentence.

The National Weather Service expects the Red River in Shreveport to crest at 31-feet. Hydrologist CS Ross says the impact from flood waters this time will be minimal as the Red should fall below flood stage on July 2nd, but remain high through the Fourth of July holiday weekend…
cut 14 (11) “…late August”
Ross says the projected 31-foot crest is six feet lower than the crest in mid-June.

The Louisiana Clerks of Court Association is now urging all state clerks offices to comply with the Supreme Court Ruling to allow gay couples to receive marriage licenses. Jefferson Parish was the first to comply, and now many parishes have joined in…
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That’s Sarah Jane Brady with Forum For Equality Louisiana.

The US Supreme Court also rules a controversial drug called midazolam (muh-DAZZLE-um) can be used for lethal injections. Gary Clements, an anti-death penalty lawyer in New Orleans, is disappointed with the ruling…
CUT 6 (10) “lot of sense”
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An associate professor at LSU has been fired after using foul language and telling sexually-themed jokes to students…
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Shreveport man who was stuck on death row for three decades before new evidence revealed he was innocent, has died at the age of 65. Glen Ford was released in March of last year, and was battling stage 4 lung cancer. Ford was held in solitary confinement at Angola, and had been the longest-serving death-row inmate in the US, until he was exonerated.

Even though there are some parishes who are complying with the Supreme Court ruling, other Louisiana Clerks of Court could face lawsuits if they turn away gay couples seeking a marriage license…

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NBC is pulling the plug on the national broadcast of the Miss USA Pagent on July 12th in Baton Rouge; in essence telling the billionaire media mogul Donald Trump, he’s fired. This action will also terminate the Miss Universe pageant, following derogatory comments Trump made about Latinos. In a statement, the network said that “NBC Universal is ending its business relationship with Donald Trump.”
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The LSU Associate Elementary Education Professor who was fired after using foul language and telling sexually-themed jokes to students will fight the decision. Teresa Buchanan says she will go to court, and LSU faculty Senate President Kevin Cope says, she’s got a case. He says there’s a difference between using bad language and targeting bad language…
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There’s been a revision for the Red River in Shreveport, as the river is expected to crest at 31 feet Tuesday. That’s 6 feet lower than the mid-June crest, and National weather Service hydrologist C.S. Ross says the impact will be minimal…
CUT 13 (05) Q: “in Shreveport”
He says the Red will probably fall below flood stage on July 2nd.

Several parishes in Louisiana have begun issuing marriage licenses in compliance with the Supreme Court decision allowing same sex marriages in all 50 states. More expected to join in, as for the reast, Chairman of the Forum for Equality, Chris Otten, says the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association is on notice…
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An associate professor at LSU has been fired after using foul language and telling sexually-themed jokes to students. Teresa Buchanan was terminated, even after a five faculty member committee in March recommended she keep her job. She says she will fight the termination in court. LSU Faculty Senate President Kevin Cole points out if foul language is the cause, they ought to deal with other areas of LSU…
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The controversial drug called midazolam (mah-dazzle-um) can be legally used for lethal injections. That ruling from the US Supreme Court came today. Gary Clements an anti-death penalty lawyer in New Orleans and he’s is still hopeful that one day any form of capital punishment will be prohibited
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Last week, a federal judge in Baton Rouge put on hold any execution in Louisiana until July of 2016.

The National Weather Service is now calling for the Red River in Shreveport to crest Tuesday at 31-feet. Hydrologist C.S. Ross says this revised forecast puts the crest a few inches lower than what was previously expected
cut 12 (06) “this morning”

Clerks of court in Louisiana who turn away gay couples trying to get a marriage license could face legal trouble. The Jindal Administration has stated that they are waiting on a ruling from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Louisiana’s gay marriage law before complying with the Supreme Court’s decision. Chairman of the Forum for Equality, Chris Otten, is hopeful the court will rule soon…:
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Jefferson Parish has begun issuing same sex licenses and Calcasieu and East Baton Rouge say they plan to do so as well.

The US Supreme Court rules a controversial drug called midazolam can be used for lethal injections. Gary Clements, an anti-death penalty lawyer in New Orleans, says midazolam is allowed in Louisiana but isn’t used. He wonders if it ever will…:
CUT 7 (06) “other options”

An associate professor at LSU has been fired after using foul language and telling sexually-themed jokes to students. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

NBC announces Monday that it no longer plans to air the Miss USA pageant which will be held in Baton Rouge next month because of ties to Donald Trump who recently made offensive comments about Latinos. Miss USA was part of a joint venture between NBC and Trump. The candidate for president says a wall should be built along the southern border of the US.

Jefferson Parish has begun issuing same sex marriage licenses and Calcasieu Parish says they plan to do the same. Those clerks of court who turn away gay couples could face lawsuits for refusing to do so. Sarah Jane Brady with Forum For Equality Louisiana says she hopes to see all parishes getting on board…:
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She says if clerks refuse to follow the Supreme Court’s ruling, they could be sued for violating a civil rights protection statue under federal law.

Amite Representative and candidate for Governor Democrat John Bel Edwards said in a statement he would not want to keep John White as the state’s Superintendent if elected. Edwards says White isn’t qualified to be a principal at a middle school. White’s office responds saying politics should stay out of the classroom.

An associate professor at LSU has been fired after using foul language and telling sexually-themed jokes to students. Teresa Buchanan was terminated after school administrators stated her language and humor created a hostile learning environment. Professor Kevin Cope, LSU Faculty Senate President, says this incident stems from a false sense of protection of students…:
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Buchanan says she will fight her termination in court. LSU has no comment pending potential litigation.

The National College Baseball Hall of Fame announces LSU coach Paul Mainieri is the winner of the 2015 Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year Award. Mainieri led the Tigers to the College World Series this past season and helped LSU win a nation’s best 54 games. Mainieri will be honored at the Hall of Fame’s annual Night of Champions celebration Monday night in Lubbock.

Louisiana clerks of court who turn away gay couples seeking a marriage license could face lawsuits for refusing to do so. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

An associate professor at LSU lost her job for cussing and telling inappropriate sexual jokes to students. University administrators claim by doing this, Teresa Buchanan was creating a hostile learning environment. But the 20-year veteran of LSU plans to fight this in court saying she is the victim of a witch hunt. Buchanan specializes in early childhood education.

The US Supreme Court rules a controversial drug called midazolam (mid-da-zo-lam) can be used for lethal injections. Gary Clements, an anti-death penalty lawyer in New Orleans, is disappointed with the ruling, because the sedative did not perform like it should have in executions in Arizona, Ohio and Oklahoma…:
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Last week, a federal judge in Baton Rouge put on hold any execution in Louisiana until July of 2016, until the state determines how they will carry out a death sentence.

A man from Shreveport who was exonerated last year when new evidence came to light that he was not the person who murdered a jeweler in 1983 has died of cancer. 65-year-old Glenn Ford walked free out of Angola in March of 2014 after 29 years on death row. He was diagnosed with lung cancer soon after. He passed early this morning.