An effort to raise revenue to pay for key highway construction projects failed to get the necessary two thirds vote in the House of Representatives. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (27) “reporting”

Ed Anderson, a journalist who covered the legislature, state government and many other stories for more than four decades in Louisiana with the Times-Picayune of New Orleans, passed away in Baton Rouge. Both Chambers at the Capitol each held a moment of silence for Anderson Thursday morning. He lost his battle with cancer at the age of 67.

Governor Bobby Jindal says if the medical marijuana bill that is moving through the legislature right now by New Iberia Senator Fred Mills makes it to his desk, he will sign it…:
CUT 1 (07) “criteria”
Jindal also says he supports legislation to loosen penalties for those convicted multiple times on marijuana possession…:
CUT 2 (07) “drug offenders”
Both matters are getting close to final legislative passage.

In the Senate Thursday lawmakers put a $60 million dollar fee increase on two House bills that would mean drivers pay $50 more in title fees when buying a car. Also being discussed is a nearly $40 increase in the cost of a driver’s license as part of ongoing budget balancing proposals.

The state House has rejected legislation that would increase the state’s sales tax by one-cent for road and bridge improvements. Plaquemine Representative Karen St. Germain’s bill overwhelmingly failed to get a two-thirds vote of elected members it needed to pass. St. Germain says HB 778 would help with the backlog in road and bridge projects facing the state…:
CUT 6 (10) “pay as we go”
The measure didn’t get close to the 70 votes it needed to pass.

Tomororow afternoon the LSU baseball team will play Lehigh to open up NCAA Regional play. The Moutain Hawks are the Patriot League Tournament champs but the bring a 25-and-29 losing record into Baton Rouge. Shortstop Alex Bregman says the players look forward to postseason..:
CUT 10 (08) “this year”
First pitch is at 3pm.

Cops in the LaFourche Parish town of Golden Meadow say they’ve arrested a woman accused of stealing over $12,000 from a non-profit children’s baseball league. 35-year-old Renee Serigny (sehrn-YAY’) was booked with two counts of felony theft . Chief Reggie Pitre says that money was supposed to go towards their Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken league’s account for things like supplies and uniforms from registration fees…:
CUT 14 (08) “daily use”
was released from the parish jail after posting a $4,000 bond.

The National Weather Service predicts that the Red River could reach its highest level in 25 years. NWS predicts it will crest at 33 feet, the highest since a 34.5 foot crest in 1990. Meteorologist Mario Valverde says the Red River is not at flood stage, but that’s going to change soon…:
CUT 3 (05) “for 25 years”
Valverde says the Red River is expected to crest in the Shreveport area sometime around June 5th and in Alexandria a couple days later.

The House did not agree to raise the state sales tax by a penny for road and bridge projects in Louisiana. The measure needed 70 votes to pass but the vote was 50 yeas and 46 nays. Plaquemine Representative Karen St. Germain argued improving state roadways would enhance the lives of all Louisianians…:
CUT 8 (05) “to get there”
The state is currently facing a backlog of $12 billion in road and bridge needs. Governor Bobby Jindal has promised to veto any bills which raise taxes.

The LSU baseball team will host Lehigh tomorrow afternoon to open up NCAA Regional play. LSU is 48-and-10 on the season, and they’ve been ranked number one for a good part of the season. Coach Paul Mainieri doesn’t want his team putting any added pressure on themselves now that its the postseason…:
CUT 11 (10) “all year”
First pitch is 3pm.

The National Weather Service says the Red River is about to reach levels it hasn’t seen in 25 years. As of Wednesday, the river stood at 29.2 feet. NWS predicts it will crest at 33 feet, the highest since a 34.5 foot crest in 1990. Meteorologist Mario Valverde says the flooding will cause some inconvenience…:
CUT 5 (06) “period of time”
It’s predicted that it will be the first part of July before waters start to recede back to normal levels.

Cops in the LaFourche Parish town of Golden Meadow say they’ve arrested a woman accused of stealing over $12,000 from a non-profit children’s baseball league. Chief Reggie Pitre (PEE’-tree) says he questioned 35-year-old Renee Serigny (sehr-in-YAY’) about the complaint against her..:
CUT 13 (08) “medical setting”
Serigny was booked with two counts of felony theft and was released from the parish jail after posting a $4,000 bond.

The state House has rejected legislation that would increase the state’s sales tax by one-cent for road and bridge improvements. The state is currently facing a backlog of $12 billion in road and bridge needs. Plaquemine Representative Karen St. Germain says the neglect of Louisiana’s roadways has gone on long enough…:
CUT 7 (06) “a hand basket”
The House vote was 52-42. The measure needed 70 votes to pass.

The LSU baseball team will host Lehigh tomorrow afternoon to open up NCAA Regional play. The Mountain Hawks are the Patriot League Tournament champs, but they bring a 25-and-29 losing record into Baton Rouge. Pitcher Zac Person says they are not taking Lehigh lightly..:
CUT 9 (10) “we’ll be okay”
First pitch Friday is 3pm.

The National Weather Service predicts that the Red River could reach its highest level in 25 years. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

There’s a report that the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries indicate a young black bear has been spotted in woods in West Monroe. They believe he could have come down the bayou of the Ouachita River which is a little high right now. Agents are using live culvert bear traps with donuts to attract the bear and hopefully capture him to place in a more suitable habitat.

An effort to raise revenue to pay for key highway construction projects failed to get the necessary two thirds vote in the House of Representatives. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (27) “reporting”

Senate leaders have decided to reconsider a House bill that would test state prisoners for HIV when they’re released to go home after the measure failed on the Senate Floor today. HB 191 overwhelmingly passed the House two weeks ago but the vote in the Upper Chamber today failed 18-15 but lawmakers say they will take it up another day.

Cops in the LaFourche Parish town of Golden Meadow say they’ve arrested a woman accused of stealing over $12,000 from a non-profit children’s baseball league. Chief Reggie Pitre (PEE’-tree) says they received a complaint from the league’s board of directors about 35-year-old Renee Serigny (sehr-in-YAY’) after noticing inappropriate activity on their bank accounts…:
CUT 12 (11) “both accounts”
Pitre says Serigny admitted to using the money for her bills. She was booked with two counts of felony theft.

The National Weather Service predicts that the Red River could reach its highest level in 25 years. As of Wednesday, the river stood at 29.2 feet and NWS believes it will crest at 33 feet. Meteorologist Mario Valverde doesn’t expect any flooding from the Red River to impact any cities, but says some agricultural lands could be inundated…:
CUT 4 (06) “severe impacts”
Valverde says the Red River is expected to crest in the Shreveport area sometime around June 5th and near Alexandria a couple of days later.

The state House rejects legislation that would increase the state’s sales tax by one-cent for road and bridge improvements. Plaquemine Representative Karen St. Germain’s bill overwhelmingly failed to get a two-thirds vote of elected members it needed to pass. She argued HB 777 would help with the backlog in road and bridge projects facing the state…:
CUT 6 (10) “pay as we go”
The vote was 52 yeas and 42 nays and needed 70 to pass.

Two bills that are key parts to a Common Core compromise made it off the House Floor Wednesday. The votes were nearly unanimous and Governor Bobby Jindal is also backing the proposals. Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymann, who opposes Common Core, says he’s appreciative of the hard work that went into coming up with this legislation…
cut 12 (06) “public process”
The measures go to the Senate, which is expected to go along with the bills.

In an effort to increase its international profile and boost enrollment numbers, Nicholls State University has signed an educational partnership with Galliano-based offshore giant Edison Chouest that will allow their employees and family members earn a degree from the school. University President Bruce Murphy says the deal will waive out-of-state and international fees for students connected to Chouest…:
cut 1 (08) “online, as well”
Chouest has approximately 14,000 employees in over a dozen countries worldwide. Murphy says this agreement will bring more international diversity to the Thibodaux campus.

The National Weather Service predicts that the Red River could reach its highest level in 25 years. As of Wednesday, the river stood at 29.2 feet. NWS predicts it will crest at 33 feet, the highest since a 34.5 foot crest in 1990. Meteorologist Mario Valverde says the Red River is not at flood stage, but that’s going to change soon…:
CUT 3 (05) “for 25 years”
Valverde says the Red River is expected to crest in the Shreveport area sometime around June 5th. He says the river should crest in the Alexandria area a couple of days later.

Louisiana has its first female head football coach in history and she’ll be coaching a high school deaf squad. Susan Gremillion will be taking over the team at the Louisiana School for the Deaf. She says being the first woman head football coach sounds nice but she wants to be the first woman to coach a deaf national championship team…:
CUT 9 (06) “every year”
The War Eagles are an eight-man football team.

A political pundit says Governor Bobby Jindal violated the state constitution for his attack on Presidential candidate, Senator Rand Paul. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 3 (30) “reporting”

LSU announced today its game against Auburn in Tiger Stadium will be televised on CBS. The matchup, which is the SEC opener for the Tigers, is September 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The contest will also be LSU’s annual Gold Game.

Two measures relating to a Common Core compromise passed the state House Wednesday. One item lets the public and others review the standards, which could result in changes to Common Core curriculum that the next governor would have to approve. The other seeks to control the state’s participation in tests associated with Common Core. Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymann, a Common Core opponent, says he’s comfortable with what they came up with…:
cut 11 (04) “come to an agreement”
The legislation will next head to the Senate, which is expected to go along with the bills.

As the Click It or Ticket Campaign continues in Louisiana, State Police report yet another fatality crash in which the driver was not buckled up. In Livingston Parish, they say 29-year-old Mark Lineske of Holden ran off the road and struck a culvert. In addition to not being restrained, investigators also suspect Lineske was speeding and impaired. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Nicholls State University has signed an educational partnership with Galliano-based offshore giant Edison Chouest that will let their employees and family members earn a degree from the school. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (26) “reporting”

There’s a report that the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries indicate a young black bear has been spotted in woods in West Monroe. They believe he could have come down the bayou of the Ouachita River which is a little high right now. Agents are using live culvert bear traps with donuts to attract the bear and hopefully capture him to place in a more suitable habitat.

Two bills that are key to a Common Core compromise made it off the House Floor Wednesday. Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymann, a staunch opponent of Common Core, is glad all sides of this controversial issue came together…:

cut 10 (11) “this agreement”

The votes were nearly unanimous and the bills now head to the Senate.

Political pundit CB Forgotston says Governor Bobby Jindal violated the state constitution by issuing a press release through the governor’s office criticizing Presidential candidate Rand Paul. Jindal’s statement, which is on letterhead used by the governor’s office, says Senator Paul is unsuited to be Commander-in-Chief. Forgotston says he’s filed a complaint with Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street…

cut 15 (09) “executive department”

When contacted, Street said he can’t comment on a possible investigation.

Louisiana has its first female high school head football coach in history and she’ll be coaching a deaf squad. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (29) “reporting”

Golden Meadow Police say a Galliano woman is under arrest accused of stealing money from a children’s baseball league. 35-year-old Renee Serigny allegedly took more than $12,000 from the checking account of Golden Meadow’s Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken leagues. Authorities say Serigny admitted to taking the money and using it for personal matters. Serigny is charged with two counts of felony theft.

A political pundit says Governor Bobby Jindal violated the state constitution for his attack on Presidential candidate, Senator Rand Paul. Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

A Plaquemines Parish grand jury has indicted a Navy Reserve seaman and his wife in the March death of their three-and-a-half-month old daughter at the air station in Belle Chasse. Xavier Houston and his wife, Calendria, both 26, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the case. The couple also face cruelty to juvenile charges for allegedly abusing their remaining five children.

Two bills that are key parts to a Common Core compromise made it off the House Floor Wednesday. The votes were nearly unanimous and Governor Bobby Jindal is also backing the proposals. Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymann, who opposes Common Core, says he’s appreciative of the hard work that went into coming up with this legislation…

cut 12 (06) “public process”

The measures go to the Senate, which is expected to go along with the bills.

Nicholls State University has signed an educational partnership with Galliano-based offshore giant Edison Chouest that will waive out-of-state and international fees for students connected to the company. University President Bruce Murphy says this agreement will bring more international diversity to the Thibodaux campus…

cut 6 (10) “educational opportunities”

Chouest has approximately 14,000 employees in over a dozen countries worldwide.