A new state bill that would allow the medicinal use of marijuana is a little closer to reality, as SB 143 moves out of committee on to the Senate Floor. There seems to be a lot of support for the measure, but Pete Adams, Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, spoke against it, still expressing sympathy for those who suffer…
CUT 15 (09) Q: ‘opposition to this’

The House Education Committee has approved legislation that requires sex education to be taught in 7th through 12th grade. Under current law, sex ed may be offered in Louisiana public schools, but it must promote abstinence until marriage. However, New Orleans Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell says the abstinence message is not working…
cut 10 (06) “they need”
The billed passed committee on an 8-6 vote.
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A Livingston Parish teen is in the hospital after being shot by a Sheriff’s Deputy following a 9-1-1 call this morning about an armed suicidal person. According to Louisiana State Police Lt. JB Slayton, when deputies arrived, 19-year-old Matthew Peyronnin was on the front porch with a shotgun raised in the direction of the officers.
CUT 7 (07) Q: “four rounds”
He’s in stable condition and will be charged with attempted 2nd degree murder of a police officer.

There are some in the legislature that hope the third time is the charm for a bill that would lessen the penalities for possession of marijuana. New Orleans State Representative Austin Badon says the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association is not opposed to the bill, and now he’s reaching out to the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association…
CUT 5 (10) Q: ‘in Louisiana’

Medical marijuana is one step closer to becoming legal in Louisiana as Senate Bill 143 moves out of committee and heads to the Senate Floor. Many support the legislation, including Tommy Mead, an LSU Health Sciences Center student, who told the committee that medical marijuana can help him…:
CUT 14 (09) Q: “I push on”
Some members of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association have expressed opposition.

State Police is investigating the shooting of an armed teenager in Livingston Parish early this morning. Lt. JB Slaton says authorities responded to a 9-1-1 call of a suicidal person and when deputies arrived at the home, 19-year-old Matthew Peyronnin, was on the front porch with a shotgun raised in the direction of the officers…
CUT 6 (06) “several rounds”
Peyronnin is in stable condition.
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New Orleans State Representative Austin Badon is once again pushing legislation that would lessen the penalties for some marijuana possession arrests…
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

The investigation into the Baton Rouge shooting death of a woman who was 8 months pregnant Friday night continues, and although police are still saying that former LSU football player 21 year-old La’el Collins is NOT a suspect, some reports say Collins and 29 year-old Brittney Mills did have some kind of romantic relationship in the past. Collins was in Chicago for the NFL draft, but is returning to Baton Rouge to talk to authorities.

Medical marijuana is one step closer to becoming legal in Louisiana as Senate Bill 143 moves out of committee this morning and heads to the Senate floor. There were many people who spoke in support of the legislation by New Iberia Senator Fred Mills. Michelle Hall from Vernon Parish says she adopted a little girl who has epilepsy…

cut 12 (09) “stop that”

Pete Adams, Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association was the only one who spoke against the bill…

cut 13 (09) “diseases”

The legislation moved forward without objection.

It’s reported that former LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins is returning from Chicago to Baton Rouge so that he can address questions by Police about the case of a pregnant woman who was shot and killed last week.

New Orleans state Representative Austin Badon is once again pushing a bill that would lower the penalties for some simple marijuana possession arrests. Badon says House Bill 149 will keep current provisions for first convictions, but lowers the penalties for second and subsequent convictions. He adds that this measure would also take simple marijuana possession out of the state’s “Three Strikes You’re Out” law…

cut 4 (11) “for life”

Badon says this would bring much needed reform to Louisiana’s drug law.

Entergy says they have made a lot of progress when it comes to returning service for customers in the aftermath of Monday’s storms, but unfortunately damage was worse than thought in other places. Spokesman Will Johnson says some of the outages may last into Friday. He says they are also being forced to de-energize some lines that have already been restored…

cut 7 (08) “part of the process”

At last report there are about 25,000 customers still without power.

The House Education Committee approves legislation that requires sex education to be taught in all schools in Orleans Parish. Under current law, sex ed may be offered in Louisiana public schools. But New Orleans councilwoman LaToya Cantrell, a supporter, says comprehensive sex education needs to be mandatory…:
CUT 9 (09) “new cases”
The bill now heads to the full house for more debate.

State Police says they are investigating an officer involved shooting in Livingston Parish which resulted in non-life threatening injuries to a 19-year-old. Investigators report LPSO deputies responded to reports of the teen threatening suicide then pointing guns at deputies. That’s when a deputy fired and struck Matthew Peyronnin several times. The 19-year-old will be charged with attempted second degree murder of a cop when he’s released from the hospital.

New Orleans state Representative Austin Badon is once again pushing legislation that would lessen the penalties for some marijuana possession arrests. Eric Gill reports…:
CUt 1 (29) “reporting”

Former LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins is reportedly coming back to Baton Rouge from Chicago where he is for the draft so that he can address questions by Police about the case of a pregnant woman who was shot and killed last week.

Entergy says they have made a lot of progress when it comes to getting power back on for customers in the path of Monday’s storms in south Louisiana, but unfortunately damage was worse than thought in other places. Spokesman Will Johnson says they are now dealing with destruction that was not anticipated…:
CUT 6 (11) “restoration process”
There are still about 30,000 customers in the dark and Johnson says they hope to have everybody back up Thursday but some of the outages might last into Friday.

New Orleans state Representative Austin Badon is once again pushing legislation that would lessen the penalties for some marijuana possession arrests. Badon says House Bill 149 in no way legalizes marijuana for either medical or recreational use. He says the bill only brings fairness to sentencing for simple marijuana possession…:
CUT 3 (09) “subsequent convictions”
He says the DA’s Association is not opposed to the bill.

Baton Rouge police say their detectives want to speak with former LSU Tiger La’el Collins about the shooting death of a pregnant woman in the capitol city but he is not a suspect. 29-year-old Brittney Mills was gunned down at her home last Friday. Corporal Don Coppola says Collins may know something…:
CUT 17 (10) “Ms Mills Killer”
He says the two had a relationship but didn’t go into details.

Legislation that would allow a domestic abuse victim to immediately move out an apartment or rented home without facing a penalty for violating the lease was approved by a senate committee. Cashuana Hill, executive director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Center, says this legislation is needed, because there are numerous cases where a domestic abuse victim is evicted from their home, because the apartment complex has a policy against domestic violence…:
cut 14 (05) “for that abuse”
But opponents say landlords aren’t qualified to decide who’s right and who’s wrong in domestic abuse cases.

The US Supreme Court is hearing a case today challenging the constitutionality of Oklahoma’s lethal injection procedure. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

Entergy says some customers who lost power in Monday’s storms may have to wait until tomorrow before they get their lights back on. The National Weather Service said five weak tornadoes touched down across South Louisiana two days ago with strengths of EF-0 and Ef-1. Entergy says about 32,800 customers are currently in the dark.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office is looking for 10 people and have already arrested another person involved in a million dollar Comcast cable scheme. Spokeswoman Cindy Chadwick says contractors would use personal information of real customers to set up fake accounts in other to collect commission. She says they were getting legitimate customers information from a now-former Comcast employee…:
CUT 11 (13) “customers”
Chadwick says financial loss in commissions, equipment and services to Comcast and victims was well over $1.2 million dollars.

The City Council in Monroe green lights a proposal that would let the city to apply for a matching grant to form a $1 million dollar incentive to provide a direct flight from Monroe to Denver. Century Link has 2,000 plus employees in northeast Louisiana and about 7,000 in Denver.

Rita Benson Leblanc made an appearance at the state capitol Tuesday to support of the state’s film tax program. LeBlanc says remaining competitive in the film industry requires tax credits. She says it’s amazing that Louisiana is #1 in making movies and we should strive to stay that way…

cut 9 (09) “of America”

The bill was amended to put a $200 million dollar cap on the program and advanced out of committee without objection and now heads to the House floor.

A bill that would allow a victim of domestic abuse to immediately move out an apartment or rented home without facing a penalty for violating the lease advances from a senate committee. The Apartment Association of Louisiana lobbied against the measure. Jennifer Ansardi says domestic violence cases are sometimes he-said she-said incidents and landlords are not trained to be a judge and jury…

cut 15 (07) “handle this”

The legislation now heads to the Senate floor.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office says one person is under arrest and they are looking for 10 others as part of a million dollar theft scam involving Comcast Cable customers. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (30) “reporting”
The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect wanted in the robbery of four campers in Denham Springs. According to authorities, the suspect stole computers, televisions, purses, and wallets from the victims. Detectives say some of the stolen credit cards were used in stores in Slidell and Hammond. If you have any information in this case, you are asked to contact Crime Stoppers.

A senate committee approves legislation that would give domestic abuse victims the ability to break a lease or get their abuser out of a home without penalty from their landlord. Scott Carwile has the story….

cut 3 (31) “reporting”

The National Weather Service has confirmed that five tornadoes touched down in south Louisiana during Monday’s storms. They have determined that tornadoes hit Kenner, Pierre Part, Napoleonville, Chackbay, and Bayou Gauche in St. Charles Parish. At the peak of the storms, Entergy reported approximately 176,000 customers were without power. As of this morning, less than 30,000 customers remain without service.

A case challenging the constitutionality of the use of midazolam in Oklahoma’s lethal injection protocol will be heard in the US Supreme Court today. There are questions about midazolam, which is also part of Louisiana’s lethal injection protocol, and its effectiveness as a sedative. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says it will be interesting to see what the Supreme Court will do…

cut 6 (09) “from this case”

This lawsuit was filed after four apparently botched executions that made national headlines last year.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office says one is under arrest and they are looking for 10 others as part of a million dollar theft scam involving Comcast Cable customers. Spokeswoman Cindy Chadwick says the victims in this case have seen their credit reports ruined by this scam because their social security numbers were tied to fake accounts that weren’t being paid…

cut 12 (09) “investigation”

She says the now former Comcast employee under arrest is charged with 107 counts of identity theft.

The granddaughter of Saints owner Tom Benson made an appearance at the state capitol Tuesday in support of the state’s film tax program. Rita Benson Leblanc says it’s paramount Louisiana differentiate itself when attracting major events. She says the state’s film tax program helps major events like the Super Bowl with their visual and media elements…

cut 8 (09) “networks themselves”

The bill was amended to put a $200 million dollar cap on the program and other cap bills were also approved in committee.

Legislation that would allow a domestic abuse victim to immediately move out an apartment or rented home without facing a penalty for violating the lease was approved by a senate committee. Cashuana Hill, executive director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Center, says this legislation is needed, because there are numerous cases where a domestic abuse victim is evicted from their home, because the apartment complex has a policy against domestic violence…

cut 14 (05) “for that abuse”

The bill will now be heard on the Senate floor.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office says one person is under arrest and they are looking for 10 others as part of a million dollar theft scam involving Comcast Cable customers. Spokeswoman Cindy Chadwick says the scheme involved out of state cable contractors who would use real Comcast customers information to open up fake accounts in order to get commission…

cut 10 (09) “they would make a commission”

Chadwick says the now former Comcast employee involved in this scheme is in jail and booked with 107 counts of identity theft and one count of criminal conspiracy.

The US Supreme Court begins hearing a case today challenging the constitutionality of Oklahoma’s lethal injection procedure. The case wants to end the use of midazolam as a sedative in Oklahoma’s lethal injection protocol. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says protocols changed when the makers of sodium thiopental and pentobarbital refused to sell to states that use it for corporal punishment…

cut 4 (08) “in the alternative”

There are questions in midazolam’s effectiveness as a sedative.

A senate committee approves legislation that would allow a domestic abuse victim to immediately move out an apartment or rented home without facing a penalty for violating the lease. Baton Rouge Senator Sharon Weston Broome says her legislation also has a provision in cases where the victim doesn’t want to leave the home…

cut 13 (10)  “is evicted”

The measure now heads to the Senate floor.

Rita Benson Leblanc made an appearance at the state capitol Tuesday in support of the state’s film tax program. During testimony, LeBlanc identified herself as a former sports executive who said the film tax credit program helped New Orleans get the Super Bowl in 2013…

cut 7 (11)  “in that”

The bill was amended to put a $200 million dollar cap on the program and it now heads to the House floor.

The US Supreme Court begins hearing a case today challenging the constitutionality of Oklahoma’s lethal injection procedure. The case argues to end the use of midazolam as a sedative in Oklahoma’s lethal injection protocol. Midazolam, which is also part of Louisiana’s protocol, is an anti-anxiety drug that has no pain relieving properties and there are questions in its effectiveness as a sedative. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says this case raises the issue of whether midazolam does what states claim that it does…

cut 5  (11)  “of serious pain”

This lawsuit was filed after four apparently botched executions that made national headlines last year.