LRN 16:30 Newscast April 18, 2018

State legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera (Per-Pair-Uh) says the state spent more than five million dollars on sexual harassment claims over the past 9 years. Purpera (Per-Pair-Uh) says their audit also concluded there is no clear cut process on what an employee should do if a harassment incident occurs…

Cut 8 (:12) “those claims.”
The audit also found that 77-percent of state employees never reported harassment they felt they experienced.

The Democratic Caucus is pushing back against a budget that will be discussed tomorrow on the House Floor that includes 648 million dollars in cuts to higher education and healthcare. Caucus Chairman Robert Johnson says the budget discriminates against Democratic constituencies, while funding projects in Republican areas of the state.

Cut 14 (09) “that’s immoral”
The caucus is also pushing back against part of the budget that fully funds TOPS, but cuts the higher education budget.

A bill that would allow companies like Uber to operate across the state passed the House on a resounding 97-1 vote. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Entergy expects to reduce your electric bill starting in May and by the fall season, Entergy says average customers should save six bucks a month.  The savings are due to a trillion dollar federal tax cut, plus upgrades to Entergy’s infrastructure. The utility company says the decrease will come just in time to help consumers with Louisiana’s summer electric bills. Customers should see another drop of about two dollars a month after Katrina/Rita costs fall off their electric bills in October.