A french bulldog died last Monday on a United flight from Houston to New York. The incident has spurred action from one Louisiana Senator. Don Malino has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Malino.”

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Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson is being remembered fondly today. Matt Doyle has more…

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An East Baton Rouge grand jury has indicted four young men who were allegedly involved in the suspected hazing death of an LSU fraternity pledge. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Senator John Kennedy has co-sponsored the WOOFF act which stands for welfare of our furry friends act.  He’s aiming to curtail the death’s of animals on airlines like the one last Monday on a United flight.

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Kennedy says he expects to get some answers from the airline that was responsible for the dog’s death.

Cut 5  (10)  “animal cruelity.”

But Lamar White,publisher of bayou brief says Kennedy is looking for some cheap publicity.

Cut 6 (08) “into action.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation says there were 24 documented animal deaths on airlines in 2017.

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Shreveport Senator John Milkovich’s legislation that would give teachers more freedom to decide how to handle bullies in public schools passed through the Senate Education Committee. The bill gives teachers a wide leniency to “take all steps deemed necessary” to stop bullying, including involving the police, and personally restraining offending students. Milkovich says it would cut down on the red tape involved in stopping bullies.

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Milkovich says the bill was inspired by a meeting he had, arranged by a local pastor, with two parents whose daughters had committed suicide after being bullied.

Cut 8 (11) “their bedrooms.”

The Senator says the parents reported the bullying several times to the school, but after months, nothing had been done.

Currently, teachers are limited in how they can handle bullying in schools. Milkovich says his legislation would provide educators with new avenues for dealing with classroom abusers.

Cut 9 (11)  “in need.”

The bill faces opposition from the governor’s office, who says the bill is “overly regulatory” and “that school officials have a lot of tools right now” for dealing with bullying.

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Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson has passed away at the age of 90. Benson bought the Saints in 1985 after building a car dealership and real estate empire that started in San Antonio, and expanded to his hometown of New Orleans. When the team went up for sale in 1984, then governor Edwin Edwards says he had one priority: finding a buyer who would keep the team in town, and he found that man in Benson.

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Edwards considered Benson a friend, and the two worked together to make the team a staple of Louisiana culture. The governor says if you worked with Benson, you better be a straight shooter.

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The team had a nearly immediate run of success after Benson’s purchase, grabbing at the time a franchise best 12-4 record just two years into his ownership.

The city, and franchise hit its most precarious patch in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf south. Rumors were abound that the team would end up permanently moving to another city, but Benson kept his word and the Black and Gold committed to staying home. Governor John Bel Edwards says that act helped bring the city back to life.