With many kids already out on summer vacations, Emelie Gunn spoke with a doctor on some tips to keep your children safe while in the water….
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A bill that would allow universities to lower their out-of-state tuition to bring in more students from other states is nearing final passage. Jeff Palermo has more…
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Jackson Representative Kenny Havard says he won’t apologize for his joke that strippers should be young and skinny. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 3 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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With summer vacation already underway for most schools, here’s a doctor that provides some tips to make sure your kids stay safe this break. Baton Rouge General family practitioner Dr. Kristen Ducote warns parents that drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional fatalities in kids 14 and under. She says it’s important to invest in swimming lessons for your children.
Ducote says kids should always wear a life jacket when out on the boat, jet skiing or even fishing. She says if you’re at the beach make sure your children are swimming with a buddy, never alone.
Ducote says it’s important to always keep an eye out on your kids even if they’re swimming in shallow water. She also warns parents with Memorial Day coming up, stay sober when your children are around the water.
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A bill is nearing final legislative passage that would allow universities to lower their out of state tuition in an effort to attract more students from neighboring states. There was concern about lowering tuition in light of the budget deficit. But Ruston Representative Robert Shadoin says bringing in more students could help curb those losses.
CUT 7 (08) “we’re experiencing”
Vice President for External Affairs for the University of Louisiana system Rachel Kincaid this would also help universities bring in more international students. She says it’s a good way for the state to bring in more money.
Cut 8 (08) “resident students”
The measure has passed the House and it cleared the Senate Education committee earlier this week. Metairie Senator Conrad Appel sits on that panel and says out of state students would not take precedence over in state students.
Cut 9 (06) “Louisiana students”
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The American Sugar Cane League says the 2016 Louisiana sugar cane crop is showing great potential and could possibly surpass last year’s 1.4 million tons of raw sugar. Senior Agronomist Herman Waguespack says we had a mild winter and hopes hurricane season will be quite so it doesn’t disrupt the crops.
Waguespack says farmers worried their rutted fields from the massive rainfall last winter would cause root damage to the crops. He says Louisiana is now one of only three states that produce sugar, including Florida and Texas, Hawaii has closed its last sugar mill. He says the Bayou State is the second biggest producer of sugar cane in the country.
Last year, 380-thousand acres of Louisiana sugar cane was harvested producing an economic impact of 2 billion dollars. Waguespack still remains hopeful for a similar season even after the recent downpours this spring put farmers behind in field work.
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Jackson Representative Kenny Havard is not sorry for his amendment intended as a joke that said strippers in Louisiana must be young and less than 160 pounds. The amendment which was attached to a bill that raises the age of exotic dancers to 21 has received national attention. Havard spoke with reporters after adjournment and says he regrets if he offended anyone, but….
Cut 13 (07) “politically incorrect”
Havard’s remarks have been called sexist, disrespectful and disgusting. He defended his joke by saying that it didn’t mention female strippers specifically.
House speaker Taylor Barras of New Iberia spoke on the House floor about the incident. He says it seems ridiculous that he has to ask elected state officials to be respectful.
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