Louisiana is expected to see heavy rainfall during overnight hours. Bill Jacquemin has information on a flash flood watch that’s been posted for a large portion of the state….
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Bill Jacquemin”
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Congressman Garret Graves, whose district was heavily altered in the most recent congressional map, was among the plaintiffs who filed suit against that map that was overturned Tuesday.
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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In a historic move, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is looking to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Peter Robins-Brown with Louisiana Progress says with close to 40 states having medical marijuana and two dozen with legalized recreational use….
In terms of what that means for Louisiana in terms of medicinal cannabis…
Currently, marijuana is in the same classification as heroin and LSD. If approved, it would change from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III.
In terms of this allowing legalized recreational use in Louisiana….
The DEA proposal will still have to be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget. Robins-Brown says if approved it acknowledges the medicinal use of marijuana and at the same time recognizes that cannabis has lesser potential for abuse. The proposal, however, does not legalize recreational use.
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14 people that were part of a large Pro-Palestine protester encampment on Tulane’ campus were arrested as over 100 police officers moved in to break up the protest up. The group set up an encampment on Monday after a march in support of Palenstine. NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says after two nights of letting them demonstrate, it was time to go
Tulane says they wanted the protestors to be removed, because they they were in violation of trespassing laws on public property and they wanted to return to a normal day at Tulane. Some protesters complained they were injured. Witnesses say police outnumbered protestors two to one in an effort to remove them from an area in front of Gibson Hall along St. Charles Avenue. Kirkpatrick says they will review video from surveillance cameras
The university says the majority of the protestors are not affiliated with the school.
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Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves was among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the state’s congressional map, which was overturned by Tuesday’s two-to-one court decision. They agreed that race was the predominant factor for the map that changed his district into a majority-black one. As for what’s next…
State Attorney General Liz Murrill says the state will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court so the map lawmakers passed in January will stand.
Graves says the most recent map resembled one that the courts ruled was unconstitutional based on race in the 90s. As the map remains in limbo, Graves says he wants to concentrate on more pressing issues.
With a panel set to convene on May 6th to decide the next step in drawing a map for the fall election, Graves wants to look at ways to improve infrastructure and reduce crime in his district.
The Secretary of State’s Office has set a May 15th deadline for a congressional map to be used in the fall election. Qualifying is mid-July.
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Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green says will call for a vote to remove Mike Johnson from Bossier Parish as Speaker of the House. Green says she voted for Johnson to lead the House because he was a conservative, but his views have changed…
Greene said at a press conference today she’ll call for a vote next week. But Democrats plan to table the motion. House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar from California
Cut 12 (11) “…pressing issues”
A motion to table Greene’s resolution would be a procedural move to keep it from it ever reaching the floor.
Greene is upset Johnson supported a military spending bill that sent hundreds of millions of dollars to Ukraine, who is fighting off a Russian invasion. She also does not like the relationship Johnson has developed with Democrats
Johnson released a statement that says a motion to remove him as Speaker is wrong for the Republican Conference, wrong for the institution, and wrong for the country.