A bill that would outlaw abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected receives final passage in the House without any exemptions for rape and incest victims. Kevin Barnhart has more on the emotional debate that took place on the House floor.
Cut 3 (30) “..Kevin Barnhart”

An East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputy was killed this morning when the vehicle he was traveling in crashed on roadway near Zachary. He’s been identified as 42-year-old Steven Whitstine. It’s believed he was on the way to work, when the fatal wreck occurred.

A bill banning drivers from holding their phone while behind the wheel is headed to the Senate after some heated discussion on the House floor. Slidell Representative Kevin Pearson says the legislation will save money on insurance rates, but more importantly, likely save the lives of Louisiana drivers, particularly teens.
Cut 10 (07) “…your life”
The measure will next be heard in a Senate committee, but time is ticking, a week is left in the regular session.

Several parishes in the Achafalayla Basin are preparing for flooding when the Morganza Spillway is opened on Sunday, diverting Mississippi River water into the basin. St. Martin parish President Chester Cedars says they’re asking residents to stay off the Atchafalya River levees while the waters swell….
cut 8 (09) “….feet”

The House has given final legislative passage to a bill that bans abortions when the heartbeat of a fetus is detected, which is usually around six weeks into a pregnancy. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James proposed an amendment that would provide an exception in cases of rape and incest…
cut 14 (11) “…do that”
The amendment failed to pass and Governor Edwards says he’ll sign the bill.

There’s a week to go in the legislative session and it seems likely teachers will get a pay raise, but it remains unclear how much. The House supports a 12-hundred dollar pay raise, but the Senate is pushing for a one-thousand dollar raise. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter…
cut 6 (06) “…plan’
Teacher pay will come up when the House Education committee meets at 11 AM.

After months of high-water and swollen waterways, St. Martin Parish is getting ready for even higher river levels once the Morganza Spillway opens Sunday.
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Two people are dead from two separate home fires in south Louisiana. The State Fire Marshal’s office says one person died in a residential fire in Bogalusa and the Baton Rouge Fire Department says a three-year-old girl died in a house fire and her father was injured. Also an East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputy has died in a single vehicle wreck near Zachary.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he will sign a bill that bans abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected. It received final legislative approval on the House floor after an emotional debate. An amendment to add an exception in cases of rape and incest was rejected, despite this argument from Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith…
cut 16 (12) “…of them”
But proponents of the fetal heartbeat bill say a fetus should not be punished for the sins of a relative or rapist.

Also passing the House floor yesterday was a bill that bans drivers from using a handheld cellphone while behind the wheel. New Orleans Representative Gary Carter says the proposed law could create unintended consequences….
cut 11 (07) “…objectionable”
The measure still needs to get through the Senate and there’s a week to go in the session.

Governor Edwards will travel to Morgan City this afternoon to inspect the barge sinking operation in Bayou Chene. This will help prevent backwater flooding when water from the Mississippi River flows down the Atchafalaya River after the Morganza Spillway is opened on Sunday. St. Martin Parish President Chester Cedars…
cut 9(07) “…down south”
President Donald Trump has approved the state’s request for a federal disaster declaration.

With a week to go, it remains to be seen if teachers will receive a pay raise. Governor Edwards is pushing lawmakers to approve a one-thousand dollar salary hike, which Louisiana Federation of Teachers president Larry Carter says will get the state closer to the Southern Regional Average….
cut 5 (10) “….than that”
Edwards has said if re-elected, he’ll look to increase teacher salaries even more.

The Morganza Spillway is four days away from opening and Pointe Coupee (Coo-pee), St Landry, St Martin, Iberia, Iberville, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes are preparing for flooding.

St. Martin Parish President Chester Cedars says they’ve been fighting high water nearly all year, but officials are cautiously optimistic that they will be spared the worst.

Cut 7 (10) “…parish”

The Louisiana heartbeat abortion bill passed in the house after intense debate and now heads to the Governor for his signature where he’s expected to sign. An amendment to allow for abortions in the case of incest or rape was introduced and failed. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh says children should not be punished for the sins of their father, adding the way a child is conceived should not be a death sentence for a child.

Cut 15 (10) “…this is not.”

A bill banning drivers from holding their phone while behind the wheel is headed to the Senate after some heated discussion on the House floor.

Slidell Representative Kevin Pearson says the legislation will save money on insurance rates, but more importantly, likely save the lives of Louisiana drivers, particularly teens.

Cut 10 (07) “…your life”

The legislation led to a lengthy exchange between Erath Representative Blake Miguez and Kevin Pearson, who argued about whether the penalty was just another traffic cash grab by the state…

Cut 12 (11) “…driver”

A third offense could result in the suspension of your driver’s license.

Louisiana’s version of the fetal heartbeat bill received final passage in the House.  Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges says she supports the bill because a heartbeat is the measure by which someone is determined to be living.

Cut 13 (10) “…human rights violation.”

Baton Rouge Representative Ted James introduced an amendment that would see exemptions applied to cases of rape or incest, but the amendment failed to pass. The governor is expected to sign the bill.

The House and Senate are at odds over whether or not to include a 39-million-dollar funding increase for public schools, on top of a 1,000-1,200 dollar teacher pay raise.

A portion of the 39 million would help keep increased benefits costs from a pay raise from falling back on educators and Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says the rest goes to the kids.

Cut 4 (07) “…as well.”

The Senate will hear arguments on a bill banning drivers from touching their cell phone while behind the wheel after the proposal passed the House amid heated debate.

Cut 2 (30) “…google maps…” 

After months of high-water and swollen waterways, St. Martin Parish is getting ready for even higher river levels once the Morganza Spillway opens Sunday.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The Senate will hear arguments on a bill banning drivers from touching their cell phone while behind the wheel after the proposal passed the House amid heated debate.

Cut 2 (30) “…google maps…” 

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A bill that would outlaw abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected receives final passage in the House without any exemptions for rape and incest victims.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “..Kevin Barnhart”

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The House and Senate are at odds over whether or not to include a 39-million-dollar funding increase for public schools, on top of a 1,000-1,200 dollar pay raise for teachers.

A portion of the 39 million would help keep increased benefits costs from a pay raise from falling back on educators and Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says the rest goes to the kids.

Cut 4 (07) “…as well.”

Both the House and Senate appear to agree on at least a 1,000-dollar teacher and 500 dollar support personnel pay raise.

Carter says Louisiana educators are about 2,200 dollars below the southern regional average, but teachers unions, the Governor, and some lawmakers have laid out a path back to the average.

Cut 5 (10) “…than that.”

The union president says his members are frustrated that their pay is notably lower than other states, but they’re willing to take baby steps towards a better wage…

Cut 6 (06) “…plan.”

Carter made the comments on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.

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The Morganza Spillway is four days away from opening and Pointe Coupee, St Landry, St Martin, Iberia, Iberville, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes are preparing for flooding.

St. Martin Parish President Chester Cedars says they’ve been fighting high water nearly all year, but officials are cautiously optimistic that they will be spared the worst.

Cut 7 (10) “…parish”

The state’s only non-contiguous Parish faces different challenges in it’s northern and southern regions. Cedars says they’re asking residents to stay off the levees in the north portion of the Parish while the waters swell.

Cut 8 (09) “feet.”

When the Spillway last opened in 2011, the Atchafalaya River rose to 23.1 feet at Butte La Rose.

The southern portion of the parish has been under a state of emergency since March, but Cedars says they do not expect much additional flooding in that area due to the sinking of a barge in Bayou Chene that will act as a temporary flood gate .

Cut 9 (07) “…down south″

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A bill banning drivers from holding their phone while behind the wheel is headed to the Senate after an at-times heated discussion on the House floor.

Slidell Representative Kevin Pearson says the legislation will save money on insurance rates, but more importantly, likely save the lives of Louisiana drivers, particularly teens.

Cut 10 (07) “…your life”

But opponents hammered home the argument that the proposal was government overreach. New Orleans Representative Gary Carter says if a cop even thinks you might be touching your phone…

Cut 11 (07) “…objectionable.”

He added a third offense would result in the suspension of a driver’s license.

The legislation led to a lengthy back and forth between Erath Representative Blake Miguez and Pearson, who argued about whether the penalty was just another traffic cash grab by the state…

Cut 12 (11) “…driver”

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Louisiana’s version of the fetal heartbeat bill has received final passage in the House.  Similar bills in other states have drawn criticism.  Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges says she supports the bill because a heartbeat is the measure by which someone is determined to be living.

Cut 13 (10) “…human rights violation.”

Baton Rouge Representative Ted James introduced an amendment to the bill that would see exemptions of the law applied to cases of rape or incest.

Cut 14 (11) “…to do that.”

The amendment failed to pass.

Among the opposition of the amendment was Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh who says children are not punished for the sins of their father, adding the way a child is conceived should not be a death sentence for the child.

Cut 15 (10) “…this is not.”

Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle responded to the suggestion from Rep. Seabaugh of executing rapists instead of allowing a victim to have an abortion.

Cut 16  (10) “…all the way.”  

The measure is not expected to take effect anytime soon.  Under the proposal, the restriction of abortions would not be enforceable until a federal appeals court rules on upholding a similar law in Mississippi.  The bill is on the way to the desk of Governor Edwards, who has since released a statement confirming he is preparing to sign the bill.

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Stony Brook returns to the scene of its greatest athletic achievement in school history. The Seawolves upset LSU in the 2012 Super Regionals to advance to the College World Series for the first time in school history. Stony Brook and LSU meet again on Friday in the regional opening round. Seawolves head coach Matt Senk fondly remembers his last trip to Baton Rouge

cut 17 (20)  at all” 

Stony Brook has a 31-21 record. They received an automatic bid by winning the American East Tournament. Senk’s Stony Brook team played at Arkansas earlier this season, so they got a taste of playing in an SEC atmosphere

Legislation that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected obtained final passage and is headed to the governor’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law. The debate was intense, including this moment when Baton Rouge Representative Ted James attempted, and failed to bring an amendment offering exceptions in the case of rape or incest.

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A proposal attempting to make Louisiana the first state in the South to legalize recreational use of marijuana failed in committee. New Orleans Representative John Bagneris…

Cut 8 (12) “…smaller and smaller .”

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State officials found guilty of sexual harassment could be set to foot much of the bill for their misdeeds if Senate approved legislation gets final approval on the House floor before the end of the session. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says her legislation was inspired by a Legislative Auditor’s report that showed taxpayers have been on the hook for millions of dollars in costs associated with sexual harassment suits.

Cut 13 (08) “…settlements”

A bill banning drivers from holding their phone while behind the wheel is headed to the Senate after an at-times heated discussion on the House floor. Slidell Representative Kevin Pearson says the legislation will save money on insurance rates, but more importantly, likely save the lives of Louisiana drivers, particularly teens.

Cut 10 (07) “…your life”

Opponents say the proposal is government overreach. 

The House Criminal Justice Committee rejects a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana. Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”  

One man has been arrested in Texas and another suspect is still on the lam following a theft of 120-thousand dollars’ worth of wheels and tires from a Slidell car dealership in April. Police said 39 year old Eric Summage was apprehended in Texas and they are still on the lookout for 44 year old Riley Richardson. More arrests are expected in connection with what investigators are considering a professional theft ring along I-10.

State officials found guilty of sexual harassment could be set to foot much of the bill for their misdeeds if Senate approved legislation gets final approval on the House floor before the end of the session. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says there are guidelines in place for false accusation related penalties.

Cut 14 (08) “…accusation” 

The legislation received approval from the House Governmental Affairs Committee and heads to the House floor for final passage.

Legislation is heading to the governor’s desk to extend Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans’ license with the state through 2054. Harrah’s will pay millions of dollars more to the state and city for having Louisiana’s only land-based casino license. A similar bill died last year over concerns that the state was not getting a good deal.  Norco Senator Gary Smith says prior to this year’s debate, the legislature hired a consultant to study the casino license’s market value

Cut 7 (10) “…we know.”