A bill has been filed for the upcoming legislative session that would require same sex couples to face equal penalties for domestic violence. Author of the measure Marrero Rep. Patrick Connick says Louisiana and South Carolina are the only two states with the opposite sex distinction on the books. He says after speaking with the DA’s it was obvious something had to be done to protect all couples.
Cut 4 (06) “sexual orientation is”

Homosexuals report domestic abuse at a rate equal to or higher than heterosexuals, according to the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey.
Governor John Bel Ewards has announced Major Kevin Reeves as the interim Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police. Reeves will replace Col. Mike Edmonson on Saturday when Edmonson retires following a travel scandal that raised questions about ovetime received by some troopers. Reeves has been with State Police for over 26 years.

Over the next 50 years, Louisiana could lose 3.6 billion dollars in homes, businesses and infrastructure if action isn’t taken to stop coastal erosion, according to a study from the LSU Economics and Policy Research Group. Researcher Stephen Barnes says Lake Charles has become a hub for commerce, but it faces 490 million dollars in business disruptions from land loss.
Cut 7 (10) “city center”

LSU has introduced its new men’s basketball coach, Will Wade. Wade spent the past two years as the VCU head coach and now takes over for Johnny Jones, who was 90-72 in five seasons at LSU. Wade says he’s always know there was something special with the Tigers.
Cut 14 (12) “it work”

A children’s mental health program survives a proposed cut amid a $10 million budget reduction at the Louisiana Department of Health. One service that would have been eliminated helps depressed and suicidal teens learn coping skills. Houma Senator Norbert Chabert says these kinds of programs must be protected.

Cut 10 (09) “like this”

Saving this program means LDH will have to find other areas to cut.

A bill filed for the regular session adds same sex couples to Louisiana’s domestic violence laws. Marrero Representative Patrick Connick says the current laws only apply to couples of the opposite sex.

Cut 3 (11) “this bill”

A study by LSU finds Louisiana could face huge economic losses if nothing is done to protect our vanishing coast. But researcher Stephen Barnes says if the state follows through with its coastal restoration masterplan, it will create jobs and boost the economy.

Cut 8 (10) “jobs”

Without that investment, Louisiana stands to lose $8 billion in wages and consumer spending along with the coast.

LSU officially introduces Will Wade as the new men’s head basketball coach. Wade had an overall coaching record of 91-45 and led VCU to the NCAA tournament the last two years. He says he’ll do whatever it takes to make the LSU team the best it can be.

Cut 13 (10) “first class fashion”

A Medicaid program that serves mentally ill children will remain intact after the Senate Health and Welfare Committee rejects a proposal to eliminate it. The administration proposed cutting the program by April 1 to save the state $2.2 million because of cuts to the Department of Health made in the special session. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns is frustrated lawmakers didn’t use more rainy day dollars to avoid this..:
Cut 9 (08) “be here today”

Same sex couples would face equal penalties for domestic violence, under a proposal to be taken up in the regular session next month. Marrero Representative Patrick Connick says all demographics are capable of arguments that go too far…:
Cut 5 (12) “is protected”

Louisiana State Police Major Kevin Reeves, a 27-year veteran of the agency, has been appointed interim superintendent by Governor John Bel Edwards. He’ll replace Col. Mike Edmonson, who announced his retirement last week following a weeks-long controversy over questionable overtime by some troopers. Reeves is also reportedly a candidate for the permanent position to lead the agency.

New Tigers Coach Will Wade laid out his plans for the future of LSU basketball at a press conference in the student union today. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana could lose 3.6 billion dollars in homes, businesses, and infrastructure over the next 50 years if action isn’t taken to stop the massive coastal land loss problem. That’s according to Researcher Stephen Barnes with the LSU Economics and Policy…:
Cut 6 (09) “stake here”
The study has determined economic losses between 390-million to 600-million dollars for cities like Lafayette and Baton Rouge if nothing is done.

LSU has officially introduced its new basketball coach, Will Wade. The 34-year-old was greeted at the student union on campus to applause and cheers and he told the crowd he knows LSU can have a successful basketball program…:
CUT 25 (11) “no option to fail”

A federal judge in New Orleans has blocked a law which states people must have a birth certificate in order to get married. A suit was filed on behalf of a man who didn’t have proof of birth because he was born in an Indonesian camp, but has lived in Louisiana his entire life. The judge said the mandate denies the man the fundamental right to marry. The proposal was originally brought to crack down on people marrying only to obtain visas.

Louisiana’s film tax credit would be gone under a bill by Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau plans to file legislation in the upcoming legislative session to end the state’s 180-million dollar film tax credit program. Luneau says it’s too costly and a recent LSU study showed return of investment is poor, but….
cut 11 (10) “…that’s spent”
That’s Patrick Mulhearn, executive director of the Celtic Media Studios, who plans to fight the legislation.

Marrero Representative Patrick Connick has filed a bill that closes a loophole so that same sex couples could face charges if they violate any of the state’s domestic violence laws. Connick says district attorneys brought the loophole to his attention…
cut 4 (06) “…orientation is”
Connick says Louisiana and South Carolina are the only two states with the opposite sex distinction on the books.

Today and tomorrow, students, faculty and staff at LSU can go to the student union and receive a mumps vaccination. Health officials have already seen a cluster of cases on the Baton Rouge campus and LSU infectious disease specialist, Doctor Fred Lopez, says the mumps can lead to serious complications…
cut 8 (13) “…in fertillity”
Lopez says mumps is spread through salivia, so sharing drinks and utensils is a no-no on a college campus.

Also at LSU’s Student Union today, new men’s basketball coach Will Wade will be introduced to the public. Wade had a 51-20 record at VCU.

In northwest Louisiana, I-20 eastbound near Minden is closed as a result of two wrecks. State Police report minor to moderate injuries.

And the state is expected to rest its case in the Derrick Stafford trial in Marksville.

Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau plans to file legislation that would eliminate Louisiana’s film tax credits, because he says the state can’t afford to subsidize movie stars. He says a recent study by LSU economist Loren Scott shows the return of investment isn’t there when it comes to movie incentives…:
Cut 10 (08) “too long”
But those in the film industry say Louisiana’s film tax credit program has created thousands of jobs and helped boost tourism.

Same sex couples would face equal penalties for domestic violence, under a proposal to be taken up in the regular session next month. Marrero Representative Patrick Connick says currently, domestic violence laws only apply to household members, married or not, of the opposite sex.
Cut 3 (11) “this bill”
Connick says Louisiana and South Carolina are the only two states with the opposite sex distinction on the books.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers is very concerned with the cuts to education President Donald Trump is proposing in his executive budget. LFT spokesperson Les Landon says the budget calls for a nine-billion dollar cut to public schools and adds one-point-four billion in funding for “school choice, ” including vouchers. Landon says there’s evidence vouchers do not lead to a better education
cut 16 (09) “…public school”

The state Department of Children Family Services is looking to do more to help children who age out of the foster care system. Foster care program manager Toni Buxton says many times kids who leave the foster care system after the age of 18 have trouble finding a job or a place to live…
cut 6 (11) “…financial resources”
Buxton says they need to do more for these young adults, because many times they turn to life of crime when they have nowhere else to go.

A movie executive isn’t happy about proposed legislation to scrap the state’s film tax credit program. Patrick Mulhearn with Celtic Media Studios in Baton Rouge says the measure is hot garbage and you’d be missing out on tons of employment if you took away movie incentives..:
CUT 12 (08) “are created”
But Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau doesn’t think removing this tax incentive would destroy Louisiana’s film industry. He says there were plenty of great movies made in Louisiana before the state ever offered film tax credits…:
Cut 13 (07) “afford it”
A $180 million back-end cap was placed on the film tax credit program in 2015.

Former Louisiana Congressman John Fleming has found a job within the Trump Administration. He’s named the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Technology within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

A recent report by the Department of Children and Family Services finds youth who age out of the foster care program have a hard time getting back into the real world, and they hope to eventually see a change. State manager of the foster care program, Toni Buxton, says these kids just don’t have the resources to thrive:
Cut 5 (11) “homeless shelter”
She says 23 other states have extended the age beyond 18 to stay in foster care.

The US Department of Education would face a $9 billion budget reduction under President Trump’s proposal, and one of the state’s major teacher unions is not happy about it. Les Landon with the Louisiana Federation for Teachers says Louisiana would lose more than $51 million in funds used to recruit, train, support, and pay teachers. He says that’s bad enough, but unfortunately it gets worse…:
Cut 15 (10) “for children”
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos says their goal is to provide an equal opportunity for quality education for all students.

Louisiana’s film tax credit program won’t get a sequel next year under a proposal by Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau. Jeff Palermo has more on proposed legislation to eliminate movie tax incentives…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The father of the slain 6-year-old in Marksville testified Tuesday in the murder trial of former police officer Derrick Stafford, who is one of two accused in the fatal shooting of Jeremy Mardis. Christopher Few said that he never heard a warning before officers open fired at his car, where his son was sitting in the front seat.

Due to the number of mumps cases confirmed on campus, LSU is offering the MMR shot beginning today. Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Fred Lopez with LSU Health New Orleans recommends that everyone on a college campus get the vaccine to prevent spreading the virus…:
Cut 9 (08) “have immunity”
He says two doses of the MMR vaccine can significantly reduce the chances of a major outbreak.

The Coast Guard says it’s responding to a natural gas and oil spill that left about 840 gallons of crude in the water near Venice. They say boom and skimming vessels are being used to reduce the spread of the oil. The discharge was from an abandoned wellhead owned by Hilcorp Energy.

Governor John Bel Edwards is in North Louisiana today visiting with community leaders and businesses. He is speaking at the Monster Moto Dedication in Ruston, then participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for the North Village Plaza.