Governor John Bel Edwards signs three bills designed to stop the growing opioid epidemic. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
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Congressman Garret Graves of Baton Rouge files legislation to give flood victims a tax break. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has voted for a proposal that could lead to red snapper fishing in federal waters for the next 12 weekends, beginning this Saturday. Emelie Gunn has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”
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Governor John Bel Edwards signed three bills to help with the state’s growing opioid abuse problem. One of new laws prohibits a doctor from prescribing more than a seven day supply of opioids for a first time prescription for acute pain. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says she’s happy this legislation was able to come out of an unproductive session.
Cut 4 (08) “this year”
Moreno says this is a step in the right direction for saving lives. She says the bill strikes a balance between preserving patient access and reducing the number of opioid prescriptions.
Cut 5 (04) “to prevent”
The two other bills signed into law creates a task force to study how to prevent opioid abuse and another requires doctors to look at a statewide prescription monitoring system to make the sure the patient is not “doctor-shopping.” State Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee believes this legislation will slow down opioid abuse in our state.
Cut 6 (07) “we’ve made”
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It’s been 17 years since the legislature adjourned a regular session without passing a budget, until this year of course. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne was there nearly two decades ago, as chair of the Senate Finance Committee. He quoted some familiar phrases uttered on the House floor to the Baton Rouge Press Club.
Cut 7 (09) “and universities”
That was the year the Stelly Plan was passed, and Dardenne says there was a lot of uncertainty about how much revenue the new taxes would bring in. He says the legislature was facing a similar problem then as they are today with temporary taxes set to expire in 2018.
Cut 8 (08) “sound familiar”
Dardenne says 17 years later, we’re having many of the same discussions. He says the one-penny sales tax enacted last year was supposed to be the so-called bridge to fiscal reform. He says this session was their chance to implement the reform they promised, and lawmakers failed to do so.
Cut 9 (10) “fiscal reform session”
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Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves files legislation aimed at providing financial relief to 2016 flood victims. Graves says even after Congress appropriated billions of dollars for flood recovery, there are thousands and thousands of flood victims who are far from whole following the floods.
Cut 10 (08) “they still have”
Graves says he’s spoken with many flood victims who had to tap their retirement savings to rebuild their homes or replace lost items. He says his bill also provides some financial relief for extra costs associated with drawing from retirement savings prematurely.
Cut 11 (10) “additional penalty”
The bill would help flood victims from both the March and August floods, as well as those impacted by the February tornado outbreak. Congress has appropriated $2 billion for flood recovery so far, and Governor Edwards is seeking an additional $1 billion in federal aid. But Graves says for many that still won’t be enough.
Cut 12 (10) “as we can”
The legislation has bi-partisan support from the entire Louisiana congressional delegation.
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The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approves a proposal to open the recreational red snapper fishing season in federal waters for the next 12 weekends as part of a compromise with the federal government and four other Gulf Coast states. The agreement could begin this weekend. Assistant Secretary for LDWF Patrick Banks….
Cut 13 (08) “located”
Louisiana fishermen are upset over the current three-day federal red snapper season. Under the proposal offered by the federal government, Gulf coast states would not allow red snapper fishing in state waters during the weekdays up until Labor Day weekend. Banks says Louisiana fishermen are pushing for this change because there is not a lot of red snapper in state waters.
Cut 14 (12) “red snapper”
The reason for the strict federal season is to ensure the once depleted red snapper population has time to grow, but Banks ensures there is enough red snapper off Louisiana waters. He says this compromise helps all Gulf States with an extended red snapper season.
Cut 15 (08) “involved”
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LSU is considered one of the heavy favorites to win the College World Series. The Tigers have won 16 in a row and Coach Paul Mainieri likes his team’s chances as well…
Cut 16 (16) “as well”
LSU will play Florida State this weekend. Top-seded Oregon State and Cal State Fullerton are the other two teams on LSU’s side of the bracket. Mainieri says it’s hard to get to Omaha and it’s even harder to win the whole thing….
Cut 17 (19) “as you can”
LSU brings a 48-17 record to Omaha and they are five victories away from a national title. Mainieri says his team has been tested all year and they are ready for the challenge…
Cut 18 (24) “before”