The Louisiana Survey finds 91-percent of respondents support the concept men and women should receive the same pay for equal work. But Doctor Michael Henderson, with the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, says the survey also shows fewer Republicans believe obstacles in the workplace for women are now gone…
cut 11 (10) “…highly debated

Governor John Bel Edwards is pushing equal pay legislation in the upcoming session. Today, Edwards was at a Walgreens in Baton Rouge to announce the pharmacy will have safe drug disposals at a dozen of their stores around the state to dispose old prescriptions….
cut 16 (09) “…we can”
Health officials say narcotic overdoses have surpassed homicide deaths in Orleans and East Baton Rouge.

The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State is calling for a slightly below-average 2017 Hurricane Season. Michelle Southern reports…:
Voicer 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least 17 tornadoes hit Louisiana on Sunday and Monday during that severe weather outbreak. One of the twisters killed two people, including a three-year-old girl near Breaux Bridge. Injuries from twisters were also reported in Catahoula and Franklin Parish. Thankfully, there is no severe weather in the forecast for the rest of this week.

The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State is calling for a slightly below-average 2017 Hurricane Season. They are predicting 11 named storms, four hurricanes, two of those major. Lead Researcher Dr. Phil Klotzbach says there’s a 1 in 4 chance a major hurricane would impact the Gulf Coast, and the long-term average is about one in three…:
Cut 14 (10) “every year”
The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Noevmber 30th.

Walgreens is taking a step to combat the public health crisis stemming from prescription opioids in Louisiana. The drugstore chain says it’s going to place safe drug disposals kiosks in 12 locations around the state. Governor John Bel Edwards was on hand for the announcement..:
CUT 15 (07) “we can”
He says properly disposing of old prescription drugs can prevent friends and family members from experimenting with opioids.

The Louisiana Survey finds 91 percent of Louisiana residents support the concept of equal pay for equal work. Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, Dr. Michael Henderson, says when equal pay bills come up in the session that begins Monday, you can expect opponents to make a strong case before the legislature…:
Cut 10 (08) “gonna be”
He says individuals may become less supportive of this idea as it becomes more clear of what it would require of businesses.

The Caddo Parish Coroner’s office has identified a woman whose remains were found in a well late last month, as 59-year-old Catherine Holmes. Authorities say her body was found in a water well just after 10 p.m. March 30, and that deputies had been to the residence at least twice earlier that day regarding a civil dispute They’re investigating Holmes’ death as a homicide.

A report from United Way finds 42 percent of Louisiana households cannot afford basic necessities. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

In the extended range outlook of Atlantic Seasonal tropical activity, the Colorado State University Forecast team anticipates the 2017 Hurricane season will have slightly below-average activity. They forecast this year there will be 4 hurricanes, 2 of them major, and 11 named storms. They say the probability of US major hurricane landfall is estimated to be about 80 percent of the long-period average.

The Louisiana Survey finds 91 percent of Louisiana residents support the concept of equal pay for equal work. Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, Dr. Michael Henderson, says it always raises eyebrows when you see such a large majority falling on one side of an issue. But he says that could change as the issue is debated in the legislative session…:
Cut 9 (08) “of businesses”
Bills requiring men and women to be paid the same wage for the same job have been filed.

The National Weather Service says at least 17 tornadoes touched down in Louisiana during the Sunday/Monday severe weather event.

The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State is calling for a slightly below-average 2017 Hurricane Season. They are predicting 11 named storms, four hurricanes, two of those major. Lead Researcher Dr. Phil Klotzbach says the primary reasons are the predicted development of an El Nino in the Pacific Ocean, which typically breaks up storms in the Atlantic..:

CUT 12 (08) “for the storms”
The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Noevmber 30th.

The State Department of Natural Resources has given their approval of the controversial Bayou Bridge Pipeline project. DNR Spokesperson Patrick Courreges (Koo-rezge) says after a permit was submitted, the DNR took public comment and reviewed the plans…:
Cut 6 (09) “wetland zone”
The pipeline would be built from Lake Charles into St. James Parish.

Forty-two percent of Louisiana households cannot afford their basic needs. A United Way report finds 23 percent of those live above the poverty level but are considered Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed, or ALICE. President of the Louisiana Association of United Ways, Sarah Berthelot, explains…:
Cut 3 (09) “job loss”
She hopes these findings can lead to change.

A student who used to play football for UL-Lafayette but was kicked off the team in March, has been accused of raping someone in a residence hall. According to campus police, Artez Williams was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on a charge of second degree rape with a $100,000 bond. He was reportedly removed from the Ragin Cajuns team last month for a violation of team rules.

Governor John Bel Edwards believes partisan politics were behind the harsh line of questioning by GOP legislators at a Congressional hearing on the response to last year’s historic flooding. The chairman of the panel called the governor clueless, another lawmaker wanted to know why he didn’t call an evacuation and there were also questions pertaining to the state’s process in hiring an administrator to oversee the upcoming housing recovery programs. Edwards says it’s not surprising Republicans went in for the attack…:
Cut 15 (10) “what they do”
Edwards comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State is calling for a slightly below-average 2017 Hurricane Season. The researchers are predicting 11 named storms, four hurricanes and two to reach major hurricane strength.

Budget hearings continue at the state capitol today and the Department of Corrections is providing lawmakers information on how they spend their money. There will be an attempt in the upcoming legislative session to reduce the state’s incarceration rate. Executive director of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association, Pete Adams, says the focus should be on making sure non-violent offenders are not behind bars for a lengthy amount of time…
cut 5 (05) “….offenses”

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is behind legislation that seeks to address the growing obesity rate in America. Cassidy says the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act would make weight loss treatment more accessible to those on Medicare. He says the bill allows Medicare to cover the cost of new prescription drugs for chronic weigh management…:
Cut 7 (03) “their weight”
Cassidy says the bipartisan bill also makes weight loss counseling more available to Medicare recipients.

Governor John Bel Edwards believes partisan politics were behind the harsh line of questioning at a Congressional hearing examining the response to last year’s historic flooding. Republican lawmakers questioned why the state has yet to appropriate the $1.6 billion Congress provided for flood recovery. Edwards said the holdup is on the federal level…:
Cut 13 (10) “second action plan”
The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

In the extended range outlook of Atlantic Seasonal tropical activity, the Colorado State University Forecast team anticipates the 2017 Hurricane season will have slightly below-average activity. They forecast this year there will be 4 hurricanes, 2 of them major, and 11 named storms. They say the probability of US major hurricane landfall is estimated to be about 80 percent of the long-period average.

US Senator Bill Cassidy is presenting an obesity fighting bill which would allow Medicare to cover the cost of new prescription drugs for chronic weigh management. He says the bill also makes weight loss counseling more available to Medicare recipients..:
Cut 8 (10) “behavioral therapy”

When it comes to criminal justice reform, the state DA’s Association says they support recommendations to reduce sentences for certain non-violent offenders. But Executive Director Pete Adams says careful consideration must be made to ensure dangerous criminals who pled down to non-violent offenses are not released…:
Cut 6 (09) “offenders”
Governor Edwards is leading an effort to reduce the state’s incarceration rate.

The National Weather Service says at least 17 tornadoes touched down in Louisiana during the Sunday/Monday severe weather event.

Governor John Bel Edwards was hammered by Republicans in Congress during a hearing on the response effort following the 2016 floods — a situation he believes was motivated by partisan politics. Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves blames the Edwards administration for the delay in dispensing the $1.6 billion Congress provided for flood recovery. But the governor says those are false comments that aren’t helping…:
Cut 14 (11) “not the case”
The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

US Senator Bill Cassidy is presenting an obesity fighting bill which would allow Medicare to cover the cost of new prescription drugs for chronic weigh management. He says healthcare costs related to obesity total nearly $200 billion each year, and if someone loses weight, they get healthier..
Cut 9 (09) “of Americans”

The state’s newly established Opioid Abuse Prevention Fund seeks to end the opioid epidemic. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Lake Charles Police Department is seeking information on a quadruple shooting that left one person dead, and three injured including one critically. They say it happened around 4am.

In the ongoing trial of former reality star Will Hayden in Baton Rouge, the jury heard disturbing testimony from a teenager who claimed she’d been raped by the accused when she was 12 or 13. The Suns of Guns star pleaded not guilty to multiple aggravated rape charges.

Governor John Bel Edwards blames partisan politics for hard attacks he underwent during a Congressional hearing on the response to last year’s floods. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Louisiana District Attorney’s Association supports recommendations to reduce sentences for non-violent offenders, but they oppose proposals to provide parole consideration for certain juvenile killers and inmates who have been behind bars for decades. Executive Director Pete Adams…:
Cut 4 (08) “incarcerated”
Governor Edwards is leading an effort to reduce the state’s incarceration rate.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is behind legislation that seeks to address the growing obesity rate in America. Cassidy says the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act would make weight loss treatment more accessible to those on Medicare. He says the bill allows Medicare to cover the cost of new prescription drugs for chronic weigh management…:
Cut 7 (03) “their weight”
Cassidy says nearly 70 percent of Americans are overweight or obese, and 13 million of them are seniors.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is the latest to get behind and effort that addresses Louisiana’s major opiod addiction problem. He says a new Opioid Abuse Prevention Fund will be paid for through a partnership with Louisiana Ambulance Alliance and Amphastar Pharmaceuticals.
CUT 11 (11) “that fund”
He says that will pay for an informational campaign complete with a website, advertisements, printed materials, and community outreach.