Lawmakers advance a bill that would raise the minimum wage in Louisiana to $8 an hour, then $8.50 in 2018. Governor John Bel Edwards spoke in support of the measure in the Senate Labor Committee…:
CUT 28 (05) “our families”
The vote was a close 4-3 and the bill now heads to the Senate Floor. Business groups spoke in opposition saying it would create job losses especially in the service sector.

23-year-old MacKenzie Bourg of Lafayette will find out tonight if he advances to the Top 3 on the final season of American Idol. Acadiana will be on tonight’s show from footage taken at MacKenzie’s homecoming parade last Saturday in Lafayette. Thousands of fans gathered for the celebration his dad Rudy Bourg says it was absolutely surreal…:
CUT 7 (07) “overwhelming”
Tonight’s elimination show begins at 7pm. If MaKenzie advances, you can vote for him again online at american-idol-dot-com-slash-vote.

Even though Republican US Senator David Vitter is leaving office at the end of this year, he’s still holding town hall meetings across the state getting feedback from voters. In Ascension parish this morning, Vitter said he’s hearing primarily about jobs and highway improvements…:
Cut 13 (09) “is important”
He’ll hold another town hall today in Rapides Parish. He still maintains that he intends to leave politics once his term ends.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says IRS phone scams are once again becoming a big problem in the state. He’s reminding residents that the IRS does not initiate contact requesting information electronically, nor demand payment without first sending a notification by mail.

Governor John Bel Edwards spoke today before the Senate Labor committee in support of a bill that would raise the minimum wage to $8.00 an hour, then $8.50 in 2018. The governor says the current minimum wage of $7.25 is not enough to money to make ends meet…:
CUT 30 (10) “expenses”
Those who oppose the increase argue that the higher pay rate would negatively impact small businesses. The Committee approved a bill today that would establish the Louisiana Equal Pay Act.

A bill is heading to the House floor that calls for legislative approval to waive work requirements for food stamp recipients. Monroe Representative Jay Morris says unemployed able-bodied adults should be required to take steps towards getting a job before they receive government assistance…:
Cut 15 (07) “for society”
The state recently estimated 31-thousand able bodies adults would lose their benefits, if they they were required to find work.

Lafayette’s own local celebrity, 23-year-old MacKenzie Bourg, will find out tonight if he’ll advance to the Top 3 on the final season of American Idol. The Fox signing competition show resumes at 7pm where the voting results from last week will be announced, at the contestant with the lowest total will be eliminated. MacKenzie’s dad, Rudy Bourg, says his son is already a winner…:
CUT 6 (08) “last second shot”
Lots of folks from Acadiana will be on tonight’s show from footage taken at Bourg’s homecoming parade last Saturday in Lafayette.

The state sales tax increases by a penny starting tomorrow, and new taxes on cigarettes and alcohol also go into effect. LSU Marketing Professor Dr. Dan Rice says shoppers making big purchases, like vehicles or furniture, will likely see a difference after the sales tax goes up…:
Cut 10 (08) “situation”
He says most people won’t even notice a difference.

Starting tomorrow, the state sales tax goes up from four to five cents. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says this increase will likely not change consumer’s purchasing habits…
cut 8 (10) “…quite frankly”
The state tax on cigarettes and alcohol also goes up tomorrow.

A bill is heading to the House floor that calls for legislative approval to waive work requirements for food stamp recipients. The governor’s attorney, Matthew Block, says they want to make sure there’s enough job training and job placement services, before re-instating the work requirements…
cut 16 (13) “….SNAP benefits”
The state recently estimated 31-thousand able bodies adults would lose their benefits, if they they were required to find work.

At this hour, the Senate Labor committee debates a bill that would raise the mininum wage to 8-dollars an hour next year and then $8.50 in 2018. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal entered a plea of not guilty to charges he violated federal civil rights laws. Prosecutors accuse Ackal of ordering the beatings of at least three pre-trial inmates in 2011. Nine of Ackal’s former deputies have already pleaded guilty in the case.

The House Health and Welfare Committee advances a measure that would require legislative approval to waive work requirements for food stamps. Jeff Palermo has more..:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

In House Criminal Justice, a bill moved unanimously that would make it against the law to spy on someone with a drone. But Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says she wants to make sure that kids playing with these devices can’t get arrested under this new proposal…:
Cut 13 (07) “with that”
The measure now heads to the House floor for debate.

The full House approved the hunters “blaze pink” bill which would allow ladies another option from hunter orange. Supporters say the measure might encourage more women to hunt, and it heads to the Senate after a 95-5 vote.

Tomorrow the state sales tax will increase from four cents to five cents until June 30, 2018. LSU Marketing Professor Dr. Dan Rice says most consumers are aware of this, but he doesn’t see many stores reducing their prices to offset the higher tax…:
Cut 9 (09) “minority”
Also, state taxes on cigarettes and alcohol will increase on Friday.

Governor John Bel Edwards is slated to appear today before the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations in order to testify in support of a bill which increases the minimum wage in Louisiana to $8.00, then $8.50 in 2018. The Governor is also expected to give testimony supporting legislation which establishes the Louisiana Equal Pay Act.

The House Health and Welfare Committee advances a measure that could put new conditions on how the state would operate the food stamp program, ultimately with the goal of implementing work requirements. Monroe Representative Jay Morris says able-bodies adults without kids should work or perform community service 20 hours a week in order to receive SNAP benefits…:
CUT 14 (10) “time to time”
The measure would require legislative approval to waive federally mandated work requirements for food stamp recipients.

Today is the official last day at LSU for the legendary voice of the Fighting Tigers, Jim Hawthorne, as he begins retirement. Hawthorne has been on the radio call for thousands of LSU events over the past 35 years, and says he’s enjoyed his work immensely…:
Cut 17 (06) “forget it”
He says he’s looking forward to spending time with family and traveling with his wife.

The state sales tax increases by a penny starting tomorrow, and new taxes on cigarettes and alcohol also go into effect. LSU Marketing Professor Dr. Dan Rice says shoppers making big purchases, like vehicles or furniture, will likely see a difference after the sales tax goes up…:
Cut 10 (08) “situation”
He says most people won’t even notice a difference.

A bill to increase the minimum wage is set to be heard today in the Senate Labor Committee. State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business Dawn Starns says this would be bad for their members…:
CUT 5 (07) “in jobs”
But those in favor say an increase from $7.25 to $8.50 and hour will help pull people out of poverty.
Cut 6 (06) “ends meet”
That’s Louisiana Budget Project director Jan Moller.

Today the Senate Labor Committee is scheduled to hear a proposal that would raise the minimum wage to $8.00 an hour beginning next year, and then to $8.50 in 2018. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Southeast Louisiana is under a tornado watch through 9 this morning, according to the National Weather Service. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through tomorrow for the region as 1-2 inches of rainfall are in the forecast. In north Louisiana, heavy rainfall is also expected this afternoon and tonight as Flood Warnings continue.

A bill to prevent peeping Toms from using drones to spy on people received unanimous support from the House Criminal Justice Committee. Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter says his bill will somewhat duplicates existing laws by adding the use of an unmanned aircraft to video surveillance crimes…:
cut 11 (09) “those crimes”
The bill now heads to the House floor for debate.

Tomorrow the state sales tax will increase from four cents to five cents until June 30, 2018. LSU Marketing Professor Dr. Dan Rice expects some people looking to make a major purchase will try to get that out of the way before the increase goes into effect. But he says this likely won’t change consumer’s purchasing habits…:
Cut 8 (10) “quite frankly”
Also, state taxes on cigarettes and alcohol will increase on Friday.

The injury plagued Pelicans fell to the San Antonio Spurs last night 100-92 on the road. Alexis Ajinca (ah-LEX-ee A-GIN-za) topped the Pelicans with 18 points, one of seven New Orleans players who posted double-digit scoring out of the nine who played. Meanwhile, star Anthony Davis, whose season has been over for more than a week, tells ESPN he’s very bored and thinking about picking up drawing or some other hobby.

The Saints have restructured the contract of running back Mark Ingram which gives them $3.6 million dollars in salary cap space, according to NFLPA records. Most of Ingram’s pay was converted to a signing bonus, which saves New Orleans $1.49 million dollars off the cap this year.

It’s reported former Tiger standout wide receiver Brandon LaFell, has reached a deal with the Bengals. LaFell played in 11 games for the New England Patriots last season.

It’s the final day at LSU for the legendary voice of the Fighting Tigers, Jim Hawthorne, as he is retiring effective today. Hawthorne has been on the radio call for thousands of LSU events over the past 35 years. He says he has enjoyed his time announcing for the Tigers…:
Cut 17 (06) “forget it”
Hawthorne is looking forward to retirement and spending more time visiting his family and traveling with his wife.

The Baton Rouge Advocate is reporting that the “Les Miles clause”, which would allow LSU to terminate assistants’ employment six months after the head coach’s departure, is starting to be removed from contracts. The report says the clause is not in the contracts of new assistant coaches Jabbar Juluke & Dameyune Craig, and was removed from defensive line coach Ed Orgeron’s new deal.

Louisiana native and Kentucky Debry-winning jockey Calvin Borel is retiring from horse racing after 33 years. The 49-year-old has over five-thousand victories, including three Kentucky Derby wins in four years.

The state sales tax will increase to five cents starting tomorrow along with a few other taxes. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

10 parishes in southeast Louisiana are under a tornado watch until 9 this morning, according to the National Weather Service. The areas remain under a slight risk for severe weather today as strong storms move northeast. A Flash Flood watch remains in effect through this evening for southeast Louisiana. Most all of north Louisiana is under a flood warning.

The Senate Labor Committee is expected to hear a proposal today to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana from $7.25 to $8.00 an hour, beginning next year, and then to $8.50 in 2018. State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business Dawn Starns says businesses already pay competitively based on what they can afford…:
cut 4 (07) “of poverty”
But Louisiana Budget Project director Jan Moller says that’s exactly what a higher minimum wage would do…:
CUT 7 (06) “25-cents”
The governor supports the measure.