State health officials are offering guidance on how people can prevent the transmission of Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch, with the department of health and hospitals, says Southeastern Louisiana, and Lake Pontchartrain in particular, will be high risk areas because that’s where the mosquito that carries Zika lives….:
cut 12 (10) “areas are”
Welch advises people to clear any standing water out of their yards, and wear long sleeves, pants and mosquito repellent.

Louisiana is the 4th worst state for working moms, according to a study by the personal finance website, WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzalez says in terms of daycare quality, Louisiana scored a 57 out of 150 points. She says the state also has a lot of single mothers living in poverty…:
Cut 8 (10) “in poverty”

Governor John Bel Edwards is set to speak at at the Rotary Club in Baton Rouge today. The state of the state is slated to begin at noon.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will be transferring 220 retired research chimpanzees to a facility in northern Georgia, as part of a partnership with the nonprofit organization Project Chimps. President Sarah Baeckler Davis says this is the first time a non-federal program has released an entire population of research chimpanzees…:
Cut 6 (06) “retirement facility”
She says the Georgia sanctuary will be the perfect environment to house the retired chimpanzees.

The Powerball is getting big again. The jackpot for tonight’s drawing is $348 million dollars. The cash value is 226.1 Million dollars.

The Department of Health and Hospitals is working to spread the word about ways to prevent the spread of the Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch says if someone has a partner who has traveled to South America or the Caribbean, they need to take extra precautions, especially if the woman is pregnant…:
cut 11 (09) “her baby”
He says the mosquito that carries Zika will be active in Louisiana this summer.

Louisiana is the 4th worst state for working moms, according to a study by the personal finance website, WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzalez says the state also ranked 43rd for the gender pay gap…:
Cut 9 (07) “at least”
She says the study considered things like cost of daycare, professional opportunities, and work and life balance.

Former famed St. Landry Captain Clay Higgins has released another video, which seems to hint the he may run for public office. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

220 retired research chimps at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s New Iberia research center will move to a new sanctuary in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Project Chimps negotiated with the university, and starting in June the chimps will start moving to the 236-acre sanctuary….:
cut 4 (07) “moved here”

A study finds Louisiana ranks as the 4th worst state for working moms. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (25) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Could famed former St. Landry Parish Captain Clay Higgins be considering a run for public office? The man dubbed The Cajun John Wayne released another viral video this week saying if he is called by the people of this state and nation to serve, he would step up to the plate…:
CUT 15 (08) “these things”
Higgins says if he decides to run for office, he’ll make the announcement sometime next week. The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

Governor John Bel Edwards is slated to deliver the State of the State address at noon today. The speech will take place at the Baton Rouge Rotary Club.

State health officials are offering guidance on how people can prevent the transmission of Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch, with the department of health and hospitals, says the mosquito that carries Zika will be active in Louisiana this summer, but it won’t just be mosquitoes spreading the virus…:
Cut 10 (11) “feel ill”
Welch advises people to clear any standing water out of their yards, and wear long sleeves, pants and mosquito repellent.

Organizers with the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival say rain on the second weekend made the overall attendance drop from 2015. They said about 425,000 festers came to the fairgrounds track this year in The Big Easy, where last year that number was about 460,000.

The state department of health and hospitals is providing guidance to prevent the spread of the Zika virus. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana is the 4th worst state for working moms, according to a study by the personal finance website, WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzalez says they looked at the cost of daycare, professional opportunities, and work and life balance:
CUT 7 (07) “ranked 47th”
Gonzalez says Louisiana also ranked 43rd for the gender pay gap.

Captain Clay Higgins, who achieved fame for his viral crime stoppers videos, has released another video where he addresses a few of his concerns about our country, even hinting that he may consider running for public office. Higgins told the Jim Engster Show the response to his video has been incredible…:
Cut 13 (09) “the country”
Higgins says if he decides to run for office, he’ll make the announcement sometime next week.

The full House narrowly voted Tuesday on a proposal that would allow high school students to take a national sex survey. Baton Rouge Representative Pat Smith says this analysis would play a major part in reducing the staggering number of teen pregnancies and STDS in Louisiana. Those in opposition say the test is not appropriate and sex should be taught at home not school. The vote was 53-40 to send the measure over to the Senate.

A bill to expand the list of diseases for which doctors can prescribe medical marijuana passes out of the House Health and Welfare Committee. Michelle Southern has more…
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

220 research chimps at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s New Iberia research center are moving to a new sanctuary in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Project Chimps is a non-profit organization and has negotiated with the university to move the chimps there over the next few years. President Sarah Baeckler Davis says beginning in June, chimps will start the move to the 236-acre sanctuary.

Public school students could start getting lessons in personal finance management. Legislation by Minden Representative Gene Reynolds advanced in the House Education Committee with no objection. Reynolds says this bill would not create a financial literacy course…:
CUT 3 (07) “whole idea”

The bill now moves to the House floor.

Another bill aimed at public schools by New Orleans Representative Walt Leger would require students to have wellness exams before going in to kindergarten and sixth grade. He says this ensures that any health issue a student might have can be caught early…:
CUT 5 (07) “and otherwise”

The measure passed on a 59-37 vote and moves to the Senate.

The House Health and Welfare committee barely passed a proposal to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana for more diseases. St. Martin Parish Senator Fred Mills authored the legislation and says he’s encountered many individuals who say medical cannabis can help their child cope with numerous diseases.

Cut 13 (09)  “back yard”

The bill passed on an 8-6 vote and moves to the full House.

A measure that prohibits the sale or donation of fetal tissue is moving closer to final legislative passage. It was approved by a House committee today. The measure is by Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti…
cut 12 (09) “…criminal law”
The bill is the result of videos which supposedly showed Planned Parenthood representatives talking about the sale of aborted fetal parts.

Legislation to allow victims of domestic violence with a protective order to carry a concealed handgun with an expedited and temporary permit now moves to the full House. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Senate has approved a measure to extend the wait period for an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. The proposal passes on a 33-4 vote. If a technical amendment to the bill is approved by the House, it will move to the Governor’s desk for final passage. Governor Edwards is expected to sign the bill.

Legislation that would expand the number of conditions that medical marijuana could treat was approved by a House committee. Katie Corkern of Amite says her 9-year-old son has uncontrollable seizures and doesn’t understand why lamakers would oppose a bill that could help her child…
cut 14 (12) “…was seizing”
Opposition came from the Louisiana Sheriff’s Asssociation and district attorneys. Pete Adams with the state’s D-A’s association says this bill is a gateway to total legaliziation of pot…
cut 16 (11) “…of marijuana”
Despite the opposition, the bill got out of the House committee on an 8-6 vote.

The selling, transporting or donating of fetal tissue from an abortion could land someone behind bars for at least 10 years, under a proposal by Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti. He says people should not benefit in any way from induced abortions…:
Cut 11 (07) “be sold”
The bill heads to the House floor for final legislative approval.

And on the senate floor this afternoon, the upper chamber passed a House approved bill that extends the time a woman must wait for an abortion from 24 to 72 hours.

The LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s office says an intoxicated man stole a school bus this morning. Deputies say the female bus driver woke up at her Chackbay residence to find her bus gone. As authorities were responding to the scene, they saw the bus traveling on a highway and they initiated a traffic stop. Deputies say they learned that Jordon Molaison hotwired the bus and they also detected a strong odor of alcohol on him.