Cardell Hayes was indicted today on charges of murder for former Saints player Will Smith, and attempted murder of Smith’s wife. Legal analyst Tim Meche says he’s not surprised the D-A’s office was able to get an indictment, before the defense was able to call witnesses to the stand during today’s preliminary hearing…:
CUT 4 (10) “the witnesses”.
After the indictment, Hayes plead not guilty to four charges. His bond has been set at 1.75 million dollars.

The FBI has created a devoted phone line for tips about the newly reopened missing child case of Wesley Dale Morgan of Clinton who was last seen in 2001. Authorities report the phone has not stopped ringing with tips so a dedicated line has been created for anyone who may know where Wesley Morgan is. The number is 1- (800) CALL-FBI.

You couldn’t hire or fire someone based on their sexual orientation under a bill that was approved in a Senate committee today. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says discrimination is still alive, and lawmakers need to do what they can to protect people from that in the workplace…:
cut 14 (09) “whatever reason”
Opponents are worried this would hurt businesses.

The Louisiana Federation for Children held a news conference today featuring parents whose children benefit from the student voucher program. New Orleans single mother Corrine Celestine is upset over the proposed cuts…:
Cut 11 (08) “next generation”
But Governor John Bel Edwards says, despite ads running to the contrary, every student who currently has a voucher will get to keep it…but several areas of the state have to be cut to help fill next fiscal year’s shortfall.

The alleged shooter of the former Saints player Will Smith has been indicted on charges of second degree murder and attempted murder. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it looks like the Orleans Parish District Attorney is handling the case against Cardell Hayes cautiously…:
CUT 3 (12) “cautiously”
The indictment came down during the middle of a preliminary hearing that was called to establish probable cause against Hayes.

A poll commissioned by the Louisiana Cannabis Association reveals 72 percent of Louisiana voters are in favor of the medical marijuana legislation. Just 13 percent surveyed by JMC Enterprises opposed patients’ usage of medical marijuana. A bill to extend use of medical marijuana to those with serious medical conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, seizure disorders and epilepsy passed through the Louisiana State Senate.

Governor Edwards pushed back today against a special interest group that’s airing an attack ad claiming he broke promises about keeping the voucher program. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (24) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Two people are dead in an officer involved shooting which occurred in the Calcasieu Parish town of Carlyss. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says a woman was found dead and a man died while exchanging gunfire with deputies, but it is unclear if the male was hit by deputies or if he killed himself. He says they believe the man killed the woman…:
CUT 8 (09) “shooting”

Reports out of New Orleans say Cardell Hayes has been indicted for the murder of former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith, and also for the attempted murder of Smith’s wife.

A bill to prevent members of the LGBT from not being hired or being fired because of their sexual orientation has won the approval of a Senate committee. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 2 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

State Police is once again looking for a vehicle involved in a hit and run with a cyclist. This time in Assumption Parish they believe a white Ford Super Duty hit the person on a bike, then fled the scene in Paincourtville last night.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he never said he was going to take school vouchers away from students who already receive them, as certain special interest groups are claiming. He challenged a pro-voucher man at a news conference…:
cut 10 (10) “not gonna find it”
Edwards says part of his budget cut plan for next fiscal year includes trimming each voucher so that all recipients could keep them.

The recreational red snapper season in Gulf federal waters will only last 9 days this year, from June 1 through June 9. US Representative Garret Graves of Baton Rouge says he’s not happy about this and when he was a kid, you could go fishing with parents and grandparents year-round…:
CUT 5 (05) “federal waters”
Graves says he doesn’t want to rely on bureaucrats in Washington to tell us when and where we can fish.

A Senate committee has approved the bill to prevent members of the LGBT community from being fired or turned down for jobs because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says we need to protect people from discrimination…:
Cut 13 (07) “recourse”
But opponents say this could pose problems for business owners in the state.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the special interest group that’s running attack ads accusing him of breaking his promise about keeping existing school vouchers is not telling the truth. He told reporters Thursday that no student currently receiving a voucher, would lost it…:
CUT 9 (08) “receive them”
Edwards says he’s been told by the Department of Education that there is no plan to take a voucher away from a student, and that he is disingenuously being called a liar.

Two people are dead after a shootout involving a police officer in the small southwest Louisiana town of Carlyss. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says his officers were responding to a 911 call for an armed robbery when they got another call from a man saying people were running through his field close to the location of the burglary. Mancuso says deputies met the individuals in the field…:
CUT 6 (08) “drops”
The sheriff says the suspect either died from a gunshot wound from one of his deputies or he killed himself.

KATC is reporting that a Vermilion Parish teacher is behind bars accused of rape. They say James Harber, a 7th grade teacher at JH Williams Middle School, was booked by Abbeville Police with two counts of second-degree rape and one count of first-degree rape.

Lots of folks are talking about the bill that would require cursive to be taught in public elementary schools, which cleared the full Senate. Bossier City Sen. Ryan Gatti says many historic documents were written in cursive. He says our children need to be able to read and write in script, not just from their iPads or iPhones…:
Cut 10 (05) “to paper”
The vote was unanimous and the measure now heads to the House.

The recreational red snapper season in Gulf federal waters will only last 9 days this year, from June 1 through June 9. US Representative Garret Graves of Baton Rouge says is not happy about NOAA Fisheries’ announcement. But Graves says Louisiana’s control of red snapper fishing has been extended nine miles off the coast, which gives fishermen more opportunity to fish red snapper..:
CUT 3 (04) “this year”
Anglers this year will be limited to two red snapper per person a day, provided they are at least 16 inches.

Two people are dead in an officer involved shooting which occurred in the Calcasieu Parish town of Carlyss. The Sheriff’s Office says a woman was found dead and a man died while exchanging gunfire with deputies, but it is unclear if the male was hit by deputies or if he killed himself. They say a CPSO cop car was hit three times and deputies believe the male was shooting to kill. Authorities are still investigating to find what caused the shooting.

The mother of a young girl with a seizure disorder told lawmakers she moved to Colorado for the only drug that helps, medical marijuana…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Medical marijuana has been a big topic at the Capitol. Michelle Hall of Vernon Parish urged a House committee to make the drug accessible for her daughter, who has epilepsy…
cut 8 (06) “….my family”
Hall says they moved to Colorado so her daughter can use medical cannabis and it’s improved her life. Legislators can’t agree over who should have access to medical marijuana.

The House has approved a proposal to prohibit organiziations that perform abortions from receiving state funding…
voicer 4 (26) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”

Cursive writing would be required to be taught in public schools based on legislation that was unanimously approved by the Louisiana Senate. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti says former president Abraham Lincoln didn’t use his iPad or Siri to write the Gettysburg Address, he used a quill pen to write the famous speech…
cut 11 (05) “….quill pen”
The measure heads to the full House for more discussion.

The latest campaign finance reports shows US Representative Charles Boustany raised more money than any other candidate in Louisiana’s US Senate race during the first quarter of this year. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says having a seat on the Ways and Means Committee gives Boustany an advantage…
cut 6 (10) “….candidates don’t”

Since passing a law last year that legalizes the dispensing of medical marijuana, there’s been little progress in making the drug available to Louisiana residents. Michele Hall of Vernon Parish told lawmakers she has moved to Colorado so her daughter, who suffers from epilepsy, can get medical canabis from a dispensary called Hailey’s Hope…
cut 9 (10) “…Hailey’s Hope”
Lawmakers are in a disagreement over who should have access to medical marijuana.

The Louisiana House has approved legislation that’s been labeled as a bill to defund Planned Parenthood. The measure would prohibit Medicaid dollars from going to Planned Parenthood, if its New Orleans clinic starts performing abortions. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman…
cut 14 (08) “…future”
Hoffman’s bill is heading to the Senate, but there’s concerns that his proposed legislation violates the Constitution.

Legislation to require curvise to be taught in public schools passed in the full Senate. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 2 (28) “….I’m Emelie Gunn”

Campaign finance totals from the first quarter of 2016 finds US Representative Charles Boustany raised over three million dollars as he runs for US Senate, while one of his opponents, Congressman John Fleming collected two-point-six million dollars during the cycle. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross…
cut 4 (09) “….left out”

A Louisiana woman, who moved to Colorado so her daughter can receive medical marijuana to treat her epilepsy, tells legislators her child is doing much better since starting her cannabis medication. Michelle Hall of Vernon Parish says by no means does her daughter get “high” off the medication…
cut 7 (05) “….pissed off”
Lawmakers are conflicted over how many different illnesses should be allowed to use medical marijuana once it becomes available in Louisiana.

Today is a big day in the Will Smith homicide case. The man accused of fatally shooting the former Saints star, Cardale Hayes, has a preliminary hearing scheduled at 10 AM. But the hearing may not take place, if the district attorney can get a grand jury to indict Hayes. If no indictment, then the hearing will determine if there’s enough evidence to keep Hayes behind bars until a trial.

Latest campaign finance numbers regarding Louisiana’s US Senate race shows Republican candidates Charles Boustany, John Fleming and John Kennedy out raising the major the democrats in the race, Foster Campbell and Caroline Fayard. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the Democrats will continue to lag behind….
cut 5 (05) “….statewide”
Cross says US Representative Charles Boustany is in the best position to raise a lot of dough, because he’s a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

The Louisiana Senate has passed a bill that would require public schools to teach cursive. Bossier City Senator Ryan Gatti supports the measure, because important documents like the US Consitution and the Magna Carter were written in cursive…
cut 12 (07) “…says cursive”
The measure is heading to the House for more discussion.