A bill to prohibit an employer from refusing to hire or fire a person, because they are gay or transsexual was set to be heard in a House committee this morning. But the author of the bill, New Orleans Representative Joe Bouie, decided not to move forward with the legislation, because reportedly the votes were not there. They may bring the bill up again next week.

A New Orleans woman tells WWL-TV in New Orleans that a clerk at a Family Dollar store on the corner of Canal and Broad refused to ring up her items at the cash register, because she is gay. There is cellphone video that shows the clerk saying “I’m not serving them two.” Family Dollar’s corporate office has not responded to the incident.

Authorities in Iberville Parish have identified the body of a female that was found near Whiskey Bay along Interstate 10. The victim’s name is Elizabeth Ferrell of Humble, Texas. Her death is being investigated as a homicide.

The House Transportation Committee is scheduled to hear a bill today that would increase the fines for moving violations when a child under the age of 15 is in the vehicle. Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis believes the increased fines will help stop dangerous driving with children in the car…
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Davis doesn’t anticipate much opposition to her bill.

Children programming in French is airing on Louisiana Public Broadcasting. There are about 45-hundred students in French immersion programs in the state. LPB Program director Jason Viso says this popular French speaking kids show from Canada, will give French immersion students a chance to develop their language skills…
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The shows are airing on LPB in the afternoons on Monday through Friday and during select times on the weekends.

A motorist who commits a moving violation when a child under the age of 15 is in the vehicle faces tougher fines under a bill set to be heard in the House Transportation Committee today. Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis says she hopes to raise awareness about how dangerous bad driving habits are, and children have no control in a vehicle…:
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She believes the increased fines will help stop dangerous driving with children in the car.

A measure which seeks to stop the LHSAA from splitting playoffs for select-non-select schools is on the House floor schedule for today. Opponents don’t think it’s lawmakers job to be involved with the LHSAA. But River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says he brought the bill because the LHSAA should not be separating schools based on whether they are public or private…:
CUT 5 (08) “equal opportunity”

Educational TV shows in French are airing on Louisiana Public Broadcasting. LPB’s program director Jason Viso says French teachers are thrilled about helping future Francophones learn more about the language….:
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The shows are airing on LPB 2 between 3pm and 5pm Monday through Friday and also on the weekends.

A 56-year-old woman allegedly barged into a home Sunday afternoon and began stabbing another woman, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department. They say Teresa Ross is charged with counts of attempted second degree murder and home invasion for allegedly attacking the victim with a knife for messing with her man — leaving wounds to the victim’s chest and arm. The injuries are not life threatening according to authorities.

The body of a woman was recovered in Whiskey Bay and officials are treating it as a homicide. The Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office says an autopsy on the body, which they say was likely in Whiskey Bay not longer than 72 hours, is scheduled for today and the investigation is ongoing.

You couldn’t fire someone based on their sexual orientation under a bill set to be heard in the House Civil Law Committee today. But Dawn Starns with the National Federation of Independent Business says a law like this would hurt employers and lead to a litany of litigation…:
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Matthew Patterson with Equality Louisiana says Shreveport and New Orleans already have ordinances that protect the LGBT community and they’ve not lead to lawsuits…:
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A 22 year old man from Natchitoches is under arrest in connection with the shooting death of a three year old child, and cops are still searching for the gun. They believe the toddler found the weapon and accidentally shot himself in the head. Alverious Demars of Natchitoches is charged with negligent homicide and obstruction of justice since the gun has not been recovered, police say.

Educational TV shows in French for kids are now airing on Louisiana Public Broadcasting. Jeff Palermo has more….:
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A bill that would force the LHSAA to end its public-private school playoff split will be heard on the House floor today. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says, under his bill, schools wouldn’t get public funds if they belong to an athletic organization with split playoffs. He says the LHSAA’s current playoff split is discriminatory…:
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But opponents don’t think the legislature should be involved in this controversy.

A bill to prohibit an employer from refusing to hire or fire a person, because they are gay or transsexual will be heard in a House committee today. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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Louisiana Public Broadcasting is launching educational TV shows for kids in French. LPB’s program director Jason Viso says they are partnering with the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana to help more kids learn the language…:
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A measure that would increase fines for moving violations when a child under the age of 15 is in the car is set to be heard in the House Transportation Committee today. Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis says she authored the proposal when several constituents called her after a child was killed in a car accident….:
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Davis says she doesn’t expect much opposition to the bill.

The fatal shooting of a three year old is being investigated by the Natchitoches Police Department, and an arrest has been made. They say 22-year-old Alverious Demars of Natchitoches is booked with negligent homicide in the case.

The Federal Government says Baton Rouge is home to one of the most dangerous railroad crossings in the nation. The US Railroad Administration reports the spot in the Capitol City has had 13 crashes since 2006, which is the 8th highest in the country.

Law enforcement in Baton Rouge and New Orleans are investigating the case of a man who shot and killed himself at a hospital after allegedly abducting a pregnant woman.

The House Transportation Committee will debate a bill today that would increase the fines for moving violations when a child under 15-years-old is in the vehicle. Halen Doughty has more…:
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Rescue crews from the Coast Guard along with the Grand Isle Police Department are looking for a 25-year-old man who was last seen fishing on the beach in Jefferson Parish. They say Larkeis Durell is described as being 5’8″ and he was wearing a camouflage hat and purple and white shirt.

A bill that would prohibit an employer from firing or refusing to hire an individual based on their sexual orientation or gender identity will be heard in committee today. Matthew Patterson is with Equality Louisiana…:
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Opposition is expected to come from pro-business groups. State director of the National Federation of Independence Business Dawn Starns understands equality for the LGBT community is important, but making this a law will create problems for businesses…:
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The measure gets debate in the House Civil Law committee.

There are more layoffs coming to Louisiana’s oil and gas sector. LSU economist Loren Scott says the industry has been devastated by the low gas prices we’ve seen since August of 2014. He says major companies are cutting back their drilling budget dramatically.

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Scott says a lot of big companies are planning to stop drilling in the Gulf.

Louisiana’s third “Buckle Up in your Truck” campaign has just begun. Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, John Leblanc says the goal of the campaign is voluntary compliance. He says wearing a seat belt is especially important in a pickup because those vehicles are taller than others.

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The campaign runs through April 28.

A report by the National Center for Health Statistics finds the suicide rate in the US has increased dramatically since 1999.  The report finds the suicide rate of women increased to 45-percent and males increased by 16-percent. LSU Health New Orleans Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Dr. Michelle Moore says the gap is narrowing between the genders.

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In the past week, two male students at Mandeville High School killed themselves within 48 hours of each other.

Law enforcement is getting help in learning how to handle cases of animal cruelty from the Humane Society. Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, Jeff Dorson, says they are teaching law enforcement officers about advances in technology, such as new developments in forensic pathology that can help determine what happened to animals that are brought in after abuse.

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More job loss is coming in Louisiana’s oil and gas sector. LSU economist Loren Scott says the state is losing jobs at the rate of about 21-thousand a year. And he says a lot of big companies are planning to stop drilling in the Gulf.

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40 to 50 jobs employees of Helmerich & Payne International Drilling Co. in the Gulf of Mexico will also be laid off.

The Humane Society of Louisiana is holding seminars across the state to teach law enforcement more about how to handle cases of animal abuse. Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, says social media is helping them prosecute more cases of animal abuse because people are sharing evidence when they see it.

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A campaign begins today in Louisiana that aims to get more pickup truck drivers to wear their seat belts. Don Molino has more…

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Attorney General Jeff Landry has announced that two Northwest Louisiana men have been arrested on child pornography charges. 54-year-old James Lucius of Bossier City is charged with 500 counts of possession of child pornography involving juveniles under age 13. 24-year-old Stephen Harris of Shreveport is facing one possession charge for child pornography.

A new report by the National Center for Health Statistics shows the suicide rate is up 24-percent from 1999 to 2014 and experts say Louisiana is being affected too. Emelie Gunn has more…

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A man who was being held at a Baton Rouge hospital reportedly committed suicide after he was accused of abducting a pregnant woman. Baton Rouge Police confirmed the incident took place this morning, and the alleged abduction happened last night in New Orleans.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission has launched its “Buckle up in Your Truck” campaign.  Executive Director of the Commission, John Leblanc says drivers of pickup trucks use their seat belts less often than drivers of other vehicles. He says this campaign is important to get more truck drivers to wear their seat belts, because it could save their lives.

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Leblanc says 8 people have been killed in pickup truck accidents in the state since March.

There are more layoffs coming to the oil and gas industry. Gulf Island LLC based in Houma and Carbo Ceramics in New Iberia plan to lay off nearly 300 workers in June. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says there is some opportunity for those laid off to find other work, but not enough for everyone…:

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