A proposal that would prevent local governments from removing confederate monuments without a waiver from a state board fails to get enough support from a House committee. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A measure that would allocate 7% of medical marijuana sales to the state ag department cleared it’s first hurdle out of committee today and heads to the House floor. The bill lists fees that would be charged to the state sanctioned medical marijuana grower. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says he needs new money otherwise he wouldn’t be able to pay for required inspections, lab testing and over site that is mandated in the medical marijuana law.

A bill to increase the fine for not wearing a seat belt has been approved by the House. The fines would go up to $50 for a first offense and then to $75 for additional offenses. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says the current $25 fine is one of the lowest in the country. He says even with this increase, the penalty is still far lower than other states…:
CUT 5 (08) “higher fine”
The measure passed on a 62-34 vote and now moves to the Senate.

The forecast team at Colorado State University calls for the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season to be near-average. Research scientist Phil Klotzbach, lead author of the report, says they predict there will be 12 named storms…:
CUT 13 (09) “hurricane season”
He says the El Nino is dissipating, but northern Atlantic Ocean temperatures are cooler than average which can cause conditions unfavorable for the development of hurricanes.

A House bill seeking to prevent municipalities from removing Confederate monuments stonewalled in committee today. The legislation would create a board that would have to approve whether or not a statue older than 30 years could be relocated. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody says you can’t erase history:
CUT 9 (06) “our story”
But Shreveport Representative Sam Jenkins says local governments should be able to make their own decisions about their own property…:
CUT 12 (08) “monuments”
A similar bill also died in the Senate.

A mother from Baton Rouge who cops say was driving drunk with her 9-year-old in the vehicle at the time, nearly crashed into a marked police unit. BRPD says 42-year-old Chiquita Chriss was discovered to have a BAC of nearly three times the legal limit. She was booked for DWI and reckless operation.

The first test burn of explosives is successful at Camp Minden in Webster Parish. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Saints regular season schedule will be released at 7 PM tonight along with the rest of the NFL teams. New Orleans will play their division rivals twice, and they’ll also have games against the Rams, Seahawks, Lions, Cardinals, 49ers, Giants and teams from the AFC West.

The state House approves a bill that would double the fines for a seat belt violation. First offense would be $50 and then it would go to $75 for additional times a motorist is busted not buckled up. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says this will save lives and dollars…:
CUT 4 (08) “their sea belts”
The measure passed on a 62-34 vote and now moves to the Senate.

The LHSAA is meeting today and talking about the controversial select/non-select split championships in high school football and other sports. There’s a bill before the legislature that aims to put a stop to separating public and private schools. There’s been talk of creating another organization where all schools could compete. But LHSAA past president Todd Guice doesn’t think that would help anything…:
CUT 19 (11) “get there”

The Louisiana National Guard at Camp Minden successfully conducted their first test burn of 88 pounds of M6 propellant. Col. Pete Schneider says over the next 30 days they’ll ramp up different amounts until they reach the full capacity of about 800 pounds. He believes it’ll take about a year to burn all of the propellant that was improperly stored by Explo Systems…:
CUT 6 (07) “M6 free”
Schneider says the burn is environmentally friendly.

Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Rebekah says the $409 million dollars in cuts they received is forcing them to lay people off, and they can’t take another hit in state general funds. She says DHH has gone from 12-thousand employees in Louisiana to 55-hundred…:
cut 12 (10) “vital facilities”
Four of the ten hospitals for the poor and uninsured in Louisiana are at risk of closing because of critical cuts to DHH.

There’s a lot of uncertainity surrounding TOPS based on the governor’s proposed budget that calls for a 62-percent cut in state funding for the scholarship program. Under current rules, if no more money is allocated to TOPS then only students with an ACT of 27 or higher would be eligible. Higher Ed Commissioner Joseph Rallo hopes this will not deter college students from going to school….
cut 9 (08) “….state’s future”
House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry believes the state can allocate more money for TOPS without raising revenues.

Debate takes place this morning in a House committee that will make it more difficult for a local government to remove a confederate monument. Former state senator Elbert Guillory, who is an african american, supports the legislation…
cut 6 (06) “…aside”

The Louisiana House approves a measure that would double the fine for not wearing a seatbelt. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger’s measure increases the fine from 25-to 50 dollars and believes this increase could help with compliance…
cut 3 (07) “,….on this”
The measure passed on a 62-34 vote and now moves to the Senate.

Louisiana has broken a record for a fourth consecutive year for the number of tourists that visited the state. In 2015, Louisiana welcomed almost 29-million visitors, who spent over 11-billion dollars. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the state needs to do whatever it can to keep those numbers going up…
cut 16 (10) “….forward”
Nungesser credits the people at the department of tourism, who do a great job bringing people to the state.

Four hospitals for the poor and uninsured could close under proposed cuts to the Department of Health and Hospitals. There are just 10 left in the state. DHH Secretary Rebekah Gee says with a $750 million dollar deficit, you must have another special session to raise revenue instead of moving money around and cutting vital services…:
CUT 13 (09) “we don’t”
Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the state needs to come up with 75-million dollars to keep the other four safety net hospitals open.

Another Confederate monument debate is set to happen today in a House committee. This bill would establish a board that would have to grant a waiver before any monument 30 years or older could be relocated. Former state senator Elbert Guillory is an African American who wants the statues to stay where they are. He says it’s about preserving history for future generations…:
CUT 5 (06) “been through”

The LHSAA’s executive committee is meeting today as lawmakers have a bill before them to end split playoffs in high school sports. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

For the fourth year in a row, Louisiana broke another tourism record. Lt. Governor Bill Nungesser says last year, visitors spent over $11 billion dollars here and that’s money that translates to taxpayer savings…:
CUT 15 (10) “we invested”

House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry believes lawmakers can fund the TOPS scholarship program without raising additional taxes. Governor Edwards says additional revenues are needed to fund all of the priorities in the budget. But Henry says the governor is painting the worst picture possible in order to raise taxes…:
Cut 8 (10) “in Baton Rouge”
Not only are colleges dealing with a potential cut to TOPS, but they are also facing a 46 million dollar cut in state funding. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo says there is a lot of uncertainty right now when it comes to higher education…:
Cut 10 (10) “be different”
Edwards plans to call another special session as early as June 7th.

For the fourth consecutive year, Louisiana has broken records in tourism, according to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The LHSAA Executive Committee holds its spring meeting today, and they’ll continue to discuss the expanded public-private school playoff split that’s been in place for football and will impact other sports next school year. Todd Guice, LHSAA past president, says he still hopes that something can be done to end the split…:
Cut 17 (05) “found this”

The lawyer for the man accused of murdering former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith, following an apparent car accident, says he’s got proof his client, Cardell Hayes, was acting in self defense in the incident. Attorney John Fuller:
CUT 30 (15) “not guilty”
The family attorney for the victim says Smith was shot 8 times in the back.

Another bill aimed to prevent of removal of confederate monuments is set to be heard today at the state capitol. A Senate committee already rejected a bill with similar overtones. Former state senator Elbert Guillory, who is an African American, has been a vocal supporter of efforts to keep Confederate monuments standing…:
cut 4 (06) “foolish”
The measure is scheduled for debate today in the House Municipal Affairs committee.

Governor Edwards proposed 183 million dollars worth of cuts to the TOPS scholarship program. Emelie Gunn has more on what this means…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Four of the ten hospitals for the poor and uninsured in Louisiana are at risk of closing because of critical cuts to the state Department of Health and Hospitals. DHH Secretary Rebekah Gee says her department took over half of the 750-million dollars in budget cuts, which means some people may lose access to healthcare…:
cut 11 (09) “in access”

The defense attorney for Cardell Hayes, the man charged in the murder of former Saints defensive end Will Smith, says once the truth comes out, his client will be found not guilty. John Fuller says a witness will back up Hayes’ story that he did not provoke the shooting….:
CUT 1 (16) “…she witness”
Fuller added witnesses has given him plenty of information to prove that his client is legally not guilty.

Louisiana breaks the tourism record for the fourth year in a row, according to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. In 2015, Louisiana welcomed almost 29 million visitors, who spent over $11 billion. Nungesser says the state needs tourism dollars to help resolve the budget problems…:
Cut 14 (09) “that gap”

House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry believes lawmakers can fund the TOPS scholarship program without raising additional taxes. Governor John Bel Edwards proposed budget for next fiscal year calls for a 183 million dollars cut to the state-funded scholarship program, because of a large revenue shortfall. But Henry says the state has enough money to fund TOPS…:
CUT 7 (08) “TOPS”
Under current rules, if no more money is allocated to TOPS then only students with an ACT of 27 or higher would be eligible for TOPS.

A Senate panel approved, without objection, a measure that would expand the number of diseases medical marijuana can be used to treat. The measure now goes to the full Senate.