Today, the House Ways and Means Committee will hear two different tax increases proposed by Plaquemine Representative Karen St. Germain to help fund road projects. Revenue from both HB 777 and HB 778 would pay for road and bridge projects. Ken Perret, President of Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association, says a first class transportation system is key for the state’s economic growth…

cut 5 (07) “products distributed”

Governor Jindal has said he would veto any tax increase that is not accompanied by a tax reduction somewhere else.

A bill by New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno, that would use funds from unclaimed gambling winnings to pay for rape victims forensic medical exams, clears House appropriations. Wade Duty, of the Louisiana Casino Association, says while they don’t oppose the bill on its merits, they don’t approve of the funding mechanism. He says winning money is the property of the gaming establishment until the player cashes the ticket…

cut 9 (07) “property”

The bill now heads to the House floor.

After interviewing former LSU Tiger La’el Collins Monday, The Baton Rouge Police Department says he is still not a suspect in the April 24th murder of Brittney Mills. However, Corporal Don Coppola says they may need Collins to stay involved in the investigation…

cut 12 (07) “clarification”

Coppola says they are still trying to gather information from people who may have known the victim.

Legislation that allows for the dispensing of medicinal marijuana to patients who suffer from certain medical conditions passes the Senate. New Iberia Senator Fred Mills says under the proposed law, medical marijuana could only be prescribed by a doctor for someone clinically diagnosed with glaucoma, spastic quadriplegia or suffering symptoms from chemotherapy cancer treatment. He says it would be grown at only one site in the state and dispensed in 10 places in non-smokeable form…

cut 15 (07) “can’t be inhaled”

The vote count was 22-13 and the measure now heads to the House.

A bill that would use funds from unclaimed gambling winnings to pay for rape victims forensic medical exams clears House appropriations. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says under her measure, money from expired winning tickets from casinos and race tracks would go into the crime victim’s reparations fund. Alexandra Stillson is a rape victim…

cut 7 (11) “HIV”

The bill passed without opposition and now heads to the House floor.

A bill that allows for the dispensing of medicinal marijuana to patients who suffer from certain medical conditions makes it off the Senate floor. New Iberia Senator Fred Mills says they’ve been working hard on this legislation to keep everyone happy…

cut 14 (06) “law enforcement”

Mills says under the proposed law medicinal marijuana would be grown at only one site in the state and dispensed in 10 places in non-smokeable form.

Two different tax increases proposed by Plaquemine Representative Karen St. Germain to help fund road projects will be heard in the House Ways and Means Committee today. President of Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association Ken Perret says any effort to increase funding for Louisiana’s roads and bridges is good…

cut 4 (11) “in Louisiana”

HB 777 would raise the state’s gas tax dependent on the price at the pump and HB 778 would increase the state’s sales tax by one percent. Revenue from both bills would pay for road and bridge projects.

A bill that would use funds from unclaimed gambling winnings to pay for rape victims forensic medical exams clears House appropriations. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says under her measure, money from expired winning tickets from casinos and race tracks would go into the crime victims reparations fund. Alexandra Stillson is a rape victim.
CUT 7 (11) “HIV”
Wade Duty, of the Louisiana Casino Association, says while they don’t oppose the bill on its merits, they don’t approve of the funding mechanism. He says winning money is the property of the gaming establishment until the player cashes the ticket…:
CUT 9 (07) “property”
The bill passed without opposition and now heads to the House floor.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says he’s endorsing David Vitter for Governor because the US Senator respects tax payer dollars and has the ability to take on Louisiana’s fiscal challenges…:
CUT 14 (09) “crisis to crisis”
When asked if Kennedy was going to go after the US Senate seat if Vitter becomes Governor each said they are taking things one election at a time.

The House appropriations committee approves a plan that would allow the state to draw down federal money that can be used to expand Medicaid coverage. House speaker Chuck Kleckley says it would save $200 million for the state’s budget and is real money that can be put in the general fund…:
CUT 4 (07) “in Louisiana”
Since this measure is a concurrent resolution, Governor Jindal cannot veto the legislation, but it does need a two-thirds vote of both houses for passage.

Former LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins met with Baton Rouge Police Detectives today as part of an investigation into the April 24th shooting death of a pregnant woman -with whom he had a previous relationship. Collins’ attorney, Jim Boren, says he cooperated fully…
CUT 6 (07) “they wanted”
29 year old Britany Mills, and ultimately her 8 month old baby died as a result of the shooting.

State Treasurer John Kennedy announces he’s endorsing US Senator David Vitter for Governor. Kennedy says, besides being able to tackle Louisiana’s money challenges…:
cut 12 (11) “21st century”
There has been some speculation – after Kennedy announced he would be seeking re-election for State Treasurer – that he might be interested in Vitter’s Senate seat.
———————————–
The House Appropriations Committee approves a plan that would allow the state to draw down federal money that can be used to expand Medicaid coverage. House speaker Chuck Kleckley says the plan involves hospitals putting their monies together so the state can be help provide health care to low income people, while saving the state about $200 million…
CUT 3 (07) “federal dollars”
Governor Bobby Jindal opposes Medicaid expansion, calling it a bad deal for the state.

Baker Police arrested a mother of three for allegedly leaving her three children inside a vehicle for up to 45 minutes, while she reportedly went inside a store. Chief Mike Knaps says witnesses saw the three kids; ranging in age from 7 years down to 4 months, and called police…
CUT 11 (08) Q: “of that vehicle”
Thirty-two year old Tesha Thomas faces 3 counts of child desertion charges.

Former LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins and his attorney met with police detectives as part of an investigation into the shooting death of a pregnant woman, with whom Collins reportedly had a previous relationship. According to BRPD, the meeting took place around 10:30 and he cooperated fully, and police say he is still NOT considered a suspect in the death of Brittany Mills and ultimately her baby…
CUT 7 (09) “lady’s murder”
That’s Collins attorney Jim Boren.

An accidental shooting in a Shreveport hotel has claimed the life of a four-year old boy. Shreveport Police Cpl. Marcus Hines Hines says it appears Cameron Morris was shot accidentally by another very young juvenile in the hotel room. .
cut 16 (05) “ten-years-old”
——————————-
The official endorsement came today, as State Treasurer John Kennedy announces he’s endorsing US Senator David Vitter for Governor. Kennedy says it was an easy call for him….
CUT 14 (09) Q: ‘crisis to crisis’
Kennedy has previously announced he’ll be seeking re-election in the fall.

A mother of 3 is under arrest for child desertion after allegedly leaving her three children inside a vehicle with the windows rolled up for up to 45 minutes in Baker. Baker Police Chief Mike Knaps says 32 year-old Tesha Thomas went inside a store to get what she described as a quick stop to get a couple of things. Witnesses saw the 3 kids -aged 7 years; 20 months and four months- inside the car, and called police…
CUT 10 (05) Q: “child desertion”

State Treasurer John Kennedy endorsed fellow Republican and US Senator David Vitter for governor today. It raises speculation that Vitter will appoint Kennedy to his senate seat, if elected as governor. But Vitter says they have not talked about any other election….
cut 13 (09) “….being presumptuous”
Kennedy says Vitter is the best candidate in the race to get a handle on the state’s fiscal situation and improve roads and the health care system.

Baton Rouge Police met with former LSU star La’ell Collins as part of an investigation into the shooting death of a pregnant woman on April 24th. It’s been reported Collins and Brittany Mills had a romantic relationship. His attorney, Jim Boren says, Collins is cooperating with the investigation and ready to get his NFL career started…
CUT 8 (08) “next step”
——————————–
The House appropriations committee approves a plan that would allow the state to draw down federal money that can be used to expand Medicaid coverage.…
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

Authorities in St. Tammany Parish are investigating a case of a deceased baby in a trash compactor at a Slidell apart complex. Slidell Police report the discovery took place around 9:15 this morning at Canterbury House Apartments. The St. Tammany Parish Coroner is working with Police to determine the cause of death and the age of the baby. The investigation is continues.

Former LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins met with Baton Rouge police detectives today. Jeff Palermo has more on what happened…:
CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

The Slidell Police Department is investigating the death of a baby who was found inside a trash compactor at an apartment complex. Cops say a maintenance employee made the discovery this morning. Age of the child and cause of death have not yet been determined by the St. Tammany Parish Coroner and the investigation is ongoing.

Shreveport Police are investigating a fatal shooting that claimed the life of a four-year-old boy. Cpl. Marcus Hines says officers were called to a hotel room and and found the boy, identified as Cameron Morris, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head…:
CUT 15 (10) “that hotel room”
Hines says the other child was 6 and they are working to determine who was responsible for watching the children.

The House appropriations committee approves a plan that would allow the state to draw down federal money that can be used to expand Medicaid coverage. House speaker Chuck Kleckley says it would save $200 million for the state’s budget and is real money that can be put in the general fund…:
CUT 4 (07) “in Louisiana”
Since this measure is a concurrent resolution, Governor Jindal cannot veto the legislation, but it does need a two-thirds vote of both houses for passage.