A measure which would mean dramatic decreases in Louisiana’s tough pot possession penalties is headed to Governor Bobby Jindal’s desk. Metairie Representative Joe Lopinto says right now the sentence for one gram of marijuana and 60 pounds is the same which makes no sense…

cut 14 (08) “already”

The House voted 74-19 to approve amendments added to the bill on the Senate side.

It appears that Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany is considering a run for the US Senate if Senator David Vitter is elected governor this year. Boustany says that could be an option after this year’s statewide election, but right now he’s focusing on the job at hand…

cut 4 (10) “to our delegation”

Boustany has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent months.

According to a new report, abortions in Louisiana have jumped in number since 2010, while nearly everywhere else they’ve gone down. But Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Ben Clapper says numbers of out of state women coming here to have an abortion are dramatically increasing…

cut 11 (09) “abortions”

Louisiana was recently honored by Americans United for Life as the top state taking steps to reduce access to abortion, but the study indicates the number of women ending pregnancies here is up 12 percent between 2010 and 2014.

A higher education tax credit designed to provide an offset to revenue generating bills receives a cold shoulder from House members. The legislation is called the SAVE act and the Jindal administration is pushing it. But Democrats like Amite Representative John Bel Edwards says the measure makes no sense…:
CUT 8 (10) “assessing”
The measure was pulled but without it Jindal is expected to veto revenue generating bills that restore higher ed and healthcare cuts.

The state House did not advance a senate approved constitutional amendment that would have made it easier for Louisiana’s public colleges and universitities to raise tuition. The legislature has to sign off on any tution change at the state’s higher education institutions. The measure passed 33-4 on the Senate side but failed in the House 51-47.

The state senate approves legislation that prohibits State Police from paying trooper security costs when Governor Bobby Jindal travels for campaign purposes. The head of the state democratic party, New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson, says State Police should not be using it’s own resources to support a governor’s presidential campaign…:
CUT 1 (08) “campaign funds”
Peterson’s amendment passed on a 29-5 vote. Jindal’s office responded saying it’s a shame the leader of the Democratic Party wouldn’t want a Republican Governor to have protection.

A measure which would mean dramatic decreases in Louisiana’s tough pot poession penalties is headed to Governor Bobby Jindal’s desk. Metairie Representative Joe Lopinto says right now the sentence for one gram of marijuana and 60 pounds is the same which makes no sense…:
CUT 14 (08) “already”
HB 149 is a compromise between lawmakers who have tried to reform marijuana sentencing and law enforcement lobby groups.

The Red River reached it’s anticipated crest this morning within an inch at 36.82 feet at 8am in Shreveport. Hydrologist CS Ross says relief is still weeks away…:
CUT 4 (11) “through next weekend”
Officials say at least 300 homes have been affected by flood waters.

On a day that a Monroe home was occupied by 7 people, the state fire marshal’s office say a blaze claimed the lives of three who were trapped inside by burglar bars. Three others were able to escape and they believe another person left the house earlier Sunday morning. Investigators believe the residence is known to have drug activity with several incidents reported by the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

As lawmakers continue to bicker over the controversial SAVE act, Senator Eric LaFleur tried to change the name to the DUMB fund. He ended up withdrawing but says he will not be voting for any SAVE legislation…:
CUT 12 (09) “behind the truth”
Governor Jindal is pushing the SAVE act to keep the budget revenue neutral.

The LSU tigers are headed to the College World Series after a victorious weekend over UL-Lafayette. Coach Paul Maineri says he got an email from a friend of Lance Bergeron, a guardsman who died in the Blackhawk helicopter crash, who asked the team to play in his honor. He says thinking about the crash which claimed the lives of 4 Guardsmen and 7 Marines made him view the game in a different light…:
CUT 8 (09) “irrelevant”
The Tigers are going to Omaha for the 17th time and first since 2013.

The Red River continues to cause flooding problems in the Shreveport area. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

The state House did not advance a senate approved constitutional amendment that would have made it easier for Louisiana’s public colleges and universitities to raise tuition. The legislature has to sign off on any tution change at the state’s higher education institutions. The measure passed 33-4 on the Senate side but failed in the House 51-47.

Senators don’t want Louisiana to pay for Governor Bobby Jindal’s campaign travel. The head of the state democratic party, New Orleans Senator Karen Peterson, says State Police should not be using it’s own resources to support a presidential campaign. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny voted against the amendment, because a governor can always just say they were attending to state business..:
CUT 14 (05) “circumvent it”
Peterson’s amendment passed on a 29-5 vote. Jindal’s office said in a statement that it’s a shame the chair of the Democratic Party wants to leave a Republican governor unprotected. The Upper Chamber also approved their version of the budget today.

Tickets are now available for Jindal’s announcement regarding his presidential ambitions. The free event will take place at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner on June 24th.]

The state senate approves legislation that prohibits State Police from using its own funds to provide security when Governor Bobby Jindal travels for campaign purposes. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The LSU Tigers are headed back to the College World Series as they defeated UL Lafayette six to three to clinch a Super Regional series victory over the Ragin Cajuns. Who LSU will play in its first game in the College World Series will be determined tonight. They’ll face either Texas A-and-M or TCU.

Officials with the National Weather Service say the Red River in Shreveport reached its crest, within an inch, this morning. They say the river was at 36.82 feet as of 8AM this morning. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says officials are working hard in efforts to keep flood damage to a minimum…:
CUT 6 (11) “things like that”
She says there are about 300 homes in Caddo Parish have been affected by flood waters.

Ville Platte Senator Eric LaFleur tried to change the name of the controversial SAVE act to the DUMB fund. But the author of the legislation which some call a gimmick to keep Governor Jindal’s revenue-neutral budget rule, Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue, was not amused…:
CUT 11 (10) “against it”
LaFleur ended up withdrawing the amendment.

The state senate approves legislation that prohibits State Police from paying trooper security costs when Governor Bobby Jindal travels for campaign purposes. The head of the state democratic party, New Orleans Senator Karen Peterson, says State Police has spent over two-million dollars this year for Jindal’s trips…:
CUT 13 (10) “that money”
But oppoents say Jindal can always say he was attending to state business even when he’s not in the state. Peterson’s amendment passed on a 29-5 vote. Today the Senate approved their version of next year’s $24.5 billion dollar budget.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says three people are dead after a house fire Sunday morning in Monroe. They say two others were able to escape the blaze. Details of the fire are incomplete at this time. Investigators were told that burglar bars were installed on the home and that may have prevented the three victims from escaping the blaze. The investigation is ongoing.

The Red River has overflowed its banks and water has hit at least 300 homes in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. The National Weather Service says the Red was within it’s crest by 1 inch at 36.82 feet as of 8AM this morning in Shreveport. This is the highest the river has been since April of 1945.

The LSU Tiger Baseball team is headed to Omaha to play in the College World Series for the 17th time and the first since 2013. The Tigers defeated UL-Lafayette on Sunday 6-3. Coach Paul Mainieri says he mentioned to Athletic Director Joe Alleva that they’ve won 52 games this season but if they hadn’t won that 53rd game, the season would have felt unfulfilled in so many ways…:
CUT 9 (11) “that’s where we belong”
Who LSU will play in its first game in the College World Series will be determined tonight. They’ll face either Texas A-and-M or TCU.

A state Senator tried to amend the controversial higher education tax credit by renaming it the DUMB fund. Ville Platte Senator Eric LaFleur wanted to change the name of the SAVE act, which Governor Jindal is pushing in order to have a revenue neutral budget…:
CUT 10 (11) “the wod DUMB”
Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue authors the SAVE act and told LaFleur he was making a mockery of the legislation. LaFleur ended up withdrawing the amendment but not before calling the SAVE act a blatant lie.

State Police say an LSU professor was killed after being struck by a truck in East Feliciana Parish. Authorities say 63-year-old Elisabeth Oliver was walking her broken bicycle on LA 952 when a truck driven by 79-year-old Jessie Banguel of Clinton came out of a curve and hit her. Oliver died at a local hospital. The investigation is ongoing.

Many homes are flooding in the Shreveport area as the Red River reaches it’s crest, within an inch, of 36.82 feet as of 8am, the highest since 1945. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says there are about 300 houses that have taken on water…:
CUT 5 (08) “reach a home”
She says about 30 roads are closed in the area due to flood waters. The National Weather Service says the water will be around for a while and flood is expected to move south through next weekend.

The LSU Baseball team defeated UL Lafayette 6 to 3 last night to punch their ticket to Omaha. This is LSU’s 17th trip to the College World Series and first since 2013.