Louisiana college students will rally at the state capitol today to express their concerns about a potential 600-million dollar cut in state funding to public universities. Stephanie Travis, who chairs the council of student body presidents, says she started at Southeastern Louisiana in 2009 and has seen how previous budget cuts have impacted the Hammond campus….
cut 10 (07) “….previous years”

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush is in New Orleans today for a fundraiser to help Republican Senator David Vitter’s gubernatorial campaign. Presidential hopefuls Rand Paul and Chris Christie have also endorsed Vitter. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says these endorsements will help Vitter’s campaign, but endorsements alone will not get him elected…
cut 5 (10) “….the linchpin”
Today is tax day and there are still millions who have yet to file and are waiting till the last minute. If you file electronically, it must be done by midnight. But Bill Potter, a CPA in Baton Rouge, says if you don’t think you’re gonna make it, then you can file an extension….
cut 7 (11) “…with that form”
And remember only federal returns are due today. The state filing deadline is May 15th.

A family in LaFourche Parish is grieving today over the death of a three-year-old child who fell into a drainage canal and was swept away by the strong current brought on by heavy rainfall. The child’s father located the boy about 15 minutes later, 75 yards downstream.

Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson took to the House floor today to try and clear up some of the misconceptions of his so-called religious freedom bill. Johnson says his bill does not promote discrimination against gays and lesbians. He says it’s only an attempt to safe guard religious freedom…
cut 13 (08) “…involved in it”
Johnson’s bill seeks to prevent the state from denying a resident a business license or tax deduction because of that person’s religious belief about marriage. But state representative John Bel Edwards says the legislation is vaguely written…
cut 14 (08) “….interracial marriage”
Johnson plans to change the language in his bill, when it gets its first hearing in the House Civil Law committee.

Louisiana college students will rally at the state capitol tomorrow afternoon to express their concerns about a potential 600-million dollar cut in state funding to public colleges and universities. Stephanie Travis, who chairs the council of student body presidents, says she started at Southeastern Louisiana in 2009 and has seen how previous budget cuts have impacted the Hammond campus
Cut 10 (07) “previous years”
Lawmakers are looking at how they can preserve higher education, but finding ways to raise revenue to prevent drastic cuts will be difficult. Travis says raising tuition on students is NOT the answer

State Representative Paul Hollis was not in Baton Rouge today as he continues to recover from an automobile accident that occurred with the new security system installed at the state capitol. State Police Lt. J-B Slaton says they are investigating, but it appears the security system worked properly.

Rock and Roll and Louisiana Hall of Fame musician Percy Sledge has passed away at the age of 73. Sledge, who had been battling liver cancer, died shortly after midnight Tuesday in Baton Rouge. Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Director Mike Shepherd says it’s a sad day…:
CUT 6 (08) “wanna meet”

At the State Capitol, Covington Representative Paul Hollis had a pretty rough first day of the legislative session. He was driving his car through a parking lot, when the new security system went off and two bollards shot up from the ground through the front of his car. State Police spokesman Lt. JB Slaton says it appears Hollis was following a delivery truck that was exiting the lot…
CUT 3 (07) “the same time”
Hollis suffered a concussion, and a broken hand.
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Heavy showers and thunderstorms have been moving through South Louisiana since early this morning and it appears that more rain is on the way…
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

The Miss USA Pageant announces they will be returning to Louisiana for the July 12th, 2015 live broadcast from the Baton Rouge River Center at 7 pm on NBC. Last year, the pageant attracted about 5.5 million viewers and created over two and a half million dollars in hotel revenue.

A Louisiana music legend has left us. Percy Sledge passed away at his Baton Rouge home early this morning. The man who recorded “When A Man Loves A Woman” was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Director Mike Shepherd says they inducted the R&B singer into the in 2007 and his reaction to the award was memorable…:
CUT 7 (10) “that’s how he felt”
Percy Sledge was 73.

There’s a little less state-wide coverage of rain through this evening, but forecasters are telling us that’s only temporary, especially in the south…
CUT 9 (09) Q: ‘this morning’
That’s Donald Jones, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles.
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It was as rough day at the office for Covington Representative Paul Hollis, at the parking area at the State Capitol, attempting to get behind a moving delivery truck. State Police spokesman Lt. JB Slaton says-with the new security system-only one vehicle can go through at a time. Two bollards shot up from the ground through the front of his car.
CUT 4 (10) Q: “bollards re-engage.”
Hollis broke his right hand and suffered a concussion.

Representative Mike Johnson’s Religious Freedom Bill is facing some uncertainty in the House, as it was the only bill not assigned to a committee to hearing. Governor Bobby Jindal says he supports the bill, while State representative and gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards says as of right now the legislation is vaguely written….
cut 14 (08) “interracial marriage”

Rock and Roll and Louisiana Music Hall of fame musician Percy Sledge died this morning at his home in Baton Rouge. He was 73…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

Louisianians who depend on state health for health care services are urging lawmakers not o cut services that Governor Bobby Jindal has on the chopping block to cut for next year’s budget. Some parents of disabled children made their case to the House Appropriations Committee for budget changes.

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Out of some 775 bills introduced to the House yesterday, Louisiana’s Religious Freedom Bill was the only one not assigned to a committe for a hearing. Governor Bobby jindal has gone on record in supporting the measure, saying he has his reasons…
CUT 13 (12) Q: ‘about marriage’
La-Politics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says lawmakers in Louisiana are not eager to debate the issue.

There is a lot of rain hitting the state right now…
CUT 11 (09) Q: “though the end of the week”
That’s Donald Jones with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, who says the culprit are two slow moving storms moving through.

There’s uncertainty surrounding state Representative Mike Johnson’s religious freedom bill. 775 bills were introduced to the House on Monday and Johnson’s legislation was the only one not assigned to a committee for a hearing. Jeremy Alford, with Lapolitics-dot-com, says lawmakers are not eager to debate the rights of businesses when it comes to same sex marriage…:
CUT 12 (09) “with it”
Governor Bobby Jindal supports Johnson’s bill…the House Democratic Caucus has yet to take a stand citing the vague writing.

Legendary R&B singer Percy Sledge died in his Baton Rouge home this morning at the age of 73. The “When a Man Loves a Woman” singer had been battling cancer according to the East Baton Rouge Parish coroner. Slegde was a member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and also was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

South Louisiana is getting pelted with rain right now causing flooding and even schools in St. Mary Parish have announced they are closing early. Flash flood watches are in effect for a large portion of south Louisiana through this evening. Donald Jones, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says what’s making matters worse is that these are slow moving storms…:
CUT 10 (09) “some flash flooding”
Flash Flood Warnings are in effect for portions of south Louisiana until mid afternoon.

It’s now officially official. The Miss USA Pageant has officially confirmed that they will be returning to Baton Rouge for the event this summer. The announcement comes a week after the Metro Council approved spending and incentive packages which were part of the agreement to have the July 12th pageant return to the Capitol City.

Heavy showers and thunderstorms have been moving through south Louisiana since early this morning and it appears that more rain is on the way. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

Real Estate millionaire Robert Durst is scheduled to make an appearance in court in New Orleans on federal charges for possessing a gun after a felony conviction. Durst has been ordered to be in custody of US Marshals by 2pm today so he can enter a plea on the charge. The weapons arrest has kept Durst in New Orleans even though his lawyers are trying to get him to California where he’s charges with murder.

Legendary R&B performer Percy Sledge died in his Baton Rouge home just after midnight at the age of 73. Friends say the Rock and Roll Hall of famer had been battling cancer a long time. In a 2013 appearance on the Jim Engster Show, Sledge said he wrote When a Man Loves a Woman and it had been a tune in his head since he was a little boy…:
CUT 8 (16) “in the world”
Sledge was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2007.