The 2015 Louisiana Survey finds that state residents support the legal use of marijuana for medical purposes, but not personal use. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Michael Henderson says, even if marijuana remains illegal in Louisiana, 67-percent of the public feel that people convicted of possessing small amounts of pot should not serve jail time…

cut 6 (07) “support it”

He says that number jumps to 79-percent when respondents were informed of the costs of incarceration.

Five major health advocacy groups are teaming up to launch “Invest in a Healthy Louisiana”, a campaign to support Bogalusa Representative Harold Ritchie’s bill to raise the state’s tax on cigarettes by $1.18 a pack. Governor Jindal is calling for tax cuts to offset any tax increase and Ritchie says he’s willing to work with the governor…

cut 9 (09) “combination of things”

The legislative session begins Monday.

A high school in Monroe which previously told a gay female student that she could not wear a tuxedo to prom has now retracted. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

The four underage Louisiana college students busted in Alabama transporting over 100 cases of beer and numerous bottles of liquor to spring break have been identified. 18-year-old Harrison Coogan, 19-year-old Brandon Barber, 18-year-old Hunter Coker, and 19-year-old Carson Buckner are all students at LSU who joined the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity last fall. All four were issued summonses for minor in possession of alcohol.

Five major health advocacy groups are coming together to push for a higher cigarette tax in Louisiana. Scott Carwile has the story…

cut 2 (30) “reporting”

State Police are investigating a crash in Iberia Parish that killed a Jeanerette Police officer last night. They say 22-year-old Juandre Gilliam died during an apparent high speed chase when his car went off the road and overturned. The officer was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. They say the two suspects in the car Gilliam was chasing, Andre Joseph and an unnamed juvenile, have been taken into custody. Charges are pending at this time.

Louisiana education superintendent John White tells lawmakers he needs more money so the state can provide standardized tests next school year. White says Louisiana will violate state and federal law if it doesn’t have a standardized test…

cut 17 (10) “education system”

White says the budget as it currently exists will prevent students from taking the A-C-T or an assessment test like PARCC. The Jindal administration has said the superintendent will have to decide what to cut from his budget.

A high school in Monroe, which previously told a gay female student that she was not allowed to wear a tuxedo to prom, has now retracted. Carroll High School and Claudetteia Love’s story got national attention. Love was represented by the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Executive Director Kate Kendell says they are happy about this outcome…

cut 13 (09) “as a person”

Kendell says forbidding girls from wearing a tuxedo to prom would have served no purpose.

Louisiana education superintendent John White tells lawmakers he needs more money so the state can provide standardized tests next school year. White says the budget as it currently exists will prevent students from taking the A-C-T or an assessment test like PARCC…

cut 16 (10) “of chaos”

White and Governor Jindal have battled over the tests tied to Common Core.

Five major health advocacy groups are joining forces in support of a bill to raise the state’s tax on cigarettes by $1.18 a pack. Bogalusa Representative Harold Ritchie is sponsoring a bill to raise the state’s cigarette tax to the national average. Ritchie says he’s not the only lawmaker to file legislation to raise tobacco taxes, which gives him hope something will get done

cut 8 (07) “this session”

Ritchie says a higher cigarette tax can reduce the number of deaths associated with smoking and help generate millions of dollars.

The 2015 Louisiana Survey shows a majority of residents still support the legalization of marijuana for medical use, but support declined from 79- to 60-percent since last year. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Michael Henderson says last year’s Senate race may have been a factor in the drop of support…

cut 5 (08) “for sure”

The survey shows 52-percent of residents oppose legalizing marijuana for personal use.

The Department of Health and Hospitals has cut the ribbon on a new public health laboratory. DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert says the new lab site allows the state to better identify food outbreaks, test infectious disease samples and any number of other public health concerns. She says every single child that is born in Louisiana will have blood sent to the lab…

cut 11 (09) “before it affects them”

She says this is a ultra modern lab with all of the latest technology.

Anthony Davis lead all scorers with 29 points and Quincy Pondexter added 20 as the Pelicans upset the Golden State Warriors last night 103-100. This was the Pels first victory over Golden State since April 24th, 2012. With the win, coupled with Oklahoma City’s 113-88 loss to San Antonio, New Orleans is now a half game ahead of the Thunder for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Pelicans are in Memphis tonight.

In an interview with the Arizona Republic, Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson said that he is diabetic. The former LSU Tiger said that he’s been working with doctors on a plan to reverse the symptoms and that his health is back to normal.

Northwestern State guard Zeek Woodley has been named the Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year. The sophomore ranked second in scoring in the country last season with 22.2 points per game while maintaining a 3.30 grade-point average.

In college baseball, the third ranked LSU Tigers combined for 14 hits as they blew past UNO 11-2. LSU has now won five straight as they improve to 28-5 on the season. The Tigers look to make it six in a row tonight when Northwestern State comes to the Box.

Speaking of the Demons, they will be looking to bounce back after their 8-5 loss to Sam Houston yesterday.

ULM took a 7-3 win over McNeese State. Today the Warhawks will face Nicholls State at 2 PM and turn around and play McNeese again at 6PM.

Junior outfielder Brian Mills drilled a walk-off RBI double as UL-Lafayette scored three in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Houston 6-5. The Cajuns hope to keep it going tonight when they travel to Southern.

Southland Conference leader Southeastern Louisiana crushed South Alabama 12-2. The Lions head to Salt Lake City this weekend for a series against Utah.

Louisiana Tech blew a six run lead, but were able to recover to pull out a 9-7 win over Arkansas-Little Rock. The Bulldogs and Trojans will meet again this afternoon at 4.

Tulane upended Nicholls State 7-1.

Five major health advocacy groups are teaming up to launch a campaign in support of a bill to raise the state’s tax on cigarettes by $1.18 a pack. The American Heart Association is part of the “Invest in a Healthy Louisiana” campaign and its spokesperson Stasha Rhodes says it’s time to bring the state’s tax on cigarettes to the national average, which is a $1.54 a pack…

cut 7 (08) “state’s budget”

Bogalusa Representative Harold Ritchie is sponsoring a bill to raise the state’s cigarette tax to the national average.

The 2015 Louisiana Survey finds that state residents support the legal use of marijuana for medical purposes, but not personal use. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Michael Henderson says 52-percent of residents oppose the personal use of marijuana, but the difference between support and opposition is shrinking…

cut 4 (08) “seven points”

The Department of Health and Hospitals has cut the ribbon on a new public health laboratory that will be used to test water, screen for genetic disorders and help the state respond to public health threats such as Ebola. DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert says this is a ultra modern lab with all of the latest technology…

cut 10 (11) “water is safe”

Kliebert says the goal of the Office of Public Health Laboratory is to protect the health and safety of Louisiana residents by providing accurate and timely data to state officials, public health program and citizens.

A high school in Monroe which previously told a gay female student that she was not allowed to wear a tuxedo to prom is now able to do so.
voicer 5 (30) “…reporting”

A bill to criminalize so-called ‘revenge porn” will be debated in the upcoming legislative session. Kenner representative Julie Stokes says she wants to ensure that people who spread private pictures without permission are held accountable…
cut 7 (08) “…high school”
Governor Jindal supports the bill.

Louisiana education superintendent John White tells lawmakers he needs more money so the state can provide standardized tests next school year. White says the budget as it currently exists will prevent students from taking the A-C-T or an assessment test like PARCC…
cut 16 (10) ”….of chaos”
The Jindal administration has said White will have to decide what to cut from his budget.

Four underage Louisiana college students were issued summons’ in Alabama when busted hauling a trailer full of alcohol to Gulf Shores for spring break. Mobile County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Paul Burch says deputies noticed a trailer traveling on Interstate 10 with an expired tag…:
CUT 9 (07) “amount of alcohol”
Burch says deputies found over 100 18-packs of beer.

A recent LSU Public Policy Research Lab poll shows support for legal same-sex marriage in Louisiana lags is lagging behind the national average…
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

In state budget news, Superintendent of Education John White told lawmakers today he doesn’t have enough money to provide standardized tests next year, which would violate state and federal student testing requirements. The Jindal administration has previously stated it’s up to White on what he wants to cut to make things work.
——————————–
A Kenner lawmaker is sponsoring legislation that would criminalize so-called “revenge porn,” making it illegal to disclose a sexual image of someone without their consent. Representative Julie Stokes says House Bill 489 would ensure that people who spread private pictures without permission are held accountable…:
CUT 6 (05) “in Louisiana”
Governor Bobby Jindal is already on record saying the bill has his full support.

A new twist today in the Darren Sharper case today, as a New Orleans judge delayed the arraingment until the federal drug charges are resolved. That move means the previous plea deal for the former Saints star on drug and rape charges, is likely to change. Legal analyst Chick Foret says Orleans Parish DA Leon Cannizzaro may not like -what many refer to as- a sweetheart deal…
CUT 14 (08) Q: ‘Orleans Parish’

A Kenner lawmaker is sponsoring legislation would make it illegal to disclose a sexual image of someone without their consent. The proposed law would protect adults from physical exposure bullying via text or online, but Representative Julie Stokes says the best protection is…
CUT 8 (05) Q: ‘these images’

A twist in the Darren Sharper case today, as a New Orleans judge delayed the arraignment until the federal case of the drug charges is resolved. The former Saints star was expected to plead guilty in state court to charges related to drugging and raping women, in order to enact a global plea deal that would send Sharper to jail for 9 years. Legal Analyst Chick foret says the Orleans Parish DA is holding all the cards…
cut 13 (12) Q: ” this deal is gonna get done”
==========================
Louisiana public support for same-sex marriage is lagging behind the national average, but a recent LSU Public Policy Research Poll shows the gap between support and opposition is shrinking. A large majority of older Louisianians are opposed, while almost 60 percent of adults under 30 support it. Director Michael Henderson says as time goes on, the numbers will change…
CUT 5 (07) Q: ” those trends”

Four underaged college students from Louisiana have been cited in Alabama for hauling a large amount of alcohol, headed toward Gulf shores for Spring Break. The booze was seized, and since no drugs of weapons were found, they were allowed to go on their way. Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Lt. Paul Burch says he wasn’t sure if they continued to the beach…
CUT 11 (09) Q: ‘headed back out”