Baton Rouge news

• House passes bill restricting abortions for genetic abnormalities, mid-term procedures

  28-04-2016 23:58
  
  The two bills now move onto the Senate.
  
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• House passes bill restricting abortions for genetic abnormalities, late-term procedures

  28-04-2016 23:58
  
  The two bills now move onto the Senate.
  
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• Louisiana LGBT nondiscrimination bill makes it to full Senate

  28-04-2016 23:39
  
  In most parts of Louisiana, it is legal to fire or demote a person for being gay, transgender or in a same-sex relationship.
  
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• Louisiana's continuing quest for a tax hike by any other name

  28-04-2016 22:59
  
  Gov. John Bel Edwards doesn't want to raise taxes during a two-week special session he plans to call in June, but he does want more taxpayer money to flow into Louisiana's coffers. How's he going to do that? Facing -- at...
  
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• Delgado campus on West Bank stalled by budget crisis

  28-04-2016 21:28
  
  Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Thursday (April 28) that he would have to halt three of five community college expansion projects around the state because the state doesn't have the financial capacity to support them.
  
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• DHH changing name of Bayou Health to 'Healthy Louisiana'

  28-04-2016 21:18
  
  The new name is set to be unveiled during a Monday news conference as the department works to roll out Medicaid expansion.
  
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• Police: Cabela's employee accidentally shoots himself with gun

  28-04-2016 19:37
  
  GONZALES - Gonzales Police say they were dispatched to Cabela's Thursday afternoon after an employee shot himself in the hand while showing a handgun to a customer.Investigators say the .22 caliber fired, sending a bullet through his palm and into the floor. He was treated at the hospital and is said to be in "stable" condition.We contacted Cabela's in Gonzales who told us they would not be commenting on the situation. Calls to Cabela's corporate media relations office were not returned.No one e
  
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• Gov. Edwards confronted by school leaders over voucher program

  28-04-2016 19:22
  
  BATON ROUGE- Gov. John Bel Edwards was confronted by shcool leadersThursday during his weekly press conference about how his proposed budget cuts will affect school voucher programs.The fight was brought to a head when private and charter schools claimed that the Governor was a liar in a recent TV ad.The conflict is over a proposed 15 percent cut to school vouchers. The program gives over 2,000 Baton Rouge students an option other than public education.The Governore told school leaders that the
  
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• Judge: White Castle to pay $13,000 in fines after public records lawsuit

  28-04-2016 19:08
  WHITE CASTLE- The town of White Castle will be forced to nearly $13,000 in fines for not providing public records requested by citizens.Garnell Young and June Landry were the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Back in January 2015, Young and Landry requested public records about the town’s finances.When they did not received those records, they filed a suit last year.After two hours in court Thursday morning and about a year and half dealing with the matter, attorneys say that it is finally se
  
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• John Bel Edwards, business groups reach compromise on some education issues

  28-04-2016 19:05
  
  Gov. John Bel Edwards' administration has helped broker a consensus between the state's teachers unions and business groups over a couple of education issues that they have been fighting over for years.
  
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• 18 animals have died at the Baton Rouge Zoo in 2016

  28-04-2016 18:02
  
  BATON ROUGE - Federal officials are putting together a report on the deaths of animals at the Baton Rouge Zoo.Since the start of 2016, eighteen animals have died. Most recently, a juvenile Malayan tiger died. The tiger, named Hadiah, died in mid-April."This death was much unexpected," zoo veterinarian, Dr. Gordon Pirie, said in a WBRZ and WBRZ.com report on the death. "(earlier in the day on the date the tiger died), we were performing routine rounds with a LSU veterinary intern and she
  
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• Should Louisiana police have the right to check cell phones for texting while driving?

  28-04-2016 17:59
  
  Louisiana, like most states, has made it illegal to text and visit social media sites while driving. The law is even tougher if you're under the age of 17 or a first-time driver. One Baton Rouge-based company -- Cellcontrol --...
  
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• Rep. Ted James announces not running for Mayor

  28-04-2016 17:51
  
  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana State Rep. Edward “Ted” James announced on Thursday that he will not be running for Mayor-President of Baton Rouge after speculation on whether or not he would run.
  He issued a statement stating:"It is indeed a privilege and an honor to have had so many people encourage me to run for Mayor-President of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish. My family and I gave a great deal of consideration and prayer to this matter and decided that I will not pursue
  
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• City officials to address Earth Day event mayhem Friday

  28-04-2016 17:35
  
  BATON ROUGE - City officials will discuss for the first time, incidents that happened during an Earth Day celebration in downtown almost two weeks ago.On Sunday, April 17th, there were a series of fights between young people. Police responded to numerous issues during the Earth Day event. The arrest of a 16-year-old was recorded, showing a Baton Rouge Police officer punching the teenager as he was being handcuffed. After the video, the officer was placed on administrative leave while the departm
  
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• Houma man pleads guilty to heroin distribution conspiracy

  28-04-2016 17:02
  
  NEW ORLEANS- A Houma man pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute with at least 100 grams of heroin.Michael Ross, 36, pleaded guilty to the charge on Thursday. According to court documents, Ross was a heroin distributor in Houma area.
  DEA agents learned that Ross worked with two others in the area, William Daniels and Tynisha Jones, in selling heroin.Ross would drive to New Orleans every three or four days to get heroin for resale.Back
  
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• Denham Springs PD selects interim chief

  28-04-2016 16:41
  
  DENHAM SPRINGS - The City of Denham Springs has selected an interim replacement for former Chief Scott Jones who was fired last month.Captain J. Shannon Womack will take over the position. The Denham Springs Police Department website lists Womack as Uniform Patrol Commander. He is also responsible for the Traffic Division, reserve program, Information Technology (IT), and crossing guards. Former Baton Rouge Chief Jeff LeDuff will operate in a consultant position for three months.Womack
  
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• La. House votes to ban second-trimester abortion procedure

  28-04-2016 16:32
  
  BATON ROUGE - An effort to prohibit a commonly used second-trimester abortion procedure has received overwhelming support from lawmakers in the Louisiana House.
      
  The bill by Rep. Mike Johnson, a Republican from Bossier City, would ban a procedure called dilation and evacuation. The procedure would only be allowed if necessary to prevent "serious health risk" to the mother.
      
  Similar laws have been passed in four other states, with anti
  
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• Interactive event allows children to experience big trucks up close

  28-04-2016 15:47
  
  BATON ROUGE - The Junior League of Baton Rouge has announced a unique, interactive event called “Touch A Truck” that will allow children to see, touch and explore their favorite big trucks, vehicles and heavy equipment.They’ll also have a chance to meet the individuals who operate the equipment and get to hear from multiple community partners about topics like car seat safety, CPR and fire safety.The event will be held at BREC’s Fairgrounds at Airline High
  
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• Bossier Parish deputy, former Tiger leaves department to join pro baseball team

  28-04-2016 15:38
  
  BOSSIER PARISH - The Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office bid farewell to a deputy who has signed a contract to become a professional baseball player.Thursday was Randy Ziegler's final day on the job. He's headed to Nebraska to play for the Lincoln Saltdogs, a minor league team of the Chicago White Sox. Ziegler, a left-handed pitcher, has a 91-MPH fastball that caught the attention for a White Sox scout. "I hadn't thrown in 3 years," Ziegler explains in a post on the sheriff's offic
  
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• BRFD responded to fire at apartment complex Thursday

  28-04-2016 15:32
  
  BATON ROUGE- The Baton Rouge Fire Department responded to a reported fire Thursday afternoon at the Canterbury Square apartment complex.Light smoke was seen coming from one of the apartment’s buildings and firefighters worked to ventilate one of the apartments.WBRZ was on the scene. The fire was extinguished and there are no reported injuries as of 4 p.m. Thursday.#BREAKING BRFD called to Canterbury Square apartment complex after 911 call reporting fire.@WBRZ pic.twitter.com/KUUQwlonzB
  
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• Repairs to begin on closed I-10 West access ramp near Sorrento

  28-04-2016 15:24
  
  SORRENTO - State Senator Eddie Lambert says work will begin soon to repair the US 61 northbound access ramp to I-10 westbound near Sorrento.The ramp has remained closed since October 2015 after a construction vehicle with an over-height load collided with the ramp’s structure.“According to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, severe structural damage resulted from the collision,” said Sen. Lambert. “Officials at the departme
  
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• Start of 2nd weekend of Jazz Fest soaked by rain

  28-04-2016 15:15
  
  NEW ORLEANS - Heavy downpours, punctuated by lightning and thunder, soaked the start of the second weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the premier music festival in New Orleans.
      
  The rain and mud on Thursday though did not dampen the spirits of many music lovers - some went barefoot and others dressed in rubber boots and rain gear - who crammed together in messy fields and under tents to enjoy the variety of musical acts and genres.
   &am
  
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• Plans for ER services in NBR to be presented Thursday

  28-04-2016 14:56
  
  BATON ROUGE- Plans for an emergency room and other medical services located in north Baton Rouge are set to be presented Thursday afternoon.A media tour of the The Offices of Champion Medical Center is planned for 5:30 p.m. The tour will be led by Elize Pruske, CCIM, Vice President Leasing and Development, Cambridge Holdings, Inc. along with Dennis E. Barnes, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Cambridge Holdings, Inc., Josh Ihde, President of Hospital Division, NEXT
  
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• Deion Jones a 1st round pick? Mock draft says so

  28-04-2016 14:30
  
  Draft commences Thursday at 7 p.m.
  
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• Four caught with nearly 200 stolen credit cards

  28-04-2016 14:16
  
  BATON ROUGE - Almost 200 counterfeit credit cards were recovered after a tip about people using the cards at a sporting goods store recently.Deputies said they arrested four Cuban Nationals for having the cards and using them to buy merchandise and obtain gift cards. The group had purchased $3,500 worth of merchandise and $4,000 worth of gift cards. Inside the store, deputies said the group had 23 counterfeit cards and had another 155 in their vehicle.A counterfeit card looks legitimate; with re
  
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• Police search for man accused of burning 2-year-old

  28-04-2016 14:07
  
  BATON ROUGE - Detectives have issued an arrest warrant for a man accused of injuring a 2-year-old victim a week agoBaton Rouge Police say the toddler suffered second-degree burns to his hips and buttocks on the night of Apr. 21.22-year-old Jamal Ackerson is now wanted for second-degree cruelty to juveniles.Anyone with information on Ackerson’s whereabouts is urged to contact the BRPD Special Victims Unit at (225) 389-3853.Permalink| Comments
  
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• BR man arrested for filing false Dept. of Environmental Quality documents

  28-04-2016 14:04
  
  BATON ROUGE- A 49-year-old Baton Rouge man was arrested Thursday for filing false public documents.Randy Gabriel Dobard was arrested for submitting a false asbestos abatement supervisor training certificate in an attempt to receive his accreditation from the Department of Enviromental Quality.Under department regulations, individuals who work around asbestos and supervise asbestos abatement workers are required to go through training.
  The training covers the physical characteristics of asbestos,
  
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• Two dead after officer-involved shooting in Calcasieu Parish

  28-04-2016 14:03
  
  CARLYSS - Two people are dead after an officer-involved shooting in Calcasieu Parish.It happened on Highway 27 when State Police say deputies were responding to a call of a reported burglary. Deputies said they saw subjects walking in a field near the home that was reportedly the target of the crime.Troopers say a male subject opened fire on deputies when they arrived, so the deputies returned fire, killing the man. A woman was also found dead at the same location, but troopers do not believe sh
  
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• Vermillion Parish junior high teacher accused of rape

  28-04-2016 13:56
  
  ABBEVILLE - A teacher in Vermillion Parish is behind bars after he was accused of rape.James Harber is listed as a 7th grade teacher at J.H. Williams Middle School according to the school’s website. He was booked by Abbeville Police on two counts of second-degree rape and one count of first-degree rape.An Abbeville PD spokesman said the department could not release further details, but did confirm that Harber was a teacher on leave and that the victims in both cases were minors.Harper
  
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• Poll shows La. voters support medical marijuana

  28-04-2016 13:37
  
  BATON ROUGE- A poll by JMC Enterprises, commissioned by The Louisiana Cannabis Association, revealed that 72 percent of Louisiana voters favor the legislation of medical marijuana.
  Key poll findings include:- 72 percent of Louisiana voters agree that medical marijuana should be available for patients while 13 percent opposed the usage. The remaining 15 percent were undecided.- 70 percent of Democrats and 67 percent of Republicans are in favor of legislation for medical marijuana use.- 37 percent
  
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• LGBT anti-discrimination employment bill advances in Senate

  28-04-2016 13:16
  
  BATON ROUGE - Senators advanced a proposal to ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, moments after an initial vote appeared to stall the measure in committee.Sen. Regina Barrow, a Baton Rouge Democrat, changed her vote Thursday to move the bill out of the Senate Labor Committee and to a full Senate debate.Sen. Troy Carter, a New Orleans Democrat, described his bill as protecting LGBT people's human rights. Business groups say the measure could lead to oner
  
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• House rejects bill to ease voting restrictions for felons

  28-04-2016 13:12
  
  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers in the Louisiana House have refused to give felons the right to vote as soon as they exit prison.
      
  Rep. Pat Smith, a Baton Rouge Democrat, proposed to let convicted felons register to vote while they are on parole, probation or suspended sentences - but out of jail. Currently, felons have to wait until they finish probation or parole.
      
  Supporters say giving people back their voting rights helps to rehabilitate
  
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• Congressman Cedric Richmond to deliver SU Commencement address

  28-04-2016 13:04
  
  BATON ROUGE- United States Congressman Cedric Richmond will deliver the commencement address for the Southern University Baton Rouge 2016 Spring Commencement.Congressman Richmond represents Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He currently serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security where he works to ensure New Orleans and surrounding areas are adequately prepared for any emergency oversight through FEMA. He also works to ensure the securi
  
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• State Police looking for driver who hit cyclist

  28-04-2016 13:03
  
  PAINCOURTVILLE - State Police are asking for help to locate the driver involved in a hit-and-run with a cyclist in Assumption Parish.The accident happened Wednesday night between 9 and 10 p.m. on LA-1 in Paincourtville. State Police say the bicycle was traveling south on LA-1 near LA-73 when it was hit by a white Ford Super Duty, similar to the one pictured.The cyclist was transported to the hospital with "moderate" injuries, but the truck left the scene. Troopers believe it's damaged on the pas
  
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• Caitlyn Jenner uses women's room at Trump hotel, posts video

  28-04-2016 12:49
  
  NEW YORK - Caitlyn Jenner has taken up Donald Trump's offer and used the women's restroom at one of his luxury buildings.The Republican presidential candidate said last week that he believes transgender people should be able to use whichever bathroom they choose. Trump said North Carolina's so-called "bathroom law," which directs transgender people to use the bathroom that matches the gender on their birth certificates, has caused unnecessary strife.Trump said that if Jenner - who won an Olympic
  
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• San Bernardino gunman's brother arrested along with two others

  28-04-2016 12:43
  
  SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -Federal prosecutors say three people connected to one of the San Bernardino shooters have been arrested in a marriage fraud conspiracy.
      
  The U.S. Attorney's Office said Thursday that those arrested include the brother and sister-in-law of shooter Syed Rizwan Farook. The third person arrested is the wife of Enrique Marquez Jr., a friend of Farook's who has been charged for his alleged role in aiding the violence.
     &nbs
  
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• FBI says warrants served in San Bernardino shooting probe

  28-04-2016 12:43
  
  SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - The FBI says warrants have been served Thursday morning in California in connection to the San Bernardino mass shooting investigation.A source told KABC-TV that the location of the search was San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook’s brother’s home.In February, FBI agents served a search at the same home in Corona, California.14 people were killed in December when Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, attacked the Inland Regional Center. They were killed in
  
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• Iberville residents voice concerns about drilling plans

  28-04-2016 12:37
  
  WHITE CASTLE - Residents brought up a sinkhole that opened in Bayou Corne four years ago several times at a meeting Thursday night in White Castle.The company Shintech wants to drill for brine in Iberville Parish, but many residents are having flashbacks to the already-existing sinkhole that isn't far from the proposed drilling sight."He said he would be financially responsible if something ever happened, and he was talking about a lot of consultants and contractors it makes it legally very diff
  
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• Reports: Prescription drugs found with Prince at death scene

  28-04-2016 12:14
  
  MINNEAPOLIS - Several news organizations are reporting that prescription drugs were discovered with Prince when he was found dead in his Paisley Park home.ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN, citing unidentified law enforcement sources, have reported that prescription painkillers were found on the 57-year-old Prince and in his home. The Star Tribune, also citing unnamed sources, reported that prescription pills were found but that it wasn't clear whether they were prescribed to Prince.Prince died April 21. A
  
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• Investors meet to discuss emergency room in North Baton Rouge

  28-04-2016 12:09
  
  BATON ROUGE - Investors met with the #NBRNOW Blue Ribbon Commission Thursday to discuss building an emergency room in North Baton Rouge.Leaders of the healthcare company Next Health said if the money is there, they will waste no time building the new emergency room, and it could be open within the next year. Next Health operates Champion Medical Center, a specialized surgical hospital located in Howell Place and says the bones are there to build and receive patients."Because we have the
  
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• Missing dog to return home after 10 years

  28-04-2016 09:24
  
  MOBILE, AL - A German Shorthaired Pointer that went missing from his Northern Alabama home a decade ago has been returned.Charlie was presumed to be dead after he was gone for several years. The dog’s owner, Tracey Dove, says she believes Charlie was stolen after the enclosure that housed Charlie was broken into.However, Charlie was tracked down last week on the steps of a church near Brewton, Alabama. Renee Jones, Rescue Director at an Alabama-based rescue organization, said she recei
  
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• Cardell Hayes indicted for shooting of ex-Saints Player

  28-04-2016 09:12
  
  NEW ORLEANS- An Orleans Parish grand jury has indicted Cardell Hayes with the second-degree murder in the shooting death of retired Saints NFL player Will Smith on Thursday afternoon.Hayes was also indicted for attempted second-degree murder of Smith’s wife, Racquel Smith.Bond was set at $1.75 million, according to reports from WWL who has a shared content agreement with WBRZ.
  Police say Cardell Hayes shot the star defensive end and Smith's wife late April 9th, killing Smith and hittin
  
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• Praxair to invest $100M in Geismar facility

  28-04-2016 08:46
  
  GEISMAR - Leading global industrial gas company, Praxair Inc., announced Wednesday an investment in excess of $100 million in its location in Geismar.The company says they’re putting the cash into expanding its carbon monoxide production with an aim to support the growing customer demand present in the Mississippi River corridor.Praxair will add a new, 13 million standard cubic feet per day carbon monoxide purification train at the site. According to the company, carbon monoxide is a r
  
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• Judge asked to reconsider 50 year sentence on heroin charge

  28-04-2016 08:35
  
  BATON ROUGE - A 32-year-old Baker man is asking a Baton Rouge state judge to reconsider the 50-year prison term he dealt him last month for attempting to sell heroin.
  Kedric J. Williams must serve the maximum term for possession with intent to distribute heroin without benefit of parole.
  District Judge Mike Erwin handed down the sentence on March 15.
  Williams' attorney, James Rothkamm, argues in a motion to reconsider the sentence that Williams was employed at the time of his arrest, has two sma
  
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• April 28, 2016 Morning News Pop

  28-04-2016 07:10
  
  Here are today's top stories:1 dead, 3 injured in shooting; EBRSO looking for suspectFBI searches woods in Clinton for clues in 2001 child abduction caseMovie theater metal detector mandate fails to win supportOn and off showers through afternoonUpdates all day, every day:FACEBOOK | TWITTERPermalink| Comments
  
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• Senate passes cursive writing mandate for public schools

  28-04-2016 03:23
  
  BATON ROUGE, La. - With rallying cries of what it means to be American, Louisiana senators unanimously passed a bill requiring Louisiana's public schools to teach cursive writing.The 37-0 Senate vote Wednesday moved the measure to the House for consideration.Sen. Beth Mizell, a Franklinton Republican, described cursive as the "fancy squiggles" used in signatures while answering questions on her proposal. Cursive reading and writing must be taught to public school students by the third grade, und
  
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• College tuition hike bills face a tough time in Louisiana House

  28-04-2016 02:06
  
  The Louisiana House showed no appetite Wednesday (April 27) for bills that would allow public colleges and universities to raise tuition more easily.
  
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• Cursive writing requirement passes Louisiana Senate

  28-04-2016 00:08
  
  The legislation mandates that cursive writing be introduced in third grade and continue to be incorporated into the school curricula through the end of high school.
  
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