Wallis Watkins

A handful of bills that would strengthen sexual harassment policies in state government passed a Senate committee Wednesday. 

A Senate committee gave the first stamp of approval to a bill that would raise the purchasing age for assault rifles in Louisiana. 

The full House has approved a bill making hazing a felony in Louisiana when it results in serious bodily injury or death.

Right now, hazing is only a misdemeanor. 

Increasing the minimum wage, expanding equal pay for women, strengthening policies against sexual harassment — these are all goals Gov. John Bel Edwards wanted to achieve in the regular session. But last week, all three policies hit a wall. 

One police officer has been fired, and another suspended following the 2016 fatal shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge.

Earlier this week, the full Senate rejected bills that would establish a state minimum wage and expand equal pay for women in Louisiana. On Thursday, a labor committee showed there's not much appetite for those policies in the House, either. 

Louisiana is currently facing a $700 million budget shortfall, but ended last year with a surplus.

Gov. John Bel Edwards presented his plan for how to spend that extra $120 million. 

Louisiana has a backlog of road and bridge projects worth nearly $14 billion. The state pays for its infrastructure needs through a gasoline tax of 20 cents per gallon, a rate that hasn't changed since 1989. 

As the country continues to grapple with how to protect against gun violence on school campuses, a handful of members in the Louisiana Legislature have introduced ideas of their own. 

These days, fewer state employees are spending their entire careers in government work. About 70 percent are expected to leave their job before they can earn full retirement.