LOUIE TODAY: Tortured puppies; cheating China; Lisa Nichols; Florida's primary

Tom and Liz Raab will be calling in this morning from New York City to talk with Louie, Vindy.com's news radio partner, about the proposed Nitro's Law (House Bill 108) and Monday's horrific case of animal abuse discovered downtown Youngstown. Two German shepherd puppies were found hogtied and frozen in a garbage bag on a median island on Federal Street near the downtown bus station.

The Raabs have been leading the campaign to get Nitro's Law out of committee in Columbus, where lawmakers have stalled it for more than three years. The law is named for their beloved Rottweiler, Nitro, who died from starvation and extreme neglect at the hands of Steve Croley, who was operating High Caliber K-9, which he promoted as a training kennel on Coitsville-Hubbard Road.

Humane agents found numerous dogs in his care there ion extreme pain and starving. Nitro and seven others died.

Croley, however, could be charged only with misdemeanors, based on Ohio law. He later filed for bankruptcy, precluding civil penalties.

Nitro's Law would raise the penalties for such abuse and neglect to felonies and prevent kennel owners and workers from repeating those abuses elsewhere.

Louie also will talk with members of the Alliance for American Manufacturing about their Capitol Hill press conference about new reports that have added urgency to their call for President Obama to stop China's illegal trade practices. U.S. Sen Sherrod Brown spoke.

Also, best-selling author, public speaker, motivational coach and teacher Lisa Nichols will talk about her latest book, "No Matter What!"

She has reached millions, both nationally and internationally, with her powerful message of empowerment, service, excellence & gratitude.

Her participation in the self-development phenomenon, The Secret, catapulted her popularity across the globe. She has appeared on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Extra,” “Larry King Live” and NBC’s Emmy Award-winning show, “Starting Over.”

She is the founder of Motivating the Masses and CEO of Motivating the Teen Spirit. Her transformational workshops have impacted the lives of more than 210,000 teens and 1 million adults.

Her new book,"No Matter What!" hit the New York Times best-sellers list and five others. in the first 37 days of being released and has already been sold in 20 foreign languages. She has been called “The Breakthrough Specialist” by her peers.

And Dr. Paul Sracic, chairman of Youngtown State University's political science department, will comment on Tuesday's Florida primary, and this year's local races.