Louisiana Hospital Association CEO Paul Salles says inflation played a role in last week’s announcement that Ochsner is laying off 770 employees at it’s facilities in Louisiana and Mississippi. Salles says more hospital systems could do the same as hospitals do not have the ability to raise prices like other industries…
cut 5 (11) “….that quickly”

If you haven’t filed your state income taxes today is the deadline. Deputy Revenue Secretary Luke Morris says filers will receive an automatic six month extension if they don’t submit their returns, but you still have to pay what you think you may owe….
cut 9 (09) “…to take place”
You can pay online at revenue-dot-louisiana-dot-gov/LaTaP.

Does altitude play a role in weight loss? Researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center are looking to answer these questions through a new study. Teiko Foxx has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

There are just four more regular season games left for the second ranked LSU baseball team and their bullpen is a mess. The Tigers blew a nine-run lead yesterday and lost to Mississippi State 14-13 in ten innings.

Meanwhile, LSU softball will host a regional this week, the second seed is the Lady Cajuns from U-L Lafayette.

Governor John Bel Edwards is urging the Louisiana Senate to provide teachers with a two-thousand dollar pay raise in the state budget…
cut 11 (09) “….to happen”
The Republican controlled House did not contain funding for teacher pay raises in its budget plan. Instead, the lower chamber proposes paying down teacher retirement debt, which would free up dollars for local school systems to provide funding for higher teacher salaries.

A bill waiting for a vote on the Senate floor would create a health care workforce fund. The Louisiana Hospital Association supports the legislation. President and CEO Paul Salles…
cut 6 (13) “…big difference”

Today is the deadline to file your 2022 state income taxes. Deputy Secretary of Revenue Luke Morris says if you have not filed and need an extension, you no longer have to file with the state to get one…:
Cut 7 (09) “…to file that form.”
But it’s not an extension to pay and you must send the Department of Revenue at least part of what you think you owe today.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is embarking on a $2.3 million study to determine if altitude plays a role in weight loss. Lead Researcher Claire Berryman says to determine whether low oxygen levels in the air can help obese individuals lose weight , they will have participants sleep in a tent with oxygen levels equivalent to 85-hundred feet…
Cut 14 (10) “…Aspen Colorado.”
Berryman says the study’s goal is to determine whether sleeping in low oxygen tent leads to increases in energy expenditure, decreases in appetite, and greater body weight loss.

Ochsner Health’s announcement that it’s laying off 770 employees sent a signal the healthcare industry is struggling. Louisiana Hospital Association President Paul Salles says hospitals nationwide are facing a tough operating environment largely driven by inflation
Cut 4 (08) “…of expenses.”
Salles says he would not be surprised to see other hospital systems also reduce their workforce.

There are four weeks left in the legislative session and it remains to be seen if public school teachers will get a raise. The Republican controlled House’s plan is to use state surplus dollars to pay off state retirement system debt and this will free up dollars for local school systems to fund the raises. Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland…
cut 10 (08) “….two for one”
But Governor Edwards is pushing the Legislature to allocate the two-thousand dollar raise in the budget. We are still waiting for Senate Finance to provide its plan.

Today is the state income tax filing deadline. Kevin Gallagher reports on changes and new options for filers…:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

A Denham Springs Police Officer was critically wounded during a shootout Thursday afternoon in the parking lot of a shopping center. Corporal Shawn Kelly –who was shot multiple times – was hired by Denham Springs police in 2019.  Denham Springs Police Chief Rodney Walker says Kelly can use your prayers…

Cut 12 (11) “…to us” 

A blood drive in Officer Kelly’s honor is being held in Walker today on Ball Park Drive until 1 pm.

Legislation targeting the LGBTQ community is advancing in the Louisiana Legislature.  Governor John Bel Edwards says he’ll address the bills when and if they cross his desk.

Cut 4 (07)  “…damaging.” 

Edwards says he’s frustrated lawmakers are not focusing on topics to grow the state’s economy and improve education instead.

Ochsner Health is in the process of laying off nearly 800 employees across its system. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Palermo.”

Fans of Louisiana’s own Duck Dynasty can see a trailer of the full-length feature film about Phil Robertson’s life before he became famous as the patriarch for the reality TV series.  The Blind, that was filmed entirely in Shreveport hits the big screen on September 28^th.

Bills targeting the LGBTQ community are advancing in the Louisiana Legislature.  Governor John Bel Edwards says it worries him because of the increased likelihood of the trans population committing suicide.

Cut 3 (08) “…to be worse.”

Among the bills is one prohibiting public-school teachers from discussing sexuality and gender identity, another forbidding gender-affirming health care for transgender minors, and restricting the use of certain pronouns in public schools.

The deceased body of a female employee was found in a walk-in freezer at an Arby’s in New Iberia Thursday evening.  New Iberia Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Daneisha Hughes says they will know more about the circumstances of her death after an autopsy is conducted…

Cut 10 (06) “…this time.” 

 Another employee found the deceased woman’s body.

Mother’s Day is one of the busiest weekends of the crawfish season and retailers are dropping prices in an effort to get your business. That’s according to Crawfish App Co-Founder Laney King who says this may be the last big weekend of the crawfish season.

Cut 13 (13) “…you can.” 

A sack of live medium crawfish will run between $2.00-$2.23 per pound.

WalletHub ranks Louisiana as the worst state to live in if you’re a working mom. The Bayou State ranks 22^nd in female unemployment and 35^th in women’s salary. And WalletHub’s Jill Gonzales says there’s always that work-balance gap, skewing in men’s favor…:

CUT 08(13)      “…dads are.”

Bills targeting the LGBTQ community are advancing in the Louisiana Legislature. One bill prohibits classroom discussion of trans or gender-preference matters. When questioned about it Governor John Bel Edwards says lawmakers should be tackling problems not addressing issues the state doesn’t have.

CUT 05(06)      “…focused on.”

Edwards says these are “solutions in search of a problem.”

Denham Springs police Corporal Shawn Kelly is listed in critical condition, after being shot numerous times Thursday in a strip mall parking lot. DSPD Chief Rodney Walker says it started with a call of a man and woman in a heated argument…:

CUT 11(09)      “…officer down.”

A blood drive in Officer Kelly’s honor is being held in Walker today on Ball Park Drive until 1 pm.

The fiscal website “WalletHub.com” ranks Louisiana the WORST state for working moms. Failing in the categories of work opportunities, work-life balance and childcare. WalletHub’s Jill Gonzales says positive change seems unlikely anytime soon…:

CUT 07(09)      “…bottom up.”

Louisiana ranks 35^th for women’s income levels, and 22^nd for female unemployment.

Crawfish prices are dropping just in time for Mother’s Day. According to Crawfish App co-founder Laney King, mudbug prices are the same this Mother’s Day weekend as they were this time last year. A sack of live medium crawfish will run between $2.00-$2.23 per pound.

Cut 14 (12)  “…or so.”

Legislation targeting the LGBTQ population is moving forward in the Louisiana Legislature. Governor John Bel Edwards says lawmakers are not focusing on topics to grow the state’s economy.

Cut 4 (06)  “…damaging.” 

Another bill prohibits public school teachers from discussing sexuality and gender identity,

Louisiana ranked the worst state to live in for working moms,, according to WalletHub’s 2023 Best & Worst States for Working Mom report.  WalletHub Analyst Jill Gonzales says The report looked at 17 metrics to generate rankings number of categories.

Cut 6 (12)  “…on yet.” 

West Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina were also ranked “the worst” in those categories.

A Denham Springs police officer is in critical condition after a gunfight erupted in the parking lot at a shopping center Thursday afternoon. Corporal Shawn Kelly was shot multiple times in the confrontation. Police Chief  Rodney Walker says Kelly says everyone in the community is affected by this unfortunate incident…

Cut 12 (11) “…to us” 

The suspect, Justin Roberts, was shot by officers and died from his injuries.

Mother’s Day is one of the busiest weekends of the crawfish season and retailers are dropping prices in an effort to get your business. That’s according to Crawfish App Co-Founder Laney King who says this may be the last big weekend of the crawfish season

Cut 13 (13) “…you can.” 

According to crawfish pricing data compiled from over 1,650 vendors on The Crawfish App, crawfish prices are the same this Mother’s Day weekend in 2023 compared to Mother’s Day weekend last year. A sack of live medium crawfish will run between $2.00-$2.23 per pound. Laney says live crawfish are reasonably priced.

A Denham Springs cop is in critical condition, after being shot numerous times Thursday in a strip mall parking lot. DSPD Chief Rodney Walker says it started with a call of a man and woman in a heated argument…:

CUT 11(09)      “…officer down.”

Corporal Shawn Kelly is now fighting for his life. The shooter, 30-year-old Justin Roberts, was killed a short time later in a shootout with Livingston parish deputies.

The manager of an Arby’s restaurant in New Iberia was found dead inside the walk-in freezer last night. NIPD Sgt. Deleisha Hughes says an autopsy is scheduled for the yet un-named female victim…:

CUT 10(04)      “…of foul play.”

Police say it may have been an accident.

At the capitol, bills aimed at slowing the roll of the LGBT agenda are moving forward. One bill prohibits classroom discussion of trans or gender-preference matters. Another forbids gender reassignment procedures for minors. Another restricts use of a person’s so-called “preferred pronouns.” Governor John Bel Edwards was asked about the bills Thursday and it worries him because of the increased likelihood of trans people committing suicide…:

CUT 03(07)      “…to be worse.”

He says it’s too soon to commit to vetoing any of the bills, as the bills could still be amended.

WalletHub ranks Louisiana the worst state to live in, if you’re a working mom. We rank 22^nd in female unemployment and 35^th in women’s salary. WalletHub’s Jill Gonzales says there’s always that work-balance gap; skewing in men’s favor…:

CUT 08(13)      “…dads are.”

“WalletHub.com” if you want to read it for yourself.

Bills seemingly aimed at impeding the LGBT agenda are moving through the legislature. One bill prohibits classroom discussion of trans or gender-preference matters. Another forbids gender reassignment procedures for minors. Another restricts use of a person’s so-called “preferred pronouns.” Governor John Bel Edwards was asked about it yesterday. He says lawmakers have bigger problems to handle…:

CUT 05(06)      “…focused on.”

Edwards says these are “solutions in search of a problem.”

The fiscal website “WalletHub.com” ranks Louisiana the WORST state for working moms. Failing in gat3egories like work opportunities, work-life balance and childcare. WalletHub’s Jill Gonzales says positive change seems unlikely anytime soon…:

CUT 07(09)      “…bottom up.”

We rank 35^th for women’s income levels, and 22^nd for female unemployment.

Police in New Iberia say they do not – at this time – think foul play was involved in the death of a fast food worker; found dead in the freezer of an Arby’s restaurant. NIPD Captain Leland Laseter suggests the unnamed woman’s death may have been an accident. The investigation is ongoing.

Crawfish prices are heating up just in time for you to say ‘I love you Mom’ with a crawfish boil the weekend. Teiko Foxx has more…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Foxx.”

Ochsner Health is in the process of laying off nearly 800 employees across its system. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Palermo.”

A Monroe area couple are charged in the death of their 6-week-old infant. Trent Hebert and Shanika Edwards said the girl passed out in the tub, but EMT’s noticed she had severe burns on her legs. She died at a nearby hospital. The pair are charged with negligent homicide.

The manager of an Arby’s in New Iberia was found dead in the fast food restaurant’s freezer. New Iberia Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Daneisha Hughes says officers were called to the scene shortly before 6:30 last night…:

CUT 09(05)      “…freezer.”

The victim is a female and that’s about all we know. At this time, police do not suspect foul play, but the investigation has just started.

Mother’s Day is one of the busiest weekends of the crawfish season and retailers are dropping prices in an effort to get your business. That’s according to Crawfish App Co-Founder Laney King..:

CUT 15(07)      “…a pound.”

The Crawfish App compares prices from more than 16 hundred vendors in Louisiana.

We have to get through some rain and possible thunderstorm this evening, but Saturday and Sunday should be partly cloudy and mild.