State Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret tells lawmakers it’s time to reign in the state’s film tax credit program. Moret says the state’s film program has created an estimated ten-thousand jobs and brought positive attention to the state, but it only produces 20-cents in revenue for every dollar of tax credit…:
CUT 12 (09) “state priorities”
Legislation is expected to be filed soon that addresses the money spent on film tax credits.

LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab’s 2015 Louisiana Survey shows more Louisianians feel the state is heading in the right direction. And Director Michael Henderson says 26-percent of Louisianians say the state business climate is better than it was a year ago…:
CUT 10 (10) “things are going”

State Treasurer John Kennedy says the Jindal Administration is considering selling the Louisiana Lottery as a way to help plug the state’s massive budget hole. Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols says this has never been an option. Kennedy says these documents are irrefutable evidence that these discussions are ongoing…:
CUT 5 (11) “sale of your lottery”
Kennedy says getting rid of the state’s Lottery would be a bad idea.

An appeals court judge has thrown out the sentence of former Jonesboro Mayor Leslie Thompson and ordered a re-sentencing. Thompson was convicted in 2013 on three counts of malfeasance in office. The court ruled that Thompson’s sentence of six years in prison, combined with having to pay restitution of almost $52,000, was excessive. It is unknown when the re-sentencing will take place.

LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab’s 2015 Louisiana Survey shows more Louisianians feel the state is heading in the right direction. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

The Louisiana National Guard says they’ve gotten 10 bids to get rid of the M6 artillery propellant at Camp Minden. Not many details are being released about the bids. They do say a team is being formed to evaluate the situation to address protests by residents who oppose the open tray burning.

The Jindal administration’s budget for next fiscal year does not fund a presidential preference primary for Louisiana in 2016. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says budget cuts to his office will force him to close a voter outreach program, limit most state museums to one day weeks, and not hold elections in the first half of 2016. He says, by law, he has to conduct elections unless instructed otherwise…:
CUT 7 (07) “the election”
In a statement, the Jindal administrations says Schedler should find other ways to balance his budget and fund the primary.

The NCAA Tournament is underway and 9th seeded-LSU faces 8th seeded North Carolina State tonight. Tipoff will be around 8:20pm.

BESE President Chas Roemer says Governor Bobby Jindal’s plan to rid Common Core from Louisiana is a disgrace. Jinda announced he wants to replace the education standards with one developed by Louisiana teacherls and parents. He says many are frustrated with the way their children are being taught:
CUT 16 (09) “our classrooms”
State Superintendent of Education John White says turning back from Common Core will create problems for Louisiana teachers.

LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab’s 2015 Louisiana Survey shows more citizens feel the state is heading in the right direction. The survey indicates that 44-percent of residents feel The Bayou State is moving forward which is up from 38 percent two years ago. Director Michael Henderson says this year’s survey has bucked the trend…:
CUT 9 (06) “up ticks”
State Treasurer John Kennedy says he has proof that the state is looking at selling the Louisiana Lottery. But Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols says they get lots of revenue generating pitches and this has never been entertained as an option. Kennedy hopes this is cleared up before the legislative session is over…:

CUT 4 (09) “to talk about it”
The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

State Police say a Wisner man is dead after a two-vehicle crash in Franklin Parish. They say an 18-wheeler, driven by 71-year-old David Minor of Natchez, Mississippi, crossed the center line and struck a vehicle driven by 61-year-old Alex Brown, Jr. Brown suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Minor was cited for careless operation. The investigation is ongoing.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says the Jindal Administration is considering selling the Louisiana Lottery as a way to help plug the state’s massive budget hole. The Administration is denying this. But Kennedy says he knows for a fact that it’s being actively studied…:
CUT 3 (10) “considered”
The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

The Jindal administration’s budget for next fiscal year does not fund a presidential preference primary for Louisiana in 2016. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says he was assured that elections would be covered by the state through the spring of next year. He says when his office looked at the budget, he found that there was no money for the primary…:
CUT 6 (06) “leave office”
A presidential primary election would cost the state approximately $3.5 million.

A new study from the University of Texas Health Science Center links drinking diet sodas to increasing waistlines in senior citizens. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says an 85-year-old man is booked with vehicular homicide charges for allegedly running over his long time female companion in a driveway. They say when deputies responded to medical emergency in DeQuincy they found 56-year-old Mary Franklin laying near the driveway and she was pronounced dead at the scene. It was determined she was run over by James Abdalla Jr. He is in the Calcasieu Correctional Center on $60,000 bond.

Governor Bobby Jindal announced his intentions to remove the controversial Common Core education standards with three pieces of legislation that will be heard in the upcoming legislative session. State Superintendent of Education John White says turning back from Common Core will create problems for Louisiana teachers…

cut 15 (07) “outliers”

Jindal’s announcement sets up a big battle in the upcoming legislative session.

The IRS says there are about 22,000 people in Louisiana who did not file a tax return in 2011 which amounts to potential refunds of up to $21.4 million dollars. Spokeswoman Lea Crusberg says tax payers only have until April 15th of this year to file their 2011 return to get their refund and time’s running out…

cut 9 (10) “2011 return”

She says the average potential refund in Louisiana is $693.

New Orleans Senator JP Morrell files a bill that would allow public school students in Orleans Parish to be asked about what type of sexual behaviors they are involved in. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (27) “reporting”

An appeals court judge has thrown out the sentence of former Jonesboro Mayor Leslie Thompson and ordered a re-sentencing. Thompson was convicted in 2013 on three counts of malfeasance in office. The court ruled that Thompson’s sentence of six years in prison, combined with having to pay restitution of almost $52,000, was excessive. It is unknown when the re-sentencing will take place.

Governor Bobby Jindal calls eliminating Common Core a top priority in the upcoming legislative session, but education leaders plan to fight his efforts. Scott Carwile…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

State Police say a Wisner man is dead after a two-vehicle crash in Franklin Parish. They say an 18-wheeler, driven by 71-year-old David Minor of Natchez, Mississippi, crossed the center line and struck a vehicle driven by 61-year-old Alex Brown, Jr. Brown suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Minor was cited for careless operation. The investigation is ongoing.

A bill filed by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell would allow public students in Orleans Parish to be surveyed about what type of behaviors they are involved in — including sexual behavior. Morrell says Louisiana has a law on the books that prohibits students from being asked about their personal beliefs in sex, morality or religion…

cut 11 (11) “more effective”

Morrell says opponents believe that by addressing sexual education you are making kids promiscuous.

Research from the University of Texas Health Science Center finds an association between drinking diet sodas and the increasing waistlines in senior citizens. While the study doesn’t prove a direct connection, LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center registered dietician, Cathy Champagne, says moderation will always be your best bet…

cut 6 (08) “not so good”

The study followed seniors for nine years and found that waistlines increased by more than 3 inches in those who consumed diet sodas every day.

Governor Bobby Jindal announces a plan to remove Common Core from Louisiana’s public schools and replace it with educational standards and a standardized test developed by Louisiana teachers and parents. But BESE President Chas Roemer says Louisiana had input on Common Core and the early results are encouraging…

cut 14 (05) “deserve comment”

Jindal’s announcement sets the stage for a big battle in the upcoming legislative session.

New Orleans Senator JP Morrell files a bill that would allow public school students in Orleans Parish to be surveyed about what type of behaviors they are involved in — including sexual behavior. He says results of such a review would help with coming up with a sex ed class that would actually be effective…

cut 10 (11) “these days”

Baton Rouge Representative Pat Smith introduced similar legislation last year but it failed after a massive push-back from the Louisiana Family Forum.

The IRS says there are potential refunds of up to $21.4 million dollars available for about 22,000 people in Louisiana who did not file a tax return in 2011. Spokeswoman Lea Crusberg says in cases where a tax return was not filed, the law provides most citizens with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund…

cut 8 (11) “used against that”

Crusberg says the average potential refund in Louisiana is $693.

A new University of Texas Health Science Center study links drinking diet sodas to increasing waistlines in senior citizens. LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center registered dietician, Cathy Champagne says obesity and increasing waistlines are two very complicated subjects…

cut 5 (08) “someone else”

The study suggests that artificial sweeteners could increase weight gain by altering the way the body processes sugar, making people hungrier.