Today, the four announced candidates for governor in a forum to discuss Louisiana’s oil and gas industry. US Senator David Vitter is the front-runner in the polls right now, and he told the gathering what he thinks need to be done to fix the state’s challenges ahead…
CUT 15 (11) ‘I’m in this race’

With this tax season being the first since Obamacare as been enacted, the feds have cerated a special enrollment period begins Sunday to assist those who did not realize they would be penalized for not being covered. Terry Tucker, with the Health Insurance Store of Louisiana, says all paperwork needs to be submitted within 60 days of sign-up, and he says double check that packet…
CUT 5 (06) Q: ‘to be sure”
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A New Orleans lawmaker will be sponsoring legislation in the upcoming session which provides funds to pay for sexual assault victim care with expired winning casino tickets…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

More player signing information from the New Orleans Saints today, as league sources say former Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller has been signed to a four year, 18 million dollar contract, with a nine million dollar guarantee. He will be joining Mark Ingram in the backfield, as Ingram was recently re-signed.

The four candidates for governor met Friday in a forum to discuss Louisiana’s oil and gas industry. To close, each candidate had a chance to say why they should be Louisiana’s next governor. Many political pundits have made remarks about the difficult budget scenario Louisiana’s next governor will be inheriting. Republican Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says he’s been asked why on earth he’d seek an office that is essentially in shambles…:
CUT 14 (12) “have right now”
The Louisiana gubernatorial election will take place on October 24.

Governor Bobby Jindal issued an Executive Order calling for the flags at all state buildings to be flown at half-staff in remembrance of the military members who lost their lives in the Black Hawk crash. The order is through next Friday at sunset on March 20th. The names of the 7 Marines killed have been released. The 4 Louisiana National Guard soldiers have yet to be identified.

The state Department of Agriculture and Forestry is taking precautionary measures against a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain, also known as bird flu, after cases have been confirmed in Arkansas. Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain says this flu strain is H-5-N-2, not the type that humans normally get, which is H-5-N-1. He says a poultry quarantine will keep any live poultry products from entering the state from an area that’s been affected by this flu strain…:
CUT 7 (09) “of entry”
Avian influenza has also been found in Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, and Washington.

Today was the deadline three doctors assigned to evaluate New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson’s mental capacity should have met with him and completed their interviews. Once they are done they will submit evaluations to the judge who will then make a determination as to whether Benson is competent to make his own decisions about his affairs.

A New Orleans lawmaker will be sponsoring legislation in the upcoming session which provides funds to pay for sexual assault victim care with expired winning casino tickets. Rep. Helena Moreno said they had to come up with a way to create recurring revenue that would continue to pump dollars into the Crime Victims Reparation Fund…:
CUT 9 (12) “back into the state”
She says under this bill, those expired winnings would be put into the Crime Victims Reparation Fund, and the federal government would match it.

Military officials have released the names of the 7 Marines who died in the Black Hawk helicopter crash over the Florida panhandle Tuesday, but the four Louisiana National Guardsmen have not been made known. A salvage crew is working at the site of the crash but weather has been casuing delays.

A special enrollment period begins Sunday on the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace giving some a second chance of obtaining health insurance. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

The New Orleans Saints just added a potentially explosive element to their backfield for 2015 — free agent running back C.J. Spiller, according to ESPN. The Black and Gold have also reportedly agreed to a trade sending WR Kenny Stills to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 3rd round draft pick along with veteran linebacker Danelle Ellerbe.

Louisiana’s four gubernatorial candidates participated in a forum to talk about Louisiana’s oil and gas industry. At the end, each candidate had a chance to state why they should be the next governor. Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle says the number one reason why he was qualified to be governor is because he has had a teenager in his home for the last 15 years…

cut 13 (10) “move the ball forward”

Louisiana’s governor’s election will take place October 24th.

Eglin Air Force Base officials announce they’ve contracted another company to complete the recovery of the Blackhawk helicopter that crashed and claimed the lives of 11 on board. They say the operation is expected to take 8 hours – weather permitting. An Army and Coast Guard dive team will also be on site to assist. Military officials report the bodies of nine of the eleven servicemen killed have been found. The other two Guardsmen are believed to still be inside the helicopter.

A special enrollment period begins Sunday on the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace giving some, who didn’t realized they would be penalized on their taxes for not being covered, a second chance of obtaining health insurance. Terry Tucker, with the Health Insurance Store of Louisiana, says this special period is not for everyone. He says you must meet certain qualifications…

cut 4 (07) “get a penalty”

This special enrollment period will go through April 30.

The Saints are reported working out the details of a trade that will send wide receiver Kenny Stills to the Miami Dolphins. And the team has signed free agent running back CJ Spiller to the roster. Spiller spent the last five season in Buffalo.

The four candidates for Louisiana met today for a forum to discuss Louisiana’s oil and gas industry. At the end of the forum, each candidate had a chance to say why they should be Louisiana’s next governor. Amite Representative John Bel Edwards says the state has been going in the wrong direction under the Jindal Administration which he’s been saying for years
CUT 12 (12) “joining me”
The three Republican challengers each spoke about how they are separating themselves from each other on conservatism level.

Eglin Airfoce Base announces they’ve contracted another company to complete the recovery of the Blackhawk helicopter which crashed and claimed the lives of 11 on board. They say a salvage barge is expected to be on site mid-day and the operation is expected to take 8 hours – weather permitting. Military officials report the bodies of nine of the eleven servicemen killed have been found. The other two Guardsmen are believed to still be inside the helicopter.

The state Department of Agriculture and Forestry is taking precautionary measures against a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain, also known as bird flu, after cases have been confirmed in Arkansas. Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain says outbreaks of avian influenza have been confirmed in several states…:
CUT 6 (06) “H-5-N-1”
Although this flu strain is not normally contracted by humans, Strain says the public should be cautious about transferring the disease.

State Police is investigating a hit and run fatality out of St. Mary Parish. They say after 1am this morning east of Jeanerette, 33-year-old Krista Sedotal was walking along LA highway 192 and was hit by a truck. The vehicle, believed to be a white Dodge Ram, then fled and Sedotal was later pronounced dead. Troopers are urging anyone with information to contact authorities.

A state lawmaker proposes to increase the state’s cigarette tax to the national average. Scott Carwile has more…:
CUT 3 (30) “reporting”

Military officials say the bodies all but two of the eleven servicemen killed after an Army helicopter crash Tuesday night off the Florida Panhandle have been recovered. The bodies of seven Marines and two Hammond based soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard have been found. The bodies of the other two Guardsmen are believed to still be inside the helicopter.

By the end of today, three doctors assigned to evaluate New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson’s mental capacity should have met with him and completed their interviews. Once they are done they will submit evaluations to the judge who will then make a determination as to whether Benson is competent to make his own decisions about his affairs.

A special enrollment period begins Sunday on the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace giving some, who didn’t realized they would be penalized on their taxes for not being covered, a second chance of obtaining health insurance. Terry Tucker, with the Health Insurance Store of Louisiana, says the government decided to offer a special enrollment period as this is the first tax season since Obamacare was enacted…:
CUT 3 (10) “enrollment period”
This special enrollment period will go through April 30.

Military officials report the bodies of nine of the eleven servicemen killed after Tuesday night’s Army helicopter crash in Florida have been recovered and identified. Recovery crews have found the remains of two of the four Hammond based soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard and the seven Marines based out of North Carolina. The bodies of the other two Guardsmen are believed to still be inside the helicopter. The families of all 11 troops have been notified. Officials have not released the names of the deceased.

A new Centers for Disease Control study shows that two out of every three people diagnosed with cancer in the US survive five years or more…

cut 1 (28) “reporting”

Bogalusa Representative Harold Ritchie files a bill that would increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes from 36-cents to the national average of $1.54 per pack. Ritchie says the goal of his legislation is to raise revenue for the state and stop people from smoking…

cut 15 (10) “never start”

The legislative session begins April 13th and Ritchie expects his tax proposal will be one of many that will be discussed by lawmakers.

A recent Cowen Institute at Tulane University report shows Louisiana has the highest estimated percentage of unemployed youth in the country. Cowen Institute Director Vincent Rossmeier says there is a huge economic boost coming to Louisiana and we need to come up with ways to connect our young people to those jobs…

cut 12 (08) “take them”

The study also found that New Orleans is third in the nation for the percentage of young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who aren’t working or in school.

The bodies of nine of the eleven servicemen killed after Tuesday night’s Army helicopter crash off the Florida Panhandle have been found and identified, according to military officials. Crews have recovered the bodies of two of the four Hammond based soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard and seven Marines based out of North Carolina. The bodies of the other two Guardsmen are still believed to be inside the helicopter. The names of the deceased have not been released.

According to a report by the Cowen Institute at Tulane University, Louisiana has the highest estimated percentage of unemployed youth in the country. Michelle Southern reports…:

cut 2 (30) “reporting”

A new Centers for Disease Control study shows that two out of every three people diagnosed with cancer in the US survive five years or more. Associate Dean for Research at LSU’s School of Public Health, Ed Trapido, says these numbers show a remarkable amount of progress…

cut 4 (06) “better treatment”

Among the most common types of cancer, the study reports a five-year-survival rate of 97-percent for prostate cancer and 88-percent for breast cancer.

Community leaders from around the state are urging citizens to participate in a massive litter cleanup effort. Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell says The Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Safety, DEQ, Wildlife and Fisheries, and Volunteer Louisiana’s leaders will all be present for the Leaders Against Litter press conference today to say enough is enough…

cut 8 (09) “it really is”

Great American Cleanup events will be held throughout the state through May.