Higher ed faces huge budget cuts due to a $1.6 billion budget shortfall for the legislative session, and dozens of students are speaking out at the state capital. Jesse Elliot of LSU-Alexandria says funding for higher education has been on the chopping block for the last eight years and the state must establish stable funding for colleges and universities…
cut 13 (11) “eight years ago”
Another student called it “theft of the future”

Monster Moto, which is a motorcycle assembly company has announced they will be construct a new facility in Ruston, that will build go-carts and minibikes. They also announced the relocation of their corporate offices from Dallas to Ruston, as well.
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The ACLU is letting their voices be heard about the state’s massive incarceration rate, and how important that is to discuss in the upcoming governor’s race…
CUT 11 (10) Q; ‘not the last”
That’s ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman, who says Louisiana wastes millions in tax dollars paying for inmates who pose little to no threat to our society and believes small offenses would be better addressed by other means.

Natchitoches Police say the assistant principal at Frankie Ray Jackson Senior Technical Center is under arrest for allegedly paddling a teacher. Captain Chris Payne says they got the complaint in February regarding a female teacher at the school, that lead to the arrest of 64-year-old Hugo Vogel of Goldonna. Captain Chris Payne says the are looking for any additional information in the case…
CUT 8 (04) Q: ‘kept confidential”

About 100 college students gathered on the steps of the state capitol today to rally against proposed budget cuts to public universities. nearly all of Louisiana’s colleges were represented and many held up signs that said “No Funding No Future.” David Teagle, with UNO, says these cuts equate to the theft to the future of Louisiana…:
CUT 12 (12) “currently go to”
Higher ed faces huge budget cuts due to a $1.6 billion dollar budget shortfall.

Today is tax day and if you haven’t filed yet officials with the IRS are sending out reminders that you have to at least file electronically by midnight. They say if you need an extension you can get one for 6 months but taxes owed from 2014 are absolutely due today. You can get tips and also FAQs online at IRS.gov.

An assistant principal in Natchitoches Parish is under arrest after accusations surfaced he paddled a teacher on her backside. Captain Chris Payne says they got the complaint in February and after an investigation it was determined that 64-year-old Hugo Vogel of Goldonna had paddled a teacher at Jackson Senior Technical Center…:
CUT 7 (08) “Goldonna, Louisiana”
Vogel was booked for simple battery and was later released on $303 bond.

The ACLU of Louisiana is calling on the candidates for Governor to address the state’s massive incarceration problem. Executive Director Marjorie Esman says we are the world’s incarceration leader, jailing more people per capita than any place on earth. She says this puts us in a terrible position of being the world’s largest incarcerator…:
CUT 10 (10) “huge amount of money”

The ACLU of Louisiana is calling on the candidates for Governor to address the state’s massive incarceration problem. Executive Director Marjorie Esman says we are the world’s incarceration leader, jailing more people per capita than any place on earth. She says the gubernatorial candidates are talking about fixes for the state’s budget and overlooking a serious crisis…:
CUT 9 (06) “in the world”
Esman says Louisiana wastes millions in tax dollars paying for inmates who pose little to no threat to our society and the candidates should be addressing that.

Sinkholes will now be recognized as threats in the state’s updated hazard mitigation plan. Louisiana is working on the five year plan which must be in place to receive federal money after natural and man made disasters. This is the first time the state is going to map salt domes and their surrounding 1 mil radius in each parish. Authorities believe a failed salt dome caused a nearly 30 acre sinkhole in Assumption Parish in 2012.

A transgender Lake Charles man has filed a federal sex discrimination lawsuit against his former employer, Tower Loan. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

Governor Bobby Jindal is in Ruston where he’ll be making an economic development announcement this afternoon.

21-year-old Tristan Broussard, a transgender Lake Charles man has filed a federal sex discrimination lawsuit against his former employer. The suit alleges that during a review of Broussard’s employment paperwork at Tower Loan, it was noticed that his driver’s licence listed his sex as female. After the company’s vice president found out, One of Broussard’s attorneys, Amy Whelan, says Broussard was pulled into a meeting…

cut 4 (10) “would be fired”

A Tower Loan spokesman says they do not comment on personnel issues or issues involving pending litigation.

According to the Natchitoches Police Department, the assistant principal at Frankie Ray Jackson Senior Technical Center is under arrest for allegedly paddling a teacher. Captain Chris Payne says they got a complaint in February that a female teacher at the school had a battery committed upon her and they began an investigation…

cut 7 (08) “Goldonna, Louisiana”

Vogel was arrested this week for simple battery.

Louisiana college students will rally at the state capitol today to voice their concerns about a potential 600-million dollar cut in state funding to public colleges and universities. Stephanie Travis, who chairs the Council of Student Body Presidents, says she started at Southeastern Louisiana in 2009 and has seen how previous budget cuts have impacted the Hammond campus..

cut 10 (07) “previous years”

Lawmakers are looking at how they can preserve higher education, but finding ways to raise revenue to prevent drastic cuts will be difficult.

State Police say a single vehicle crash in Concordia Parish has claimed the lives of a man and a child and sent another child to the hospital. Authorities say 28-year-old Zachery Giles of Jonesville lost control of his vehicle, exited the roadway, and struck a tree. Giles and one passenger, 9-year-old Autumn Giles, were pronounced dead at the scene. A 4-year-old boy, who was also in the vehicle, received moderate injuries and transported to an area hospital. Investigators say none of the occupants were restrained and excessive speed is a suspected factor in the crash.

The Natchitoches Police Department says the assistant principal at Frankie Ray Jackson Senior Technical Center is under arrest for allegedly paddling a teacher. Captain Chris Payne says they got the complaint in February that a female teacher at the school had a battery committed upon her…:
CUT 6 (07) “Vogel”
64-year-old Hugo Vogel was arrested this week for simple battery and was later released on $303 bond. Motive for the alleged battery is unclear.

A transgender Lake Charles man has filed a federal sex discrimination lawsuit against his former employer. 21-year-old Tristan Broussard alleges he was fired from Tower Loan when it was discovered he used to be a woman. Attorney Amy Whelan (WAY-lan), says this is a violation of federal law…:
CUT 3 (10) “sex discrimination”
Tower Loan is not commenting on the matter.

Former Florida Governor and possible presidential contender Jeb Bush endorses US Senator David Vitter in this year’s governor’s race. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

Governor Bobby Jindal is making yet another economic development announcement today. Jindal’s office says they’ll be in Ruston for a 1:40pm big report at the Old Central Station.

The New Orleans Pelicans are playing a really big game tonight which if they win they will be in the Western Conference playoffs for the first time since 2011. The Pels take on the Spurs in The Big Easy tonight at 7.

Louisiana college students are expected to rally on the state capitol steps today against proposed deep budget cuts to higher education. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

The Natchitoches Police Department has arrested an assistant principal accused of paddling a female teacher. After an investigation, authorities allege that Hugo Vogel, Assistant Principal of Frankie Ray Jackson, Sr. Technical Center, struck a teacher with a paddle on the buttocks in a February incident. Vogel has been charged with simple battery.

Today is tax day and even though many have already settled up with Uncle Sam, there are still millions who have yet to file and are waiting till the last minute. Bill Potter, a CPA in Baton Rouge, says a lot of people procrastinate because they owe money, but most taxpayers get refunds so it’s always better to file and the sooner the better…

cut 9 (06) “get their refund”

Only federal returns are due today. The deadline for filing state taxes is May 15th.

During a speech on the House floor, Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson tried to clear up some of the misconceptions of his so-called religious freedom bill. Johnson’s bill seeks to prevent the state from denying a resident a business license or tax deduction because of that person’s religious belief about marriage…

cut 14 (10) “regardless of their views”

Johnson says his bill does not promote discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush endorses US Senator David Vitter in this year’s governor’s race. Bush will appear with Vitter today at a fundraising event in New Orleans. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says this is not a surprise as the senator has contacts at the national level to secure endorsements like this…

cut 4 (10) “some momentum”

Bush is considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination.

Today is tax day and there are still millions who are waiting till the last minute to file. Bill Potter, a CPA in Baton Rouge, says one of the most common mistakes people make is getting their social security number wrong. He says it’s also important to report ALL your income…

cut 8 (11) “IRS super computers”

If you make less than $60,000 a year you can log on to irs-dot-gov and choose from several different commercial software companies that let you file your taxes for free.

Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson spoke on the House floor Tuesday to try and clear up some of the misconceptions of his so-called religious freedom bill. Johnson says his bill does not promote discrimination against gays and lesbians. He says ideas about marriage change with the times and it’s up to lawmakers to figure out how we’re going to coexist…

cut 15 (04) “to live freely”

Johnson says he plans to change the language in his bill, when it gets its first hearing in the House Civil Law committee.

Louisiana college students will gather at the state capitol today to express their concerns about a potential 600-million dollar cut in state funding to higher ed. Stephanie Travis, who chairs the council of student body presidents, is concerned that legislators will realize that the easiest solution is to raise tuition and fees, but they’ve already gone up enough…

cut 12 (10) “70-percent”

So far in previous budget hearings, lawmakers have talked about the importance of finding a way to stop the cuts to higher ed.

Federal taxes are due today and Michelle Southern has some tips for last-minute filers..
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush, a presidential hopeful, will be in New Orleans today for a fundraiser for Republican Senator David Vitter, who is running for governor. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says Vitter is not the only one to benefit from this endorsement…
cut 6 (06) “….a favor”

College students are expected to be at the state capitol today to urge lawmakers not to make significant cuts to higher education, despite a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall. Southeastern Louisiana student body president Stephanie Travis says raising tuition is not the answer either…
cut 11 (08) “…an increase in tuition”

Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says his religious freedom bill has been misunderstood. During a speech on the House floor, Johnson says it does not promote discrimination against gays and lesbians, but it prevents the government from taking action against people who oppose same-sex marriage….
cut 13 (08) “…involved it’
The House Civil Law committee will likely debate the bill at a future date and Johnson says he’ll amend the legislation in an attempt to lessen the opposition against his measure.