State officials say the budget deficit for the current fiscal year is $304 million, which means more cuts are likely coming to higher education. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says if lawmakers decide not to use the rainy day fund to close some of the gaps, it could be detrimental to higher education.

Cut 10 (09) “to manage”

Rallo predicts even with the rainy day fund, higher ed would take a $66 million hit.

Governor John Bel Edwards received the blessing of Pope Francis on the state’s plan to combat human trafficking in Louisiana. Edwards met with the Pope while in Rome to learn best practices for ending this modern day slavery. He’s hopeful the new policies implemented in Louisiana will be successful.

Cut 15 “replicated elsewhere”

Edwards says we have to do much better to end sex trafficking in Louisiana.

KALB is reporting that officials believe the three people killed in a fiery Vernon Parish crash were soldiers at Fort Polk. Because of the nature of the crash, DNA analysis will be needed to confirm the victims’ identities. Police say Tuesday morning they responded to a crash on LA 1146, which is considered a dangerous road by some locals. The vehicle reportedly veered off the road and hit several trees, which caused the Chevy Malibu to burst into flames, trapping the occupants inside.

The Festival International de Louisiane has new corporate sponsors, which means the annual music festival in Lafayette will go on as planned. But Executive Director Scott Feehan says their work isn’t over yet. He says now they’ll start collecting donations from individuals and small businesses.

Cut 5 (09) “focus on”

The April festival is free to the public and funded entirely through donations.

Republicans in Louisiana are headed to Washington to watch tomorrow’s inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump. Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere says he’s excited about the future because it’s clear a Democratic administration hasn’t proven to be effective…:
Cut 8 (12) “get a job”

The majority of southeast Louisiana is under a flash flood watch until 6pm this evening. The National Weather Service says a line of storms will continue to move across the area that could produce rainfall amounts of 2-5 inches with locally higher amounts possible.

Governor John Bel Edwards met with Pope Francis Wednesday to discuss a project that supports human trafficking victims. Edwards told Vatican Radio that as part of the effort, the plan is to open a shelter in Baton Rouge that can house up to 16 young women…:
CUT 14 (09) “their parents”

Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo is urging lawmakers to tap into the Rainy Day Fund to offset the state’s $304 million budget shortfall. He says if colleges have to cut $66 million dollars it would be a 46% budget decrease with only a few weeks left in the year…:
CUT 11 (08) “than that”
He says the first thing many schools would be forced to cut is instruction.

Festival International de Louisiane has announced new sponsors that will greatly help the 2017 event. Executive Director Scott Feehan says the event is free to the public, so all the funding for the event has to come from donors. He says the founders of the festival wanted everyone to be able to enjoy it…
Cut 6 (09) “sticking to that”
LUS Fiber, Service Chevrolet, and J.D. Bank are among the sponsors for the 2017 event.

Higher Education officials are urging lawmakers to tap into the Rainy Day Fund to offset the state’s $304 million massive budget shortfall. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office tomorrow, and Republicans from Louisiana are headed to the inauguration. State GOP Party Chairman Roger Villerie says Democrats should consider giving Mr. Trump a fair chance…:
CUT 9 (11) “scared of that”

The Festival International de Louisiane announces new corporate sponsors to help keep the annual international music festival in Lafayette going. Executive Director Scott Feehan says one third their budget comes from corporate donors, and just over a month ago they didn’t have any sponsors…:
cut 4 (10) “was great”
He says they have to raise over one-million dollars every year to put on the festival.

Former LSU running back Leonard Fournette has landed his first big endorsement deal, so he’s training for the NFL draft in Under Armour gear. He could be a top five pick and Fournette says he’ll go to any team that wants him…:
Cut 17 (12) “will fall”
ESPN reports Fournette’s multi-year deal with Under Armour is “one of the most valuable endorsement contracts ever for an NFL rookie.”

Louisiana Republicans are flocking to Washington ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration Friday. Jeff Palermo has the story.:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

During his trip to Italy, Governor John Bel Edwards met with Pope Francis, who blessed the state’s project to support human trafficking victims. Edwards told Vatican Radio that a big component of the project is to express that victims are not prostitutes…:
Cut 13 (09) “modern day slavery”

The state budget deficit for the current fiscal year has dropped to $304 million; from $313 million. So what does this mean for Louisiana’s colleges and universities? Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says if lawmakers decide against tapping into the Rainy Day Fund to help plug the budget hole, it could be detrimental to post-secondary schools..:
cut 12 (10) “$66 million”
But House Republicans don’t think that’s a good idea because it’s just more “kicking the can down the road.”

A strong line of storms is moving across Louisiana today. Forecasters say some of the storms could come with lots of rain, damaging winds and large hail. They say this round is the first of three rain events anticipated between now and the weekend.

LSU offensive coordinator Matt Canada will reportedly make $1.5 million dollars a year as part of a three year deal with the Tigers. Combined with DC Dave Aranda’s $1.8 million dollar annual salary, it’s likely that LSU will have the highest coordinator pay ever.

Hundreds of Louisiana Republicans are gathering in Washington ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Friday. Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere says everyone is excited about watching Mr. Trump take the oath of office to become the 45th President of the United States…:
CUT 7 (09) “huge parade”‘
More than 900-thousand people are expected to attend the inauguration.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the budget deficit for fiscal year 2017 is 304 million dollars, so how will this shortfall impact the state’s colleges? Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says they’l be in real trouble if lawmakers don’t tap into the Rainy Day Fund
Cut 10 (09) “to manage”
Rallo says the first thing many schools would be forced to cut is instruction.

The Festival International de Louisiane will go on, as new corporate sponsors have been announced. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

LSU running back Leonard Fournette spent his 22nd birthday Wednesday at St. Augustine where he starred as a prep football player. Fournette announced that’s he’s signed an endorsement deal with Under Armour. He’s expected to be a top 15 pick in the NFL draft and he’s been getting ready at a training facility in Pensacola.

A CBS poll finds President Barack Obama is leaving office with an approval rating of 62-percent, which is the third highest approval rating for an outgoing President since 1981. Local pollster Bernie Pinsonat says many people like Mr. Obama, but it’s his policies that has many voters unhappy…
cut 4 (10) “…very unpopular”

Secretary of State Tom Schedler is asking President-elect Donald Trump to undo President Obama’s designation that all 50 states’ election systems to be considered “critical infrastructure.” Schelder says there was no credible evidence of hacking discovered in any state during the November 2016 election…:
Cut 6 (10) “the states”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says the designation does not mean a federal takeover.

Shreveport police have arrested an 11-year-old for the armed robbery of a woman at an ATM machine. Corporal Marcus Hines says unfortunately, seeing children commit crimes like armed robbery isn’t as rare as you think…
cut 11 (09) “…into automobiles”

Hines says they believe it was the boy’s family that told him to surrender to authorities after surveillance video of the robbery went public.

A federal climate report finds 2016 was the warmest on Earth since 1880, when record keeping began. State Climatologist Barry Keim says that’s the third straight year experts have determined it’s the warmest year on record…
cut 12 (09) “Pacific Ocean”

Keim says 2016 was Louisiana’s third warmest year on record.

Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office announces the arrest of six men on over 200 counts of child pornography and exploitation. The alleged perpetrators range from age 18 to 73. A-G spokesperson Ruth Wisher says the men were booked on over 200 counts…
cut 15 (11) “…sexually abused”
Wisher says since Landry was sworn in last year, the A-G’s office has made or assisted in over 100 child exploitation arrests.

A new poll from CBS finds President Barack Obama’s approval rating is over 60-percent nationally. Local pollster Bernie Pinsonat says while that might be the case nationwide, it’s certainly not true in Louisiana. He says Mr. Obama’s high favorability nationally is likely because of large states like New York, Illinois and California…:
Cut 3 (06) “numbers up”
The president is leaving office with the third highest approval rating since 1981. President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office on Friday.

2016 was the hottest year on record for Earth based on a report from government scientists. Here in Louisiana, state climatologist Barry Keim says 2016 was the third warmest year on record with an average temperature just below 69-degrees. And he says 2017 is already off to an extremely warm start…
cut 14 (07) “…entire week”
It’s the third straight year Earth has set a record for warmth.

Shreveport Police say an 11-year-old has been arrested on armed robbery charges. Corporal Marcus Hines says surveillance video shows the juvenile pulled a gun on a woman at an ATM around 10 p.m. Saturday and made off with a small amount of cash…:
Cut 9 (07) “the victim”
The child turned himself in today.