A new report indicates abortions in the US have dropped to the lowest level since 1974, and Louisiana saw an 18-percent decline between 2011 and 2014. Guttmacher Institute researcher Rachel Jones says women are using better birth control methods, and other states have reduced access to abortions…:
CUT 11 (08) “in abortions”
She says in Louisiana, 29 percent of clinics closed during the study period.

Police in Kenner say a man is under arrest amid allegations he murdered and dismembered a roommate who was dating his ex girlfriend. They say the victim, 27-year-old Ivis Alexis Portales-Lara, went missing in November; and a month later only his arm was found off I-10 in St. John Parish. 44-year-old Viusqui Perez-Espinosa, who is from Cuba, is charged with second degree murder and obstruction of justice. More information is slated to be released during a 3pm news conference.

Several Republican in the state House say it would be a bad idea to use the Rainy Day Fund to reduce the state’s 313 million dollar mid-year budget deficit. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris, who chairs the House Republican Delegation, says the state has to stop dipping into the Rainy Day Fund every time it has budget troubles…:
Cut 6 (07) “problem”
But Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says using the Rainy Day fund is necessary to soften cuts critical services like higher education and healthcare…:
CUT 7 (10) “very painful”
The governor’s special session is expected to begin in mid-February and conclude by the end of the month.

New research finds there was an 18-percent decline in the number of abortions in Louisiana between 2011 and 2014. Guttmacher Institute researcher Rachel Jones says nationally, there was a 12-percent decline over the same period. She credits better use of birth control…:
Cut 10 (06) “such as an IUD”
The study found there were less than one million abortions in the US in 2014, the lowest rate since the Roe v. Wade ruling.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office has identified the man who was fatally shot by a Slidell resident Monday during a confrontation. They say the shooter reported that 22-year-old Seth Flores was acting erratically in the front yard of his residence, which is when the homeowner killed the man. Additional details will be released during a 4pm news conference.

President-elect Donald Trump says he’s not phased by the Gallup poll numbers which show his approval rating at a low 42%. Mr. Trump tweeted that the results were rigged. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. John Sutherlin thinks the president-elect is busy working on his agenda…:
CUT 25 (09) “projects”
Mr. Trump will be sworn into office on Friday.

A lot of farmland was affected by the crazy weather, freeze and devastating flooding in 2016, but Louisiana’s strawberry crop is doing fantastic for the most part. That’s according to Whitney Wallace with the LSU AgCenter. She says many farmers did what they could to protect their blooms from the freeze earlier this month…:
cut 4 (09) “below 32″
She says a good crop is expected to be harvested in March and April.

President-elect Donald Trump has the lowest approval rating since George W. Bush, according to a recent Gallup poll. ULM political science professor John Sutherlin says Trump will likely follow through with his agenda when he takes office, regardless of what the polls say.

Cut 10 (09) “majority wants”

The poll finds Mr. Trump’s favorability rating is 42-percent.

Thirty-five LSU students joined SeekingArangement.com last year to find a Sugar Daddy. Spokesperson Brook Urick says the average monthly allowance for a Sugar Baby is over $24-hundred, but not all babies get the same allowance. She says it’s important to be open about your expectations in the Sugar Bowl.

Cut 9 (10) “a relationship with”

You might not be paying as much in sales taxes on Amazon as you think. Department of Revenue Secretary Kim Robinson says taxes are only collected if Amazon is the seller.

Cut 4 (10) “from Amazon”

Robinson says the tax does not include items sold by third party vendors on Amazon.

Despite floods, droughts, and freezing temperatures, experts say Louisiana strawberries are doing just fine. Whitney Wallace with the LSU AgCenter doesn’t think there will be too much damage to this year’s strawberry crop. She says the freeze affected some farmers worse than others, but all in all, it should be a good season.

Cut 3 (07) “…March and April”

Wallace says the floods didn’t hurt the crop either because farmers weren’t planting yet when the rains began.

A Gallup poll finds President-elect Donald Trump will take office as the most unpopular newly elected president in at least 40 years. But ULM Political Science Professor Dr. John Sutherlin says Mr. Trump doesn’t seem like he is bothered by public opinion…:
cut 12 (09) “100 days”.
The president-elect will be sworn in on Friday. He tweeted this morning that the approval ratings polls are rigged like he says the election polls were.

Could LSU Athletic Director be looking at firing another coach mid-season like he did Les Miles? The Tiger basketball team is on a bad streak and LSU beat reporter Glen Guilbeau says the losses this year and last year’s disappointment have coach Johnny Jones on the hot seat…:
CUT 14 (04) “at it”
He says Alleva is the former A-D at Duke, which has a rich basketball tradition and he can’t be happy with what he sees at LSU.

If you’re buying items from Amazon in the New Year, you might not pay as much in sales taxes as you thought. The state Department of Revenue says the automatic sales tax is applied only to purchases made from Amazon LLC. But Secretary Kimberly Robinson says third party vendors will have to start reporting sales July 1st, and consumers required to submit those taxes for themselves…:
CUT 6 (10) “this year”
She says that applies to any online purchase you make.

Abbeville Police say a child that was injured during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade Monday, has died. They said the unidentified child was struck by a float. It’s reported that witnesses say the child was struck by the vehicle pulling the float after entering the roadway for a throw. No other official information or the child’s age has been released at this time.

President-elect Donald Trump is already polling lower that George W. Bush, according to Gallup, with a 42-percent approval rating. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. John Sutherlin doesn’t think Mr. Trump cares much about polls, but instead will focus on his agenda…:
CUT 11 (09) “projects”
Mr. Trump will be sworn into office on Friday.

Amazon.com started charging sales taxes in Louisiana on online purchases January 1st, but it’s not as much as consumers might think. Department of Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says the automatic sales tax does not apply to third party vendors. She says there is an easy way to tell:
CUT 5 (05) “that item”
But she says third party vendors will have to start reporting purchases July 1st, and consumers will have to submit those taxes themselves.

SeekingArangement.com says 35 LSU students joined the online dating site last year to find a Sugar Daddy. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The mayor of a Webster Parish town has been arrested amid allegations he abused his wife. Doyline Mayor Gary Thomas Carter was booked into jail on 1 count of domestic abuse battery by strangulation according records. The case against the 50-year-old, that is still under investigation, is being handled by the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office.

A Gallup poll finds President-elect Donald Trump has a 42-percent approval rating. Emelie Gunn has analysis from a local political analyst…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

State Police are looking for the driver in a fatal hit and run crash overnight in Terrebonne Parish that claimed the life of a pedestrian. They say the suspect vehicle, a Chrysler 300, is believed to have exited a road in Chauvin and struck 39-year-old Taylor Thibodeaux as he was walking, then fled the scene. Anyone with information on this is urged to contact authorities.

It was announced that starting January 1st, online retailer Amazon would begin collecting state sales taxes for the first time; but there are exceptions. Department of Revenue Secretary, Kimberly Robinson, says the only sales taxes collected are on products sold directly by Amazon, LLC…:
CUT (10) “from Amazon”
But she says third party vendors will have to start reporting purchases July 1st, and consumers will have to submit those taxes themselves.

More and more LSU students are signing up to be Sugar babies, someone who receives cash in exchange for being in a relationship. SeekingArangment.com spokesperson Brook Urick says 35 LSU students enrolled last year. Despite the controversy surrounding the service, Urick says this is just like online dating; but lifestyle expectations are different as most who apply are looking for help with college…:
CUT 8 (09) “to do that”

A Gallup poll finds President-elect Donald Trump has a 42-percent approval rating, the lowest since George W. Bush, who had 59-percent. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. John Sutherlin on Mr. Trump’s likely reaction…:
Cut 10 (09) “majority wants”
The president-elect will be sworn into office on Friday.

More LSU students are seeking Sugar Daddies to help pay for their education. That’s according to to the controversial site SeekingArangment.com, which saw 35 LSU students enroll in 2016. Spokesperson Brook Urick says that’s a substantial increase over the previous year….:
CUT 7 (10) “more accepted”
The average monthly allowance for a Sugar Baby is around $24-hundred.

Amazon shoppers in Louisiana aren’t paying as much in sales taxes as you may think. Jeff Palermo has more on what is and isn’t being taxed…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Abbeville Police say a child that was injured during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade Monday, has died. They said the unidentified child was struck by a float. No other information has been released at this time.