A state law limits the search for the new State Police superintendent, as Col. Mike Edmonson is set to retire on Friday. Jeff Palermo has more on the restriction…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A measure that would let non-felons over 21 carry a concealed gun without a permit will get a third try in the upcoming session. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey says other states already have similar laws on the books…:
Cut 12 (10) “constitutional carry states”

This morning, Governor John Bel Edwards is slated to announce the new Louisiana Housing Heroes Initiative. His office says this is aimed at pairing hundreds of flood victims who are still displaced with affordable housing options.

A state audit examining a missing 22-thousand dollars in student activity funds from West Ridge Middle School in West Monroe has been turned over to law enforcement. Roger Harris with the Legislative Auditor’s Office says over 11-thousand dollars was collected from eighth graders between 2013 and 2014 for a trip to Disney World. He says there was one teacher in charge of collecting the money for the trip, Jodie Dean…:
Cut 13 (09) “that regard”
Ouachita Parish School Board Superintendent Dr. Don Coker says this is concerning as these are taxpayer dollars…:
Cut 15 (10) “has gone on”
Dean has reportedly been placed on administrative leave.

US Senator John Kennedy supports President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nominee, Neil Gorsuch as confirmation hearings are underway. Kenndy says he’s impressed by what he’s read of Gorsuch’s work…:
Cut 7 (12) “the law”
Democrats are pushing back against Gorsuch because of his conservative stance on social issues.

State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson will retire on Friday, and under Louisiana law, a new colonel must have graduated from the LSP academy. But President of the Metropolitan Crime Coalition Rafael Goyeneche hopes a measure could be filed for the upcoming legislative session to give the governor permission to seek someone outside of the state…:
Cut 5 (11) “state police”
Governor Edwards is expected to announce the interim head of LSP this week.

Louisiana residents would be able to concealed carry a firearm without a permit, under a proposal by Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

LSU has hired a new men’s basketball coach. Athletics Director Joe Alleva said he wanted to hire a leader that was a proven winner. After a search that lasted a week and a half, Alleva has determined that VCU’s Will Wade is that man. He’ll take over a program that was 10-21 during the 2016-17 campaign and has struggled to put together consistent winning seasons in conference play since the Dale Brown era. Even though Wade is a Clemson grad, he’s reportedly called LSU his dream job.

State Police Col Mike Edmonson retires this week, and there is a state law that says the next superintendent must be a State Police officer who graduated from the LSP academy. But President of the Metropolitan Crime Coalition Rafael Goyeneche says a nationwide search should be conducted..:
Cut 4 (10) “in Louisiana”
Governor Edwards is expected to announce the interim head of LSP this week as Edmonson is set to retire on Friday.

Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey is once again bringing back his proposal to the legislature that would allow non-felons over the age of 21 to carry a concealed gun without a permit. He says the Constitution guarantees our right to carry guns, and it doesn’t dictate how they should be carried…:
Cut 10 (10) “to choose”
Opponents say the bill would eliminate certain safeguards such as having to take a safety course before you receive a permit.

The confirmation hearings for President Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nomination are underway in the nation’s capital and he has the support of U.S. Senator John Kennedy. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

At the start of the murder trial for one of two Marksville City Marshal’s accused in the death of a 6-year-old boy, prosecutors argued that the men were in no danger when they opened fire at the vehicle Jeremy Mardis and his father were in. But Derrick Stafford’s attorney said Christopher Few was “the author of his child’s fate”; for leading his client and the other suspect, Norris Greehouse Jr, on a dangerous high speed chase.

The man accused in the shooting death of an East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputy was wanted for questioning in the rape of a teen. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

On the first day of the murder trial for former-Marksville police officer Derrick Stafford, jurors watched the 14 minute long body cam video of the encounter that resulted in the death of a 6-year-old autistic boy. Several jurors were reportedly seen wiping away tears, as the footage showed the shooting that killed the boy ad critically wounded his father after a car chase in 2015. Stafford is one of two officers accused in the death of Jeremy Mardis.

After years of midyear budget cuts, Jonesboro Senator Jim Fannin has filed a bill for the regular session that seeks to limit the amount of money lawmakers can spend each year.The proposal would limit the budget to only 98-percent of the revenue forecast for that year. Fannin says he expects some opposition.

Cut 16 (10) “discussion about it”

Fannin says Governor Edwards supports the plan.

Forty-four percent of children under 5 in New Orleans are living in poverty, according to the latest census data. Demographer Greg Rigamer says that’s because the median household income is very low. He says improving education could help solve this problem.

Cut 13 (10) “good jobs”

Rigamer says living in extreme poverty makes it hard for these children to get ahead in life.

State Police has identified the suspect accused in the shooting death of Sgt. Shawn Anderson with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office. Trooper Bryan Lee says 30-year-old Brandon Wiley is still in critical condition as he was also injured. Lee says Anderson was conducting a rape investigation with another deputy at a hair salon.:
Cut 9 (09) “shots were fired”
The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of the 43-year-old sergeant, who is the second EBR deputy to be killed in the line of duty in the last year. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Casey Hicks…
cut 7 (09) “…for everyone”
Sergeant Anderson is a father of two and served as an EBR deputy for 18 years.

A north Louisiana lawmaker believes he has the solution to preventing midyear budget cuts. Jonesboro Senator Jim Fannin says the Revenue Estimating Conference consistently overestimates how much money the state will bring in, which leads to midyear cuts every year…:
Cut 14 (10) “the reduction”
Fannin plans to propose a bill in the upcoming fiscal session that says the state can only spend 98-percent of what the R-E-C estimates in state revenues.

Today is the first day of Spring and it’s certainly in the air. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the long range forecast calls for above average temperatures and rainfall over the next three months, and the rainy spring weather has already started…:
Cut 4 (06) “to continue”
He says we should be done with freezes until next fall.

State Police announced today that the suspected shooter in the death of East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputy Shawn Anderson is 30-year-old Brandon Wiley of Baton Rouge. The shooting took place Saturday night at a barber shop and deputies went there to talk with Wiley, because he is a suspect in the rape of a 15-year-old girl. A struggle ensued between Wiley and Anderson. Both men were shot, Wiley remains in critical condition, while Anderson was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Sheriff’s office spokesperson Casey Hicks says Sergeant Anderson was a true public servant who did whatever needed to be done…
cut 6 (10) “…of the road”
Sergeant Anderson had been with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office for nearly 18 years and had received numerous awards. He leaves behind two children.

The latest U.S. Census report on income finds 44-percent of children under the age of 5 in New Orleans, are living in poverty. Demographer Greg Rigamer says we’ve seen statistics like this for a while…:
Cut 11 (09) “a trend”
He says focusing on improving education could help put an end to young children living in poverty.

Today is the first day of spring and the climate prediction center is calling for above-normal temperatures over the next three months and above-average rainfall. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’re probably done with the cold weather…
cut 5 (08) “…has to offer”

And LSU along with the state office of public health will provide all students and faculty with free mumps vaccinations on Wenesday and Thursday. About a dozen LSU students have been diagnosed with the mumps.

Midyear budget cuts have become the norm in Louisiana, which is why state senator Jim Fannin plans to file a bill that calls on the state only spending 98-percent of the revenue that’s been forecasted by the Revenue Estimating Conference. Fannin believes this strategy can reduce the need for midyear cuts…
cut 15 (08) “…with excess”
Governor Edwards has signaled his support for this legislation.

The latest U.S. Census report on income finds 44-percent of children under the age of five in New Orleans are living in poverty. Demographer Greg Rigamer says the median income for a household in Orleans Parish is very low, in the upper 30-thousands. He says focusing on improving education could help put an end to young children living in poverty….
cut 13 (10) “…good jobs”

The man accused in the shooting death of an East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputy was wanted questioning in the rape of a teen….
voicer 1 (28) “….I’m Michelle Southern”

Meanwhile, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office is dealing once again with a deputy who was killed in the line of duty. The second time it’s happened in the last eight months. EBR sheriff’s office spokesperson Casey Hicks…
cut 8 (10) “….get throw this”
Sergeant Anderson was with the department for nearly 20 years.