The Louisiana Community and Technical College System is consolidating 8 campuses due to budget problems. System President Monty Sullivan says consolidating these campuses will save money. He says it’s their hope students in the system will see very little change.

Cut 5 (09) “to attend”

The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association is urging lawmakers to change the state’s film tax credit program. Board member Jim Hornbeak says the film industry has supported 13-thousand jobs with an average salary of $60-thousand a year. He’s hoping to see some tweaks in the existing film tax credit cap.

Cut 11 (10) “standpoint”

In 2015, the film tax credit program was capped at $180 million a year.

ExxonMobil announces a $20 billion investment in the Gulf that has implications for Louisiana. Baton Rouge Refinery Manager Mark Northcutt says they’ve already invested $200 million in Baton Rouge facility that produces aviation lubricants.

Cut 13 (10) “Baton Rouge facility”

Northcutt says they hope to grow their facilities in the Bayou State.

Louisiana parents can now make child support payments through MoneyGram at retail stores like WalMart, CVS and Albertsons. Director of Child Support Enforcement with DCFS Lydia Scales says this is a more convenient way to pay rather than purchasing stamps and mailing in money.

Cut 6 (08) “credit card”

Other states are already using MoneyGram for cash child support payments.

The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association has launched a campaign aimed at urging the legislature to make changes to the state’s film tax credit program. Jim Hornbeak, who sits sits on the LFEA’s Executive Board, says the “Fight For Film” effort is all about putting faces to those Louisianians who thrive when a movie is filmed here…:
Cut 10 (08) “tax credits”
Hornbeak says the film industry has supported 13,000 jobs with average salary of $60,000 per year.

The mother accused of giving birth and leaving the baby in a New Rhodes Wal-Mart bathroom has been indicted. 34-year-old Kyandrea Thomas is charged with attempted second-degree murder and cruelty to a juvenile by a Pointe Coupee Parish Grand Jury.

FEMA has once again extended the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Eligible survivors affected by the August floods may stay in participating hotels now until April 10th.

The Department of Children and Family services has teamed up with MoneyGram to allow non-custodial parents to pay child support at retail stores. DCFS’s Director of Child Support Enforcement Lydia Scales says parents do need a few things in order to send support to their children through MoneyGram…:
Cut 8 (10) “14695″
She says you can find additional information on DCFS’s website.

Still no word on the fate of LSU men’s basketball coach Johnny Jones. His son is playing for a state title with U-High tomorrow and TigerRag reports Jones is planning to go to Lake Charles. The Tigers were eliminated last night from the SEC Tournament and it’s expected that Athletic Director Joe Alleva will fire Jones after a 10-21 season.

Louisiana is set to benefit from ExxonMobil’s $20 billion investment in the Gulf Coast. Baton Rouge Refinery Manager Mark Northcutt says the Grow the Gulf initiative will strengthen and grow Exxon facilities in the Capitol City. He says Baton Rouge is home to one of the world’s largest refineries, as well as world scale chemical operations…:
cut 12 (13) “position of strength”
He the increased supply of natural gas in Louisiana is a big advantage for the chemical industry in the Gulf Coast.

In response to the financial changes facing the state, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System is consolidating eight of their rural campuses. President of the system, Dr. Monty Sullivan, says the mergers will allow them to focus on these rural campuses and ensure their two-year colleges can stay open…:
cut 4 (07) “create savings”
He says it’s their hope that students in the system will see very little changes.

Non-custodial parents are now able to make child support payments through MoneyGram. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Pelicans new center, All-Star Demarcus Cousins, has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for cussing at fans during two different games, according to reports. It happened in the Pels victory over the Lakers on March 5th, then the next night in New Orleans loss to the Jazz. Cousins joined New Orleans last month in a huge trade with Sacramento.

The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association launches the “Fight for Film” campaign. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Parents who pay child support and don’t have a bank account can now use MoneyGram at retail stores. Director of Child Support Enforcement with the Department of Children and Family Services Lydia Scales:
CUT 7 (09) “payments”
She says there is a four-dollar fee, but the convenience pays for itself.

Louisiana is set to benefit from ExxonMobil’s $20 billion investment in the Gulf Coast. Baton Rouge Refinery Manager Mark Northcutt says the Grow the Gulf initiative will strengthen and grow Exxon facilities in the Capitol City. He says new sites could be on their way in if the Louisiana can provide a stable and predictable tax environment…:
cut 14 (10) “in Louisiana”
He the increased supply of natural gas in Louisiana is a big advantage for the chemical industry in the Gulf Coast.

The lawmaker who authored the measure that would prohibit people under 21 from getting a job as a stripper says he’s disappointed a federal judge ruled to block the law until the case can be heard. The decision was based on the constitutionality of the mandate, but Senator Ronnie Johns said this was always about human trafficking control and the problem is not going away — so he plans to continue the fight.

The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association has launched a campaign aimed at urging the legislature to make changes to the state’s film tax credit program. Jim Hornbeak sits on the LFEA’s Executive Board. He says right now there’s no guarantee a movie-maker will receive tax credits, and it negatively impacts many locals…:
CUT 9 (05) “restaurant industry”
He says the “Fight For Film” effort is all about putting faces to those Louisianians who thrive when a movie is filmed here.

In response to the financial changes facing the state, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System is consolidating eight of their rural campuses. President of the system, Dr. Monty Sullivan, says they want to maintain and sustain the mission of two year colleges…:
Cut 3 (10) “financial stability”
He says the mergers will allow them to ensure their two-year colleges can stay open.

Non-custodial parents in Louisiana can now make child support payments through MoneyGram at retail stores like WalMart, CVS and Albertsons. Director of Child Support Enforcement with the Department of Children and Family Services Lydia Scales…:
Cut 6 (08) “credit card”
She says this is a more convenient way to pay rather than purchasing stamps and mailing in money.

The LSU men’s basketball team is back in Baton Rouge after it’s disastrous season ended last night with a 79-52 defeat in the SEC Tournament to Mississippi State. Embattled Head Coach Johnny Jones…
cut 30 (09) “…for us”
Jones is expected to be fired soon.

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association holds its annual conference in Lake Charles and there’s optimism the industry is about to break out of a two-year recession. LOGA Vice President Gifford Briggs says Exxon’s commitment to make a $20 billion investment along the Gulf coast and plans for a new pipeline across south Louisiana are promising signs…
cut 6 (09) “./..for Louisiana”

According to latest numbers from the C-D-C, the rate of newborns born with congenital syphilis is higher in Louisiana than the rest of the nation’s. But Dr. DeAnn Gruber, with the state office of public health, says their outreach and education efforts to decrease the rate of syphilis could be paying off…
cut 9 (09) “….number decrease”
According to the CDC, 83 out of every 100-thousand babies born has congenital syphilis.

Louisiana is urging President Donald Trump to use his executive authority to cut the red tape so construction can begin on five coastal restoration projects. Executive director of the Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority, Johnny Bradberry, says two of the projects are sediment diversion, others prevent saltwater intrusion into our marshes, and another introduces freshwater into the Maurepas Swamp…
cut 15 (11) “…three years”
Bradberry says these projects are vital to Louisiana’s way of life along the coast.

The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association launches the “Fight for Film” campaign. It’s an effort to get the state legislature to make changes to the state’s film tax credit program, because right now there’s no guarantee a movie-maker will receive tax credits.

There’s a new study that finds the percentage of obese Americans who are attempting to lose weight is falling and researchers wonder if it’s becoming acceptable to be overweight. The executive director of the Louisiana Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Rudy Macklin, disagrees. He attributes the decline in people losing weight to busy schedules…
cut 11 (11) “…things like that”
The nationwide study found the obesity rate is highest for black women with 55-percent being obese.

Nothing official from LSU yet on the status of head coach Johnny Jones. There’s speculation he will be fired soon after the Tigers finished a 10-and-21 season last night with a 79-52 loss to Mississippi State. It was the Tigers 16th defeat by double digits this season.

There’s a renewed sense of optimism for the oil industry, according to the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, who is holding their annual summit in Lake Charles today. LOGA Vice President Gifford Briggs says higher oil prices aren’t the only thing contributing to their uplifted spirits.
Cut 4 (12) “rolling back regulations”
Briggs says Exxon’s $20 billion investment to the Gulf Coast region and plans for a new pipeline across south Louisiana are promising signs.

The rate of babies born with syphilis is rising in Louisiana, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC found the rate of congenital syphilis rose by 6-percent nationwide between 2014 and 2015. Director of the Bureau of Infectious Diseases for the Office of Public Health, Dr. DeAnn Gruber, says the problem is even worse in Louisiana…
cut 7 (06) “…other states”

A study finds fewer fat people are trying to lose weight. The Georgia Southern University report found overweight Americans who said they are trying to drop pounds fell from 55% to 49%. Executive Director of the Louisiana Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Rudy Macklin, says weight loss efforts are abandoned for a variety of reasons….
cut 10 (10) “…physically active”
Macklin says others get discouraged quickly once they do not see results right away.

A federal judge rules New Orleans can take down the Liberty Place Monument, which Mayor Mitch Landrieu called the most offensive out of the monuments that have been declared nuisances. The Liberty Place monument commemorates an 1874 battle between police and members of the White League. 30 people died.

Governor Edwards sent a letter to President Trump asking him to cut the red tape so Louisiana can get started on five major coastal restoration projects. Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Johnny Bradberry…
cut 13 (07) “…to do these”
The money is coming from B-P as a result of the 2010 oil spill.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more and more babies are born with syphilis. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”