One year after the March flood devastated parts of north and central Louisiana, flood victims are still trying to recover. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The Bossier City Police Department is reminding residents not to fall for telephone scams. Emelie Gunn has more on people receiving calls from individuals claiming to be the IRS….

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The state Department of Transportation breaks ground on cable road barriers that will be installed on the median of LA 3132 in memory of a young woman who lost her life in a 2013 accident. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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One year ago today, heavy rains began pouring down on north Louisiana, causing the worst flood the area has seen in hundreds of years. The flood prompted a federal disaster declaration for 37 parishes. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham says he’s frustrated no state or federal money has been handed out to help flood victims rebuild their homes. He says many flood victims are paying for repairs out of pocket or getting help from other organizations.

Cut 4  (11) “church based help”

Abraham says for some, the Great Flood of 2016 refers only to the devastating August flood in south Louisiana. But he says he was waist deep in water during the flood in north Louisiana, and 21-thousand households was damaged. But he says homeowners weren’t the only ones impacted by the March flood.

Cut 5  (11)  “us everyday”

Another 6-thousand structures were also impacted by the flood. Officials estimate road and bridge damage alone is over $20 million. Abraham says the next step is allocating the federal funds to rebuild infrastructure and help business owners and flood victims rebuild as quickly as possible.

Cut 6 (09) “back together”

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The Bossier City Police Department is warning residents of telephone scammers claiming to be the IRS and requesting money. Sgt. Brian Griffith says they’ve received multiple reports of phone calls stating a payment needs to be made over the phone or an arrest warrant will be issued for the individual. He says the IRS will never ask for personal information or take payments over the phone.

Cut 7 (07)  “for that”

Griffith says anytime someone receives a call from the IRS asking for credit card or banking information, it’s usually a scam.

Cut 8 (09) “been using”

Griffith advises anyone who receives a similar call to immediately hang up the phone.

Cut 9 (09)  “as possible”

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Construction has begun on cable barriers along the median of LA 3132 in Shreveport thanks to the efforts of a grieving mother. Tammy Willson of Haughton lost her daughter, Casey Colley, in 2013 when a truck crossed the median of the highway. She says after her daughter’s death, she knew she had to do something in Casey’s memory that would also give back to the community.

Cut 10 (10) “other lives”

Willson says if those road barriers had been up, she would still have her daughter today. She says she reached out to lawmakers to get the funds appropriated to place cable barriers along a 10 mile stretch of the highway.

Cut 11 (09) “make it happen”

Willson says the funds paying for the barrier were already appropriated for other transportation projects. But she says she worked with lawmakers to get the money directed for this cable barrier. She says this is the kind of investment that can save lives.

Cut 12 (07) “to stop”

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US House Republicans have presented their plan for replacing the Affordable Care Act. The new plan scraps fines imposed on taxpayers who do not purchase insurance and instead offers tax credits to those who purchase coverage in the open market. Chief Healthcare Economist for Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana Mike Bertaut says that has huge implications for the marketplace.

Cut 13 (09) “20-percent”

Under the new proposal, people who let their policy lapse would face penalties, including a potential premium hike of 30-percent for up to a year. Bertaut says under Obamacare, tax credits are based on income. But he says under this new proposal, by 2020 credits will be based on age.

Cut 14 (11) “4-thousand dollars”

Bertaut says the goal is to deliver the plan for the American Healthcare Act to the Senate by April 1. He says people’s biggest complaint about the ACA was how much premiums rose after it was enacted. He says that’s because more people had access to coverage, many for the first time in their lives, which drove up the cost of healthcare.

Cut 15 (09) “catching up on”

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Tonight could be the final game for Johnny Jones as head coach of the LSU Tigers. Tiger-rag-dot-com reports Athletic Director Joe Alleva is expected to hand Jones his pink slip shortly after the Tigers are eliminated from the SEC Tournament. Jones was asked whether he thought he deserved another season

Cut 16 (16) “concentration on”

Jones is completing his fifth season as the Tigers head coach. Two years ago, he took LSU to the NCAA Tournament. Last season, LSU failed to make the Big Dance, despite having the eventual number one pick in the NBA draft on their team. This past season, LSU went 2-16 in the SEC. Jones on his time as head coach at LSU…

Cut 17 (09)  “do that”

LSU faces Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament tonight. Jones remains optimistic the Tigers can make a run in this tourney…

Cut 18 (19) “working toward that”

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The Sun Belt Men’s basketball tournament begins today in New Orleans. 12th seeded ULM faces Arkansas State this afternoon and then at 5:00 UL Lafayette will take on Little Rock. The Cajuns already beat the Trojans twice this season and Coach Bob Marlin knows it won’t be easy to get a third win

Cut 19 (20)   “semifinals”

UL Lafayette enters the tournament as the seventh seed, but they are also on a six-game winning streak. Marlin believes they are one of the best teams in the Sun Belt…

Cut 20 (13)   “Little Rock”

The Federal Court of Appeals in New Orleans has approved the removal of Confederate monuments in the city. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A Jennings woman is facing additional charges for allegedly lying about how her 4-year-old niece was set on fire. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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New Orleans city officials are moving towards taking down Confederate monuments now that the federal appeals court has ruled they can be removed. Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s office says they are taking bids and a contract will be awarded in 25 days. Vice President of the Monumental Task Committee Gary Mason says they advocate tolerance and respect rather than removal…

Cut 3 (10) “new monuments”

The court criticized groups seeking to keep the statues for arguments that have no legal viability. Mason says while they are disappointed with the ruling, The Monumental Task Committee is still reviewing their legal options. He says people visit New Orleans for city’s history…

cut 4  (12) “unique”

On the other side, Take Em Down NOLA coordinator Malcolm Suber says they are elated with the court’s decision to give New Orleans the right do whatever they wish with the statues in the city. But he says this is only a partial victory…

Cut 5  (08)  “the job”

Suber says the real problem with these statutes is they are memorials to people who stood for the enslavement of African people.

Cut 6 (10) “public spots”

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A Jennings woman is facing additional charges for allegedly lying about how her 4-year-old niece was set on fire. State Fire Marshal’s office spokesman Brant Thompson says 29-year-old Gail Brown is accused of having sex for money at a home, while her 6-year-old daughter and the 4-year-old niece were in a vehicle…:

CUT 7 (10)  “the 4-year-old”

Thompson says the victim is being treated at a pediatric burn unit in Galveston, Texas. He says the child was able to leave the vehicle when her clothes were on fire and run to the home…:

Cut 8 (10) “engulfed in flames”

Brown was booked for prostitution, child desertion, and false swearing for the purposes of violating public health or safety. Thompson says instead of immediately taking the child to the hospital, Brown went in another direction to try to hide her own criminal activity..:

Cut 9 (10)  “crews”

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Spring football begins Saturday for the LSU Tigers and Head Coach Ed Orgeron said today there will be an open competition for starting quarterback. Danny Etling is the clear front-runner, after starting 10 games last season. But Orgeron says the other QBs on the roster look good as well

Cut 10 (12) “looking good”

During spring football, LSU will be installing a new offense under first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Orgeron says Canada will be able to adapt to whoever is under center taking snaps

cut 11 (10) “known for”

LSU’s offense is expected to revolve around running back Derrius Guice, who rushed for nearly 14-hundred yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Orgeron expects Guice to only get better under new running backs coach Tommie Robinson…

cut 12 (12) “Tommie Robinson”

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The U.S. Department of the Interior announces they will offer 73 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico up for sale for exploration in the oil and gas industry. Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute Eric Smith does not expect energy companies to have much interest…

Cut 13 (08) “in leasing” 

The lease sale includes about 14-thousand blocks in all areas of the Gulf. Smith says these acres up for grab likely won’t turn things around for Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico’s energy sector. He says previous sales were extremely slow in this area.

cut 14 (10) “administration”

This is the first oil lease sale covering the entire Gulf of Mexico since 1983. Smith says he does not have high hopes for this sale given the low price of oil but is optimistic conditions will change as President Trump is pushing for energy independence.

Cut 15 (10) “obligations are” 

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