Louisiana’s Gross Domestic Product Growth in 2017 was the lowest in the nation at minus-point-two-percent in 2017. That’s according to new data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. But the state’s G-D-P for the fourth quarter of 2017 was two-point-two percent. Scott credits the industrial expansion boom ongoing in Lake Charles and Baton Rouge…
cut 14 (08) “….fourth quarter”
Scott says the state’s 28-month recession ended at the end of 2017.

The chemical fire has been distinguished at Flowchem in Duson and evacuated residents were allowed back into their homes today. State Police spokesperson Brooks David says investigators still don’t know what caused the blaze
Cut 9 (10) “go from there”
No injuries were reported.

15 thousand pounds of crawfish will be devoured starting today and running through the weekend at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival. Jeff Palermo the scoop.
Voicer 2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”

Caddo Parish native Johnnie Cochran Senior will be laid to rest tomorrow. He’s the father of Johnnie Cochran Junior who was one of the lead attorneys in the defense of O-J Simpson in the brutal murders of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. Senior lived to be 101 years old and even though he lived in California he regularly visited Shreveport.

The state posted the slowest gross domestic product growth in the nation in 2017 at minus-point-two-percent. It’s the second straight year Louisiana had a decline in the real G-D-P. LSU Economist Doctor Loren Scott says it’s not surprising since Louisiana is coming off a 28-month recession that ended in the final quarter of 2017…
cut 12 (10) “…in New Orleans”
Lousiaina’s G-D-P in the fourth quarter of 2017 was two-point-two-percent, so Scott hopefully that’s a sign of good things to come.

The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival is expecting 30 to 35 thousand people to attend this weekend’s massive festival just outside Lafayette. Festival Spokesperson Angelique Bernard says an unbelievable amount of mudbugs will be consumed over the three days.
Cut 6 (05) “peeled crawfish”
There are also over 30 zydeco bands scheduled to play throughout the festival that starts today.

Good news for Anglers as the feds have given Louisiana control of Red Snapper fishing in state and federal waters for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Don Molino has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

It’s a big sports weekend in Louisiana. Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal playoff series between the Pelicans and the Warriors is tonight in the Smoothie King Center. Golden State leads two games to none. LSU and UL Lafayette baseball both host nationally ranked teams and Gayle Benson has a horse running in tomorrow’s Kentucky Derby. Lone Sailor is considered a long shot.

The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival is expecting 30 to 35 thousand people to attend this weekend’s massive festival just outside Lafayette. Festival Spokesperson Angelique Bernard says it’s not just food, festival goers will be treated to an Acadiana specialty.

cut 8 (06) “stages”

The festival starts today with a celebrity crawfish eating contest.

The chemical fire has been distinguished at Flowchem in Duson and evacuated residents were allowed back into their homes Friday morning. The massive blaze shutdown I-10 on Thursday, but it’s has since re-opened. State Police spokesperson Brooks David says investigators still don’t know what caused the blaze, and says given the size of the fire, it’s amazing no one was injured…

Cut 11 (11) “that blaze”

Flowchem Technologies is a chemical blending facility that provices products and services to the oil and gas industry.

Louisiana has been given full control of Red Snapper waters from the feds for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist Harry Blanchet says Blanchet says part of the reason the state has been given authority over both waters is that early projections indicate that anglers won’t have a lot of success fishing in the federal waters this season.

Cut 5  (08) “this year”

The Louisiana House approves legislation that prohibits the use of your hand-held cell phone while driving. Supporters say it will minimize distractions while behind the wheel and Slidell Representative Kevin Pearson says it’s about a driving culture change.

cut 14 (10) “…done it”

Louisiana has been given full control of Red Snapper waters from the feds for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist Harry Blanchet says that’s great news for bayou sportsmen. Not only will it be easier to keep track of where you are allowed to fish, Blanchet says you’ll be allowed to head out all week long.

Cut 4 (12) “to quickly”

This year’s season will kick off Friday, May 25^th, with a total allocation of 743,000 pounds allowed to be harvested

The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival is expecting 30 to 35 thousand people to attend this weekend’s massive festival just outside Lafayette. Festival Spokesperson Angelique Bernard says there’s a little something for everyone.

Cut 7 (08)  “crawfish jambalaya”

The festival starts today with a celebrity crawfish eating contest.

The chemical fire has been distinguished at Flowchem in Duson and evacuated residents were allowed back into their homes Friday morning. The massive blaze shutdown I-10 on Thursday, but it’s has since re-opened. State Police spokesperson Brooks David says investigators still don’t know what caused the blaze. Flowchem Technologies is a chemical blending facility that provices products and services to the oil and gas industry. David says which chemicals sparked the blaze is part of the investigation….

Cut 10 (08) “release it”

The state is still testing negative for cronic wasting disease in northeast Louisiana deer. Concerns were raised after nearby counties in Mississippi tested positive for the incurable ailment that wrecks local populations. LDWF has a 95 percent confidence in the results.

And now, heres commodity prices.

The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival is expecting 30 to 35 thousand people to attend this weekend’s massive festival just outside Lafayette. Festival Spokesperson Angelique Bernard says an unbelievable amount of mudbugs will be consumed over the three days.

Cut 6 (05)  “peeled crawfish”

The food options are extensive, with everything from crawfish burritos to spinach bread bowls, and over 30 zydeco bands are expected to play throughout the festival that starts today.

The chemical fire has been distinguished at Flowchem in Duson and evacuated residents were allowed back into their homes Friday morning. The massive blaze shutdown I-10 on Thursday, but it’s has since re-opened. State Police spokesperson Brooks David says investigators still don’t know what caused the blaze

.Cut 9 (10) “go from there”

A bill barring drivers from touching their cellphones while on the road narrowly escaped the House and is on its way to the Senate. The anti-distracted driving legislation was inspired by the uptick in distracted driving road deaths in recent years. Bill sponsor Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval says the legislation is about protecting the next generation of drivers.

Cut 13 (06)  “distracted drivers” 

Slidell Representative Kevin Pearson says the legislation is about a driving culture change. Now-a-days he doesn’t fire up his car without buckling up, but that didn’t always used to be the case.

But the bill wasn’t without opposition. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says living 250 miles away from the capital means she has to spend hours of her day on the road getting work done.

Cut 15 (12) “on me”

The bill passed with 53 votes.

Louisiana has been given full control of Red Snapper waters from the feds for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist Harry Blanchet says that’s great news for bayou sportsmen.

Cut 3, 7 seconds, offshore waters

This year’s season will kick off Friday, May 25^th, with a total allocation of 743,000 pounds allowed to be harvested

The “Adoption Option” bill that would require abortion clinics to provide information about the adoption process to women seeking abortions is nearing final passage. Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Ben Clapper says too many women are choosing abortion

Cut 6 (10) “of adoption”

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is set to end his second term Monday after 8 years in charge of the Crescent City. Landrieu guided the city through a tumultuous post Katrina recovery period, but political analyst Clancy DuBos says nationally he’ll be most remembered for his part in the removal of the confederate monuments to Robert E Lee, Jefferson Davis, and PT Beauregard.

Cut 7 (08)  “for that”

A bill barring drivers from touching their cellphones while on the road narrowly escaped the House and is on its way to the Senate. The anti-distracted driving legislation was inspired by the uptick in distracted driving road deaths in recent years. Slidell Representative Kevin Pearson says the legislation is about a driving culture change. Now-a-days he doesn’t fire up his car without buckling up, but that didn’t always used to be the case.

Cut 14 (10) “done it”

Mitch Landrieu’s eight-year run as the mayor of New Orleans is coming to an end as his second term finishes on Monday with the swearing in of LaToya Cantrell. Political Analyst Clancy Dubos when Landrieu was sworn-in, the Katrina recovery was slow and the city’s finances were a mess…
cut 9 (12) “…politice recruiting”
Dubos says New Orleans violent crime rate remains too high.

The state legislature is close to approving legislation that would make more information available about putting a child up for adoption for women who are seeking to have an abortion. Ben Clapper is the executive director of the Louisiana Right to Life…
cut 5 (07) “…of adoption”
There will be a new website called adoption-option-dot-la-dot-gov.

A 62-year-old Hammond man faces a vehicular negligent homicide charge, plus a host of other charges for a fatal wreck on I-12 that killed a one-month old child and injured four others. Don Molino has the story…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

Residents that were forced to evacuate yesterday as a result of a massive chemical fire at Flowchem in Duson are allowed to return home this morning. The state department of environmental quality is available to provide an air quality check for those who request one for their home. The blaze also shut down on I-10, but the interstate has since been reopened.