A report by Credit Suisse finds 1 out of 5 shopping malls will close down in the next 5 years. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Some lawmakers are disappointed no legislation was passed this year to reform the state’s tax structure, as Louisiana faces a looming fiscal cliff. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

While the rate of interracial marriages is increasing nationwide, a Pew Research Center study finds that’s not the case in Baton Rouge or Lafayette. LSU associate professor of African-American studies and sociology, Dr. Lori Martin says there could be a number of reasons why these areas are not seeing the same uptick in interracial marriage.

Cut 3 (10) “to marriage”

Baton Rouge and Lafayette rank in the bottom 10 for interracial marriages, with less than 10 percent of relationships involving people of different races. Martin says there could be less positive attitudes towards interracial marriages in Baton Rouge and Lafayette than in other places. She says racial problems exist throughout the country, but those problems are more prevalent in some areas than others.

Cut 4  (10) “at work”

Martin says it’s always good when racial groups have less social distance between themselves and others because it can be a sign of improving race relations. But she says we are making more strides in some areas than others.

Cut 5  (09)  “and blacks”

________________________________________________

A report from Credit Suisse finds at least one in five U.S. shopping malls will go out of business within the next five years, because of the growth in online sales. LSU Marketing Professor Dr. Dan Rice says retail sector is not dying but certain retailers in these malls are really hurting.

Cut 6 (11) “are there”

The report estimates over 86-hundred stores will close in 2017. Rice says with a decline in interest of the anchor stores, or big department stores, there is less foot traffic to other small stores in the mall and that’s hurting small stores in a mall.

Cut 7 (09)  “be seen”

Rice says online shopping is growing faster than ever. But he says attracting shoppers to physical stores is still possible, as retail sales are higher than ever.

Cut 8 (07) “with both”

_________________________________________________________

Flash flooding is a possibility in south Louisiana, as more heavy rains are expected through today and tomorrow. Donald Jones with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says the Alexandria, Lake Charles and Lafayette areas are under a flash flood watch until 7 p.m. tonight.

Cut 9 (10)  “the region”

Jones says southwest and central Louisiana saw anywhere from 3 to 4 inches of rainfall yesterday, with localized amounts up to 9 inches. He says anywhere that sees heavy rainfall over a short period of time will have the potential for flooding.

Cut 10 (08) “to start”

_________________________________________________________

The search is heating up for Jacquelyn “Daisy Lynn” Landry, the 18-year-old girl from Lafayette who was last seen on May 23rd. Her family is desperate to locate their loved one, and Acadian Search and Rescue Director Jeffery Istre says 75% of businesses they went to didn’t even know about Landry’s disappearance…:

Cut 11 (08) “information”

Landry was last seen wearing a green Army-colored jacket, jeans, brown sandals, and she has a tattoos of a Chinese symbol above her left breast and a small triangle on the inside of her right wrist. Istre is encouraging the public to share the information poster on the Finding Daisy Lynn Facebook page…:

Cut 12 (07) “keep a lookout”

There has been an arrest made in the case. 22-year-old Malik Davis is charged with second degree murder. Istre says the are also in need of donations and volunteers and you can find those details at the Acadian Search and Rescue Facebook page. He says they are encouraging the public to spread the word far and wide….:

Cut 13 (09) “possibilities”

_________________________________________________________

Heading into the 2017 legislative session, lawmakers talked about reforming Louisiana’s tax structure with 1.3 billion dollars in temporary taxes set to expire next year. But lawmakers will not pass any legislation this year dealing with the fiscal cliff. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey expresses his frustration.

Cut 14 (07) “no problems”

Since legislators failed to pass any tax reform measures in this session, the governor might call for a special session next year to address what would be a one-billion dollar budget deficit. But Ivey doesn’t see any real tax reform changes coming in a special session…

Cut 15 (10) “my opinion”

Representative Julie Stokes of Metairie and Ivey proposed a flat income tax. Both bills passed the House, but too late in the process for them to gain traction in the Senate. Stokes says Louisiana will continue to have budget deficits, unless Republicans and Democrats come together…

Cut 16  (10)  “want it”

_________________________________________________________

Lawmakers are working towards avoiding another special session just minutes after the regular session ends on Thursday. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

State lawmakers have approved the 2017 Coastal Master Plan and implementation can now begin. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Freshman pitcher Eric Walker pitches a masterful game as the LSU Tigers beat Rice 5-0 to advance to the Super Regionals. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

__________________________________

The regular session ends Thursday at 6 p.m. and lawmakers are optimistic a special session will not be needed 30 minutes later. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says to avoid a fourth special session since Governor John Bel Edwards took office, the legislature will need to approve a budget for next fiscal year and a financing bill for construction projects.

Cut 4  (09) “legislative limbo”

The Senate approved a budget on Saturday, but it differs from what the House has approved. The Senate’s proposal spends more money in an effort to avoid cuts to various state agencies.  But Alford says the House would rather not spend all of the available dollars.

Cut 5  (11)  “and spend”

Alford says a conference committee featuring lawmakers from both chambers will spend the next couple of days trying to reach an agreement on the budget. He says no one at the Capitol wants a special session, but it remains to be seen if a budget deal can be reached.

Cut 6 (10) “in the past”

________________________________________________________

The Louisiana legislature approved the 2017 Coastal Master Plan and now implementation can begin. Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana Spokesperson Jimmy Frederick says thanks to bi-partisan support this plan was developed with the best science available to help preserve Louisiana’s coast.

Cut 7 (11)  “we can”

Frederick says between 640 to 800 million dollars a year is expected to be spent on coastal restoration projects for the next four years, like marsh creation, hydrologic restoration and levees. He says the cornerstone of the Master Plan is sediment diversion from the Mississippi River.

Cut 8 (07) “of years”

Frederick says unfortunately, they will not be able to break ground on the sediment diversion project until 2022. But in the near future he says we will see the ramping up for coastal projects throughout the state.

Cut 9 (11)  “communities”

____________________________________________________________

Today the House takes up three Senate bills aimed at implementing criminal justice reform lawmakers promised to deliver during the session. The measures would provide parole eligibility for more prisoners and reduce sentences for first-time offenders. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says he understands it’s a hard vote because everyone wants to be tough on crime.

Cut 10 (11) “productive citizens”

Martiny says they’ve taken away the incentive for these offenders to better themselves. But Albany Representative Sherman Mack raised concerns about a provision that provides parole eligibility for second degree murderers sentenced in the 1970s, which means 160 inmates serving life sentences would become parole eligible.

Cut 11 (07) “out of jail”

Natalie Laborde with the Department of Corrections says in the 1970s the penalty for second-degree murder was life in prison with parole eligibility after 40 years, and the legislature removed parole eligibility in the 1980s.

Cut 12 (07) “the offenders”

____________________________________________________________

Two bills requiring traffic stop etiquette to be taught in driver’s education courses are waiting for the governor’s signature. One bill was by Plaquemines Representative Chad Brown, while Bossier City Representative Ryan Gatti has a similar measure with the same objective. Lafayette Senator Patrick Cortez says it helps the police officers when drivers know what to do during a traffic stop.

Cut 13 (10) “as well”

The measures require driver’s ed teachers to tell student drivers how to conduct themselves if they are pulled over, including where to keep their hands and what paperwork to have on hand. Gatti says this will not increase the cost of the driving course for the students or the instructors.

Cut 14 (09) “their instructor”

Office of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Karen St. Germain says this legislation is needed so that everyone can remain safe during a traffic stop.

_________________________________________________________________

LSU is heading to the Super Regionals thanks to a masterful performance by pitcher Eric Walker. The freshman from Texas pitched eight plus innings of shutout baseball to help the Bayou Bengals blank Rice 5-zip. Coach Paul Mainieri says Walker continues to pitch big on the big stage….

Cut 15 (09) “to a championship”

Walker struck out eight hitters and scattered eight hits. He says he likes to pitch in pressure situations…

Cut 16 (13)  “next weekend

LSU defeated Texas Southern, Southeastern Louisiana and then the Owls for the program’s 23rd Regional title. They’ve won 14 straight and shortstop Kramer Robertson believes they can keep playing at a high level until they reach their ultimate goal…

 cut 17 (15) “it together”

The Tigers will find out today who they’ll play in the Super Regionals. It will be either Mississippi State or Southern Miss. Last year, LSU was swept by Coastal Carolina in the Super Regionals. Robertson says they understand the task at hand…

Cut 18 (22)    “for this weekend”