Severe weather continues to pummel southeast Louisiana this morning prompting the National Weather Service to issue Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings in the region. Power disruptions have been reported as a result of the storms. A Tornado Watch remains in effect for southeast Louisiana until 1PM today. Flash Flood Watches are in effect for a large portion of central and south Louisiana until as late as tomorrow afternoon.

A measure to increase the state’s tax on cigarettes by $1.18 is being debated in the House Ways and Means Committee. Stasha Rhodes, with the American Heart Association in Louisiana, says the bill has an excellent chance at passing, because of the state’s massive budget shortfall…

cut 10 (06) “possible solution”

This legislation would increase the state’s cigarette tax from 36-cents per pack to $1.54 per pack, which is the national average.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office urges consumers to research the costs and benefits of solar panels before purchasing them. The director of the public protection division of the state’s A-G’s office, Sam Pleasant, says you can contact your utility provider to see if they’ll perform an energy efficiency audit of your home, which can determine if it’s even worth getting solar panels…

cut 15 (08) “solar system”

Pleasant says they issued this alert now, because warmer weather prompts many consumers to look at ways to save money on utility bills.

Funeral services for Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott will be held today after his sudden death last week in Baton Rouge while on business at the Capitol. Pete Adams is the Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association…

cut 7 (09) “very intelligent”

Preliminary findings reveal the 67-year-old died of previously diagnosed heart disease.

The National Weather Service has issued Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings for several parishes this morning in southeast Louisiana as severe weather sweeps through the state. A Tornado Watch remains in effect for a large portion of central and south Louisiana until 1PM today, while Flash Flood Watches remain in effect until as late as tomorrow afternoon. Power outages have been reported due to storm activity.

For homeowners looking at purchasing solar panels to reduce their utility costs. Jeff Palermo reports the attorney general’s office says do your homework first…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

Today, the House Ways and Means Committee will consider a bill that will raise the state’s cigarette tax from 36-cents per pack to $1.54 per pack, which is the national average. Stasha Rhodes, with the American Heart Association in Louisiana, says the measure under consideration today would generate 223-million dollars in new revenue for the state, which is why they think it has an excellent chance at passing…

cut 12 (11) “7,000 lives”

Legislators are currently tackling a one-point-six billion dollar budget deficit.

Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott will be laid to rest today after his sudden death last week in Baton Rouge while on business at the Capitol. Pete Adams, Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, says Scott was a true leader in their organization…

cut 9 (10) “to the highest standards”

A special election for a new Caddo DA is expected to happen in conjunction with this fall’s gubernatorial election.

A bill to increase the state’s tax on cigarettes by $1.18 is expected to be debated today in the House Ways and Means Committee. Jeff Palermo has a preview…

cut 2 (29) “reporting”

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are in effect for several parishes as another round of severe weather sweeps through Louisiana. The National Weather Service has also issued a Tornado Watch for a large portion of central and south Louisiana until 1PM today, while a Flash Flood Watch will remain in effect until as late as tomorrow afternoon. NWS says thunderstorms today through tomorrow morning could drop two to three inches of rain with localized amounts up to five inches possible.

Funeral services are scheduled today for Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott who died suddenly last week in a Baton Rouge hotel while on business at the Capitol. Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, Pete Adams says Scott was the kind of person who was kind to everyone and didn’t have a mean bone in his body…

cut 8 (09) “worked very hard”

Caddo District Court proceedings are suspended today in honor of Scott’s funeral at the Broadmoor Baptist Church.

$22.9 million in renovations to the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria begins today after numerous delays. Rapides Police Jury President Richard Billings says renovations will take place both outside and inside the building. He says renovations, so to speak, won’t stop with the building itself…

cut 6 (11) “many, many years”

The renovations are expected to take 20 to 22 months to complete.

This morning the House Ways and Means Committee will consider a bill that will raise the state’s cigarette tax to the national average of $1.54 per pack. Stasha Rhodes, with the American Heart Association in Louisiana, says not only will an increase in the cigarette tax help the state’s budget situation now, it will result in fewer people smoking, which should result in cost savings in the future…

cut 11 (11) “15.4 million dollars”

The state is facing a one-point-six billion dollar budget shortfall.

After numerous delays, the $22.9 million makeover of the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria begins today. Rapides Police Jury President Richard Billings says, when complete, the venue will be practically brand new with renovations happening both outside and inside the building…

cut 5 (10) “for entertainers”

The project is finally getting underway after voters approved a bond issue to renovate the facility two-and-a-half years ago.

If you’re considering solar panels for your home, the Louisiana Attorney General’s office urges consumers to research the costs and benefits before buying. The A-G’s director of the public protection division, Sam Pleasant, says Attorney General Buddy Caldwell recommends that potential solar panel buyers get at least three written proposals or price quotes and speak with people who have first-hand experience in purchasing them…

cut 14 (10) “recoup savings”

She says homeowners can be attracted by a promise of reduced energy costs from solar power systems.

Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott will be laid to rest today after his sudden death last week in a Baton Rouge hotel while on business at the Capitol. Pete Adams is the Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association…:

cut 7 (09) “very intelligent”

Preliminary findings reveal the 67-year-old Scott died of previously diagnosed heart disease.

The House Ways and Means Committee will consider this morning a bill that will raise the state’s cigarette tax from 36-cents per pack to $1.54 per pack, which is the national average. Stasha Rhodes, with the American Heart Association in Louisiana, says the measure has an excellent chance at passing, because of the state’s massive budget shortfall…

cut 10 (06) “possible solution”

Rhodes says the cigarette tax increase under consideration today would generate 223-million dollars in new revenue for the state.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office urges consumers to research the costs and benefits of solar panels before purchasing them. The director of the public protection division of the state’s A-G’s office, Sam Pleasant, says homeowners can be attracted by a promise of reduced energy costs from solar power systems, but sometimes there are some significant up front costs…

cut 13 (09) “up front”
The $22.9 million makeover of the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria begins today after numerous delays. The project is finally getting underway after voters approved a bond issue to renovate the facility two-and-a-half years ago. Rapides Police Jury President Richard Billings says everyone’s excited these changes are finally being made…

cut 4 (10) “what we want”

Billings says renovations are happening both outside and inside the building. He says construction is expected to take 20 to 22 months to complete.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says national investors pulled out a big portion of a $114 million dollar bond deal with LSU over concerns about budget cuts. He says the university didn’t do anything wrong…:
CUT 1 (12) “state right now”
Kennedy says higher education in Louisiana has been shocked with back to back years of reduced funding and investors are sounding the alarm bell.

The number of motorcycle deaths on the road is going down. Eighty motorcycle riders were killed last year, a seven percent drop from 2013 according to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. Deputy director, Ken Trull, says a factor in motorcycle fatalities is impaired driving as one-third of Louisiana’s 2014 motorcycle deaths involved alcohol. He says motorcyclists should never ride impaired or distracted and try to make yourself more visible
CUT 14 (07) “and cars”

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection with a double homicide. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

The 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival kicked off today beginning the seven days of a great lineup of music and amazing food. The lineup this first weekend includes headliners Keith Urban tonight, The Who tomorrow and Sunday it’s Jimmy Buffett on the Acura Stage. Other huge artists performing this weekend are Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, Pitbull, Irma Thomas, Ryan Adams, John Legend, Wilco, Jimmy Cliff, Wayne Toups and more.

There has been an arrest made in the double murder which has rocked a small community in LaSalle Parish. 19-year-old Kylie Duncan and 76-year-old Irma Cotton were found dead Wednesday and 37-year-old Randy Waits is charged in the deaths. LaSalle Parish Sheriff Scott Franklin wants to assure people that this is not a mass murder situation…:
CUT 5 (10) “he thought”
Cotton was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head. Duncan was also shot in the head and her throat was cut.

As part of a compromise in a lawsuit by two newspapers, LSU has released the names of three candidates considered during a presidential search the university had kept under wraps at the time. Documents released Friday include names of officials from Texas A&M, East Carolina University and the University of Alabama. LSU President F. King Alexander was eventually chosen for the job.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission reports that there was a seven percent decline in the number of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2014 compared to the prior year. Deputy Director Ken Trull says helmets are helping to reduce motorcycle deaths. He says an observational study in 2014 found that 100-percent of motorcyclists wore a helmet…:
CUT 13 (08) “turn signals”
He says they need all motorists to get on board with keeping an eye on motorcyclists.

The Ochnser Hypertension digital Medicine Program in New Orleans says they are the first in the nation to use the new Apple Watch for its patients. Dr. Richard Milani says with the Apple Watch, patients can receive medication reminders, feedback from clinics, activity tracking, and exercise reminders. He says over 40-percent of patients in the program have their hypertension under control, compared to a usual care group of only one-percent…:
CUT 11 (08) “to the patient”‘

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection with a double homicide. 37-year-old Randy Eugene Waits has been arrested for the deaths of 19-year-old Kylie Duncan and 76-year-old Irma Cotton. Sheriff Scott Franklin says there appears to be a connection between the suspect and one of the victims…:
CUT 4 (11) “as a witness”
Waits is charged with two counts of first degree murder.

National investors have pulled out of a multi-million dollar bond deal for LSU says State Treasurer John Kennedy due to a possible massive cut in state funding for the university. Kennedy says LSU issued $114 million dollars in revenue and refunding bonds earlier this week. LSU sells bonds to investors to get up front money to pay for construction projects or to get a better deal on existing debt.

Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic Gold medalist and Keeping Up with the Kardashians star, is going to reportedly confirm to the world tonight that he is transgender. ABC will air an exclusive two-hour special with Diane Sawyer at 8pm. Matthew Patterson of Equality Louisiana says the 65-year-old says discrimination against transgender people is unfortunately quite pervasive and severe…:
CUT 7 (12) “other people”

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission reports that there was a slight decline in the number of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2014. Eighty motorcycle riders were killed last year, a seven percent drop from 2013. The commission’s deputy director, Ken Trull, says they hope to reduce the number even more in 2015 but they need help from all motorists…:
CUT 12 (09) “aware of em”

Ochsner Health System in New Orleans announces they are the first in the nation to use the new Apple Watch to manage patients suffering from chronic diseases. The Ochsner Hypertension Digital Medicine Program uses the device to track patients blood pressure. Chief Clinical Transformation Officer, Dr. Richard Milani, says about 40-percent of patients with chronic disease want a medication reminder…:
CUT 10 (07) “at that time”
Milani says since the watch is on your wrist it provides individuals with nudges and feedback in a timely fashion.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says national investors have pulled out a large portion of a $114 million dollar bond deal for LSU amid concerns over budget instability and state support for higher ed in Louisiana. He says this is not a welcome development and there could be ramifications for other colleges in the state.

A bill by Gonzales state Representative Eddie Lambert would set a limit on the size of live crawfish that would be sold to people or restaurants. Scott Carwile reports…:
CUT 3 (31) “reporting”

The 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is officially underway. Keith Urban hits the main stage tonight.