Former Saints defensive end Will Smith will be laid to rest today. A public visitation for the ex-football star who was gunned down last weekend took place yesterday at the Saints practice facility in Metairie. Hundreds of fans, many wearing Saints jerseys, attended the visitation to pay their final respects.

The Louisiana House believes the state legislature should have a say on whether a work mandate should be in place for food stamp recipients. Currently, the governor is allowed to seek a federal waiver of the work requirements for able-bodied, childless adults to receive food stamps. The bill’s author, Monroe Representative Jay Morris, says he knows jobs are hard to come by, but…
cut 7 (10) “…every day”
After a 56-28 vote, the bill heads to the Senate.

A new jobs report shows the state added nearly eight-thousand to its workforce in March. Louisiana Workforce Commission spokesperson Aaron Caffarel says construction employment posted its largest over-the-month increase since 2004…
cut 14 (08) “…Lake Charles region”
Despite the increase in jobs, the state’s unemployment rate also grew to six-point-one percent.

Iberia Parish Superintendent Dale Henderson says the Westgate High School band will compete its scheduled band compeitition event in Florida, despite the arrest of its band director for indecent behavior with a juvenile. 30-year-old Jeremy Conner was allegedly found in a teenager’s closet by the mother of the victim. Lt. Colonel Bobby Webre is with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s office….
cut 5 (07) “…their career”
Conner was booked into the Ascension Parish jail.

A bill to allow lawmakers to decide if food stamp recipients must work to receive federal assistance has been approved by the House. Monroe Rep. Jay Morris says this legislation is only giving lawmakers a say in the decision if food stamp recipients should be required to work, not deciding at this moment.

CUT 9 (10) “that route”

The bill passed 56 to 28 and now heads to the Senate.

The band director at Westgate High School has been arrested after he was found hiding in a 16-year-old girl’s closet. Lt. Col. Bobby Webre says the girl does not attend the school where Conner teaches, and it’s unclear how the two met.

CUT 4 (08)  “parish”

Webre says Conner has been communicating with the juvenile since last year

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in Louisiana rose for a third month in a row. Spokesperson with the Louisiana Workforce Commission Aaron Caffarel says unfortunately the unemployment number in the oil and gas industry has ticked up to 6.1 percent, up from 5.9 percent in February.

cut 15 (10) “labor force” 

Caddarel says they’re working hard to find new employment for the workers in that industry.

The 4th Annual Louisiana International Film Festival is underway in Baton Rouge, and Kelsey Grammer is making an appearance at the screening of his new film “Breaking the Bank”, which he says is about an investment bank takeover.:

cut 10 (09)  “like that”

You can get more information about the festival at lifilmfest.org.

The House approved a bill to allow lawmakers to decide whether food stamp recipients should have to work to receive federal assistance. But Bogalusa Rep. Malinda White disagrees, because as many as 16-thousand people in the oil industry recently lost their jobs. She says these people have suffered enough.

CUT 6 (09) “to eat”

Monroe Rep. Jay Morris, believes lawmakers should decide if childless adults who are not working should get food stamps.

The employment of the band director at Westgate High School is questionable after he was found hiding in a 16-year-old girl’s closet. Lt. Col. Bobby Webre with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office says 30-year-old Jeremy Conner of Baton Rouge was alone with the juvenile when her mother came home.

CUT 3 (07)  “her home”

Webre says the juvenile invited Conner into her home.

Employment in Louisiana rose for a third straight month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Spokesperson with the Louisiana Workforce Commission Aaron Caffarel says more and more people are entering the workforce and those unemployed are steadily seeking jobs. He says jobs in the construction industry are increasing more than they have since post-Hurricane Katrina construction shot up in 2006.

cut 14 (08)  “region”

Caffarel says jobs in the oil and gas sector continue to drop but they’re working hard to find workers in that industry new employment.

Long-time spokesperson for the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s office, Maxine Trahan, is accused of stealing money confiscated from accused criminals. Since 2010, Trahan allegedly kept more than $48-thousand that should have been deposited into a sheriff’s account. Trahan has been booked on charges of felony theft, and the investigation is ongoing.

A bill to give legislators a say if recipients of food stamps should have to work to receive assistance has been approved by the House. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Former coaches, teammates, friends and fans are at the Saints training facility to pay their final respects to former Saint Will Smith. The team is showing highlights of the defensive end’s career on televisions. Funeral services were also this afternoon for former Saints and LSU running back Hokie Gajan, who died after a battle with cancer.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics finds employment in Louisiana rose for a third straight month. Spokesperson with the Louisiana Workforce Commission Aaron Caffarel says this is encouraging news. He says the number of people employed grew by nearly 8-thousand from February to March…:

Cut 13 (07) “ever recorded”

Caffarel says despite an overall workforce increase, oil and gas employment fell by 10-thousand since last year.

The 4th Annual ever-growing Louisiana International Film Festival is underway in Baton Rouge.  Kelsey Grammer, who starred in Cheers and Frasier, will be in attendance. He says he loves attending movie festivals like this because his passion for the movie industry will never go away. He says these events are great learning experiences..:

cut 12 (06) “all things”

You can get more information about the festival at lifilmfest.org.

A new jobs report shows the state added nearly eight-thousand to its workforce in March. Louisiana Workforce Commission spokesperson Aaron Caffarel says construction employment posted its largest over-the-month increase since 2004…
cut 14 (08) “…Lake Charles region”
Despite the increase in jobs, the state’s unemployment rate also grew to six-point-one percent.

The House approved a bill to allow lawmakers to have a say in whether recipients of food stamps should be required to work to receive federal assistance. But opponents like Bogalusa Representative Malinda White says Louisiana is losing jobs left and right in the oil industry, and there’s a huge need for this assistance
CUT 8 (09) “need it”
Despite White’s objections, the legislation heads to the Senate.

The band director at Westgate High School in New Iberia has been arrested, after he was found hiding in a 16-year-old girl’s closet. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…reporting”

Former coaches, teammates and fans are at the Saints training facility in Metairie this afternoon, where a public visitation is taking place for Will Smith. The former Saints defensive end was fatally shot last weekend in what police call a road rage incident.

The Louisiana House believes the state legislature should have a say if a work mandate should be in place for food stamp recipients. Currently, the governor is allowed to seek a federal waiver of the work requirements for able-bodied, childless adults to receive food stamps. The bill’s author, Monroe Representative Jay Morris, says he knows jobs are hard to come by, but…
cut 7 (10) “…every day”
After a 56-28 vote, the bill heads to the Senate.

The latest employment figures show the state’s unemployment rate went up slightly to six-point-one percent in the month of March. Louisiana Workforce Commission spokesperson Aaron Caffarel….
cut 15 (10) “….labor force”
Caffareal says the number of people employed in Louisiana grew by eight-thousand last month.

The band director at Westgate High School in New Iberia is facing charges after a mother of a 16-year-old child, alledgedly found him hiding in the girl’s closet. Lt. Colonel Bobby Webre, with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s office, says the juvenile invited Jeremy Conner into the home and it’s unclear how the two met…
cut 4 (08) “…the parish”
Webre says Conner has been communicating with the juvenile since last year, and he admitting to sending her inappropriate texts.

This weekend it’s the Louisiana International Film Festival in Baton Rouge. Kelsey Grammer, who is known for his sitcom television character “Frazier” has a film during this four-day event called “Breaking the Bank.” Grammer says its an indictment on the investment bank system…
cut 11 (07) “….might happen”
For more information go to li-film-fest-dot-org.

A bill to give legislators a say if recipients of food stamps should have to work to receive assistance has been approved by the House. Emelie Gunn has more:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics finds employment in Louisiana rose for a third straight month. Spokesperson with the Louisiana Workforce Commission Aaron Caffarel says this is encouraging news. He says the number of people employed grew by nearly 8-thousand from February to March…:
Cut 13 (07) “ever recorded”

The 4th Annual ever-growing Louisiana International Film Festival is underway in Baton Rouge. LIFF brings a huge variety of movies to the big screen during the 4 day event, including big budget studio films, and regionally focused productions. Kelsey Grammar is making an appearance at the screening of his new film Breaking the Bank, which he says is about an investment bank takeover.:
CUT 10 (09) “like that”
You can get more information about the festival at lifilmfest.org.

A high school band director from Westgate High School in Iberia Parish is arrested following an investigation into why he was found hiding in the closet of a 16-year-old girl. Lt. Col. Bobby Webre with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office says 30-year-old Jeremy Conner of Baton Rouge admitted to sending the teen inappropriate texts. He says there are important lessons to be learned here…:
CUT 5 (07) “their career”
Conner is charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile.

The House approved a bill to allow lawmakers to have a say in whether recipients of food stamps should be required to work to receive federal assistance.
Author of the legislation, Monroe Rep. Jay Morris..:
CUT 9 (10) “that route”
But opponents like Bogalusa Representative Malinda White says Louisiana is losing jobs left and right in the oil and gas industry, and in American there is always a time and a place where people should have a safety net…:
CUT 8 (09) “need it”
The legislation heads to the Senate on a 56-28 vote.

The oil industry does like to see the price of gas go up, which it’s been slowly doing. AAA says the current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $1.89 which is almost a nickle more than the same time last week.

The band director at Westgate High School in New Iberia has been arrested, after he was found hiding in a 16-year-old girl’s closet. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Thibodaux Police Department arrests a woman they say pulled a gun out on a minor and said she was going to shoot him. They say 38-year-old Gail Rhodes claimed she was only trying to scare the teen, but she was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm.

The Iberia Parish School system says the employment status of its band director at Westgate High School is very much uncertain at this time after he was found hiding in a 16-year-old girl’s closet. Lt. Col. Bobby Webre with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office says 30-year-old Jeremy Conner of Baton Rouge was alone with the juvenile when her mother came home…:
CUT 3 (07) “her home”
He says the suspect admitted to sending inappropriate text messages to the teen and he’s been charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Governor John Bel Edwards will launch a monthly radio show beginning Tuesday April 19th where listeners have the opportunity to ask the governor questions and express issues they feel are important. The show will air from 2pm-3pm and can be heard on stations across the state on the Louisiana Radio Network. “Ask the Governor” will also stream online at louisianaradionetwork.com.

The state House advances a bill that would let lawmakers have a say in whether recipients of food stamps should be required to work to receive federal assistance. But Bogalusa Representative Malinda White says 16,000 people working in the oil industry have recently lost their jobs and there is no telling when another opportunity will become available to them…:
CUT 6 (09) “to eat”
Monroe Representative Jay Morris says he doesn’t want anyone to starve and he knows jobs are hard to come by in some areas, however…:
CUT 7 (10) “every day”
The measure passed 56-28 and now heads to the Senate.

the US Labor Department says the state’s unemployment rate rose in March to 6.1 percent up from 5.9 percent the prior month. Oil and gas employment fell by 10,000 over the year.

Don’t panic if you just realized today is April 15th, tax day is actually Monday this year. Baton Rouge tax preparer Letti Lowe-Ardoin, with the Louisiana CPA society, says filing federal taxes can be a challenge, but it’s not too late to get some assistance…:
Cut 15 (07) “help you out”
Victims of the recent flooding in the state are eligible for an extension.

A 17-year-old junior at Ponchatoula High School is facing felony charges after he allegedly posted a bomb threat against the school on social media. Ponchatoula High School Principal Daniel Strickland says it’s unfortunate that a teenager in today’s society does things like this without thinking…
cut 12 (10) “….be severe”
Calvin Richardson was taken into custody while sitting at his desk at school.

The Franklin Parish Sheriff’s office is searching for a father and his 10-year-old son who have not been seen since Thursday afternoon. Authorities say 34-year-old Jeremy Harrell and his son, Greyson, apparently left their home on footl. The father is a diabetic, recently had surgery and suffers from anxiety issues. Anyone with information should call the sheriff’s office.

It’s been a great week for those involved in bringing back the whooping crane population in Louisiana. There were two whooping crane hatches for the first time since 1939. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Sara Zimorski says they’ll do a survey of the area near White Lake in southwest Louisiana to look for others….
cut 9 (08) “….first time”
Zimorski says they’ll also keep a close eye on the baby chicks, because they are vulnerable until they are about three months old and can fly.