Drilling activity has hit an all-time low in Louisiana. That’s according to Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association. Briggs says 25 rigs are running in the Gulf of Mexico and only five are in operation on land in south Louisiana…:
Cut 13 (06) “that low”
Briggs says it’s a depressing time right now, but the industry will come back.

The Coast Guard responded to an oil spill near Bayou Teche Monday evening at PSC Industrial Outsourcing, where response crews had to deploy more than 200 yards of boom. Some residents in St. Mary Parish were advised to shelter in place as a result of the spill, but have since been told it is safe to leave their homes.

At the Capitol Monday, a bill that would limit the amount of money the state can spend on art for public buildings received overwhelming approval from the full House and now heads to the Senate. The measure would cap a program that requires 1 percent of the total amount of a construction project go towards art inside or on the ground near the site.

The Food and Drug Administration is delaying enforcing rules that require chain-restaurants to post a calorie content on their menu until 2017. Pennington Biomedical Research Center Professor Dr. Catherine Champagne says enforcing of the rule is the biggest challenge, but those that are health conscious will still pay attention to what they’re eating…:
cut 12 (09) “the population”

A report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services finds Medicaid expansion could improve mental healthcare in Louisiana. Director for the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services Vikki Wachino says several states that accepted the federal dollars have seen more residents seek care regularly, and a decrease in those who stop taking their meds due to cost…:
cut 4 (09) “their economy”
The report says 81-thousand Louisianans who suffer from mental illnesses or substance abuse would likely qualify for Medicaid after the expansion.

The head of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association says it’s very quiet out there when it comes to production. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (24) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The sale of Cleco was approved following a special meeting of the Public Service Commission on Monday. This clears the way for the Pineville based utility company to head into the private hands of a foreign investment group. The 4-1 vote reveres the PSC’s rejection last month. CLECO & Macquarie agreed not to raise rates until 2020 and also pay each customer about $500 each. The revisions to the proposal were good enough for the PSC to give the sale a green light.

State health officials have tips to clean up and remove mold from flooded homes. Gina Lagarde, with the state Department of Public Health, says mold can cause coughing, itchy eyes and headaches. She advises when you’re cleaning up mold to wear protective gear, because spores can be released into the air…:
CUT 7 (08) “the mold”

A Baton Rouge woman suspected of driving drunk who cops say sped through a red light, caused a two vehicle crash that injured five people including four young children. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says 27-year-old Whitney Wilson had three kids in her car at the time and they all sustained serious injuries. The driver of the other vehicle and a 5-year-old passenger were also seriously injured.

Hollywood South has taken a major hit over the past year since the legislature passed a measure that puts a cap on Louisiana’s film tax incentives. That’s according to Celtic Media Centre Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn. He says what’s scaring films away is the manner in which lawmakers capped the movie credits…
cut 6 (10) “…somewhere else”
Mulhearn says film executives are choosing to spend their money in states & nations where they know for sure obligations will be honored. He says the biggest film union in Louisiana reports that only 37% of their members are employed right now…
cut 7 (05) “…out of work”
Those who support the film industry tax program cap say the tax credits were costing the state more than what its worth.

A proposed bill would establish the process by which pharmacies go about selling medical marijuana, including a 5-thousand dollar application fee. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 5 (29) “….I’m Halen Doughty”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne went before the Senate finance committee and heard this question…
cut 30 (02) “….real”
Jonesboro Senator Jim Fanin wanted to know if the state has really found 40-million dollars worth of savings in the department of health and hospitals budget. Dardenne says the numbers are real. The 40-million in savings is part of the 70-million dollars cut from this fiscal year’s budget.

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is threatening a lawsuit involving Louisiana’s Presidential Primary. Trump is upset he won the primary here, but could get less delegates than opponent Ted Cruz. State GOP executive director Jason Dore says Trump & Cruz each have 18 delegates, but there are 10 delegates still uncommitted, which could result in Cruz winning the delegate vote…:
CUT 5 (07) “final decision”
Dore says they’ve followed the rules when it comes to allocating the delegates.

30 parishes in Louisiana are now eligible for federal aid. One of those parishes is Rapides and their homeland security director Sonya Wiley-Gremillion says things are so bad in some areas, many flood victims still have yet to begin the clean-up process…:
Cut 11 (09) “extremely difficult”
Hollywood South has taken a major hit over the past year since the legislature passed a measure that puts a cap on Louisiana’s film tax incentives. That’s according to Celtic Media Centre Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn. He would like to see lawmakers consider proposals that cap the number of credits issued, not the number of credits the state will honor…:
CUT 8 (08) “issuance cap”
He says the biggest film union in Louisiana reports that only 37% of their members are employed right now.

A fourth person has died in an ATV accident at Muddy Bottoms Park since it oppened nearly two years ago. Webster Parish Sheriff chief deputy Bobby Igo says the latest victim is 40-year-old Alissa Wiley of Dry Prong…
cut 14 (09) “…ultimate consquences”
Igo says no charges have been filed a this time. Muddy Bottoms issued a statement saying they cooperating with law enforcement and their hearts and prayer’s go out to the victim’s family.

Hollywood South is in bad shape after a law was passed last year essentially puts a cap on Louisiana’s film tax incentives….
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump tweeted a lawsuit is coming over the possibility he might receive fewer delegates from Louisiana than Senator Ted Cruz, even though he won the Presidential Primary. Louisiana GOP executive director Jason Dore says they’ve followed the rules when it comes to allocating the delegates.

A woman has died after ATV crash at Muddy Bottoms in Webster Parish, and three others are injured. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Bobby Igo says two four-wheelers slammed into each other at the park Friday evening, and killed 40-year-old Alissa Wiley of Dry Prong. He says the park is on private property and visitors pay to go to the events and sign consent forms before they ride…:
Cut 13 (08) “private business”

Igo says this is the fourth fatality at the park since 2014.

Four more parishes have been added to the Presidential Disaster Declaration area, which allows victims of historic flooding to be eligible for federal assistance. Rapides Parishes is included and their homeland security director Sonya Wiley-Gremillion says 60 homes were flooded along the Red River and she says affected families there will likely take advantage of the assistance.
cut 10 (10) “damages”

Hollywood South has taken a major hit over the past year since the legislature passed a measure that puts a cap on Louisiana’s film tax incentives. That’s according to Celtic Media Centre Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn. He would like to see lawmakers consider proposals that cap the number of credits issued, not the number of credits the state will honor…:
CUT 8 (08) “issuance cap”
He says the biggest film union in Louisiana reports that only 37% of their members are employed right now

30 parishes in Louisiana are now eligible for federal aid. One of those parishes is Rapides and their homeland security director Sonya Wiley-Gremillion says things are so bad in some areas that many flood victims there still have not begun the clean-up process…:
Cut 11 (09) “extremely difficult”

Another person has died following an ATV crash at Muddy Bottoms in Webster Parish, and three others are injured. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Bobby Igo says two all-terrain vehicles slammed into each other at the park Friday evening, and the crash killed 40-year-old Alissa Wiley of Dry Prong and injured three others…:
CUT 12 (10) “collision”
This is the fourth fatality at the park since 2014, and Igo says riders know the risks when they attend these events.

6 children in Baton Rouge were arrested for allegedly shooting a 44-year-old man multiple times, by more than one child with a BB gun. Police say the victim had to be taken to a hospital with non life threatening injuries, in the act that appeared completely random. The juveniles were each booked on a count of aggravated second-degree battery and later released to their parents.

The film industry in Louisiana says the state’s cap on film tax credits is keeping movies from coming to Hollywood South. Celtic Media Centre Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn says essentially Louisiana is limiting the number of credits they honor, not the number they hand out. He says the biggest film union in Louisiana reports that only 37% of their members are employed right now…:
CUT 7 (05) “out of work”
He hopes the legislature will consider changing the way Louisiana has capped the film tax credit program.

Four more parishes have been added to the Presidential Disaster Declaration area, which means victims of the historic flooding are eligible for federal assistance. One of those parishes is Rapides and their homeland security director Sonya Wiley-Gremillion says 60 homes were flooded along the Red River:
CUT 9 (06) “unrepairable”
There are now 30 parishes in Louisiana eligible for disaster aid.

GOP front runner Donald Trump says he’s going to sue over the fact that he won the primary in Louisiana, but rival Ted Cruz could end up with more delegates. Trump has 18 delegates from Louisiana and so does Cruz, who lost by two-percent in the primary. State republican party executive director Jason Dore says at issue is what will happen with the five delegates awarded to Senator Marco Rubio, who has since dropped out of the race, and five other delegates that have been unallocated since the primary…:
CUT 4 (11) “certain way”
He says it’s likely the 10 delegates up in the air will remain uncommitted until the Republican National Convention.

Detectives in Calcasieu Parish are investigating a body found partially inside a culvert in Sulphur on Easter Sunday. The investigation is in the preliminary stages.

The Saints announce they’ve signed veteran Defensive Tackle Nick Fairley to a one year contract. He spent last season with the St. Louis Rams.

Hollywood South has taken a major hit over the past year since the legislature passed a measure that puts a cap on Louisiana’s film tax incentives. That’s according to Celtic Media Centre Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn. He says what’s scaring films away is the manner in which lawmakers capped the movie credits, which he compares to retail mail in rebate coupons…:
CUT 6 (10) “somewhere else”
He says Louisiana’s film industry can rebound if lawmakers agree to transition from a redemption cap to an issuance cap.

This afternoon, lawmakers are slated to start hearing from state agencies that could be affected by cuts as legislators shift the focus now to next fiscal year’s $750 million dollar deficit. Several departments are facing steep cuts in the face of budget fixes for the financial year that begins July 1st, and today are expected to testify about what those cuts could mean for them.

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is not happy with how Louisiana is allocating its delegates and he’s threatening a lawsuit. Don Molino has the story…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Don Molino”

LSU basketball coach Johnny Jones says junior guard Tim Quarterman is declaring for the NBA draft and ending his college career. Rough news as Tiger star Ben Simmons has already said he’s going pro.

Republican presidential leader Donald Trump is threatening a lawsuit aimed at the Louisiana GOP. He tweeted Sunday he wasn’t happy that he won the primary here, but could get less delegates than opponent Ted Cruz. State GOP executive director Jason Dore says Trump & Cruz have 18 delegates but there are five out there for Senator Rubio who dropped out, and five yet to be allocated that will likely remain uncommitted until the Republican National Convention…:
CUT 5 (07) “final decision”
He says they’ve followed the rules when it comes to allocating the delegates.

State Officials announce four additional parishes will receive federal disaster declarations following historic flooding earlier this month. The new areas where residents can apply for public assistance are Jackson, Rapides, Red River, and Sabine. That brings the total number of eligible parishes to 30. You can register online at disasterassistance.gov.

The Lake Charles police department says a 26-year-old man died following an early morning crash. Investigators believe Steven Blaine Perrit left the roadway in his Nissan Titan for unkonwn reasons, and hit two mailboxes before crashing into a concrete culvert. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The invesitgation is ongoing.

Researchers at UL-Lafayette found that vipers surprisingly may not be the fastest striking snake. Doctoral student David Penning says they’ve got evidence showing all snakes, venomous and non-venomous, can strike quickly so people should never try to grab a poisonous snake before it lunges…:
CUT 9 (10) “alone”
Penning says it takes a snake 70 milliseconds to strike, and it takes a human 200 milliseconds just to blink.

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has tweeted out that a lawsuit is coming over the possibility he could receive fewer delegates from Louisiana than Senator Ted Cruz, even though Trump won the Louisiana Presidential Primary. State republican party executive director Jason Dore says they’ve followed the rules when it comes to allocating the delegates…
cut 3 (08) “…40-percent of the delegates”
Dore says at issue is what will happen with the five delegates awarded to Senator Marco Rubio, who has since dropped out of the race and five other delegates that have been unallocated since the primary.

Another person has died at the Muddy Bottoms ATV and Recreation Park in Webster Parish. Authorities say a woman was killed when one ATV collided with another one. It’s the fourth fatal accident at the park since May 2014.

Cleco goes before the Public Service Commission again this afternoon, seeking to get their approval on a proposed deal that would result in the Pineville-based utility company being sold to a foreign investment group. PSC Chairman Clyde Holloway has been a major opponent of the sale…
cut 6 (10) “…with money”
Cleco says if the sale goes through, customers would receive 100-million dollars in immediate rate relief.

There’s legislation moving through the legislature that would require pharmacies interested in selling medical marijuana to pay five-thousand dollars for an application fee. Ville Platte representative and pharmacist Harvey Lebas says federal law also prohibits the sale of medical marijuana in the same facility where other prescriptions are sold…
cut 10 (07) “….medical marijuana”
It’s unclear when medical marijuana will be available.