The state’s film tax credit program took another hit today as the Louisiana Inspector General released a report indicating Horizon Entertainment and Productions claimed over $1 million in fraudulent tax exemptions. Stephen Street says his office is recommending additional changes to the state’s film tax credit program to prevent fraudulent claims because Louisiana cannot afford it…:
CUT 8 (10) “been issued”
The company denies claiming excess expenses in the 2011 filming of The Sean Payton Show and the documentary Saintsational.

The UL-System appointed Leon Sanders, vice president of finance and administration at Grambling State, to act as the school’s leader while the job search is underway. President Willie Larkin’s resignation is effective tomorrow. The UL-System says they are currently accepting applications for the job and hope to do interviews at their July 26th meeting.

State Police say an off duty Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy is facing a DWI. Trooper Jesse LaGrange says Tara Whitney was pulled over in Houma after an officer noticed she wasn’t wearing her seat belt, then was found to be intoxicated with an open container. He says Whitney, who was placed on leave from the shierr’s office, faces multiple charges…:
cut 10 (10) “no seat belt”

Today the Louisiana Interstate Highway System turns 60 years old and the Department of Transportation has released a state of the interstate report. DOTD Secretary Sean Wilson says our system is very valuable, effective but sometimes over capacity. He says if we want to keep up our interstate we’re going to have to make some improvements…:
Cut 13 (10) “investment”
He says travel has increased by 43% on Louisiana’s interstates from 2000 to 2014, and only 26% of the pavement is in poor or mediocre condition.

Kenner Police say an armed robbery at a Raising Cane’s left a 21-year-old employee dead from multiple stab wounds. Chief Michael Glaser says the victim is identified as 21-year-old Taylor Friloux…:
CUT 4 (08) “while inside”
Glaser says they are still working to identify possible suspects in the crime. Cane’s issued a statement saying they are deeply saddened by the loss of one of their crew member’s and they are working with the Kenner Police Department in an active investigation.

Officials said they have now removed another portion of the area near the giant south Louisiana sinkhole from any evacuation orders. The Assumption Parish Police Jury reported the area west of Grand Bayou along LA 70 is no longer under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders because of the sinkhole, with the exception of a residential area near Bayou Corne.

Inspector General Stephen Street has announced that a film company claimed over $1 million in fraudulent tax exemptions in Louisiana. Street says Horizon Entertainment and Productions, in the filming of The Sean Payton Show and the documentary Saintssational, transferred a small amount of money 263 times in one day to make it look like they spent more than they did so they could claim it on their taxes…:
CUT 7 (07) “that money”
Horizon denies doing anything wrong.

A man has died after being hit by two vehicles while walking down the road in Webster parish. Senior State Trooper Michael Reichardt says 67-year-old Tommy Helms was walking down Highway 371 around 1 am…:
Cut 11 (09) “Mr. Helms”
Reichardt says the investigation is ongoing, and toxicology reports are pending.

An armed robbery at a Raising Cane’s in Kenner left a 21-year-old shift manager dead from multiple stab wounds. Cops say the robbery happened just before 1:30 am. Kenner Police Chief Michael Glaser (Glazer) says two Cane’s employees were confronted by armed men when they took the trash out after closing…:
CUT 3 (11) “the business”
He says 21-year-old Taylor Friloux was stabbed outside and inside and she later died. 23-year-old Josh Every is the possible suspect reported in custody.

Today Governor John Bel Edwards asked the Board of Regents and colleges and universities not raise tuition for the upcoming school year. He said he kept his word about protecting higher education and he doesn’t want anymore of a burden to be placed on students and families. Still no word on whether the governor will line item veto language in the budget bill that fully funds TOPS in the fall, but pays for less than half in the spring.

Inspector General Stephen Street has announced that a film company claimed over $1 million in fraudulent tax exemptions in Louisiana. Street says Horizon Entertainment and Productions claimed excess expenses in the 2011 filming of The Sean Payton Show and the documentary Saintsational…:
CUT 6 (08) “at all”
He calls on the legislature to put tighter regulations on the film tax credit program to prevent this type of fraud. Horizon denies doing anything wrong.

State Police say an off duty Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy is facing a DWI. Trooper Jesse LaGrange says Tara Whitney was pulled over in Houma after an officer noticed she wasn’t wearing her seat belt. He says the trooper noticed an open alcohol container and Whitney showed signs of impairment..:
CUT 9 (09) “necessary action”
He says Whitney has been placed on administrative leave.

A robbery at a fast food restaurant in Kenner left a 21-year-old woman dead from stab wounds early this morning, and a suspect has reportedly been taken into custody. Kenner Police say an armed robbery call came from the Raising Canes around 130 this morning, and cops arrived to find the 21-year-old victim suffering multiple stab wounds. 23-year-old Josh Every is believed to be a possible suspect. The victim was identified as Taylor Friloux.

State Police Col Mike Edmonson tells The Advocate he believes the trooper in the body slamming viral video acted appropriately. LSP spokesperson Melissa Matey says the cop was helping a bar get 39-year-old Michael Hoffman out because he was drunk, and that’s when the suspect fought and resisted. She says he was eventually arrested…:
CUT 14 (10) “the peace”
Edmonson says state police have not opened an internal investigation.

US Senator Bill Cassidy has filed legislation that seeks to cut some of the red tape in the event of a public health emergency, such as Ebola or Zika outbreaks. Don Molino has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

No one got all of the numbers right in the Mega Millions drawing last night, so the huge jackpot gets even bigger. An estimated $415 million ($286 million cash) jackpot is up for grabs on Friday. The jackpot has been rolling since it was last won in Washington on March 8 at $157 million… The record Mega Millions jackpot is $656 million – three tickets shared that jackpot on March 30, 2012, according to Lottery Officials.

The Kenner Police Department is investigating the case of a Raising Cane’s manager who was stabbed overnight while at work and is currently in a hospital fighting for her life. They say an armed robbery call came in around 130 this morning, and cops arrived to find the 21-year-old victim suffering multiple stab wounds. Officers believe three people were involved in this incident, and they are currently attempting to locate the suspects.

US Senator Bill Cassidy has filed legislation that seeks to help prepare for potential health emergencies, like outbreaks of Ebola and Zika. The measure would wave some red-tape regulations and authorize about $1.5 billion to control the outbreak when a health emergency is declared. Cassidy says this will allow response agencies to take appropriate action quickly…:
Cut 9 (08) “in hand”
Cassidy says the threat for a health emergency could be looming, as another Zika case has recently been confirmed in Louisiana.

The VA clinic in Lake Charles will break ground today. Emelie Gunn has more on the benefits the new facility will have for veterans in the region…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

New Orleans is named one of the top destinations where revelers like to go to celebrate the 4th of July. Wallethub spokeswoman Jill Gonzales says The Big Easy ranked high in entertainment and food options, attractions, cost to party and weather. She says the forecast was the only metric bringing New Orleans down to #3…:
CUT 12 (08) “like zero”
Gonzales says New Orleans ranked number one for the number of festivals and events taking place this weekend, many of which are free.

After waiting for more than 10 years, today is the groundbreaking ceremony for the site of the permanent VA clinic in Lake Charles. Chairman of the Lake Charles Mayor’s Armed Forces Commission Jim Jackson says it’s time we looked at the long range issue of care for the men and women who fought for our freedoms…:
cut 4 (09) “our veterans”
He says he’s looking forward to finally having a clinic that will help around 10-thousand veterans in the southwest Louisiana area.

A robbery at a fast food restaurant in Kenner sent a 21-year-old woman to the hospital with stab wounds early this morning. Police say they arrived at the Raising Canes to find the shift manager critically wounded, having been stabbed multiple times, and she is in critical and unstable condition at a local hospital. Authorities continue to search for suspects and are asking for help from the public.

People making plans for their Fourth of July celebrations like to head to Louisiana for the festivities. According to WalletHub, New Orleans is the third best city for Independence Day parties. Spokeswoman Jill Gonzales says the study looked at entertainment and food options, attractions and activities, and weather forecast. She says New Orleans did particularly well in the food category…:
Cut 10 (09) “the country”
The study found the average household will spend around $370 on their celebration.

The story of the missing girl out of a quiet Caldwell Parish community seems to be over after authorities located what is believed to be her body inside a vehicle that was found in a lake. Sheriff Steve May says, for about a month, many different departments and volunteers were involved in efforts to find Joann Jarrell..:
Cut 15 (10) “on 4wheelers”
He says they believe Jarrell was having problems and they do not suspect foul play in this case.

Governor John Bel Edwards will speak today at the Board of Regents monthly meeting. Higher education officials said the board will be approving the 2016-17 budgets Wednesday for the institutions based on what was passed in the Legislature. We still don’t know if Edwards will veto a line in the state budget bill that funds the TOPS program for the fall, but covers only about 45% of tuition in the spring.

State Police Col Mike Edmonson says it appears the trooper in the viral “body slamming” video used a common police tactic which was appropriate…:
CUT 3 (23) “I’m Halen Doughty”

US Senator Bill Cassidy has filed legislation that seeks to help prepare for potential health emergencies, like outbreaks of Ebola and Zika. The proposal would wave some red-tape regulations and authorize funding if a public health emergency is declared. Cassidy, a doctor, says this could help contain outbreaks…:
CUT 7 (10) “potential epidemic”
The bill would also authorize about $1.5 billion to control the outbreak when a health emergency is declared.

Athletic Departments from throughout the state are reacting to the death of coaching legend Pat Summitt, who passed after a difficult battle with dementia at the age of 64. LSU coach Nikki Fargas played and was an assistant for Summitt and said she wouldn’t be where she is today if it weren’t for her Tennessee coach. New Orleans native and former Vols quarterback Peyton Manning said he was always impressed with the positive impact Summitt had on her players — who had a 100% graduation rate under her leadership.

US Senator Bill Cassidy has filed legislation that seeks to cut some of the red tape in the event of a public health emergency, such as Ebola or Zika outbreaks. Don Molino has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

Dow Chemical says they will cut thousands of jobs across the globe, but there is still no word on how it will impact the company’s more than 6,000 employees and contract workers in Louisiana. DOW says they will layoff about 2500 people worldwide, but the Louisiana Workforce Commission says they have not received any notices about layoffs here.

State Police says they are reviewing a viral video that appears to show a trooper body slamming a suspect. LSP spokesperson Melissa Matey says the unnamed trooper was walking down Bourbon Street on his way home after a 12 hour shift…:
Cut 13 (10) “was intoxicated”
She says it appears the trooper acted as he was trained. The video posted on multiple sites has over a million views.

There were no major winners in last night’s massive Mega Millions jackpot which is now up to $415 million dollars. Friday’s drawing will have a cash value of $286 million.

A crash in Iberville Parish claimed the life a 9-year-old and injured several others. Trooper Bryan Lee with State Police says 27-year-old Tommie Killough was trying to pass another vehicle in a no passing zone when the cars collided. He says Killough is still in the hospital, but once she gets out, she will face multiple charges.
CUT 5 (08) “seat belt violation”

Lee says no on in the other vehicle was hurt.

The first dolphin in Louisiana to be rescued and released into the wild is doing great. Audubon Nature Institute Stranding and Rescue Coordinator Gabriella Vazquez says the young dolphin was found in October of 2015 stuck on the beach in Grand Isle. She says NOAA required scientists to monitor the dolphin in the wild after he was released.
CUT 7 (10) “we are”

A former Eunice police officer is facing charges of obstruction and malfeasance for allegedly threating someone he was arresting. Major Eddie Thibodaux with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office says Lt. Varden Guillory became heated with domestic violence suspect Heath Bergeron when Bergeron came in to make his statement. He says Guillory arrested Bergeron for domestic abuse battery, without getting the proper information first.
cut 10 (07) “charges”

Guillory left the Eunice Police Department after the incident.

Today’s Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to 390-million dollars. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kimberly Chopin says Mega Millions costs a dollar to play so it takes a little longer than Powerball for the jackpots to build up. She says the biggest jackpot was reached in 2012.
Cut 13 (08) “jackpot ever”

She says this is the fourth highest Mega Million jackpot.

A 9-year-old is dead and 8 others are injured following a fatal crash in Iberville Parish. State Trooper Bryan Lee says 27-year-old Tommie Killough’s passengers were not restrained, including the child who died, Asha Cooper, because there were more people in Killough’s 5 passenger SUV than there were seatbelts.

CUT 4 (08)  “that vehicle”

Lee says Killough’s passengers were taken to a local hospital with moderate to severe injuries.

The first Louisiana dolphin to be rescued and released into the wild is thriving. Audubon Nature Institute Stranding and Rescue Coordinator Gabriella Vazquez says the young dolphin was found stranded on the beach in Grand Isle in October of 2015. She says when they tried to release him back into the Gulf, he showed no initiative to swim, so they made the decision to rescue the calf.

CUT 6 (09) “a dolphin”

A former Eunice police officer is facing charges of obstruction and malfeasance in office, for allegedly cussing out a suspect who was issuing a statement and threatening to beat him up. Major Eddie Thibodaux with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office says Lt. Varden Guillory was arrested after he ripped up the suspect’s statement and made an arrest before completing the investigation.

Cut 11 (10) “investigation”

Guillory left the Eunice Police Department after the incident.

Today’s Mega Millions jackpot has shot up to whopping 390-million dollars. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kimberly Chopin says this jackpot has been rolling since March and is the fourth highest Mega Millions jackpot ever. She says it’s been two years since we’ve seen Mega Millions reach this level…

cut 12 (06) “Mega Millions”

This is the largest prize offered in Mega Million since March 2014.