The fines for texting or using social media while driving have been increased from $175 to $500 for a first offense, as a bill has just been signed into law by the governor. Major Doug Cain with State Police says they see this is a lot in crashes caused by distracted driving…:
CUT 3 (10) “pulling out”
Drivers could pay a fine of up to $1,000 for a subsequent offense, under the new law which goes into effect immediately.

FEMA has released a smartphone app to help residents get prepared for potential natural disasters. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate says the app offers a checklist of preparedness information in the palm of your hand, even if you lose service. He says the FEMA app has many features…:
CUT 7 (06) “anything else”
The FEMA app is available in the iTunes store and on Google Play.

Louisiana is now in compliance with a federal identification law, as Governor John Bel Edwards has signed the REAL ID Act into law. Halen Doughty has more:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office arrests three people amid allegations tey stole over $31,000 from an elderly victim. They say the suspects worked as sitters for the woman.

U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson has scheduled a hearing today to determine if death row inmates at Angola should have air conditioning. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says this court battle is wasting over a million dollars in taxpayer money and it’s not likely that the judge will overturn a ruling that air conditioning must be installed on death row…:
CUt 6 (10) “he decides”
The state came up with their own heat remediation plan that consists of fans, ice chests, and cold showers for the prisoners, rather than AC.

A former deputy with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office is under arrest amid charges he had sex with a juvenile while he was on duty. Cops say 31-year-old William Lanoux of Prairieville is charged with malfeasance in office and 1st degree rape. Deputies say the juvenile was considered a runaway when she allegedly met Lanoux on social media and the two went off to have sex. Upon Lanoux’s arrest he was immediately terminated.

Lotte (Low-tay) Chemical and Axiall have broken ground on a three billion dollar chemical manufacturing complex in Lake Charles. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says with these jobs coming to southwest Louisiana it will help make up for the employment losses in the oil and gas industry…:
Cut 8 (10) “construction workers”
Pierson expects the plants will be up and running by 2019.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed the REAL ID Act into law, bringing Louisiana into compliance with the 2005 federal ruling that created national identification standards in the wake of 9/11. He reminds opponents that it’s not mandatory to get one…:
CUT 12 (07) “an airplane”
That’s by 2020. The OMV anticipates they will be issuing REAL IDs in the fall.

Law experts say the cost of the court battle over whether or not air conditioning should be installed on death row at Angola is costing taxpayers more than $1 million dollars. Another hearing on the matter is scheduled for today. Legal analyst Tim Meche says says Judge Jackson will not likely reverse his ruling of installing air conditioners in death row, which would cost about a million dollars. He says this argument is a big waste of taxpayer money…:
Cut 5 (06) “air conditioning”
One of the state’s arguments is that by letting the inmates win, you’re opening up a floodgate of litigation from prisoners throughout the country.

The REAL ID Act has been signed into law, putting Louisiana in compliance with federal regulations. Opponents argued this is government overreach, but Governor John Bel Edwards says getting a REAL ID is not mandatory…:
CUT 11 (08) “their option”
The OMV anticipates they will begin issuing REAL ID licenses in the fall.

Lotte (Low-tay) Chemical and Axiall have broken ground on a three billion dollar chemical manufacturing complex in Lake Charles. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says this joint venture will be investing $3 billion and create more than 2,300 direct and indirect jobs…:
CUT 9 (10) “our citizens”
Pierson expects the plants will be up and running by 2019.

Officials say an autopsy on the body that was found in Iberville Parish yesterday will be done by 3pm. Investigators believe it’s possible the remains are of the missing pregnant Baton Rouge teacher, 40-year-old Lyntell Washington. Authorities say that’s why BRPD is the lead agency in the case. 39-year-old Robert Marks faces aggravated kidnapping and child desertion charges because Washington’s child was left abandoned in a parking lot. The DA says Marks could face additional charges if DNA confirms the body is that of Washington.

It looks like Governor John Bel Edwards may not reach the goal of raising the $600 million dollars needed to fill the budget hole. That’s according to Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com. He says lawmakers do plan to take up a once-failed measure that would limit itemized deductions on personal income taxes, because they are trying to come up with a compromise…:
CUT 13 (12) “the books”
He says that would raise $120 million, on top of the $220 million already approved.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne will join Edwards today on the third edition of the radio show, Ask The Governor. Dardenne’s office is the one responsible for the state budget, and the two plan to discuss the deficit today and potential solutions. The program airs at 2pm and is carried by affiliate stations of the Louisiana Radio Network.

Lotte (Low-tay) Chemical and Axiall begin construction on a massive chemical manufacturing complex in Lake Charles. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson has scheduled a hearing today to determine if death row inmates at Angola should have air conditioning. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says with all the legal fees the state spent fighting this, window units could’ve been placed in that area of the prison…:
cut 4 (08) “taxpayer money”
The state is trying to argue they could add fans, ice chests and cold showers for the prisoners, instead of AC.

Lawmakers are once again bringing up a bill that would limit itemized deductions on personal income taxes, in another attempt to fill the state’s $600 million dollar shortfall. The measure was narrowly rejected in House Ways and Means last week, and Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says he doesn’t think the committee is interested in approving anymore tax measures:
CUT 15 (10) “special session”
He says this bill would raise an estimated $120 million in addition to the $220 million already approved by the lower chamber.

A former deputy with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office was immediately fired from his job after his arrest on charges related to alleged sexual relations with a juvenile while he was on duty. Authorities say 31-year-old Detective William Lanoux was working when he set up a tryst with a girl he met on social media. He claimed to authorities he thought the girl was 18, but she was actually a 14-year-old runaway. Lanoux is charged with first degree rape and malfeasance in office.

Louisiana is now in compliance with a federal identification law, as Governor John Bel Edwards has signed the REAL ID Act into law. Halen Doughty has more:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Lotte (Low-tay) Chemical and Axiall break ground on a three billion dollar chemical manufacturing complex in Lake Charles. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says this investment will create hundreds of quality jobs…:
CUT 7 (08) “indirect jobs”
He expects the plants to begin operations in 2019.

A Baton Rouge federal judge has scheduled a hearing today to decide if Angola death row inmates should have air conditioning. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A former deputy with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office is under arrest amid charges he had sex with a juvenile while he was on duty. Cops say 31-year-old William Lanoux of Prairieville is charged with malfeasance in office and 1st degree rape. Deputies say the juvenile was considered a runaway when she allegedly met Lanoux on social media and the two went off to have sex. Upon Lanoux’s arrest he was immediately terminated.

Cops say the badly decomposed body of a woman was located in Iberville Parish on Tuesday, and it could be that of the missing school teacher from Baton Rouge. The remains were turned over to the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroners office, according to authorities. They say DNA testing and an autopsy is being performed to determine if the body is that of 40-year-old Lyntell Washington.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed the REAL ID Act into law, bringing Louisiana into compliance with the 2005 federal ruling that created national identification standards in the wake of 9/11. Edwards says these ID’s will be required for air travel, even domestic, in the near future…:
Cut 10 (08) “an airplane”

State Police say they’ve arrested three people that led investigators to the largest ever seizure of child pornography by LSP. Sgt. Jared Sandifer says they arrested 51-year-old James Dalton Vail of Shreveport, 30-year-old Steven Paul Lucia of LaPlace and 35-year-old Nicholas Bordelon of Hessmer. He says over one million files were seized. Sandifer says the Special Victims Unit will continue to work as hard as possible to find those individuals who exploit children in Louisiana.

Cut 13 (07)  “the consequences”

The tragic massacre in Orlando has many people asking why. Executive Director of Behavioral Health Services at Baton Rouge General, Ann Wilder, says mental health problems may have been a factor. She says if you believe someone you know may be struggling with a mental disorder, there are ways to get that person help.

CUT 7 (10) “a psychiatrist”

A new report shows Baton Rouge is the second most dangerous city to drive, ranking only behind Detroit. The analysis by the personal finance website NerdWallet examined risks for those who drive in nearly 200 of the nation’s most populated regions. Scott Kirkpatrick is with the Capital Region Industry for Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions, or CRISIS…:

CUT 3 (06)  “and dangerous”

The rankings were based on the rate of fatal crashes, the likelihood of an accident, and other factors.

The first murder to occur in the Hammond city limits in over two years took place last night. Lisa Lambert with Hammond Police says 24-year-old Tremayne Sandifer fatally shot 34-year-old William Davis in a drug deal gone wrong then stole his car and fled the scene. Lambert says Sandifer has been arrested and faces multiple charges.

Cut 11 (06) “convicted felon”

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed the REAL ID Act into law, bringing Louisiana into compliance with the 2005 federal ruling that created national identification standards in the wake of 9/11. Edwards says these ID’s will be required for air travel, even domestic, in the near future.

Cut 23 (08) “an airplane”

Opponents say the federal law is government overreach and raise concerns about sharing information with a national database. Edwards says getting a REAL ID is not mandatory.

cut 24 (08) “their option”

The Office of Motor Vehicles anticipates it will begin issuing REAL ID licenses in the fall of this year, and they will not cost any more than a regular driver’s license.

The governor signs into law the measure that removes 17-year-old non-violent offenders from the adult criminal justice system and prosecutes them as juveniles. Emelie Gunn has more…

Voicer 4 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Lawmakers are taking another look at a bill that would limit itemized deductions on personal income taxes, after the House Ways and Means Committee rejected the proposal 11-10 last week. The bill would raise more than $100 million in taxes for next fiscal year’s budget. The compromise would make the bill temporary and limit the revenue raised if other bills bring in more money. The special session must end by midnight on June 23.

State Police say they’ve arrested three people that, together, lead investigators to the largest ever seizure of child pornography by LSP. Sgt. Jared Sandifer says the cases are out of Shreveport, LaPlace and Hessmer, and over one million files were seized…:
CUT 12 (10) “on them”
He says the three men are still under investigation.

Multiple agencies are investigating the discovery of a badly decomposed woman’s body in a ditch in Iberville Parish. Authorities say it could possibly be the body of 40-year-old Lyntell Washington, who is a pregnant teacher from Baton Rouge that disappared last Wenesday. The body has been taken to the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s office.

A massive sinkhole on Canal Street in New Orleans has been fixed. A section of the street had been closed since April 15th, before re-opening today.

The tragic massacre in Orlando is raising many questions about whether or not this could have been stopped. Executive Director of Behavioral Health Services at Baton Rouge General, Ann Wilder, says people can look for early warning signs of mental disorders…:
CUT 6 (12) “a behavior”
She says any family member can reach out and get a legal status for a person to be evaluated by a psychiatrist.

The first murder to occur in the Hammond city limits in over two years took place last night. Lisa Lambert with Hammond Police says 24-year-old Tremayne Sandifer allegedly fatally shot 34-year-old William Davis in a drug deal gone wrong..:
CUT 9 (09) “then died”
Lambert says Sandifer fled to New Orleans, where he was arrested today and charged with several crimes, including first-degree murder.

State Police are calling it the largest seizure of child pornography in the department’s history after they arrested three men and seized one-million files. Sergeant James Sandifer says videos were discovered that showed infants being sexually abused and he credits the work of the Special Victims unit…
cut 13 (07) “….the consequences”
The three men arrested have been identified as 51-year-old James Vail of Shreveport, 30-year-old Steven Lucia of LaPlace and 35-year-old Nicholas Bordelon of Hessmer.

Hammond Police have arrested a suspect in the city’s first murder in two years. Hammond P-D spokesperson Lisa Lambert says they believe 24-year-old Tremayne Sandifer fatally shot 34-year-old William Davis in a drug deal gong wrong and then left the scene…
cut  10 (07)  “…New Orleans”
Lambert says Sandifer was arrested in New Orleans and booked on several charges including first-degree murder.

Vigils continue across the state today to pray for the 49 people killed by a gunman who entered a gay nightclub in Orlando early Sunday morning. Could this tragedy have been avoided? Executive Director of Behavioral Health Services at Baton Rouge General, Ann Wilder, says it’s not easy to confront someone who maybe displaying mental issues, but that difficult conversation could save someone’s life…
cut 8 (10) “…who can”
The FBI is investigating whether the Orlando gunman was a frequent patron at the nightclub he attacked.

Governor John Bel Edwards signed into law today a measure that gives drivers the option over whether they want a license that complies with the federal REAL ID security law. Without a REAL-ID complaint license, drivers would need a passport to board a domestic flight. Conservatives were worried about privacy issues as a result of data collected with the REAL ID.