President Barack Obama held a town hall style meeting today at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Eric Gill”

================

A January hurricane has formed in the Atlantic for the first time since 1938. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

===================

Parks Senator Fred Mills has been named chairman of the state Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Mills says the committee’s goal is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. He expects the committee will have a very busy 2016…

CUT 3 (11)  “of providers”

He says rule writing for the state’s Medicaid expansion will be one of the committee’s top tasks for the year. Mills says he is a supporter of Medicaid expansion and believes it will be a benefit for the state…

CUT 4 (07)  “indigent care”

Opponents of Medicaid expansion say could make the state’s financial problems even worse than they are now. Mills is confident the legislature will look at all angles of this issue and do what’s best for the state…

CUT 5 (07)  “of Louisiana”

============================

President Barack Obama held a town hall style meeting today at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. This visit is part of the President’s annual tour of towns following his State of the Union Address. Mr. Obama congratulated Governor John Bel Edwards on his decision to expand Medicaid in Louisiana…

CUT 6 (12) “state’s finances”

This is the President’s 10th visit to Louisiana. Mr. Obama talked of visiting New Orleans during commemorations of the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. He says the Big Easy is a great example of how America is able to overcome adversity…

CUT 7 (09) “pulled together”

Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Governor John Bel Edwards were among those in attendance. Before President Obama began taking questions from the audience, he expressed his fondness for the Bayou State…

CUT 8 (08) “in Louisiana”

============================

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson, of West Monroe, has announced he’s supporting Republican Ted Cruz for President in an endorsement video. Robertson says he wants a candidate that is godly, will do the job and enjoys some of his favorite activities.

CUT 9 (05)  “gumbo”

The 9^th season of Duck Dynasty premiered last night.  GOP candidates will face off tonight in a debate broadcast on the Fox Business Network. Robertson says Cruz fits the bill.

cut 10 (09)  “or never”

============================

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson has been ordered by a Texas judge to give a deposition in the court battle over the family trust. Thus far, Benson has refused to personally participate in any of the preceedings. Legal analyst Tim Meche says this is a significant ruling, considering the family claims Benson is being manipulated by those around him…

Cut 11 (07) “same room”

A January 21st deposition has been ordered for Benson in San Antonio where his estranged family will be present. Meche says the teams aren’t actually owned by Benson, but by this family trust. He says the main obstacle in this case for Benson is that he created an irrevocable trust…

cut 12 (09) “can’t undo it”

A trial date has been set for February 1st. Benson is seeking to give control of the teams to his wife Gayle upon his death and not his daughter and grandchildren. Because the teams are owned by this irrevocable trust, Meche sees only one logical outcome in this dispute…

cut 13 (08)  “of those teams”

============================

A rare hurricane has formed in the Atlantic Ocean in January for the first time since 1938. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Hurricane Alex is the second hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin during this month. Keim says Alex is scheduled to make landfall late tonight around the Azores…

cut 14 (09)  “colder water”

Keim says this is very unusual for this time of year. He says Alex is only the fourth named storm to form in the month of January in the Atlantic and the second hurricane to form in this month in this ocean since record keeping began in 1851.

cut 15 (10)  “very rare”

Keim says although rare, two hurricanes have formed in the last days of December and carried on over into January.

cut 16 (11)  “2006″

Louisiana is the worst state in the US according to Politico Magazine. Jeff Palermo has more on why we fell to the bottom…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

President Barack Obama is in Baton Rouge this morning. Emelie Gunn tells us what the Commander in Chief is up to….

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The hand written journal of Lafayette theater shooter John Russell Houser has been released. Jeff Palermo reports…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Louisiana is the worst state in the country according to a report by Politico Magazine. The findings come from factors like education, health, crime and employment. Deputy Editor Margaret Slattery says Louisiana was second to last in 2015…

cut 4  (10)  “as well”

 Slattery says Louisiana can use this bottom ranking to try to improve and make positive changes.

Cut 5  (08)  “the line”

New Hampshire was ranked as the best state by Politico. Slattery says Louisiana often ranks low on lists like this. She says they’re measuring how each state ranks in areas like wealth, health, income equality, and employment to determine which is the best to live in.

Cut 6 (08)  “better off” 

______________________________________

President Barack Obama speaks this morning at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge where he is expected to talk about health care, jobs and early childhood education. New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says it’s great that the president is visiting our state and we need to take advantage of this opportunity.

CUT 7 (10)  “Capital City”

Richmond says Obama will address the expansion of Medicaid in Louisiana and the importance of covering working individuals who typically wouldn’t qualify.

Cut 8  (10)  “tremendously”

The visit is part of the President’s annual trip to various cities after he gives the State of the Union Address. This is the 10^th time he has visited the Bayou State since becoming President.  Richmond says he wasn’t surprised when President Obama chose to visit Louisiana in his final year of office.

Cut 9 (09)  “those things”

______________________________________

The hand written journal of Lafayette theater shooter John Russell Houser has been released. Houser killed 2 and injured 9 others in the July shooting at Lafayette’s Grand 16 theater before turning his gun on himself. UL-Lafayette Criminal Justice instructor Paula Broussard says Houser’s journal is similar to what is found in a lot of mass murders communications…

Cut 10 (09) “of society” 

The journal seems to be a collection of random thoughts and offers few clues on why Houser went on the shooting rampage in July. Broussard says the writings of Houser show that he suffered from some mental issues…

cut 11 (10) “non-functioning”

Houser references accused South Carolina church shooter Dylann Roof in his journal, thanking him for the “wake up call.” Broussard says it’s not unusual for mass murderers to admire and want to copy what a previous mass murderer did…

Cut 12 (06) “to do, too”

______________________________________

After taking an aerial tour of from Vidalia to Morgan City, Governor John Bel Edwards is confident the rising Mississippi River will be contained within the state’s levee system. Edwards made stops in Vidalia, Morgan City, and Krotz Springs Wednesday. He says he’s confident the worst case scenario regarding Mississippi River flooding has been avoided…

Cut 13 (10)  “in 2011”

He praised the work of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana National Guard in keeping the flood threat at bay. The Mississippi is expected to crest at 56.5 feet in Vidalia Sunday, nearly 4 feet lower than earlier projections. Edwards says lessons learned during the Great Flood of 2011 are really paying off now…

Cut 14 (09) “this event”

He says relief wells installed since 2011 are really working to prevent flooding. Edwards says important that we take lessons from this flood event and use them to aid future events…

Cut 15  (08) “to do that”

_________________________________________________

The LSU football team is still waiting to hear if a couple of starters on its 2015 defense will return for their senior seasons. Starting middle linebacker Kendell Beckwith is still considering a jump to the pros, but NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Beckwith would not be drafted in the first or second round, so he should come back

Cut 16  (19)  “do everything”

Underclassmen prospects in college have until January 18th to declare for the NFL draft. Detillier would be surprised if cornerback Tredavious White returned for his senior season…

Cut 17 (12) “pretty quickly”

Detillier says Beckwith would benefit by playing for new LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda…

Cut 18 (20) “draft stock”

There is strong opposition to Governor John Bel Edwards executive order to expand Medicaid access in Louisiana. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Eric Gill”

================

The Lafayette Police Department has released a copy of Lafayette theater shooter John Russell Houser’s hand written journal. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

===================

Governor John Bel Edwards wants to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana but he’s facing opposition from a key member of the Senate. Columbia Senator Neil Riser, new Senate Labor Committee Chairman, says he will oppose any bill that raises Louisiana’s minimum wage. Riser says a minimum wage increase would do further harm to the state’s fragile economy…

CUT 3 (10)  “to 50-percent”

The governor reportedly wants to increase the state’s minimum wage to $8.25 an hour, one dollar above the federal minimum that Louisiana currently recognizes. Riser says a minimum wage hike would also harm job creation. He says, at this time, the state’s business community cannot support the pay hike…

CUT 4 (05)  “over the state”

Any bill that would raise Louisiana’s minimum wage would likely come through Riser’s committee. Riser feels $7.25 an hour gives employees a fair starting point…

CUT 5 (08)  “paying jobs”

============================

There is strong opposition to Governor John Bel Edwards executive order to expand Medicaid access in Louisiana. Dawn Starns, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says they are disappointed in the governor’s decision. She feels there are bigger problems facing the state that should be handled first…

CUT 6 (10) “down the road”

The federal government covers the initial costs of Medicaid expansion, but the state’s cost will grow to 10 percent in coming years. Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany feels it’s irresponsible to move forward with Medicaid expansion without making changes to the current program. He says we should look to provide health care that is affordable with a focus on quality…

CUT 7 (06) “of those things”

However, the Louisiana AARP applauds Governor Edwards executive order. State Director Denise Bottcher believes Medicaid expansion will go a long way to make Louisiana a healthier state. She says this can make a real difference in the lives of thousands of Louisianians…

CUT 8 (08) “in Louisiana”

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Medicaid expansion will help nearly 49,000 Louisianians under the age of 65 who have lost their jobs or are struggling without health benefits. Bottcher believes this will give residents peace of mind that if they get sick they’ll get the health care they deserve without going bankrupt…

CUT 9 (09)  “to internists”

============================

A Denham Springs gas station owner is under arrest for allegedly selling a dangerous synthetic drug at the store, which caused two high school students to overdose. 36-year-old Essam Farhat faces 228 counts of possession with intent to distribute. Denham Springs Police Det. Glenn Lemoine says undercovers went in and bought the drug then later executed a search warrant:

cut 10 (08)  “in the wall”

Lemoine says the drug is an illegal liquid synthetic cannabinoid known as “Juicy” and it’s ingested through a vaporizer. He says the students, who had to be hospitalized following the overdoses at Denham Springs High School, told detectives that they had purchased the drug at that Farhat’s gas station…:

Cut 11 (10) “30-40 bucks a bottle”

Farhat posted $85,000 bond. Lemoine says ATC suspended all alcohol and tobacco licenses at the business pending the outcome of a revocation hearing. He says while the students recovered, the chemicals in synthetic marijuana can be dangerously toxic…:

cut 12 (10) “and die”

============================

Not everyone in Louisiana has Powerball fever despite a record 1.5 billion dollar jackpot. There are some people who are not interested in forking over the two dollars buy a ticket. We spoke to some of them. One woman says it’s just not worth the potential risk…

cut 13 (07)  “I’m into”

Some people say they aren’t interested in buying a ticket because the odds are so low. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are less than 1 in 292 million. A man told us he won’t buy a ticket because lots of winners lose control of their money…

cut 14 (05)  “flat broke”

The Powerball jackpot is now the biggest in the world at a whopping 1.5 billion dollars. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The ball is rolling towards expanding the number of people who can receive government-funded health insurance.  Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Fish farming will now be allowed in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, after new regulations were issued this week by NOAA. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

The Poweball jackpot has shot up to 1.5 billion dollars, making it the biggest jackpot in the world. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kimberly Chopin says ticket sales keep going up as the jackpot grows. She says when the sales continue to climb we’re able to transfer more money to the state of Louisiana.

cut 4  (09)  “for us”

Chopin says we’re seeing a lot of first time players because the jackpot is so big now. She advises players to not be quick to throw away their ticket tonight, even if they didn’t win the Powerball jackpot.

Cut 5  (08)  “any prize”

Chopin says the chances of multiple jackpot winners increases when more people are purchasing tickets. She says it’s been reported that in some hot spots, players are having to wait in lines just to buy a Powerball ticket.

Cut 6 (04)  “ticket early” 

______________________________________

The state’s health department is working to provide government-funded health insurance for 300-thousand poor working individuals now that Governor John Bel Edwards has signed an executive order to expand Medicaid. There are ramp up costs, but Edwards says DHH Secretary Rebekah Gee is working with health care providers, so the state doesn’t have to pay anything this fiscal year

CUT 7 (1o)  “state’s portion”

Former Governor Bobby Jindal refused to expand Medicaid, because he said the state’s match for the expansion would eventually become too costly for taxpayers. But Edwards doesn’t see it that way…

Cut 8  (11)  “any other program”

The goal is to have 300-thousand low-income, working citizens covered by Medicaid by July 1st. The state will have to hire 248 individuals to help with the enrollment process and it will cost 2-point-8 million dollars, but health care providers are expected to pick up that bill.  Edwards says they will follow other states lead for a smooth enrollment sign-up

Cut 9 (08)  “help us”

______________________________________

Oil prices have hit 30 dollars a barrel, which is the lowest price since December 2003. Eric Smith with the Tulane Energy Institute says we could see the price drop even lower as 2016 goes on. Smith says it will be tough for oil companies to make money with oil trading at that price…

Cut 10 (12) “category” 

Oil prices are down 19-percent for this year and they’ve fallen 72-percent since June 2014, when oil was trading over 100-dollars a barrel. Smith says to stop the crash in oil prices, the supply has to meet a week demand for oil and in the short term the only way to do that is to cut back on production.

cut 11 (07) “some more”

 A glut in supply of oil has led to this huge decline in oil prices. Smith says unfortunately countries in the Middle East are showing no signs of cutting back….

Cut 12 (09) “bumper production”

______________________________________

Fish farming will now be allowed in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, after new regulations were issued this week by NOAA. This means commercial seafood can now be harvested in enclosures on the seafloor. NOAA’s Deputy Director of Aquaculture, David O’Brien, says they’ve been pushing for this because the U.S. imports about 90% of our seafood…:

Cut 13 (10)  “here in the US”

Critics say farmed fish are bread to be big and could escape enclosures and out compete wild fish for food. There are others who feel this would cause fisherman to lose grounds and possibly be put out of work. But O’Brien says aquaculture can compliment wild fisheries and help support fishing communities…:

Cut 14 (09) “support each other”

O’Brien says these new rules have been in the works for about 10 years, and during that time there have been a series of reviews to help make sure that fish farming will not harm the environment. He says ultimately this is a great thing for the Gulf and for the seafood industry…:

Cut 15  (07) “so to speak”

A Homer man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 68-year-old Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office employee. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

================

The NCAA has announced sanctions against UL-Lafayette as a result of a former assistant football coach violating rules by arranging fraudulent entrance exam scores for five prospects. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Eric Gill”

===================

In his inaugural address, Governor John Bel Edwards spoke of raising the minimum wage in Louisiana. Many wonder what kind of affect an increased minimum wage would have on business and workers. LSU Economist Jim Richardson says it really depends on how much minimum wage would be raised…

CUT 3 (06)  “on the workers”

Louisiana’s current minimum wage is the federally mandated wage of $7.25 per hour. Richardson says he’s heard talk of raising the state’s minimum wage to $8.50 to $10.10 per hour. He says a hike in minimum wage could cause businesses to re-think how they do business…

CUT 4 (10)  “people to hire”

Supporters of a higher minimum wage say putting more money in worker’s hands will allow them to spend more and help spur the economy. However, Richardson says this wage hike would not be free money and that money currently belongs to someone…

CUT 5 (10)  “to spend it”

============================

As the Powerball jackpot is now up to 1.5 billion dollars, many people are teaming up to buy tickets in bulk. Legal analyst Tim Meche says there isn’t anything illegal about pooling money to purchase a bunch of tickets but make sure the person holding the tickets is someone you trust.

CUT 6 (09) “no agreement”

Meche says a verbal agreement is all you should need when buying with a group. He says if you believe there needs to be a written contract, maybe you should rethink the group purchase.

CUT 7 (08) “ticket with”

Meche says always sign the back of your ticket.

CUT 8 (08) “your ticket”

============================

Louisiana State Police and the Homer Police Department have arrested a Homer man for allegedly murdering a 68-year-old Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office employee. 35-year-old Jermaine Johnson is charged with second degree murder. Webster Parish Sheriff Gary Sexton says the victim’s, Sulyn Prince, daughter called in a welfare concern on Monday when she couldn’t make contact with her mother.

CUT 9 (09)  “something wrong”

Sexton says Homer police called L-S-P after realizing they might need extra assistance. He says Prince’s body was found by K-9’s in a shallow grave in a wooded area behind her home.

cut 10 (09)  “in it”

Sexton says Prince worked for his office for as long as he’s been sheriff and was an experienced employee in the corrections division. He says she was a pleasure to work with and dedicated to her job.

Cut 11 (09) “sheriff’s office”

============================

UL Lafayette has been placed on two years probation and will lose three scholarships for next season and the following season as a result of a former assistant football coach, who violated NCAA rules by arranging fraudulent entrance exam scores for five prospects. Jay Walker, the voice of the Ragin Cajuns, says the NCAA sanctions could have been worse…

cut 12 (08) “in a bowl”

The NCAA also fined the school $5,000 and imposed recruiting restrictions. The school had already voluntarily vacated all victories from 2011 season because of the violations. Walker says the NCAA has ordered the school to do the same for the 2012-2014 seasons for games the ineligible players participated in…

cut 13 (04)  “of the wins”

He says the identities of the ineligible players have not been made public. Walker says the NCAA investigation found no one at UL-Lafayette, including head coach Mark Hudspeth, had any knowledge of this taking place…

cut 14 (06)  “responsible for it”

============================

Today, Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order to expand Medicaid in Louisiana. Edwards spoke alongside legislators and community leaders, as well as patients he said would benefit from the federally funded health insurance. He says these are low income adults who were too poor to qualify for subsidized care on the health insurance exchange:

cut 15 (11)  “financial security”

Edwards says by July 1st, they expect more than 300,000 citizens to enroll under the new Medicaid eligibility. Edwards says to qualify, a family or individual must have income at 138% of the federal poverty level. He says this will help keep the working poor from slipping further into poverty..:

cut 16 (12)  “funds”

The US Army Corp. of Engineers has decided not to open the Morganza spillway at this time. Emelie Gunn has more on the rising Mississippi River levels….

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

We will get more details today on how Governor John Bel Edwards plans to expand Medicaid. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Republican Billy Nungesser is now the Lt. Governor of Louisiana and has plans to increase tourism revenue. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 3 (27) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

The US Army Corp. of Engineers has decided not to open the Morganza spillway to divert water from the Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya Basin. Spokesperson Ricky Boyett says the current forecast doesn’t show them meeting the triggers required to open up the Morganza…

cut 4  (07)  “per second”

Boyett says the actual flow that’s in the Mississippi River can be safely passed through the main stem of the river. He says this is good news for the people who live along the Morganza and Atchafalaya River, but they still expect some flooding….

Cut 5  (10)  “be prepared”

Boyett says the Corp. has not opened all the bays in the Bonnet Carre spillway yet. He says 20 were opened on Sunday and 18 on Monday, but they will continue to monitor to see if more need to be opened.

Cut 6 (08)  “to open” 

______________________________________

It didn’t take long for Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards to have his first political defeat. Conservatives in the House mustered enough votes to elect New Iberia Republican Taylor Barras as the Speaker of the House over Edwards choice of Democrat Walt Leger. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says this could be a bad sign for Edwards

CUT 7 (12)  “governor”

Edwards said he wants to invest more money into education, lower the state’s poverty rate and stabilize the budget. Alford says it remains to be seen if the Republican controlled House will go with Edwards plan or come up with their own

Cut 8  (07)  “his agenda”

Edwards has called a 1:30 press conference this afternoon to discuss his plans to expand Medicaid. Alford says it will take money to do this and Louisiana already has big financial troubles

Cut 9 (09)  “be enough”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards’ Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says Louisiana has monumental financial problems to overcome, but they plan to lay out options and govern responsibly. He says there will be some tough budget decisions that have to be made, but there are many things on the table…:

Cut 10 (11) “fiscal year” 

Edwards is expected to call a special legislative session in mid-February to address these issues. Dardenne estimates the deficit in this year’s budget, which ends July 30th, is between $700-$750 million dollars. Edwards says he is going to start today accepting federal funding to expand Medicaid in Louisiana. Dardenne says they’ll be working on how to implement this in an efficient way…:

cut 11 (07) “happens right”

Dardenne says the shortfall for next fiscal year, when taking into account falling oil prices, could be close to $2 billion dollars if permanent changes to the budget aren’t made. He says despite the tough task at hand, the new administration remains optimistic…:

Cut 12 (12) “fix those”

______________________________________

As Louisiana has sworn in a new governor, John Bel Edwards, we also have a new Lt. Governor. Republican Billy Nungesser also has budget issues to face. He says it will take creativity and working with the legislature to change laws to create more money within tourism.

Cut 13 (10)  “welcome centers”

Nungesser says we need to create a plan to put our best foot forward in Louisiana so when people come to visit they see what a great state we really are. He says it’s hard to ask for money for tourism when we’re facing cuts to education and other critical needs are being cut.

Cut 14 (09) “long term fix”

Nungesser says as Lt. Governor, he will promote horse shows and the state’s vast hunting and fishing opportunities. He says focusing on these areas will help smaller towns bring in more tourists.

Cut 15  (07) “in Louisiana”

_________________________________________________

When Amite and Bogalusa High School play each other in football this October, their fans will not be allowed to attend. That’s the result of the penalties handed down by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. LHSAA Assistant Director Keith Alexander says the two schools were involved in a bench clearing brawl towards the end of their playoff game last November.

Cut 16  (10)  “the bench”

Alexander says both schools were fined 500-dollars and two-thousand dollars for not reporting the incident to the L-H-S-A-A. He says the 2016 Amite-Bogalusa game will be considered a closed competition.

Cut 17 (09) “they play”

Alexander says both schools will be placed on administrative probation on all sports for the 2016-2017 season. He says they want to send the message that behavior like this will not be tolerated.

Cut 18 (11) “carried out properly”

The Louisiana National Guard has mobilized almost 300 personnel to build protective barriers against approaching flood waters from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

================

John Bel Edwards was sworn in today as Louisiana’s 56th governor. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (34)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

===================

The Louisiana National Guard has mobilized almost 300 personnel to build protective barriers against approaching flood waters from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. Lt. Rebekah Malone says protective levees are being constructed in Krotz Springs in St. Landry Parish and Avoca Island in St. Mary Parish. Malone says 120 guardsmen are in St. Mary to build the levee…

CUT 3 (10)  “that’s approaching”

More than 60 engineers are working to build protective levees in Krotz Springs. Malone says the Guard learned a lot of lessons from the flood of 2011 and are utilizing that knowledge now. She says the protective levee being built on Avoca Island worked very well in the past…

CUT 4 (07)  “backwater flooding”

Guardsmen are also conducting aerial surveys of the area and 24-hour levee patrols to check for leaks or seepage. Malone says guardsmen are working against the clock to ensure these protective levees are built in time…

CUT 5 (10)  “walls installed”

============================

Louisiana’s new Speaker of the House is Republican New Iberia Representative Taylor Barras (BAR-rah). Barras defeated Governor John Bel Edwards’ candidate New Orleans Democrat Walt Leger in a runoff. Barras was nominated for the post by Lafayette Republican Representative Stuart Bishop…

CUT 6 (07) “of Louisiana”

it’s reported that Barras was not even considered a candidate for the position until a Republican Party gathering Sunday night. Barras has served in the state House since 2008. Bishop says Barras has shown his willingness to work across the aisle in the state House…

CUT 7 (06) “of Louisiana” 

In the initial vote, Barras came in third behind Leger and Republican Cameron Henry of Metairie. Henry removed his name from consideration, paving the way for a Barras victory… (Leger was later elected to serve as Speaker Pro Tem.)

CUT 8 (12) “of Representatives”

============================

John Bel Edwards was sworn in today as Louisiana’s 56th governor. In his first address, the new Democratic governor said the structural budget deficit needs a major overhaul before any of our other problems can be fixed. He says we must make it possible for all Louisiana citizens to be healthy and prosperous…:

CUT 9 (12)  “to healthcare”

On the issue of poverty, Edwards said on top of many of Louisiana’s workers not getting paid a living wage, it’s unacceptable that we’re the worst state in the nation for pay equity. He addressed the importance of improving Louisiana’s education system…:

cut 10 (13)  “must change”

Edwards says we need a modest, but meaningful increase to the minimum wage. He says a more educated and trained workforce is our greatest long-term economic generator. Edwards says double-digit tuition hikes need to come to an end, and the state should should support higher education institutions..:

Cut 11 (14) “tuition and fees”

============================

LifeShare Blood Centers is reporting that the blood supply has dropped to critically low levels. Spokesperson Tina Hooper says they unfortunately saw very low blood donor turnout throughout December and into early January. She says, unfortunately, patients use hundreds of units of blood everyday throughout the state…

cut 12 (08) “most blood types”

She says the blood center currently has a supply of less than two days for most blood types. The largest use of donated blood is for cancer patients undergoing treatment, but Hooper says it’s needed for so much more…

cut 13 (09)  “many of those”

The only source of blood for the blood center is donors. Hooper encourages people who are eligible to donate blood to please do so to ensure their supply does not run out…

cut 14 (08)  “try to give”

============================

Bakeries from throughout the state are getting involved in the boudin king cake craze that originated in Acadiana. Michelle Southern reports..:

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

 Governor-elect John Bel Edwards has a full day in store for him as he will become the 56^th governor of Louisiana at noon today. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is sworn into office today and Jeff Palermo looks at the obstacles he faces…

Cut 3 (25) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The US Army Corps of Engineers opened the Bonnet Carre Spillway Sunday morning to alleviate the flood threat of the Mississippi River in New Orleans. Corps spokesman Ricky Boyett says the spillway is an amazing structure…

cut 4  (09)  “an entire river”

This is the 11th time the spillway has been opened since its completion in 1931. The Bonnet Carre diverts Mississippi River waters to Lake Pontchartrain and into the Gulf to protect New Orleans. Boyett says, if river levels get too high, the Morganza Spillway protects Baton Rouge in much the same way.

Cut 5  (05)  “the Atchafalaya”

The Morganza could be opened as early as Thursday. Boyett says an issue with opening the Morganza is the impact to the Louisiana black bear population living in the floodway. He says, because of this, a slow opening is planned…

Cut 6 (09)  “of harm’s way” 

______________________________________

What started as a culinary experiment last year has taken on a life of its own as the boudin king cake is quickly becoming one of the most popular pastries to get your hands on during carnival season. Bob Carriker is a UL-Lafayette professor, and he used his food blogging sites, boudinlink.com and kingcaker.com, to introduce his invention to Louisiana. It took off…:

CUT 7 (08)  “it’s incredible”

The boudin king cake uses bread that is savory, stuffed with boudin, topped with Steen’s cane syrup then sprinkled with cracklins. Carriker says people have started calling it the most Cajun food ever…:

Cut 8  (11)  “together”

Carriker says he’s been contacted by bakeries all over the state and the nation asking permission to use the concept and get some tips. He says he originally teamed up with Lafayette’s Twins Burgers and Sweets last year after the idea went viral, and the restaurant says they can’t get them out of the oven fast enough…:

Cut 9 (06)  “online orders”

______________________________________

Today is inauguration day and Governor-elect John Bel Edwards will start out today with his family at St. Joseph’s cathedral in Baton Rouge before the ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Richard Carbo, Edwards’ communication director, says the voice of LSU, Jim Hawthorne, will be the master of ceremonies of the inauguration. ..

Cut 10 (11) “have died” 

Carbo says the swearing in will happen right at noon and then Governor Edwards will make his inauguration address on the steps of the Capitol. He says there is a surprise planned for the new governor.

cut 11 (10) “real treat”

Carbo believes Edwards will be optimistic about the days ahead for Louisiana in his inauguration speech. He says the governor-elect is going to urge both democrats and republicans to be engaged in the process and contribute ideas to help the state.

Cut 12 (10) “be like”

______________________________________

So what can we expect from Democrat John Bel Edwards once he is sworn in as governor? Political analyst Clancy Dubos says Edwards plans to immediately expand Medicaid and he is going to call a special session to deal with all the fiscal issues in the state.

Cut 13 (09)  “in place”

Dubos says right after the special session ends, Edwards will jump right into a regular session to deal with issues not regarding the budget. He believes the democratic governor will have a fairly easy time with the Senate, but the challenge will be in the House.

Cut 14 (09) “every matter”

Dubos says most people of Louisiana want to see more state funding for higher education, healthcare and highways. But he says that will be hard to do, as the state’s budget is in bad shape…

Cut 15  (10) “tax rates”

_________________________________________________

There’s still three and a half weeks left before national signing day and LSU is in position to reel in the number one football recruiting class. The Tigers have 20 verbal commitments and according to 24-7 sports, LSU has the top ranked class. Recruiting analyst Shea Dixon says LSU has received verbal pledges from some of the top players in the country in recent days

Cut 16  (19)  “suit there”

Dixon says LSU’s highest ranked commitment to this point is Saivion Smith a five-star cornerback from Florida…

Cut 17 (15) “of Houston”

Dixon says there’s still time to add to this star studded class…

Cut 18 (13) “at John Curtis”

Please allow 30 minutes from receipt of this email for links to become active.

Bakeries from throughout the state are getting involved in the boudin king cake craze that originated in Acadiana. Michelle Southern reports..:

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

 Governor-elect John Bel Edwards has a full day in store for him as he will become the 56^th governor of Louisiana at noon today. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is sworn into office today and Jeff Palermo looks at the obstacles he faces…

Cut 3 (25) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The US Army Corps of Engineers opened the Bonnet Carre Spillway Sunday morning to alleviate the flood threat of the Mississippi River in New Orleans. Corps spokesman Ricky Boyett says the spillway is an amazing structure…

cut 4  (09)  “an entire river”

This is the 11th time the spillway has been opened since its completion in 1931. The Bonnet Carre diverts Mississippi River waters to Lake Pontchartrain and into the Gulf to protect New Orleans. Boyett says, if river levels get too high, the Morganza Spillway protects Baton Rouge in much the same way.

Cut 5  (05)  “the Atchafalaya”

The Morganza could be opened as early as Wednesday. Boyett says an issue with opening the Morganza is the impact to the Louisiana black bear population living in the floodway. He says, because of this, a slow opening is planned…

Cut 6 (09)  “of harm’s way” 

______________________________________

What started as a culinary experiment last year has taken on a life of its own as the boudin king cake is quickly becoming one of the most popular pastries to get your hands on during carnival season. Bob Carriker is a UL-Lafayette professor, and he used his food blogging sites, boudinlink.com and kingcaker.com, to introduce his invention to Louisiana. It took off…:

CUT 7 (08)  “it’s incredible”

The boudin king cake uses bread that is savory, stuffed with boudin, topped with Steen’s cane syrup then sprinkled with cracklins. Carriker says people have started calling it the most Cajun food ever…:

Cut 8  (11)  “together”

Carriker says he’s been contacted by bakeries all over the state and the nation asking permission to use the concept and get some tips. He says he originally teamed up with Lafayette’s Twins Burgers and Sweets last year after the idea went viral, and the restaurant says they can’t get them out of the oven fast enough…:

Cut 9 (06)  “online orders”

______________________________________

Today is inauguration day and Governor-elect John Bel Edwards will start out today with his family at St. Joseph’s cathedral in Baton Rouge before the ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Richard Carbo, Edwards’ communication director, says the voice of LSU, Jim Hawthorne, will be the master of ceremonies of the inauguration. ..

Cut 10 (11) “have died” 

Carbo says the swearing in will happen right at noon and then Governor Edwards will make his inauguration address on the steps of the Capitol. He says there is a surprise planned for the new governor.

cut 11 (10) “real treat”

Carbo believes Edwards will be optimistic about the days ahead for Louisiana in his inauguration speech. He says the governor-elect is going to urge both democrats and republicans to be engaged in the process and contribute ideas to help the state.

Cut 12 (10) “be like”

______________________________________

So what can we expect from Democrat John Bel Edwards once he is sworn in as governor? Political analyst Clancy Dubos says Edwards plans to immediately expand Medicaid and he is going to call a special session to deal with all the fiscal issues in the state.

Cut 13 (09)  “in place”

Dubos says right after the special session ends, Edwards will jump right into a regular session to deal with issues not regarding the budget. He believes the democratic governor will have a fairly easy time with the Senate, but the challenge will be in the House.

Cut 14 (09) “every matter”

Dubos says most people of Louisiana want to see more state funding for higher education, healthcare and highways. But he says that will be hard to do, as the state’s budget is in bad shape…

Cut 15  (10) “tax rates”

_________________________________________________

There’s still three and a half weeks left before national signing day and LSU is in position to reel in the number one football recruiting class. The Tigers have 20 verbal commitments and according to 24-7 sports, LSU has the top ranked class. Recruiting analyst Shea Dixon says LSU has received verbal pledges from some of the top players in the country in recent days

Cut 16  (19)  “suit there”

Dixon says LSU’s highest ranked commitment to this point is Saivion Smith a five-star cornerback from Florida…

Cut 17 (15) “of Houston”

Dixon says there’s still time to add to this star studded class…

Cut 18 (13) “at John Curtis”

______________________________________

The US Army Corps of Engineers announces plans to begin diverting river water from the Mississippi into Lake Pontchartrain. Jeff Palermo has the details…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

================

The White House announces that President Barack Obama will make his first trip to Baton Rouge as president on Thursday, January 14th. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

===================

Due of recent changes in river forecasts, the US Army Corps of Engineers has announced the timeline for opening the Bonnet Carre and Morganza Spillways has changed. The opening of the Bonnet Carre will now begin at 10AM Sunday. Corps spokesperson Ricky Boyett says the Bonnet Carre allows them to control the Mississippi River coming into New Orleans…

CUT 3 (10)  “in New Orleans”

Opening the spillways will alleviate flood threats due to rising water levels on the Mississippi River. As far as the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish, Boyett says they are closely monitoring river levels to see if they reach the level required to open the flood gates…

CUT 4 (07)  “12th of January”

He says no decision has been made at this time but there’s is a strong possibility of opening the Morganza on January 12th. Boyette says there is one driving force behind their decisions to open the spillways…

CUT 5 (07)  “in this area”

============================

The White House announces that President Barack Obama will make his first trip to Baton Rouge as president next week. The president will visit the Capital City Thursday, January 14th, two days after his State of the Union address. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s not uncommon for the president to hit the road after the State of the Union…

CUT 6 (08) “president’s policies”

He says a visit to Louisiana is a bit of a surprise since the state has not always been supportive of President Obama’s policies. Hogan says the recent election of Democratic John Bel Edwards in the governor’s race could have played a role in the president scheduling a visit to Baton Rouge…

CUT 7 (09) “in the state” 

President Obama is expected focus on state gains in the past seven years, including a drop in the unemployment rate and new aid for Louisiana’s early childhood education programs. Governor-elect Edwards has stated that Medicaid expansion is one of the top priorities for his administration. Hogan believes President Obama will use Louisiana as an example to get more states to jump on board…

CUT 8 (09) “of his administration”

============================

Four Louisiana universities have banned the use of hoverboards on campus due to safety concerns. LSU, U-L Lafayette, Nicholls, and Southeastern have all decided these devices are a hazard because they have been found to burst into flames while charging and cause injuries to riders. Southeastern Louisiana University spokesperson Rene Abadie…

CUT 9 (10)  “the campus”

Abadie says hoverboard batteries have been known to combust and start fires while charging, so they don’t want them in S-L-U housing units because of the fire hazard.

cut 10 (10)  “the rider”

Abadie says riders have also been known to fall off hoverboards and break bones or get concussions, which is an additional safety concern. He says these policies are put in place with the general interest of the safety of their students.

Cut 11 (05) “certainly”

============================

The Powerball jackpot is now the largest in US history estimating at a whopping 800 million dollars. UNO Mathematics chair, Dr. Tumulesh (Too-muh-lesh) Solanky (soe-LAWN-key), says the odds of one person winning the jackpot is about one in 292-million. He says the more tickets you buy, the better your chances are.

cut 12 (08) “292 million”

The cash value of the jackpot is 496 million dollars. Dr. Solanky says when people pool their money to buy a lot of tickets, the odds of winning keep getting better. He says the jackpot numbers are completely random, so certain numbers aren’t luckier than others.

cut 13 (07)  “the best”

Jennifer Bordes, a CPA in Metairie, advises if you win the 800 million dollar Powerball jackpot, there is no financial incentive if you take the lump sum or the annuity.

cut 14 (08)  “an attorney”

Bordes says if you go in as a group to purchase a bunch of tickets, have an agreement in writing to ensure everyone knows their role and how much was contributed. She reminds the winner that they’ll be hit with huge new taxes.

cut 15 (10)  “estate tax”

============================