Many will be firing up the grill this Memorial Day and LSU AgCenter Economist Ross Pruitt says you can expect to continue to pay high prices for beef.  Scott Carwile reports…

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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There will be several Memorial Day events held across the state to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Jeff Palermo reports…

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

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Many will be firing up the grill this Memorial Day and LSU AgCenter Economist Ross Pruitt says you can expect to continue to pay high prices for beef.  According to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price for a pound of ground beef in March was $4.20, up almost 14-percent from 2014.  Pruitt says it all comes down to how much beef is available…

Cut 3 (08) “going higher”

Beef production has been down over the past several years because of a drought in some of the leading beef-producing states.  However, Pruitt says some slight relief could be in sight…

cut 4  (10)  “a little bit”

But Pruitt says, overall, you can expect to pay high prices for beef at least through the end of the year.  He says if you’re looking for more bang for your buck, you may want to go with chicken or pork for your barbecue…

Cut 5  (09)  “price differential”

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Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and the state Department of Health and Hospitals wants everyone to take precautions to stay safe while swimming. Assistant Secretary for Public Health, JT Lane, says it’s important for children to know pool safety and to have proper gear nearby…

Cut 6 (08)  “just in case”

Drowning is the leading cause of injury death for children between the ages of 1 and 14 an the fifth leading cause of unintended injury death for people of all ages. Lane says if you plan on swimming in any natural waterways, extra precautions should be taken…

CUT 7 (08)  “cause injury”

Lane adds that alcohol should be used responsibly around water and never when supervising children. He says they don’t want to discourage anyone from swimming this summer, but they do want to make sure everyone is careful and takes proper precautions…

Cut 8  (03)  “to swimming” 

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Memorial Day is one of the most solemn holidays on the calendar. It’s a day set aside to remember those men and women who gave their lives in defense of our freedom. Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, David LeCerte, says the United States has sending young men and women off to fight for our nation since 1775…

Cut 9 (09)  “men and women”

There will be several events across the state to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. LaCerte says attending a Memorial Day ceremony is a great way to remember these fallen heroes. But he adds there are other ways you can commemorate the day…

Cut 10 (10) “those sacrifices”

LaCerte says several hundred Louisiana troops have been lost in the post 9/11 war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. He says as the fight continues in new theatres, more men and women will be sent in harm’s way and some will not come back home. LaCerte says it’s important to continue to honor those lost as we progress forward…

cut 11 (06) “in the world”

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State officials want you to take time this week to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. Governor Bobby Jindal has declared it, Hurricane Preparedness Week, and Chris Guilbeaux, a deputy director at the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says visting Get-a-Game-Plan-dot-org is a good first step

cut 12 (12)   “coastline”

Guilbeaux says a three to five day supply of water and food that won’t spoil are some of the things you should purchase now. He says this Saturday and Sunday, the state sales tax on certain hurricane preparation items will be removed

Cut 13 (07)  “may arise”

Forecasters are calling for a quiet hurricane season. Louisiana has seen only a couple of hurricanes since the devastation that occurred in 2005 with Katrina and Rita. Guilbeaux says we can’t let our guard down

Cut 14 (07) “all the time”

For the 6th Memorial Day weekend, Bayou Country Superfest brings it’s huge stage to Tiger Stadium. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agent was shot while on patrol in Ouachita Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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Memorial Day Weekend in Baton Rouge will see Tiger Stadium hosting Bayou Country Superfest for the 6th year with huge stars including Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, all on the heels of tonight’s Taylor Swift show. Producer Quint Davis says one of the greatest things about this festival is that it’s held on the LSU campus…

CUT 3 (09)  “inside the stadium”

Davis reminds concert goers that Saturday and Sunday from noon to four, a huge free fan fest takes place outside the stadium…

CUT 4 (06)  “sign their shirts”

Davis says the stage is built, the field is covered and the chairs are down. He says Bayou Country Superfest in “Death Valley” is a gathering like no other…

CUT 5 (09)  “Blake and Miranda”

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A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agent is hospitalized after he was shot while in the line of duty. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says 32-year-old Sergeant Scott Bullitt of Jonesboro was shot in the back while performing a traffic stop on the Russell Sage Wildlife Management Area in Ouachita Parish…

CUT 6 (10)  “recoverable from”

Einck says Sergeant Bullitt has been an LDWF agent for over five years and he’s married with no kids…

CUT 7 (10) “and waterways”

The man who allegedly shot Sergeant Bullitt has been identified as 29-year-old Luke Jarrod Hust. He fled into the woods after the shooting, but was arrested by authorities several hours later. Einck says Hust has been in and out of jail over the last 10 years and decided to shoot Bullitt during the traffic stop…

(Hust has been charged with two counts of attempted 1st-degree murder.)

CUT 8 (07)  “lower back”

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Fourth district Congressman John Fleming is upset the Environmental Protection Agency has delayed the disposal of 15-million pounds of M6 propellant stored at Camp Minden in Webster Parish. Fleming says a contract has yet to be signed to begin the disposal, because the EPA wants an additional eight million dollars from Louisiana to cover oversight costs…

CUT 9 (09)  “level of expense”

Tthe EPA says additional dollars are needed because of updated cost estimates. But Fleming says the EPA has not provided any documentation on why

cut 10 (06) “that’s it”

Fleming calls the EPA’s last minute demand extortion from an agency whose budget is eight-billion dollars. The congressman from northwest Louisiana says he’ll work to get contractors on the ground soon to begin the work of removing these dangerous materials

cut 11 (10)  “stuff done”

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Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi says DNA has confirmed that a 30-year-old teacher in Plaquemine fathered a 15-year-old student’s child. Keavin Keith was arrested earlier this week, after he was accused of having a sexual relationship with three students. Stassi says no new additional charges will occur as a result of this latest development…

cut 12 (09)  “this time”

Stassi says they ordered DNA tests after one of the alleged victims told detectives she had a sexual relationship with Keith that produced a son…

cut 13 (07)  “year old”

Keith was released from jail on a 100-thousand dollar bond. Stassi says they continue to investigate, but at this time, there’s only three victims in this case…

cut 14 (08) “no sir”

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Houma Police say a 36-year-old woman accused of dumping a pot of boiling grease on her sleeping ex-boyfriend turned herself into authorities this morning. Police chief Todd Duplantis says investigators originally thought it was just boiling water that burned the 33-year-old victim

cut 15 (09) “the bed”

The victim suffered severe burns to his torso, right arm and face and was sent to a burn center in Baton Rouge. Duplantis Lynette Joseph faces a charge of second-degree battery…

cut 16 (11) “or both”

The Metropolitan Crime Commission asks the state Attorney General’s office to investigate the sentence of the Destrehan High School teacher who had sex with one of her students. Michelle Southern reporting…:

CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

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As motorists begin hitting the road for the Memorial Day weekend, Gasbuddy-dot-com says they’ll like the price they see at the pump. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

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The Louisiana House has approved a 24-billion dollar budget that includes language about Governor Jindal’s out-of-state campaign travels. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

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In the first of a series of questions to the four major gubernatorial candidates, Louisiana Radio Network asks about the state’s budget problems. We asked each candidate if they were Governor today, how would they handle the $1.6 billion dollar deficit. Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle says he’d cut every dime of wasteful spending…:

cut 4  (11)  “and healthcare”

Republican Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says he’d curtail tax exemptions and refundable credits, cap the film tax credit program and raise the cigarette tax. But Dardenne says if he were Governor there wouldn’t be this giant deficit…:

Cut 5  (11)  “economy strong”

Democratic Representative John Bel Edwards says he would reduce or eliminate tax giveaways that cost too much or produce too little return on investment. He says he would also accept federal tax dollars back into Louisiana to help us meet obligations for the people of Louisiana…:

Cut 6 (11)  “money that we can use”

(Affiliates: The full responses are in the audio folder of our website in the sub folder: “Governor Q&A answers” — They are each about 90 seconds long.) Republican US Senator David Vitter says if he is elected, he would immediately call a special legislative session on spending and tax reform…:

CUT 7 (11)  “Governor’s term”

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The Metropolitan Crime Commission has asked the state Attorney General’s office to investigate the sentence of the Destrehan High School teacher who had sex with one of her students. Shelley Dufresene admitted to the act in exchange for no jail time and not having to register as a sex offender. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the MCC President should know better than to call for this investigation….:

Cut 8  (10)  “local district attorney” 

Dufresne was originally charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile but pleaded down to a misdemeanor obscenity charge as part of the deal. The MCC wants the AG’s office to look into whether St. Charles Parish DA Joel Chaisson committed any criminal violations with regards to the plea. Meche says if the MCC believes a criminal act occurred they should report it to federal authorities…:

Cut 9 (07)  “constitution”

Dufresne is the daughter of a sitting judge in the 29th District and the entire bench recused themselves in the matter but Chaisson did not. There are many people who say Dufresne got off easy and if the teacher would have been male and the student female then the outcome would have been much different. Meche says people are entitled to their opinion but this move is a classic case of political grandstanding…:

Cut 10 (11) “such an investigation”

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As motorists begin hitting the road for the Memorial Day weekend, Gasbuddy-dot-com says they’ll see the lowest gas prices since 2009. Senior Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski says the current average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Louisiana is $2.45 a gallon.

cut 11 (07) “a year ago” 2X

Laskoski says many are considering an additional road trip this summer because of the price at the pump. He says while gas prices have gone up about 21-cents a gallon in the past month, prices are still almost a dollar less than we paid a year ago. Laskoski says the price hike is not totally unexpected…

cut 12 (06)   “driving season”

Laskoski says the price jump can be attributed to a rise in crude oil prices and the approaching summer driving season. But, he doesn’t think there will be a huge increase in gas prices this summer. Laskoski says there is still a really significant inventory of gasoline and that’s good news for motorists…

Cut 13 (08)  “last year”

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On a 65-37 vote, the state House approved a 24-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year, sending the spending plan to the senate. House Appropriations Chairman Jim Fannin says the budget process started with a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall, but they covered much of that gap, by passing revenue generating bills, recognizing additional dollars thanks to an improved revenue forecast and other financing…

Cut 14 (10) “MFP”

As it stands now, the budget reduces funding for LSU’s medical schools in New Orleans and Shreveport and the state’s public-private hospital partnerships are also underfunded. Fannin says some agencies will also face cuts…

Cut 15  (08)  “highest priority”

A politically charged amendment was added to the budget during the debate. The measure would require the governor’s office and not State Police to pay for troopers, when Jindal makes out-of-state campaign trips. Monroe Representative Katrina Jackson is in full support…

Cut 16  (11)  “one person”

(The amendment passed on a 55-35 vote, but could be removed by the Senate or Jindal can use his line-item veto power on the legislation. ) 

The teacher arrested in Iberville Parish for allegedly having sex with three of his students, apparently fathered a child of one of the victim’s when she was 15-years-old. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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Governor Jindal is defending his religious freedom order, which prohibits the executive agencies from taking action against individuals or businesses, if they have a traditional view of marriage . Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office announce that a woman wanted for the death of her infant daughter has been arrested in Lafayette. Spokesperson Maxine Trahan says 26-year-old Katie Chriceol (Cry-sol) gave birth to her child at home in late March. The newborn then went into cardiac arrest and died at a local hospital. Trahan says they were then contacted by the hospital…

CUT 3 (09)  “for methamphetamine”

She says hospital toxicology reports showed that Chriceol and the baby both tested positive for high levels of methamphetamine. Trahan says this case was brought before a grand jury last week… (Trahan says Chriceol was located and arrested in Lafayette Wednesday and booked on a charge of second degree murder.)

CUT 4 (08)  “of the baby”

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State Police say a fire at their data center has left Office of Motor Vehicles offices across the state unable process any transactions. Major Doug Cain says an electrical panel fire has disabled all automated systems at the Department of Public Safety, including OMV locations statewide…

CUT 5 (07)  “of the offices”

He says workers are staying on site at the offices in hopes that the situation can be resolved. As of now, all they can do is turn people away. Cain says they hope to get everything up and going later today. Trooper patrols will continue, but Cain says this fire has brought the Department of Public Safety to a virtual standstill…

CUT 6 (05)  “troopers use”

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The teacher who was arrested in Iberville Parish for allegedly having sex with three of his students, apparently fathered a child of one of the victim’s when she was 15-years-old. 30-year-old Keavin Keith was arrested Monday on 30 counts of prohibited sex with a student. Sheriff Brett Stassi says one of the victim’s claims Keith got her pregnant…:

CUT 7 (10) “by the victim”

Keith was also charged with two counts of indecent behavior with juveniles and five counts of felony carnal knowledge. Stassi says at lease one other victim told detectives that she engaged in oral sex with Keith inside his classroom at Iberville’s Math, Science and Arts Academy-West in Plaquemine. He says this is an unfortunate case…:

CUT 8 (08)  “rest of his life”

Stassi says they got a statement from Keith when he was arrested and he admitted to investigators that he’d had sex with the students. He says they’ve been getting reaction from the community on both sides of this case…:(Keith was named teacher of the year in 2013.)

CUT 9 (10)  “very good teacher”

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Governor Bobby Jindal’s religious freedom executive order is receiving strong criticism from democrats. The leader of the state democratic party, New Orleans Senator Karen Peterson, says she can’t believe Jindal would issue the order, when businesses and the tourism industry expressed concern the measure could alienate visitors or keep conventions away…

cut 10 (08) “we represent”

LSU grad and prominent Democratic Party figure, James Carville, appeared on the Jim Engster Show and said he wishes the governor would focus on bigger issues impacting the state…

cut 11 (10)  “the state”

But Jindal is not apologizing for the religious freedom order. The governor says it re-affirms our first amendment rights….

cut 12 (09)  “without discrimination”

Jindal’s controversial order prevents the executive branch of state government from taking adverse action against a person or a business for their belief in traditional marriage. He disputes the accusation that his order will hurt the state’s economy…

cut 13 (10)  “mutually consistent”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The American Automobile Association expects more Americans to travel this Memorial Day weekend than they have in the last 10 years. Scott Carwile reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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The Saints announce that New Orleans has been invited by the NFL to bid to host the 2019 and 2020 Super Bowls. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

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The United Health Foundation ranks Louisiana 50th in the nation for Senior Health. That’s last according to the Annual America’s Health Rankings 2015 Senior Report. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

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The American Automobile Association expects more Americans to travel this Memorial Day weekend than they have in the last 10 years. Spokesman Don Redman says they predict a 5-percent increase from last year in people who will travel for the holiday weekend…

cut 4  (09)  “by car”

He says over 37 milion Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home for the holiday. Redman says if you plan to travel by car this weekend, you can expect to share the road with a lot of people…

Cut 5  (05)  “very busy”

It’s expected that about 33-million people will be traveling by car. Most drivers can expect to pay the lowest Memorial Day gas prices in five years. Redman says you can attribute much of the increase in travelers to the fact that people are feeling more confident about the economy because of the drop in gas prices…

Cut 6 (09)  “this holiday”

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New Orleans has been invited to bid to host the 2019 and 2020 Super Bowls. The Big Easy last hosted the Super Bowl in 2013. Jay Cicero, President of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says four other cities also received invitations…

CUT 7 (12)  “on 2020″

Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, and Los Angeles have also received invitations to bid on hosting the big game from the NFL. New Orleans lost out on hosting the 2018 Super Bowl to Minneapolis and their new stadium last year. Cicero says with new stadiums proposed for Atlanta and Los Angeles, the competition will be stiff…

Cut 8  (06)  “those Super Bowls” 

Los Angeles was invited to bid on the 2020 Super Bowl if a stadium is in place and a team has moved there by the start of the 2018 season. The bids will go to a vote of team owners next May. Cicero feels the Crescent City has an edge on the other cities vying to host the Super Bowl…

Cut 9 (11)  “competitive advantage”

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Legislation by Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater that would allow state colleges to raise fees for students passes the state House. Gonzales Representative Eddie Lambert wanted assurance from Broadwater that this measure would not affect tuition…

Cut 10 (06) “TOPS, whatsoever”

Broadwater says his measure would only make it easier for colleges to raise student fees, within certain limits, and not affect TOPS in any way. He says a percentage of the revenues generated from additional fees would be set aside for needs based assistance…

cut 11 (08) “education problem”

The legislation passed on a 79-14 vote and moves to the Senate. Broadwater says a portion of monies generated from the additional fees would be used to provide financial assistance to students in need. He says those concerned that increased fees would create a drop in enrollment should look at the bigger picture…

cut 12 (10)   “have under this”

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The United Health Foundation ranks Louisiana 50th in the nation for Senior Health. That’s last according to the Annual America’s Health Rankings 2015 Senior Report. Katherine Palmier (palm-yay) is the Chief Medical Officer for the East Region of United Health Care. She says among the challenges in Louisiana is a low percentage of dental visits…:

Cut 13 (11)  “rest of the body”

While Louisiana is ranked as the least healthy state for older adults, Mississippi is Number 49 this year then Kentucky, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Palmier says in Louisiana there is a high percentage of nursing home residents that are not receiving proper care. She also says a lot of Louisiana seniors struggle with food insecurity which means they wonder if they are going to have enough money to pay for their next meal…:

Cut 14 (09) “insecurity”

To develop this report, a panel of experts in senior health was charged with identifying the areas of health and well-being most pertinent to the older adult population. In 2014 Louisiana was ranked 49th. She says despite the low ranking, Louisiana does have some positives like a high flu vaccination rate, low prevalence of falls and great home health..:

Cut 15  (09)  “nursing assistance”

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A Senate bill that will likely result in future TOPS students having to pay a portion of their tuition clears the House Education Committee despite Governor Jindal’s opposition. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announces results of a study which shows the Deepwater Horizon oil spill contributed to a high number of dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (32) “reporting”

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Legislation that looks to reduce the penalties for those convicted multiple times of marijuana possession makes progress in the state legislature. A Senate committee has approved New Orleans Senator JP Morrell’s bill that would change a second-offense from a felony to a misdemeanor charge. He says third or four offenses would still be felonies, but with lower maximum sentences than current law…

CUT 3 (06)  “20 times higher”

The House has also approved its own legislation that will reduces penalties for multiple marijuana offenders. But Morrell’s measure also allows an offender to have their record expunged, if they are not convicted for another marijuana violation within two years of their first offense

CUT 4 (10)  “first offense only”

Morrell says his measure will save the state 16-million dollars over five years, because fewer people will be locked up. He says district attorneys and sheriffs support his legislation, because there’s still significant penalties for those convicted three or more times…

CUT 5 (05)  “more sense”

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A Senate bill that will likely result in future TOPS students having to pay a portion of their tuition clears the House Education Committee. The governor’s office opposes Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue’s legislation. Stafford Palmieri, Jindal’s Assistant Chief of Staff, says Louisiana has made the promise that TOPS students will have their tuition fully paid…

CUT 6 (09)  “tuition increase”

Under Donahue’s bill, the TOPS award will match 2016-17 tuition levels but the award will not automatically go up when tuition rises. Donahue says TOPS is unsustainable in its current form and this baseline will ensure its survival…

CUT 7 (06) “their kids after”

The measure will now be debated on the House floor. Palmieri admits that the cost of the TOPS program has increased every year since 2008, but says this is a good investment in the state’s higher education system…

CUT 8 (10)  “finishing college”

Donahue says controls need to be put in place to regulate the costs of TOPS so the program can endure for future generations of students. He doesn’t think passage of this bill will damage the program…

CUT 9 (11)  “to do that”

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announces results of a study which shows the Deepwater Horizon oil spill contributed to a high number of dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Kathleen Colegrove is the study’s lead veterinary pathologist…:

cut 10 (10) “other areas”

Colegrove says one in three dolphins found dead in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama had a thin adrenal gland cortex which leads to adrenal insufficiency. She says when just looking at dolphins from Barataria Bay, one of the most heavily oiled coastal areas, half of them had the otherwise rare adrenal lesion…:

cut 11 (08)  “this lesion”

NOAA says these studies point to the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons as being the most significant cause of the illnesses and deaths plaguing the Gulf’s dolphin population. Colegrove says dolphins dying after the spill had distinct problems not present in stranded dophins from areas outside the northern Gulf. She says another problem they found in the spill areas in stranded dolphins was lung disease…:

cut 12 (06)  “the US”

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The Louisiana Black Bear population has reached a point in its recovery that the federal government recommends the removal of the animal from the threatened species list.  Governor Bobby Jindal says it took over 20-years of collaborative research and recovery efforts to get to this point….

cut 13 (11)  “key habitats”

Jindal says the state has spent more than 900-thousand dollars to help restoration of the black bear population. Deputy Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Steve Guertin, is glad efforts to save the iconic “Teddy Bear” have paid off…

cut 14 (10) “state of Louisiana”

It will likely take a year before the bear is delisted, as federal officials must gather public input on the recommendation. Once that process is completed, it could open the door for regulated hunting of the black bear. But state department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham says that’s not happening anytime soon…

cut 15 (11) “rifle”

Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will make an important announcement at the Governor’s Mansion regarding the Louisiana black bear. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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According to a recent survey by the LSU Public Policy Research lab, voters in Louisiana are still not tuned in to the upcoming Governor’s race. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (31) “reporting”

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Governor Bobby Jindal issues an executive order that would accomplish what a so-called religious freedom bill would do. Scott Carwile has the story….

Cut 3 (31) “reporting”

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Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will make an important announcement at the Governor’s Mansion regarding the Louisiana black bear. It is expected that the black bear will be officially removed from the threatened species list. Secretary Robert Barham says the black bear was put on the threatened list nearly 25 years ago…

cut 4  (11)  “be recognized”

Barham says LDWF has a long history of rehabilitating animal populations, including the American alligator, the brown pelican, and the bald eagle. He says the resurgence in the black bear population is a tribute to the biologists and everyone with the department…

Cut 5  (07)  “to come”

The Louisiana black bear is the the inspiration for the Teddy Bear, the popular children’s toy. The stuffed animal was created after a hunting trip in the area by then President Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt’s great-grandson, Theodore Roosevelt IV, will be on hand for the announcement…

Cut 6 (08)  “was president”

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According to a recent survey by the LSU Public Policy Research lab, voters in Louisiana are still not tuned in to the upcoming Governor’s race. The numbers show only 25% of people here are following news about the election. PPRL Director Dr. Michael Henderson says voters ages 18-29 are paying the least amount of attention…:

CUT 7 (10)  “less in politics” (2x)

Henderson says they also found that 38% of voters say they are satisfied with the current slate of candidates running for governor in the October 24 election. He says even only about 1 and 3 older voters seem to be engaged but feels it will likely change late summer/early fall…:

Cut 8  (08)  “that point” 

Henderson says Scott Angelle is the candidate fewest voters are familiar with at 83% followed by John Bel Edwards at 76% then Jay Dardenne at 60% but only 28% of people said they didn’t know who David Vitter is. He says all four candidates have favorable ratings among people in the know…:

Cut 9 (06)  “going forward”

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Governor Bobby Jindal issues an executive order that would have the same effect as a so called “religious freedom” bill that failed to pass out of a  House committee on Tuesday.  U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says there is irony in this move by Jindal…

Cut 10 (11) ” Louisiana”

Jindal says his executive order prevents the state from taking adverse action against people, charities and family owned businesses who have deep religious beliefs that marriage is between a man and a woman. Cross predicts there will be a lawsuit…

cut 11 (07) “anyway”

Passing a religious liberty bill was a priority for Governor Jindal in this legislative session. Cross says it’s not a surprise that lawmakers didn’t bend over backwards to get this law passed…

cut 12 (10)   “he likes”

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A House bill that would allow elementary school students to be taught gun safety is headed to the Senate. The legislation is by Baton Rouge Representative Blake Miguez who says firearm accident prevention and safety would be something kids should learn at a young age…:

Cut 13 (06)  “fire safety”

Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton doesn’t think that young kids should be learning anything about guns. She says firearm safety education should be left up to parents if they so choose to teach their kids about guns…:

Cut 14 (06) “or see a gun”

The measure passed on a 93-3 vote. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says he supports the measure because very often parents are not teaching their children proper safety measures when it comes to things like guns…:

Cut 15  (13)  “that education”

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The LSU baseball team begins play this afternoon at 4:30 in the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama. Coach Paul Mainieri says this week will get them ready for the NCAA Tournament…

Cut 16  (20)  “all of em”

LSU has won the last two SEC Tournaments and with Mainieri as the head coach, the Tigers won the SEC Tourney from 2008 through 2011. The coach says they go into this tournaments with very little pressure on them, since they know they’ll be a part of the NCAA Tournament

Cut 17 (12)  “LSU”

The American Future Project has released a television ad in Iowa supporting Governor Bobby Jindal’s candidacy for president. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson’s controversial religious freedom bill was debated for several hours before a House committee decided to put the measure back on the calendar, essentially killing the legislation for this session. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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Lynne Marino, an outspoken victims rights advocate and mother of a woman believed to have been murdered by a convicted serial killer, has died. She was 78. Marino’s daughter, Pam Kinamore, was one of several women likely slain by Derrick Todd Lee. On an appearance on the Jim Engster show earlier this year, Marino recalls her first remarks to Lee…:

CUT 3 (11)  “patrol car”

Marino appeared almost daily on radio and television newscasts after Kinamore disappeared in July 2002. She recently recalled the moment Lee was sentenced to die after being convicted of first degree murder in the death of Charlotte Murray Pace in 2004…:

CUT 4 (13)  “to use it”

Marino was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last August. She recalls the moment she was told about her condition…:

CUT 5 (10)  “to my daughter”

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After a lengthy debate over the controversial religious freedom bill by Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson, the House Civil Law Committee overwhelmingly votes to return the bill to the calendar, essentially killing the bill for the session. Johnson told the panel that his legislation is designed to protect business owners who make decisions based on their religious beliefs concerning gay marriage…

CUT 6 (09)  “conscience and religion”

But, opponents say this bill legalizes discrimination against the LGBT community. New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau President, Stephen Perry spoke against the measure. He says this bill gives Louisiana a black eye…

CUT 7 (11) “sanctioned bigotry”

Johnson says all his legislation is attempting to do is prohibit the state from taking action against a business or person for a decision made based on their religious beliefs on same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on gay marriage on June 18th. Johnson says every state, not just Louisiana, needs a bill like this passed now…

CUT 8 (11)  “5,000 years”

Perry says this legislation would have a devastating effect on the state’s economy as well as putting the state’s ability to host national sporting events in jeopardy. He says this bill goes against what the state’s tourism industry believes in…

CUT 9 (11)  “in the marketplace”

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A pro-Governor Bobby Jindal advocacy group has released a television ad in Iowa supporting his candidacy for president. The American Future Project says the ad will run on cable television in Iowa and online for one week. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the ad is indicative of Jindal’s approach toward the Republican nomination and against the rest of the field…

cut 10 (09) “very evangelical”

This ad comes on the heels of the governor forming an exploratory committee for a run for the presidency. Stockley says hundreds of millions of dollars were spent in the last presidential election and is just the tip of the iceberg for Jindal…

cut 11 (12)  “in the newspaper”

The television ad positions Jindal as conservative Republican’s leading voice in the battle over religious freedom. At this point, Stockley feels the governor’s announcement isn’t speculation anymore, it’s just a matter of time…

cut 12 (05)  “that end”

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The Iberville Parish Sheriff’s office says a man who was once named Teacher of the Year, has been arrested on 30 counts of sex with students. Sheriff Brett Stassi says they got a complaint late Monday about 30-year-old Keavin Keith, who teaches at MSA-West Academy in Plaquemine…:

cut 13 (08)  “developed some charges”

Stassi says when they were investigating the original complaint, they ended up finding more student victims totaling three. He says they processed a laundry list of charges…:

cut 14 (09) “and a student”

Keith was recognized as teacher of the year in 2013. Stassi says since there are already three victims with several accusations against Keith, it’s possible there are more out there…:

cut 15 (10) “with this teacher”

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The House Civil Law Committee will hear controversial legislation today that deals with discrimination against gays and same sex couples. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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Senator Bill Cassidy’s bill to expand drilling in the Gulf and increase the revenues Gulf states receive for supporting offshore energy production receives a hearing today on Capitol hill. Scott Carwile has the story…

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

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To recognize National Dog Bite Prevention Week, State Farm compiled claims data and found that Louisiana ranks 14th in the United States in a 2014 analysis of dog bite injury claims. Michelle Southern reports.:

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

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Today the House Civil Law Committee will hear Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson’s controversial religious freedom bill. Johnson says HB 707 would prevent adverse treatment from the state of any person or entity on the basis of their religious views on marriage, while opponents feel this bill legalizes discrimination. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat doesn’t think the outlook for this bill is good…

cut 4  (07)  “probably not”

The committee is also expected to hear a bill by New Orleans Representative Austin Badon that would protect someone from being fired from a job or denied housing because of their sexual orientation. Pinsonat believes this bill will be shot down as well…

Cut 5  (10)  “no to this” 2X

Pinsonat says there are already many laws on the books to protect individual rights and passing more of those laws is not popular among Louisiana voters…

Cut 6 (08)  “feel about it”

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The US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hears legislation today that seeks to expand offshore drilling and provides Louisiana with additional dollars from oil and gas produced in federal waters off the state’s coast. Recently elected Senator Bill Cassidy is the author of the bill that supporters say could create over 200-thousand jobs

CUT 7 (08)  “with that”

Louisiana and three other gulf states currently receive hundreds of millions of dollars for hosting offshore energy production. But there’s a cap on how much the states can receive, Cassidy is calling for a raising of the cap with this bill…

Cut 8  (10)  “Security Act” 

Cassidy’s bill would also allow for offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico in 2017. While the Obama administration has signed off on a plan to drill in the Artic Ocean north of Alaska, it’s held firm on a ban that prohibits drilling in the Eastern Gulf. Cassidy hopes his legislation can lift that ban

Cut 9 (08)  “for you”

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An 11-year-old boy was killed in Ruston Monday after the car he was riding in got swept away in flash flood waters and he was trapped inside. Police Department spokesman Deputy Chief Clint Williams says a woman was taking her 11 and 7 year old grandsons to school when their vehicle got swept into a creek. He says they located the driver…:

Cut 10 (11) “clinging to a tree”

Williams says the grandmother and the 7-year-old were able to remove themselves from the vehicle and they were rescued. He says they found the partially submerged car when the creek waters began to recede…:

cut 11 (05) “the 11-year-old”

Williams says they want to remind the public that you should never travel when there is water on the roadway, especially moving water…:

cut 12 (08)   “again”

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To recognize National Dog Bite Prevention Week, State Farm compiled claims data and found that Louisiana ranks 14th in the United States in a 2014 analysis of dog bite injury claims. The company says it paid out nearly $3 million dollars here for dog bite claims last year. Spokesman Roszell Gadson says they want people to be mindful of safety when it comes to unfamiliar animals…:

Cut 13 (10)  “proper shots”

Gadson says while an overwhelming majority of interactions with dogs don’t result in injury, most dog bites to children could be prevented. He says parents should teach their kids not to trust strange dogs…:

Cut 14 (10) “from the owner”

Gadson says having the proper insurance coverage for your pet situation is an important aspect to being a responsible dog owner…:

Cut 15  (07)  “have a pet”

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New men’s basketball coach Eric Konkol says he’s wants to build on a standard of excellence that’s already growing at Louisiana Tech. Konkol takes over for Michael White, who won three straight league titles. Konkol, who has been an assistant at Miami for the last four seasons, says he’s heard nothing but great things about the Bulldog basketball program….

Cut 16  (19)  “to me”

Last year, Tech won 27 games and they were second in Conference USA in scoring. During his introductory press conference, Konkol talked about his philosphy on offense

Cut 17 (19)  “great shot”

The Bulldogs have also been a team that liked to create turnovers and fast break opportunities on offense. Konkol says he wants to keep that style in place…

Cut 18 (18) “to them”‘

Governor Bobby Jindal has formed an exploratory committee in efforts to help him in deciding whether or not to make a presidential run in 2016. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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The state senate begins the process of approving House-approved bills that raise an estimated 615-million dollars in state revenues. Jeff Palermo has the story….

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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Flash Flood Watches and Warnings have been issued across north Louisiana as heavy rains have pounded the area throughout the morning. Jason Hansford with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says they’ve had reports in the Shreveport area of up to six inches of rain this morning…

CUT 3 (07)  “Bossier City areas”

There have been reports of flash flooding across north Louisiana this morning. In Ruston, police say an 11-year-old was killed when the car he was riding in was swept away by flood waters. Hansford says up to 5 inches of rain fell in the Monroe area this morning…

CUT 4 (06)  “Caldwell Parish”

He says the Caldwell Parish town of Columbia has reported in excess of seven inches of rain this morning and sandbagging operations have been put in place. Hansford says these rains could last into the afternoon and dump a significant amount of additional rain across north Louisiana…

CUT 5 (10)  “Columbia, Louisiana”

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Governor Bobby Jindal has formed an exploratory committee in efforts to help him in deciding whether or not to make a presidential run in 2016. Jindal has been considering a run for several months and has stated he will make a final decision by the end of June. Michael Henderson, Director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab, says this is not a surprising move…

CUT 6 (08)  “of the moments”

This is seen as a sign of how serious Jindal is about running for the GOP presidential nomination, despite the low numbers the governor has received in recent polls. Henderson says this exploratory committee will help Jindal gain financial support and get his name out there…

CUT 7 (11) “gain some momentum”

The exploratory committee has launched a website, BobbyJindal-dot-com, for supporters to receive updates on the governor’s efforts. Henderson says Jindal does not seem deterred by the lack of support the surveys indicate. He says it’s a little early too early in the process to place too much emphasis on poll numbers…

CUT 8 (10)  “the poll numbers”

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The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office arrests four including the ex-husband of a 54-year-old woman who has been missing since early April in an apparent murder for hire plot. Detectives believe 64-year-old Hamid Ghassemi hired a man who worked for him, 33-year-old Daniel Richter of Walker and two other associates, to kill Tahereh Ghassemi. State Police Col Mike Edmonson says the confessions were chilling…:

CUT 9 (06)  “no remorse”

Richter, 17-year-old Skyler Williams and 20-year-old Tyler Ashpaul, both of Denham Springs, are all charged with first-degree murder, second degree kidnapping and arson. Hamid Ghassemi is charged with principal to murder, kidnapping and arson and solicitation for murder. Apparently the three suspects who shot and killed the woman split $10,000 paid to them by Hamid Ghassemi for the murder of his ex-wife. Edmonson says this is pathetic…:

cut 10 (09) “a human body”

An autopsy revealed the victim died of a gunshot wound to the head. Detectives discovered Tahereh Ghassemi’s body Saturday buried in a heavily wooded area in St. Helena Parish. They say during questioning, Ashpaugh told detectives he went with Williams and Richter to the woman’s house where they put her in the trunk of her vehicle and transported her to the burial site. Edmonson commends law enforcement for bringing the family closure…:

cut 11 (09)  “her body”

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The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee approved a eleven tax bills that have also passed out of the House. The measures raise an estimated 615-million dollars to help stave off large cuts to public colleges and universities and the state’s health care system. Some of the bills reduce rebate and tax credit programs for businesses. Benton Senator Robert Adley on why they need this legislation to pass…

cut 12 (10)  “hospitals and universities”

All of the tax bills head to the Senate Finance Committee for more discussion. Many of them face heavy opposition from business lobbyist groups. Adley understands their concerns, but the legislature is trying to raise revenue to avoid major cuts to health care and higher ed

cut 13 (07)  “health care”

The senate panel also agreed to increase Louisiana’s cigarette tax by 32-cents, which means the state tax on a pack of cigs would be 68-cents. But New Orleans Senator JP Morrell indicated the proposed tax could go up even more as the bill moves through the legislative process

cut 14 (09) “final disposition”

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