State Treasurer John Kennedy says the state needs more oversight over state government contracts in light of a report by the Legislative Auditor. Eric Gill reports..

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

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An image in Champions Square that has Darren Sharper on it will be coming down soon. Jeff Palermo reports…:

CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

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State Police announce the arrest of the driver of a vehicle wanted in a hit-and-run crash that killed a bicyclist last week in Terrebone Parish. 53-year-old Toni Friloux (FREE-lou) of Houma faces charges in the death of 46-year-old Robert Clowder, Jr. Trooper Evan Harrell says they received a tip from a concerned citizen about the vehicle they were looking for in this incident…

CUT 3 (09)  “that night”

Harrell says Friloux admitted to officers that she was driving the vehicle in question the night Clowder was killed. He says when they found the vehicle, it still had damage to the front fender and windshield as a result of the crash. Harrell says Friloux faces a number of charges…

CUT 4 (08)  “jail process”

Friloux faces charges including hit-and-run and negligent homicide. Harrell says this is a prime example how public assistance can help law enforcement bring criminals to justice…

CUT 5 (08)  “benefit, this time”

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A bill by Gonzales Representative Johnny Berthelot that would double littering fines is full Senate approval away from going to the governor’s desk. The measure passed the House last week and advanced in the Senate Environmental Committee today. Berthelot says the additional revenue would go toward the arresting officers retirement…

CUT 6 (09)  “retirement systems”

Under the measure, first offense fines for simple littering would increase to $150, while subsequent offenses would result in a $1000 fine. Fines for intentional littering would climb to anywhere from $500 to $2500. Livingston Senator Dale Erdey questioned Berthelot about how much money the increased fines would raise…

CUT 7 (12)  “dollars a year”

In this bill, fines for the improper disposal of large litter, like furniture and appliances, could reach up to $10,000. Jennings Senator Dan Morrish wanted assurances this additional money would only be used for law enforcement retirement benefits…

CUT 8 (11)  “the general fund”

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State Treasurer John Kennedy says the state needs far more oversight and transparency in state government contracts in light of a recent report by the state Legislative Auditor. The report found that Louisiana has nearly 15,000 contracts worth about $21 billion with no real way to keep track of many of them. Kennedy says this is a sign of incompetence or subterfuge…

CUT 9 (10)  “nobody can find”

The audit found that nearly 4,600 consulting contracts totaling over $250 million were not included in the tracking system. Kennedy says it’s time to completely reform the way contracts are handled by the state. He says having this many state contracts out there is unacceptable…

cut 10 (12) “billion dollars”

Kennedy says many of these contracts are wasteful spending and millions could be saved with better oversight. He says House Bill 30 by Thibodaux Representative Dee Richard would create more legislative input into these contracts. Kennedy is hopeful the bill will fare better this year than last year when it was vetoed by Governor Jindal…

cut 11 (11)  “his signature”

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The New Orleans Pelicans have fired head coach Monty Williams after five seasons. In a statement, Pels Vice President Mickey Loomis says this wasn’t an easy decision to make, but now was the time and they wish nothing but the best for Williams in the future. Jake Madison, writer with Bourbon Street Shots, says this is a shocking development…:

cut 12 (08)  “playoff series ended”

The Pelicans finished the 2014-2015 season with a record of 45-37 and the 8th position in the Western Conference, earning New Orleans its first postseason berth in four seasons. Madison says we know there was, at times, a power struggle between GM Dell Demps and Williams…:

cut 13 (14)  “now out of a job”

Madison says the team could be eyeing a change in philosophy as Williams has been known to be bull headed and wants things to go his way. He believes Williams never adapted to his players the way some other coaches do…:

cut 14 (14) “never gonna do that”

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The Iberville Parish Sheriff’s office says the son of the police chief in St. Gabriel fatally shot two brothers Sunday night but authorities are waiting for more evidence before filing homicide charges.

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

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A 24-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year that funds higher education at the same level as this year heads to the House floor. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

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New Orleans Representative Austin Badon believes his anti-discrimination legislation has a decent chance of passing this year. Michelle Southern reports..:

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

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Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi says the son of the police chief in St. Gabriel fatally shot two brothers Sunday night but authorities are waiting for more evidence before filing homicide charges. Stassi says the two deceased men had been fighting and then went to the home of Kevin Ambeau Jr. with a gun…:

cut 4  (09)  “with this”

Stassi says things became heated at Ambeau Jr.’s residence and witnesses say the two brothers went inside and that’s when the shots were fired. He says autopsies will be conducted today and the investigation will continue before any rush to judgement is made that this was murder…:

Cut 5  (10)  “invasion type”

Stassi says they are waiting on evidence and still interviewing witnesses, but it appears at this time that Ambeau Jr. was defending his home. He says there is a lot involved in this case and they are investigating it just as they would any other…:

Cut 6 (10)  “on the corner’s son”

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A 24-billion dollar budget that funds higher education at the same level as this year heads to the full House for a vote next week. The House Appropriations Committee has approved next fiscal year’s spending plan and Chairman Jim Fannin says revenue generating bills approved by the House last week will prevent any cuts to public colleges and universities…

CUT 7 (07)  “the process”

The House approved 615-million dollars in additional revenue last week, by raising the state’s cigarette tax and suspending or reducing tax benefits many businesses currently enjoy. Fannin says they were hoping to generate 900-million dollars or so in new revenue, but there’s still time to do that…

Cut 8  (07)  “30-percent” 

Governor Jindal has said he’ll veto a budget that raises taxes, which the proposed budget that’s heading to the House floor will do. Fannin was asked about a possible veto, if there are no tax cuts to offset the tax increases…

Cut 9 (08)  “I can’t answer that”

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Legislative leaders in the state House of Representatives say they are committed to an override veto session if Governor Jindal vetoes the revenue generating bills they have passed. The House has approved legislation that raises $615 million to protect higher education and reduce cuts to health care. If Jindal vetoes the tax bills, Ways and Means Chairman Joel Robidaux says the House will act accordingly…

Cut 10 (08) “veto override”

Monroe Representative Katrina Jackson, Chairwoman of the Legislative Black Caucus, says there is one big factor in determining if lawmakers will be successful in this budget fight…

cut 11 (09) “enough is enough”

Jindal has said consistently that he will not approve any tax hike unless there is a tax reduction elsewhere. But, Jackson says she is pleased with what the House has done already…

cut 12 (08)   “throughout the process”

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New Orleans Representative Austin Badon believes his anti-discrimination legislation has a decent chance of passing this year. House Bill 612 would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. He says it needs to be realized that, across the board, all men and women are created equal…:

Cut 13 (05)  “anybody else”

Badon says this legislation corrects the injustice of it being legal to fire someone from a job because they are gay, bisexual or transgender. He says if we pass this law, it would send a clear message that Louisiana is a friendly place to live and work…:(Badon says the bill will likely come up in the House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure next week.)

Cut 14 (08) “discrimination”

The proposal seeks to protect people from job and housing discrimination among other things. The Louisiana Family Forum has stepped up to oppose similar bills in the past but Badon says they shouldn’t stand in judgement of anyone…:

Cut 15  (11)  “are praising”

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The number one ranked LSU baseball team plays its final non-conference game of the season tonight as they visit the UNO Privateers. On paper this looks like a big mismatch as the Tigers 43-and-8 overall, while the Privateers are 14-and-36. But LSU Coach Paul Mainieri knows UNO will be fired up to play this game…

Cut 16  (11)  “for their season”

LSU has four more regular season games left than the SEC Tournament, before the NCAA Tournament field is released. It’s likely the Tigers will be a national seed, but Coach Paul Mainieri is not taking anything for granted…

Cut 17 (12)  “the end”

LSU heads into the final week of the regular season with some questions marks. Closer Jesse Stallings blew another save last weekend and the Tigers haven’t settled on a third weekend starter. But Mainieri says every team in college baseball has its issues, but championship teams overcome their weaknesses…

Cut 18 (17) ” get it done’

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Lt. Clay Higgins of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office is receiving national attention for his intimidating Crimestopper videos. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

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Two LSU students develop a smart phone app that allows people to record and upload videos of police encounters and share it with media outlets. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

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The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Vivian teenager accused of stabbing his parents. Authorities say 17-year-old Shane Alexander is charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder. Spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says Shane went into his parents’ bedroom at about 3AM this morning…

CUT 3 (07)  “injuries to them”

Shane’s step-mother, 61-year-old LaDonna Alexander, was stabbed once in the chest and his father, 64-year-old Jerry Alexander, was stabbed in the back and arm. Chadwick says LaDonna was able to drive herself to the hospital…

CUT 4 (05)  “call 9-1-1″

Jerry was later transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Authorities have yet to release a motive for the crime. Chadwick says, when authorities responded to the call, Shane was still at the house…

CUT 5 (05)  “first degree murder”

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The spokesman for the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office is getting national attention for his intimidating Crimestopper videos created for a Lafayette news station. Lt. Clay Higgins is called the “Cajun John Wayne” for his stern demeanor when talking to perpetrators responsible for these unsolved crimes. He says he never expected all this…:

CUT 6 (07)  “contacting me”

Higgins says the Crimestopper videos were originally scripted but he decided he wanted to use his own words and feelings when talking about these criminal acts. He says he uses a certain way to communicate that if there’s a warrant out for your arrest, you should turn yourself in…:

CUT 7 (08)  “hang their hat on”

Known for the phrase, “Have your affairs in order,” Higgins says it was directed at whomever stole a generator from the home of a man who is confined to a wheelchair. He says he wanted to send a strong, stern message to the person who violated the man’s privacy…:

CUT 8 (09)  “in order”

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Two LSU students have developed a smart phone app that allows people to record and upload videos of police encounters and share it with media outlets. The Police Officer Watchdog Events Reporter, or POWER, app was developed by Wilborn Nobles and Elbis Bolton. Bolton says this app can be used to spread both negative and positive interactions with police…

CUT 9 (08)  “with newsrooms”

With cellphone cameras becoming more widespread, more and more incidents of police, both good and bad, are being caught on camera. This app would become a hub to share those videos with newsrooms nationwide. Bolton says the inspiration for this app came from watching events unfold in Ferguson, Missouri last year…

cut 10 (09) “current events”

The POWER App is currently available for download for Android devices. Bolton says they are working on an iPhone version. Nobles says this app can be a way to more efficiently get cellphone videos in the hands of journalists…

cut 11 (07)  “for that matter”

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State Police say two people are dead after a high speed crash this weekend in St. Tammany Parish that happened after a traffic stop. Trooper Dustin Dwight says an officer pulled over a vehicle speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour in Covington. Dwight says while the trooper was conducting a field sobriety test on the 14-year-old driver of the vehicle, something else happened…

cut 12 (08)  “the traffic stop”

Dwight says 21-year-old Brandon Bigner of Franklinton jumped into the driver’s seat of the car and fled the traffic stop with 14-year-old Sloan McDow of Folsom in the back seat. He says after the trooper secured the juvenile driver in his squad car, the officer left the scene in the direction the car had fled…

cut 13 (10)  “from him, earlier”

Dwight says the officer, who was not in pursuit of the vehicle, came upon the crash scene as he rounded a curve. He says alcohol use is suspected by Bigner. Dwight says this crash was extremely unfortunate… (McDow was pronounced dead at the scene and Bigner died today from his injuries.)

cut 14 (10) “make it, either”

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Construction is underway on a “lazy river” on the LSU campus in the shape of the letters L-S-U and some wonder if this is appropriate considering the potentially huge budget cuts facing the school. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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We’re about at the halfway point of the legislative session and lawmakers still have a lot of work to do on the budget. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (28) “reporting”

______________________________________

A bill headed to the House floor would provide free HIV tests for inmates being released from prison. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (27) “reporting”

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Construction is underway to build a “lazy river” on the LSU campus in the shape of the letters L-S-U and some wonder if this is appropriate considering the potentially huge budget cuts facing the school. Student Body President, Andrew Mahtook, says the funding for this project is completely separate from any state appropriations…

cut 4  (10)  “assessment fee”

In 2011, students passed a resolution asking for a student recreation fee increase to expand the recreation center, which includes the building of the “lazy river.” Professor Kevin Cope, LSU Faculty Senate President, says this shows a flaw in how colleges prioritize funds…

Cut 5  (09)  “their work”

Mahtook says it’s not a fair argument to say that they’re spending money on the “lazy river” instead of paying for courses and teacher salaries…

Cut 6 (10)  “don’t stand up”

Cope admits the cost of the construction of the “lazy river” doesn’t impact the university directly, but feels the university should set a better example…

CUT 7 (07)  “and childish”

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Center of Acadiana at Lafayette General Medical Center is looking for adults diagnosed with multiple myeloma [mahy-uh-loh-muh] to participate in a clinical trial for patients not eligible for stem cell transplants. CCA Oncologist Sal Malad is the principle investigator and he says the trial seeks to compare the effectiveness of a combination of drugs with standard therapy…:

Cut 8  (07)  “daratumumab” 

CCA conducts these trials and studies to help improve patient care and disease prevention. Malad says clinical trials can offer several benefits such as access to investigational drugs that might not otherwise be available. He says there seems to be a disproportionate number of patients in south Louisiana who have multiple myeloma…:

Cut 9 (10)  “transplant”

For more information on this clinical trial, call Lafayette General Medical Center at 337-289-8658. Malad says patients who participate in help advance medical technology and provide valuable benefits to future generations. He says they encourage participants to ask questions and be involved…:

Cut 10 (09) “better treatments”

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State lawmakers have about a month left to pass a budget for next fiscal year. The House has approved a package of bills that raises 664-million dollars that will go towards mitigating budget cuts to higher education and health care. Governor Bobby Jindal says when the session concludes, he expects lawmakers to approve legislation to offset the measures that he considers to be tax increases

cut 11 (07) “and health care”

The House has approved legislation to raise the cigarette tax by 32-cents and reduced tax refunds or tax breaks that businesses currently enjoyed. These bills now head to the Senate and Jindal says there’s still time to come up with a budget that everyone can live with….

cut 12 (09)   “doesn’t raise taxes”

Jindal says he’s okay with legislation that puts a stop to “corporate welfare.” That’s cases where businesses receive more in tax benefits than they pay in taxes. But he says some of the tax bills passed in the House, like the cigarette tax, will need to be offset with a tax break somewhere else…

Cut 13 (10)  “raise taxes”

_______________________________

A bill headed to the House floor would provide free HIV tests for inmates being released from prison. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox says before a person leaves a state jail for parole, they should be tested and if needed, treated as a way to help prevent AIDS from spreading further…:

Cut 14 (09) “think it is”

The testing for parolees would not be required under the measure. Cox says Louisiana has the fourth highest number of men and women living with AIDS in the nation…:

Cut 15  (06)  “be treated”

Cox says that in 9 state prisons, about 3 percent of inmates are HIV positive. He says the Department of Corrections has already started testing people as they enter the prison system…:

Cut 16  (08)  “should be tested”

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The number one ranked LSU baseball beat team Missouri six to five in ten innings yesterday to complete a three game sweep of Mizzou. The Tigers won, despite falling behind 3-0 in the 1st inning. Coach Paul Mainieri on the LSU Sports Radio Network liked how his team battled back…

Cut 17 (11)  “of the season”

Conner Hale led the Tigers at the plate on Sunday. He had three hits, drove in two runs and scored twice, including the winning run in the 10th. Mainieri on the LSU Sports Radio Network says the senior from has had a special season…

Cut 18 (15) ” tough pitcher’

LSU is at UNO on Tuesday and then they visit South Carolina for a three-game series on Thursday. The Tigers have a two-game lead in the loss column over Vanderbilt for the overall lead in the SEC. Mainieri on the LSU Sports Radio Network says the Tigers are on the verge of winning another SEC title

Cut 19 (17)  “for championships”

The 2015 Hurricane season is off to an unusual early start. Subtropical storm Ana is said to make landfall on Sunday. Emelie Gunn has more.

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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The EPA approves the Louisiana Military Department’s recommended incineration method to dispose 15 million pounds of M6 propellant at Camp Minden. Eric Gill reports…:

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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New Orleans Police say an alligator is to blame for a fatal accident on I-10 early this morning. Officer Frank Robertson says the gator was attempting to cross the interstate at around four this morning…

CUT 3 (04)  “in the road”

He says it appears the van came to a complete stop near the Michoud Exit after hitting the alligator. Robertson says then the van was struck from behind by a Mitsubishi Eclipse…

CUT 4 (03)  “on the scene”

The driver of the Eclipse was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the van and a passenger in the Eclipse were transported to a local hospital with undisclosed injuries. The dead alligator was found underneath the van. Robertson says this is another reminder to be cautious while behind the wheel…

CUT 5 (04)  “to use vigilance”

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This year’s Atlantic hurricane and tropical storm season has gotten off to an early start. 2015′s first named Sub-tropical storm Ana is now bringing an unusual threat to the east coast. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Ana lies southeast of South Carolina and is expected to make landfall on Sunday.

CUT 6 (09)  “the gulf coast.”

Keim says May storms are unusual because hurricane season begins June 1st. He says he doesn’t believe this will be a harbinger for the 2015 season.

CUT 7 (13)  “50 or 60 years.”

Keim says this is considered a sub-tropical storm because it is still ingesting the air from the middle latitudes. He says although these storms are unique, they will form during this time of the year.

CUT 8 (12)  “the right time”

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Louisiana Tech men’s basketball coach Michael White has accepted the head coaching job at the University of Florida. In White’s four years leading the Bulldogs, he accumulated a 101-40 record. “Bleed Tech Blue” Publisher Jonathan Ford says White left a positive legacy at Tech…

CUT 9 (11)  “that’s their goal”

White lead the Bulldogs to three conference regular season titles and two consecutive appearances in the NIT quarterfinals. The school says they will immediately begin a national search for White’s replacement. Ford believes there will be plenty of interest in the opening at Tech…

cut 10 (06) “in America”

In a statement, the university says White represented Louisiana Tech in a first class manner both on and off the court and wish him the best of luck at Florida. Although no time table has been announced for naming White’s replacement, Ford believes the school would like to have someone in place before summer break begins…

cut 11 (10)  “leaves a job”

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The EPA has approved the Louisiana Military Department’s recommended incineration method of disposal of the 15 million pounds of M6 propellant at Camp Minden. State Representative Gene Reynolds says this is a victory for the community who had strong objections to the original plan of the federal government to conduct an open burn to get rid of the explosives

cut 12 (10)  “conditions”

The method to be used will be a contained incineration burn method by the company Explosive Service International. Louisiana Progress Action released a statement saying they are glad there will be no open burn, they still don’t think incineration is the safest method. But Reynolds says you have to live within the parameters of what you have…:

cut 13 (08)  “best answer”

Reynolds says the chosen method is advanced proven technology where combustion will take place inside an enclosure that will trap, filter, scrub and after-burn for safe measure of all of the emissions from the disposal of the explosives. He says the container has to be built first then they’ll work to get rid of it as soon as possible…:

cut 14 (05) “started”

Baseball Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron will receive an honorary degree this morning during Grambling State University’s Spring Commencement. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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The House approved a measure that would limit the amount of credits issued as part of the film tax program to $200 million dollars despite objections from lawmakers who thought the cap should be lower. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

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Former LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins goes from undrafted to a three-year guaranteed contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (29) “reporting”

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Baseball Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron will receive an honorary degree this morning during Grambling State University’s Spring Commencement. Aaron will be bestowed with a Doctor of Humane Letters. John Rosenthal, a university Vice President, says Grambling not only has a great football tradition, but a great baseball tradition as well…

cut 4  (10)  “to our campus”

The Doctor of Humane Letters is the university’s highest honor. Rosenthal says this degree recognizes an individual’s contribution to the world. He says Aaron will be honored for his work both on and off the field…

Cut 5  (10)  “charitable contributions”

In Aaron’s 23-year Major League career, he hit 755 home runs, a Major League record that stood for over 30 years. Rosenthal says Aaron is a great humanitarian, businessman, and an excellent role model…

Cut 6 (09)  “Grambling State University”

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The House approved a measure that would limit the amount of credits issued as part of the film tax program to $200 million dollars despite objections from lawmakers who thought the cap should be lower. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris tried to amend it to $150 million dollars saying that other $50 million needs to be used elsewhere…:

CUT 7 (11)  “museums open”

There is currently no cap on the program and the state is issuing $226 million dollars in credits this year. Harris doesn’t think the lower cap is too much to ask of an industry that’s been thriving here since 2002 when there are so many other areas of the state that are struggling…:

Cut 8  (09)  “but two hours a day” 

The tax credit scale back measures approved by the House Thursday now head to the Senate. New Orleans Representative Jeff Arnold opposed the amendment saying that  it could lead to the state losing valuable business…:

Cut 9 (09)  “of a good list”

Metairie Representative Joe Lopinto says cutting the program this extra $50 million dollars is too much and would make Louisiana less competitive. He says they don’t want to risk the movie industry leaving the state and taking the jobs with it…:

Cut 10 (10) “of Louisiana”

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People go out to eat at least one night during Mother’s Day weekend, more than any other weekend of the year. Erika Burns with the Louisiana restaurant Association Mother’s Day itself is the most popular day of the year for going out in the United States. She says mom gets to pick the place for brunch, lunch or dinner…:

cut 11 (06) “more casual place”

Burns says it will probably be impossible to get a nice reservation this late in the game, but you can try your luck at any spot that doesn’t have a list…:

cut 12 (12)   “as usual”

Burns says while things tend to slow down for the restaurant industry after this weekend and over summer, people in Louisiana have a large appetite for going out to eat…:

Cut 13 (08)  “summer months”

_______________________________

The state House advances a package of bills to the Senate that would raise 670-million dollars that can be used to cover a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall. The legislation heading to the senate raises the tax on cigarettes and scales back tax programs. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says more work needs to be done to solve this budget crisis….

Cut 14 (09) “and universities”

Pinsonat says what the House did on Thursday is a good start, but even with these revenue generating bills heading to the senate, there’s still a big shortfall out there…

Cut 15  (09)  “and universities”

The revenue generating bills passed in the House face an uncertain future in the Senate and may get vetoed by the governor if they make it through the legislative process. Pinsonat says lawmakers have until the last day of the session on June 11th to figure it out..

Cut 16  (07)  “Russian Roulette”

__________________________________________

Former LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins is now a Dallas Cowboy. The Baton Rouge product signed a three-year, 1.65 million dollar guaranteed contract, after not getting drafted. NFL teams were scared to select Collins, because he was wanted for questioning about the murder of a pregnant woman. During a press conference in Dallas, Collins thanked his support system that was around him during a difficult time

Cut 17 (20)  “I’m extremely excited”

Collins was expected to be a first round pick in last week’s NFL draft, until news got out that police wanted to question the football star about a murder that happened on April 24th. Authorities have never called Collins a suspect in Brittney Mills and her one week-old son’s death. Dallas Coach Jason Garrett is impressed with how Collins weathered the storm

Cut 18 (19) ”  pretty remarkable’

Before signing with Dallas, Collins had dinner at owner Jerry Jones’ house and that’s when La’el knew he truly wanted to be a Cowboy….

Cut 19 (19)  “want to be “

It appears that Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne has fired the first shot in Louisiana’s governor’s race. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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The state House approves several bills that will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue to stave off large cuts to higher education and health care. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

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State Police announce the arrest of 34 individuals over the last two months following numerous criminal investigations by their Insurance Fraud/Auto Theft Unit. These people were involved in committing insurance fraud, including staged or “jump-in” crashes and falsifying documents to make injury claims. Sgt. Nick Manale says some think these crimes are harmless, but that is far from the truth…

CUT 3 (07)  “across the state”

Manale says these insurance fraud cases affect insurance rates and policies across the state. He says in one case a subject paid a friend to rent a truck and then staged a crash…

CUT 4 (11)  “payment on that”

It is reported that intentional or staged crashes costs the insurance industry billions of dollars each year in fraudulent claims. Manale says police aren’t the only ones watching out for these cases, insurance companies also have their own investigators…

CUT 5 (11)  “acts did occur”

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It appears that the first shot has been fired in Louisiana’s governor’s race. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne issued a statement calling US Senator David Vitter an absentee Senator after he missed a budget vote in the Senate. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says this is a sign of things to come…

CUT 6 (09)  “at one another”

Dardenne says instead of casting a Senate vote, Vitter was in Louisiana having a beer with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in an effort to boost his gubernatorial bid. Dubos says this campaign has been in the silent phase and hasn’t really gotten rolling yet…

CUT 7 (11)  “at each other”

Dubos says any political campaign has the potential to get personal. He says the more important the job, the more likely it is that rules are thrown out the window…

CUT 8 (09)  “at one another”

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Now that we know that former LSU Tiger La’el Collins was not the father of Brittney Mills’ deceased baby, where does the investigation into the murder go from here? Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman Don Coppola says this is still very much an ongoing active case they are working on…:

CUT 9 (09)  “her child”

Mills was gunned down and killed at her apartment on April 24th when she was 8 months pregnant and though EMS was able to deliver the baby, he died a week later. Coppola says investigators sought Collins out for questioning in the case and requested he take a paternity test because the relationship he had with Mills was a romantic one…:

cut 10 (05) “not the father”

Collins has reportedly signed a 3 year $1.65 million dollar contract with the Dallas Cowboys. Coppola says Collins fully cooperated in the investigation and was never a suspect. He says they are still working to identify one…:

cut 11 (06)  “violent crimes unit”

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The state House approves a series of bills that raises hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues to stave off large cuts to higher education and health care. Before the discussion began, House Speaker Chuck Kleckley explained to legislators how important it is to vote “Yes” on these bills…

cut 12 (10)  “what we are doing”

Among the bills passed today, a 32-cent tax increase on a pack of cigarettes. The author of the measure is Bogalusa Representative Harold Ritchie and he says it will generate 68-million dollars that can go towards health care costs….

cut 13 (10)  “where I want it”

A scale back of  tax credit programs also passed today. And legislators approved bills that will result in higher taxes on businesses. House Ways and Means Chairman Joel Robideaux explained the need to do this, even though there’s opposition from business and industry

cut 14 (12) “movie theaters”

Today House leaders as they will vote on what changes to make when it comes to tax hikes and scaling back incentives in order to balance the state’s budget. Among the issues up for debate are repealing of tax breaks for businesses and an increase in the state’s cigarette tax. Alford says today’s House session will be a long one and something we have not seen in recent history…

Cut 5  (10)  “the House floor”

He says the absolute linchpin this legislative session is the inventory tax.

Two bills that seek to control the wild hog population in Louisiana pass the House Natural Resources Committee. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham says something must be done…:

Cut 13 (11)  “static”

One measure would approve year-round hunting seasons on razorbacks and the other would create a lifetime hunting license for the animal.

Legislation that would legalize the sale of raw milk in Louisiana failed to make it out of a Senate Committee. Opponents argue there are dangers associated with consuming raw milk but Ville Platte Senator Eric LaFleur doesn’t think it’s bad enough to warrant government regulation…:

cut 11 (09) “against the law”

The same measure made it out of the house last year but died on the Senate floor.

New Orleans Representative Austin Badon’s legislation to reduce penalties for simple marijuana possession will move to House floor. Jill Trahan’s son is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for simple marijuana possession. Trahan wants lawmakers to really consider the penalties imposed on marijuana possession convictions…

CUT 7 (07)  “and strong”

The measure passed the House Criminal Justice Committee on a 10-4 vote.

Today House leaders will vote on various proposals that will go towards filling a massive budget shortfall. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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New Orleans Representative Austin Badon’s bill to reduce penalties for simple marijuana possession will be heard on the House floor. Eric Gill has more…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

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Legislation that would legalize the sale of raw milk in Louisiana did not make it out of a Senate Committee. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (29) “reporting”

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Today is decision making day for House leaders as they will vote on what changes to make when it comes to tax hikes and scaling back incentives in order to balance the state’s budget. LaPolitics-dot-com Publisher, Jeremy Alford, says this entire legislative session is about the budget and filling a $1.6 billion shortfall. He says today we’ll find out which way the budget will lean…

cut 4  (08)  “fill those holes”

Among the issues up for debate are repealing of tax breaks for businesses and an increase in the state’s cigarette tax. Alford says today’s House session will be a long one and something we have not seen in recent history…

Cut 5  (10)  “the House floor”

Alford says the House could meet well into the night. He says the absolute linchpin this legislative session is the inventory tax. Whether the tax credit is scaled back or the tax is repealed altogether, Alford says lawmakers must do something to the inventory tax system…

Cut 6 (11)  “the House side”

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New Orleans Representative Austin Badon’s bill to reduce penalties for simple marijuana possession will be heard on the House floor. Jill Trahan’s son is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for simple marijuana possession. Trahan wants lawmakers to really consider the penalties imposed on marijuana possession convictions…

CUT 7 (07)  “and strong”

The measure passed the House Criminal Justice Committee on a 10-4 vote. Livingston Representative Sherman Mack questioned the need for Badon’s bill since judges and district attorneys already have the ability to shorten a sentence for simple marijuana possession…

Cut 8  (12)  “could possibly get” 

Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman voiced her opposition to Badon’s measure saying this bill doesn’t do enough…

Cut 9 (10)  “not retroactive”

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Legislation that would legalize the sale of raw milk in Louisiana did not make it out of a Senate Committee. The bill’s author, Ville Platte Senator Eric LaFleur, says there are many who believe purchasing raw milk is a basic human right and not something for government to be involved in…:

Cut 10 (09) “raw milk”

The same measure made it out of the house last year but died in the Senate. Opponents argue there are dangers associated with consuming raw milk but LaFleur doesn’t think it’s bad enough to warrant government regulation…:

cut 11 (09) “against the law”

The vote was 5-3 and the issue is essentially dead for the session. Many people believe the nutrition found in raw milk is far better than what’s in pasteurized milk. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says he struggles with this issue because he drank raw milk as a kid, but knows the risks are much greater now…:

cut 12 (09)   “pasteurized”

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Two bills that seek to control the wild hog population in Louisiana pass the House Natural Resources Committee. One measure would approve year-round hunting seasons on razorbacks and the other would create a lifetime hunting license for the animal. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham says something must be done…:

Cut 13 (11)  “static”

The bills now head to the Full House. Barham says the razorbacks destroy farm land and are tearing up levees. He says it’s a rural problem that’s about to become an urban one…:

Cut 14 (12) “one day”

Barham supports the lifetime license bill saying they want to be able to choose the price. Ouachita Parish DA Jerry Jones says it will be easier on farmers to have a one-time permit…:

Cut 15  (09)  “price”

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There’s been reports the Pelicans will hire former McNeese State star and Detroit Piston Joe Dumars. Dumars is a former team president of the Pistons and built a roster that won an NBA championship in 2004. Jake Madison, a writer for Bourbon Street Shots dot com says Dumars could be an asset to the Pelicans front office…

Cut 16  (20)  “key contributor”

Madison says if Dumars joins the Pels, Dell Demps will likely remain as the general manager. He says Demps did a terrific job this past season, making a key trade to reshape the roster with enough talent to get into the playoffs…

Cut 17 (18)  “that wasn’t playing”

It’s been reported Dumars is friends with Saints Head Coach Sean Payton and General Mickey Loomis. Loomis also has a role in the Pels front office and Madison could see Dumars joining the Pels in some type of role

Cut 18 (20) ”   a lot of success”‘

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is behind bars accused of beating his pregnant girlfriend so badly, she lost their baby. Michelle Southern reporting…:

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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The House Health and Welfare Committee approves a bill that would prohibit abortions in Louisiana that are based on the gender of the unborn baby.  Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is behind bars accused of beating his pregnant girlfriend so badly, she lost the baby. Captain Dawn Foret says they received a complaint from a concerned citizen that there were multiple instances of abuse involving 36-year-old Tyson Cheavis of Gibson and his 27-year-old girlfriend…:

CUT 3 (08)  “pregnancy recently”

Foret says the victim admitted she went to a local hospital after being attacked by Cheavis and during an examination was informed her unborn child did not have a heartbeat…:

CUT 4 (08)  “with his girlfriend”

Foret says Cheavis admitted to beating his girlfriend when he was aware that she was pregnant with his child in her second trimester. She says he also confessed to causing multiple injuries to the victim that ultimately lead to the death of their unborn child…:

CUT 5 (07)  “feticide”

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Bossier Parish Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a Haughton man wanted for swindling nearly $3000 from a youth baseball league. Lt. Bill Davis says 25-year-old Robert Martin III applied to be a coach for a team in a local league and began accepting payments from sponsors and parents for uniforms and other items. Davis says it’s apparent that everything with Martin was not on the up and up…

CUT 6 (09)  “out the door”

When league officials discovered Martin had a criminal record which made him ineligible to coach the children, they asked him to return the money and any equipment but he never showed up. Davis says it’s obvious Martin had no intention of supporting the league or the players…

CUT 7 (05) “with our children”

Martin is wanted for felony theft. Detectives believe Martin may have fled the area or the state. Davis says they hope somebody comes forward who knows the whereabouts of Martin…

CUT 8 (10)  “pretty low down”

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The House Health and Wefare committee unanimously approves legislation that prohibits an abortion, if the decision to terminate the pregnancy is based on sex selection. Houma Representative Lenar Whitney is the author of the bill and she says the use of abortion as a means for sex selection is a social problem in a number of Asian countries where male children are widely preferred over females…

CUT 9 (09)  “baby girls”

According to the Louisiana Right to Life, sex selection is a significant problem in India and China. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox says  Louisiana should not follow what China does…

cut 10 (10) “their population”

The bill heads to the House floor for more debate. Committee Chairman Joe Lopinto read off the list of groups and individuals who oppose the bill, but none of them spoke out against the measure….

cut 11 (12)  “for choice”

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Baton Rouge Representative Dalton Honore has pulled his legislation that would have put recreational marijuana legalization on a ballot. Honore says times are changing and he’s glad the conversation about marijuana has been started this session, but his particular measure had too much opposition and he knew it wouldn’t pass…:

cut 12 (09)  “opposed to it”

The use of pot for recreational purposes is legal in Colorado and Honore says he recently visited with lawmakers there. He says marijuana generated 76 million dollars in taxes for Colorado in the first year and the incarceration rate went way down, but he doesn’t think the people of Louisiana are ready…:

cut 13 (06)  “little farther”

Honore says he talked to everyone on the House Criminal Justice Committee who agreed this might be something to do one day, but not at this time…:

cut 14 (08) “defer this bill”

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