A nice start to the weekend weather-wise in Louisiana, but it is not expected to last. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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Mike Danna, a staple in the agriculture broadcasting industry, has died of cancer at the age of 54. Danna was the director of public relations for the Louisiana Farm Bureau — spokesman Neil Melancon reports…:

CUT 2 (33) “I’m Neil Melancon”

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After waking up to cold temperatures this morning, it appears things will brighten heading into the weekend. Baton Rouge set a record low this morning of 26 degrees and record lows were tied in New Orleans and Shreveport. Andy Tingler, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says the weekend will start with sunny skies and warmer temperatures…

CUT 3 (08)  “of next week”

Tingler says rain chances will increase Sunday and not really drop off until maybe Thursday of next week. He says much of the state can expect gray skies and light rain for much of the week…

CUT 4 (08)  “to three inches”

He says some areas of the state could pick up two to three inches of rainfall next week. Tingler says temperatures will be a little below average for the coming week…

CUT 5 (06)  “for the lows”

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A former tight end on LSU’s 2003 national championship team has been sentenced to five decades in prison for his involvement in a 2011 truck stop casino shooting in Port Allen. 32-year-old Demetri Robinson pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted second degree murder. West Baton Rouge Parish Prosecutor Tony Clayton says Robinson received the maximum sentence…

CUT 6 (07)  “what he did”

Robinson was sentenced to 50 years in prison on each count, but each count was set to be served concurrently. Clayton says Robinson walked into the casino in September 2011 after being banned from the establishment. He says a cashier asked Robinson to leave…

CUT 7 (12)  “hit the manager”

Robinson entered his plea one day before his trial was scheduled to begin. Clayton says when Robinson opened fire he missed hitting two employees in the casino…

CUT 8 (06)  “of it now”

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The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says a man is charged with the illegal killing of a Louisiana Black Bear while he was hog hunting in St. Mary Parish. LDWF spokesman Adam Eick says 52-year-old Richard Picard Jr. of New Iberia accidentally shot the animal thinking it was a feral hog…:

CUT 9 (07)  “12 gauge shot gun”

Einck says it happened last Saturday when Picard was out hunting with a group of friends on private land when their dogs starting chasing the bear…:

cut 10 (08) “with a buck shot”

The state citation brings a $900 to a $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail, but Picard also faces up to a $10,000 civil restitution for the replacement value of the black bear. Einck says one of the very first rules of hunter safety is to identify the target before pulling the trigger and know what you are shooting at…:

cut 11 (11)  “would be”

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Mike Danna, a staple in the agriculture broadcasting industry, has died of cancer at the age of 54. Danna was the director of public relations for the Louisiana Farm Bureau and host of This Week in Louisiana Agriculture. He passed away peacefully in his sleep shortly before 9am Friday morning. Louisiana Farm Bureau spokesperson Neil Melancon says Danna’s biggest passion was his career…:

cut 12 (11)  “or form”

Melancon says Danna spent more than 30 years in agriculture journalism coming to work for the Farm Bureau in 1985. Danna extended the public relations department to not only cover ag in Louisiana, but all over the world…:

cut 13 (10)  “to everyone”

Danna is quoted as saying that the most rewarding thing he’s ever done is work with farmers to bring the message that nothing is more important than the production of food and fiber. Melancon says Danna was born to be in public relations as he never met a stranger…:

cut 14 (10)  “friends with”

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“Marsh Madness” gets ramped up today in Lake Charles as three girls’ state championship basketball teams will be crowned tonight. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office says the woman “Bossier Doe,” who was found murdered in January 1981, has finally been identified. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 2 (31) “reporting”

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BESE votes against a proposal that would have waived penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking Common Core exams. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 3 (31) “reporting”

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“Marsh Madness” gets ramped up today in Lake Charles as three girls’ state championship basketball teams will be crowned tonight. Four more championships will be decided tomorrow and the boys’ Top 28 tournament will begin there next week. Sales Director of the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Eric Zartler, says these events are great for the local economy…

cut 4  (06)  “this year”

This is the second year Lake Charles has hosted both the boys’ and girls’ state basketball tournaments. Today’s state championship games will be highlighted by the Class 3-A title game between Mansfield and Baton Rouge’s University High. Zartler says they’re excited about tonight’s championship clash…

Cut 5  (05)  “that match-up”

Zartler says if you’re a hoops fan, the best basketball in the state will be played in Lake Charles over the next two weeks. He says they’re hopeful that they can make “Marsh Madness” a tradition.

Cut 6 (05)  “years, as well”

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Yesterday was a brutally cold day, but as things warm up today there’s hope that spring is just around the corner. Fred Zeigler with the National Weather Service in Slidell says temperatures across the state remained in the 30s most of Thursday but today we’ll be in 40s to low 50s…:

CUT 7 (10)  “about 15 to 20 degrees”

Zeigler says yesterday was about as miserable a day you can get weather-wise as it was not only cold but cloudy, damp and wind chills were in the 20s. He says while it’s not unusual in March to see that kind of cold, the dramatic difference from 70s and 80s one day to 30s and 40s the next was not the norm…:

Cut 8  (08)  “the deep south” 

Zeigler says today it’s still cool but it’s dry and nice outside. He says taking a look at the long range forecast, we can expect temperatures in the 50s and 60s the next couple of days, but get ready for some gloomy rain to return on Sunday…:

Cut 9 (12)  “rain chances”

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The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office says they are pleased to announce that after 34 years “Bossier Doe” now has an identity. Sgt. Dave Faulk says in January 1981 hunters found a partially decomposed body of an unknown white female who had been murdered and left in the woods. He says all these years they didn’t know who she was or where she came from…:

Cut 10 (11) “all this together”

Faulk says in November of last year they launched a full DNA profile of Bossier Doe then in February, in a desperate attempt to find out who she was, detectives launched a Facebook page in the name of Bossier Doe. He says someone recognized the composite on Facebook as looking familiar to a picture of a woman missing from Michigan on a Craigslist ad..:

cut 11 (08) “lining up”

Authorities gathered more information about 17-year-old Carol Ann Cole of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and determined through DNA testing that she was Bossier Doe. Faulk says she was stabbed to death and this is now an open homicide investigation. He says they are grateful a family in Michigan has closure…:

cut 12 (11)  “looking for her”

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BESE rejects a proposal to waive penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking the Common Core exam. In a 7-to-4 vote, BESE agreed with Superintendent of Education John White, who says let’s wait and see how many opt outs there are first

Cut 13 (09)  “somewhere else”

A zero score will be given for each student who doesn’t take the test, which could lower a school’s performance score. Critics say that’s not fair to the school or the child, but White says let’s wait and see what happens March 16th to the 20th when students take the standardized test

Cut 14 (08) “the situation”

Before the vote, BESE members heard from frustrated parents and educators who are upset over the new academic standards and the tests tied to them. This parent didn’t hide her feelings…

Cut 15  (07)  “you’re delusional”

Bossier Parish school board member Bill Lott complained to BESE that he’s for higher standards but Common Core teaches children liberal messages

Cut 16  (10)  “grand children”

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Spring football gets underway for LSU on Saturday and Tiger fans hope the the 14 practices that will lead up to the Spring Game on April 18th will result in improved play out of the quarterback position. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham expects the Q-B battle between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris to continue into the fall

Cut 17 (14)  “football office more”

Worsham says spring football will give a chance for some of the Tigers young wide receivers to mature like Malachi Dupre and Trey Quinn….

Cut 18 (10) “much better’

On the other side of the ball, LSU needs two new starting defensive ends. Worsham says this is a big spring practice for six-foot-five junior Tashawn Bower and the rest of the Tigers D-Line….

Cut 19 (16)   “the mix”

With the temperatures all over the place it’s prime time for sickness. But there are ways you can protect yourself. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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It looks like the end of an era is coming for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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The Alexandria Police Department says they’ve arrested two juveniles in the murder of a 21-year-old man who was found dead early Sunday in the City Park Area. Lt. Bruce Fairbanks says solving the case of Kendrick Dewayne Hayes was a top priority…:

CUT 3 (06)  “processing evidence”

Cops found Hayes after a call came in around 2:45 am Sunday. The body has been sent for an autopsy, but officials said the case was being treated as a homicide. Fairbanks says detectives have charged a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old with the offense of first degree murder…:(No other details are being released at this time.)

CUT 4 (08)  “tried as an adult”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a mother in Houma dragged her daughter around by her hair, made her drink hot sauce and whipped her with a belt for punishment. Captain Dawn Foret says they got a call from a local junior high where the 13-year-old victim attended school…:

CUT 5 (10)  “from her mother”

Detectives confirmed the 13-year-old had severe bruising on several areas of her body. The mother, 33-year-old Gricelda Mejia (Gra-Sil-Da Ma-Hee-A) was arrested for one count of cruelty to a juvenile. Foret says the report from the child was disturbing…:

CUT 6 (06)  “around the house”

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The cold front that moved through Louisiana has produced some dicey driving conditions across Louisiana. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says some overpasses, bridges, and on-and-off ramps are closed in the northern half of the state. Reichardt says there’s even some slick spots in south Louisiana…

CUT 7 (08)  “but passable”

Reichardt says there are sheets of ice on some roadways. He says temperatures today are only going to be above freezing for a couple of hours and that will not give sufficient time for ice on roadways to completely melt. But Reichardt says the more people travel on those roads, the better the roads will get…

CUT 8 (10)  “into tomorrow”

He says roads that are not well traveled, especially in rural parishes in north Louisiana, could see the ice remain into tomorrow. Reichardt says if you do have to drive in these conditions, use extreme caution and make smart decisions when you get behind the wheel…

CUT 9 (10)  “your house”

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Many people feel like these dramatic changes in the outside temperature fuels a greater opportunity for sickness and there are some healthy measures you can take from experts. High temperatures were in the 70s yesterday and today they are in the 30s and 40s. James Diaz is the Program Director of Occupational Health Sciences at LSU Health New Orleans. He says during seasonal changes you need to make sure air passages are dry.:

cut 10 (07) “keep well hydrated”

Diaz says if this weather is causing your nose to get crusty, use saline nose drops. He says if you haven’t already done so, it’s extremely important to get your flu shot…:

cut 11 (08)  “infections”

Diaz says when the temperature changes your immune system can weaken and make you more susceptible to germs. He says after it rains, the rise in pollen can make your allergy symptoms worse. Diaz says there are simple things you can do to protect yourself…:

cut 12 (09)  “last fall”

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It looks like the end of an era is coming for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Feld Entertainment, the circus’ parent company, has announced they are phasing out their fabled elephant acts by 2018. Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, wants to thank Ringling Bros. for finally doing the right thing…

cut 13 (09)  “for them”

The 13 elephants currently in the circus’ shows will be transferred to their Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida. Many in the public have voiced concerns regarding how elephants and other animals have been treated by the circus. Dorson says negative reinforcement is often used to train animals…

cut 14 (07)  “public’s wishes”

Ringling Bros. says they will continue to use horses, dogs, tigers, and other animals in their performances. Dorson says that’s a fight for another day…

cut 15 (05) “major victory”

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How to prepare your children for the springing forward this Sunday with the time change. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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A report released this week by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera suggests that Louisiana can increase revenues by increasing oyster lease rates. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

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The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet today and one of them items on the agenda is the question of what to do about Common Core Opt-Outs. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (28) “reporting”

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Sleep experts have some tips for parents on ways to prepare their children for losing an hour of sleep this weekend as we spring forward. Mother of six, Laura Swartz with Healthy Happy Sleep says plan on  keeping sleep patterns the same after the time has changed.

cut 4  (14)  “…go about it. “

Swartz says give yourself permission to relax about this change since parents tend to over think the process. She says starting today wake up your kids 15 minutes earlier than usual.

Cut 5  (11)  “of seven”

Swartz says the rhythms of daily life will regulate your childrens new sleep schedule. She says the change will be easy for naturally early risers but most parents will know if they’re children are sensitive to changes in their routine.

Cut 6 (15)  “certain activities”

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A report released this week by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera suggests that Louisiana can increase revenues by increasing oyster lease rates. The audit report recommends almost tripling the lease rate, from $2 and acre to $5.20. Sal Sunseri is with P&J Oysters in New Orleans…

CUT 7 (10)  “not the route”

Louisiana has the second lowest oyster lease rates among the top six states that produce Eastern Oysters. Sunseri says oyster farmers have continuously put back in the building of infrastructure to further strengthen the industry. He says the oyster industry is not a subsidized farming industry like many industries in agriculture…

Cut 8  (12)  “get subsidized” 

Sunseri says a reasonable rate increase would be acceptable, but what is proposed is just too great. He says this proposed rate increase will effect more than just the consumer…

Cut 9 (06)  “lose farmers”

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The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet today and one of them items on the agenda is the question of what to do about Common Core Opt-Outs. Some families who oppose the education standards have said they won’t let their child take the PARCC test. BESE member Jane Smith seeks to delay consequences for schools who have students who opt out…:

Cut 10 (13) “performance score”

Smith says students who opt-out of taking the Common Core test won’t be punished but it’s the school that would get a zero for that student towards its performance score. She says parents not letting their kids take the PARCC test is a variable that punishes the school but that they can’t control…:

cut 11 (09) “accountability policy”

Smith says BESE needs a least a year to figure out a compromise when it comes to Common Core because clearly there issues as students opt-out of the tests because their parents don’t think it’s appropriate…:

cut 12 (10)  “and teachers”

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The New Orleans Saints have released running back Pierre Thomas from the team. The 30-year-old will save the Black and Gold $1.735 million dollars against the salary cap. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says it’s a heart breaking move, but not really a surprise…:

Cut 13 (09)  “a year too late”

New Orleans needs to continue to move or lay-off some players by March 10th to get below the salary cap. Detillier says Thomas, who’s spent all of his 8 seasons with the team, gave New Orleans the screen game back like no one since Dalton Hilliard. He says what the Saints will really miss is his pass protection skills…:

Cut 14 (07) “with one team”

Thomas complied 3,745 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns on 187 carries for New Orleans. He was a key component in the Saints Super Bowl win. Detillier says you could argue Thomas was the best undrafted free agent in the Sean Payton era. He says the fans love him and he’s very active with the community and quick to speak to the media, but this is about winning games…:

Cut 15  (13)  “and how much they’re paying you”

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With just two regular season games left, the ULM men’s basketball team is in a three way tie for first place in the Sun Belt Conference. The Warhawks host Georgia State tonight, one of the three teams they are tied with at the top of the standings. ULM Coach Keith Richard likes the position his squad is in….

Cut 16  (20)  “we have an opportunity”

ULM lost to Georgia State by 20 points in the Sun Belt opener back on December 30th. But Coach Richard says his team is much better on offense then they were a couple of months ago….

Cut 17 (09)  “Thursday night”

Richard likes the challenge in front of his team….

Cut 18 (13) “doing this’

The Ragin Cajuns are playing as well as anyone in the Sun Belt as they host Arkansas Little Rock tonight. U-L Lafayette has won four in a row and Coach Bob Marlin credits improved play on the defensive end of the court….

Cut 19 (13)   “NCAA Tournament” (2x)

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for parishes north of I-20, ahead of a strong cold front that will move through the state this evening. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is dead after officers responded to reports that the suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of the street. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for parishes north of I-20, ahead of a strong cold front that will move through the state this evening. Gary Chatelain, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says rain is forecast for the area today and that could become a problem as that front descends across north Louisiana…

CUT 3 (10)  “and power lines”

The Winter Storm Warning is in effect through tomorrow morning. Chatelain says a Winter Weather Advisory is also in effect along and south of I-20. He says areas under this advisory will not be hit as hard as areas north of the interstate…

CUT 4 (06)  “noon or so”

Chatelain says this weather event should not be as severe as last week’s, especially on roadways. He says warmer ground temperatures will melt a lot of the ice on roads, but the main concern is bridges and overpasses freezing over. He says this cold front will mainly bring freezing rain to the state…

CUT 5 (05)  “the Ark-La-Tex”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is dead after officers responded to reports that the suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of the street. Captain Dawn Foret says they got several 911 calls early this morning with reports of a man who was running in the middle of the road with the weapon near the Schriever Overpass…:

CUT 6 (07)  “in the air”

Foret says when cops responded they located 49-year-old Troy Brady sitting in the middle of the road with a shot gun near him…:

CUT 7 (08)  “unresponsive”

Foret says Brady was detained and then shortly after he became unresponsive…:(Foret says there were no obvious signs of trauma to Brady so they’ve ordered an autopsy to determine cause of death.)

CUT 8 (08)  “pronounced dead”

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The mother of Victor White III’s child has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal and a deputy in White’s death. White died from a gunshot wound while handcuffed in the backseat of the deputy’s squad car. Monroe attorney, Carol Powell Lexing, who represents White’s family, says reason for the lawsuit is simple…

CUT 9 (07)  “accountable for it”

Calls to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department have not been returned. It has been one year since White died while in custody. The Sheriff’s Department and coroner claim that White shot himself while handcuffed in the police car. White’s family disputes this claim. Powell Lexing says federal authorities are still looking into this case…

cut 10 (07) “hear from them”

The suit claims that Ackal inadequately trains deputies and tolerates the use of exessive force. It also alleges Cpl. Justin Ortis, who arrested White, beat him and failed to protect his safety while in custody. Powell Lexing says there will be an event at Southern University tonight to discuss White’s case and similar cases…

cut 11 (10)  “of these cases”

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As officials with the US Army visited the Leesville area last night to listen to the concerns of folks in the community surrounding reductions to the Vernon Parish base, people once again lined the streets in support of keeping things as is. Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese says the church venue was filled as they made the presentation to the military…:

cut 12 (10)  “and city hall”

Reese says the Army evaluators stayed until about 10:30pm and believes they understand the level of support they enjoy across the state…:

cut 13 (10)  “statewide issue”

Personnel reductions are being considered at about 30 bases across the country. Reese says they believe the visitors from the military heard loud and clear that the entire state of Louisiana does not support yet another troop reduction at Fort Polk…:

cut 14 (06)  “those evaluators”

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A strong cold front heading into the state could produce some winter precipitation. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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State Treasurer John Kennedy sees pros and cons to Governor Bobby Jindal’s budget proposal. Scott Carwile reports…

Cut 2 (31) “reporting”

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The Energy Department says there is a major increase in crude oil and the US is running out of room to store it. Some say this could mean another huge drop in the price we’re paying for gas at the pump in Louisiana. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (28) “reporting”

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Get ready for a big change in the weather. State climatologist Barry Keim says high temperatures today will be in the 70s and tomorrow they’ll be back in the 30s and 40s as a result of a strong cold front….

cut 4  (12)  “southern parts of the state”

This front has the potential to produce another round of winter precipitation. Keim says the northern half of the state could see see freezing rain during the overnight hours

Cut 5  (12)  “of the state”

Keim says enjoy the warm temperatures while you can, because the weather is about to change….

Cut 6 (11)  “on Thursday”

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State Treasurer John Kennedy sees pros and cons to Governor Bobby Jindal’s budget proposal. The governor has proposed scaling back certain tax credits and cut spending in other areas to address a $1.6 billion revenue shortfall. Kennedy says some of the proposed reductions in spending make sense, especially in the area of consulting contracts…

CUT 7 (11)  “point eight million”

Kennedy says the proposed budget looks to reduce the 60-percent of the deficit by repealing tax credits and 40-percent by reducing spending. However, Kennedy does question the proposal of closing all health clinics in New Orleans, which will effect about 57,000 people…

Cut 8  (12)  “us more money” 

Kennedy spoke about the budget on Louisiana Radio Network’s Jim Engster show. He says the budget’s biggest revenue increase comes with the repeal of the inventory tax credit, which would add about $525 million dollars to the state’s coffers. Kennedy says he’s not sure this was chosen wisely…

Cut 9 (09)  “small businesses”

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The Energy Department says there is a major increase in crude oil and the US is running out of room to store it. Some say this could mean another huge drop in the price we’re paying for gas at the pump in Louisiana. David Dismukes, the director for the Center for Energy Studies at LSU, says refineries are in a transition period right now but it won’t last long..:

Cut 10 (10) “on prices”

Dismukes says once again while this will be welcome news for the consumer, the low oil prices will not be good for the service side of the industry oil and gas industry…:

cut 11 (10) “less jobs”

Dismukes says refineries and consumers will be the main beneficiaries so it may end up not having such a major effect on the economy in Louisiana:

cut 12 (10)  “impacts are going to be felt”

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Agents with the state office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control say a Ruston woman is under arrest accused of selling booze out of her personal residence. ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert says 21-year-old Bryanna Jackson was taking money for cocktails at her apartment…:

Cut 13 (07)  “two of them”

Hebert says undercover agents went in one evening and were able to purchase two mixed drinks from the suspect. He says they discovered the illegal activity was going on from ads the woman was posting online…:

Cut 14 (12) “easy on us”

Jackson was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and charged with operating without a local or state high content permit. A man in central Louisiana was arrested for apparently operating a bar out of his house last week and Hebert says these illegal actions are not necessary…:

Cut 15  (10)  “already”

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The LSU men’s basketball team plays its final home game of the year tonight as they host the Tennessee Volunteers at six pm in the Maravich Center. These two teams met in Knoxville on Valentine’s Day and it was all LSU as they won by 18 points. LSU forward Jarell Martin expects a tougher game this time around

Cut 16  (10)  “hard fought battle”

The Volunteers bring a five-game losing streak to Baton Rouge. LSU guard Keith Hornsby says despite Tennessee’s struggles they can’t look past them

Cut 17 (09)  “battle of course”

LSU has won its last three and they are ten and six in league play. Hornsby says they are trying to close out the regular season on a strong note

Cut 18 (13) “to us’

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###Changes made to the newscall as a result of two arrests in the fatal home invasion in Shreveport#####

The state Department of Revenue announces that state tax refunds are now being issued. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says Governor Bobby Jindal’s proposal to eliminate the inventory tax credit will hurt the state’s economy. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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The Shreveport Police Department says they are looking for a suspect following an overnight fatal home invasion. Corporal Marcus Hines say officers were called to the scene at around one AM…

(At this point officers believe a resident in the home fatally shot one of the suspects, the other fled.)

CUT 3 (10)  “shot the man”

There were  children inside the home at the time of the shooting, but they  were not injured . Hines says they believe the two men entered the home wearing masks and one of them was armed with a semi-automatic rifle…:

CUT 4 (11)  “not been captured”

Hines says evidence seized during a search of the residence suggest illegal narcotics may have been a motivating factor in the attempted robbery…:

(Officers have arrested two people living inside the home, because of illegal drugs inside the home.)

CUT 5 (09)  “degree of involvement”

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The state Department of Revenue announces that state tax refunds are now being issued. The department had said that it would not issue refunds until March 2nd, but actually began last Friday. Spokeswoman Kizzy Payton says the delay was due to the increase of the filing of fraudulent tax returns across the nation…

CUT 6 (08)  “taxpayer’s accounts”

She says the department issued additional security measures so they would more easily detect suspicious activity around taxpayer’s accounts. Payton says the department strives to make sure they are not handing out tax refunds to people who do not deserve them…

CUT 7 (08)  “anti-fraud initiative”

Payton says some may have already received their refund, depending on the method of payment they chose. She says, thus far, over 763,000 tax returns have been filed and about 244,000 have been processed. But Payton says that’s just the beginning…

CUT 8 (05)  “each year”

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The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry plans to fight Governor Bobby Jindal’s proposal to repeal the inventory tax credit. Such a move would save the state an estimated $380 million which could be used for health care and higher education. But LABI Vice President, Jim Patterson, says a repeal of this tax credit would be devastating to business across the state…

CUT 9 (09)  “to our economy”

Patterson says the vast majority of states do not have inventory taxes, so if the refund went away, jobs could leave as well…

cut 10 (08) “such a tax”

Patterson says businesses could decide to shift inventories to states that do not have such a tax and those warehouse jobs would be lost. He says Louisiana is one of only 13 states that have an inventory tax on the books. Patterson says if the inventory tax credit is repealed, then business will have to make up that money somewhere…

cut 11 (06)  “to consumers”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says a 14-year-old student from H.L. Bourgeois High in Gray is under arrest accused of calling in 2 bomb threats to the school. Captain Dawn Foret says last Tuesday and yesterday there were two separate bomb threats they were emailed to the school’s principal…:

cut 12 (10)  “could resume”

Foret says they began an investigation and were able to track the email address that the suspect had sent both threats from to the H.L. Bourgeois student…:(The suspect is charged with two counts of False Communication of a Bomb Threat. Foret says it does not appear the teen had any access to items that would let him carry out his threats.)

cut 13 (06)  “emails”

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office says  a 73-year-old woman died in a house fire in Opelousas today. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says St. Landry Parish firefighters responded to a wood frame dwelling around 4am which they found fully engulfed in flames. He says the 73 year old victim, Mary Ann Sam, was also located…

cut 14 (09)  “that’s been done”

They are still working to determine the cause of the blaze. Browning says they know the woman was living alone in the home and the fire was discovered by someone who was driving by…:

cut 15 (06) “those things out”

As the military, once again, looks to reduce the number of troops at the Fort Polk Army base, the Army is holding a meeting tonight to listen to concerns about the potential effects a troop reduction could have on the area. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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It looks like north Louisiana is in for yet another winter weather event Wednesday night into Thursday. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 2 (27) “reporting”

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A new study suggests people who sleep longer face a greater risk of having a stroke. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 3 (31) “reporting”

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As the military, once again, looks to reduce the number of troops at the Fort Polk Army base, the Army is holding a meeting tonight to listen to concerns about the potential effects a troop reduction could have on the area. Fort Polk Progress Chairman, Michael Reese, says the listening session is the final event in their evaluation process. He says they will host three events in Leesville, Lake Charles, and Alexandria…

cut 4  (07)  “will be”

Reese says these events will show the Army the breadth of support Fort Polk enjoys and will be something unique they won’t see at other installations. The military is considering troop reductions at 30 bases nationwide. He says Fort Polk faced a reduction last year and the base only lost around 250 troops…

Cut 5  (11)  “currently provide”

Reese says attendence at these events is very key and critical to there mission of avoiding massive troop reductions at Fort Polk. He says if you can attend one of the three events, your presence could speak volumes to the Army…

Cut 6 (10)  “done in reports”

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Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo says Governor Jindal’s proposed budget is about 200-million dollars short of what’s needed to fully fund the state’s public college and universities. Rallo says if the funding situation doesn’t change, campus leaders will have to make some tough decisions

CUT 7 (11)  “faculty members”

The state’s budget problems have raised concerns that one possible solution is to close college campuses. But Rallo says the state will not see the kind of savings some might expect by shutting down a school

Cut 8  (10)  “go away” 

He says higher education leaders are looking at various options to improve their funding situation, one idea that’s been thrown on the white board is to privatize some public universities

Cut 9 (10)  “talked about”

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A new study suggests people who sleep longer face a greater risk of having a stroke. Researchers followed patients for 10 years and found that someone 63 or older who sleeps more than eight hours a day is 46 percent likelier to suffer a stroke in the next decade than adults who sleep for 6-8 hours. Dr. Caroline Barton is an assistant professor of neurology at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine…:

Cut 10 (12) “on people”

Barton says you can’t diagnose a stroke before it happens but studies like this help give doctors clues as to what might be causing them. She says stability of sleep as a trait is very important…:

cut 11 (09) “slept normally”

The findings were published in the journal Neurology. Barton says the study also noted that if someone had a significant change in their sleeping habits it was a bad sign…:

cut 12 (11)  “in stroke”

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It looks like north Louisiana is in for yet another winter weather event Wednesday night into Thursday. Meteorologist Davyon Hill with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says a cold front is moving through late this evening into tomorrow bringing some rain along with it and a massive temperature drop behind it…:

Cut 13 (10)  “edge of it”

Hill says this line of a possible wintry mix is from Natchitoches to Monroe and northwest of that…:

Cut 14 (07) “early Thursday morning”

Hill says central Louisiana could get some freezing rain and as you go north the risk for sleet and possibly some snow gets higher. He says this could once again hamper traffic conditions…:

Cut 15  (11)  “heavier than that”

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LSU sophomore guard Tim Quarterman is the SEC player of the week. Quarterman had a triple-double on over the weekend, the first one in LSU’s history since Shaquille O’ Neal did it in 1992. Quarterman had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Ole Miss on Saturday and he didn’t know he was close to accomplishing the feat…

Cut 16  (16)  “Pistol Pete”

Quarterman is the third player in LSU history to record a triple-double, Shaquille O’ Neal and Pete Maravich are the other two. Quarterman says his mother is really proud of what he did…

Cut 17 (14)  “it was just special”

Quarterman is averaging 12 points and five rebounds a game this season, after averaging only two and a half points a game last year. The Georgia native says positive conservations he had with Coach Johnny Jones during the offseason gave him the confidence he can have a big impact on this year’s team

Cut 18 (15) “mindset’

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A straw poll conducted at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference showed Governor Bobby Jindal finishing in 12th place among Republican presidential hopefuls. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

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Slidell Police has arrested a Baton Rouge man after he threw his young daughter to the ground while fleeing officers during a shoplifting attempt. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

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LSU and its former defensive coordinator John Chavis are in a legal battle. The two sides filed lawsuits against each other. LSU claims Chavis owes a 400-thousand dollar contractual buyout for accepting a job with Texas A-and-M. Legal analyst Tim Meche says where the case will be heard, Texas or Baton Rouge, needs to be settled first…

CUT 3 (11)  “is over”

Chavis filed the first lawsuit in Texas, claiming he took the proper steps when he left LSU to avoid paying a 400-thousand buyout. LSU counter sued, seeking to dismiss Chavis’ suit and have the case heard in Baton Rouge. Meche says having the home court advantage is critical in this case

CUT 4 (10)  “Texas judge and jury”

Meche believes this case will be settled out of court, because it’s in the best interest of the LSU and A-and-M football programs not to have Chavis or Tigers Head Coach Les Miles go through a deposition…

CUT 5 (11)  “to public”

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A straw poll conducted at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference showed Governor Bobby Jindal finishing in 12th place among Republican presidential hopefuls. Jindal received less than one percent of the ballots in that poll. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says this group has not had a good record in predicting presidential nominees…

CUT 6 (07)  “not that person”

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul won the poll, followed by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. Cross doesn’t think the results of this straw poll will discourage Jindal’s presidential aspirations…

CUT 7 (06)  “hang it up”

Cross says Jindal is not necessarily looking to gain the Republican nomination for this presidential election. He says the governor is looking to get his name out there and becoming one of the players in the Republican Party for future presidential races…

CUT 8 (08)  “presidential candidates”

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The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office says the wife of a doctor who admitted to shooting and killing her husband during an argument has not been charged in his death. 65-year-old Wayne Breen was shot early Sunday morning at the couple’s Folsom-area home. Legal analyst Doug Sunseri says in cases like this the DA will often let a grand jury make the next move:

CUT 9 (06)  “or not”

Dr.Breen was an obstetrician/gynecologist.  Detectives are working to determine if the shooting was justified. Kacie Breen called 911 around 3am and said she and her husband got into a fight and she ended up shooting him according to cops. Sunseri says the DA will likely let grand jurors decide what happens next…:

cut 10 (08) “or not”

Deputies say the couple had a history of domestic issues, including reported physical violence committed by Mr. Breen.  In 2012, Mrs. Breen obtained a restraining order against him; that order has since expired. Sunseri says the DA has a couple of options…:

cut 11 (10)  “to a grand jury”

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Slidell Police has arrested a Baton Rouge man after he threw his young daughter to the ground while fleeing officers during a shoplifting attempt. Detective Daniel Seuzeneau says officers responded to a call that 24-year-old Lamar Causey was attempting to steal cologne and perfume from a cosmetics store…

cut 12 (08)  “hit her head”

As officers approached, Causey threw his 17-month-old daughter to the ground, causing her to hit her head. One officer stopped and cared for the child, while the other officer chased Causey down and apprehended him. Seuzeneau says the incident was truly shocking for everyone involved…

cut 13 (10)  “a toy doll”

The little girl was transported to a local hospital for her injuries. She was released to family members and will make a full recovery. Police recovered 14 bottles of stolen cologne and perfume on Causey valued at almost $1,200. Seuzeneau says Causey was booked into the Slidell City Jail… (Causey is charged with theft of goods over $1000, cruelty to juveniles, child desertion, resisting an officer by flight on foot, public intimidation, and possession of schedule II drugs.)

cut 14 (11)  “schedule II narcotics”

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NBC’s hit show “The Voice” begins its second week of the new season tonight and Louisiana already has ties to three contestants who made it through the blind auditions. Michelle Southern reporting.

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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As the Louisiana filmed blockbuster “Focus” opened over the weekend, a group of lawmakers is looking at ways we can improve the film tax credits in the state. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (32) “reporting”

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A south Louisiana lawmaker believes a student should not be punished if he or she opts out from taking the Common Core exam. Scott Carwile has the story…

Cut 3 (31) “reporting”

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NBC’s hit show “The Voice” begins its second week of the new season tonight and Louisiana already has ties to three contestants who made it through the blind auditions. 22-year-old Rob Taylor, who was raised in Baton Rouge and now lives in Donaldsonville, gets to move on to the battle rounds which take place next month. Taylor says he never thought he would get such an opportunity…:

cut 4  (08)  “never gave up”

The Voice’s blind auditions continue tonight at 7. Taylor says when he graduated high school he was offered a partial scholarship to Boston’s Berklee College of Music, but he chose to stay home to care for his mother who was sick. He says his biggest musical influence is his grandmother…:

Cut 5  (07)  “with everything”

Also vying to win a recording contract this season is Tonya Boyd-Cannon who’s from Jackson, Mississippi but currently lives in Chalmette. And Meghan Linsey who’s from The Big Easy but currently lives in Nashville. Taylor says one of the things that influences him the most musically from Louisiana is that styles here are so eclectic…:

Cut 6 (06)  “to everyone I guess”

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As the Louisiana filmed blockbuster “Focus” opened over the weekend, a group of lawmakers is looking at ways we can improve the state’s film tax credits. Some have argued that the movie credits here are corrupt and too generous. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell, who is working on reform legislation, says he fully supports the program but it has major issues.:

CUT 7 (12)  “who are paying for it”

Economic impact numbers revealed Focus filmed here for 43 days and spent over $8.3 million on local labor at in-state businesses and on location. Morrell says they don’t want to lose the fact that Louisiana has become an industry film leader in the country and earned the name Hollywood South. But he says there are things that must be done to restore taxpayer confidence in the film tax credit program…:

Cut 8  (12)  “credit programs” 

Morrell says drafts of possible legislation will be discussed on Wednesday in a meeting with the Entertainment Industry Development Advisory Commission. He says in addition to legislators, that group also is made up of stakeholders in the industry and the goal is a “comprehensive reform” of the film tax credit program…:

Cut 9 (13)  “on the right track”

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In two weeks, students will take Common Core exams and a state lawmaker has introduced a bill that will prohibit penalties if a student decided to opt out of the testing. Abbeville Representative Bob Hensgens’ bill would protect students, schools, and school systems from non-participation penalties. He says there is no law that levies penalties for not taking the tests, but that’s not what he’s hearing from school districts…

Cut 10 (09) “intended to do”

Currently students who opt-out of the testing will be given a score of zero, which will be transferred to the performance score of schools and school districts. Hensgens says the decision for a student to take these tests belong to the parent and not the government…

cut 11 (10) “in the future”

Education Superintendent John White says they will address opt-outs when they see how many students actually opt-out of the exams. Hensgens says it shouldn’t be left up to White to determine if penalties should be levied if someone decides not to take the Common Core tests…

cut 12 (11)  “to decide this”

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The Jindal administration has said they are willing to scale back 526-million dollars in tax credits for businesses, but Chairman of the republican house delegation, state Representative Lance Harris of Alexandria is disappointed the governor didn’t suggest reeling back some of the film tax credits

Cut 13 (10)  “someone else”

As a way to help reduce cuts to higher education, The Jindal administration proposes higher fees to attend public college, but provide a tax credit to offset those costs, which would be paid for by raising the cigarette tax. But Harris doesn’t like the idea of a cigarette tax

Cut 14 (09) “right now”

The governor has highlighted 12 tax credits that could become non-refundable which would give the state more money to spend. But the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Amite representative John Bel Edwards, says legislators should look beyond those tax credits as a way to raise revenue…

Cut 15  (08)  “comprehensive job”

Edwards says he’s not a fan of Jindal’s proposal  to raise cigarette taxes and have that money pay for a tax credit for those individuals who pay higher fees at colleges

Cut 16  (10)  “Tax reform”

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ULM officials will break ground today on a new end zone building at Malone Stadium. It’s the first new athletic facility built on campus in 1983 and it will feature a new locker room, a Hall of Fame area and new coaches’ offices. Coach Todd Berry says the project has been a long time coming for the program….

Cut 17 (16)  “excited about it”

Berry says the facility will have an impact on their current players and recruiting…

Cut 18 (15) “period of time’

Today is also the first day of spring football for the Warhawks. ULM has to find a new starting quarterback. Brayle Brown is listed number one on the team’s depth chart, after completing 12 passes last year, but Berry says Brown will compete against a couple of other quarterbacks….

Cut 19 (22)   “grow up”