Could Gasoline taxes go up soon? Halen Doughty reports the governor has explained to the new transportation task force there is not enough revenue to cover all the state’s highway needs…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

The governor used his line-item veto pen today to scratch 44-million dollars in construction projects from a bill approved during the second special session. Edwards says the state can’t afford them.

Now that we have an idea of how the Baton Rouge Police Department plans to defend the killing of Alton Sterling, experts believe the cops will claim they feared for their lives. A warrant filed this week by BRPD indicates Sterling resisted arrest, then the officers saw him reach for a gun before shooting. Legal analyst Tim Meche believes the cops will claim they had no choice, and:
cut 12 (10) “officers”
Meche says BRPD will argue the two cops legitimately feared for their lives.

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain left for Cuba today to begin the process of trade negotiations. He says there are many products Cuba needs, that we have…:
CUT 7 (10) “that happen”
Strain says this visit will set the groundwork for another trip in October that will be led by Governor Edwards.

Louisiana residents could see the gasoline tax go up next year. Governor John Bel Edwards told the newly formed transportation task force that the gas tax has not been increased in 30 years. He says the 16 cents of the tax that goes towards transportation is only worth about 6 cents in today’s purchasing power.

Cut 4 (08) “doesn’t work”

The task force will make recommendations to the legislature for the 2017 fiscal session.

Experts say the Baton Rouge police officers who fatally shot Alton Sterling will likely try to justify their actions in the courtroom. Court documents say Sterling failed to comply with direct orders, and when the officers tried to subdue him with Tasers, that didn’t work. Legal analyst Tim Meche says BRPD will argue the two cops legitimately feared for their lives.

Cut 13 (10) “and killing them”

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain heads to Cuba today to head a trade mission with the island. Strain says the goal is to begin the process of exporting agricultural commodities and other products to Cuba. He hopes they can develop a relationship for trade.

CUT 6 (07) “with Cuba”

Strain says Louisiana would predominately be exporting rice, soybeans, wheat, poultry and more.

Two Shreveport teens were mugged while trying to ‘Catch Em All’ on the new PokemonGO app. The mother believes the thieves were looking to steal from people in the park playing the game, which is similar to a scavenger hunt. She says police used another smartphone app to locate where the stolen phones could be.

cut 10 (10)  “their pocket”

Shreveport Police says 17-year-olds Santana Smith and Gabreon Green were arrested and charged with First Degree Robbery

Documents have been made public on what the two Baton Rouge police officers saw as they confronted Alton Sterling before he was fatally shot. In a search warrant and accompanying affidavit, the officers say Sterling resisted arrest, they saw a gun in his pocket and the policemen claim he tried to reach for the gun in his pocket. Legal analyst Tim Meche says this gives us a good idea on how the officers will claim they were justified in shooting Sterling…
cut 14 (03) “…their lives”
The US Justice Department is leading the investigation into Sterling’s death.

Governor John Bel Edwards tells the newly formed transportation task force that revenue options need to be considered to address the state’s nearly 13-billion dollar backlog in highway needs.
cut 3 (07) “…it happen”
The task force will meet over the next several months and submit recommendations to the state legislature for the 2017 session.

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain arrives in Cuba today to talk about trade possibilites between Louisiana and the island nation. Strain says a trade deal with Cuba could result in about 400-million dollars in trade over the next few years…
cut 8 (10) “….agriculture commodities”
Strain says Governor Edwards plans on visiting Cuba in early October.

A Shreveport mom says her son and one of his friends were robbed at a park as they were playing Pokemon Go. The woman says their cell phones and other personal items were taken, but were eventually recovered….
cut 10 (10) “…their pocket”
Shreveport police say they’ve arrested a pair of 17-year-old and charged them with first degree robbery and they are searching for two other suspects.

Now that we have an idea of how the Baton Rouge Police Department plans to defend the killing of Alton Sterling, experts believe the cops will claim they feared for their lives. A warrant filed this week by BRPD indicates Sterling resisted arrest, then the officers saw him reach for a gun before shooting. Legal analyst Tim Meche believes the cops will claim they had no choice, and:
cut 12 (10) “officers”
Meche says BRPD will argue the two cops legitimately feared for their lives.

Three people from Kentwood, who were not buckled up, died in a two vehicle crash in Tangipahoa Parish. State Police say 28-year-old Kaleb Collette failed to stop on a roadway as upcoming traffic was slowing down because a vehicle was turning into a driveway. He smashed into the car in front of him at full speed. All three occupants of Collette’s vehicle were unrestrained and were pronounced dead at the time of the crash.

Two teenagers were mugged while playing Pokemon Go at a Shreveport Park. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Governor John Bel Edwards tells the newly formed transportation task force that revenue options need to be considered to address the state’s nearly 13-billion dollar backlog in highway needs. Edwards says the work conducted by this group will be very important to the state..:
CUT 5 (10) “deserves better”

Could Gasoline taxes go up soon? Halen Doughty reports the governor told the
new transportation task force there is not enough revenue to cover the state’s
highway needs…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain is off to Cuba to begin the process of trade
negotiations with the island. He says there are many products Cuba needs, that
we have…:
CUT 7 (10) “that happen”

Two Shreveport teenagers were mugged at a park while trying to find Pokemon on
a new smartphone app. That’s according to the mother of one of the teens, who
says her son and a friend were getting out of the car when they were
approached by two men asking to borrow a cell phone and out of nowhere they
punched the friend in the face. She says two additional men came up on the
scene…:
CUT 9 (10) “your stuff”
The mother believes the thieves were looking to steal from people in the park
playing the Pokemon Go game. Shreveport Police say 17-year-olds Santana Smith
and Gabreon Green were arrested and charged with First Degree Robbery and
authorities are still searching for two other suspects.

In today’s first meeting of the newly formed transportation task force, Governor John Bel Edwards says revenue needs to be raised in order to pay for new roads and maintain existing highways. He says the state’s current 16 cents of the gasoline tax that goes to highways has not been increased in 30 years, and today is only worth about 6-cents in purchasing power…:
CUT 4 (08) “doesn’t work”
The task force will meet throughout the year and will make suggestions to the legislature for the 2017 session on how to increase funding for a better transportation system.

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain heads to Cuba today on a trade mission. He says the goal is to begin the process of exporting agricultural commodities and other products to Pearl of the Antilles…:
CUT 6 (07) “with Cuba”
He says there are many products that Cuba needs that we have.

It’s been one week since the death of Alton Sterling by Baton Rouge Police, and we’re learning more details. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana is ranked the third safest state for older drivers. That’s according to a report from Caring.com and Chief Caring Expert Dayna Steele mostly credits the state’s strict rules for elderly motorists…:
Cut 10 (10) “license renewals”

Governor John Bel Edwards tells the newly formed transportation task force that revenue options need to be considered to address the state’s nearly 13-billion dollar backlog in roadway needs. Edwards says this could mean an increase to the state’s gasoline tax in order to pay for new roads and maintain existing highways…
cut 3 (07) “….it happen”
16-cents from the state’s gasoline tax goes into a trust fund for highway projects and Edwards says that amount has not been increased in 30 years.

It’s a been a very busy six months for Governor John Bel Edwards. Historic flooding in March, budget crisis and civil unrest in Baton Rouge,. ULM Political Science Professor, Doctor John Sutherlin, says it remains to be seen how the governor will handle situations he can control and what will come of all the work on the budget…
cut 9 (12) “….certainly next”

Louisiana is ranked the third safest state for older drivers. That’s according to a report from Caring.com. Chief Caring Expert Dayna Steele says she hopes this study sparks conversations and action with family members and loved ones who might not need to be driving anymore.
cut 11 (10) “…driving then”

A bill by Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham has won the approval of the US House that seeks to defund a 2015 executive order from President Obama that could drive up the costs of building in Louisiana. Abrham says the President’s the science behind this new floodplain is arbitrary and the order is unnecessary…
cut 14 (10) “…working well”
The measure still needs approval from the US Senate.

Halen Doughty reports Governor John Bel Edwards has had a busy first few months in office to say the least. He’s dealt with massive flooding, a historic budget crisis and now racial tensions and protests…:
Cut 2 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

It’s been one week since the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling by cops, and we’re learning more about the Baton Rouge Police Department’s account of what happened. In a warrant, the officers say they saw Sterling reach for a gun in his front pocket while resisting arrest, before shots were fired to stop the threat.

A transportation task force created by Governor John Bel Edwards — a push some say could lead to the most sweeping changes in Louisiana’s roadways and bridges in almost 30 years, holds its first meeting today. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says with a 13-billion dollar backlog in projects, he needs to be sure there is money there to keep up with existing roads and fund new improvements…:
CUT 6 (11) “revenue stream”

A bill by Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham has won the approval of the US House that seeks to defund a 2015 executive order from President Obama that could drive up the costs of building in Louisiana. Abraham says the order scraps the base flood commonly used to determine flood risk and replaces it with a new one that takes into account future flooding from climate change.
Cut 15 (12) “scientific basis”