15:30 08-14-14

Louisiana has a one-point-two billion dollar shortfall in the state’s budget next year. That revelation to lawmakers was made today by the Jindal adminstration. LaPolitics (lah politics)dot com pubisher Jeremy Alford says, on one side, there are some lawmakers who want to increase taxes to deal with it, and on the other, Governor Bobby Jindal who will fight that…:
cut 13 :08 sec. Q: “override it”
Alford says he expects the governor to come up with some creative ways to deal with the shortfall.

Some lawmakers are getting a lot of complaints about wait times at the Office of Motor Vehicles; this on the heels of Governor Bobby Jindal reducing staffs there. The Legislative Fiscal Office says the waits have gone up as much as an hour and a half. The Legislative Budget Committe announced today that they want to meet with leaders of the OMV to answer those questions being raised.

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The former president of the LSU Alumni Association faces a lawsuit from a former employee for stopping some hush money regarding a sexual relationship. Charlie Roberts attorney, Mary Olive Pierson, says the main reason for his resignation is Kay Heath’s statement, saying she would drop the suit against the Alumni Association when he would resign…:
cut 10 :05 sec. Q: “dragged into this”
A recent study shows 45 percent of Louisiana renters are rent stressed. Matthew Doyle reports…
CUT V1 (32) “reporting”

14:30 8-14-14

The Jindal administration has pegged the shortfall for next year’s budget at one-point-two billion dollars. Jeff Palermo with more…
CUT V2 (32) “reporting”

Almost 900 violations have been cited to various Louisiana establishements for selling alcohol to minors during the Alcohol and Tobacco Control’s 2014 Summer Crackdown. ATC also reports that almost 400 citations were issued for selling tobacco to minors.

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A Slidell woman has been charged with medicaid fraud after she allegedly used her dead sister’s name to receive medical treatment at Slidell Memorial. Slidell Police detective Daniel Seuzeneu (susan-no) says hospital officials became aware when 26-year-old Diondre Jones used a false name was entered into the computer…:
cut 3 :07 sec. Q: “had been deceased”
Seuzeneau says Jones was actually wearing a memorial T-shirt in honor of her deceased sister when police officer caught up to her.

It’s called “rent stress,” and it describes the condition of renters having to pay more than 35% of their monthly income in rent. Forty-five percent of all Louisiana renters are experiencing it right now…:
cut 8 :13 sec. Q: “of the analysis”
That’s LSU economist Jim Richardson.

PM Newscall August 14, 2014

A recent study of the housing market in Louisiana finds nearly 45 percent of renters are rent stressed. Matthew Doyle reports…

CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

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The Jindal administration has pegged the shortfall for next year’s budget at one-point-two billion dollars. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (32) “reporting”

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A Slidell woman has been charged with medicaid fraud after she allegedly used her dead sister’s name to receive medical treatment at Slidell Memorial Hospital. Slidell Police detective Daniel Seuzeneu says hospital officials became aware of 26-year-old Diondre Jones’ scam after her false name was entered into the computer

CUT 3 (07) “had been deceased”

Seuzeneau says a bizarre twist to this crime is that Jones was wearing a memorial T-shirt in honor of her deceased sister when a police officer caught up to her in the hospital parking lot….

CUT 4 (10) “as a memorial”

Seuzeneau says Diondre provided her sister’s name to hospital staff in an attempt to avoid having to pay any medical bills…

CUT 5 (09) “got caught”

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A recent study of the housing market in Louisiana finds nearly 45 percent of renters are rent stressed. Rent stress is defined as paying more than 35 percent of your monthly income in rent. LSU Economist Jim Richardson says in 2000 the number was around 29 percent…

CUT 6 (05)  “percent increase”

The national average of “rent stressed” renters is around 43 percent. The percentage of rent stressed Louisianians has grown by nearly 15 percentage points since 2000. Richardson says the stress comes in when you have limited resources left over to provide other necessities…

CUT 7 (11) “that angle, yes”

The report did not look at household incomes of rent stressed people. Richardson says now that they have this data, the next step is to determine why this number has risen so high…

CUT 8 (13) “of the analysis”

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The long-time leader of the LSU alumni association, Charlie Roberts, has resigned from his post as he faces a lawsuit from a former employee, who claims there was financial arrangement to keep their sexual relationship secret.  Roberts attorney, Mary Olive Pierson, says the resignation should not be taken as an admission of guilt

CUT 9 (11) “kind of silly”

Kay Heath is the person who filed the lawsuit against the 78-year-old Roberts and the LSU alumni association. Pierson says a main reason for Roberts resignation is Heath’s public statement she would drop the alumni association as party to the suit when he would resign

CUT 10 (05) “dragged into this”

Heath alleges in the lawsuit she got her job at the alumni association because of her personal relationship with Roberts and a deal was reached that she would receive monthly hush money after she resigned. Pierson says now that Roberts has resigned, he looks forward to telling his side of the story in court

CUT 11 (11) “was supporting her

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The Jindal administration told lawmakers who sit on the budget committees that the shortfall for next year’s budget is one-point-two billion dollars.  Publisher of Lapolitics-dot-com, Jeremy Alford, says the news is not a surprise to legislators and some have already discussed rolling back some tax exemptions as a way to raise revenues

CUT 12 (08) “tax increase”

Financing used to balance the budget this year, will not be available for next fiscal year, which is why there’s a huge shortfall. Alford says some lawmakers will look to raise taxes and reduce tax exemptions as a way to close next fiscal year’s budget gap, but Governor Jindal will fight it

CUT 13 (08) “override it”

Jindal will propose a budget for next fiscal year to lawmakers early in 2015. Alford expects the governor to come up with some creative ways on how to handle this huge shortfall…

cut 14 (12) “next year”

13:30 Newscast August 14, 2014

The Jindal administration told lawmakers who sit on budget committees that the shortfall for next year’s budget is one-point-two billion dollars. Publisher of Lapolitics-dot-com, Jeremy Alford, says the news is not a surprise to legislators and some have already discussed rolling back some tax exemptions as a way to raise revenues

cut 12 (08) “tax increase”

Jindal will propose a budget for next fiscal year to lawmakers early in 2015.

A recent study of the housing market in Louisiana finds nearly 45 percent of renters are rent stressed. Rent stress is defined as paying more than 35 percent of your monthly income in rent. LSU Economist Jim Richardson says the stress comes in when you have limited resources left over to provide other necessities…

cut 07 (11) “that angle, yes.”

The percentage of rent stressed Louisianians has grown by nearly 15 percentage points since 2000.

The long-time leader of the LSU alumni association, Charlie Roberts, has resigned from his post as he faces a lawsuit from a former employee, Kay Heath, who claims there was financial arrangement to keep their sexual relationship secret. Roberts attorney, Mary Olive Pierson, says Roberts now looks forward to telling his side of the story in court…

cut 11 (11) “was supporting her”

She says the resignation should not be taken as an admission of guilt.

A Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola maintenance worker has been arrested on a felony count of malfeasance in office. The West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office says 64-year-old Danny Daniel of St. Francisville is accused of inappropriate behavior with an inmate. Authorities are not releasing any details of the inappropriate behavior.

12:30 Newscast August 14, 2014

A recent study of the housing market in Louisiana finds nearly 45 percent of renters are “rent stressed”. “Rent stress” is defined as paying more than 35 percent of your monthly income in rent. LSU Economist Jim Richardson says in 2000 the number was around 29 percent…

cut 06 (05) “percent increase”

Richardson says the stress comes in when you have limited resources left over to provide other necessities.

The long-time leader of the LSU Alumni Association, Charlie Roberts, has resigned from his post as he faces a lawsuit from former employee, Kay Heath, who claims there was a financial arrangement to keep their sexual relationship secret. Roberts’ attorney Mary Olive Pierson says the resignation should not be taken as an admission of guilt…

cut 9 (11) “kind of silly”

Pearson says a main reason for the resignation is so Heath will drop the alumni association from the lawsuit.

A Slidell woman has been charged with medicaid fraud after she allegedly used her dead sister’s name to receive medical treatment at Slidell Memorial Hospital. Slidell Police detective Daniel Seuzeneu says 26-year-old Diondre Jones provided her deceased sister’s name to hospital staff in an attempt to avoid having to pay any medical bills…

cut 5 (09) “got caught”

Seuzeneau says a bizarre twist to this crime is that Jones was wearing a memorial T-shirt in honor of her deceased sister.

A Monroe couple is accused of leaving their 2-week-old child on the hood of a vehicle, unattended, while they went fishing in Vidalia. Marcella Watson and David Ramey, both 33, were arrested on cruelty to a juvenile and improper supervision of a juvenile. The child was taken to a local hospital to check for sunburn and dehydration.

LRN sportscast 11:40

The long anticipated SEC Network, which promises to air more than 1,000 live events in its first year, officially launches at 5pm today. Herb Vincent, associate commissioner of communications for the Southeastern Conference, says the SEC Network will broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all SEC all the time…:
Cut 30 (06) “a lot of action”
Vincent says the first show on at 5 will be a special 3 hour “SEC Now” which will spotlight live shots from each of the 14 campuses.

Will Saints Quarterback Drew Brees see any action in tomorrow night’s preseason game against Tennessee? Coach Sean Payton told reporters yesterday that he wasn’t sure if Brees will play because of a left oblique injury. He’s been limited in practice all week. So has cornerback Champ Bailey, but guard Ben Grubbs has returned from practice after nursing a back injury.

Former Arkansas linebacker Otha Peters has decided to transfer to UL Lafayette. Peters posted on twitter that he’s a Ragin Cajuns. The former Covington High standout will his redshirt year this season, so he’ll have two years of eligibility remaining next season. Peters started seven games for Arkansas in 2012, but didn’t see as much playing time last season because of injuries and coaching decisions.

The battle for the starting quarterback position at Louisiana Tech is heating up between Iowa transfer senior Cody Sokol and sophomore Ryan Higgins. Head Coach Skip Holtz says the competition between the two is tight…
cut 16 (07) “….right now”
Holtz says both quarterbacks have also done a good job of NOT throwing interceptions.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association has announced only four schools have decided to play up this season. And they are John Curtis, Evangel, St. Thomas More and Teurlings Catholic. They’ll compete in the Division One playoffs, after playing in the Division Two playoffs last year.

11:30 Newscast August 14, 2014

The long-time leader of the LSU Alumni Association, Charlie Roberts, has resigned from his post as he faces a lawsuit from former employee, Kay Heath, who claims there was a financial arrangement to keep their sexual relationship secret. Roberts’ attorney Mary Olive Pierson says a main reason for Roberts’ resignation is Heath’s public statement saying she would drop the alumni association as a party to the suit if he resigned…

cut 10 (05) “dragged into this”

Pierson says the resignation should not be taken as an admission of guilt.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals issues a warning about two diseases for beach goers, for both the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean. State health officer Jimmy Guidry says says you should take precautions against vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria found in warm seawater, and if you’re traveling to the Caribbean, take steps to avoid mosquito bites, so you don’t get the chikungunya virus….

cut 12 (06) “….with these issues”

There are eight travel related cases of chikungunya confirmed in Louisiana.

A Slidell woman has been charged with medicaid fraud after she allegedly used her dead sister’s name to receive medical treatment at Slidell Memorial Hospital. Slidell Police detective Daniel Seuzeneu says a bizarre twist to this crime is that 26-year-old Diondre Jones was wearing a memorial T-shirt in honor of her deceased sister when a police officer caught up to her in the hospital parking lot….

CUT 4 (10) “as a memorial”

Seuzeneau says Diondre provided her sister’s name to hospital staff in an attempt to avoid having to pay any medical bills.

The former Chief Financial Officer at the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office faces theft and malfeasance charges after allegedly giving himself two unauthorized pay increases. A state audit revealed that 61-year-old George Tosspon of Jonesville received over 22-thousand dollars in excess wages from August 2009 to November 2013. Tosspon surrendered to investigators. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

10:30 Newscast August 14, 2014

A federal judge has approved a 48-million dollar class action settlement for Bayou Corne residents affected by a sinkhole that was discovered two years ago. The lawsuit was brought against Texas Brine which was operating a salt mine that is believed to have caused the sinkhole. One of the plaintiff’s attorneys, Larry Centola, says they are happy with the judge’s approval…

cut 7 (09) “the next chapter”

The settlement will compensate 269 residents who lived in the area. Centola says residents should begin to see some settlement money in December.

State district Judge Todd Hernandez has ruled that the lawsuit filed by a group of teachers and parents against Governor Bobby Jindal over Common Core can proceed. However, Hernandez will not allow the plaintiffs to question the governor under oath. This lawsuit alleges Governor Jindal overstepped his Constitutional authority when he suspended state contracts tied to Common Core. The next hearing is scheduled for Monday.

The former chief financial officer at the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office faces theft and malfeasance charges after he allegedly gave himself over 22-thousand dollars in excess wages. State Police Trooper Albert Paxton says last May, Sheriff James Kelley requested the LSP to look into accusations that 61-year-old George Tosspon of Jonesville stole public funds…

cut 15 (09) “everything done”

Tosspon faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

A Slidell woman has been charged with medicaid fraud after she allegedly used her dead sister’s name to receive medical treatment at Slidell Memorial Hospital. Slidell Police detective Daniel Seuzeneau says hospital officials became aware of 26-year-old Diondre Jones’ scam after her false name was entered into the computer…

cut 3 (07) “had been deceased”

Suzeneau says that Jones was wearing a memorial T-shirt in honor of her deceased sister when officers caught up to her in the parking lot.

LRN Newscast 09:30 August 14

A federal judge gives final approval to a 48-million dollar class action lawsuit filed by Bayou Corne residents who saw their lives disrupted as a result of a sinkhole that opened two years ago in Assumption Parish. One of the plantiff attorneys, Larry Centola, says residents should begin to see settlement money within the next few months….
cut 8 (09) “….late as January”
Texas Brine is the defendant in this case as its believed a salt mine they operated caused the sinkhole.

The former chief finanical officer at the Catahoula Sheriff’s office faces theft and malfeasance charges after he allegedly gave himself unauthorized pay increases that totaled over 22-thousand dollars. Trooper Albert Paxton says the state legislative auditor began looking into the alleged crime after Sheriff James Kelley came forward with information about the crime…
cut 15 (09) “….everything done”
Paxton says Tosspon faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has issued a warning for travelers, beach goers and fishermen about two diseases, vibrio vulnificus (vul-nif-ick-us) and the chikungunay (chik-un-gun-yuh) virus. Eric Gill has more…
cut 3 (29) “….reporting”

A Slidell woman has been charged with medicaid fraud for allegedly using her dead sister’s name when she received medical treatment at Slidell Memorial Hospital. Investigators say 26-year-old Diondre Jones thought she would avoid having to pay any medical bills by identifying herself as her sister.

LRN Newscast 08:30 August 14

A federal judge has approved a 48-million dollar class action settlement for Bayou Corne residents affected by a sinkhole that was discovered nearly two years ago in Assumption Parish. Scott Carwile has more…
cut 2 (32) “….reporting”

The police chief of Kinder, which is located in Allen Parish, has entered a plea of not guilty to allegations of malfeasance and theft. Gary Pelican is is accused of using town credit cards to purchase thousands of dollars worth of fuel for himself and family members.

If you’re heading to the Caribbean, the Louisiana department of health and hospitals is asking residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites so you don’t get the Chikungunya virus. State Health officer Jimmy Guidry says the virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and its inital symptoms resemble the flu….
cut 11 (13) “….your physician”
Louisiana has confirmed eight travel related cases of chikungunya.

The SEC Network begins airing on cable and satellite channels at five o’ clock today. SEC Associate Commissioner Herb Vincent says the network dedicated to the SEC will feature live games, daily shows similar Sportcenter and documentaries like ESPN’s 30 on 30. …
cut 5 (09) “….specific to LSU”
LSU’s first football game on the SEC Network will be September sixth when the Tigers host Sam Houston State in the home opener.