Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret anticipates significant job growth in 2015 and beyond. Moret says the growth will also spread out among various industry sectors…
cut 9 (11) “…today”
For instance I-B-M is hiring eight-hundred workers for its new facility in Baton Rouge

A Denham Springs family is the mourning the loss of a 37-year-old mother and her 11-year-old daugther. They were killed in a two-vehicle wreck on New Year’s Eve in Livingston Parish. The crash also claimed the life of the other driver that was involved. State Police Troooper Jared Sandifer says the 11-year-old victim was in the rear middle seat, wearing a seatbelt, but the vehicle was equipped with a lap belt only…
cut 11 (10) “…option”
Sandifer says they do not believe alcohol played a role in this crash.

With statewide elections taking place this year and the possibility of Governor Bobby Jindal announcing a run for President, 2015 expects to be another wild year in Louisiana politics. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Republican US Senator David Vitter is the front-runner in the governor’s race, but there are other strong candidates…
cut 4 (12) “….uncertainty”
An announcement is expected early this year on whether Jindal will run for President.

If living a healthier lifestyle is one of your New Year’s Resolutions for 2015, Melissa Martin, director of the department of health and hospitals Well-Ahead initative, says their are apps on your smart phone that can help you stay accountable and aware of the decisions you make…
cut 14 (11) “…back burner”

2015 is expected to be another busy year in Louisiana politics. It’s anticipated Governor Bobby Jindal will announce that he’s running for President. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says that announcment could come sooner than originally planned, because of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s entrance into the race…
cut 5 (06) “….too far ahead”
Jindal is expected back in Iowa next week to meet with religious leaders.

Many people start the new year making a resolution to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. Melissa Martin, director of the state department health and hospitals well-ahead program, says watching your alcohol consumption can make a difference when it comes to following through with your resolutions…
cut 15 (11) “…intake”
Martin says drinking water is also important, because staying hydrated helps curb hunger.

Louisiana’s Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret anticipates significant growth in 2015 as a result of the new projects they announced last year. Moret says a lot of that growth will occur in the high tech and the software development industry…
cut 7 (04) “…in Louisiana”
Moret says in 2014, Louisiana announced dozens of company expansions or relocations, which will result in 25-thousand new jobs.

Several new state laws went into effect with the new year. 16-year-olds can now register to vote, but they still can’t vote until their 18. You may have the option to get a sport university logo on your driver’s license. And smoking is now prohibited within 25 feet of an entrance to a state office building.

It’s January first, and today 21 states have officially raised the minimum wage, but Louisiana is not one of them. Critics of a higher wage say it forces some businesses to reduce their work force, But Tulane Business professor Mark Rosa says government can minimize the impact, by raising it slightly, or index it to inflation.
CUT 7 (09) “50 percent”

The CDC is reporting the flu has now reached the epidemic level in the U.S. and the State Department of Health and Hospitals says its going to get worse before it gets better here in the Bayou State.
Cut 3 (06) “influenza-like symptoms”
Medical director for the immunization program, Dr. Frank Welch, who says get a flu shot.

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is now accepting applications to become a wildlife and fisheries field agent. Emelie Gunn has more…
Cut 2 (27) “reporting”

New Year’s Day has turned out to be a wet, dreary and chilly one for most of north and central Louisiana, keeping most people inside. For the rest of the state…
CUT 14 (05) Q: “to be wet”
That’s Marty Mayeaux, with the National Weather Service Office in Shreveport.

Even though the minimum wage is going up in 21 states today, here in Louisiana the minimum hourly wage stays at $7.25. But Tulane Business Professor Mark Rosa says with nearly half of the states acting on their own, it will spur more talk about raising the federal minimum wage
Cut 6 (10) “has been changed”
Arkansas is one of the few states in the south that has raised the minimum wage.

If you’re looking for a new job in 2015, and you love the outdoors, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has some new openings for enforcement officials…
CUT 11 (08) Q: ‘to apply’
That’s LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck.

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The Centers for Disease Control says the flu has now reached epidemic levels in the U.S. and here in Louisiana, DHH says its going to get worse before it gets better….
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

Shreveport Police are asking for your help in locating a missing teen-ager who who reportedly ran away from home. Fifteen year-old Daigerria Morrow (who is 5 foot 4, and 110 pounds) has been missing since Christmas Day. If you have any information, call CrimeStoppers.

No winner last night for the $120 million Powerball jackpot, which means the prize goes to an estimated $131 million for Saturday’s drawing.

There were several crashes reported from New Years Eve, including a deadly two-car accident in Livingston Parish that killed the driver of one vehicle and two passengers in the other on Louisiana 447 South of I-12. State Police say one driver, 24 year-old Trinity Kiger of Satsuma died after striking another car in the opposite lane, driven my Ronald Chisolm of Denham Springs. His 37 year-old wife Shannon died, along with his 11 year-old daughter Hannah.

Health officials are saying the flu has now reached epidemic levels in the U.S. and DHH says its getting bad in Louisiana. Medical director for the immunization program, Dr. Frank Welch, says this year’s flu shot is not perfect, but it’s your best protection…
CUT 4 (11) Q: ‘dies from it’
He says right now, seven out of every 100 doctor visits in the state are for flu-like symptoms.
———————-
2015 is off to a dreary start weather-wise in north Louisiana. Marty Mayeaux, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says cold and rainy conditions will keep people inside….
cut 12 (06) “of rainfall”
There’s also a good chance of rain in southwest Louisiana today and those rain chances increase across most of South Louisiana over the weekend.

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get a new job, The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is now accepting applications from those who are interested in becoming an enforcement agent.
Cut 9 (11) “of the week”
That’s LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck says more information can be found on the state’s civil service website. He adds this is a great job if you love the outdoors.

It’s a new year and for 21 states a higher minimum wage for low-paid workers goes into effect. Critics of a higher minimum wage say it forces some businesses to reduce their work force in order to compensate for the higher wages. But Tulane Business Professor Mark Rosa says government can minimize the impact, by raising the wage rate slightly or index it to inflation….
cut 7 (09) “…50 percent”

The Centers for Disease Control says the flu has now reached the epidemic level in the United States and the state Department of Health and Hospitals says it will get worse before it gets better. Medical director for the immunization program, Dr. Frank Welch, says the flu situation in the Bayou State is absolutely terrible…
Cut 3 (06) “influenza-like symptoms”

A cold and rainy start to the New Year in north Louisiana and Marty Mayeaux, with the National Weather Service, says rain chances will increase across south Louisiana over the next couple of days…
cut 14 (05) “…to be wet”
Dry conditions for the entire state will not return until Sunday.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is now accepting applications to become a wildlife and fisheries field agent. Emelie Gunn has more…
cut 2 (27) “….reporting”

The C-D-C continues to report widespread flu cases across Louisiana. Doctor Frank Welch, with the state department of health and hospitals, is urging residents to get the flu shot, even though it doesn’t match up completely with the strain of flu going around. He says it can prevent a severe illness and he knows from personal experience…
cut 5 (11) “….three days later”
Welch says almost seven out of every 100 doctor visits are for flu-like symptoms.

State Police say three people were killed in a two-vehicle crash in Livingston Parish last night. Authorities say one of the vehicles ended up flipping and it led to the closure of a heavily traveled roadway for several hours. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Rainy conditions for much of Louisiana today, especially for the northern half of the state. And Marty Mayeaux, with the National Weather Service, expects the rain to keep falling in Shreveport, Monroe and Alexandria through Saturday…
cut 13 (09) “…Saturday afternoon”
It’s raining in southwest Louisiana this morning and rain chances will increase across the southern half of the state on Friday and Saturday.

The minimum wage goes up in 21 states today, including Arkansas. Voters approved a minimum wage of $8.05 an hour. Tulane Business Professor, Doctor Mark Rosa, says it will be interesting to see how this impacts Arkansas’ economy…
cut 8 (08) “…large percentages”
Rosa also expects Congress will continue the discussion over whether to raise the federal minimum wage.