Officials are urging folks in southeast Louisiana to stay put if you can as severe storms have moved through the area and downed trees and power-lines. Entergy is reporting over 150,000 customers are without power. Spokesman Tom Peters says crews will be working to restore electricity as weather conditions improve…:
CUT 1 (05) “is safe”
The National Weather Service in New Orleans says a tornado was spotted near Thibodaux by local sheriff’s office personnel.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office urges consumers to research the costs and benefits of solar panels before purchasing them. The director of the public protection division of the state’s A-G’s office, Sam Pleasant, says homeowners can be attracted by a promise of reduced energy costs from solar power systems, but..:
CUT 13 (09) “up front”

The $22.9 million makeover of the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria begins today after numerous delays. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

ESPN is reporting the Pelicans have made a max offer to All-Star Anthony Davis that would pay him a total of 140-million dollars over five years. Davis still has one-year left on his rookie contract. The Pels season is over after getting swept by Golden State in their first round playoff series.

Severe weather continues to pummel southeast Louisiana this morning prompting the National Weather Service to issue Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings in the region. Power disruptions have been reported as a result of the storms. A Tornado Watch remains in effect for southeast Louisiana until 1PM today. Flash Flood Watches are in effect for a large portion of central and south Louisiana until as late as tomorrow afternoon.

A measure to increase the state’s tax on cigarettes by $1.18 is being debated in the House Ways and Means Committee. Stasha Rhodes, with the American Heart Association in Louisiana, says the bill has an excellent chance at passing, because of the state’s massive budget shortfall…

cut 10 (06) “possible solution”

This legislation would increase the state’s cigarette tax from 36-cents per pack to $1.54 per pack, which is the national average.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office urges consumers to research the costs and benefits of solar panels before purchasing them. The director of the public protection division of the state’s A-G’s office, Sam Pleasant, says you can contact your utility provider to see if they’ll perform an energy efficiency audit of your home, which can determine if it’s even worth getting solar panels…

cut 15 (08) “solar system”

Pleasant says they issued this alert now, because warmer weather prompts many consumers to look at ways to save money on utility bills.

Funeral services for Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott will be held today after his sudden death last week in Baton Rouge while on business at the Capitol. Pete Adams is the Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association…

cut 7 (09) “very intelligent”

Preliminary findings reveal the 67-year-old died of previously diagnosed heart disease.

The National Weather Service has issued Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings for several parishes this morning in southeast Louisiana as severe weather sweeps through the state. A Tornado Watch remains in effect for a large portion of central and south Louisiana until 1PM today, while Flash Flood Watches remain in effect until as late as tomorrow afternoon. Power outages have been reported due to storm activity.

For homeowners looking at purchasing solar panels to reduce their utility costs. Jeff Palermo reports the attorney general’s office says do your homework first…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

Today, the House Ways and Means Committee will consider a bill that will raise the state’s cigarette tax from 36-cents per pack to $1.54 per pack, which is the national average. Stasha Rhodes, with the American Heart Association in Louisiana, says the measure under consideration today would generate 223-million dollars in new revenue for the state, which is why they think it has an excellent chance at passing…

cut 12 (11) “7,000 lives”

Legislators are currently tackling a one-point-six billion dollar budget deficit.

Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott will be laid to rest today after his sudden death last week in Baton Rouge while on business at the Capitol. Pete Adams, Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, says Scott was a true leader in their organization…

cut 9 (10) “to the highest standards”

A special election for a new Caddo DA is expected to happen in conjunction with this fall’s gubernatorial election.

A bill to increase the state’s tax on cigarettes by $1.18 is expected to be debated today in the House Ways and Means Committee. Jeff Palermo has a preview…

cut 2 (29) “reporting”

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are in effect for several parishes as another round of severe weather sweeps through Louisiana. The National Weather Service has also issued a Tornado Watch for a large portion of central and south Louisiana until 1PM today, while a Flash Flood Watch will remain in effect until as late as tomorrow afternoon. NWS says thunderstorms today through tomorrow morning could drop two to three inches of rain with localized amounts up to five inches possible.

Funeral services are scheduled today for Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott who died suddenly last week in a Baton Rouge hotel while on business at the Capitol. Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, Pete Adams says Scott was the kind of person who was kind to everyone and didn’t have a mean bone in his body…

cut 8 (09) “worked very hard”

Caddo District Court proceedings are suspended today in honor of Scott’s funeral at the Broadmoor Baptist Church.

$22.9 million in renovations to the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria begins today after numerous delays. Rapides Police Jury President Richard Billings says renovations will take place both outside and inside the building. He says renovations, so to speak, won’t stop with the building itself…

cut 6 (11) “many, many years”

The renovations are expected to take 20 to 22 months to complete.

This morning the House Ways and Means Committee will consider a bill that will raise the state’s cigarette tax to the national average of $1.54 per pack. Stasha Rhodes, with the American Heart Association in Louisiana, says not only will an increase in the cigarette tax help the state’s budget situation now, it will result in fewer people smoking, which should result in cost savings in the future…

cut 11 (11) “15.4 million dollars”

The state is facing a one-point-six billion dollar budget shortfall.

After numerous delays, the $22.9 million makeover of the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria begins today. Rapides Police Jury President Richard Billings says, when complete, the venue will be practically brand new with renovations happening both outside and inside the building…

cut 5 (10) “for entertainers”

The project is finally getting underway after voters approved a bond issue to renovate the facility two-and-a-half years ago.

If you’re considering solar panels for your home, the Louisiana Attorney General’s office urges consumers to research the costs and benefits before buying. The A-G’s director of the public protection division, Sam Pleasant, says Attorney General Buddy Caldwell recommends that potential solar panel buyers get at least three written proposals or price quotes and speak with people who have first-hand experience in purchasing them…

cut 14 (10) “recoup savings”

She says homeowners can be attracted by a promise of reduced energy costs from solar power systems.

Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott will be laid to rest today after his sudden death last week in a Baton Rouge hotel while on business at the Capitol. Pete Adams is the Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association…:

cut 7 (09) “very intelligent”

Preliminary findings reveal the 67-year-old Scott died of previously diagnosed heart disease.

The House Ways and Means Committee will consider this morning a bill that will raise the state’s cigarette tax from 36-cents per pack to $1.54 per pack, which is the national average. Stasha Rhodes, with the American Heart Association in Louisiana, says the measure has an excellent chance at passing, because of the state’s massive budget shortfall…

cut 10 (06) “possible solution”

Rhodes says the cigarette tax increase under consideration today would generate 223-million dollars in new revenue for the state.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office urges consumers to research the costs and benefits of solar panels before purchasing them. The director of the public protection division of the state’s A-G’s office, Sam Pleasant, says homeowners can be attracted by a promise of reduced energy costs from solar power systems, but sometimes there are some significant up front costs…

cut 13 (09) “up front”
The $22.9 million makeover of the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria begins today after numerous delays. The project is finally getting underway after voters approved a bond issue to renovate the facility two-and-a-half years ago. Rapides Police Jury President Richard Billings says everyone’s excited these changes are finally being made…

cut 4 (10) “what we want”

Billings says renovations are happening both outside and inside the building. He says construction is expected to take 20 to 22 months to complete.

Excellent chance we’ll see rain today, if it hasn’t already rained in your area, for central and south Louisiana. The southwest corner of the state is under a severe thunderstorm watch until one P-M.

Olympic champion and reality TV star Bruce Jenner announced last night that he is a woman. The 1976 Olympic Gold medalist says he’s been dealing with gender confusion since he was a child. Matthew Patterson of Equality Louisiana hopes Jenner’s public story will be an inspiration for transgener individuals…:
CUT 8 (07) “of trans people”
Jenner said he has yet to decide if he’ll undergo sexual reassignment surgery.

This afternoon at one PM, the number one ranked LSU baseball team will go for the sweep against Texas A-and-M. The Tigers took game two of the series last night by the score of nine to six.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says national investors have pulled out of a 114-million dollar bond deal that would helped fund various construction projects on LSU’s campus. Kennedy says investors are concerned about potential big budget cuts to higher education…
cut 18 (07) “…put it”
State lawmakers are trying to come up with a plan that would prevent large cuts to higher ed, but so far a clear solution has yet to develop.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission reports that there was a seven percent decline in the number of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2014 compared to the prior year. Deputy Director Ken Trull says helmets are helping to reduce motorcycle deaths. He says an observational study in 2014 found that 100-percent of motorcyclists wore a helmet…:
CUT 13 (08) “turn signals”
He says they need all motorists to get on board with keeping an eye on motorcyclists.