Governor-elect John Bel Edwards has reappointed Jimmy LeBlanc as secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Eric Gill reports…
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Eric Gill”

A now former police officer in Plaqumine has been arrested by the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office for allegedly attacking and kidnapping his estranged wife. Authorities says the victim claimed 28-year-old Justin Bush had taken her without her will over the weekend and assaulted her. Deputies believed there was enough evidence to arrest Bush for aggravated kidnapping, battery assault and malfeasance. He was fired from his job.

Trial dates have been set for the two former deputy Marksville city marshals charged with the shooting death of a 6-year-old boy in November. 32-year-old Derrick Stafford and 24-year-old Norris Greenhouse entered pleas of not guilty to murder and attempted murder Tuesday. This case has garnered a lot of media attention and legal analyst Tim Meche says it’ll be up to the defendants as to whether or not they’ll try to move their trials…:
CUT 5 (10) “Avoyelles Parish”

Today is Twelfth Nigh — the official kickoff of the carnival season and King Cake time. Sam Scelfo, owner of Gambino’s Bakery, says because this Mardi Gras season is so short, they’re going to be extra busy. He expects happy customers has they’re introducing some new flavors this season that they’ve never had before…:
Cut 13 (08) “always offered”
Fat Tuesday falls on February 9th.

Authorities have arrested a Crowley man for allegedly killing his girlfriend and burning her body in an Acadia Parish home. 33-year-old Nicholas Dupuis is charged with first degree murder and arson. Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Brant Thompson says Dupuis posted about the crime on social media…:
CUT 9 (11) “officers”
He expects additional arrests will be made throughout the course of the investigation.

After being raised once already since Saturday, Lottery officials have increased tonight’s Powerball jackpot to $500 million dollars. Louisiana Lottery spokeswoman Kimberly Chopin says sales for this run have been through the roof…:
CUT 1 (07) “for that drawing”
The cash value of tonight’s Powerball prize is an estimated $306 million.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards has reappointed Jimmy LeBlanc as secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. LeBlanc says he and Edwards are on the same page when it comes to reducing Louisiana’s prison population. He says progress has been made in reducing the state’s incarceration rate…:
CUT 6 (08) “big prisons”
LeBlanc is the lone cabinet level holdover from the Jindal Administration.

The two men accused in the murder of a 6-year-old boy while working as Marksville deputies have each pleaded not guilty to the crime and will be tried separately. 32-year-old Derrick Stafford and 24-year-old Norris Greenhouse allegedly opened fire on 25-year-old Chris Few’s vehicle in November, injuring him and killing his son, Jeremy Mardis.

Trial dates have been set for the two deputy Marksville city marshals charged with the shooting death of a 6-year-old boy in November. 32-year-old Derrick Stafford and 24-year-old Norris Greenhouse entered pleas of not guilty and will be tried separately in the death of Jeremy Mardis. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it’s not a surprise that the two men will be tried separately…:
CUT 3 (10) “as well”
Stafford’s trial is set to begin September 26th, while Greenhouse’s trial will start November 28th.

Lottery officials have once again raised tonight’s Powerball jackpot. The prize is now an estimated half a billion dollars which is the largest since the $564.1 million that was hit by three people last February. The jackpot was first increased on Tuesday from $400 million to $450 million. Tonight’s drawing carries a cash value of $306 million.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards names Doctor Rebekah Gee as his secretary for the department of health and hospitals. Jeff Palermo has more…”
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Deputies in Iberville Parish have arrested a now former Plaquemine Police officer on charges related to the attack and kidnapping of his estranged wife. They say 28-year-old Office Justin Bush is booked with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and malfeasance. Bush was fired from the Plaquemine Police Department.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards announced a host of appointments to his cabinet and staff Tuesday including the new DHH Secretary, Dr. Rebekah Gee. She’ll oversee the state’s Medicaid expansion as part of Edwards’ campaign commitment. Gee says it would benefit thousands of poor working adults:
CUT 7 (12) “health insurance”
Edwards takes office on Monday.

The two former Marksville deputies accused in the shooting death of a 6-year-old and injuring of his father in November, have pleaded not guilty. 32-year-old Derrick Stafford and 24-year-old Norris Greenhouse were indicted by an Avoyelles Parish grand jury on one count each of second degree murder and attempted second degree murder in December. The two will be tried separately later this year. They allegedly opened fire on 25-year-old Chris Few’s vehicle, injuring him and killing his son, Jeremy Mardis.

Mardi Gras season kicks off today with King’s Day and bakeries all over the state will be busy cooking up king cakes. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The LSU men’s basketball team put on an impressive performance last night against No. 9 Kentucky in the PMAC. The Tigers came away with an 85-67 victory which ended the Wildcats 22-game SEC win streak. Contributing to LSU’s three double-doubles were Tim Quarterman, Craig Victor II and Ben Simmons. The Tigers continue league play this Saturday at Florida.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards has named LSU public health professor Doctor Rebekah Gee as the new secretary for the Department of Health and Hospitals. Gee takes over the position during a budget crisis, but the challenge doesn’t faze her…

cut 9 (08) “will address them”

Gee says expanding the eligibility qualifications, so more people can participate in the state’s Medicaid program is her top priority.

Today is Twelfth night, the kick off to the Mardi Gras season and a busy time for bakeries. Sam Scelfo, owner of Gambino’s Bakery, says because this Mardi Gras season is so short, they’re going to be extra busy making king cakes. He hopes people start having a lot of parties soon to ensure they’ll sell lots of cakes in the short amount of time…

cut 12 (10) “your sales”

He says during the offseason, they play around with many different cake flavors to keep things interesting during Mardi Gras.

A new national auto sales record was set in 2015, but sales in Louisiana dipped last year. Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association President Bob Israel says Louisiana set a record for auto sales in 2014, but sales dropped 3.7 percent in 2015. Still, Israel says dealers in The Bayou State aren’t complaining…

cut 16 (05) “it was a good year”

Nationwide sales hit a record of about 17 million vehicles.

Tonight’s Powerball jackpot has climbed to a whopping $450 million dollars, the 4th largest in the game’s history. Louisiana Lottery spokeswoman Kimberly Chopin says they like to send out a few reminders to players who like to go in on some tickets with friends or in an office pool…

cut 6 (10) “in Powerball”

The cash value for tonight’s jackpot, an estimated $275.4 million dollars.

LSU public health professor Doctor Rebekah Gee has been named the new secretary for the Department of Health and Hospitals. Governor-elect John Bel Edwards says putting procedures in place to expand the state’s Medicaid program will be one of his first duties when he takes office on Monday. Edwards says the expansion will go into effect this summer..

cut 8 (11) “wallets”

Gee takes the job during a budget crisis, but says the challenge doesn’t faze her.

Tonight’s $450 million PowerBall jackpot is the 4th largest in the game’s history. Louisiana Lottery spokeswoman Kimberly Chopin says a lot of people in Louisiana play PowerBall when the jackpots get this big…

cut 5 (09) “Powerball alone”

The deadline to purchase a ticket for tonight’s drawing is 9PM.

Although nationwide auto sales hit a record in 2015, Louisiana didn’t see such a boost. Bob Israel, President of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, says Louisiana set a record for auto sales in 2014, but sales were down about 3.7 percent last year…

cut 15 (10) “for us”

He says our oil based economy is suffering which played a part in a slight auto sales decline in the state last year.

Twelfth night is today and that means it’s the kick off to Mardi Gras season and a busy time for bakeries. Co-owner of Haydel’s Bakery in New Orleans, David Haydel, says with Fat Tuesday falling on February 9th, king cakes will be selling quickly…

cut 10 (08) “us busy”

Haydel says this is the time where the bakery has all hands on deck to make sure they make enough king cakes for everyone.

The US set a new auto sales record in 2015, but Louisiana didn’t see such a boost. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Due to the continuing rising waters in the Mississippi River, the US Army Corps of Engineers announced they will begin daily inspections of the levee system. An announcement is expected today on whether or not they will open the Bonnet Carre Spillway. The gates of the spillway could be opened as early as Saturday. Officials are also continuing to monitor the flow rate of the Mississippi at the Morganza Spillway. They say Louisiana’s levee system is ready and capable of handling the coming waters.

LSU public health professor Doctor Rebekah Gee is the new secretary for the Department of Health and Hospitals. Gee says expanding the eligibility qualifications, so more people can participate in the state’s Medicaid program is her top priority, saying it would benefit thousands of poor working adults…

cut 7 (12) “health insurance”

Gee will oversee a nine-point-seven billion dollar agency that has about seven-thousand employees.

At $450 million dollars, tonight’s Powerball jackpot is the 4th largest in the game’s history. Louisiana Lottery spokeswoman Kimberly Chopin says sales for this run have been through the roof, which is why it was raised from $400 million…

cut 4 (07) “for that drawing”

The cash value for tonight’s jackpot is an estimated $275.4 million dollars.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards names Doctor Rebekah Gee as his secretary for the department of health and hospitals. Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor Bobby Jindal announced that BlueLine Associates will establish a software development office at the Louisiana Technology Park in Baton Rouge. They say the new facility will create 40 new direct jobs with an average salary of $40,000 plus benefits. LED estimates the project will results in 27 new indirect jobs.

The US set a new auto sales record in 2015, but Louisiana didn’t see such a boost. Automakers announced Tuesday that last year, nationwide sales hit a record of about 17 million vehicles. Bob Israel is the President of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association. He says our oil based economy is suffering which played a part in a slight auto sales decline in Louisiana last year:

Cut 14 (10) “not devastating”

Israel says the industry as a whole benefits from easy credit, low gas prices and economic growth, but the low oil prices are affecting sectors across the board in Louisiana.