We’re a week away from the swearing-in of Democrat John Bel Edwards as the state’s next governor. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Monroe Police have arrested a man following a stabbing Sunday morning. They say 30-year-old Daniel Walters and another man were involved in a physical altercation when the stabbing occurred. Authorities say Walters admitted to fearing for his life when he pulled a pocket knife and stabbed the other man five times in self defense. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of his injuries. Walters is charged with attempted second degree murder.

We learned last week that Louisiana is facing a $750 million deficit this fiscal year and another $1.9 billion next fiscal year. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says it seems almost inevitable that the legislature will have to raise some new revenues to tackle the deficit. Erwin says the legislature should take a broad-based approach in finding a permanent solution to the budget problems…

cut 6 (08) “a little bit” 4X

He says lawmakers have a lot of options when it comes to raising revenues, like raising sales, income, gasoline, and “sin” taxes.

As river levels are expected to crest later this month at a historically high level for the winter months at Vicksburg and Natchez, the Corps of Engineers is scheduled to begin emergency operations on the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River reached an all-time high water level in 2011 and Fifth Louisiana Levee District President Reynold Minsky says they learned a lot from that event, which is helping them this time around…

cut 8 (10) “this flood”

One week from today, Democrat John Bel Edwards will be sworn in as the state’s next governor. Since the election, Edwards has been appointing officials to serve in his administration. The governor-elect’s deputy chief of staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says they’re hearing good feedback about the team Edwards is building…

cut 13 (10) “it’s just different”

She says the new administration plans to keep an open dialogue with the public.

A lot of people are making New Year’s resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle in 2016 but that’s often easier said than done. LSU Health New Orleans Clinical Psychologist Dr. Michelle Moore says your resolutions should be something that carry on throughout all of 2016, not just the start of the year…

cut 10 (09) “manageable”

Moore says many people have good intentions, but often fall off by the end of January.

Many wonder if lawmakers can make up the state’s budget shortfall without raising taxes. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin doesn’t think so, but he says legislators will look at other alternatives first…

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It was announced last week that Louisiana is facing a $750 million deficit this fiscal year and another $1.9 billion next fiscal year.

The Corps of Engineers is scheduled to begin emergency operations on the Mississippi River as river levels are expected to crest later this month at a historically high level for the winter months at Vicksburg and Natchez. Fifth Louisiana Levee District President Reynold Minsky says relief wells were installed, which should reduce flooding…

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The Mississippi is expected to rise to 60 feet by January 17th, less than two feet short of the record set in 2011.

Democrat John Bel Edwards will be sworn in as the state’s next governor in one week. The governor-elect’s deputy chief of staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says the new administration plans to keep an open dialogue with the public when it comes to the harsh realities the state faces with its budget situation…

cut 14 (08) “for Louisiana”

Incoming Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne has pegged the shortfall for this fiscal year at 750-million dollars and one-point-nine billion dollars next fiscal year.

Can lawmakers can make up this budget shortfall without raising taxes? Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says it seems almost inevitable that the legislature will have to raise some new revenues. Erwin says an increase in the state sales tax is one possible area lawmakers may target…

cut 5 (08) “in some way”

He says lawmakers could also raise income, gasoline, and “sin” taxes.

With the new year, many make resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle. LSU Health New Orleans Clinical Psychologist Dr. Michelle Moore says many people have good intentions to live a better lifestyle at the start of the new year, but often fall off by the end of January. She says giving yourself a plan and building on it every month will help you to keep up with your resolution…

cut 11 (10) “the diet”

She says not to make dramatic resolutions right off the bat because they are hard to keep.

Nobody won Saturday night’s PowerBall drawing. The estimated jackpot for Wednesday night’s drawing climbs to $400 million.

US oil prices fell 30-percent in 2015, so what could we expect in 2016? David Dismukes is the executive director at LSU’s Center for Energy Studies and he says there needs to be an increase in demand for oil for prices to go back up, but he doesn’t see that happening anytime soon…

cut 6 (10) “rebound in 16”

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, a barrel of oil is going for 37-dollars a far cry from 2014 when oil was trading for 100-dollars a barrel.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of fatally stabbing his 14-year-old nephew and injuring another nephew and his own elderly mother. Information is limited, but authorities believe 58-year-old Tyrone Dorsey stabbed all three during during some sort of altercation. The victims were transported to a local hospital, where the 14-year-old died from his injuries. The 21-year-old male and 79-year-old female suffered non-life threatening injuries. Police have yet to determine a motive for the stabbings.

The estimated jackpot for tonight’s PowerBall lottery has hit an incredible $334 million with a cash value of $205 million. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kimberly Chopin says this is the largest PowerBall jackpot since February of 2015’s $564 million jackpot. Chopin says when jackpots rise, more and more people play PowerBall…

cut 4 (09) “play responsibly”

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

Less than 72 hours after Kevin Steele announced he was leaving Baton Rouge to take the defensive coordinator position at Auburn, LSU announces Wisconsin’s Dave Arnada as the Tigers’ new defensive coordinator. Under Arnada, the Badger defense ranks in the top seven nationally in five major defensive categories. In a bit of irony, LSU opens their 2016 football season against Wisconsin.

With a new year, a handful of laws go into effect. Jeff Palermo has more…

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The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department says a Bridge City man was shot and killed in Avondale on New Year’s Day. They say 32-year-old Joseph Washington was talking to a friend outside her car when two men walked up to Washington and shot him multiple times. The two men then fled the scene. The woman Washington was speaking with was not injured. The police investigation is ongoing.

Because of high river levels on the Mississippi River, the US Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to possibly open the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish next weekend. Corps spokesperson Ricky Boyett says they are closely monitoring crest projections

cut 12 (09) “we’ll move forward”

Boyett says if they open the Bonnet Carre, it takes the pressure off Louisiana’s levee system and allows the waters to flow out of harm’s way.

Hoverboards were among the most popular gifts this holiday season, but LSU students who received one are urged to leave them at home when they return to campus from the winter break. The school has issued a temporary ban on hoverboards on campus due to safety risks. There have been several reports of hoverboard batteries bursting into flame, especially while they are being charged. LSU says the ban will stay in place until safety standards for all hoverboards are implemented.

Tonight’s estimated PowerBall jackpot has climbed to an incredible $334 million. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kimberly Chopin says the current jackpot has been growing since November 4th. She says it’s been a while since we’ve seen a PowerBall jackpot at this level…

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Tonight’s jackpot has a cash value of $205 million.

The Kenner Police Department says a woman was injured after a man fired a gun in celebration of the new year. They say 26-year-old Brandon Smith fired the gun toward an empty parking lot early Friday morning when one shot bounced off a metal pole and struck a 40-year-old woman who was getting out of a car. The unidentified victim was transported to an area hospital where she was treated for her injury and released. Smith faces charges of aggravated battery, negligent injury, and illegal discharge of a firearm.

The Smoking Cessation Trust is offering Louisiana smokers tips to help them quit in 2016. Spokesperson Jim Pittman says any resident that started smoking before September 1, 1988 is eligible for free programs and services, including cessation medication, nicotine replacement therapy, and counseling. He says there are also several other recommendations for those who want to quit…

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Pittman advises smokers to chat with their doctor about nicotine replacement therapy or a prescription medication to stop.

Baton Rouge Police say a man is under arrest after a stabbing incident left another man hospitalized. Authorities say 22-year-old Felix Gonzalez stabbed the man during an argument between friends Friday night. They say Gonzalez had been drinking most of the day when he was provoked by the other man, drew a knife, and stabbed the victim in the abdomen. The unidentified victim was transported to a local hospital where he is listed in stable condition. Gonzalez is charged with a count of aggravated battery.

With a new year, a handful of laws go into effect. Jeff Palermo has the story…
cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Firefighters in Scott are warning people of the dangers of fireworks after an incident that left one person with second degree burns. At around 12:30, firefighters responded to a car accident. Officials say a firecracker was lit inside of a moving car with five people inside. The victim tried to throw it out the window of the car but winds pushed it back inside the vehicle where it then exploded. The driver wrecked into a fence trying to help the victim.

 
2015 saw oil prices in the US drop , so what could we expect in 2016? David Dismukes, executive director at LSU’s Center for Energy Studies, says the driving public is enjoying the drop in gas prices, but companies in the oil industry have been forced to layoff thousands of workers. Dismukes says we likely won’t see as many job losses in 2016…
cut 8 (11) “they do”

Saturday night’s Powerball jackpot rises to $334 million with a cash value of $205 million. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kimberly Chopin reminds players that it only takes one ticket to win, so play responsibly. Chopin also says you shouldn’t be too quick to throw out your ticket if you don’t hit the big jackpot…
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