The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services tells legislators her department is in need of resources to care for the more than four-thousand children in foster care in Louisiana. Marketa Garner Walters spoke to the House of Appropriations about the $10.9 million hole in the DCFS budget. Garner says the process of finding a place to stay can be difficult on children from abusive homes.

CUT 4 (10)  “wanted there”

Walters says DCFS deals with things like child abuse investigation, foster care, food stamps, and child support enforcement.

A federal judge officially rejected Former Saints safety Darren Sharper’s plea bargain in the case where he allegedly drugged and raped multiple women. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says Judge Milazzo said this morning, the original plea deal does not reflect the severity of the crime.

CUT 7 (09) “plea bargain”

South Louisiana law enforcement are actively searching for seven wanted fugitives from the Gremlins Criminal Gang and their search efforts have been boosted by the latest video message from the “Cajun John Wayne.” Captain Clay Higgins with St. Landry’s parish sheriff’s office asks the public to contact police with any information about the gang’s crimes of the whereabouts of the fugitives.

Cut 11 (04) “our knees”

Higgins says the fugitives are armed and dangerous. Authorities say the Gremlins are responsible for violent crimes including murder, armed robbery, burglary, and drug trafficking.

37-year-old Shauna Reid allegedly attempted to check the wrong child into school in Calcasieu parish, while under the influence of prescribed narcotics. According to law enforcement, Reid brought a 3-year-old family member to school claiming it was her 6-year-old family member, but the 6-year-old was already in class. Reid was taken to a local hospital where she submitted to a toxicology test. She was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on one charge of cruelty to a juvenile. The Department of Child and Family Services placed the 3-year-old in the custody of a family member.

A federal judge officially rejected Former Saints safety Darren Sharper’s plea bargain in the case where he allegedly drugged and raped multiple women. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says Sharper is facing accusations in three other states and agreed to nine years in jail after pleading guilty in those jurisdictions. But Foret says US District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo believes nine years isn’t enough…:
CUT 6 (10) “be convicted”
Judge Milazzo gave Sharper until March 3rd to withdraw his guilty plea.

South Louisiana law enforcement are actively searching for the seven remaining wanted fugitives of the Gremlines Crimingal Game and their search efforts have gone viral with the Cajun John Wayne. St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s OFfice Captain Clay Higgins called out fugitives in the video:
CUT 9 (05) “like you”
The video had over 8 million views in less than 24 hours.

Marketa Garner Walters, secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, spoke to legislators about a $10 million hole in the DCFS budget. Halen Doughty reports…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The State Bond Commission has approved $375 million dollars in funding for projects across the state, and more than $35 million in interest savings.

The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services tells legislators her department is in need of resources to care for the more than four-thousand children in foster care in Louisiana. Marketa Garner Walters spoke to the House Appropriations Committee about the $10.9 million dollar hole in the DCFS budget. She says there is a shortage of foster homes…:
CUT 3 (09) “a placement”
She says Louisiana could face federal penalties if it falls short of meeting required standards for the agency.

Today a federal judge in New Orleans did not accept the plea deal set forth by former NFL & Saints star Darren Sharper on charges he drugged and raped several women. The ruling indicated that the 9-10 year prison sentence Sharper agreed to in exchange for pleading guilty in four states was too lenient. Sharper now has to decide before his sentencing hearing on March 3rd whether or not he wants to withdraw the guilty plea.

Lawmakers are considering raising the tax on alcohol for the first time since 1948 to help solve the state’s budget crisis. Halen Doughty has more:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Tough second half for the LSU men’s basketball team as they lost their first home game in SEC play last night. The Tigers shot 32-percent in the second half against the Crimson Tide and lost to Alabama 76 to 69. LSU was outscored 45-33 in the final 20 minutes. Free throw shooting was a problem as they missed 15.

The House Ways and Means Committee is taking up several tax measures today for debate, but not yet vote. Republican Representative Chris Broadwater of Hammond says, in regards to the one cent sales tax, there is concern about whether or not it would be utilized short term or something that would stick…:
CUT 5 (10) “that need to be made”
Broadwater says it remains to be seen if lawmakers will decide to make this part of the solution to the budget crisis.

A federal judge in New Orleans did not accept the guilty plea put forth by former Saints player Darren Sharper in the drug and rape case. Last year Sharper said he was guilty of drugging and raping women in four states in exchange for a 9 year prison sentence, but today the judge said she didn’t think that the punishment reflected the seriousness of the alleged crime. Sharper must decide before a sentencing hearing next month whether he wants to withdraw his guilty plea.

Folks who are in the business of alcohol in Louisiana are not happy the state is considering an increase in the taxes on spirits. Alcohol taxes in Louisiana have not been raised since 1948. John Williams with the Beer Industry League of Louisiana says the tax increase in 1948 devastated the beer brewing industry in Louisiana. He says the state still has one of the highest alcohol taxes in the country…:
Cut 15 (05) “excise tax”
The measure to increase the tax on alcohol would go into effect beginning in April if it passes.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is expected to make a major policy change announcement this afternoon at the state capitol. In a release, Landry says the new guideline is aimed at ending the appearance of corruption as he’s committed to running an honest, ethical agency.

LSU Football coach Les Miles introduced two new additions to his coaching staff Wednesday. Jabbar Juluke is the new Tigers running backs coach while Dameyune Craig will be in charge of wide receivers.

A Republican lawmaker from Hammond says serious tax discussions are taking place in committee today including the one cent sales tax increase.
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Some lawmakers aren’t happy about threatening LSU football unless taxes are raised. But Democratic Baton Rouge Representative Pat Smith says lawmakers should be doing whatever possible to make sure schools stay open for students…:
CUT 10 (07) “to school”

State Representative Kenny Cox of Natchitoches is proposing a higher tax on alcohol as a way to help close the state’s huge budget deficit. But if it happens, local craft beer breweries are worried that people while opt for cheaper alcohol as opposed to beverages made in Louisiana. State Representative Mike Huval of Breaux Bridge says this tax could hurt people that are trying to build their business in an already fragile economy..:
Cut 16 (05) “upcoming business“
Alcohol taxes in Louisiana have not been raised since 1948.

The Louisiana Supreme Court delays the scheduled March 14th execution of the so-called River Parishes serial killer Daniel Blank. He was sentenced to death for the brutal beating death of a 71-year-old Ascension Parish woman in 1997. Blank’s attorney, Gary Clements, says his client admitted to a crime after a 12-hour interrogation…:
CUT 12 (10) “physical reality”

The state alcohol tax hasn’t been raised since the late 1940s but that could change as lawmakers working to solve the state’s budget crisis…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Republican Representative Chris Broadwater of Hammond, who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, says the proposal to increase the state sales tax by a penny is a significant part of the discussion at the capitol:
CUT 6 (05) “associated with it”
The measure gets its first committee hearing today.

A lawmaker from north Louisiana rolls his eyes at the notion that there would be no college football in the spring because of potential cuts to higher ed. Republican State Representative Steve Pylant of Winnsboro says campuses shouldn’t be threatening to shut down unless they get more money. He’s says he’s against raising taxes to solve the problem and compares the matter to feeding hogs…:
CUT 8 (09) “a fight”
But others say lawmakers should be doing whatever is necessary to make sure schools remain open for students.

The state Supreme Court delays the scheduled March 14th execution of the so-called River Parishes serial killer Daniel Blank. His attorney, Gary Clements, says his client is innocent and the state needs to give the case another look…:
CUT 13 (06) “an execution”
He says the corrections department doesn’t have lethal injection drugs anyway.

Republican Representative Chris Broadwater of Hammond, who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, says lawmakers are taking a hard look at the Edwards Administration’s proposed one cent sales tax increase. He says the reason it’s such a pivotal issue is because they are trying to close a massive $950ish million dollar gap in the current fiscal year budget…:
cut 4 (06) “were it to pass”
He says the amount of revenue associated with the proposed one penny sales tax hike is keeping this a significant part of the discussion.

State Representative Kenny Cox of Natchitoches is proposing a higher tax on alcohol as a means to help close the deficit. It would be the first time since 1948. The measure would raise Louisiana’s beer, wine and liquor tax to the Southern regional averages..:
Cut 14 (05) “do something”
Under Cox’s bill, a gallon of liquor would be taxed an additional $3, and wine 34 cents more.

The Louisiana Supreme Court delays the scheduled March 14th execution of the so-called River Parishes serial killer Daniel Blank — who was sentenced to die for the brutal murder of a 71-year-old Ascension Parish woman in 1997. Blank’s attorney, Gary Clements, says an execution date should have never been set, because his client had yet to exhaust all of his appeals…:
cut 11 (10) “after that”
Apparently Blanks’ execution could not have been carried out next month either way, because the state doesn’t have the necessary drugs.

Retiring Voice of the Tigers Jim Hawthorne has been named a recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Longtime Alexandria sportswriter Bob Tompkins is receiving the same honor. Both men will be enshrined in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

A north Louisiana lawmaker doesn’t like hearing the threat that there will be no LSU football next season because of budget issues facing higher education. Republican State Representative Steve Pylant of Winnsboro says Governor John Bel Edwards’ statement about the possibility there will be no LSU football next year is an empty threat…:
CUT 7 (06) “this fall”
But Democrat State Representative Pat Smith of Baton Rouge says legislators have to do whatever they can to keep universities open…:
Cut 9 (07) “doors open”
The comments came during a full day’s worth of testimony about funding for higher education.

Meanwhile the state Senate says they’ve done all they can, by law, to help balance the state’s budget as they await bills from the House side where tax increases and most financial measures must originate. The upper chamber has approved about $328 million dollars in patchwork funding to fill gaps in this year’s budget.

The Louisiana Supreme Court delays the execution of the so-called River Parish serial killer. Emelie Gunn reports Daniel Blank was scheduled to die next month for the murder of an elderly woman in 1997…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

LSU was knocked out of the tie for first place in Southeastern Conference standings last night after falling to Alabama 76-69 at the PMAC. The Tigers visit Tennessee on Saturday.