Governor John Bel Edwards expressed his frustation with lawmakers today over the lack of activity on the House floor involving tax bills that could be used to close a 940-million dollar deficit this year. House members are reluctant to raise taxes, but the governor says he hasn’t seen an alternative plan that addresses the problem….
cut 8 (06) “….none of the three”
Edwards says without new revenues, colleges, health care services for the poor and the disabled face deep cuts.

Most of the major candidates for Louisiana’s 2016 US Senate race are expected in Shreveport on Saturday as they’ll attend the annual policy jury association meeting. Political analyst Elliot Stoncipher says this acts as the kick-off to the campaign…
cut 14 (10) “….a difference”
Stonecipher says at this point Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy is the front-runner.

The US Supreme Court has told Louisiana it can NOT enforce its abortion clinic law. The law requires abortion doctors to have admitting priviledges at nearby hospitals. A federal appeals court in New Orleans said the state can enforce the law, even though it was being challenged in the courts. But the US Supreme Court says the law should not be enforced, until there’s a ruling on its constituationality.

Louisiana’s presidential primary is tomorrow, and a UNO poll shows Donald Trump is the favorite to win the state’s Republican primary….
voicer 1 (31) “….I’m Halen Doughty

Governor John Bel Edwards is demanding that the House of Representatives approves more revenue generating bills including a measure that would increase the state’s tax on alcohol for the first time since 1948. Edwards says time is running out on this special session that was called to address the state’s fiscal crisis…

CUT 7 (10) “somewhat catastrophic”

Edwards says without new revenues hospitals, universities and other necessary state services may have to close their doors.

Louisiana Tech researchers are working with the New Orleans Police Department to help them select new officers who will best fit the N-O-P-D’s new community based approach to law enforcement. Louisiana Tech Professor Frank Igou says believes New Orleans P-D contacted Louisiana Tech because they have an intensive research and consulting group. He says researchers traveled to New Orleans to sit in on police academy sessions, ride along with on-duty officers, and to meet with officials to determine who is needed on the force.

Cut 11 (08) “doesn’t”

A University of New Orleans survey shows billionaire businessman Donald Trump as the favorite to win Louisiana’s presidential primary tomorrow. UNO Pollster Edward Chervenak says there is no gender gap in Trump’s supporters, but his support is stronger among middle-aged voters. He says Trump’s views on fiscal issues is winning him support in Louisiana.

CUT 4 (10)  “in Louisiana”

UNO surveyed nearly 19-hundred registered Republicans and 38-percent chose Trump, 26-percent support Ted Cruz and 11-percent favor Marco Rubio.

The major candidates running for US Senate in Louisiana in 2016 will appear tomorrow at the annual police jury association meeting in Shreveport. Political Analyst Elliot Stoneciper says eight months before the primary, Republican John Kennedy is the frontrunner.

Cut 13 (10)  “driver’s seat”

Governor John Bel Edwards is demanding that the House of Representatives approves more revenue raising bills to close the state’s 900-million deficit. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Another teacher in St. Charles parish is accused of allegedly having inappropriate contact with a student. The Sheriff’s office says 30-year-old Jeremy Eusea, a teacher at Hahnville High was allegedly exchanging texts with a 17-year-old student that included inappropriate conversations and pictures. Eusea has been arrested and charged with sexual battery and prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and a student.

A University of New Orleans survey shows billionaire businessman Donald Trump as the favorite to win Louisiana’s presidential primary tomorrow. Meanwhile in the Democratic primary, former-president Bill Clinton made two campaign stops in Louisiana on behalf of his wife Hillary Clinton. Mr. Clinton says his wife is the most qualified candidate for the presidency.

CUT 6 (12) “I think so”

Louisiana Tech researchers are working with the New Orleans Police Department to help them select new officers who will best fit the N-O-P-D’s new community based approach to law enforcement. Louisiana Tech Professor Frank Igou says N-O-P-D is looking for a particular type of officer as the department seeks to correct civil rights and misconduct issues that have occurred in the past.

cut 10 (09)  “characteristics”

Governor John Bel Edwards says, with 5 days left in the special legislative session, lawmakers are nowhere near where they need to be when it comes to the state’s budget crisis. He said during a news conference today that $75 million dollars legislators thought would raise revenue for the current fiscal year won’t be there by June 30th…:
CUT 1 (10) “before Wednesday”
The House and Senate both convene today at 3pm to consider ways to reduce the ballooned shortfall.

Another St. Charles Parish teacher has been arrested and accused of inappropriate conduct with a student. The Sheriff’s office says 30-year-old Jeremy Eusea, a teacher at Hahnville High was allegedly exchanging texts with a 17-year-old student that included inappropriate conversations and pictures. Eusea is also charged with allegedly having inappropriate physical contact with a student. He was booked with Sexual Battery and Prohibited Sexual Conduct between an Educator and a Student.

Louisiana’s presidential primary is tomorrow, and a UNO poll shows Donald Trump is the favorite to win the state’s Republican primary. Halen Doughty has more:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”
Trump is holding a rally today in New Orleans. Fellow GOP candidate Ted Cruz is making a campaign stop in Mandeville.

State lawmakers have received bad news in their efforts to address a 940-million dollar budget deficit for this fiscal year. They’ve learned a revenue generating bill that would supply 75-million dollars to the state’s cofers will not be available before June 30th. That means lawmakers are looking at a 140-million dollar hole, instead of 67-million dollars.

A University of New Orleans survey shows billionaire businessman Donald Trump as the favorite to win Louisiana’s presidential primary tomorrow. UNO Pollster Edward Chervenak says it’s not surprising Trump is leading the polls in Louisiana…
cut 3 (08) “…other states’
UNO surveyed nearly 19-hundred registered Republicans and 38-percent chose Trump, 26-percent support Ted Cruz and 11-percent favor Marco Rubio. Polls open at 7 AM.

At this hour, Bill Clinton is speaking in New Orleans on behalf of his wife, Hillary, who is seeking the Democratic Presidential nomination. The former President says Hillary has a history of standing up for Louisiana…
cut 5 (10) “….begin again”
Republican Presidential contender Ted Cruz will hold a rally in Mandeville tonight, while Donald Trump will speak to a crowd in New Orleans.

A Hahnville High School teacher has been arrested for sexual battery and prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and student. The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s office says 30-year-old Jeremy Eusea began sending a 17-year-old inappropriate tex messages and that led to physical contact with the student.

And the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s department is investgating a homicide, where the 38-year-old victim was shot multiple times in front of his home early this morning. No arrests have been made.

Just as lawmakers started coming together on ways to plug the current year budget deficit, the situation is reportedly worse than they thought. According to Gannett News, legislators were informed last night that one of the revenue generating bills won’t bring in money in time to help the current $900 million dollar deficit. They say there is still a $142 million dollar hole they must fill before the special session ends on Wednesday.

Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and former President Bill Clinton have planned rallies in the New Orleans area today ahead of the Louisiana Presidential Primary tomorrow. Clinton was also in Baton Rouge last night stumping for his wife Hillary. Secretary of state Tom Schedler reminds voters that this is a closed primary…:
CUT 4 (10) “to vote”
Polls will open at 7 am and close at 8 pm. Schedler expects a much larger turnout than 2012.

Troopers in Baton Rouge and Monroe are now able to check if a driver has car insurance automatically when they pull someone over. State Police Major Doug Cain says they hope to have this system running statewide soon. He says insurance companies provide cops with information that will pop up directly on the officer’s screen when they pulls someone over…:
CUT 8 (09) “that time”
He says 12-15% of Louisiana drivers aren’t insured which is one of the reasons our rates are so high, so he hopes they can catch more people with this system.

Another teacher in St. Charles Parish is facing charges related to having inappropriate conduct with a student. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed 30-year-old Jeremy Eusea, a teacher at Hahnville High, is booked with sexual battery and prohibited sexual conduct between educator and student.

Gannett News is reporting that Louisiana’s current fiscal year budget doubled overnight and the Governor’s office called lawmakers to let them know before coming to the capitol today. The administration found that one of the bills that was expected to generate revenue, won’t be here in time to help the current budget. Marksville Representative Robert Johnson says he’s concerned about all the taxes that keep coming up that are hitting consumers. He feels business needs to “share in the pain” of the deficit…:
Cut 14 (08) “on that end”
The special session must end Wednesday.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education last night endorsed revisions to the Common Core academic standards put together by a 26 member panel called the Standards Review Committee. Lawmakers passed a law last year requiring a group to come up with Louisiana’s own standards to end years of arguments over Common Core. Revisions are now subject to public comment and legislative approval.

Injured Southern University football player Devon Gales returns to Baton Rouge tomorrow after several months in Georgia rehab for neck fractures he sustained in a game The Bulldogs last September. Southern Sports Information Director Chris Jones says Gales will be reunited with his teammates at A.W. Mumford Field house Saturday then will be honored at Southern after the women’s basketball game in the F.G. Clark Activity Center…:
cut 12 (10) “in September”
Gales will arrive at the Baton Rouge Metro Airport at 11am in the morning.

Tomorrow is the state’s Presidential Primary and the Secretary of State is urging Louisianans to get out and exercise your right to vote. Tom Schedler says turnout is expected to be much higher for this primary than in 2012…:
Cut 6 (09) “voters are”
Polls will open at 7am and close at 8pm.

We finally started seeing some movement at the Capitol Thursday as the Senate Finance committee approved 37 million dollars in cuts and the full House sent a cigarette tax increase bill to the upper chamber. But Covington Representative John Schroder says even though they are closing in on fixing this fiscal year’s $900 million dollar shortfall, there is another deficit to consider for FY 17 which begins July 1:
Cut 15 (10) “a billion”
The special session must end Wednesday.

At least three presidential campaigns hit Louisiana today, with the state primaries looming tomorrow. Donald Trump plans to rally at the Lakefront airport in New Orleans. Senator Ted Cruz makes an appearance in Metairie. Democrat Hillary Clinton sent her husband, former President Bill Clinton, to Baton Rouge last night, then in New Orleans today to drum up support for her campaign.

State officials remind voters that tomorrow’s Presidential Primary is a closed election. The means only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote. Secretary of State Tom Schedler encourages voters to check out the GeauxVote app…:
CUT 5 (10) “participate in”

State Police is testing a new real-time auto insurance monitoring system that shows troopers right away at a traffic stop if the driver is insured..:
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”