The civilian helicopter that crashed into the Atchafalaya Basin yesterday has been found, according to Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal. Authorities say they’re still searching for the pilot. Ackal says the helicopter was privately owned. The pilot was initially flying from Gonzales to New Orleans but rerouted to Patterson after hitting stormy weather.

Attorney Lance Unglesby denies allegations that Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa bribed Gonzales city council candidate, Wayne Lawson, to drop out of the race. Jeff Palermo has more on the case…
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

 
The state’s annual sales tax holiday is this Friday and Saturday. Shoppers will only have to pay 3-percent sales tax on purchases rather that 5-percent. Department of Revenue Spokesperson Byron Henderson also wants to remind parents to save their receipts on back-to-school items because they are tax deductible…
Cut 6 (11) “refund”

International travel to Louisiana has increased 36-percent over the last year according to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. Nungesser says New Orleans saw a 37% increase and this is the third year in a row of double digit growth in international visitors. He credits Louisiana’s great food and culture and its people for the big increase in tourists from outside of the United States.
Cut 15 (11) “hospitality industry”

Louisiana is seeing a huge spike in the number of international visitors. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says 36% more people from other countries visited The Bayou State over the prior year. He wants to continue to see this rise and credits the efforts of Louisianians putting their best foot forward…:
CUT 16 (09) “our state”
Nungesser says New Orleans saw a 37% increase during the same time period and this is the third consecutive year of double digit growth in international visitors.

The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for allegedly murdering a woman then disposing of her body. They say 41-year-old Joey Mixon confessed to the crime and let detectives to the victims body which had been so badly burned, identification was not possible. The investigation is ongoing as to possible motive. Mixon is charged with second degree murder.

Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa is being accused of trying to pay off a city council candidate so he would withdraw from the race. His attorney, Lance Unglesby, says his client was simply trying to help Wayne Lawson through a hard time…:
CUT 8 (09) “his life”
Ascension Parish District Attorney Ricky Babin says the fact that these allegations were made is very troubling and they take cases like this very seriously…:
Cut 10 (09) “a community”
He says his office is working with the Attorney General’s office to put the facts together.

A man in Baton Rouge is facing charges amid allegations he ordered his pit bulls to attack workers who came to his home to cut electricity because he’d not paid his bill. It’s reported that 47-year-old Michael Barcia then instructed the dogs to attack two responding sheriff’s deputies. He faces charges of aggravated assault and public intimidation.

Louisiana saw a 36% increase in international travel to the state, according to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. Halen Doughy has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

It’s back to school time and parents can enjoy a break on state sales taxes tomorrow and Saturday. It’s down to three percent for the sales tax holiday. Department of Revenue Spokesperson Byron Henderson says some purchases aren’t eligible…:
CUT 5 (09) “rentals”

Louisiana’s FastStart workforce training program has been ranked the best in the nation for the seventh year in a row by the corporate site selection website, Business Facilities. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says what really drives the program’s success is the workforce in Louisiana…:
cut 11 (10) “work space”

Attorney Lance Unglesby says Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa did not bribe Gonzales city council candidate, Wayne Lawson, in an effort to get him out of the race. Ascension Parish District Attorney Ricky Babin decided to open the investigation after audio was released of a private conversation between Lawson and Matassa. Babin says his office is working with the Attorney General’s office to put the facts together…:
Cut 9 (09) “the originals”

This weekend is the state’s annual sales tax holiday, dropping state sales taxes from 5 to 3  cents on Friday and Saturday…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser announces that international travel to Louisiana has increased 36% over the past year. He says that puts Louisiana second only to Michigan for annual growth. He says international tourism has huge benefits for the state…:
cut 14 (08) “one city”

The workforce training program in Louisiana, FastStart, is ranked the best in the nation for the 7th year in a row by the corporate site selection website, Business Facilities. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the program draws companies to Louisiana and then finds them qualified workers to fill positions once the facilities open…:
cut 12 (10) “company needs”
FastStart has helped over 150 companies in Louisiana and provided training for more than 23-thousand employees in the past 8 years.

Attorney Lance Unglesby says Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa did not bribe Gonzales city council candidate, Wayne Lawson, in an effort to get him out of the race. Unglesby says Matassa was actually offering Lawson a loan to get him out of financial trouble…:
CUT 7 (10) “his sister”
Allegations surfaced earlier this week when an audio recording was released that purportedly has Matassa and a business partner offering Lawson 12-hundred dollars. .

This Friday and Saturday is the state’s annual sales tax holiday where shoppers will only have to pay 3-percent sales tax on purchases. Department of Revenue Spokesperson Byron Henderson says the exemption applies to the first 25-hundred dollars of the purchase price of each eligible item, not the entire transaction…:
cut 4 (11) “exemption”
With school starting, Henderson says this is a great weekend for parents to do their back to school shopping.

A man in Baton Rouge is facing charges amid allegations he ordered his pit bulls to attack workers who came to his home to cut electricity because he’d not paid his bill. It’s reported that 47-year-old Michael Barcia then instructed the dogs to attack two responding sheriff’s deputies. He faces charges of aggravated assault and public intimidation.

Attorney Lance Unglesby denies allegations that Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa bribed Gonzales city council candidate, Wayne Lawson, to drop out of the race. Jeff Palermo has more on the case…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Department of Transportation announces they will soon begin the process of widening Interstate 10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson believes widening the road to three lanes in both directions will alleviate congestion…:
CUT 6 (10) “travel through”
Wilson says this federal grant frees up state dollars to be used for other highway improvements.

The mother of a five-year-old boy who was fatally shot in the head by his nine-year-old brother has been charged with child desertion. Colonel John Fortunado says 29-year-old Generra Brown was caring for a neighbor across the street, when the two boys were playing in a closet and came across a handgun…
cut 4 (07) “…younger child”
The five-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Louisiana has received $400-thousand from the Centers for Disease Control to fight the Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch with the Department of Health says it will be used to educate both OBGYNs and at-risk pregnant women about the virus, and help them learn about what medical action needs to be taken if a woman gets Zika…:
cut 12 (08) “on it”

Today marks the four-year anniversary of the Bayou Corne Sinkhole. Assumption Parish Emergency Preparedness Director John Boudreaux says it all started with strange bubbles of water coming up from beneath the surface to a massive sinkhole that forced numerous residents to move elsewhere….
cut 11 (10) “….and unknowns”
Boudreaux says about 15 individuals still live in the area.