Cardell Hayes, the man convicted in the fatal road rage shooting of former Saints star Will Smith, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was facing up to 60 years. Prosecutors and the Smith family are disappointed in the length of the sentencing, but Legal analyst Tim Meche says the judge believes Smith could have done more to diffuse the situation…
cut 15 (11) “…Mr Hayes”
An attorney for the Hayes family says they are hurt, but not broken by the sentencing.

The state is set to receive eight-point-one million dollars from the U.S. Dpeartment of Health and Human Services that can be used to combat the opioid epidemic. The money will go towards prevention, treatment and recovery services. Research indicates Louisiana has the sixth highest opioid pain reliver prescribing rate in the nation.

ExxonMobil will build the world’s largest ethylene cracker plant near Corpus Christi. Exxon said Ascension and St. James Parishes were other potential locations, but the company chose Texas because it has a stronger business climate. Louisiana Chemical Association President Greg Bowser…
cut 5 (09) “…gonna do”

A door to door salesman in Shreveport is behind bars after police say he falsely claimed to be a state trooper. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 3 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Associated Press reports changes have been made to Governor John Bel Edwards business tax plan that cuts in half the amount of revenue the proposed Commercial Activity Tax would bring in. When Edwards first proposed the plan, he expected the tax would generate between 800 to 900-million dollars. Changes were made to the proposal, after businesses complained they would be hit too hard by this new gross receipts tax.

Louisiana lost the fight to become the home to the world’s largest ethane cracker plant, as ExxonMobil announces the $10 billion plastics complex will be built in Texas instead. Louisiana Chemical Association President Greg Bowser says the Bayou State lost out because of its poor business climate.
Cut 4 (09) “in Louisiana”
The plant is expected to create 650 permanent jobs .

Louisianans for Prison Alternatives made their case for criminal justice reform during a rally on the State Capitol steps. Flozell Daniels sat on the governor’s Justice Reinvestment Task Force and he supports legislation to reduce the incarceration rate and save the state millions of dollars.
Cut 7 (08) “decarcerate”
Governor Edwards says legislative package can reduce the state’s prison population by at least 13-percent.

A Shreveport man has been arrested for impersonating a state trooper. He allegedly did so while selling steaks door-to-door. LSP spokesperson Matt Harris says 47-year-old Lester Wells confessed to detectives that claiming to be a trooper helped boost his sales and he also got other benefits…
cut 11 (09) “…law enforcement officer”
Wells has been charged with one count of fraudulent portrayal of a law enforcement officer.

Cardell Hayes has been sentenced to 25 years in prison following the road rage shooting in New Orleans that left former Saints star Will Smith dead. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Halen doughty”

Republican U-S Representative Mike Johnson said at a town hall meeting in Caddo Parish that he’s confident Congress will pass a healthcare bill. Johnson says there’s a lot of interest in a proposal to place cancer patients and those with chronic illnesses in a government funded market place, therefore lowering premiums for everyone else.

Texas beats out Louisiana for a multi-billion dollar petrochemical plant. Exxonmobile has announced they will build this facility in the Lone Star State which will bring six-hundred new jobs and thousands will be employed during the construction phase. Louisiana Chemical Association President Greg Bowser says unfortunately Texas has a better business climate than Louisiana….
cut 6 (09) “….work to do”

Louisiana is known as having the world’s largest incarceration rate. Governor John Bel Edwards legislative package contains bills that he says can reduce the state’s prison population by at least 13-percent. Former Angola inmate Norris Henderson says now is the time for legislators to act…
cut 8 (09) “…vocabulary”
That’s Henderson speaing on the state capitol steps.

A state judge has sentenced Cardell Hayes to 25 years for killing former Saints star Will Smith and wounding his wife following a traffic crash in April 2016. Judge Camille Buras handed the sentence down after two days of emotional testimony that included Saints Coach Sean Payton. Legal analyst Tim Meche…
cut 14 (09) “…under these circumstances”
Hayes had faced up to 60 years.

Reducing lengthy sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes was on the mind of the hundreds who rallied on the steps of the state capitol yesterday. They are calling on the legislature to pass a justice reform package. Former Angola inmate Norris Henderson…
cut 9 (09) “…present themselves”
The Louisiana Sheriffs Association says they oppose reductions in sentences of violent offenders.

A Shreveport man has been arrested for pretending to be a state trooper. LSP spokesperson Matt Harris says they received a complaint about a door to door steak salesman impersonating a trooper. He says after detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest, they requested 47-year-old Lester Wells’ service at the criminal investigations division in Bossier City.
Cut 10 (11) “police officer”
Harris says Wells confessed to the crime, claiming it helped his sales to portray himself as a state trooper.

It’s another big weekend for festivals across Louisiana. In Lafayette Parish, they’ll be celbrating the fifth annual Boudin Festival in Scott.

The Orleans District Attorney’s office says they are disappointed Cardell Hayes was sentenced to 25 years behind bars for a fatal road rage shooting in New Orleans that left former Saints star Will Smith dead. Legal analyst Tim Meche believes Judge Camille Buras handed down a fair sentence.

Cut 13 (11) “case like this”

Hayes was facing up to 60 years in prison.

Race relations are worsening in eyes of the public, according to a recent LSU survey. Dr. Michael Henderson with the LSU Public Policy Research Lab says the share of people who believe race relations are getting worse rose by almost 20 percent since 2014. He says there’s a racial divide in opinions on whether racial equality exists today.

Cut 6 (08) “to that point”

A former personal assistant to U-S District Court Judge Patricia Minaldi has been arrested on charges he stole from her as she was attempting to recover from a condition caused by alcohol abuse. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Kim Myers says 28-year-old Justin Gray’s bond was set at 56-thousand dollars.

Cut 12 (06) “of forgery”

Today marks 7 years since the Deepwater Horizon explosion that killed 11 people, including 28-year-old Gordon Jones. His father, Keith Jones, said on Talk Louisiana the producers of the film Deepwater Horizon met with him to learn more about his son, like his love for golf. He says Gordon’s big scene is when he gives a fossil to Mark Wahlberg, but he was also honored in another small tribute.

Cut 4 (11) “his golf swing”

The Senate Education committee rejects a proposal to require TOPS students pay back a portion of their scholarship if they leave the state…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The senate approves legislation that scales back the second amendment sales tax holiday that takes place during the first weekend of September. Sales taxes will be collected on purchases of off-road vehicles, airboats and animal feed, but firerams and ammunition remain tax free. The measure heads to the House.

Student body leaders call on the state legislature to fully fund TOPS. Under the governor’s current budget proposal, the scholarship program is only 70% covered. Northwestern State University student president John Pearce testified before the House Appropriations Committee and says he’s heard a lot of concerns from students…:
Cut 30 (07) “extremely worried”
A coalition called Louisianans for Prison Alternatives made their case for criminal justice reform during a rally on the State Capitol steps. Foundation for Louisiana President Flozell Daniels served as a member of the governor’s Justice Reinvestment Task Force and he’s pushing for legislation to reduce the incarceration rate and save the state millions of dollars.
Cut 7 (08) “decarcerate”
The governor is urging legislators to pass bills that will give some inmates more parole hearings, alternatives to prison and shorter sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.

Cardell Hayes received a 25 year prison sentence today for the shooting death of former Saints star Will Smith. Hayes was facing up to 60 years. Hayes spoke in court today and apologized to the Smith family for their loss and once again claimed he acted in self-defense in the shooting following a car accident.

There are racial divisions over how police treat the public according to an LSU survey. Dr. Michael Henderson with the LSU Public Policy Research Lab says 75 percent of white residents trust police not to use excessive force. He says whites are also twice as likely to think police will treat blacks and whites equally, but blacks have a much different perspective…
Cut 7 (09) “excessive force”
He says they also found a majority of blacks think the country needs further changes to achieve equal rights, while most whites do not.

Even after the state finally gains access to federal flood recovery dollars, the feud continues between Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards and Republican Congressman Garret Graves. Graves said recently that he would resign if the federal government was the hold up in dispersing the funds. But Edwards says the state didn’t have access to the money until last week….
cut 13 (10) “…that we need”
The federal government opened a line of credit for the state on April 10, giving state officials access to the money. Graves is frustrated the state is still not ready to dispense the funds. But he says he’s willing to patch things up with Edwards, if the governor stops feeding lies to the public….
cut 16 (07) “…with anyone”
Graves made the comments on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.