13:30 Newscast, April 4th, 2017

Legislation to stop the opioid epidemic has been filed for the upcoming session with the support of Governor Edwards’. Emelie Gunn has more.:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Today Governor John Bel Edwards is in Washington D.C. where tomorrow he will testify before the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on FEMA’s response to Louisiana’s 2016 flood disaster. On Monday, April 10, Restore Louisiana is asking every flooded homeowner seeking assistance to fill out an initial survey at the program’s website: restore.la.gov.

A man who gunned down and murdered his longtime-partner and prominent business women in northwest Louisiana will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Caddo Assistant DA Brittney Green says a jury found 59-year-old Mark Colby guilty of second degree murder in the death of 53-year-old Angela Godley…:
CUT 12 (05) “Judge Mosely”
Godley was found dead in the laundry room at the couple’s Shreve Island home on September 10, 2014.

As cleanup and recovery continues in areas that were pelted with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes earlier this week, some communities are still keeping a close eye on rivers that have yet to crest. Stephen Carboni with the National Weather Service says parts of Central Louisiana experienced as much as 10 inches of rain during the event…:
Cut 9 (08) “for example”
He says the good news is that no significant rain is expected over the next several days.

 

12:30 Newscast, April 4th, 2017

Criminal justice reform will be a big topic in the legislative session, and a statewide poll finds broad support for some proposals. Jeff Palermo has more from the survey out of LSU…:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Also part of Governor Edwards legislative agenda is a bill aimed at addressing the growing opioid epidemic in Louisiana. River Ridge Representative and Co-author Kirk Talbot says you have to start with limiting prescriptions in some cases…:
Cut 6 (09) “workforce”

Victims of last year’s devastating floods will be asked to fill out a survey soon to see if they are eligible for the federally funded homeowner assistance program. The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer says federal law requires the state to dispense the initial $438 million that was approved first, which is going to families who need it most…:
Cut 15 (09) “or disabled”
Congress has appropriated 1.6 billion. The survey will be online Monday at restore.la.gov.

New Orleans Police say they are responding to a wellness check on Bourbon Street and have closed a portion of the roadway. Police sent a tactical team inside the building. Officers confirm one person dead inside, another in custody.

 

11:40 LRN Sportscast April 4th

LSU looks to break out from its struggles when they host Grambling State tonight. The Tigers have fallen out of the top ten in the major college baseball polls and they are in fourth place in the SEC West with a 5-4 league record. But Coach Paul Maineiri says he’s not giving up on the season…
cut 17 (12) “…around here”
Freshman right-hander Todd Peterson is set to start for LSU on the mound tonight. But Mainieri plans to use as many as 10 pitchers. Zach Hess, who has been a regular midweek starter is now a reliever to strengthen the bullpen.

In other action tonight,,,,,,Southeastern hosts South Alabama. Louisiana Tech hosts Stephen F Austin. Northwestern State takes on ULM and the Ragin Cajuns will host Nicholls State. The Cajuns have yet to win a midweek game at home this season.

11:30 Newscast, April 4th, 2017

The 2017 Louisiana Survey indicates 75% of voters support criminal justice reform when it comes to shorter sentences for non-violent crimes. But Michael Henderson, Director of the LSU Public Policy Lab, says respondents weren’t in favor of going easy on criminals involved in things like fraud, burglary or selling illegal drugs which will likely be a significant part of the debate in the upcoming session…:
Cut 3 (09) “on the table”
Criminal justice reform is a big part of Governor Edwards’ agenda.

So is equal pay. Today is national Equal Pay Day and the governor has released his legislative proposal for how he’d like to fix Louisiana’s highest gender wage gap in the country. The measure up for debate would prohibit businesses from taking action against employees who ask or talk about how much they or others get paid, because he says when there is transparency there is fairness.

The state is one step closer to dispensing federal flood recovery dollars:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A UNO poll finds President Donald Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana is at 58-percent, the same amount of people who voted for him here in November. Pollster Ed Chervenak says that’s far higher than the president’s nationwide approval rating of 38-percent…:
Cut 4 (08) “Republican president”
He adds it’s a little too early for many voters here to pass judgement.

 

10:30 LRN Newscast April 4th

A University of New Orleans survey finds President Trump has a much higher approval rating in Louisiana than he does nationwide…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The latest installment from the Louisiana Survey ouf of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab finds there’s strong, broad support for reforming the state’s criminal justice system. The poll found that a large majority of respondents support shorter sentences for people convicted of non-violent crimes and more alternatives to prison.

Recovery efforts continue from the severe weather that damaged property and killed two people in St. Martin Parish. Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says preliminary damage assessment teams will survey the destruction…:
Cut 10 (09) “from FEMA”
The National Weather Service confirms there were 4 tornadoes Sunday in Rapides Parish.

The personal finance website Wallethub has determined Louisiana is the second most stressed out state. LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine professor of pyschiatry, Michele Many (Main-ee), says finances creates stress. And Many says the situation gets worse when a person doesn’t treat their stress level…
cut 9 (12) “…have to go”
Alabama was ranked as the most stressed out state.

09:30 Newscast, April 4th, 2017

Flood victims could soon be one step closer to receiving disaster assistance when Recovery Louisiana opens the application process on Monday. Julie Baxter Payer, the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, says there are state-managed and homeowner-managed construction options. Or victims can choose to be paid back…:
CUT 14 (08) “of their homes”
Congress has appropriated 1.6 billion. The survey is online at restore.la.gov beginning Monday.

A recent WalletHub report finds Louisiana is the 2nd most stressed state in the nation. Michelle Many (Main-ee) with LSU Health New Orleans says there is a high crime rate here which can take a toll of a person’s mental health…:
Cut 8 (07) “more stressed”
Americans commonly identified money, work and the economy as their biggest sources of worry.

Recovery efforts are underway from the severe weather that damaged homes and killed two people. Spokesperson for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Mike Steele says Governor Edwards took a trip to Alexandria and Breaux Bridge to see the damage first hand. He says a mother and her 3-year-old daughter died after their trailer flipped in Breaux Bridge early Sunday morning…:
Cut 12 (09) “that family”
The GoFundMe is in the name of Francine Gotch and her toddler, Neveah Alexander.

President Donald Trump remains popular in Louisiana with a recent UNO poll showing a 58% approval rating. But Pollster Ed Chervenak says there is a big racial divide with 71-percent of whites rating Mr. Trump positively, and 70-percent of blacks rate him negatively….:
Cut 5 (10) “divide”
Gallup finds Mr. Trump’s approval rating nationwide is just 38%.

 

08:30 Newscast, April 4th, 2017

UNO conducted a recent survey which found the same amount of people who voted for President Donald Trump in Louisiana, still approve of him today. Pollster Ed Chervenak says Mr. Trump’s 58% support rating here shows, despite criticism for failing to pass legislation to repeal Obamacare and Mr. Trump’s controversial relationship with Russia, voters here seem to be giving the president the benefit of the doubt…:
Cut 6 (10) “that happens”
Gallup finds Mr. Trump’s approval rating nationwide is just 38%.

State officials are assessing the damage caused by the horrible storms Sunday and Monday which claimed the lives of two people and caused damage throughout most every corner of the state. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says Rapides seems to be the hardest hit parish, but…:
Cut 11 (09) “the state”
Four tornadoes were confirmed in Rapides Parish, two in St. Tammany and the deadly twister in Breaux Bridge that killed a mother and her toddler.

A report from WalletHub finds Louisiana is the second most stressed state. Halen Doughty has more on why we are stressed out…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Today Governor John Bel Edwards is in Washington D.C. where tomorrow he will testify before the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on FEMA’s response to Louisiana’s 2016 flood disaster. On Monday, April 10, Restore Louisiana is asking every flooded homeowner seeking assistance to fill out an initial survey at the program’s website: restore.la.gov.

 

07:30 Newscast, April 4th, 2017

Victims of last year’s devastating floods will be asked to fill out a survey soon to see if they are eligible for the federally funded homeowner assistance program. The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer…:
Cut 13 (08) “application process”
The survey will be available online Monday at restore.la.gov.

A University of New Orleans survey finds President Trump has a much higher approval rating in Louisiana than he does nationwide…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Damage survey is underway from the strong storms and tornadoes that ripped through the state Sunday and Monday. Spokesperson for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is Mike Steele…:
Cut 11 (09) “the state”
The weather damaged homes, killed two people, caused road and school closures, uprooted trees and left thousands without power. Steele says they are working with parish leaders in hard hit areas to see what kind of assistance is needed.

Louisiana is the second most stressed state, according to a report by WalletHub. Michelle Many (Main-ee) with LSU Health New Orleans believes that’s because so many in the Bayou State are poor. Many says a lack of money can prevent people from getting the psychological help they need..:
Cut 7 (11) “of providers”
The survey found Louisiana ranked No. 2 in work-related stress, No. 5 in health and safety-related stress.

 

06:45 Sportscast, April 4th, 2017

The LSU baseball team returns to the diamond tonight for the first time since Saturday’s stunning loss to Texas A&M. The Tigers led that game 3-0 in the 9th inning, but ended up losing 4-to-3. LSU has lost five of its last seven, but Coach Paul Mainieri still has a lot of faith. However he says they need to be more consistent in certain areas…:
Cut 16 (17) “bullpen too”
LSU has fallen out of the top ten in the major college baseball polls. They’ll host Grambling tonight.

UL-Lafayette is tied with Texas State for first place in the West Division of the Sun Belt and will host Nicholls State tonight. Northwestern State travels to face ULM. Louisiana Tech hosts Stephen F Austin. Southeastern plays South Alabama in Hammond. Tulane is at UNO.

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson is selling his majority interest in New Orleans Fox affiliate WVUE-TV to Raycom Media. Raycom has been partnered with Benson’s Louisiana Media Company in the management of the station since 2013.

The Saints off-season schedule has been set. They’ll open workouts and conditioning on April 17th. On-field work will begin seven weeks later.

Tonight in the NBA the Pels will face the Nuggets. New Orleans’ playoff hopes are actually still alive since the Timberwolves got the win over Portland on Monday. The Trail Blazers will eliminate the Pelicans from playoff contention with one more win. New Orleans is out if they lose one more.

In an extremely hard-to-watch NCAA Title game, Carolina shot enough from the free-throw line to walk away champions. The Tar Heels beat Gonzaga 71-65 in a game that featured 52 free throws, and a Phoenix University Stadium full of booing fans. That was until the end when Carolina landed its 6th NCAA title.

 

06:30 Newscast, April 4th, 2017

A University of New Orleans poll finds President Donald Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana is at 58-percent, the same amount of people who voted for him here in November. UNO pollster Ed Chervenak says that’s far higher than the president’s nationwide approval rating of 38-percent…:
Cut 4 (08) “Republican president”
He adds it’s a little too early for many voters here to pass judement.

Recovery efforts are underway from the severe weather that damaged homes and killed two people. Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says preliminary damage assessment teams will survey the destruction…:
Cut 10 (09) “from FEMA”
The National Weather Service confirms there were 4 tornadoes Sunday in Rapides Parish.

The state is one step closer to dispensing federal flood recovery dollars to families affected by the 2016 floods. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A report released Monday by the legislative auditor indicates it looks like Louisiana’s Medicaid program paid $1.4 million dollars in duplicate erroneous payments from January 2011 to October 2016. The state Department of Health says it has established a way to keep this from happening in the future.