A new study out of Tulane finds that Louisiana is making slow progress diversifying judgeships. Michelle Southern reports…:

Congress has reached an agreement to hold a vote on the Dream Act. A proposed deal would see funding for President Trump’s border wall in exchange for a Dreamer resolution. Senator Cassidy says the fate of Dreamers is dependent on boarder funding…

Cut 14 (07) “border security”

LRN

LSU’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl Champion Kevin Faulk has been named as the Director of Player Development for the LSU football program. After a 13-year career with the New England Patriots, Faulk returned to his high school alma mater and was an assistant coach for the Golden Bears. He says it was not an easy decision to leave Carencro, but is excited about his new role with the LSU Tigers…

Cut 4, 08 seconds, from there

Faulk says his life experiences will help develop these players not only for football but for whatever else life may present them.

The jury in the trial involving the death of Joe McKnight visited the defendant’s car today. McKnight was fatally shot by Ronald Gasser, and prosecutors reconstructed what they believe the scene would have looked like after the shooting. The defense says Joe McKnight tried to lunge at Gasser through the passenger side window after a fit of road rage. The prosecution is attempting to demonstrate that the car would not have allowed for that.

McKnight was shot on December 1^st of 2016

Negotiations are underway to find a resolution to the impending expiration of the Dream Act, a law that provides legal status to people brought to the US as children. Matt Doyle has the story…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Advocate newspaper reports an LSU task force formed following the death of a fraternity pledge may recommend random drug tests for frat members, eliminating hard alcohol and kegs and frat houses and relocating fraternity tailgates. A full report will be made official next month.

A Tulane study finds Louisiana has made slow progress when it comes to electing minorities and women to judgeships. Political Science Professor Sally Kenney says they are also concerned that President Trump’s nominees to the federal bench in Louisiana and the US have been 91-percent white men…
cut 8 (08) “…18 years”
The President has nominated Wendy Vitter as a federal judge in New Orleans.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis told reporters at the Senior Bowl they want Quarterback Drew Brees to return next season. Brees is coming off a season where he completed an NFL record 72-percent of his passes, but his contract will expire in March. Loomis also says there is a possibility they may draft a quarterback in April…
cut 10 (12) “…number of years”

A new study out of Tulane finds that Louisiana is making slow progress in electing minorities and women to judgeships. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Negotiations are underway to find a resolution to the impending expiration of the Dream Act, a law that provides legal status to people brought to the US as children. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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LSU’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl Champion Kevin Faulk has been named as the Director of Player Development for the LSU football program. Faulk says he will help the players not only on the field, but away from the game as well…

Cut 3 (09) “long time.”

After a 13-year career with the New England Patriots, Faulk returned to his high school alma mater and was an assistant coach for the Golden Bears. He says it was not an easy decision to leave Carencro, but is excited about his new role with the LSU Tigers…

Cut 4  (08) “from there.” 

He says it’s a fact that many football players in college don’t make it to the pros.  Faulk says his life experiences will help develop these players not only for football but for whatever else life may present them…

Cut 5  (04)  “that’s all.”

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A new study out of Tulane finds that Louisiana is making slow progress in electing minorities and women to judgeships. Professor of Political Science Sally Kenney says racial minorities are 36% of the state’s population, but non-white judges were only at 22 percent. She says women judges comprised less than 32 percent of all state and federal judges in Louisiana…:

Cut 6 (03)  “as women”

Kenney says there has been a gradual increase, but it’s up to citizens to commit to equal justice under the law and keep vigilant that this progress is not reversed. She says another concern is that Louisiana’s minorities and women judges are serving in certain areas, like Orleans…:

Cut 7 (09)  “would show”

The study finds that in 1992, non-white judges held 22.6% of the district court positions, a number that barely moved in 2017 when it was 23.9%. Kenney says she’s also concerned that President Trump’s nominees to the federal bench in Louisiana and the US have been 91% white men…:

Cut 8 (08) “18 years”

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New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has been with the team now for 12 seasons.  His contract will expire in March as NFL free agency approaches. Saints GM Mickey Loomis says there’s no worry about getting Brees resigned in the Saints camp…

Cut 9 (07) “continue that.”

There could be concerns due to his age.  At 39, he’s the second oldest starting QB in the league behind the Patriots Tom Brady.  Brees backup Chase Daniel didn’t take a single snap this season.   Loomis says they have been very content with their quarterback position, but are always in the market for the next big star…

Cut 10 (12) “of years.”

Loomis met with reporters while scouting players at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. When asked if there is a target date to have Brees under a new contract, Loomis says there isn’t one, but as far as he and the rest of the organization is concerned, Brees is their man for the future…

Cut 11 (11) “Drew Brees.”

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Congress has reached an agreement to hold a vote on the Dream Act before it expires in March. The Dream Act provides temporary legal status to people who were brought to the U.S. as children. A proposed deal would see funding for President Trump’s border wall in exchange for a Dreamer resolution, and Senator Bill Cassidy says drug traffickers can pay for the wall…

Cut 12 (11) “Mexican Cartel”

Reports indicate that billions of dollars in drug money crosses the border each year. Cassidy says the US is only intercepting a fraction of it…

Cut 13 (11) “going back”

Cassidy says the fate of Dreamers is dependent on what deal can be struck for building the wall…

Cut 14 (07) “border security”

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The federal government was reopened after a tense three day negotiation that resulted in an agreement to hold a vote on the Dream Act before the legislation expires in March. The legislation provides temporary legal status to people who were brought to the U.S. as children. A proposed deal would see funding for President Trump’s wall in exchange for a Dreamer resolution, and Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s identified a way to fund it:
Cut 12 (11) “Mexican Cartel”

The state Department of Health is offering free flu shots at more than 55 Parish Health Units across the state on Wednesday, January 31. They said Louisiana is on track to meet and even exceed the most severe flu seasons which cause about 700 deaths and nearly 8,000 hospitalizations. Officials highly recommend everyone get vaccinated this season if they haven’t already.

New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has been with the team now for 12 seasons and remains without a contract as NFL free agency approaches. Saints GM Mickey Loomis says there’s no panic in the Saints camp…:
Cut 9 (07) “continue that”
There could be concerns due to Brees’ age which is 39.

A new study out of Tulane finds that Louisiana is making slow progress in electing minorities and women to judgeships. Professor of Political Science Sally Kenney says another concern is that Louisiana’s minorities and women judges are serving in certain areas, like Orleans…:
Cut 7 (09) “would show”
She says minorities are 36% of the state’s population, but non-white judges were only at 22 percent. Women judges comprised less than 32 percent of all state and federal judges in Louisiana. But 51% of the state is female.

A new study out of Tulane finds that Louisiana is making slow progress in electing minorities and women to judgeships. Professor of Political Science Sally Kenney says racial minorities are 36% of the state’s population, but non-white judges were only at 22 percent. She says women judges comprised less than 32 percent of all state and federal judges in Louisiana…:
CUT 6 (03) “as women”
She says there has been a gradual increase, but it’s up to citizens to commit to equal justice under law and keep vigilant that this progress is not reversed.

LSU’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl Champion Kevin Faulk has been named as the Director of Player Development for the LSU football program. He believes his life experiences will help develop these players not only for football but for whatever else life may present them…:
Cut 5 (04) “that’s all”
Faulk played for the Patriots for 13 years.

The state’s unemployment rate has dropped again to level we haven’t seen in nearly ten years. Kelley Ray has more…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

The State Department of Health announced today that flu shots will be offered at no cost at 55 Parish Health Units across the state on January 31st.

LSU’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl Champion Kevin Faulk has been named as the Director of Player Development for the LSU football program. Faulk says he will help the players not only on the field, but away from the game as well…:
Cut 3 (09) “long time”
Faulk says his life experiences will help develop these players not only for football but for whatever else life may present them.

The state keeps riding the wave of positive job news, as the latest unemployment rate dropped to 4.6 in December — the lowest in nearly a decade. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Ava Dejoie says many jobs were added in the leisure and hospitality industry…:
cut 13 (10) “two-point-eight-percent”
Over 2.1 million Louisianans are currently working.

Movers and shakers from across Louisiana are in DC for Washington Mardi Gras this week. Matt Doyle spoke with LAPolitcs..:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The American Lung Association gives Louisiana an F in four key categories on its annual State Of Tobacco Control report…:
Cut 25 (11) “Tobacco 21″
Regional Director of Health Promotion for ALA Amy Ellis says 23 percent of Louisiana residents are current smokers.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says unemployment dropped again to it’s lowest level in 10 years to 4.6 percent in December.  Executive Director for the Louisiana Workforce Commission Ava Dejoie says they hope to push that number lower in the future.  They’re are facilitating a statewide search to fill some two-thousand positions for DXE Technologies in New Orleans…

Cut 14 (11) “Orleans region.”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ worst-case-scenario budget calls for a 76 million dollar cut in state funding for the Department of Corrections.  Corrections Secretary James Leblanc says the state has not built a new prison since the late 80s and these funding cuts will strain an already crumbling prison infrastructure.

Cut 9 (11)  “about it”

Movers and shakers from across the Bayou State are headed to DC for Washington Mardi Gras this week. Matt Doyle talked to LAPolitcs about the annual tradition…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling out football coaches saying their salaries are obscene.  During a meeting with the Advocate Editorial Board, he said salaries have gotten out of control.   He’s thankful the money is not taxpayers dollars, but is calling for universities to place a salary cap on coaches. LSU’s football staff salaries alone are nine point four million dollars.

Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has declined for the eighth straight month to 4.6 percent in December, the lowest in nearly a decade. Executive Director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission Ava Dejoie says Houma’s job numbers were unchanged, but that translates to good news:
Cut 15 (12) “of it”
Baton Rouge saw 12 straight over the year increases, while Lake Charles has 78.

The American Lung Association has released their “State of Tobacco Control” and shows Louisiana lags behind the nation in reducing tobacco use. The report card gives the state “F”s in four out of five key categories, including Tabacco 21 which raises the age to buy smokes from 18 to 21..:
Cut 5 (08) “some lives”
22.8 percent of Louisiana residents are current smokers, the 6th highest in the country.

Governor John Bel Edwards, Louisiana’s Congressional delegation, state legislators, and lobbyists, are in DC this week for the annual Washington Mardi Gras. LAPolitics publisher Jeremy Alford says the epicenter of the mini Carnival is ten minutes down the road from the White House…:
Cut 11 (11) “Mardi Gras”
Alford says much of the chit chat is centering around which Republicans will be challenging John Bel Edwards for governor.

Louisiana’s fall shrimp season is closing in remaining state inside waters and a portion of state outside waters effective Friday at official sunset. Those waters include Chef Menteur and Rigolets Passes, Lake Borgne, Mississippi Sound, Mississippi River Gulf Outlet and a section of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in Orleans Parish.

The state’s unemployment rate has dropped again to a level not seen in nearly ten years…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Governor John Bel Edwards, and other politicos are in DC this week for the annual Washington Mardi Gras. Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says this will give legislators a final chance to relax before getting to work:
Cut 12 (10) “special session”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ worst-case-scenario budget calls for a 76 million dollar cut in state funding for the Department of Corrections. Secretary James Leblanc says state prisons are full, and if local sheriffs cannot afford to house them, it could lead to an inmate housing nightmare…:
Cut 8 (09) “our department”
The cuts are a combination of attrition, canceling of infrastructure repairs, and the lowering of per diems paid to local sheriffs who house state inmates.

The American Lung Association gives Louisiana an F in four key categories on its annual State Of Tobacco Control report. Regional Director of Health Promotion for ALA Amy Ellis says 23 percent of Louisiana residents are current smokers, the 6th highest in the country…:
Cut 6 (11) “Tobacco 21″