The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the state does not have to prevent the heat index from going above 88 degrees on Angola’s death row. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 2 (25) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Denham Springs woman, who is the sister of CNN anchor Don Lemon, drowned in a pond.  58-year-old L’tanya Grimes died Wednesday night in the Livingston Trace subdivision. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says someone saw her fishing one minute and then she was gone.

Cut 12 (06) “this time.”

The body has been sent for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Shreveport police say they are investigating the discovery of male body found in a trunk of burned out vehicle.  Corporal Marcus Hines says The Shreveport Fire Department responded to a call and found the 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis on fire last night. Hines says they are hopeful some witnesses will come forward to help them solve this strange case…

Cut 15 (07) “crime scene.”

He says due to the severity of the burns, they can’t identify the victim.

The Alabama state tourism agency has installed ten billboards around New Orleans and south Mississippi, inviting them to celebrate “America’s original Mardi Gras.”  They don’t specifically say Mobile, but mileage distance points in that direction.  Louisiana Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy…

Cut 3 (10) “in 1857.”

He says the country knows where the birthplace of Mardi Gras really is.

Governor Edwards and U-S Senator John Kennedy disagree over a financing plan for big construction projects in Louisiana. Kennedy suggests using unclaimed property dollars to leverage it as an asset in the stock market….
cut 8 (09) “….cash”
But Edwards says it’s an unrealistic proposal.

A federal appeals court rules against a lower court’s decision that said the heat index on death row at Angola can not exceed 88-degrees. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry applauds the decision and says the Constitution does not require prisons to be comfortable, but requires them to be humane….
cut 10 (06) “….Circle K store”
The state has been providing the convicted killers with cold showers, individual fans and unlimited access to ice and water.

Mobile is making a claim they celebrated the “America original Mardi Gras.” Michelle Southern has a historical perspective…
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Michelle Southern”

And the long time voice of the Saints has announced his retirement….
cut 30 (15)
Jim Henderson called Saints games for 30 years including the memorable NFC Championship game over the Vikings.

US Senator John Kennedy is recommending a financing plan using Unclaimed Property dollars as a way to help pay for major infrastructure projects. Kennedy says the current upswing of the stock market makes it a ripe time to convert the noncash securities into cash…
Cut 7 (11) “substantially finish it”
The Comite River Diversion Canal is a flood control project for Baton Rouge. Governor Edwards says a better funding solution is for Congress to pass a bill to fund it.

CNN anchor Don Lemon’s sister has been identified as the woman who died in an accidental drowning in Denham Springs. Livingston Sheriff Jason Ard says 58-year-old L’tanya Grimes drowned in a neighborhood pond…
cut 13 (10) “…the body”
A federal appeals court has overturned a lower court’s ruling that said the heat index can not exceed 88-degrees at Angola’s death row. Lawyers for three convicted killers filed a civil rights lawsuit in an effort to get the state department of corrections to install air conditioning. State Attorney General Jeff Landry applauds the Fifth Circuit’s decision and says that these are death row prisoners that shouldn’t be afforded pleasant conditions…:
Cut 11 (09) “if need be”
The attorney for the death row inmates is reviewing the ruling.

Alabama tourism claims the city of Mobile is “America’s original Mardi Gras.” That’s at least what they are saying in billboards that can be seen in New Orleans and southern Mississippi. Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy disagrees.
cut 4 (11) “….in Alabama”

Alabama is making a claim they celebrated the “original Mardi Gras.”  Michelle Southern has a historical perspective…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the state does not have to prevent the heat index from going above 88 degrees on Angola’s death row. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 2 (25) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

_________________________________________________

The Alabama state tourism agency has installed ten billboards around New Orleans and south Mississippi, inviting them to celebrate “America’s original Mardi Gras.”  They don’t specifically say Mobile, but mileage distance points in that direction.  Louisiana Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy says Mobile never celebrated their original party on Mardi Gras day…

Cut 3 (10) “in 1857.”

Hardy says a French explorer was looking for the mouth of the Mississippi.  When he sailed up river and stopped for the night, he realized what day it was and the tradition was born…

Cut 4  (11) “in Alabama.” 

Hardy says no one should be unduly upset about the claim being made by Alabama.  Both have terrific celebrations.  But when asked, he makes sure people know where the birthplace of Carnival Season is in America…

Cut 5  (05)  “Year’s Eve.”

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U-S Senator John Kennedy proposes a way to finance large infrastructure projects like a new Jimmie Davis Bridge in Shreveport, widening I-10 in New Orleans and finishing the Comite River Diversion Canal, a flood control project for the Baton Rouge area. Kennedy says the state can generate 150-million dollars if it leverages noncash securities held by the state’s Unclaimed Property Division…

Cut 6 (11)  “win-win”

Kennedy says this financing plan would not drain the state’s Unclaimed Property fund. He says residents who go to the state treasurer to claim their lost dollars will be able to do so, because there’s so much of it. He says the current upswing of the stock market makes it a ripe time to convert the noncash securities into cash…

Cut 7 (11)  “substantially finish it”

Governor John Bel Edwards calls it an unrealistic proposal and urges Kennedy to help pass a funding bill that would pay for projects like the Comite River Diversion Canal. But the former state treasurer says a similar funding mechanism was used to pay for I-49 North and it could help pay for other projects

Cut 8 (09) “cash”

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The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled state corrections officials do not have to prevent the heat index from going above 88 degrees on Angola’s death row. Attorney General Jeff Landry says Louisiana argued on appeal that the inmates do not have a constitutional right to be comfortable in jail:

Cut 9 (10) “really ridiculous”

Three death row prisoners filed suit in 2013 arguing excessive heat constituted cruel and unusual punishment, and that remedies are necessary to protect their health and safety. Landry says the Constitution does not require prisons to be comfortable; it requires them to be humane…:

Cut 10 (06) “Circle K Store”

The decision overturns the lower court ruling in favor of the inmates’ claim which ordered the state to reduce the heat during the summer months. Landry applauds the Fifth Circuit’s decision and says that these are death row prisoners that shouldn’t be afforded pleasant conditions…:

Cut 11 (09) “if need be”

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A Denham Springs woman, who is the sister of CNN anchor Don Lemon, drowned in a pond.  58-year-old L’tanya Grimes died Wednesday night in the Livingston Trace subdivision.   Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says someone saw her fishing one minute and then she was gone…

Cut 12 (06) “this time.”

After arriving on the scene, Ard says a search and recovery operation began…

Cut 13 (10) “the body.”

A CNN spokesperson confirmed that Grimes is the sister of Lemon, who originally is from Port Allen. The body has been sent for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

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Shreveport police say they are investigating the discovery of male body found in a trunk of burned out vehicle.  Corporal Marcus Hines says The Shreveport Fire Department responded to a call and found the 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis on fire last night.  He says due to the severity of the burns, they can’t identify the victim, but will start where they can in solving this homicide…

Cut 14 (09) “the trunk.”

Hines says they are hopeful some witnesses will come forward to help them solve this strange case…

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the state does not have to prevent the heat index from going above 88 degrees on Angola’s death row…:
Cut 2 (25) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards filed his annual campaign finance report today showing about $5 million dollars cash on hand at the halfway point of his term. Edwards raised nearly $2.2 million in 2017 and spent about $310,230. He started the year with more than $3.17 million after his first full year in office. His campaign says 85 percent of the contributions came from Louisiana citizens.

Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says a 58-year-old woman has been found dead in a neighborhood pond. He says L’tanya Grimes is believed to have been fishing at the time…:
CUT 12 (06) “at this time”
A CNN spokesperson confirmed that Grimes is the sister of CNN anchor Don Lemon.

Shreveport Police is investigating the discovery of male body found in a trunk of burned out vehicle. Corporal Marcus Hines says due to the severity of the burns they can’t identify the victim, but are committed to solving this homicide..:
Cut 14 (10) “of Louisiana”
He says responders located the 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis on fire around 8:20 last night.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled state corrections officials do not have to prevent the heat index from going above 88 degrees on Angola’s death row. Attorney General Jeff Landry says Louisiana argued on appeal that the inmates’ do not have a constitutional right to be comfortable in jail:
CUT 9 (10) “really ridiculous”
The decision overturns the lower court ruling in favor of the inmates’ claim which ordered the state to reduce the heat during the summer months.

Alabama tourism has purchased billboards in the New Orleans area implying that the original Mardi Gras actually happened there, and they specify how many miles drivers are away from Mobile. Louisiana Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy says it’s true that Mobile celebrated Mardi Gras style parades before New Orleans, but they did it on a completely different day…:
Cut 5 (05) “Year’s Eve”
He doesn’t think the billboards are a slam, but they are clever.

A task force’s proposal to alter TOPS for lower performing students is running into opposition from Taylor Foundation members…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Alabama has decided to throw some shade towards Mardi Gras in New Orleans over the origin of the celebration. Billboards of sprung up throughout The Big Easy which say, “You are 114 miles from America’s original Mardi Gras” – and they are paid for by Alabama Tourism implying Mobile celebrated Carnival before New Orleans. Louisiana Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy says Mobile may have done it first, however…:
Cut 3 (10) “in 1857”
Hardy thinks it’s all in good fun and doesn’t feel like the Alabama campaign is in any way a threat to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Monroe based CenturyLink will be handling all of the major network video streams and data inside US Bank Stadium during this year’s Super Bowl. Director of Smart Solutions Jesse Sullivan says you wouldn’t believe the amount of raw data that will be used…:
Cut 26 (08) “on Sunday”

U-S Senator John Kennedy announces a plan to pay for large infrastructure projects like replacing the Jimmie Davis Bridge in Shreveport, widening I-10 in New Orleans and the Comite River Diversion Canal, which would mitigate flooding in the Baton Rouge area. Kennedy says the state can generate nearly 150-million dollars if it leverages noncash securities held by the state’s Unclaimed Property Division…:
Cut 6 (11) “win-win”
But Governor John Bel Edwards has put out a statement calling it an unrealistic proposal and calls on Kennedy to pass a bill to fund projects like the Comite River Diversion Canal.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office says a 58-year-old woman has been found dead in a neighborhood pond. They say residents reported in the Denham Springs residential area that Ltanya Grimes may have fallen into the water by accident. The matter is under investigation.

A task force’s recommendations to alter the TOPS scholarship is taking fire from advocates for lower income students. Jennings Senator Blade Morrish’s proposal would cap payments to lower performing high school students. Taylor Foundation Executive Director Dr. James Caillier says it will have a negative affect on poor students.

Cut 13 (11)  “the bottom”

The Louisiana movie industry is seeing a revitalization after lawmakers reworked the state’s film tax credit program in 2016.  Louisiana Economic Development says producers spent an estimated 668-million-dollars last year.  Secretary Don Pierson says the recent uptick bodes well for the economy…

Cut 10 (12) “to Louisiana.”

One of the largest companies in Louisiana may be the most important player on the field Sunday for the Super Bowl. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Alabama is inviting Mardi Gras partiers to come there instead.  10 billboards have been installed around the New Orleans area and south Mississippi.  They claim Alabama has the “original” Mardi Gras.  The Billboards don’t specifically mention a city, but say how many miles you are from the location which all point to Mobile.  Mobile claims the first pre-lenten celebration occurred there in 1703…

A task force’s recommendations to alter the TOPS scholarship is taking fire from advocates for lower income students. One proposal would force students to take a minimum 15 credit hours a semester to keep their scholarship, three more than required now. Taylor Foundation Executive Director Dr. James Caillier says this targets poor students who have families with bills that rich people don’t…:
Cut 15 (10) “can not”
Another proposal would cap payments to lower performing high school students.

Alabama seems to have thrown some shade on Mardi Gras in New Orleans over the origin of the celebration. Billboards have sprung up throughout The Big Easy, Slidell and elsewhere that read “You are 114 miles from America’s original Mardi Gras.” The Alabama Department of Tourism paid for them saying that Mobile celebrated Mardi Gras before New Orleans. City officials say they don’t consider the Alabama campaign a threat to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Monroe-based CenturyLink is being relied upon to keep the lights on, and the broadcast rolling for this year’s Super Bowl. U.S. Bank Stadium is new and built from the ground up with CenturyLink’s state-of-the-art technology. Director of Smart Solutions Jesse Sullivan says high quality Wi-Fi is available throughout the stadium…:
Cut 5 (10) “same experience”
Tech giant CenturyLink employs 2,700 Louisianans.

The St. Landry Parish Crime Stoppers program has been awarded the 2017 Best “Crime of the Week” segment in the nation for cities up to 250-thousand people. Major Eddie Thibodeaux says they couldn’t do it without the public:
Cut 8 (12) “the cases”
The program is responsible for assisting in 60 arrests in 50 different cases in 2017.