A Hospital in Lafayette has sent out lay off warnings to 770 employees ahead of potential budget cuts that would close the facility. Michael Farrar has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Two current and two former Troopers have been arrested on various charges as part of a six month investigation into payroll fraud. The four men allegedly claimed bogus hours and wrote fraudulent tickets as part of a highway safety program funded by district attorneys. State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves says it’s a disappointing day…

Cut 10 (06) “their actions”

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris is defending the House backed budget that funds education, but slashes healthcare, ahead of a special session that is expected to start mid may. The budget has come under fire for threatening to eliminate public-private partnership hospitals and residency programs, but Harris says it’s just a first step in long budget process that he expects will carry over into a special session.

Cut 7 (11)  “may happen”

Over 900 farmers and ranchers are receiving grants averaging 9900 dollars for disaster recovery efforts resulting from the 2016 floods. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s long overdue.

Cut 13 (08)  “devastating flood” 

Strain says the grants will fill a reimbursement gap for farmers who’ve suffered damages that were uninsured.

University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette has notified 770 employees that they could be laid off, and the facility shut down under proposed spending plans that slashes state funding for public-private partnership hospitals. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says they aren’t the only jobs at risk.

Cut 4  (09) “smaller locations” 

Dardenne says the public-private system was created after Charity Hospitals were dismantled under the Jindal Administration, and focus on covering the underinsured.

Cut 5  (10)  “primary care”

Dardenne says legislators need to find a budget solution sooner rather than later, as the indecision is stressing out the industry.

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris is defending the House budget despite its cuts, saying it’s just the first step in a long process that he expects will involve a special session starting on May 18^th to fill the 648 million dollar funding gap. The GOP has resisted replacing the expiring revue that will hit July 1^st, and as a result he says the legislature will likely not increase income taxes to replace expiring sales taxes.

Cut 8 (08)  “being here”

Harris says he would not support the income tax increase, because he fears it would offset what he says are the benefits of the federal tax overhaul.

Harris says he sees two options for funding those healthcare priorities: keeping a piece of the expiring one cent sales tax, and eliminating sales tax deductions for certain industries in an anticipated special session.

Cut 9 (11)  “to execptions”

Two current and two former Troopers have been arrested on various charges as part of a six month investigation into payroll fraud. The four men allegedly claimed bogus hours and wrote fraudulent tickets as part of highway safety program funded by district attorneys. State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves calls its a disappointing day for the department.

Severed heads in Texas and Louisiana have law enforcement officials wondering if there is a connection. Jim Shannon has more.
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

Baton Rouge Police is searching for an LSU cop who is wanted on a charge of second-degree battery after he allegedly hit a woman and then held her captive for several hours. B-R-P-D Sergeant Don Coppola says the victim survived the assault, but…
cut 12 (08) “…extensive damage”
The suspect has been identified as 25-year-old Samuel Ellis the Third.

Australian-based Syrah Resources has selected Vidalia in Concordia Parish as its preferred site for a 25-million dollar graphite facility. The plant will make materials for batteries in electric vehicles and other products. Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft says the project means 25 new jobs for his town….
cut 10 (09) “…its exciting”
Syrah Resources expects to start hiring later this year.

State Police announce two current and former Troopers have been arrested on charges that include theft, malfeance and filing false records. Authorities say they filed and altered records in order to receive more overtime pay as part of a program that provides them extra cash for traffic enforcement. Colonel Kevin Reeves calls it an extremely disappointing day for their agency.

An LSU police officer is being sought for allegedly battering his girlfriend and holding her hostage overnight. Twenty-five-year-old Samuel Ellis the Third is facing charges of 2nd Degree Battery and False Imprisonment as a result. Baton Rouge Police Spokesman Sgt. Don Coppola says it was a brutal crime.
Cut 11 (12) “he fled”
Coppola says Ellis had a handgun and rifle in his possession when left and he’s considered armed and dangerous.

Australian-based Syrah Resources announces plans of building a 25-million dollar graphite processing plante in Vidalia. Mayor Buz Craft hopes this economic development announcement will lead to more businesses coming to Concordia Parish…
cut 9 (12) “….this region”
The Syrah Resources facility will product products that will be used in commercial and automative batteries.

An unrestrained Deville teen was killed in a car crash Sunday morning around 4AM on LA Highway 8 in Grant Parish. State Police Master Trooper Scott Moreau says the tragedy occurred after the driver, 18-year-old Benjamin Williford, lost control…
Cut 3 (10) “overturning”
Moreau says a 20-year-old passenger survived the crash, because he was buckled up.

An LSU police officer is on the run from authorities after he allegedly struck a female victim in the face and then held her captive for severl hours before he fled. Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Don Coppola says 25-year-old Samuel Ellis the Third is wanted for second-degree battery….
cut 13 (09) “…any jeopardy”
Coppola says they have located Ellis’ black Dodge Charger, but the search continues for the suspect.

Cameron Parish Sheriff Ron Johnson is working with Texas authorities to find out if there’s a connection to a severed head found near Calcasieu Lake and another severed head found near Houston. Johnson also wonders if a female body found in 2016 in Cameron is connected as well…
cut 7 (11) “…dump in”
Investigators are still trying to determine the identities of the severed heads.

Lafayette General Health System has sent notices to 770 of its employees that they could be laid off because of a lack of state funding. The proposed budget for next fiscal year calls for a significant drop in state dollars to fund what are known as safety-net hospitals. Governor Edwards will likely call a special session in order for legislators to pass tax bills that would provide the state money to keep their partner hospitals open.

In Concordia Parish, an Australian-based manufacturing plant is about to move in. Jeff Palermo has more.
Cut 2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”

The fiscal year will end in two months and legislators are at odds over a new spending plan, because of a 648-million dollar budget shortfall. Publisher of LA-Politics-dot-com Jeremy Alford says it’s becoming more clear a special session will be needed to replace sales tax revenues that expire at the end of June…
cut 11 (09) “…special session”
House Republican Delegation Chairman Lance Harris said he believes renewing a portion of the sales taxes that are expiring is the best way to reduce the revenue shortfall.

An 18-year-old teenager from Deville, Benjamin Williford was killed in a single vehicle wreck in Grant Parish early Sunday morning….
cut 4 (08) “…minor injuries”
That’s State Police Master Trooper Scott Moreau who says if Williford was wearing a seat belt, he may have survived the single vehicle wreck.

Australian-based Syrah Resources has selected Vidalia to open a 25 million dollar graphite processing plant. The facility will produce products that are used in commercial and automotive batteries. Mayor Buz Craft says it means 25 new jobs
cut 8 (10) have em”
A 50-thousand square foot building is available for Syrah and the average annual salary will be 60-thousand dollars.

What a great story involving former LSU Tiger Will Clapp. He grew up in Metairie watching the Saints as a kid and he was selected in the seventh round by the Black and Gold this past weekend. Coach Sean Payton says he didn’t have to make a long distance call to inform him….
cut 13 (10) “…on rent”
The Saints also drafted former Louisiana Tech running back Boston Scott, who had a standout prep career at Zachary.

Cameron Parish law enforcement is working with authorities in Texas after severed heads were found near a lake in Houston and Calcasieu Lake in Cameron. Sheriff Ron Johnson…
cut 6 (07) “….thrown away”
Johnson says the victims were females at about the same age and each had Auburn colored hair.

An unrestrained Deville teen was killed in a car crash Sunday morning around 4AM on LA Highway 8 in Grant Parish. State Police Master Trooper Scott Moreau says the tragedy occurred after the driver, 18-year-old Benjamin Williford, lost control…
Cut 3 (10) “overturning”
Moreau says a 20-year-old passenger survived the crash, because he was buckled up.

The Saints 2018 draft class features two players with local ties, former LSU offensive lineman Will Clapp and ex-Louisiana Tech running back Boston Scott, who walked on at the Ruston school after a stellar prep career at Zachary High School. Coach Sean Payton says Scott can fill a couple of roles…
Cut 14 (12) “….punt returner”

Former Neville star John Diarse has signed a non-drafted free agent contract with the Denver Broncos.