Louisiana and New Orleans Entergy customers will see a few bucks knocked off their bills for the next few months…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A pedestrian is dead following a hit & run in St. Landry Parish. Shortly before 10PM last night, state police were notified of the crash that claimed the life of 51-year-old David Sonnier of Arnaudville.  It appears Sonnier was walking on or near LA 182 when he was struck by two vehicles, with both fleeing the scene. Troopers say it is unknown if impairment played a role at this time, but toxicology tests are pending.

A steel-covered walkway is being installed at the entrance of the state capitol to protect visitors from falling pieces of mortar from the 86-year-old building. Division of administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says the structural integrity of the capitol is good, unfortunately small pieces of the mortar are flaking off
Cut 12 (10)   “…again.”
According to Department of Children and Family Services, the 337,000 families that are receiving February benefits from the food stamps programs should have received them by now.  They arrived early due to the government shutdown. DCFS Deputy Assistant Secretary Sammy Guillory says it’s important for recipients to realize, these are not extra benefits.
Cut 15 (10) “…benefits in March.”

Guillory says new applications are being processed as usual in accordance with the agency’s normal standard until they are told otherwise.

State representative Katrina Jackson, a democrat from Monroe, will speak tomorrow at the National March for Life Rally in Washington D.C. Jackson authored a 2014 law that required abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a local hospital to operate. Jackson says their aim is the eventual reversal of the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion.
Cut 14 (10) “…women’s health.”
Thousands are expected to be in attendance for the 46th annual march.

The city of Zachary has been hit with three different companies in the last week announcing lay-offs at their facilities, meaning hundreds in East Baton Rouge will soon be out of a job. Governor John Bel Edwards says the state’s economy is strong and if you’ve been laid off, there are options…
cut 8 (10) “….that done”

A 51-year-old bicyclist allegedly assaulted an Alexandria Police officer with the officer’s own TASER, then held a gun to that officer’s head after being stopped for a traffic violation. Corporal Wade Bourgeois says the violent confrontation began when the officer tried to issue a routine citation…
Cut 3 (12) “…confrontation.”
Bourgeois says after making threats against the officer, Vernon Holden fled and was later apprehended behind a shed.

A military jury has convicted Barksdale Air Force airman Isaiah Edwards in the fatal stabbing of his roommate during a deployment to Guam last year. Edwards will be sentenced this afternoon and faces a life sentence. Edwards tried to claim he killed 20-year-old Bradley Hale in self defense.

There have been three announcements of job losses for the city of Zachary in East Baton Rouge over the last week. Thompson Pipe Group will close its manufacturing plant, which will affect 120 employees. Georgia Pacific is laying off 650 workers at its Port Hudson paper mill and BASF will close a chemical plant in Zachary that employs 54. Governor Edwards says the state can help impacted workers

Cut 6 (10) “…to work.”

IBM is hosting a career fair in Lafayette from 9 AM to 2 PM at South Louisiana Community College.

The coveted one-day tickets to see the Rolling Stones on May 2nd at Jazzfest in New Orleans have fans lined up down the street from the Superdome ticket office. Festival produce Quint Davis says that box office could be open past it’s normal closing time to accommodate.

Cut 9 (11) “…past five o’clock.″

Tickets are $185 plus fees.

Monroe Democratic Representative Katrina Jackson will speak tomorrow at the National March for Life Rally in Washington D.C. Jackson authored a 2014 law that required abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a local hospital to operate. She’s joined in the Capital by 2,000 Louisiana highschool students from a range of different youth and church groups across the state. Jackson says she’ll be discussing the march, and her advocacy on pro-life issues this morning.

Cut 15 (11) “…young adults”

Alexandria Police have arrested a man, and slapped him with a slew of charges after he alleged disarmed an officer after being stopped for a traffic violation and then held a gun to that officers held while threatening to shoot them. Vernon Holden was allegedly violating traffic laws while on a bike, and was pulled over by police. Authorities say he resisted being tased, and then used that taser against the officer before drawing his weapon. After the altercation, Holden fled, and was later apprehended.

Governor Edwards, on Ask the Governor, says nearly 6,000 federal workers in the Bayou State are suffering without paychecks as the longest government shutdown in history drags on. He says its taking a toll on several different departments, even the Coast Guard at the Belle Chase Naval Air Station, and  he’s concerned that prolonging the shutdown could present safety risks to the public, as more and more vital programs close, or become understaffed.

Cut 12 (10) “…so forth.”

Monroe Democratic Representative Katrina Jackson will speak tomorrow at the National March for Life Rally in Washington D.C. Jackson admitted abortion is settled law, but highlighted legislative attempts, including her passage of the Unsafe Abortion Protection Act as reminders that through enough advocacy, opinions on president can change.

Cut 16 (09)  “…that area”

Jackson authored a 2014 law that required abortion clinics to have admitting privileges.

Rooting the Saints on in the Superdome will cost Who Dats a pretty penny. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Connor Ferrill.”

Alexandria Police have arrested a man, and slapped him with a slew of charges after he alleged disarmed an officer after being stopped for a traffic violation and then held a gun to that officers held while threatening to shoot them. Vernon Holden was allegedly violating traffic laws while on a bike, and was pulled over by police. Authorities say he resisted being tased, and then used that taser against the officer before drawing his weapon. After the altercation, Holden fled, and was later apprehended.

A democratic state lawmaker from Monroe is set to speak in front of the tens of thousands who will attend the 46th annual March for Life in DC. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Today in Marksville, it’s the funeral for 10-year-old Brieanna Layne Descant. She was one of the five children killed in the fiery crash on a Florida highway as a church van was on its way to Disney World. Family members say Brieanna loved to sing and was always full of life.

Starting at 10 AM at the Mercedes Benz Superdome Box office, concert goers can purchase Rolling Stones tickets for their show on May 2nd during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest. Festival producer Quint Davis…
cut 8 (12) “….to the public”
Fans started lining up for their chance to buy tickets last night.

If you are looking for tickets to Sunday’s NFC Championship game, StubHub has seats ranging as cheap as 280 dollars to 24-hundred dollars in the bunker clubs. StubHub’s Akzhay Khanna says they are also seeing activity from Louisiana customers buying tickets for the Super Bowl in Atlanta…
cut 5 (09) “…make it through”
The Saints are a 3.5 point favorite beat the Rams on Sunday.

Governor Edwards says nearly 6,000 federal workers in the Bayou State are suffering without paychecks as the longest government shutdown in history drags on. Edwards sympathizes with their struggle.
Cut 11 (08) “…paid for”
Edwards says 333 federal workers in Louisiana are applying for unemployment benefits.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says beware of ticket scams if you are trying to buy tickets for Sunday’s NFC Championship game. Landry says make sure the ticket seller belongs to the National Association of Ticket Brokers or has a guarantee policy. And he says if you have tickets…
cut 7 (06) “….dome”
He says scalpers can steal the barcodes and create a counterfeit ticket.

Fans are lining up at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to purchase tickets for the Rolling Stones who are set to perform at the New Orleans Heritage and Jazz Festival on May 2nd…
voicer 2 (32) “….Kevin Barnhart”

A steel-covered walkway is being installed at the entrance of the 86-year-old state capitol building. It’s to protect visitors from falling pieces of mortar that are breaking off the building and falling to the ground. Currently, the state doesn’t have the money to correct the problem.

Governor John Bel Edwards says there are six-thousand federal workers impacted by the partial federal government shutdown. He sympathizes with the ones who are having a hard time paying the bills as the shutdown reaches 27 days…
cut 13 (11) “…something out”
Edwards says 333 federal workers in Louisiana have applied for unemployment benefits.

Two-thousand Louisiana high school students are in Washington D-C for tomorrow’s National March for Life Rally. These young people want the U-S Supreme court to reverse Roe vs Wade. State Representative Katrina Jackson, a democrat from Monroe, is in the nation’s capital with them…
cut 15 (11) “….young adults”
Jackson will speak at the national rally tomorrow.

Fans wishing to get inside The Superdome for the NFC championship game will have to fork over several hundred dollars according to StubHub. Head of Partnerships for the NFL at StubHub Akxhay Khanna (AWK-shea CON-uh) says even nosebleed tickets will cost you some…
Cut 4 (06) “…range.”
Ticket scammers are also looking to make a buck and Attorney General Jeff Landry says if a ticket deal seems too good to be true it is…
Cut 6 (08) “…resellers.”
Landry says avoid sites like Craigslist, because many tickets on that site are not verified.

The city of Zachary in East Baton Rouge parish has received three economic development hits in the last week which will result in the loss of hundreds of jobs. Thompson Pipe Group says its closing its manufacturing plant later this year which will affect 120 workers. Georgia-Pacific last week announced they were laying off 650 workers at their Port Hudson paper mill and BASF is shutting down a chemical plant that employs 54.

It’s day 27 of the partial federal government shutdown and for many federal employees, like T-S-A workers, they continue to work without a pay check. Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s concerned that prolonging the shutdown could present safety risks to the public…
cut 12 (10) “….so forth”

State representative Katrina Jackson, a democrat from Monroe, will speak tomorrow at the National March for Life Rally in Washington D.C. Jackson authored a 2014 law that required abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a local hospital to operate. Jackson says their aim is the eventual reversal of the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion.
Cut 14 (10) “…women’s health.”
Tens of thousands are expected to be in attendance for the 46th annual march.

Rooting for the Saints in the Superdome will cost Who Dats a pretty penny. Connor Ferrill has the story.
Voicer 1 (29) “I’m Connor Ferrill.”

Homefield advantage has been a real benefit in championship games. The home team has won every NFL conference title game since 2013.