A report shows one in five Louisiana shoppers have either had their groceries delivered or did curb side pickup through online ordering with a local grocery store. Offers.com editor Kristen McGrath says most services come with a fee and a one to two hour wait time, but it definitely has its perks.
Cut 10 (09) “…delivery.”
The survey showed the top concern about online ordering was that folks can’t inspect the produce, and that it might be spoiled.

Strong storms are moving through southeast Louisiana this morning. Matt Hemingway is a forecaster with the National Weather Service…
cut 8 (09) “….the remainder”
Severe weather in northwest Louisiana has knocked out power for hundreds of SWEPCO customers.

And in St. Landry Parish, firefighters are on the scene of another church fire, the third one in the parish since March 26th.

Republican State Treasurer John Schorder believes the state is headed for financial disaster, because the Edwards administration is failing to say no to more government spending and mathematics indicate a crash is coming…
cut 14 (09) “…their max”
In an interview with USA Today Network, Governor Edwards dismissed Schroder’s claims as political posturing.

Cajun Navy Relief will hold its second annual Search and Rescue Games on Saturday in the Jefferson Davis Parish town of Welsh. The event will also feature hands-on training for those who want to give involved in the organiziation. Cajun Navy Relief President Shawn Boudreaux says for the competition part, they’ll have three divisions and participants will compete for prizes…
cut 6 (09) “…prizes as well”
For more information go to Cajun-Navy-Relief-dot-com.

In Abbeville, the search continues for the suspect after a female police officer was shot. The officer was making a routine traffic stop Wednesday night when the suspect fired two shots at the officer and then fled on foot. The officer was airlifted to a local hospital and KLFY-TV reports that she is listed in stable condition with a collapsed lung. The male suspect is considered armed and dangerous.

20 percent of the Bayou State has ordered their groceries online for delivery or pickup, part of a growing trend nationwide. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

State Treasurer John Schroder is criticizing Governor Edwards and says he’s putting the state on course for financial disaster.

Schroder suggested that the government could benefit from voting for more business-minded people in public office.

Cut 15 (11) “…to do that.”

In an interview with USA Today Network, Governor Edwards dismissed Schroder’s claims as political posturing.

The Cajun Navy Relief will host the second annual Search and Rescue Games Saturday in Westlake. The event features hands-on training for participants with real-life scenarios. Cajun Navy Relief President Shawn Boudreaux says this time of year is the organization’s offseason, so it’s a great time to recruit those interested in disaster relief.

Cut 5 (10) “…us during disaster.”

Is the Louisiana on a path to financial disaster?  Republican State Treasurer John Schroder thinks so.  Kevin Barnhart has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The suspect is considered armed and dangerous as the search continues for the man who shot Abbeville police officer. A female police officer was making a routine traffic stop Wednesday night when the suspect fired two shots at the officer and then fled on foot. KLFY-TV reports the officer was airlifted to a local hospital and she is listed in stable condition with a collapsed lung.

We’re experiencing thunderstorms across the state today despite a few weeks of mild weather. Strong storms across the state this morning are expected to last into the afternoon. National Weather Service Forecaster Matt Hemmingway says expect our current situation to become more of the norm.

Cut 9 (06) “…in Louisiana.″

For those that have the desire to help others following natural disasters, Cajun Navy Relief will host the second annual Search and Rescue Games Saturday in Westlake. The event will feature hands-on training including mock rescues, dispatch simulation, and boater response in an effort to train volunteers for real scenarios.  Cajun Navy Relief President Shawn Boudreaux…

Cut 4 (08) “…exposure to boaters.”

Boudreaux says this time of year is the organization’s offseason, so it’s a great time to recruit those interested in disaster relief.

It comes as no suprise that LSU freshman big man Naz Reid has announced he’s entering the NBA draft and forgoing the rest of his college eligibilty. Reid is the Tigers first one-and-done player since Ben Simmons, who left at the conclusion of the 2016 season. Reid could be the first of several Tigers who leave for the NBA. Tremont Waters is likely to declare for the draft and freshman Javonte Smart and Emmit Williams might also leave.

LSU interim head coach Tony Benford denies reports he’s taking an assistant coaching job at Texas A-and-M. Benford’s good friend Buzz Williams has been named the head coach of the Aggies sparking speculation Benford would leave Baton Rouge for College Station. But Benford tells the Advocate he remains committed to the LSU program.

Julius Randle had 34 points but it wasn’t enough as the Pelicans lost to the Charlotte Hornets 115 to 109 last night. Just three games left in the regular season.

LSU baseball won its fourth straight last night and for the second straight night it was a shutout victory. Five LSU pitchers combined to throw a four-hit shutout in a two to nothing win over South Alabama. Ma’Khail Hilliard started and struck out five over three innings. Trent Vietmeier was the winning pitcher as he threw two shutout innings and Devin Fontenot earned the save. Antoine Duplantis had two more hits and drove in one run.

Louisiana Tech downed McNeese 10 to four. Both Parker Bates and Steele Netterville each hit two home runs.

The Ragin Cajuns scored five runs in the sixth inning and defeated Southeastern Louisiana nine to eight. Tremaine Spears had a two-run homer and Todd Lott extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

Northwestern State blanked Mississippi Valley State nine to nothing as Jerry Maddox pitched five shutout innings to get the win.

Mississippi State clobbered ULM 21 to 8 and it was Louisiana College over Centenary 10 to three.

Louisiana is in for some nasty weather today statewide, heavy precipitation and winds could spawn severe weather. National Weather Service forecaster Matt Hemmingway says its classic warm air meets cool air situation.

Cut 7 (12) “…hours”

State Treasurer John Schroder is criticizing Governor Edwards for growing government at a faster pace than revenues are coming in. Schroder says Louisiana is on course for financial disaster.  Schroder says he is tired of hearing about how great everything is.

Cut 13 (10) “…is just wonderful.”

Edwards has responded by saying if Schroder doesn’t believe the state is in a better place than three years ago, he needs a reality check.

In Abbeville the search continues for the suspect after a female police officer was shot. The officer was making a routine traffic stop Wednesday night when the suspect fired two shots at the officer and then fled on foot. The officer was airlifted to a local hospital and KLFY-TV reports that she is listed in stable condition with a collapsed lung.  Multiple law enforcement agencies are assisting with the search for the suspect and Louisiana State Police are investigating the shooting.

The natural disaster relief volunteer organization known as Cajun Navy Relief is holding the second annual Search and Rescue Games Saturday in Westlake.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (27) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The Louisiana Department of Health announces 30-thousand individuals have been removed from the Medicaid program, because they make too much money. LDH spokesperson Bob Johannessen says 40-thousand Medicaid enrollees were informed in February they could lose their insurance coverage, unless they could show that they still met the program’s income requirements Cut 10 (09)“…for Medicaid” Johanessen says the state has a new computer system that can conduct eligibility checks every quarter, instead of every year and it also uses more wage data… Cut 11 (06) “are eligible” Johanessen says those who lost their taxpayer funded health insurance are working adults, who have experienced a rise in income who may have recently joined the workforce, or got a small pay bump that put them just outside the qualifying level. ____________________________ The Louisiana Good Roads Association says the state should steer clear of toll roads as a way to raise more funds to build highway projects. President Kenneth Perret says toll roads have generated a lot of money in places like Houston, but only because that city has a large population. Cut 6 (10) “…in it” He says unlike in Florida and Texas, Louisiana generally only has rush hour periods of intense traffic volume, which leads to underwhelming toll collections that would likely scare away potential investors, or the state which would hope to recoup the cost. The arraignment hearing of the five arrested in connection with the murder of Chandler Erskine and attempted murder of another in Oak Grove in January took place today. Of those, Wesley Freeman and James Turner were each charged with one count of First Degree Murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon. Both pleaded not guilty. The trial is set for October.

An Infrastructure advocate is speaking out against calls for toll roads to pay for infrastructure, instead of raising the gas tax. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The arraignment hearing of the five arrested in connection with a murder in Oak Grove in January took place today.  Of those, Wesley Freeman and James Turner were each charged with one count of First Degree Murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon.  Both pleaded not guilty. Pretrial is set for next month, with trial is set for October.

The State Fire Marshal and ATF are investigating three church fires in the span of a week, two in St. Landry Parish, the other in Vivian in north Louisiana.  Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the first fire was a significant one and occurred in the early morning hours of March 26^th at the St. Mary’s Baptist Church in Port Barre.
Cut 3 (10) “…go in that.”
The second fire happened over the weekend in the Shreveport area.  The third occurred early Tuesday morning. Both churches destroyed in St. Landry Parish were historically black Baptist churches. Investigators say it’s too early to say if there is a connection between any of the fires.
Motorists traveling on I-10 near Baton Rouge received a surprise this morning when a small plane landed next to the interstate. The plane reportedly took off from Baton Rouge Regional Airport and it was supposed to land at Louisiana Regional near Donaldsonville. But State Police Trooper Taylor Scrantz says during the short flight the Piper Cherokee began to experience engine failure…

Cut 13 (07) “…he could”

The Louisiana Department of Health announces 30-thousand individuals have been removed from the Medicaid program, because they make too much money. LDH spokesperson Robert Johannessen says the people that lost their taxpayer funded health insurance are working adults, who have experienced a rise in income
Cut 9 (08) “…increased”
40-thousand Medicaid enrollees were informed in February they could lose their insurance coverage.
Motorists traveling on I-10 near Baton Rouge received a surprise this morning when a small plane landed next to the interstate. State Police Trooper Taylor Scrantz says the plane landed in a grassy area next to the highway, only clipping an 18-wheeler on the way down…
Cut 14 (07) “…minor injury”
_______________________________________________
Investigators are trying to determine if three church fires in the span of a week, two in St. Landry Parish, the other in Caddo Parish are connected. State Fire Marshal’s spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the latests fire, the second in St. Landry Parish this week, occurred at the Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas.
Cut 5 (11) “…origin and cause.”
Both churches destroyed in St. Landry Parish were historically black Baptist churches.
The Louisiana Good Roads Association says the state should steer clear of toll roads as a way to raise more funds to build highway projects. President Kenneth Perret says He says unlike in Florida and Texas, Louisiana’s issues are not because of abnormally high traffic volume, but because of old roads.
Cut 7 (08) “…originally”