Violent crime in Louisiana was down three percent year to year in 2018, and the murder rate is down eight points according to new FBI crime data.

LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist Peter Sharf says the murder rate decline is largely thanks to an 8 percent drop in the Crescent City.

Cut 3 (10) “…elsewhere”

But despite the decline in violent crimes, Louisiana continues to lead the United States for its homicide rate.

Bayou Steel in St. John Parish announces it is closing, resulting in the layoff of 376 workers…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association says a new survey is out that puts Louisiana as having the ninth-worst overall transportation infrastructure in the country. Association president Ken Perret points to a 14-billion dollar backlog in transportation projects and that will not go away until the state raises its gasoline tax…
cut 11 (12) “…loss of lives”
Louisiana’s 20-cent a gallon gasoline tax has not been adjusted in 30 years and Perret says the gubernatorial and legislative candidates need to have an open discussion with voters on transportation funding.

A new gasoline tax goes into effect today in Arkansas as the gas tax in the Natural State will rise by three-cents to 24.5 cents a gallon and diesel fuel goes up an additional six-cents. It’s the first change in Arkansas fuel taxes in 20 years and it’s expected to generate an additional 95-million dollars.

Hundreds of workers have learned they will soon be without a job. Bayou Steel in LaPlace has announced its closing, resulting in layoff notices for 376 employees. St John Parish President Natalie Robottom says the closure comes as a shock…
Cut 4 (12) “…this was coming.”
The Louisiana Workforce Commission says they’ve deployed a mobile unit at the local American Job Center Office in LaPlace to provide re-employment assistance.

The Attorney General’s office announces the Broussard Police Department is the home to the newest prescription drug dropbox. Special projects coordinator at the AG’s office, Monica Taylor describes the boxes similar to a mailbox where items drop in, but they don’t come out.

Cut 9 (10)  “…can destroy it.”

A Blue Cross Blue Shield grant has paid for the boxes.

A new study ranks Louisiana as having the ninth-worst overall transportation infrastructure in the United States. Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association President Ken Perret says the study shows poor roads cost the average Louisiana driver 624-dollars a year in vehicle and operating costs and only six states have a higher percentage of structurally deficient bridges than Louisiana…
Cut 10 (10) “…timber pilings.”
Perret calls on all gubernatorial and legislative candidates to be open and honest with voters on how they will address transportation issues.

A dog trainer is under arrest after allegedly faking the death of his client’s 25,000-dollar duck hunting Labrador.  Ouachita Parish Chief Deputy Marc Mashaw says 44-year-old Lester Langley of Monroe had been tasked with training a local family’s pet during the hunting offseason when, out of the blue, he called the family with some bad news…

Cut 13 (10) “the dog”

A steel plant in St. John Parish is closing. The announcement comes as a sudden shock to the 376 workers there who will be without a paycheck after November 30th. Parish President Natalie Robottom says the trade war with China and higher tariffs could have led to the sudden closure…
cut 5 (07) “….have jobs’
The Louisiana Workforce Commission says re-employment assistance is available for the laid-off workers.

A Monroe man faces one count of felony theft for allegedly stealing a labrador retriever that he was paid to train for duck hunting. Ouachita Parish Chief Deputy Marc Mashaw says Lester Langley claims the dog died…
cut 14 (12) “…a dog”
Mashaw says they suspect Langley sold the lab to a dog club.

The Attorney General announces an additional prescription drug drop box where people can discard their old meds in an effort to keep them off the street. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Attorney General Jeff Landry’s press secretary has resigned after he was arrested on a domestic violence charge. Authorities say Jacques Ambers chocked his pregnant girlfriend as he allegedly dragged her out of an apartment. Ambers admits to pushing his pregnant girlfriend, but denies grabbing her neck.

Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association says a new survey is out that puts Louisiana as having the ninth worst overall transportation infrastrucutre in the country. Association president Ken Perret points to a 14-billion dollar backlog in transportation projects and that will not go away until the state raises its gasoline tax…
cut 11 (12) “…loss of lives”
Louisiana’s 20-cent a gallon gasoline tax has not been adjusted in 30 years.

A new gasoline tax goes into effect today in Arkansas as the gas tax in the Natural State will rise by three-cents to 24.5 cents a gallon and diesel fuel goes up an additional six-cents. It’s the first change in Arkansas fuel taxes in 20 years and it’s expected to generate an additional 95-million dollars.

Hundreds of workers have learned they will soon be without a job. Bayou Steel in LaPlace has announced its closing, resulting in layoff notices for 376 employees. St John Parish President Natalie Robottom says the closure comes as a shock…
Cut 4 (12) “…this was coming.”
The Louisiana Workforce Commission says they’ve deployed a mobile unit at the local American Job Center Office in LaPlace to provide re-employment assistance.

Ouachita Parish sheriff deputies are looking for a missing five-year-old black Labrador Retriever by the name of “Ace.” Chief Deputy Marc Mashaw says they suspect 44-year-old Lester Langley of Monroe sold the dog after he was paid by Ace’s owners to train the lab for duck hunting…
cut 15 (10) “…locate it”
Langley hs been charged with one count of felony theft.

A steel mill in LaPlace is closing its doors resulting in the layoffs of 375 employees. St. John Parish President Natalie Robottom says the mill has been in operation since 1979…
cut 6 (08) “…the work there”
No official word has been given on why Bayou Steel is shutting down, but Governor Edwards says a company like this is vulnerable to tariffs.

Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association says the state ranks as having the ninth worse overall transportation in the country. President Ken Perret says the state has a 14-billion dollar backlog in projects and it will take an outcry from Louisiana drivers to change that…
cut 12 (08) “… grassroots level”
Perret says the state’s 20-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax is the state’s primary means of funding, but the tax has not been adjusted in 30 years.

Ouachita Parish Deputies are searching for a missing 25,000 dollar duck hunting dog after authorities say the animal’s trainer faked its death. Matt Doyle has more.
cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office says its new prescription drug take-back box at the Broussard Police Department has been emptied after just a few months…
cut 8 (08) “…from the box”
That’s Monica Taylor with the A-G’s office. She says there are over 70 prescription drug take-back boxes in the state.

A new study ranks Louisiana as having the ninth-worst overall transportation infrastructure in the United States. Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association President Ken Perret says the study shows poor roads cost the average Louisiana driver 624-dollars a year in vehicle and operating costs and only six states have a higher percentage of structurally deficient bridges than Louisiana…
Cut 10 (10) “…timber pilings.”
Perret calls on all gubernatorial and legislative candidates to be open and honest with voters on how they will address transportation issues.

Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson has reportedly donated 50-thousand dollars to the Gumbo PAC, which is a Super PAC dedicated to re-electing Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards. Gumbo PAC has produced TV ads attacking Edwards two Republican challengers, Ralph Abraham, and Eddie Rispone.

Bayou Steel in St. John Parish announces it is closing, resulting in the layoff of 376 workers…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Attorney General’s office announces the Broussard Police Department is the home to the newest prescription drug dropbox. Special projects coordinator at the AG’s office, Monica Taylor, says the boxes are having a huge impact in the state’s effort to combat the state’s opioid epidemic…
Cut 7 (07) “…put in place.”
A Blue Cross Blue Shield grant has paid for the boxes.