Robert Gilliam of Minden and Wade Williams and Chris Mudd of Shreveport-Bossier have been identified as the three victims of a plane crash in Jackson Parish yesterday. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau knew Mudd and says he was a mental health advocate who pushed for smart spending at the Capitol.
Cut 4 (11) “…state of Louisiana.”
The plane, a single-engine Cessna, crashed in Jackson Parish, was flying to Shreveport from Jackson, Mississippi.
Concerns over lessening demand and uncertainty involving the Wuhan Coronavirus are likely to keep oil prices low, and volatile for the near future according to the LSU Center for Energy Studies.Executive Director David Dismukes says until the world finds out just how severe the Wuhan Coronavirus is, prices will remain in flux, but trending downward.
Cut 8 (08) “…restricted.”
A gallon of gas in Louisiana averages $2.13

The Edwards administration’s budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins on July 1st calls for a 128-million dollar increase in general fund spending. The increase in funding will also cover pay raises for judges and prosecutors and sheriffs will get more money to house state inmates. However, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says health care will see less funding and other agencies will also see reductions…

Cut 11 (09) “…state budget.”

Lawmakers will spend the next few months combing through the budget and they are expected to approve a spending plan by June 1st.

Docville Farm in St. Bernard Parish is the home for the third annual Cook-off for the Coast on Saturday. National Wildlife Federation’s Vanishing Paradise spokesperson Erin Willhoft says funds raised from sponsors and cooking teams’ fees are going toward coastal restoration.

Cut 14 (10) “…get started now.”

More details can be found at coastcookoff.com.

Matt Doyle spoke with LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes about how the Coronavirus is impacting the oil industry…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The three people that died in yesterday’s plane crash in Jackson Parish have been identified. One of the victims is Chris Mudd, chief executive St. Amant’s Rehabilitation Services. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says Mudd was an advocate for mental health care…
cut 3 (09) “…especially for adolescents”

Governor John Bel Edwards recommends that lawmakers steer millions of dollars more towards education in a budget proposal presented to lawmakers today. 39-million dollars more would go towards the formula that funds public schools and Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says individual school districts can decide on whether to give out teacher pay raises…
cut 10 (05) “…for teachers”
Edwards has said he wants to move teacher salaries up to the Southern Regional Average during his second term in office.

Docville Farm in St. Bernard Parish is the home for the third annual Cook-off for the Coast on Saturday. National Wildlife Federation’s Vanishing Paradise spokesperson Erin Willhoft says the culinary competition will feature free tastings from 14 different cook teams.
Cut 12 (09) “…crowd favorite categories.”
The event will also feature live music and other family fun from 11 to 3 PM.

Matt Doyle spoke with LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes about how the Wuhan Coronavirus is impacting the oil industry…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year calls for millions of more dollars to be spent on education. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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Three men killed in a small plane crash Thursday afternoon have been identified as pilot Robert Gilliam of Minden and passengers Wade Williams and Chris Mudd of the Shreveport-Bossier area. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau (Lou-know) says Mudd was an advocate for mental health.

Cut 3 (09)  “…especially for adolescents.” 

Mudd was the chief executive of St. Amant’s Rehabilitation Services company and Williams was an employee. Luneau says Mudd wanted to make sure that mental healthcare that was provided was adequate and that the state got good results for the money that was spent on it.

Cut 4 (11) “…state of Louisiana.”

The plane, a single-engine Cessna, crashed in Jackson Parish, was flying to Shreveport from Jackson, Mississippi. Luneau says commuting with small planes was standard for Mudd.

Cut 5 (08) “…Jackson to Shreveport.”

Williams, a former Northwestern State defensive end, played football at the university from 2009 to 2012, and was a starter in the last three seasons.  The 29-year-old leaves behind a wife and a two-year-old daughter.

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Concerns over lessening demand and uncertainty involving the Wuhan Coronavirus are likely to keep oil prices low, and volatile for the near future according to the LSU Center for Energy Studies.

Executive Director David Dismukes says the phase one trade deal with China was initially good news for the industry…

Cut 6 (09) “…crude prices”

Oil is at 50 dollars a barrel and Dismukes says that number could continue dropping.

Cut 7 (08) “…increases”

Much of the price volatility is driven by uncertainty. Dismukes says until the world finds out just how severe the Wuhan Coronavirus is, prices will remain in flux, but trending downward.

Cut 8 (08) “…restricted.”

A gallon of gas in Louisiana averages $2.13

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The Edwards administration’s budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins on July 1st calls for a 128-million dollar increase in general fund spending. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says most of the additional dollars should go towards education

Cut 9 (10) “…to education”

The governor recommends a 25-million dollar increase for early childhood education, but advocates seek an additional 86-million dollars. Dardenne says the governor’s proposal calls for 39-million dollars more for public schools and individual school districts can decide on whether to give out teacher pay raises…

Cut 10 (05) “…for teachers.” 

The increase in funding will also cover pay raises for judges and prosecutors and sheriffs will get more money to house state inmates. However, Dardenne says health care will see less funding and other agencies will also see reductions…

Cut 11 (09) “…state budget.”

Lawmakers will spend the next few months combing through the budget and they are expected to approve a spending plan by June 1st.

______________________

Docville Farm in St. Bernard Parish is the home for the third annual Cook-off for the Coast on Saturday. National Wildlife Federation’s Vanishing Paradise spokesperson Erin Willhoft says the culinary competition will feature free tastings from 14 different cook teams.

Cut 12 (09) “…crowd favorite categories.”

The event will also feature live music and other family fun.  Willhoft says the idea behind the food selection is to promote the bounty of the marshlands in St. Bernard Parish.

Cut 13 (06) “…at the cook-off.”

Last year the event raised about $10,000 and is on track to hit that same amount.  Willhoft says funds raised from sponsors and cooking teams’ fees are going toward coastal restoration for the Mississippi River Delta with the Chandeleur Sound Living Shoreline program.

Cut 14 (10) “…get started now.”

The event takes place from 11am to 3pm and is open to the public.  More details can be found at coastcookoff.com.

Governor John Bel Edwards budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year calls for millions of more dollars to be spent on education. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor Edwards is taking State Treasurer John Schroder to court. Schroder has refused to allow the use of 25-million in unclaimed property dollars to help pay for state expenses. Schroder says the money does not belong to the state government, but previous state treasurer John Kennedy sent millions in unclaimed property dollars to the state general fund.

Concerns over lessening demand and uncertainty involving the Wuhan Coronavirus are likely to keep oil prices low. Oil is at 50 dollars a barrel and LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes says that number could continue dropping.
Cut 7 (08) “…increases”
A gallon of gas in Louisiana averages $2.13.
Three men killed in a small plane crash Thursday afternoon have been identified as pilot Robert Gilliam of Minden and passengers Wade Williams and chief executive of St. Amant’s Rehabilitation Services Chris Mudd of the Shreveport-Bossier area. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau knew Mudd and says commuting with small planes was the norm.
Cut 5 (08) “…Jackson to Shreveport.”
Williams, a former Northwestern State defensive end, played football at the university from 2009 to 2012, and was a starter in the last three seasons.  The 29-year-old leaves behind a wife and a two-year-old daughter.

Robert Gilliam of Minden and Wade Williams and Chris Mudd of Shreveport-Bossier have been identified as the three victims of a plane crash in Jackson Parish yesterday. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau knew Mudd and says he was a mental health advocate who pushed for smart spending at the Capitol.

Cut 4 (11) “…state of Louisiana.”

The plane, a single-engine Cessna, crashed in Jackson Parish, was flying to Shreveport from Jackson, Mississippi. 

Concerns over lessening demand and uncertainty involving the Wuhan Coronavirus are likely to keep oil prices low, and volatile for the near future according to the LSU Center for Energy Studies. Executive Director David Dismukes says the phase one trade deal with China was initially good news for the industry…

Cut 6 (09) “…crude prices”

The Edwards administration’s budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins on July 1st calls for a 128-million dollar increase in general fund spending. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the additional dollars will go towards education

Cut 9 (10) “…to education”

The budget does not explicitly carve out a teacher pay raise. Dardenne says that will be left up to the individual school districts. Teachers unions are reportedly shocked and angered by the decision.

Three men killed in a small plane crash Thursday afternoon have been identified as pilot Robert Gilliam of Minden and passengers Wade Williams and Chris Mudd of the Shreveport-Bossier area. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau knew Mudd and describes him as a businessman and an advocate for mental health.
Cut 3 (09)  “…especially for adolescents.” 
Mudd was the chief executive of St. Amant’s Rehabilitation Services company and Williams was an employee.
Natchitoches Police arrest a third suspect tied to a double homicide that took place last week at a home on Short Seventh Street.  Officer John Greely says on Wednesday, investigators were able to locate 22-year-old Jaleel Tousant at an apartment in the 500 block of North Street.
Cut 10 (08) “…surrender to us.”
Three family members accused of harboring Tousant were also arrested.
A Mardi Gras ball at the L’auberge Casino in Lake Charles is thought to be the epicenter of a norovirus outbreak that’s infected dozens…

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle 

Governor Edwards is taking State Treasurer John Kennedy to court. Schroder has refused to allow the use of 25-million in unclaimed property dollars to help pay for state expenses. Schroder says the money does not belong to the state government, but previous state treasurer John Kennedy sent millions in unclaimed property dollars to the state general fund.

The Lake Charles L’Auberge Casino is thought to be ground zero for an outbreak of norovirus that’s infected dozens of people. The origin of the outbreak has reportedly been traced to a Mardi Gras ball held last weekend. State Office of Public Health Doctor Frank Welch…
Cut 13 (11) “…virus.”
Symptoms include vomiting and nausea that typically lasts 24 to 48 hours after being infected. People of all ages can become ill from norvirus as it can easily spread.

An alleged bomb threat found on a school bus in Erath has led to officials evacauating students from Dozier Elementary, Erath Middle and Erath High School. Vermilon Parish Sheriff deputies will have bomb detection dogs go through the schools as a precaution.

The Edwards Administration is going over its proposed budget for next fiscal year at today’s joint budget committee meeting. The proposed spending plan calls for the state to spend an additional 285-million dollars, with additional money going to public schools and early childhood education….
cut 9 (09) ‘….the educational process”
Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the budget also calls for cuts in other areas of state government so that more dollars can go into education.

Plaquemine Democrat Chad Brown will have a big task in front of him in the upcoming session as he’ll chair the House Insurance Committee. Several bills are expected to be filed in an effort to lower auto insurance rates. Brown says some of the bills call for tort reform, others seek to change how rates are calculated…
cut 6 (08) “….be flushed out”
The session begins March 9th.

As the chairman of the House insurance committee, Plaquemine Democrat Chad Brown expects to hear legislation in the upcoming session that looks at whether insurance companies should consider a driver’s credit score when setting rates…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor Edwards is taking State Treasurer John Kennedy to court. Schroder has refused to allow the use of 25-million in unclaimed property dollars to help pay for state expenses. Schroder says the money does not belong to the state government, but previous state treasurer John Kennedy sent millions in unclaimed property dollars to the state general fund.

The Edwards administration unveils a proposed spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the budget proposal contains millions of more dollars for public schools…
cut 8 (07) “….throughout the years”
Dardenne says there will also be more dollars for early education, giving more parents the opportunity to enroll their young child into a pre-K program.

Natchitoches Police says the three suspects wanted in last week’s fatal shootings of 41-year-old Larry Batiste and 35-year-old Hiram Phillips are behind bars. Officer John Greely says 22-year-old Jaleel Tousant was the last suspect taken in as he was found at an apartment. He says three family members were also arrested for harboring Tousant…
cut 12 (10) “….to tolerate that”
17-year-old Daerioen Latchie and 21-year-old Jessie James Petite are also facing first-degree murder charges.