Legislation filed for the upcoming session would allow surveillance cameras to be installed in the classroom of special needs students. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Edwards administration has indicated they would support a 500-dollar raise for teachers in an effort to get Louisiana teacher salaries closer to the southern regional average. Louisiana Federation of Teachers legislative director Cynthia Posey hopes lawmakers will see the value in paying teachers a good salary…
cut 5 (08) “…fund it”

The federal government has approved the state’s plan to spend one-point-two billion dollars in grant money that will be used to reduce the flood risk for several communities. Director of the Louisiana Office of Community Development, Pat Forbes, says they’ll implement the plan as fast as possible
Cut 9 (07) “…need to do″
Forbes says they expect the money will become available in the spring.

A Breaux Bridge man faces animal cruelty charges for allegedly tossing a bag full of lab puppies from a bridge into Bayou Portage in Henderson last week. St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Major Ginny Higgins credits the public’s help for nabbing 55-year-old Gary James Goulas.
Cut 12 (10) “… cruelty to animals.”
The charges, one for each puppy, are felony offenses.

In the face of criticism from teachers, the governor’s office has signaled they could back a 500-dollar raise on top of the one-thousand dollar salary boost teachers got this year. Last year, we were told Louisiana teachers were paid about 22-hundred dollars below the southern regional average. Louisiana Federation of Teachers legislative director Cynthia Posey says states around Louisiana have done a better job keeping up with the S-R-A…
Cut 4 (05) “…than Louisiana.”
The session deciding the pay bump starts in two weeks.
Governor Edwards announces the creation of a “Climate Initiatives Task Force” that will work on ways to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to slow sea level rise. Edwards showcased his billion dollars a year coastal restoration plan last week, but officials admit it requires a slowing of sea-level rise to work longterm. Edwards’ Chief Resilience Officer Charles Sutcliffe says it’ll have to be a global effort, but…
Cut 14 (12) “…conversation”

There are two days left of parades and partying, but a somber mood has come over Carnival 2020 after a second person was struck and killed by a Mardi Gras float in New Orleans. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Longtime St. Mary Parish lawmaker Butch Gautreaux has died. He was 72.

In the face of criticism from teachers, the governor’s office has signaled they could back a 500-dollar raise on top of the one-thousand dollar salary boost teachers got this year. Louisiana Federation of Teachers legislative director Cynthia Posey applauds Governor Edwards for changing his mind…

Cut 3 (10)  “…and stay there.”  

Mardi Gras safety will be a hot topic in New Orleans in the months ahead after a second person in three days was killed by a float. Some say banning tandem floats is not the answer to preventing further deaths during the rowdy street parades. Others say the city should put up more barricades keeping partygoers off the street. But Endymion Vice President Charles Bruno says more barricades can create a different problem…

Cut 6 (10) “…larger crowd”

The Humane Society of Louisiana is coordinating its fourth annual Mardi Gras Parade Horse Adoption Program. In the past potential adopters could choose from available horses after Carnival season, but with the program’s increased popularity, Humane Society Director Jeff Dorson says they are seeing a new trend.

Cut 8 (11) “…few weeks.”

You can visit the Mardi Gras Horses Facebook page for more information.

An Alexandria-based cybersecurity agency has broken down how the 2020 Presidential election could be hacked in a report distributed to the National Association of Secretaries of State. While Louisiana appears to be secure, Ingalls Information Security CEO Jason Ingalls says local level election systems are a likely target.

Cut 11 (09) “…advanced malware attacks.”

Tandem floats have been banned from New Orleans Mardi Gras parades following the deaths of two parade-goers who were struck and killed by two floats pulled by one tractor. 58-year-old Joseph Sampson died Saturday after he fell underneath a tandem float during the Endymion parade. Krewe president Dan Kelly supports the Mayor’s decision to ban tandem floats, but he’s not sure that’s the long-term solution….
cut 5 (09) “…Mardi Gras”
Sampson’s family has started a GoFundMe account to help pay for funeral expenses.

Governor John Bel Edwards has created the “Climate Initiatives Task Force” that will work on ways to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to slow sea-level rise….
cut 13 (10) “…related”
That’s Chief Resilience Officer Charles Sutcliff.

A former Bossier City Police Officer has been arrested on murder and obstruction of justice charges. 43-year-old John Hardy was taken into custody over the weekend. The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office has not released many details. But Hardy’s business partner has been missing since January 24th and human remains were discovered in a wooded area outside of Benton on Friday.

The fourth annual Mardi Gras Parade Adoption Program is underway to place extra horses with owners so they can avoid possible slaughter. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington

A somber mood has come over Carnival 2020 after a second person was struck and killed by a Mardi Gras float in New Orleans. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Longtime Louisiana lawmaker Butch Gautreaux has passed away at the age of 72. A cause of death has not been released. He represented St. Mary Parish in the state legislature from 1996 to 2012. He was also a businessman, former owner of a home appliance and electronics store in Morgan City.

An Alexandria-based cybersecurity agency called Ingalls Information expects we’ll see ransomware attacks in an effort to disrupt the 2020 presidential election. Ingalls Information Security CEO Jason Ingalls says it appears state and local election systems are protected well, but hackers could target other state agencies with ransomware attacks around election time. He says OMV was recently impacted by a ransomware attack…
cut 12 (13) “….been place”

Governor Edwards has created the Climate Initatives Task Force as the state looks to play a greater role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The state’s Chief Resilience Officer Charles Sutcliffe says….
cut 14 (12) “…conversation”
Scientists say greenhouse gas emissions is leading to a rise in sea levels.

Tandem floats have been banned in New Orleans after two people during a three-day span were struck and killed by tandem floats during Mardi Gras parades. Two people also had to be rushed to a hospital after they fell from a second-floor balcony on St. Charles Avenue yesterday.

An Alexandria-based cybersecurity agency has broken down how the 2020 Presidential election could be compromised by ransomware….
Voicer 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Governor John Bel Edwards is setting up a Climate Initiatives Task Force that’s charged with developing a plan on how Louisiana industries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Discussing the impact of carbon emissions on the global climate can be controversial in an oil-rich state. but Edwards’ Chief Resilience Officer Charles Sutcliffe says the objective is not to attack a particular group.
Cut 15 (09) “…gonna do.”

For the fourth straight year, the Humane Society of Lousiana is running an adoption program for a few of the horses that walk in the Mardi Gras parades. Humane Society of Louisiana Director Jeff Dorson says 55 horses have been adopted over the last three years…
cut 9 (09) “…Mardi Gras horse”
Go to Facebook-dot-com, slash mardi-gras-horses to view the horses up for adoption.

It’s Lundi Gras as a Carnival season marred by two deaths has two more days left in it. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has banned tandem floats after two people during a three-day span were hit and killed by a moving tandem float. Others say the city should put up more barricades, but Endymion Vice President Charles Bruno says more barricades can create a different problem…
cut 6 (10) “….larger crowd”
Two Krewe of Thoth riders have been hospitalized after falling off floats during yesterdays’ parade and two people fell from a second-story balcony on St. Charles Avenue had to be rushed to the hospital.

For a fourth straight year, The Humane Society of Louisiana is holding a Mardi Gras Parade Horse Adoption Program. Humane Society Director Jeff Dorson says the program has proven to be successful.
Cut 7 (06) “…for adoption.”
Go to the Humane Society of Louisiana’s Facebook page to find out which horses are up for adoption this year.

Governor John Bel Edwards has created the “Climate Initiatives Task Force” that will work on ways to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to slow sea level rise….
cut 13 (10) “…related”
That’s Chief Resilience Officer Charles Sutcliff who says the state is planning to spend a billion dollars a year on coastal restoration projects, but officials admit the plan requires a slowing of sea-level rise for the projects to have a longterm effect.

An Alexandria-based cybersecurity agency has broken down how the 2020 Presidential election could be hacked in a report distributed to the National Association of Secretaries of State. While Louisiana’s election computer system appears to be secure, Ingalls Information Security CEO Jason Ingalls says other agencies should be on high alert…
Cut 10 (10) “…pay your ransom.”
The state Office of Motor Vehicles was recently impacted by a ransomware attack.

Mardi Gras safety will be a big topic in New Orleans over the months ahead, after a second person in three days was struck and killed by a float. 58-year-old Joseph Sampson died Saturday after a passing tandem float hit him at the Endymion parade. Afterward, the city banned the use of tandem floats, but Endymion Vice President Charles Bruno does not believe a tandem float is to blame…
Cut 4 (11)_ “…police department”
Two Thoth riders were taken to the hospital yesterday after they fell off of separate floats and E-M-S says two were injured when they fell from a balcony on St. Charles Avenue.

A former Bossier City Police Officer has been arrested on murder and obstruction of justice charges. 43-year-old John Hardy was taken into custody over the weekend. The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office has not released only a few details.

The fourth annual Mardi Gras Parade Horse Adoption Program is underway. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington

Alexandria-based Ingalls Information Security has published a whitepaper on how the 2020 presidential election could be hacked. C-E-O Jason Ingalls says local level election systems are a likely target…
cut 11 (09) “…advanced malware attacks”
Ingalls recommends that state and local election officials have a next-generation anti-virus on their computers.