The House Appropriations is taking a different approach to funding proposed teacher pay raises. Chairman Jerome Zeringue says instead of providing more money in the state budget, the panel proposes using state funds to pay down debt in the teacher retirement system, freeing up funds for local school systems to give teachers a raise.

Cut 12 (04) “…those funds.” 

The committee sent a proposed budget to the House floor that does NOT contain 197 million dollars in K-through-12 teacher pay raises. It also has fewer dollars for higher education and early childhood education than the governor proposed. While speaking to the Baton Rouge Press Club, Governor Edwards got word of what House Republicans are proposing…

Cut 13 (08) “…in the process.” 

A bill to extend the state’s film tax credit passes in the House. The legislation renews the current tax credit for a decade when the current incentive expires in July of 2025. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the incentive has a $6 return on investment for every dollar spent, but Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says the ROI is only 23 cents.

Cut 14 (11)  “…Louisiana either.”

New Orleans Representative Mandy Landry says the film industry is not only important to her district but also to those Louisiana residents whose livelihood depends on the entertainment industry.

Cut 15 (12)  “…health insurance.”

The bill to continue the $150 million annual cap on the Film Tax credit passed in the House on a 74-24 vote and heads to a Senate Committee.

The search is on for the hit-and-run driver who struck and killed a bicyclist last weekend in St. Landry Parish. State Police Trooper Tom Gossen says it happened Friday night on state Highway 93 near Sunset…:

CUT 09  (11)        “…in the ditch.”

59-year-old Randy Thibodeaux is the victim. Gossen says they seek a 2013-to-2015 Honda Accord 2-door; metallic colored or gray. Call State Police with any tips.

The website MoneyGeek places 3 Louisiana cities among the nation’s Ten Most Dangerous; using 2021 FBI crime data. LSU New Orleans criminologist Dr. Peter Scharf says it needs to be addressed or it will just balloon…:

CUT 06  (05)        “…lost cities.”

New Orleans ranks 8^th, Shreveport 9^th and Baton Rouge 10^th.

Owners of Mandina’s Restaurant in New Orleans decided to reopen today; three days after one of their employees was gunned down outside the restaurant Friday evening…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Teiko Foxx.”

The popular retail chain Tuesday Morning announces they are closing all their locations – including stores across Louisiana – within the next few weeks. “Going Out of Business” signs are already posted at most locations and prices are chopped by 30-percent or more. Tuesday Morning has been in business for nearly 50 years.

At the State Capitol, discussion of a different way to put more money in the hands of school teachers. The idea? Instead of putting cash into raises, paying down debt in the teachers’ retirement system; freeing up funds for local school systems to give teachers a raise. While speaking to the Baton Rouge Press Club, Governor Edwards got word of what House Republicans are proposing…:

CUT 13(08)      “…in the process.”

The proposed budget sent to the House floor does NOT include million for the teacher pay raises Edwards asked for.

Lawmen in St. Landry Parish seek the person who hit and killed a bicyclist, then drove away. State Police Troop I spokesman Thomas Gossen says based on evidence collected at the scene, they are seeking a metallic-colored or gray Honda Accord 2-door, likely model year 2013-to-2015…:

CUT 11(12)      “…law enforcement agency.”

The victim is ID’ed as 59-year-old Randy Thibodaux of Sunset.

New Orleans, Shreveport, and Baton Rouge rank 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th in MoneyGeek’s list of America’s Most Dangerous Cities. Brooke Thorington reports…:

CUT 02(31)      “…Thorington.”

IN New Orleans, the famous Mandina’s restaurant, on Canal Street, has reopened after one of their waiters was gunned down in front of the eatery last Friday night. The Louisiana Restaurant Association is assisting Mandina’s staff by connecting them with trauma counseling services.

Three days after an employee was fatally shot, owners of Mandina’s Restaurant resumed business today. NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork says officers are searching for two individuals involved in the incident that killed twenty-three-year-old Hilbert Walker III and injured a female victim from Chicago who was dining inside the restaurant.

Cut 5 (04) “…active investigation.”

Mandina owners says this has impacted restaurant owners across the city.

MoneyGeek’s Top Ten List of the Most Dangerous Cities in the Country includes three of the state’s major cities.  New Orleans ranked 8^th in the study, followed by Shreveport and Baton Rouge. LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist Dr. Peter Scharf says says you have to look at the political response to crime from both the state and local governments.

Cut 8 (11)  “…been here.” 

St. Louis ranked number one on the list of the most dangerous cities.

Louisiana State Troopers are searching for a driver who hit and killed a bicyclist, on LA 93 near Sunset and fled the scene. Spokesman Thomas Gossen 59-year-old Randy Thibodeaux was located in a ditch alongside the highway Sunday by a family member who’d been searching for him…:

Cut 10 (12) “…let us know.” 

Authorities are looking for a 2 door metallic-colored or gray Honda Accord, around 2013-15 model…:

The House Appropriations Committee is taking a different approach to funding proposed teacher pay raises. Chairman Jerome Zeringue says instead of providing more money in the state budget for teacher pay raises, the panel proposes using state funds to pay down debt in the teacher retirement system, freeing up funds for local school systems to give teachers a raise

Cut 12 (04) “…those funds.” 

The House Appropriations Committee sent a proposed budget to the House floor that does NOT contain 197 million dollars in K-through-12 public school teacher pay raises

Lawmen in St. Landry Parish seek the person who hit and killed a bicyclist, then drove away. State Police Troop I spokesman Thomas Gossen says it appears to have happened Friday evening along state Highway 93, near Sunset…:

CUT 09(11)      “…in the ditch.”

Gossen says 59-year-old Randy Thibodeaux was last seen Friday by family members. Authorities were notified, after he was located alongside the highway Sunday by a family member who’d been searching for him. LSP seeks a 2013-to-2015 Honda Accord 2-ddoor; metallic colored or gray, with damage to the right side and the right door mirror missing. Call Troop I with tips.

About 12-thousand customers in Caddo and Bossier parishes were, or are, without power at this hour, and SWEPCO has not yet identified the reason why. The utility says, power should be coming back on very soon, if it has not already. Again, the reason for the outage is not immediately apparent.

Mandina’s Restaurant in New Orleans re-opened today as New Orleans Police Officers continue to search for gunmen involved in the murder of one of their employees Friday night. Twenty-three-year-old Hilbert Walker III was killed outside the popular eatery located on Canal Street. NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork says it’s important to know this wasn’t a random event…:

CUT 04(10)      “…the festival.”

A female tourist from Chicago was inside the restaurant when she was hit by a stray bullet.

New Orleans is one of three Louisiana cities list among the nation’s Ten Most Dangerous by financial website MoneyGeek.com. The Crescent City is 8, followed by Shreveport at 9 and Baton Rouge at 10. LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist Dr. Peter Scharf says addressing poverty is addressing violent crime…:

CUT 07(11)      “…level of crime.”

St. Louis topped the list of the most dangerous cities, followed by Mobile, Birmingham, Baltimore, then Memphis, Detroit, and Cleveland.

The state’s three most populated cities are among MoneyGeek’s Top Ten List of the Most Dangerous Cities in the Country. 2021 FBI data was used for the rankings and LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist Dr. Peter Scharf says if violent crime isn’t addressed it will only create more problems for Louisiana.

Cut 6 (05)  “…lost cities.” 

New Orleans ranked 8^th in the study, followed by Shreveport and Baton Rouge.

The candidates running for governor say they have no plans to repeal Governor John Bel Edwards’ executive order that expanded the Medicaid program, providing an estimated 500-thousand Louisiana residents with health care. Six of the seven candidates made that comment at a gubernatorial forum hosted by the Public Affairs Research Council and PAR President Steven Procopio says Attorney General Jeff Landry gave his answer after the forum….

Cut 14 (07)  “…undo it.”
The owners of Mandina’s in New Orleans made the difficult decision to reopen today after one of their employees was gunned down outside the restaurant Friday evening. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Mandina’s Restaurant in New Orleans re-opened today as homicide detectives continue to search for the gunmen involved in the murder of one of their employees Friday night. Twenty-three-year-old Hilbert Walker III was killed as he was serving customers outside the popular eatery located on Canal Street. NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork says officers were dispatched to Mandina’s after gunfire erupted.
Cut 3 (05) “….the scene.”
Woodfork says the gunmen targeted Walker and a woman eating at the restaurant from Chicago was also wounded

There’s a concern the state’s film tax credit program is too costly for the state. A bill to extend the program from 2025 to 2035 is up for debate on the House floor today. Jason Waggenspack with the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association says passage is vital to stabilizing the industry long-term…
cut 10 (10) “…year over year”

Once again this year, a bill to ban using a hand-held cell phone while driving goes before state lawmakers today. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

A 59-year-old man riding his bicylce in the 26-hundred block of Louisiana Highway 93 in St. Landry Parish was struck and killed by a vehicle and the search is on for the car that hit Randy Thibodaux of Sunset. State Police say based on the evidence at the scene it was a Metallic-Gray colored 2013to 15 Honda Accord two door. The right side of the vehicle should have damage.