PM Newscall, May 15th, 2015

High School graduation season is underway and a recent statewide survey shows almost two-thirds of voters favor the TOPS scholarship program to remain fully funded despite lawmakers efforts to put a cap on the awards. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

==================

This summer might the biggest ever for Hollywood South at the Box Office. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

===================

High School graduation season is underway and a recent statewide survey shows almost two-thirds of voters favor the TOPS scholarship program to remain fully funded despite lawmakers efforts to put a cap on the awards. A bill that would put limits on TOPS scholarship awards has passed the Senate and will be considered in the House. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat, with Southern Media and Opinion Research, says the poll shows 64-percent of voters want TOPS to be left as is…

CUT 3 (10)  “pay for TOPS”

The poll shows only 28-percent of Louisiana voters approve of limiting the scholarship awards. Legislators are currently considering putting a cap on the program in an effort to address the state’s $1.6 billion budget deficit. Pinsonat admits there is an inherent problem with TOPS…

CUT 4 (04)  “more money”

Supporters of the measure argue that the program is unsustainable because rising tuitions cause the amount of money the state spends each year on TOPS to rise. Pinsonat says this survey shows voters overwhelmingly reject that argument…

CUT 5 (07)  “fund it”

============================

This summer might the biggest ever for Hollywood South at the Box Office. Starting this weekend with the opening of the Baton Rouge filmed Pitch Perfect 2, if you hit up the theater this summer there’s a good chance you’ll see a movie that was filmed in Louisiana. That’s according to Louisiana Entertainment Executive Director Chris Stelly…:

CUT 6 (07)  “the next Terminator”

There are concerns among lawmakers that the film tax program in Louisiana is too generous, Stelly doesn’t think movie makers will be deterred. He says there are currently cameras rolling throughout the state…:

CUT 7 (10) “New Orleans”

Among films shot here hitting the big screen this summer are New Orleans filmed “American Ultra” staring Kristen Stewart, “Selfless” with Ben Kingsley and “The Fantastic Four” which was made in Baton Rouge. Stelly says Louisiana is well represented on the little screen and the big screen this summer…:

CUT 8 (06)  “have on record”

============================

Alexandria Police have arrested a man accused of throwing an eight-month-old baby against a wall. Deputy Chief Cedric Green says they received a call from the baby’s mother saying 20-year-old Devontee Smith kicked in the back door of her residence and threatened her and and the baby. Green says Smith was upset about something when he came to the residence…

CUT 9 (06)  “against the wall”

Green says Smith, who is reported to be the child’s father, grabbed the baby by the ankles and slammed him against the wall. He says Smith then took the baby’s milk and diapers before fleeing the residence. Green says authorities caught up with Smith and booked him into the Rapides Parish Jail…

cut 10 (06) “and theft”

Smith faces charges of domestic abuse battery, home invasion, simple assault, and theft. Green says the baby boy was examined by an ambulance crew at the scene… (The crew found no visible injuries to the child.)

cut 11 (06)  “to the child”

============================

There’s a good chance you’ve seen termites swarming the street lights as it’s that time of year. Dr. Dennis Ring, entomologist with the LSU AgCenter, says the Formosan subterranean termites are attracted to lights and swarm from dusk through early morning. He says this is the most destructive insect in the state of Louisiana…:

cut 12 (08)  “to the light”

Ring says the first major swarm happens right about Mother’s Day then several major swarms will go through May and June. He says the swarms lighten up in July and we may even get a few termites in August. Ring says there is an alternative for people who don’t want to turn off porch lights…:

cut 13 (07)  “to insects”

Ring suggests homeowners call at least three professional pest management companies to come out and draw a diagram to tell you exactly what they are going to do to protect your structure from termites…:

cut 14 (09) “once you get termites”

============================