PM Newscall, December 15th, 2015

Governor Bobby Jindal says, as he looks back on his two terms in office, one of the things he feels he will regret is that his administration didn’t try to do more. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (26)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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The US Army Corps of Engineers activates increased levee patrols along the Mississippi River in southeast Louisiana due to high water. Emelie Gunn reports…:

CUT 2 (31)  “Emelie Gunn”

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Governor Bobby Jindal says, as he looks back on his 8 years in office, one of the things he feels he will regret is that his administration didn’t try to do more. But, Jindal says there is one issue he wishes the administration could have pushed through…

CUT 3 (09)  “even stronger”

The governor says he wishes they could have repealed the state’s income tax. Jindal says he’ll never regret the things they tried to do, even if they weren’t successful. He says he always told his cabinet that they’d run out of time before they ran out of things to do…

CUT 4 (08)  “we had here”

Jindal says he hasn’t made any decision about a political future. The governor says he’s currently focusing on wrapping up his administration and making the transition to the new administration as smooth as possible…

CUT 5 (10)  “next year”

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Two former Destrehan High School teachers accused in a juvenile student sex case, have been formally charged in Jefferson Parish 14 months after the alleged encounter. 25-year-old Rachel Respess is charged with failing to report the commission of a felony, while 33-year-old Shelley Dufresne faces two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Legal analyst Chick Foret…:

CUT 6 (10) “or the jury”

Both women were originally charged with two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and it wasn’t immediately clear why the Jefferson Parish case resulted in different charges. Foret says with the present charge Respess is facing, she wouldn’t have to register as a sex offender…:

CUT 7 (11) “a sex offense” 

8 months ago, Dufresne pleaded guilty in to an obscenity charge in St. Charles Parish for her month-long relationship with the then 16-year-old. The sexual encounter with Respess allegedly took place at her Kenner apartment. Foret says the Jefferson Parish & St. Charles prosecutors persue the charges based on the evidence before them…:

CUT 8 (10) “phone calls”

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ULM held a press conference this morning to officially announce former McNeese State coach Matt Viator as the new head football coach of the Warhawks. Viator amassed a 77-33 record in his 10 seasons at McNeese leading the Cowboys to four Southland Conference championships. Viator says he looks at this as a great opportunity and a great challenge…

CUT 9 (07)  “the one here”

Viator replaces Todd Berry who was let go after the Warhawks 59-21 loss to Arkansas State on November 14th. McNeese finished this season with a 10-1 record, losing in the second round of the FCS playoffs. Viator says the first order of business is to put together his staff…

cut 10 (08)  “for sure”

The Warhawks finished this season with a 2-11 record. Viator says all he’s tried to do as a head coach is to “do it right” and he’ll bring that approach to ULM…

Cut 11 (07) “going to lose”

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The Army Corps of engineers says they have activated levee patrols in southeast Louisiana due to high water levels on the Mississippi River. Spokesman Ricky Boyett says the gauge on the river in New Orleans reached 11 feet which is a “trigger” to start the additional lookouts…:

cut 12 (06)  “bank stability”

Boyett says Baton Rouge south also reached a trigger point at 31 feet and both levels are expected to rise before falling off dramatically before the weekend. He says the Phase 1 Flood Fight could last a a little more than a week but that depends on mother nature…:

cut 13 (10)  “below 11″

Boyett says heavy loads over the levee are not permitted during the increased protections and, unless special waivers are granted, underground work within 1500 feet of the levee is not allowed. He says the inspections for these flood fights are entirely proactive…:(Boyett says they activate flood fights in different stages to identify any possible issues that could arise so that they can be addressed now before it becomes a problem.)

cut 14 (11)  “an issue” 

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