LRN Newscast 17:30 December 30

The imminent threat of flooding along the Mississippi and Red Rivers has led to Governor Bobby Jindal declaring a state of emergency. The action paves the way for the state to prepare for the potential of flooding along those two rivers because, high crests are projected as a result of recent storms across the south and middle United States.

The state’s fiscal situation is worse than previously thought, according to Jay Dardenne, who is the budget architect for Governor-elect John Bel Edwards. Dardenne says the revenue shortfall for this fiscal year has grown to 750-million dollars, thanks to a drop in oil prices and a slump in corporate income and sales taxes…
cut 12 (08) “calendar year”
Dardenne projects the budget shortfall for next fiscal year at 1-point-9 billion dollars, and everything is on the table to address this situation, including higher taxes.

LSU has lost its defensive coordinator to Auburn. After spending just one season in Baton Rouge, Kevin Steele is bolting the Tigers for the same job at Auburn. Steele guided an LSU defense that allowed 347 yards a game this year, which is ranked as the 27th best mark in the country.

Total employment in Louisiana declined by more than 30-thousand from November 2014 to 15. The Louisiana Workforce Commission says low oil prices have led to thousands of jobs lost in Lafyaettee and the Houma-Thibodaux areas.

State Police says an Independence Police Officer is under arrest accused of using his position to steal money from non-English speaking Hispanic males during traffic stops. Spokesman Dustin Dwight says 25-year-old Laquinton Banks was arrested for three felony charges, theft, malfeasance in office and a hate crime…
cut 10 (06) “hate crime”
Dwight says Banks stole 16-hundred dollars during four separate traffic stops.