09:30 Newscast January 28, 2016

Republican Retired Air Force Colonel Rob Maness officially announces his bid for Louisiana’s soon to be vacant US Senate seat. Jeff Palermo reports…

cut 1 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The man arrested in San Diego, wanted for sexually abusing children in Louisiana nearly 40 years ago, claims that he is not the former Monroe children’s TV show host who went by the name “Mr. Wonder.” Authorities identify the man as Frank Selas III, but the man arrested Monday spells his name slightly differently. Officials say the 76-year-old fugitive changed his name. A hearing has been scheduled for February 11th to establish the man’s identity.

A Monroe man has been sentenced to life in prison after shooting a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Agent last May. 29-year-old Luke Jarrod Hust shot Sgt. Scott Bullitt during a vehicle stop. Ouachita Parish District Attorney Jerry Jones says Hust showed no remorse…

cut 12 (11) “wheelchair”

Sgt. Bullitt hasn’t returned to duty and is still undergoing rehab.

The Department of Health and Hospitals they’ll have to cut payments to hospitals or eliminate certain Medicaid programs if forced to take a 131-million dollar cut in state funding this fiscal year. Undersecretary Jeff Reynolds says they’ll have to wait and see what happens in next month’s special session…

cut 9 (08) “without a deficit”

He says these options are worst-case scenarios and hope that they will not have to be implemented.