13:30 Newscast, April 22nd, 2016

A report by the National Center for Health Statistics finds the suicide rate in the US has increased by 24% from 1999 to 2014 and experts say Louisiana is being effected too. LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Psychiatry Dr. Michelle Moore says there isn’t a specific reason for why the number has gone up but it’s possible people could be feeling the impact of all the violence going on in the world…:
cut 12 (07) “a roll”
In the past week, two male students at Mandeville High School killed themselves within 48 hours of each other.

There is more bad news when it comes to job loss in the oil and gas sector. LSU economist Loren Scott says a lot of big companies are planning to stop drilling in the Gulf…:
CUT 8 (08) “very heavily”
Scott says the state is losing jobs at the rate of about 21-thousand a year.

A campaign begins today in Louisiana that aims to get more pickup truck drivers to wear their seat belts. Don Molino has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

Cardell Hayes, the man accused of shooting and killing former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith, appeared in court today, according to reports. Hayes’ lawyer wants his client to appear before the grand jury to answer their questions. Friday in court, Hayes’ attorney argued that a preliminary hearing should take place before a magistrate judge and not a bond commissioner. That hearing is scheduled for April 28.