A Korean War veteran who died 65 years ago has finally been returned to Crowley to be laid to rest. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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State government is looking at more budget problems. Michelle Southern has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Souther”
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The Republican Party in Louisiana is so sure Donald Trump has locked up the presidential votes here, they are sending its volunteers to Florida — a battleground which accounts for 29 electoral votes. Party chair Roger Villere says it’s part of a nationwide effort among GOP members to go door to door in the Sunshine State…:
Villere says every poll in Louisiana has shown Trump significantly ahead of Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton – some by as many as 20 points. He says in Florida it’s an extremely close race with polls constantly going back and forth…:
cut 4 (08) “we have to win Florida”
Many polls indicate the most realistic path to the White House for Trump includes winning Florida. Villere says if they’ve had GOP members from Louisiana in the Sunshine State rotating in and out…:
Cut 5 (10) “for their country”
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A Korean War veteran from Crowley is finally laid to rest in his Louisiana hometown today. Army Sgt. First Class Lawrence Smith died 65 years ago in a prisoner of war camp in North Korea. Alex Juan with the State Department of Veteran’s Affairs says they are so happy to welcome Smith home. She hopes this brings his family peace.
In the early 1990’s, Sgt. Smith’s daughter received a call that North Korea found over 200 boxes of U.S. Servicemen’s remains and her father could be one of them. Juan says the process of properly identifying bodies and shipping them home can take a very long time.
Smith passed away at 26-years-old and is survived by his daughter Melinda Crowley, who plans to bury her father with her late mother. Juan says they are able to identify remains by using DNA testing now. She says full military protocol will be in effect when Smith in finally laid to rest in a family cemetery near Crowley.
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Just over half of the Louisiana residents polled say the state is heading in the wrong direction. A University of New Orleans Survey Research Center Poll surveyed about 600 likely voters and 51-percent are pessimistic about the state’s future. But UNO Pollster Ed Chervenak says 35-percent say the state is moving in the right direction and that’s a 15-percent increase over last year.
Chervenak says the poll shows 64-percent of Republicans are unhappy with the direction the state is headed compared to only 32-percent of Democrats.
The survey also found Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating is at 56-percent. Chervenak says residents might be more optimistic about the state’s future because Edwards’ has a more positive rating than Jindal.
cut 11 (10) “Baton Rouge area”
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The state is looking at another round of budget cuts because the state finished last fiscal year with a 313 million dollar deficit. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says a few factors are leading to Louisiana continuously facing these budget problems.
Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says many state agencies have been asked to look where they could make cuts and it looks like colleges and healthcare will take the biggest hits. Cross says the oil and gas industry is struggling and a lot of people aren’t spending money…
The Edwards’ administration has said they could possibly use the rainy day fund to help offset some of the deficit. Cross says Governor Edwards has put together a panel to try to come up with a way to stabilize the budget.
cut 14 (07) “Louisiana budget”
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