13:30 Newscast March 19th, 2015

State Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret tells lawmakers it’s time to reign in the state’s film tax credit program. Moret says the state’s film program has created an estimated ten-thousand jobs and brought positive attention to the state, but it only produces 20-cents in revenue for every dollar of tax credit…:
CUT 12 (09) “state priorities”
Legislation is expected to be filed soon that addresses the money spent on film tax credits.

LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab’s 2015 Louisiana Survey shows more Louisianians feel the state is heading in the right direction. And Director Michael Henderson says 26-percent of Louisianians say the state business climate is better than it was a year ago…:
CUT 10 (10) “things are going”

State Treasurer John Kennedy says the Jindal Administration is considering selling the Louisiana Lottery as a way to help plug the state’s massive budget hole. Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols says this has never been an option. Kennedy says these documents are irrefutable evidence that these discussions are ongoing…:
CUT 5 (11) “sale of your lottery”
Kennedy says getting rid of the state’s Lottery would be a bad idea.

An appeals court judge has thrown out the sentence of former Jonesboro Mayor Leslie Thompson and ordered a re-sentencing. Thompson was convicted in 2013 on three counts of malfeasance in office. The court ruled that Thompson’s sentence of six years in prison, combined with having to pay restitution of almost $52,000, was excessive. It is unknown when the re-sentencing will take place.