The National Federation of Independent Business says Small Business Optimism only rose by one-tenth of a point for July, showing no significant enthusiasm for expansion. State Director Dawn Starns links this feeling to the uncertainty small business owners now face with all the recent tax changes Louisiana has seen during the legislative session. She says business owners are now going into maintenance mode…:
CUT 6 (08) “doors open”
She is hopeful things will look up when we near the election in the fall and believes lawmakers will address this in the April legislative session.

State Police is asking for the public’s help in locating the person they believe is responsible for causing a crash that closed down I-10 In Baton Rouge for over 12 hours on Friday. They say the driver was in a stolen vehicle when he allegedly hit an 18-wheeler that overturned, then fled the scene. The person of interest is described as having long blond and brown hair. He has tattoos covering both arms and legs.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne announces that TOPS students will have to pay a small portion of their scholarship for the fall semester. Dardenne says when the second special session ended, lawmakers said TOPS students would be fully covered in the fall semester, but…:
CUT 1 (07) “spring semester”
Dardenne says they hope lawmakers will be able to allocate more money next year so future TOPS students are not hit with a bill for tuition.

State Treasurer John Kennedy is warning that a new scam is targeting people by pretending a national organization has their unclaimed property. He says potential victims are getting letters that ask them to buy a stamp in order to claim an award for unclaimed property. The authority to return unclaimed property is with the state treasurers office, not this organization says Kennedy. Anyone who gets this letter should contact his office.

As the new school year gets underway, the state Department of Transportation has begun their “Be a Roll Model” bicycle safety campaign. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says the number of deaths involving cyclists tripled from 2014 to 2015. He says cyclists need to bike safely and always follow traffic laws.

Cut 3 (09) “…to consider”

Louisiana is the 2^nd worst state to have a baby, according to a study by WalletHub.  The study ranks Louisiana 49^th in number of Pediatricians and Family Doctors and 47^th for infant- mortality rate. State Department of Health Deputy Secretary Michelle Alletto says they’re working in cities and rural areas to help improve access.

Cut 5  (10)  “pregnant women”

A New Orleans home that was flooded in Hurricane Katrina is being transformed into a memorial by Levees.org. Website founder Sandy Rosenthal hopes to open the memorial by December 1, the close of hurricane season. She says the house was bought in April and construction has been ongoing ever since.

Cut 12 (09) “April”

She says the renovation will cost about $50-thousand.

Lake Charles Police investigators are trying to solve a murder case that’s almost 30 years old. 75-year-old Noah Breaux was murdered in 1987, and then his house was burned down to cover up the crime. Deputy Chief Mark Kraus says anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact Lake Charles Police.

Cut 15 (09) “it’s solved”

A recent study cites Louisiana’s ranking when it comes to low birth weight of babies, low number of OB-GYNS and high number of preterm births as a reason the state is the second worst in the nation to have a baby. On the report by Wallethub, State Department of Health Deputy Secretary Michelle Alletto says one of the barriers moms have access and coverage..:
Cut 6 (10) “healthier state”
The study ranks Louisiana 49th in number of Pediatricians and Family Doctors and 47th for infant- mortality rate.

A former youth pastor at the First Baptist Church in New Orleans will spending 10 years in state prison after pleading guilty to charges related to the molestation of a young female member of church. 35-year-old Jonathan Bailey pleaded guilty to five counts of molestation of a juvenile, six counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and a count of obstruction of justice.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne announces TOPS will only be 93% funded in the fall, and less than half in the spring. He hopes when lawmakers return to Baton Rouge next year they’ll be able to allocate more money towards the popular scholarship program, so that students aren’t hit with the bill…:
CUT 9 (08) “maintain it”

Levees.org is planning on turning a New Orleans home that was flooded during Hurricane Katrina, into a memorial. Website founder Sandy Rosenthal says it’ll cost about $50-thousand dollars to revamp and preserve the house from further decay but she expects a lot of donors to help with the recreation….:
cut 11 (09) “out there”
Rosenthal hopes to open the memorial by December 1st, the close of hurricane season.

It turns out the TOPS scholarship will not be fully funded in the fall. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says students receiving the award will still be on the hook for at least 7 percent of their tuition in the upcoming semester. He says they will have to pay over half of tuition in the spring…:
CUT 8 (10) “may be”
He hopes when lawmakers return to Baton Rouge next year, the budget will allow for money to return to the program.

Lake Charles Police are opening back up the cold case of a 75-year-old man who was found dead in his burned home in 1987. Deputy Chief Mark Kraus says because of advances in technology, police can now collect evidence they never thought they’d be able to in the murder of Noah Breaux…:
cut 14 (10) “the case”

A report from the personal finance website, Wallethub, finds Louisiana’s the second worst state to have a baby. Jeff Palmero has more…:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Gov. John Bel Edwards, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn Wilson will hold a news conference today to announce additional funding for a major transportation project at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

A study from WalletHub, finds Louisiana is the 2nd worst state to have a baby. Louisiana ranks last when it comes to rate of low birth weight, number of OB-GYNs, and preterm births. State Department of Health Deputy Secretary Michelle Alletto says the expansion of Medicaid will surely help improve birth outcomes…:
cut 4 (10) “and families”
The study ranks Louisiana 49th in number of Pediatricians and Family Doctors and 47th for infant- mortality rate.

A state lawmaker is calling for the firing of State Superintendent of Education John White, citing a recent annual job evaluation. Multiple reports indicate Slidell Representative Kevin Pearson said Louisiana has fallen to the bottom and that any other job performance evaluation would result in termination. A spokesperson for the DOE disputes the claim saying the state has shown significant gains in public schools.

Levees.org is planning on turning a house flooded during Hurricane Katrina into a memorial. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Investigators with the Lake Charles Police Department are working to close the cold case of the the 29-year-old murder of Noah Breaux, whose home was burned down to cover up the homicide. Deputy Chief Mark Kraus says in March of 1987, the 75-year-old’s home was torched, then his body located
Cut 13 (09) “back up”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne announces that TOPS students will have to pay a small portion of their scholarship for the fall semester. Dardenne says when the second special session ended, lawmakers approved saying TOPS students would be fully covered in the fall semester, but…:
CUT 7 (07) “spring semester”
Dardenne says they hope lawmakers will be able to allocate more money next year so future TOPS students are not hit with a bill for tuition.

Levees.org is planning on turning a New Orleans home that was flooded during Hurricane Katrina into a memorial. Spokeswoman Sandy Rosenthal says the plan is to make the home look like it did right after the storm hit:
Cut 10 (09) “painted”
She says when people get off the airplane at the Louis Armstrong Airport, they want to better understand what went on 11 years ago.

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain releases a warning for horse owners. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The ACLU of Louisiana has dropped East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore from its lawsuit against BRPD and the city over alleged use of excessive force in protests following the death of Alton Sterling.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says there’s a chance the state will end up with a deficit for last fiscal year. Dardenne says legislators will have an immediate budget problem when they convene for the 2017 fiscal year. He says he and the governor have warned state agencies to spend money wisely in preparation for possible cuts.
cut 15 (11) “from 16″

The state Department of Education annouces a record number of high school students achieved AP college credits in 2016. Superintendent John White says these scores prove that while we have a ways to go, students are just as smart and capable as any in the country.
CUT 9 (11) “108-percent”

Jury selection is underway for a murder trial in which the alleged crime took place over 50 years ago in Lake Charles. Jeff Palermo has the story…
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Baton Rouge federal judge heard testimony today that the Louisiana department of corrections has developed a cost-effective way to keep death row inmates cool during the summer at Angola. According to the Associated Press, death row inmates have been moved to new cells, where cool air has been piped in from a vent.