The Red Cross is helping thousands of people in Louisiana who have been impacted by the recent flooding. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Officials in Livingston Parish have also been working around the clock dealing with flood waters and residents who were displaced from their homes. Sheriff Jason Ard says they saw high levels in the Maurepas area, Springfield, Holden and Denham Springs…:
CUT 3 (10) “to seeing it”

Alexandria attorney Thomas Davenport is asking the Rapides Parish Police Jury to remove a Confederate monument outside of the Parish Courthouse. Davenport says the monument, which has been there for over 100 years, alters the perception of justice…:
cut 14 (11) “of a crime”
The police jury is holding off on any action until the state legislature acts on measures dealing with the confederate monuments.

Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the United States and Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson wants to reduce the number of low level inmates, which will save the state money. She says comprehensive solutions to the state’s over-incarceration should include changes to pre-trial services, like South Carolina and Kentucky have done…:
Cut 13 (08) “of it”
Johnson says Louisiana spent over 600 million dollars in state corrections last fiscal year.

The Red Cross has been active in and around the state assisting those affected by historic flooding. Louisiana Red Cross spokeswoman Nancy Malone says hundreds of disaster workers are responding throughout the state. She says more than 200 people stayed overnight in the 14 Red Cross and community run shelters…:
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She says anyone who would like to help out can visit red-cross-dot-org for details.

Governor John Bel Edwards has released a list of additional parishes he’s requesting the the federal government declare disaster areas so residents affected by the flood can get assistance. The newly requested parishes are Beauregard, Bienville, Caddo, Caldwell, DeSoto, LaSalle, Livingston, Madison, Natchitoches, St. Tammany, Tagnipahoa, Union, Vernon, Washington, West Carroll, and Winn. Already approved are Bossier, Claiborne, Grant, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, and Webster.

LSU is launching the car sharing service, Zipcar, so students without a vehicle can rent one by the hour, week, or month. Jeff Campbell, LSU’s Sr. Director of Parking and Transportation Services, says anyone interested would pay a yearly membership fee and find the vehicles conveniently located around campus….:
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He says you can sign up for Zipcar one their website or by downloading the smartphone app.

Former LSU football player Mo Claiborne released a statement today regarding the fact that his 2011 championship ring was being auctioned off on Ebay. He asserts the ring was taken from him without his knowledge and that he’d never sell any of his LSU memorabilia.

Louisiana is dealing with historic flooding and it’s causing several road closures and officials are keeping a close eye on the interstates. State Police say the I-10 at the Texas border could close at some point today due to the rising Sabine River. Sgt James Anderson says, in the event of the closure, motorists traveling to Texas today should make alternate plans…:
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Updated statewide road closures are listed on the State Police Facebook page.

Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness advises residents to sign up for federal assistance if your home flooded, even if you’re not in one of the 7 declared disaster parishes…:
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You can apply at emergency-dot-la-dot-gov.

Lawmakers just came out of a special session, and Governor John Bel Edwards is already saying they might need another, as the state is still facing a huge budget shortfall. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says a levee at Bayou Darrow breached due to flooding and the Louisiana National Guard is using super sack sand bags to plug up the hole..:
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I-10 at the Louisiana-Texas border is expected to shutdown sometime today because of flood waters. Louisiana State Police Sergeant James Anderson says it’s the result of the historic flooding from the Sabine River…
cut 3 (10) “….Texas-Louisiana line”
Anderson says once the interstate closes, motorists that need to travel into Texas today should use I-20.

For information on what roads are closed, state officials are encouraging residents to use the 5-1-1-l-a-dot-org website. Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says motorists need to stay off flooded roads…
cut 13 (06) “….in this”
In northwest Louisiana…Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington says several feet of water covers US Highway 71.

Governor John Bel Edwards says another special session could be needed to address next fiscal year’s $800 million dollar shortfall. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris is pushing lawmakers to approve long-term budget reforms to solve the state’s fiscal crisis…:
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Legislators must approve a balanced budget for next fiscal year by July 1st.

State lawmakers have approved several pro-life measures and they’ll be asked to vote on another one. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman has proposed a bill to increase the mandatory waiting period from 24 to 72 hours. Hoffman says he’s proud the legislature seeks to strengthen Louisiana’s pro-life status…
cut 10 (08) “…we can” (2x)

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness expects several more parishes would be added to the 7 that have been declared federal disaster areas. Spokesman Mike Steele says the legwork to prepare additional areas for assessment has already begun. He says people who have sustained damage to their homes should register for federal assistance, even if they are not in one of the declared parishes…:
cut 12 (10) “for FEMA”

I-10 at the Texas border will close this morning due to flooding from the Sabine River, according to the state Department of Transportation and Development. The official detour route is I-20. The I-10/I-59 in Slidell remains open, but state police say they are closely monitoring the Pearl River water line there. Many roads are closed throughout the state and you can visit 511la.org for a list.

In Central, Louisiana a levee at Bayou Darrow in Grant Parish has been breached due to extreme flooding after massive amounts of rainfall. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain is concerned about people refusing to evacuate then law enforcement would have no way to reach them. He says if you have the opportunity to leave an area that has the potential to flood, please do…:
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He says the community of Georgetown is virtually an island.

The regular legislative session got underway Monday and lawmakers still face an $800 million dollar deficit for next fiscal year. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris, Head of the Republican Legislative Delegation, says balancing the budget will be a matter of prioritizing…:
CUT 7 (10) “special session”
Tax matters can not be addressed in the regular session.

There are still several parishes throughout the state that remain under a flood warning from the National Weather Service. Water has started to recede from ares in south Bossier and on the Red River in north Louisiana. Officials are watching the Pearl River in southeast Louisiana, but say I-10 and I-59 in Slidell will remain open. But in southwest Louisiana, DOTD says they will close I-10 this morning along the Texas boarder due to flooding on the Sabine River.

Extreme flooding has caused a levee breach at Bayou Darrow in central Louisiana’s Grant Parish. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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Another special session could be needed following the 2016 regular session. Governor John Bel Edwards says lawmakers left an $800 million dollar hole for next fiscal year’s budget in the previous special session, and without that revenue, critical cuts will occur in vital services…:
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Edwards signed several revenue bills into law Monday including the one that raises the cigarette tax 22 cents to $1.08 per pack, and also the increased alcohol tax measure. Both go into effect April 1st.

It’s day two of the regular session and one of the bills lawmakers are set to look at within the next two a a half months would require a 72 hour waiting period before a woman can get an abortion, instead of one day. It’s West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman’s proposal…:
Cut 8 (10) “or not”
Hoffman is the chairman of the House Health and Welfare committee.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is trying to get a handle on the amount of flood damage. Halen Doughty has more…
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The Department of Transportation says its preparing for the closure of I-10 this morning at the Sabine River near the Texas State line due to flooding. A flood warning is in place through the region. Meanwhile in southeast Louisiana, state police say I-10 and I-59 in Slidell will remain open at this time. They continue to monitor the Pearl River.

Governor John Bel Edwards said at the start of the regular session Monday that another special session could be needed to address next fiscal year’s $800 million dollar shortfall. Edwards says he’s still disappointed with how the last special session ended…:
cut 4 (09) “of Louisiana”
Alexandria Representative Lance Harris, Head of the Republican Legislative Delegation, says it will take long-term reforms to solve the state’s fiscal crisis…:
Cut 6 (09) “those reforms”
The budget for next fiscal year must be balanced by July 1st.

One of the pro-life bills that’s been proposed for the regular session would require women to wait 72 hours before getting an abortion. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says this is already a law in several other states…:
CUT 9 (07) “want to”

Lawmakers just came out of a special session, and Governor John Bel Edwards is already saying they might need another, as the state is still facing a huge budget shortfall. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says the total number of homes damaged by flood waters in Louisiana has climbed to over 6-thousand. He says so far 7 parishes have been approved for federal assistance…:
cut 11 (07) “assessment process”
Several parishes remain under a flood warning today.

A levee at Bayou Darrow in Grant Parish has been breached due to extreme flooding after massive amounts of rainfall. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says things will get worse before they get better. He says the community of Georgetown is virtually an island…:
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State officials are urging those with flood damage to go ahead and fill out the form for federal aid, even if your parish has not yet been declared a disaster area. You can fill out the FEMA form at emergency-dot-la-dot-gov. The state Department of Children and Family services is also encouraging those who have experienced loss to pre-register for benefits under the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.