06:30 Newscast January 15, 2016

President Barack Obama said in Baton Rouge Thursday, the fact that Louisiana voters chose Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards proves elections do matter. Mr. Obama said the people of Louisiana have spoken and Edwards has already proven he will be a leader that isn’t afraid to make big decisions…

cut 13 (09) “not going to be easy”

Edwards is dealing with a $700 million dollar shortfall he has to close in the remaining 6 months of the current budget year.

State Treasurer John Kennedy reports the December 2015 Net Receipts Report shows total state revenue is down 15-percent from the same time last year. The report shows a drop in sales taxes, severance taxes, and corporation taxes. Kennedy offers a simple explanation…

cut 4 (06) “right now”

He attributes much of the decline in revenue to the price of crude oil.

People in Louisiana want to see a range of issues addressed in a special session, according to an LSU poll. Governor John Bel Edwards has said he’ll call the legislature into a special session in February to address the state’s budgetary challenges. Public Policy Research Lab Director Michael Henderson says their survey found 66% of respondents want to see a broad range of matters addressed in the special session such as education, jobs, and health care. He says the findings are surprising.

cut 10 (10) “those issues”

Henderson says there isn’t exactly a good fit between what the public wants and what the state needs to address.

AM Newscall January 15,2016

State Treasurer John Kennedy reports the December 2015 Net Receipts Report shows total state revenue is down 15-percent from the same time last year. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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The Confederate monument issue was taken up in New Orleans federal court on Thursday, and it appears as though the preservationists are facing an uphill battle. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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 The people of Louisiana want to see multiple issues addressed, not just the budget, in the upcoming special session. Emelie Gunn has more on what this LSU poll found….

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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State Treasurer John Kennedy reports the December 2015 Net Receipts Report shows total state revenue is down 15-percent from the same time last year. The report shows a drop in sales taxes, severance taxes, and corporation taxes. Kennedy offers a simple explanation…

cut 4  (06)  “right now”

He attributes much of the decline in revenue to the price of crude oil. He says the low oil prices are beginning to affect corporate taxes, sales taxes, and income taxes…

Cut 5  (07)  “go down”

The report does not include gambling revenues, fees, self-generated revenue, or statutory dedications the state receives. The state legislature will be looking at increasing state revenues in the upcoming legislative session. Kennedy advises legislators to be cautious in addressing this issue…

Cut 6 (08)  “a lot worse” 

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The Confederate monument issue was taken up in New Orleans federal court on Thursday, and it appears as though the preservationists are facing an uphill battle. US District Judge Carl Barbier is considering a plea by four groups seeking to stop the removal of the monuments. Legal analyst Chick Foret says it didn’t seem Judge Barbier found any federal jurisdiction in the case…:

CUT 7 (09)  “elsewhere”

The judge did not indicate when he would rule. Foret says he think the preservationists efforts to prevent the city from dismantling the monuments in federal court are going to fall short. He says Barbier questioned the merit of legal arguments that federal laws and constitutional rights would be violated by the removal of the statues…:

Cut 8  (09)  “historic properties”

This issue has sparked passions on both sides since it was initially brought up by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. The New Orleans City Council voted 6-1 to remove Confederate statues in December. Foret says one of the lawyers for the city told Judge Barbier that they are prepared to move forward with the plan, but they need a new general contractor…:

Cut 9 (09)  “death threats”

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People in Louisiana want to see a range of issues addressed in a special session, according to an LSU poll. Governor John Bel Edwards has send he’ll call the legislature into a special session in February to address the state’s budgetary challenges. Public Policy Research Lab Director Michael Henderson says they found 66% of respondents want to see a broad range of matters addressed in the special session such as education, jobs, and health care. He says the findings are surprising.

Cut 10 (10) “those issues” 

Henderson says there isn’t exactly a good fit between what the public wants and the crisis of the moment that the state needs to address. He says many people may understand what a special session is designed to do…:

cut 11 (09) “are important”

 Henderson says these poll results show the people of Louisiana are ready to have these other issues addressed, but it will likely have to wait until a later session. He says Governor Edwards and the legislature are going to have to do the work and explain it to the voters.

Cut 12 (08) “special session”

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President Barack Obama said in Baton Rouge Thursday, the fact that Louisiana voters chose Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards proves elections do matter. Mr. Obama said the people of Louisiana have spoken and Edwards has already proven he will be a leader that isn’t afraid to make big decisions…:

Cut 13 (09)  “not going to be easy”

Edwards is dealing with a $700 million dollar shortfall he has to close in the remaining 6 months of the current budget year. President Obama urged Louisianans, during the town hall meeting at McKinley High, to support Edwards…:

Cut 14 (09) “this event”

Fresh off his 15 point, 7 assist, 5 rebound outing in Wednesday’s victory over Ole Miss, LSU’s Ben Simmons got a little love from Mr. Obama…:

Cut 15  (15) “Ben is better”

Simmons said he only found out President Obama would be in town after Wednesday’s game against Ole Miss. He attended the town hall with his father and sister, and was able to shake the President’s hand afterward….:

Cut 16  (11)  “it’s surreal”

17:30 Newscast, January 14th, 2016

President Barack Obama held a town hall style meeting today at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said today that Drew Brees is going to remain the quarterback. In fact, during the end of the season news conference Loomis chuckled at the notion that Brees would be going anywhere. Brees is scheduled to count $30 million dollars against the Saints 2016 salary cap.

A rare January hurricane is churning in the Atlantic Ocean. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Hurricane Alex is the second hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin during this month. He says although rare, history has shown us it can happen…:
cut 16 (11) “2006″
He says Alex is only the fourth named storm to form in the month of January.

In the lead up to Wednesday’s $1.6 billion dollar Powerball drawing, nearly $23 million worth of Powerball tickets were sold in Louisiana for the week beginning Sunday, Jan. 10. More than 442,000 Louisiana Lottery players won cash prizes, according to the Louisiana Lottery, including a $1 million dollar ticket purchased in Franklinton.

 

16:45 Sportscast, January 14th, 2016

The LSU men’s basketball team put on an amazing performance last night beating Ole Miss 90-81. Even though The Tigers were down three at the half, they stormed back in a big way. Craig Victor led the Tigers with 18 points while Antonio Blakeney and Ben Simmons each scored 15. President Barack Obama was in Baton Rouge today and gave Simmons a shoutout…:
CUT 2 (06) “the books”
The Tigers will host Arkansas in league play Saturday.

Tonight on the college hardwood, Louisiana Tech travels to Miami to face Florida International. In the Sun Belt, UL-Lafayette is on the road to face Georgia Southern and ULM visits Georgia State.

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said today that Drew Brees is going to remain the quarterback. In fact, during the end of the season news conference Loomis chuckled at the notion that Brees would be going anywhere. Brees is scheduled to count $30 million dollars against the Saints 2016 salary cap in 2016.

LSU still isn’t sure if some of their starters on the 2015 defense will come back next year. Middle linebacker Kendell Beckwith is considering the pros, but NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Beckwith wouldn’t go in the first or second rounds. Detillier says Beckwith would benefit by playing for new LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda…:
Cut 18 (20) “draft stock”
Underclassmen prospects in college have until January 18th to declare for the NFL draft. Defensive end Lewis Neal is returning to LSU for his senior year, he said on Twitter today.

ULM coach Matt Viator made four new hires today. Defensive backs coach Chris Hampton, wide receivers coach Tim Leger and defensive line coach Manny Michel all followed Viator to ULM from McNeese State, while offensive line coach Rob Sale joins the staff after one season in the SEC at Georgia.

 

16:30 Newscast, January 14th, 2016

President Barack Obama spoke in Baton Rouge today at McKinley High. He did make an “oops” as he was leaving…:
CUT 1 (05) “America”
He began the speech thanking Baton Rouge for having him and expressing his love for Louisiana….:
CUT 8 (08) “in Louisiana”
Before leaving town, Mr. Obama grabbed lunch to go from Poor Boy Lloyd’s, a well-known Baton Rouge po-boy shop on Florida Street. Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Governor John Bel Edwards were among those in attendance.

Retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness says he’ll officially announce his candidacy for the US Senate on Wednesday January 27th at the Kenner Park Pavillion.

A January hurricane has formed in the Atlantic for the first time since 1938. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson has been ordered by a Texas judge to give a deposition in the court battle over the family trust. Legal analyst Tim Meche says because the teams are owned by this irrevocable trust, he sees only one logical outcome in this dispute…:
cut 13 (08) “of those teams”

 

 

15:30 Newscast January 14,2016

President Barack Obama held a town hall style meeting today at McKinley High School in the Capital City. The President’s visit is part of his annual tour following the State of the Union Address. Mr. Obama congratulated Governor John Bel Edwards on expanding Medicaid in Louisiana.

CUT 6 (12) “state’s finances”

Parks Senator Fred Mills has been named chairman of the state Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Mills says the committee’s main goal is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Louisiana. Opponents of Medicaid expansion say it could make the state’s fiscal problems worse than they are now. Mills is confident the legislature will do what’s best for the state…

CUT 5 (07)  “of Louisiana”

 

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson has been ordered by a Texas judge to give a deposition in the court battle over the family trust.  Legal analyst Tim Meche says this is an important ruling because the family claims Benson is being manipulated by those around him. He says the biggest problem in this case for Benson is that he created an irrevocable trust…

cut 12 (09) “can’t undo it”

A rare hurricane has formed in the Atlantic Ocean in January for the first time since 1938. State Climatologist Barry Alex is only the fourth named storm to form during this month in the Atlantic and the second hurricane to form in January in this ocean since 1851, when record keeping began.

cut 15 (10)  “very rare”

14:30 Newscast, January 14th, 2016

President Barack Obama visited the Capitol City today and spoke to a crowd at McKinley High. Before he began taking questions from the audience, he expressed his fondness for the Bayou State…:
CUT 8 (08) “in Louisiana”
This is the President’s 10th visit to Louisiana. Mr. Obama talked of visiting New Orleans during commemorations of the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

A former Louisiana teacher accused in a 2014 sex scandal involving an underage student has entered a plea of not guilty through her lawyer in Jefferson Parish. 33-year-old Shelley Dufresne, who taught at Destrehan High, faces two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Also accused, 25-year-old Rachel Respess, pleaded not guilty earlier to a charge of failure to report Dufresne’s crime. Dufresne was also charged in St. Charles Parish and has agreed to a plea deal to avoid having to register as a sex offender.

A rare hurricane has formed in the Atlantic Ocean in January for the first time since 1938. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Hurricane Alex is the second hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin during this month. Keim says Alex is scheduled to make landfall late tonight around the Azores…:
cut 14 (09) “colder water”
He says Alex is only the fourth named storm to form in the month of January in the Atlantic and the second hurricane to form in this month in this ocean since record keeping began in 1851.

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson, of West Monroe, has announced he’s supporting Republican Ted Cruz for President. GOP candidates will face off tonight in a debate broadcast on the Fox Business Network. In an endorsement video, Robertson says Cruz fits the bill…:
cut 10 (09) “or never”
The 9th season of Duck Dynasty premiered last night.

 

PM Newscall, January 14th, 2016

President Barack Obama held a town hall style meeting today at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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A January hurricane has formed in the Atlantic for the first time since 1938. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Parks Senator Fred Mills has been named chairman of the state Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Mills says the committee’s goal is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. He expects the committee will have a very busy 2016…

CUT 3 (11)  “of providers”

He says rule writing for the state’s Medicaid expansion will be one of the committee’s top tasks for the year. Mills says he is a supporter of Medicaid expansion and believes it will be a benefit for the state…

CUT 4 (07)  “indigent care”

Opponents of Medicaid expansion say could make the state’s financial problems even worse than they are now. Mills is confident the legislature will look at all angles of this issue and do what’s best for the state…

CUT 5 (07)  “of Louisiana”

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President Barack Obama held a town hall style meeting today at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. This visit is part of the President’s annual tour of towns following his State of the Union Address. Mr. Obama congratulated Governor John Bel Edwards on his decision to expand Medicaid in Louisiana…

CUT 6 (12) “state’s finances”

This is the President’s 10th visit to Louisiana. Mr. Obama talked of visiting New Orleans during commemorations of the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. He says the Big Easy is a great example of how America is able to overcome adversity…

CUT 7 (09) “pulled together”

Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Governor John Bel Edwards were among those in attendance. Before President Obama began taking questions from the audience, he expressed his fondness for the Bayou State…

CUT 8 (08) “in Louisiana”

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Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson, of West Monroe, has announced he’s supporting Republican Ted Cruz for President in an endorsement video. Robertson says he wants a candidate that is godly, will do the job and enjoys some of his favorite activities.

CUT 9 (05)  “gumbo”

The 9th season of Duck Dynasty premiered last night.  GOP candidates will face off tonight in a debate broadcast on the Fox Business Network. Robertson says Cruz fits the bill.

cut 10 (09)  “or never”

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New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson has been ordered by a Texas judge to give a deposition in the court battle over the family trust. Thus far, Benson has refused to personally participate in any of the preceedings. Legal analyst Tim Meche says this is a significant ruling, considering the family claims Benson is being manipulated by those around him…

Cut 11 (07) “same room”

A January 21st deposition has been ordered for Benson in San Antonio where his estranged family will be present. Meche says the teams aren’t actually owned by Benson, but by this family trust. He says the main obstacle in this case for Benson is that he created an irrevocable trust…

cut 12 (09) “can’t undo it”

A trial date has been set for February 1st. Benson is seeking to give control of the teams to his wife Gayle upon his death and not his daughter and grandchildren. Because the teams are owned by this irrevocable trust, Meche sees only one logical outcome in this dispute…

cut 13 (08)  “of those teams”

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A rare hurricane has formed in the Atlantic Ocean in January for the first time since 1938. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Hurricane Alex is the second hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin during this month. Keim says Alex is scheduled to make landfall late tonight around the Azores…

cut 14 (09)  “colder water”

Keim says this is very unusual for this time of year. He says Alex is only the fourth named storm to form in the month of January in the Atlantic and the second hurricane to form in this month in this ocean since record keeping began in 1851.

cut 15 (10)  “very rare”

Keim says although rare, two hurricanes have formed in the last days of December and carried on over into January.

cut 16 (11)  “2006″

 

 

13:30 Newscast, January 14th, 2016

Even though he thanked New Orleans at the end, President Barack Obama was actually in Baton Rouge today for a Town Hall Style meeting. He took some questions and even gave a shutout to LSU basketball star Ben Simmons. Mr. Obama says the Big Easy is a great example of how America is able to overcome adversity…:
CUT 7 (09) “pulled together”
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Governor John Bel Edwards were among those in attendance.

Parks Senator Fred Mills, who has been named chairman of the state Senate Health and Welfare Committee, says the rule writing for the state’s Medicaid expansion will be one of the committee’s top tasks for the year. He says he is a supporter of Medicaid expansion and believes it will be a benefit for the state…:
CUT 4 (07) “indigent care”

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson has been ordered by a Texas judge to give a deposition in the court battle over the family trust. Thus far, Benson has refused to personally participate in any of the proceedings. Legal analyst Tim Meche says this is a significant ruling, considering the family claims Benson is being manipulated by those around him…:
Cut 11 (07) “same room”
A January 21st deposition has been ordered.

Louisiana State Police say they are still very actively searching for a 2-year-old and a 7-year-old who were abducted by a man accused of robbing a bank in Shreveport. They say there is now a warrant out for the arrest of 34-year-old Keith Rogers in connection with the robbery he could have committed with the missing children’s mother who is also accused in the kidnapping. 2-year-old Elijah Wong and 7-year-old Donnie Simmons are believed to be in imminent danger. Rogers and Wong should be considered armed and dangerous.

 

12:30 Newscast, January 14th, 2016

President Barack Obama held a town hall style meeting today at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson, of West Monroe, has announced he’s supporting Republican Ted Cruz for President in an endorsement video. Robertson says he wants a candidate that is godly, will do the job and enjoys some of his favorite activities…:
CUT 9 (05) “gumbo”
The 9th season of Duck Dynasty premiered last night.

Governor John Bel Edwards is confident the rising Mississippi River will be contained within the state’s levee system. He praised the work of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana National Guard in keeping the flood threat at bay. Edwards says lessons learned during the Great Flood of 2011 are really paying off now…:
cut 14 (09) “this event”
Edwards took an aerial tour of the levee system from Vidalia to Morgan City yesterday.

A rare January hurricane has formed in the Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center calls Hurricane Alex very unusual as it’s the first hurricane to form in January since 1938. Models show Alex is no threat to the US.