Louisiana’s 2015 tax amnesty program ends tomorrow, December 31st. Kizzy Payton with the State Department of Revenue says this is the time to call the Department to set up a payment arrangement or agreement to settle your delinquent tax debts. She says Louisianians won’t get this opportunity again for a while…

cut 13 (10) “until 2025”

Payton says eligible tax payers can make their payments online at www-dot-ldrtaxamnesty-dot-com.

PowerBall jackpot has reached a whopping 300 million dollars with a cash value of 184 million dollars. Kimberly Chopin with the Louisiana Lottery says we’ve already had smaller PowerBall winners throughout Louisiana because of the recent changes to their matrix…

cut 4 (06) “in PowerBall”

Chopin says this PowerBall jackpot is one of the largest we’ve seen in the last 10 years.

Louisiana had more law enforcement officers shot and killed in the line of duty this year than any other state in the nation. A report by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund revealed 9 total officers were killed in the line of duty this year, triple the number from 2014. Chairman Craig Floyd says five officers were shot and murdered while on the job in 2015….

cut 10 (10) “officer died”

Floyd says there are now laws in all 50 states that say drivers must slow down and move over when you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road to give officers an added margin of safety.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is closely monitoring levels along the Red and Mississippi Rivers due to rising water levels. Eric Gill reports..:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Eric Gill”

Two employees at the Office of Motor Vehicles allegedly stole more than $200,000 in cash over three years while working in the customer payments department, according to a legislative audit. Heather Prather and Angelle Temple were arrested and fired earlier this year. The auditor recommends the OMV change its cash handling procedures.

The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office says a child custody situation in Stonewall has left the grandfather murdered. Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle believes the incident stemmed from a dispute involving 36-year-old Donovan Carman’s taking the two-year-old child. The victim tried to intervene when he was killed. Arbuckle says formal first degree murder charges will be filed against Carman as soon as they take custody of the suspect…:
CUT 5 (07) “DeSoto Parish”
The victim, 67-year-old Bobby Nichols, was transported to an area hospital where he later died.

LSU star running back Leonard Fournette needs 259 yards tonight in the Texas Bowl to reach 2,000 on the season. The Tigers and Red Raiders are battling it out in NRG Stadium. Fournette told reporters in Houston that he didn’t set any goals for this season…:
cut 12 (13) “to the limit”
The game officially sold out.

There’s a potential we could see some major flooding to start the New Year on Louisiana’s rivers due to increasing water levels from all the rain we’ve been having. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Kevin Davis says they’re working with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Weather Service to keep an eye on river levels…:
CUT 6 (07) “several weeks”
The Red is expected to crest at 31 feet, one foot above flood stage, in Shreveport and remain below flood stage in Alexandria. Mississippi River levels are expected to crest 9 to 12 feet above flood stage in Vicksburg, Natchez, and Baton Rouge.

A species of bird that has never been recorded in Louisiana was found by a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist in Jeff Davis Parish. A pyrrhuloxia (pear-a-lucksia), a desert cardinal which is normally only found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, will bring the official list of birds of Louisiana to 480 species.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette could become the first SEC back to reach 2,000 rushing yards in a season if gets 259 yards on the ground tonight in the Texas Bowl. LSU is facing Texas Tech in NRG Stadium. When asked by reporters in Houston if there was any truth to rumor that he’d sit out next season ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft, Fournette said no…:
CUT 14 (05) “doing that”
The Red Raiders defense is allowing more than 270 yards per game on the ground.

Suspected drunk drivers in Acadiana could be ordered by a judge to provide a blood or urine sample to determine if they are impaired and refuse a breathalyzer test. State Police Troop I Spokesman Brooks David says the “No Refusal” campaign takes place today and tomorrow. He urges adults to make smart choices after drinking and to never get behind the wheel…:
cut 10 (09) “arrest you”

A man shot and killed the grandfather of his 2-year-old son in Stonewall over a custody dispute according to the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle believes 36-year-old Donovan Carman had broken up with the mother of the child, and was trying to leave with the 2-year-old. He says apparently the victim, 67-year-old Bobby NIchols, tried to thwart Carman’s efforts to take the child…:
CUT 4 (10) “Caddo Parish Sheriffs”
The child was unharmed in the incident. Carman will be charged with first degree murder.

The crazy storms yesterday morning in Louisiana brought behind them much cooler temperatures today. South Louisiana could see more rain tonight and tomorrow, according to the National Weather Service, but not as severe as Monday’s. The rain Tuesday and Wednesday is forecast to be steady, with embedded thunderstorms.

Theirs potential for flooding along rivers in Louisiana and state officials are keeping a close eye on the water levels as they rise. Mississippi River levels are expected to crest 9 to 12 feet above flood stage in Vicksburg, Natchez, and Baton Rouge. GOHSEP Director Kevin Davis says they’re coordinating with parish officials along both rivers to ensure they’re prepared…:
CUT 8 (07) “and monitoring”
The Red is expected to crest at 31 feet, one foot above flood stage, in Shreveport and remain below flood stage in Alexandria.

State Police are starting to put up No Refusal checkpoints for the New Years week. There are at least two popping in the Acadiana region and Troop I spokesman Brooks David warns suspected drunk drivers of the consequences of not taking the breathalyzer test…:
CUT 9 (10) “of impairment”

State authorities are watching river levels in Louisiana as recent rains have caused the water to rise to the potential for flooding. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Executive Director Kevin Davis says we could see Mississippi River levels top flood stage in just a couple of weeks..:
CUT 7 (07) “New Orleans area”
Davis says they’re coordinating with parish officials along both rivers to ensure they’re prepared.

LSU star running back Leonard Fournette says he didn’t know he needed 259 yards to become the first SEC back to reach 2,000 rushing yards tonight in the Texas Bowl. The Red Raiders defense is allowing more than 270 yards per game on the ground. Fournette says this has been a wild season…:
cut 13 (11) “thank God”
The game kicks off at 8.

State Police in Acadiana are implementing “No Refusal” checkpoints during the New Year’s week. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A woman in Bossier City was conned out of $400 from someone in WalMart, and cops are looking for the suspect. The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office says the victim said the man told her he was a relative of someone she knew and that he needed the money to fix his car in the parking lot. The woman loaned the suspect the monmey and never heard from him again. Detectives are describing the suspect as a black male, who is approximately 6 feet tall and weighs about 170 pounds.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is closely monitoring levels along the Red and Mississippi Rivers due to rising water levels. Eric Gill reports..:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Eric Gill”

Some suspected drunk drivers in Acadiana will be ordered by a judge to provide a blood or urine sample to determine if they are drunk if they refuse a breathalyzer test. State Police Troop I Spokesman Brooks David:
CUT 11 (09) “that vehicle”

LSU star running back Leonard Fournette needs 259 yards tonight in the Texas Bowl to reach 2,000 on the season. The Tigers and Red Raiders battle tonight at 8pm in NRG Stadium. Fournette told reporters in Houston that he didn’t set any goals for this season…:
cut 12 (13) “to the limit”
Lone Star Sports & Entertainment said the Texas Bowl isn’t officially sold yet, but is expected to be by game time.

A Simmesport man is under arrest accused of the shooting death of his estranged wife who was a nurse at the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office. Simmesport Police say 59-year-old Faron Gaspard shot 65-year-old Verna Gaspard multiple times at close range with a shotgun Sunday night. Faron then fled the scene. Authorities found Faron Monday at his mother’s house in Markesville. They were able to force him out of the house and take him into custody. Faron is charged with first degree murder.