A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agent is hospitalized in serious condition after being shot in the line of duty. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says 32-year-old Sergeant Scott Bullitt of Jonesboro was shot in the back while performing a traffic stop in Ouachita Parish. Einck says Sergeant Bullitt has been an LDWF agent for over five years and he’s married with no kids…

cut 7 (10) “and waterways”

29-year-old Luke Jarrod Hust has been arrested in the incident and charged with attempted first degree murder.

The Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office says DNA tests confirm that Keavin Keith, the teacher arrested for allegedly having sex with three of his students, did indeed father a child with one of the victim’s when she was 15-years-old. Keith is facing numerous counts of prohibited sexual contact between an educator and a student, indecent behavior with a juvenile, and felony carnal knowledge.

Many will hit the road for the Memorial Day weekend and Gasbuddy-dot-com says you’ll see the lowest gas prices since 2009. Although prices have risen over the past month, Senior Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski doesn’t think there will be a huge increase in gas prices this summer. He says there is still a really significant inventory of gasoline and that’s good news for motorists…

cut 13 (08) “last year”

The state average for regular gas is $2.45 per gallon.

Memorial Day Weekend sees Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge hosting Bayou Country Superfest for the 6th year with huge stars including Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, all on the heels of tonight’s Taylor Swift show. Producer Quint Davis says one of the greatest things about this festival is that it’s held on the LSU campus…

cut 3 (09) “inside the stadium”

A huge free fan fest takes place outside the stadium each day before the main show starts.

In the first of a series of questions to the four major gubernatorial candidates, Louisiana Radio Network asked each if they were Governor today, how would they handle the $1.6 billion dollar deficit. Republican US Senator David Vitter says if elected, he would immediately call a special legislative session on spending and tax reform…

cut 7 (11) “Governor’s term”

The Louisiana gubernatorial primary is set for October 24.

On a 65-37 vote, the state House approved a 24-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year. A politically charged amendment was added to the budget during the debate that would require the governor’s office to pay for troopers when Jindal makes out-of-state campaign trips, not State Police. Monroe Representative Katrina Jackson is in full support…

cut 16 (11) “one person”

The Senate will now take up the budget bill.

The Metropolitan Crime Commission asks the state Attorney General’s office to investigate the sentence of the Destrehan High School teacher who had sex with one of her students. Michelle Southern reporting…

cut 1 (32) “reporting”

Alexandria Police say an argument between a couple resulted in shots being fired. They say a woman told officers that she and her ex-boyfriend, 23-year-old Bruce Cooper, were involved in an argument when he hit her in the face. The victim says she then busted out the windows of his vehicle. She says Cooper then fired several shots into her vehicle. Cooper is charged with assault by drive-by shooting.

The Louisiana House has approved a 24-billion dollar budget that includes language about Governor Jindal’s out-of-state campaign travels. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries say an agent is in critical condition after being shot in the back in Ouachita Parish. They say 32-year-old Scott Bullitt and his partner were performing a routine traffic stop in the Russell Sage Wildlife Management Area when 29-year-old Luke Hust of Monroe pulled a gun. He shot Bullitt and fired shots at the other agent before fleeing into the woods. Hust was captured and booked on two counts of attempted first degree murder.

Louisiana Radio Network will ask a series of questions to the four major gubernatorial candidates leading up to the primary election. We first asked each candidate if they were Governor today, how would they handle the state’s $1.6 billion dollar budget deficit. Democratic Representative John Bel Edwards says he would reduce or eliminate tax giveaways that cost too much or produce too little return on investment. He says he would also accept federal tax dollars back into Louisiana…

cut 6 (11) “money that we can use”

The gubernatorial primary is set for October 24.

The Metropolitan Crime Commission has asked the state Attorney General’s office to investigate whether St. Charles Parish DA Joel Chaisson committed any criminal violations with regards to the plea deal with Shelley Dufresene, the Destrehan High School teacher who had sex with one of her students. Legal analyst Tim Meche says if the MCC believes a criminal act occurred they should report it to federal authorities…

cut 9 (07) “constitution”

In the first of a series of questions to Louisiana’s four major gubernatorial candidates, Louisiana Radio Network asked each candidate if they were Governor today, how would they handle the $1.6 billion dollar budget shortfall. Republican Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says he’d curtail tax exemptions and refundable credits, cap the film tax credit program and raise the cigarette tax. But Dardenne says if he were Governor there wouldn’t be this giant deficit…:

cut 5 (11) “economy strong”

Louisiana’s gubernatorial primary election is October 24.

The state House approved a 24-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year on a 65-37 vote. As it stands now, the budget reduces funding for LSU’s medical schools in New Orleans and Shreveport and the state’s public-private hospital partnerships are also underfunded. House Appropriations Chairman Jim Fannin says some agencies will also face cuts…

cut 15 (08) “highest priority”

The budget plan now heads to the Senate.

The Metropolitan Crime Commission has asked the state Attorney General’s office to investigate the sentence of Shelley Dufresene, the Destrehan High School teacher who had sex with one of her students. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the MCC President should know better than to call for this investigation….

cut 8 (10) “local district attorney”

Dufresene admitted to the act in exchange for no jail time and not having to register as a sex offender.

As motorists begin hitting the road for the Memorial Day weekend, Gasbuddy-dot-com says you’ll like the price you see at the pump. Senior Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski says while gas prices have gone up about 21-cents a gallon in the past month, prices are still almost a dollar less than we paid a year ago. Laskoski says the price hike was not totally unexpected…

cut 12 (06) “driving season”

The current average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Louisiana is $2.45 a gallon.

On a 65-37 vote, the state House approved a 24-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year. House Appropriations Chairman Jim Fannin says the budget process started with a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall, but they covered much of that gap, by passing revenue generating bills, recognizing additional dollars thanks to an improved revenue forecast, and other financing…

cut 14 (10) “MFP”

The spending plan now heads to the Senate.

As motorists begin hitting the road for the Memorial Day weekend, Gasbuddy-dot-com says they’ll see the lowest gas prices since 2009. Senior Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski says the current average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Louisiana is $2.45 a gallon…

cut 11 (07) “a year ago” 2X

Laskoski says many are considering an additional road trip this summer because of the price at the pump.

In the first of a series of questions to the four major gubernatorial candidates, Louisiana Radio Network asks about the state’s budget problems. We asked each candidate if they were Governor today, how would they handle the $1.6 billion dollar deficit. Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle says he’d cut every dime of wasteful spending…

cut 4 (11) “and healthcare”

The gubernatorial primary is October 24th.

The number one ranked LSU Tigers advance to the SEC Baseball Tournament Semifinals after a 10-5 win over Arkansas. The Tigers will next face either Florida or Arkansas in the second semifinal game Saturday afternoon.

On a 65-37 vote, the state House approved a 24-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year, sending the spending plan to the senate. House Appropriations Chairman Jim Fannin says the budget process started with a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall, but they covered much of that gap, by passing revenue generating bills, recognizing additional dollars thanks to an improved revenue forecast and other financing…
cut 14 (10) “…MFP”
As it stands now, the budget reduces funding for LSU’s medical schools in New Orleans and Shreveport and the state’s public-private hospital partnerships are also underfunded. Fannin says some agencies will also face cuts…
cut 15 (08) “…highest priority”
The Senate Finance Committee will take up the budget next week.

Governor Bobby Jindal’s religious freedom executive order is receiving strong criticism from democrats. The leader of the state democratic party, New Orleans Senator Karen Peterson, says she can’t believe Jindal would issue the order, when businesses and the tourism industry expressed concern the measure could alienate visitors or keep conventions away…:
CUT 10 (08) “we represent”
Jindal’s controversial order prevents the executive branch of state government from taking adverse action against a person or a business for their belief in traditional marriage. The governor says it re-affirms our first amendment rights….
cut 12 (09) “….without discrimination”
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu signed his own executive order in response. The mayor says his executive order lets the nation know New Orleans is an accepting, invititing city that thrives on its diversity.

The former teacher of the year in Plaquemine who was arrested for allegedly having sex with three of his students, apparently fathered a child with one of the victim’s when she was 15-years-old…
cut 7 (10) Q: ‘by the victim”
That’s Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi, who says 30 year-old Keavin Keith was arrested Monday on 30 counts of prohibited sex with a student.

State Police say a fire at their data center has left Office of Motor Vehicles offices across the state unable process any transactions. Major Doug Cain says an electrical panel fire has disabled all automated systems at the Department of Public Safety, including OMV locations statewide. That word came down today…
CUT 5 (07) “of the offices”
He says he hopeful they will be up and running tomorrow.

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Governor Bobby Jindal is defending his Religious Freedom executive order, after it was shelved by a House Committee. Critics say this standing firm in the corner of traditional marriage will have adverse economic effects, but Jindal disagrees…
CUT 13 (10) Q: “mutally consistent”
LSU grad and prominent Democratic Party figure, James Carville, appeared on the Jim Engster Show and said he wishes the governor would focus on bigger issues impacting the state.

AAA is saying more people will be on the roads this Memorial Day Weekend than they have in the last 10 years. They say people are feeling more confident about the economy, and the low gas prices are also encouraing them. Spokesman Don Redman says it’s estimated more than 37 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home; 33 million of those by car.