State Treasurer John Schroder is facing a lawsuit from Governor Edwards after refusing to turn over an estimated 25-million dollars in unclaimed property money to help fund the governor’s proposed 32-billion dollar budget. Schroder says using unclaimed money in the budget is bad public policy.
Cut 13 (09) “…state general fund.”
Edwards released a statement that the Unclaimed Property Fund hit a balance of more than $78-million, leaving a healthy balance of funds for Schroder to distribute.

Teacher unions are upset the budget does not contain a line item that will guarantee educators will receive a pay raise for a second consecutive year. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says Edwards campaigned on pushing for further teacher pay raises…
cut 6 (11) “…session”
The Edwards administration says they are proposing an increase in funding for public schools and leaving it up to individual school districts to use that money for teacher pay raises.

Holden Matthews, the white man accused of torching three African-American St. Landry Parish churches last spring, has a plea-change hearing today in Lafayette. Matthews originally pleaded not guilty to several federal charges. Legal analyst Tim Meche says during the hearing the judge will make sure Matthews is changing his plea voluntarily…
cut 7 (10) “….is guilty”
Matthews faces several years in prison if convicted.

During the upcoming session, lawmakers will look at ways to reduce auto insurance rates, but one Senator says he’s filed a few bills that he says are common-sense solutions. Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau says one of his bills would prevent insurance companies from charging you more for your insurance just because you have a lower credit rating…
Cut 10 (11) “…record.”
Luneau says he has also has a bill that would insurers from raising rates on people who are widowed

Governor John Bel Edwards budget proposal for next fiscal year calls for 99-million dollars in new funding for education, but none of that money is targeted to give teachers another pay raise. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey…
cut 4 (11) “…to go”
Lawmakers will have the opportunity if they want to, to put a line item measure in the budget for a pay raise.

Meanwhile, Governor Edwards is taking state Treasurer John Schroder to court because he’s refusing to allow the Edwards administration to use 25-million dollars in unclaimed property funds to pay for expenses in the budget. Schorder says unclaimed property isn’t the state’s money…
cut 14 (11) “….don’t have it”
But Edwards says the law is clear, excess revenues in the Unclaimed property fund are to benefit the public.

A change of plea hearing is scheduled today in federal court in Lafayette for Holden Matthews. He’s the white man accused of setting fires to three African American churches in St. Landry Parish last spring. Matthews has previously entered a not guilty plea, but court records indicate plea negotiations have been ongoing. Legal analyst Tim Meche says if the judge accepts a guilty plea to the charges, a sentencing date will be announced and take place two to three months from now…
cut 8 (12) “….do it again”

12 jurors from Rapides Parish have sentenced 35-year-old Kyle Joekel to die for killing two St. John the Baptist Parish deputies in a trailer park nearly eight years ago. Jeremy Triche and Brandon Neilsen died in the ambush-like attack. A second defendant, Brian Smith, has yet to face trial as he’s in a mental hospital.

Matt Doyle spoke with LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes about how the Coronavirus is impacting the oil industry…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The three people that died in yesterday’s plane crash in Jackson Parish have been identified. One of the victims is Chris Mudd, chief executive St. Amant’s Rehabilitation Services. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says Mudd was an advocate for mental health care…
cut 3 (09) “…especially for adolescents”

Governor John Bel Edwards recommends that lawmakers steer millions of dollars more towards education in a budget proposal presented to lawmakers today. 39-million dollars more would go towards the formula that funds public schools and Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says individual school districts can decide on whether to give out teacher pay raises…
cut 10 (05) “…for teachers”
Edwards has said he wants to move teacher salaries up to the Southern Regional Average during his second term in office.

Docville Farm in St. Bernard Parish is the home for the third annual Cook-off for the Coast on Saturday. National Wildlife Federation’s Vanishing Paradise spokesperson Erin Willhoft says the culinary competition will feature free tastings from 14 different cook teams.
Cut 12 (09) “…crowd favorite categories.”
The event will also feature live music and other family fun from 11 to 3 PM.

Matt Doyle spoke with LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes about how the Wuhan Coronavirus is impacting the oil industry…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year calls for millions of more dollars to be spent on education. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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Three men killed in a small plane crash Thursday afternoon have been identified as pilot Robert Gilliam of Minden and passengers Wade Williams and Chris Mudd of the Shreveport-Bossier area. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau (Lou-know) says Mudd was an advocate for mental health.

Cut 3 (09)  “…especially for adolescents.” 

Mudd was the chief executive of St. Amant’s Rehabilitation Services company and Williams was an employee. Luneau says Mudd wanted to make sure that mental healthcare that was provided was adequate and that the state got good results for the money that was spent on it.

Cut 4 (11) “…state of Louisiana.”

The plane, a single-engine Cessna, crashed in Jackson Parish, was flying to Shreveport from Jackson, Mississippi. Luneau says commuting with small planes was standard for Mudd.

Cut 5 (08) “…Jackson to Shreveport.”

Williams, a former Northwestern State defensive end, played football at the university from 2009 to 2012, and was a starter in the last three seasons.  The 29-year-old leaves behind a wife and a two-year-old daughter.

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Concerns over lessening demand and uncertainty involving the Wuhan Coronavirus are likely to keep oil prices low, and volatile for the near future according to the LSU Center for Energy Studies.

Executive Director David Dismukes says the phase one trade deal with China was initially good news for the industry…

Cut 6 (09) “…crude prices”

Oil is at 50 dollars a barrel and Dismukes says that number could continue dropping.

Cut 7 (08) “…increases”

Much of the price volatility is driven by uncertainty. Dismukes says until the world finds out just how severe the Wuhan Coronavirus is, prices will remain in flux, but trending downward.

Cut 8 (08) “…restricted.”

A gallon of gas in Louisiana averages $2.13

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The Edwards administration’s budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins on July 1st calls for a 128-million dollar increase in general fund spending. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says most of the additional dollars should go towards education

Cut 9 (10) “…to education”

The governor recommends a 25-million dollar increase for early childhood education, but advocates seek an additional 86-million dollars. Dardenne says the governor’s proposal calls for 39-million dollars more for public schools and individual school districts can decide on whether to give out teacher pay raises…

Cut 10 (05) “…for teachers.” 

The increase in funding will also cover pay raises for judges and prosecutors and sheriffs will get more money to house state inmates. However, Dardenne says health care will see less funding and other agencies will also see reductions…

Cut 11 (09) “…state budget.”

Lawmakers will spend the next few months combing through the budget and they are expected to approve a spending plan by June 1st.

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Docville Farm in St. Bernard Parish is the home for the third annual Cook-off for the Coast on Saturday. National Wildlife Federation’s Vanishing Paradise spokesperson Erin Willhoft says the culinary competition will feature free tastings from 14 different cook teams.

Cut 12 (09) “…crowd favorite categories.”

The event will also feature live music and other family fun.  Willhoft says the idea behind the food selection is to promote the bounty of the marshlands in St. Bernard Parish.

Cut 13 (06) “…at the cook-off.”

Last year the event raised about $10,000 and is on track to hit that same amount.  Willhoft says funds raised from sponsors and cooking teams’ fees are going toward coastal restoration for the Mississippi River Delta with the Chandeleur Sound Living Shoreline program.

Cut 14 (10) “…get started now.”

The event takes place from 11am to 3pm and is open to the public.  More details can be found at coastcookoff.com.

The Lake Charles L’Auberge Casino is thought to be ground zero for an outbreak of norovirus that’s infected dozens of people. The origin of the outbreak has reportedly been traced to a Mardi Gras ball held last weekend. State Office of Public Health Doctor Frank Welch…
Cut 13 (11) “…virus.”
Symptoms include vomiting and nausea that typically lasts 24 to 48 hours after being infected. People of all ages can become ill from norvirus as it can easily spread.

An alleged bomb threat found on a school bus in Erath has led to officials evacauating students from Dozier Elementary, Erath Middle and Erath High School. Vermilon Parish Sheriff deputies will have bomb detection dogs go through the schools as a precaution.

The Edwards Administration is going over its proposed budget for next fiscal year at today’s joint budget committee meeting. The proposed spending plan calls for the state to spend an additional 285-million dollars, with additional money going to public schools and early childhood education….
cut 9 (09) ‘….the educational process”
Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the budget also calls for cuts in other areas of state government so that more dollars can go into education.

Plaquemine Democrat Chad Brown will have a big task in front of him in the upcoming session as he’ll chair the House Insurance Committee. Several bills are expected to be filed in an effort to lower auto insurance rates. Brown says some of the bills call for tort reform, others seek to change how rates are calculated…
cut 6 (08) “….be flushed out”
The session begins March 9th.

As the chairman of the House insurance committee, Plaquemine Democrat Chad Brown expects to hear legislation in the upcoming session that looks at whether insurance companies should consider a driver’s credit score when setting rates…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor Edwards is taking State Treasurer John Kennedy to court. Schroder has refused to allow the use of 25-million in unclaimed property dollars to help pay for state expenses. Schroder says the money does not belong to the state government, but previous state treasurer John Kennedy sent millions in unclaimed property dollars to the state general fund.

The Edwards administration unveils a proposed spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the budget proposal contains millions of more dollars for public schools…
cut 8 (07) “….throughout the years”
Dardenne says there will also be more dollars for early education, giving more parents the opportunity to enroll their young child into a pre-K program.

Natchitoches Police says the three suspects wanted in last week’s fatal shootings of 41-year-old Larry Batiste and 35-year-old Hiram Phillips are behind bars. Officer John Greely says 22-year-old Jaleel Tousant was the last suspect taken in as he was found at an apartment. He says three family members were also arrested for harboring Tousant…
cut 12 (10) “….to tolerate that”
17-year-old Daerioen Latchie and 21-year-old Jessie James Petite are also facing first-degree murder charges.

Governor John Bel Edwards will propose a budget to lawmakers today that calls for increased spending on education. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the investment into education is something the governor has pushed for years and now the state is in position to do so…
Cut 7 (12) “…where we are”
Dardenne says the budget will also propose cuts so that more dollars can go towards education.

Authorities have identified the three people killed in yesterday’s small plane crash in Jackson Parish. Robert Gilliam of Minden was the pilot and his passengers were Chris Mudd and Wade Williams, both from Shreveport-Bossier. The single-engine Cessna was heading from Jackson, Mississippi to Shreveport when it crashed north of Chatham.

The state health department says norovirus is to blame for an outbreak of stomach related illnesses in the Lake Charles area. Doctor Frank Welch with the state office of public health says symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea…
cut 14 (08) “….day or two”
Many of the people who got sick attended a Mardi Gras Ball at L’auberge casino in Lake Charles.

Natchitoches Police say the three suspects responsible for last week’s double-homicide on Short Seventh street are behind bars. Officer John Greely credits the public’s help in nabbing 22-year-old Jaleel Tousant
cut 11 (07) “…past couple days’
Greely says three family members who were harboring Tousant were also arrested. 17-year-old Daerieon Latchie and 21-year-old Jessie James Petite were also charged with first-degree murder.