A poll from LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab finds that more Louisiana residents believe the state is heading in the right direction….
cut 13 (05) “…39-percent last year”
That’s the director for the Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs Dr. Jenee Slocum who says education and transportation were the top concerns among those who were surveyed, but the public’s confidence in state government to tackle these problems remain low.

Shreveport Senator John Milkovich has pre-filed a bill to ban abortions in Louisiana if the heartbeat of a fetus is detectable.
Cut 10 (10) “…acceptable.”
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed a fetal heartbeat bill into law last month, but the Center for Reproductive Rights says they are confident the courts will rule this law unconstitutional.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the Office of Management and Budget is the federal agency that remains hesitant in releasing flood recovery dollars for those homeowners who were impacted by the 2016 floods and have already received an S-B-A loan. Cassidy says O-M-B’s concern is that disaster victims in the future will not take an S-B-A loan and just wait for grant dollars…
cut 8 (10) “…of benefits”
Cassidy says if O-M-B doesn’t sign off on grant money going to S-B-A recipients, they’ll get President Donald Trump involved. Cassidy and fellow Senator John Kennedy plan to meet with O-M-B again on April 16th.

CenturyLink announced today its keeping its corporate head quarters in Monroe through 2025. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says Centurlink is receiving an incentive package from the state and local universities will receive two-million dollars in grant funding to help provide the STEM workers needed…
cut 7 (11) “…community”
CenturyLink employs over 22-hundred workers in the state.

The state needs new voting machines, but Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says new equipment will not be available by the time the October and November elections roll around. Ardoin says they will rent voting machines for early voting and use spare parts to make sure the old voting booths work properly on election day…
cut 10 (11) “…fall election”
Ardoin says they will re-do the process of purchasing new voting machines later this year.

A fatal wreck in 2017 that killed a four-year-old girl is inspiring a Bossier City legislator to change state law law so that even drug tests are required for drivers involved in auto and boating accidents that result in serious injury. The current law only mandates toxicology tests in fatal wrecks. Representative Raymond Crews.
Cut 3 (13) “…toxicology was performed.”

The former president of the LaRose-Cut Off Baseball League has been arrested on allegations he stole thousands of dollars from the youth baseball league. LaFourche Sheriff’s office Major Brennan Matherne says 40-year-old Blaine Curole could not account for where the money went…
cut 14 (10) “…10-thousand dollars”
Matherne says Curole opened a bank account for the league and he was the only person who had access.

A global tech giant will keep its headquarters in Monroe through 2025. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The USA Today Network reports Louisiana House Speaker Taylor Barras is recovering after falling from a ladder while trimming trees at his Acadiana home last weekend. Barras suffered a broken right wrist and fractured right arm and is consulting with his doctor to determine whether surgery will be needed.

Drivers involved in auto or boating accidents that result in serious bodily injury would be required to undergo a mandatory drug test under legislation set to be heard in the upcoming regular session. Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews says he filed the bill, because a four-year-old girl was killed in his district by a driver who ran a red light. Crews says the child’s mother will testify when the bill is heard…
cut 5 (08) “….this again”
Under current law, toxiocology tests only occur when there’s a fatality.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff deputies arrested a Cut Off man accused of stealing thousands from a youth baseball league. 40-year-old Blaine Curole was the president of the league from 2015 until 2017. Lt. Brennan Matherne says when Curole turned over financial records to the league’s board when leaving, there were discrepancies on much of the spending.
Cut 12 (12) “…the intended use.”
Matherne says the league directors and law enforcement gave Curole a chance to show where the money went, but after he refused to, they had no choice but to arrest him.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Century Link CEO Jeff Storey announced today that the global technology company will retain its corporate headquarters in Monroe through 2025. The governor’s office says Centurylink accepted the state’s incentive package that includes an annual performance-based grant. The agreement also funds two-million dollars in education grants to Louisiana Tech.

New legislation calls for the creation High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on highly congested roads in Louisiana. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A state lawmaker wants to make changes to how ITEP property tax breaks are approved for large manufacturers. Governor Edwards made changes to ITEP when he took office and it resulted in the East Baton Rouge school board denying Exxon a tax break. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds wants to streamline the approval process, that will appease both local stakeholders and business investors…
cut 8 (11) “….approval of”
The Republican lawmaker wants the parish president, sheriff and school board presidents to sign off on ITEP requests.

New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop has pre-filed a bill to rename Interstate 10 to “Who Dat Nation Highway” from the Mississippi State line to the Texas State line. Bishop says he wants to bring statewide recognition to the world’s greatest fans…
cut 15 (05) “…New Orleans Saints”
If approved, the state transportation department would erect signage at each parish line designating the new name, provided local or private funds are available.

The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children is pushing lawmakers to increase funding that would help parents pay for early childhood education…
cut 6 (10) “…ten years”
That’s executive director Melanie Bronfin who says single parents pay 38-percent of their income to send their infant to a child care center. Bronfin says other states use tobacco taxes and lottery funds to help provide early childhood subsidies for needy families.

Livingston Senator Dale Erdey has filed a bill for the upcoming session that would give the state transportation department the ability to set up high occupancy vehicle lanes on congested roadways. That means vehicles with more than one passenger can use them as a way to encourage car pooling. Erdey says cameras can detect if a solo passenger uses an H-O-V lane…
cut 12 (04) “….the passenger seat”
Erdey says many of roadways are wide enough already for an HOV.

A bill has been filed to change the Industrial Tax Exemption Program, which is a tax break for large manufacturers. When Governor John Bel Edwards took office he made a change to ITEP that now calls for local governments to approve the tax break. But Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds says that has created problems…
cut 9 (09) “…in Texas”
Governor Edwards says the change to ITEP was a good one and it’s still a very generous tax break. Edmonds bill would call for the parish president, the sheriff and school board president to approve ITEP requests, instead of the entire school board, city council or parish council.

New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop has filed a bill that would rename I-10 as Who Dat Nation Highway….
cut 13 (10) “…in the world”
Senate Bill 134 directs the state department of transportation to erect signage at each parish line designating the new name, provided local or private funds are available.

Additional funding for early childhood education could be a hot topic in the fiscal session that begins next week. A state-commissioned panel recently concluded that 86-million dollars is needed for early child care programs to match public need and quality standards. There’s been talk that taxes from sports betting could go to early childhood education, but Louisiana Policy Institute for Children executive director Melanie Bronfin says that will generate only a small amount of money…
cut 5 (07) “…piece of the puzzle”

A Baton Rouge Representative is proposing a change to the Industrial Tax Exemption Program, which gives large manufacturers a significant property tax break. The Republican lawmaker wants the Parish President, Sheriff, and School Board President to review ITEP tax breaks requests. Rick Edmonds says at the moment, requesting an ITEP means working with a number of local boards.
Cut 7 (07) “…a different parish.”
Edmonds legislation is in response to the East Baton Rouge school board rejecting an ITEP request from Exxon.

Livingston Senator Dale Erdey wants to give the state department of transportation the authority to create a high occupancy vehicle lane on congested highways. Erdey says the extra lane is already there in many cases, and it wouldn’t take much funding to get it done…
cut 10 (07) “…accomplish this”
Erdey says cameras can be used to ticket solo drivers who use the H-O-V lane.

New legislation could see I-10 renamed in honor of the Black and Gold. Brooke Thorington has more from New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop…
voicer 3 (28) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Livingston Senator Dale Erdey has filed legislation that would create High Occupancy Vehicle lanes also known as HOV lanes in highly congested areas of the state. Erdey says drivers riding solo would not be allowed to drive in the lane, but they would still see benefits…
Cut 11 (08) “…lanes of highway.”

A Louisiana Policy Institute for Children report shows the cost of childcare in the state is rapidly rising, up 35 percent from 2010 to 2016. Executive Director Melanie Bronfin says the state should pump more money into early childhood subsidies like California does with its dedicated tobacco tax….
Cut 4 (10) “…states.”
Sports betting could be legalized this session, and some early childhood proponents have suggested putting that tax money towards the program.

Another change to the Industrial Tax Exemption Program, which is a large property tax break for manufacturers could be possible if one Baton Rouge lawmaker gets his way in the upcoming legislative session. Matt Doyle has the story.
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m matt doyle.”