US Senator John Kennedy says progress is being made to help an estimated six-thousand Louisiana residents who have not been able to access recovery dollars because they received a Small Business Administration loan following the 2016 floods. Kennedy says he had a productive meeting with U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson…
cut 7 (10) “…HUD”
President Trump signed a law last October that closes the duplication of benefits loophole. But HUD has yet to release the guidance required.

LSU announces freshman guard Javonte Smart can play in the SEC Tournament. The school says Smart fully cooperated and participated in a joint investigation with LSU and NCAA officials and after multiple interviews no evidence was found that Smart committed any violations. The Tigers take on Florida in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament at noon.

Louisiana’s Division of Administration is trying to recover 26-million dollars mistakenly sent to about 66-thousand taxpayers. These individuals received their state tax refunds twice, because of a computer system error. The problem has been fixed and since most of the money went into accounts as a direct deposit, the state believes the money can be quickly recovered.

A Caddo Parish manhunt ended Thursday when the suspect was found dead in a Shreveport home. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Senator John Kennedy says progress has been made towards fixing the duplication of benefits problem that’s prevented some six-thousand 2016 Louisiana flood victims from receiving thousands of dollars in recovery money. Kennedy says he and Senator Bill Cassidy met with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and they’ve received assurances from HUD that they’ll do their part. Kennedy says now they need to get the office of management and the budget to act and he’s not afraid to call the president if O-M-B keeps dragging its feet….
cut 9 (09) “…meeting set”
Kennedy says he’ll meet with budget officials by the end of this month.

Meanwhile both Kennedy and Cassidy voted against a measure that seeks to block President Donald Trump from calling a national emergency so that he can free up funds to build a wall along the Southern border. But 12 Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the president, who will veto against the legislation.

LSU faces Florida in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament today at noon and it remains unclear if freshman Javonte Smart will be able to play. He was held out last Saturday over concerns that Coach Will Wade may have worked on an arrangement so that’s Smart family can receive money on the side. If Smart doesn’t return to the court, how does that impact LSU’s seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Jerry Palm is a bracketologist for CBS Sports…
cut 6 (08) “…the tournament”
Smart has been a valuable player off the bench this season.

A four member crew had to escape a tugboat that sunk in the Mississippi River near LSU….
cut 14 (10) “….the four crew members”
That’s Coast Guard Petty Officer Brandon Giles says the vessel went under after hitting another boat’s anchor chain.

Will LSU’s recruitment scandal weigh down their chances of getting a high seed in the NCAA tournament? A CBS Sports bracketologist has the answer…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Louisiana officials are working to recover 26-million dollars mistakenly handed out to taxpayers. The Division of Administration says about 66-thousand residents received their state tax refund twice and they are asking individuals who may have received an extra tax refund not to spend that money.

Senator John Kennedy says after meeting with HUD Secretary Ben Carson, he expects the federal agency to finally issue the long awaited guidance next month so that 2016 flood victims who received an SBA loan can also receive federal recovery dollars. Kennedy says they also need the Office of Management and Budget to act as well and he’ll meet with the office’s acting director in two weeks…
cut 8 (11) “….Congress”

A man wanted for shooting his ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend in the buttocks and then tying up the woman and her two children has been found dead in a separate home. Caddo parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says they spent hours looking for 56-year-old James Salone…
cut 12 (10) “…inside the residence’
Investigators also believe Salone may have killed a man in Texas.

US Senator John Kennedy says progress is being made to help an estimated six-thousand Louisiana residents who have not been able to access recovery dollars because they received a Small Business Administration loan following the 2016 floods. Kennedy says he had productive meeting with U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson…
cut 7 (10) “…HUD”
President Trump signed a law last October that closes the duplication of benefits loophole. But HUD has yet to release the guidance required, so the state can legally distribute the money to newly eligible homeowners.

Louisiana’s Division of Administration is trying to recover 26-million dollars that mistakenly went to about 66-thousand taxpayers. According to officials, these individuals received their state tax refunds twice, because of a computer system error. The problem has been fixed and since most of the money went into bank accounts as a direct deposit, the state believes in most cases the money can be quickly recovered.

A Caddo Parish family is trying to recover emotionally from a harrowing experience on Wednesday. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says 56-year-old James Salone forced his way into the home of his ex-girlfriend. Her current boyfriend was there and her two children. Chadwick says Salone shot the boyfriend in the buttocks and he escaped, but the woman and the kids were tied up…
cut 11 (12) “…the mother free”
Salone eventually fled the home and he was found dead yesterday in another home.

Selection Sunday is three days away and will the growing off the court controversy involving suspended LSU coach Will Wade impact the Tigers NCAA tournament seeding? CBS Sports bracketologist Jerry Palm…
Cut 4 (07) “…the court.”
Palm has LSU a two-seed in his latest bracket. The Tigers face Florida today in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.

Senator John Kennedy says they’re getting closer to resolving the duplication of benefits nightmare that’s plagued thousands of flood victims since 2016…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The LSU basketball team faces Florida today in the SEC Tournament at noon and CBS Sports Bracketologist Jerry Palm says if the Tigers can win the tourney, they could be a number one seed in the Big Dance…
cut 5 (09) “…teams do”

A four-member towboat crew had to abandon ship after its vessel sank in the Mississippi River yesterday morning near Baton Rouge. US Coast Guard Petty Officer Brandon Giles says the Army Corp of Engineers deployed a safety unit team to locate the sunken vessel. Giles says they are also checking for environmental impacts.
Cut 13 (09) “…signs of pollution.”
Late last night, the Coast Guard reported an oil sheen in the water at the site of the incident and they believe the Michelle Anne has about 18,500 gallons of fuel aboard.

A manhunt in Caddo Parish ended with authorities finding the suspect dead in a Shreveport home. Deputies say James Salone allegedly busted into his ex-girlfriend’s residence and shot her current boyfriend, Terry Thomas…
cut 10 (12) “….in the buttocks”
Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says Salone fled the scene after deputies arrived and he was later found in a home in the Cedar Grove neighborhood. Investigators say Salone may have also killed a man in Texas earlier this week.

LSU and suspended basketball coach Will Wade fired off new statements and it doesn’t look like Wade’s status is changing anytime soon. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The former warden of Avoyelles Correction Center faces prison time after he pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. Kevin Barnhart has the story…

Cut 2 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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LSU basketball coach Will Wade has asked for his suspension to be lifted, so he can return to his coaching duties immediately. But Glen Guilbeau, who covers LSU for the USA Today Network, doesn’t expect LSU to reinstate Wade, because the coach says in the statement, he still will not talk with LSU about reports that link him to potential recruiting violations…

Cut 3 (10) “..said before”

LSU’s legal counsel also released its own statement today saying Coach Wade will remain suspended until he talks with university administration about a reported FBI wire tap that has Wade allegedly discussing an offer to a recruit. Guilbeau says LSU wants to look good in the eyes of the NCAA, in case violations occurred…

Cut 4 (12) “..Will Wade siuattion″

LSU’s statement also point out that Wade has never denied any wrongdoing in his public statements. Guilbeau says the relationship between the school and Wade is strained…

Cut 5 (06)  coming back”

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Former Avoyelles Correctional Center Warden Nate Cain has pleaded guilty to charges in his federal trial on corruption charges. US Attorney David Joseph for the Western District of Louisiana says Cain’s guilty plea admits to stealing more than 150-thousand dollars in taxpayer money for personal items…

Cut 6 (08) “…at all”

Joseph says the guilty plea means Cain conspired with his ex-wife to use department of corrections banks cards to purchase furniture, pet supplies, toilet paper, gun parts, Christmas decorations and other items for personal use. He says the conviction should serve as a warning to public officials…

Cut 7 (09) “…taxpayers”

Defense attorney John McLindon says Cain has only pleaded guilty to purchasing gun parts for personal use with state dollars, the other charges have been dismissed…

Cut 8 (11) “…replaced it.”

Cain will be sentenced June 17th. He faces up to 20 years in prison, a 250-thousand dollar fine per count and restitution. McLindon says Cain is ready to face whatever consequences come his way…

Cut 9 (11) “…differently.”

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The number of abortions in Louisiana last year fell to a 10-year low. 8,048 abortions were reported to have been performed in the state, and Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Ben Clapper says it’s part of a years long trend.

Cut 10 (11)“…these lives.”

Governor John Bel Edwards, a pro-life Democrat, responded saying “We are committed to reducing the number of abortions in Louisiana, and the data shows that is working”.

A 2017 report indicated nationwide abortion numbers have fallen to their lowest rate since Roe vs. Wade was passed in 1973. Planned Parenthood says it’s due to efforts to make contraception widely accessible to women, but Clapper says it’s because of the pro-life movement is growing in popularity among youth.

Cut 11 (07)   “…life”

The number of state abortions could significantly decrease if the US Supreme Court rules in favor of a Louisiana law that would require clinics to have admitting privileges. Clapper says that case could be heard in January of 2020.

Cut 12 (08) “…of women”

Louisiana ACLU Executive director Alanah Hebert responded saying “It’s disturbing that instead of working to expand access to birth control and family planning services, Louisiana politicians have been hellbent on intruding in a woman’s personal health decisions and pushing care out of reach.”

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The Denham Springs police department arrests a couple in the death of a small child child in Livingston Parish. Detective Amber Fairburn says their investigation started last Friday when they were called to a home in reference to an unresponsive two-year-old female…

Cut 13 (08) “…to her injuries.”

The toddler died on Monday and Fairburn says the child’s mother and her fiance are facing significant charges

Cut 14 (10) “…negligent homicide.”

The fiance Kelsey Barth is 23-year-old years old and Shane Posey is 22-years-old and is facing first-degree  murder.

LSU basketball coach Will Wade has released a statement asking for his suspension to be lifted. Wade was suspended last Friday after reports came out he was caught on an FBI wiretap discussing a strong offer to a recruit. LSU officials want Wade to discuss the report, but in this latest statement, Wade says he’s been advised by his lawyers not to discuss the matter.

Louisiana US Senator John Kennedy always likes to talk about how government mismanages taxpayer dollars. During a senate budget hearing, Kennedy questioned the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought about what he believes is his questionable spending by the federal government and he says it needs to stop…
cut 15 (13) “…try a trillion dollars”

With the weather warming up, the potential for flooding increases from spring time thunderstorms and snow melts from up north will increase river levels. National Flood Insurance Chief Executive David Maurstad says flood insurance is required if you live in a flood zone. He says for residents living outside of a flood zone, he still encouarges you get flood insurance and it comes at a low price…
cut 12 (10) “….event”

The app known as Sick Weather ranks Louisiana fifth for most active US flu and allergy symptoms. Sick Weather app CEO Graham Dodge says if you are an allergy suferer, prepare now for a rough season…
cut 9 (10) “….as opposed to allergies”
Health officials are warning about a secondary late flu season because of the emergence of the H-3-N-2 strain.