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.

The legislative session begins next week and a bill that would ban nearly all abortions in Louisiana has been pre-filed. Shreveport Senator John Milkovich has proposed legislation that would prohibit an abortion when a fetal heartbeat is detected. Milkovich says he’s ready to debate pro choice lobbyists who are only concerned about…
cut 12 (09) “…generation”
The Center for Reproductive Rights is confident the courts will rule this legislation unconstitutional.

We’ll know around April 16th if the feds will allow those who received SBA loans after the 2016 floods can also access RESTORE flood recovery grant dollars. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

The state fire Marshal’s office is looking to see if there is any connection between two fires in St. Landry Parish that destroyed two historically black Baptist churches. Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas went up in flames on Tuesday and on March 26th, St, Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre was also burned to the ground. Officials say it’s too early to tell if the fires are linked.

State Senator John Milkovich has filed a fetal heartbeat abortion bill, which seeks to prevent abortions in Louisiana if a heartbeat can be detected in a fetus. Milkovich knows the legislation will be challenged in the courts, but the Democrat from Shreveport says the fight is worth the effort…
cut 11 (08) “….wrong thing”
The Center for Reproductive Rights says Milkovich’s measure is a near total ban on abortions and its unconstitutional.

LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab’s 2019 Louisiana Survey finds 47-percent of Louisiana residents believe the state is heading in the right direction, an increase from 38-percent a year ago. Director of the Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs Doctor Jenee Slocum says Louisiana residents also have a more positve outlook about their own financial situation…
cut 15 (07) “…a year ago”
Education and transportation top the list of concerns among Louisiana residents.

Strong storms are possible tomorrow. The Storm Prediction Center says much of Louisiana is under a slight risk of severe weather. The main threats are strong wind gusts, hail and isolated tornaodes. Locally heavy rainfall is also possible.

A public hearing to discuss proposed improvements on I-12 in St. Tammany Parish will be held tonight in Mandeville at parish council chambers. Parish president Pat Brister says they recently received a 25-million dollar grant as they look to improve a stretch of highway near the Tchefuncte River, where four people were killed in a multiple vehicle wreck last Memorial Day…
cut 5 (11) “…to that”

Billboards are up in multiple states as the search continues for 15-year-old Domeanna Spell of Port Barre. She was last seen traveling with 47-year-old Shane Disotell, who is believed to be driving a silver 2003 Honda Civic.

The 2019 Louisiana Survey out of LSU finds that 47-percent of the respondents believe the state is heading in the right direction and that’s an increase from 39-percent last year. Director of the Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs Doctor Jenee Slocum on Louisiana residents top priorities…
cut 14 (07) “…top concerns” (2x)
But 80-percent of the people surveyed do not expect the state’s elected leaders can solve the state’s biggest problems.

The state transportation department will hold a public meeting today in Mandeville to discuss proposed improvements to I-12. This comes after the state received a 25-million dollar grant from the feds. Four people died on the highway near the Tchefuncte River on Memorial day last year, and Parish President Pat Brister says local residents demanded action.
Cut 4 (11) “…and further.”
Brister hopes they can do a comprehensive overhaul of the I-12 from 1077 to Highway 59, but it will take more than 25-million dollars.

A Shreveport Senator has a bill that would ban Louisiana abortions after a heartbeat is detectable in the fetus…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

US Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy met with federal bureaucrats yesterday in an effort to fix the duplication of benefits problem that has kept thousands of 2016 flood victims from receiving additional assistance. Cassidy says they may need to get Donald Trump involved…
cut 9 (07) “…of Congress”

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.