Federal workers in the small Allen Parish town of Oakdale are celebrating the news that the federal government shutdown is ending. Oakdale is home to a federal prison and immigration detention center. Oakdale Mayor Gene Paul says the federal workers he spoke with didn’t like being caught up in a dispute over border wall funding…
Cut 4 (09) “…their bills.

The split between public and private schools in the LHSAA is growing. High School principals have voted to allow “select” schools to host its championship games in football, basketball, baseball and softball at sites separate from public schools. Teurlings Catholic Principal Mike Boyer says it’s a good day for the LHSAA…
cut 14 (08) “…throughout the state”
That means state football championship games for select schools could be held at UL-Lafayette or ULM.

Senator Bill Cassidy wants the NFL to answer two questions in the wake of the infamous “no-call” from the NFC Championship game. One, how did the NFL grade the referees’ performance, and two, were the refs biased….
Cut 9 (12) “few others .″
The NFL has reportedly fined Rams defensive back Nickell Roby-Coleman for 26-thousand dollars for making helmet-to-helmet contact on Saints wide reciever.

The St. John the Baptist Animal Shelter now has an additional 150 dogs at their faciflity that were seized in an animal cruelty bust. Shelter Manager Rachael Sance says they need cleaning supplies, dog food and you can also volunteer…
cut 8 (12) “….on their”
Contact the St. John Parish Animal Shelter if you want to help.

Three flights at Monroe Regional Airport had to be cancelled today because T-S-A agents did not show up for work. City officials are blaming the federal government shutdown. Over 150 passengers were affected and TSA agents from Shreveport and Alexandria were called in to man the security checkpoint stations in Monroe.

The Sunshine Bridge in St. James Parish will be shut down for the weekend. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

About 125 to 150 federal workers in the small Allen Parish town of Oakdale have been without a pay check for a month now, because of the federal government shutdown. Oakdale Mayor Gene Paul says the federal workers he spoke with are not blaming just Democrats or Republicans, but Congress as a whole, because workers shouldn’t be caught up in this dispute over border wall funding…
Cut 4 (09) “…their bills.
Paul says federal workers have received an extension to pay the city’s utility bills.

150 dogs were seized in an animal cruelty bust, and now the St. John the Baptist Animal Shelter is seeking volunteers and donations to help with the influx of abused dogs. Shelter Manager Rachael Sance says the dogs are at a healthy weight, but arrived with a number of ailments.
Cut 6 (13) “…mange.”
Sance says it’s the largest single influx of dogs the shelter has ever seen, the next largest being 40 last year from another cruelty case.

Several flights at Monroe Regional airport have been delayed today because of a lack of TSA workers. Monroe Regional Airport Director Ron Phillips says about 150 to 200 passengers were affected and T-S-A agents from Shreveport and Alexandria are coming in to man Monroe Regional Airport security checkpoint stations. Staffing shortages are also impacting flights at New York’s LaGuardia, Newark and Philadelphia airports.

Meanwhile, in the small Allen Parish town of Oakdale, about 150 federal workers are not getting paid today for a second time in a month becaus eof the federal government shutdown. Oakdale is home to a federal prison and immigration detention facility. Oakdale Mayor Gene Paul says everal families in his town are struggling…
cut 3 (11) “…or so”

A Shreveport man who fatally shot his girlfriend while it was streamed live on Facebook has plead guilty to first-degree murder in a Caddo Parish courtroom. Since 37-year-old Johnathan Tremaine Robinson admitted to killing 27-year-old Rannita Williams last April in her home, he avoids a death sentence.

Stephanie Whetstone, a fifth grade math and science teacher at St. Francisville’s Bains Elementary School has received a 25-thousand dollar award from the Milken Family Foundation, which gives out unrestricted financial awards to the top educators in the country. Whetstone says she not only strives to make sure her students know the subject matter, but that they are also learning the tools needed to become a successful adult…

cut 8 (07) “….other students”
Milken Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley says “Stephanie’s students will know how to meet the demands of today’s global economy.”

Two competing Senate bills to re-open the government both failed to obtain the 60 votes needed to pass, and we’re now 35 days into the historically long shutdown. Federal workers are nearing a full month without pay, and with rent coming due, many of their lives are getting precarious. Senator Bill Cassidy….
Cut 13 (12) “…Pelosi”

Twenty-six-year-old Lacey Blount of Sulphur was booked on a negligent homicide charge after her eight-month-old child died at a local hospital. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says his deputies found marijuana and meth in the home and Blount actually tried to hide the drugs while first responders were performing C-P-R on the child. Mancuso says it’s a tragic event…
cut 11 (08) “…heard the baby”

The Sunshine Bridge in St. James Parish will be closed from Saturday morning until Monday morning so that crews can repair and replace the bridge’s structural supports…
cut 5 (09) “…too”
That’s state transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett, who says significant work on the bridge has been ongoing since it was hit by a crane barge in October.

Stephanie Whetsone, a fifth grade math and science teacher at St Francisville’s Bains Elementary School, has received 25-thousand dollars from the Milken Family Foundation for her excellent work in the classroom. She’s one 33 teachers nationwide to receive the award and is grateful for the extra compensation…
cut 9 (12) “…other things”
The 25-thousand dollars is a no strings attached cash prize.

It’s the 35th day of the federal government shutdown, but Louisiana Republican US Senator Bill Cassidy is optimistic a deal is coming in the near future. Cassidy says there are signs that the Democrats anti-wall resolve is beginning to crack and lawmakers from across the aisle are looking to make a deal…
cut 14 (10) “….of that”
President Donald Trump told reporters that he would support a reasonable agreement on re-opening the government, if he gets a prorated down payment for a border wall.

The Sunshine Bridge in St. James Parish will be closed to traffic from Saturday at 6 AM to early Monday morning as workers will repair and replace structural components of the bridge that was damaged by a crane barge last October. State transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says weather has been an issue as they try to complete the repairs…
cut 6 (08) “…that bridge”

A fifth grade math and science teacher from Bains Elementary in St. Francisville wins a 25,000 dollar national award for her exceptional work in the classroom…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

A vote to allow private high schools to have separate championship sites from public schools is expected today on the final day of the LHSAA Convention. Teurlings Catholic principal Mike Boyer is the author of the proposal. Boyer says it would make more financial sense to do this, but LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine is against the proposal.

Federal workers are missing a second two-week payday today as the federal government remains shutdown. A proposal to fund paychecks for active duty and retired Coast Guard members failed yesterday. Senator Bill Cassidy says if the deadlock continues, pursuing piecemeal legislative efforts to get federal workers paid may be necessary…
cut 15 (08) “…that end”

St. Francisville fifth grade teacher Stephanie Whetstone got one heck of a surprise yesterday, as she received the 25,000 dollar Milken Award for her work in the classroom at Bains Elementary. Whetstone was recognized for her commitment to making sure students understand not just the STEM curriculum, but why they need those vital math skills.
Cut 7 (09) “…life skills.”
The 25,000 is a no strings attached cash prize.

The Sunshine Bridge in St. James Parish will be shut down from Saturday morning until Monday morning as some major repair work is set to begin on the structure that was struck by a crane barge back in October. The bridge has been partially open since December. Department of Transportation Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says it’s impressive work.
Cut 4 (08) “in place.”
Mallet estimates this will be the last time the bridge is shut off to traffic through the end of scheduled repairs.

A Sulphur woman has been charged with negligent homicide and faces numerous drug charges in the death of her eight-month-old son. Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso says his deputies went to the home after receiving a call about an infant not breathing and when officers were trying to save the child’s life, 26-year-old Lacey Blount was allegedly hiding her drugs. And Mancuso gave this disturbing detail on how investigators believe the baby stopped breathing….
cut 12 (07) “….and a nightstand”

Two competing Senate bills to re-open the government both failed to obtain the 60 votes needed to pass, and now we’re into day 35 of the historically long shutdown. Federal workers are nearing a full month without pay, and with rent coming due, many of their lives are getting precarious. Senator Bill Cassidy….
Cut 13 (12) “…Pelosi”

A Calcasieu Parish mother is in jail, charged with negligent homicide in the death of her eight-month-old child. Deputies responded to a home in Sulphur in reference to a baby boy that was not breathing. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says upon arrival, the first deputy on the scene began performing CPR on the child.
Cut 10 (07) “actual baby’s room.”
26-year-old Lacey Blount was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and the infant died at a local hospital.

Stephanie Whetstone, a fifth grade math and science teacher at St. Francisville’s Bains Elementary School has received a 25-thousand dollar award from the Milken Family Foundation, which gives out unrestricted financial awards to the top educators in the country. Whetstone says she not only strives to make sure her students know the subject matter, but that they are also learning the tools needed to become a successful adult…
cut 8 (07) “….other students”
Milken Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley says “Stephanie’s students will know how to meet the demands of today’s global economy.”