The Louisiana Association of United Ways estimates that in 2016 48-percent of Louisiana households could not afford basic needs an increase from 42-percent in 2014. Louisiana Budget Project Director Jan Moller says many of these families have working adults…
cut 6 (07) “…necessities”
The Parishes with the highest percentage of what is known as ALICE households are clustered in the 5th Congressional District.

Congressman Garret Graves says legal action is coming to force the federal government to make available Louisiana RESTORE grant dollars to families who also received S-B-A loans after the 2016 floods. Graves says the agencies had 45 days to write policy for the money to be distributed, but departments, like HUD, have ignored the Congressional mandate approved in October.
Cut 10 (09) “…follow the law.”
There’s likely to be no movement on this issue during the government shutdown.

South Louisiana Methanol announces plans to pursue a $2.2 billion dollar methanol complex in St. James Parish…
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

New details have emerged on the duck hunting accident in Mississippi that resulted in the amputation of former LSU offensive lineman Matt Branch’s leg. The Clarion Ledger reports Branch left his loaded shotgun in the bed of his pickup truck and a dog jumped onto the truck bed, accidentally pulling the trigger. Branch was shot in the left thigh and is expected to recover. He played for the Tigers from 2008 to 2011.

President Donald Trump made his case last night for Congress to fund a US-Mexico border wall that he says is needed to address a growing humanitarian and security crisis at the southern border. Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise blames Democrats for failing to negotiate on this issue…
cut 30 (06) “….counter offer”
Democrats, like Louisiana’s Cedric Richmond, point out that the President promised that Mexico would pay for the wall.

US Representative Garret Graves of Baton Rouge says he supports pending litigation that would force federal agencies to follow a law approved by Congress that would allow 2016 flood victims who received an SBA loan to also receive federal grant money through the Louisiana Restore program…
cut 12 (10) “….entire process”
Graves has urged state officials to go ahead pay the six-thousand families waiting on the money, but there is a risk that the federal government could one day ask for the money back.

A United Way Report shows 48 percent of Louisiana households do not make enough money to reliably meet their basic expenses…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

BP has announced plans to go forward with a one-point-three billion dollar expansion in production in the Gulf of Mexico after seismic imaging discovered an additional one-point-four billion barrels of oil under the sea.

President Donald Trump will make his case for a U-S Mexico border wall with a speech from the Oval Office tonight. The President says building the wall would make America safer, but New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says utilizing modern methods, like those called for by the US Department of Homeland Security, would be a better border plan.
Cut 9 (09) “…technology″

After rising through the ranks for 28 years in the New Orleans Police Department, Superintendent Michael Harrison is leaving for Baltimore to take the reins as its Police Commissioner. New Orleans only recorded 146 murders in 2018, the lowest number of murders since 1971. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says Harrison’s departure is a loss for the city but…
Cut 13 (06) “…job”
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says plans to announce a replacement soon.

Governor John Bel Edwards re-election campaign announces it has 8-point-three million dollars in the bank after raising three-point-eight million dollars during 2018. The campaign says 87-percent of the money came from in-state donors. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Edwards will remain hot on the campaign fundraising trail…
cut 5 (08) “…for this race”
One of Edwards’ announced challengers, Eddie Rispone’s gubernatorial campaign says the Baton Rouge Republican has 5.5 million dollars in his campaign account. No word yet from the other Republican challenger Ralph Abraham.

Meanwhile, Governor Edwards is asking Louisiana residents to support the Marksville families who lost five children in a fiery crash in north Florida last week…
cut 12 (12) “…Marksville”
Funeral arrangements for the children are pending.

According to his re-election campaign, Gov. John Bel Edwards has raised $3.8 million in 2018, meaning Edwards enters 2019 with $8.3 million in the bank for the race. UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross says that’s a significant number for the Governor.
Cut 3 (10) “…get him re-elected.”
Eddie Rispone’s gubernatorial campaign says the Baton Rouge Republican has 5.5 million dollars in his campaign account. No word yet from the other Republican challenger Ralph Abraham.

Governor Edwards has said his top legislative priority is to give teachers a pay raise of at least one-thousand dollars. Louisiana Association of Educators President Debbie Meaux says that would still leave the average teacher salary below the Southern Regional Average and don’t forget teachers have a lot of out of pocket expenses…
cut 13 (12) “…stappler”

Congressman Cedric Richmond says he believes President Trump has committed impeachable offenses, but says he’s waiting for the final results from the Mueller probe before taking action.
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison is leaving the Big Easy to become the next police commissioner for Baltimore, Maryland. According to the N-O-P-D, Baltimore officials are pleased with Harrison’s record of policing reform and violent crime reduction. In 2018, there were 146 murders in New Orleans, lowest number since 1971.

Governor John Bel Edwards has made giving teachers a pay raise of at least 1,000 dollars the cornerstone issue of his 2019 legislative agenda, but questions remain as to how the state will pay for the roughly 135-million dollar proposal. Edwards says he plans to pay for the raise with increased revenue from an improving economy.
Cut 10 (09) “…doing better.”
But House Republican leadership is reluctant to recognize the increased revenues.

Articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump have been re-introduced. New Orleans Congressman and Assistant Majority Whip Cedric Richmond says he’s waiting for Special Counsel Robert Mueller to complete his report before moving forward…
cut 6 (12) “….remove him”

While last night’s College football championship game is in the books, New Orleans is already looking forward to 2020. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Voicer 3 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

King Cake season has arrived and for Rouses Markets they are anticipating producing 500-thousand king cakes for local consumption and to ship nationwide. Bakery Director Michelle Knight says there are many variations of King Cake to choose from, but when it comes to the most popular…
cut 8 (07) “…then Bavarian”

Governor Edwards has pledged a teacher pay raise of at least one-thousand dollars this year. But how it gets accomplished is unclear. Many Republicans have signaled their support, but suggest the pay raise should be funded with existing dollars. Senate Education Chairman Blade Morrish says no matter how it gets done, it needs to get done…
cut 11 (10) “….do it”
Teachers unions nationwide have won a series of pay raises after striking, and Louisiana unions have indicated their members are considering a work stoppage if the legislature and governor fail to deliver. Louisiana Association of Educators President Debbie Meaux was a guest on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.
Cut 12 (09) “…next year.”
Teacher pay raises are expected to dominate the 2019 legislative session that begins in April.

There’s no end in sight in the partial federal government shutdown. New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond blames President Trump for holding federal workers hostage until he gets funding for a wall, Richmond says was initially promised to be paid for by Mexico. He says the government shutdown is having a local impact….
cut 5 (09) “…abomidable”
President Trump will make his case for a U-S Mexico border wall with a speech from the Oval Office tonight.

King Cake season has arrived and Rouses Markets plans to produce a half-million king cakes at their 59 bakeries. Bakery Director Michelle Knight…
cut 9 (07) “…New Orleans girl”
And we have a breaking story out of New Orleans. Multiple sources say New Orleans Police Chief Michael Harrison is leaving the Big Easy as he’s been hired as the police commissioner in Baltimore, Maryland. New Orleans recorded 146 murders in 2018, it’s lowest number since 1971.

Everyone seems to agree with a proposed teacher pay raise of at least one-thousand dollars, but with a 135 million dollar price tag, how will the state pay for it?
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Hundreds attended a candlelight vigil last night at Marksville High School to remember the five children killed in last week’s fiery crash in Florida. Avoyelles Parish District Attorney Charles Riddle says it was wonderful to see the community come together…
cut 30 (08) “…don’t stop praying”
Funeral arrangements for the five victims are still pending.

Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmond is the highest ranked member of the Louisiana delegation in the U.S. House and plans to use his position to push for solutions to the state’s most pressing issues. He says Democrats will pursue climate change legislation and green energy policy, one that can address the state’s coastal, and economic woes.
Cut 4 (10) “…citizens.”
Richmond is the Assistant to the Majority Whip.

The demand for King Cakes is growing. With a longer carnival season and the Saints in the playoffs, Bakery director for Rouses Markets, Michelle Knight, says their 59 bakeries will be busy between local sales and shipping orders nationwide.
Cut 7 (05) “…in the past.”
Knight says the top-selling King Cake is plain, followed by cream cheese and Bavarian.