The beaches are expected to be crowded a long the Gulf Coast this weekend, but will the weather cooperate. Forecasters continue to watch a tropical disturbance that has a chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm over the next 48 hours. Projected landfall is anywhere from southeast Louisiana to the Florida Gulf Coast. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 11 (08) “…a prospect”

Many are heading out today for their Memorial Day weekend destination. AAA estimates a five-percent increase in the number of travelers nationwide, even though gas prices are about 50-cents higher this year. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says if gas prices keep going up, it could affect future summer travel plans….
cut 25 (12) “…less travel”

The Board of Regents has approved a license for a new medical school on the ULM campus. President Nick Bruno says its great news for northeast Louisiana and the entire state, because there’s a projected 19-percent shortfall in the number of physicians needed in the coming years…
cut 13 (08) “…needed physicians”

Governor John Bel Edwards invited Saints Owner Gayle Benson and others to the capitol this afternoon to celebrate the awarding of the Super Bowl to New Orleans in 2024. Edwards says the event is expected to have an economic impact around 500-million dollars and New Orleans getting a chance to host an 11th Super Bowl is a good sign…
cut 3 (10) “…want to be here”

Despite higher gas prices, AAA estimates nearly 42-million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend. Connor Ferrill has the story.
Voicer 1 (28) Connor Ferrill“

U-S government forecasters are predicting 10 to 16 named storms this year, which means we can expect an active hurricane season. NOAA’s lead hurricane forecaster, Doctor Gerry Bell, says a lot of factors went into their forecast, including the possibility of of a weak El Nino possibly developing…
cut 7 (08) “…a lot more hurricanes”

There’s now a 70-percent chance over the next 48 hours we can see our first tropical system of the year as an area of low pressure in the Western Caribbbean is becoming more defined as it makes its way into the Gulf of Mexico. State Climatologist Barry Keim on when it might reach the Gulf Coast…
cut 10 (12) “….Gulf Coast”
Keim says there are a couple of models that have the system heading towards southeast Louisiana.

The House Ways and Means committee rejected a bill that would renew half of a one-percent sales tax that’s set to expire June 30th. The measure, which would generate over 500-million dollars in revenue would also eliminate some sales tax exemptions for businesses. New Iberia Representative Terry Landry urged passage…
cut 3 (10) “…something done”

In the early stages of this special session, we are already seeing a resistance from Republican lawmakers to raise taxes to address a 648-million dollar revenue shortfall. Matt Doyle has the story…
voicer 3 (31) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

NOAA is calling for 10-16 named storms, five to nine hurricanes and one to four major hurricanes this year.

Procter and Gamble confirms an employee died at its manufacturing facility in Pineville. The company says the worker was on a forklift, but no other details have been released.

Many are heading out today for their Memorial Day weekend destination. AAA estimates a five-percent increase in the number of travelers nationwide, even though gas prices are about 50-cents higher this year. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says if gas prices keep going up, it could affect future summer travel plans….
cut 5 (12) “…less travel”

ULM has been approved for a new medical school in partnership with The Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, who was granted the license. A 100-thousand square foot facility will be built on the campus and classes are scheduled to begin in the fall of 2020. ULM President Nick Bruno says that means there will be more room for medical students to stay in Louisiana.
Cut 12 (08) “640 students”

The House Ways and Means committee meets this morning and we’ll see if the panel approves legislation to keep a portion of a one-cent sales tax that’s set to expire on June 30th. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says she opposes any tax increases….
cut 13 (10) “….stay afloat”
The governor says about 650-million dollars in revenue is needed to prevent cuts to higher education, TOPS and other state services.

A state sales tax discount is in effect for hurricane supplies on Saturday and Sunday. Louisiana Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson says it’s a great opportunity to pick up some essentials…
cut 14 (09) “….sales tax”
Heavy rains are possible this weekend, because of a tropical disturbance that has a high chance of forming into a tropical depression in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

Despite higher gas prices, AAA estimates nearly 42-million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend. That’s a five-percent increase from last year and the highest number of travelers in more than a dozen years. AAA Spokesman Don Redman says about 37-million travelers will hit the road…
Cut 4 (12) “last year”
He says families are seeing some added incentives this summer with almost a 7% percent decrease in airfare prices, 11% in car rentals, and depending on the hotel, travelers could save about 14% compared to last year.

LSU football legend Billy Cannon has reached his final resting place. During a funeral service on the LSU campus, former Angola Warden Burl Cain spoke about the amount of respect Cannon had, as he ran the prison’s dental clinic. Cain says when Doctor Cannon suffered a stroke a few years ago, they wanted to make sure an ambulance got him to a hospital…
cut 8 (12) “…the road”

Despite higher gas prices, AAA estimates nearly 42-million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend. Connor Ferrill has the story.
Cut 1 (28) Connor Ferrill“

It’s the third day of the special session that’s been called to address the loss of over one-billion dollars in temporary sales taxes. Governor John Bel Edwards is urging the legislature to approve 650-million dollars to avoid going over the fiscal cliff. Bills dealing with a temporary one-cent sales tax are on the House Ways and Means agenda today.

LSU’s only Heisman winner, running back Billy Cannon, was laid to rest Wednesday, surrounded by friends, family, and fans. Cannon had a legendary football career and also spent a good portion of his life running the dental clinic at Angola. Warden Darrel Vannoy says after news got out that Cannon had died, the inmates took up a collection for his casket.
Cut 7 (11) “that man”
Cannon leaves behind his wife Dot Cannon and five children.

The National Hurricane Center says a tropical or subtropical depression is likely to form by Saturday night over the eastern or central Gulf of Mexico. The system will increase rain chances along the Gulf coast this weekend. And on Saturday and Sunday, consumers can receive a discount on state sales taxes when purchasing hurricane preparedness items. Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson…
cut 15 (06) “…instead of late”

The special session is back in action and lawmakers are struggling to find a compromise that will produce a passable budget. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana National Guard has sent an aviation team to provide air support along the Texas-Mexico border. The military helicopter that the National Guard is providing has an infrared camera for night time operations and recording capabilities. Two pilots and one crew chief will work the 90-day deployment.
NOAA releases its predictions for the upcoming hurricane season today. On Saturday and Sunday, consumers can receive a discount on state sales taxes when purchasing hurricane preparedness items. Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson….
cut 16 (12) “…picked clean”
The National Hurricane Center gives an area of low pressure over the Yucatan Peninsula an 80-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Southeast Louisiana could see heavy rainfall.

Humorous stories were told at Wednesday’s funeral of LSU legend Billy Cannon. Former teammate and friend Jimmy Field said he once asked the Heisman Trophy winner if had butterflies before fielding a punt. Cannon didn’t even hesitate….
cut 9 (07) “…are full”
Cannon died Sunday morning at the age of 80.

The special session is off to a slow start as legislators struggle to find a fix to the 648-million dollar budget shortfall that could devastate healthcare and education. 1.4 billion dollars in sales taxes are set to expire, and Governor John Bel Edwards has called on legislators to renew a portion of that to fix state finances. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says that would save education and healthcare from deep cuts….
cut 10 (09) “….July 1”
Houma Representative Republican Beryl Amedee says the governor’s decision to veto the budget has caused chaos in the capitol, and threatens to throw a wrench in the legislative process.
Cut 12 (10) “seems irrational”
This special session is set to end June 4th.

LSU’s only Heisman winner, running back Billy Cannon was laid to rest yesterday. Michael Farrar has more.
Cut 2 (30) I’m Michael Farrar”

At the SEC Baseball tournament, LSU lost 4-3 to Florida and the Tigers will play South Carolina in an elimination game at 1:00 today.

The House Ways and Means committee held its first hearing of the special session and it became more of a gripe session. Republicans on the panel criticized the Edwards administration for vetoing a budget in the regular session, and expressed concerns about raising revenues, instead of finding savings. Democrats are also frustrated, New Roads Representative Major Thibaut.
Cut 12 (10) “it permanently”
No votes were taken today. The special session must end June 4th.

We are waiting to see what will happen with a tropical disturbance that’s expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico later this weekend and possibly dump several inches of rain on Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida….
cut 7 (07) “….that region”
The National Hurricane Center gives the system a medium chance of developing intoa tropical depression or storm.

A Marshall Project report shows Louisiana saw its largest drop in prison population in a decade between 2016 and 2017. The 19-hundred person decrease is a five-percent drop in the total population, one of the biggest drops in the nation. State Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says it’s a testament to recent criminal justice reforms.
Cut 9 (09) “with it.”

A big win for the Big Easy as the city has been awarded the 2024 Super Bowl. For years teams bid against each other, but the NFL changed the bidding process and the Saints were the only team invited to compete for Super Bowl 58. NFL owners unanimously chose New Orleans and Saints Owner Gayle Benson is glad they got it.
Cut 3 (10) “legacy alive”
New Orleans officials say the last Super Bowl in New Orleans, in 2013, had a 480-million dollar economic impact.