Four people are in custody for a double murder in St. Tammany Parish. Jim Shannon reports detectives believe it was a carjacking gone bad.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

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The Louisiana Federation of Teachers is hailing the results of a nine day teachers strike in West Virginia. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”.

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St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith has provided more details on the arrest of four people who are connected to the deaths of Raegan Day and Dustin Hartline. They were found in a Camaro submerged in water near the East Pearl River Boat Launch on Monday. The coroner determined both were shot in the head. Smith says it is a senseless crime

Cut 3 (:11) “premediated this.”

18-year-old Jason Landry and 25-year-old Brittney “Beezy” Savell, who both live in Slidell, were arrested in Waveland, Mississippi.  22-year-old Derrion Lemoine and 27-year-old Steve “Stevie” Olivieri were arrested in Louisiana. Smith says Hartline decided to sell his vehicle, the suspects were interested and then decided to steal it.

Cut 4  (:11) “our victims.” 

Sheriff Smith says these types of crimes are devastating to the community because the victims and suspects are young and their lives forever altered.

Cut 5  (:11 ) “Chevy Camaro.”

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Get set to lose an hour of sleep this weekend as Daylight Saving Time goes into effect. Experts say if you get at least seven hours of sleep a night, it should only be a minor inconvenience. But for over 50-percent of Americans it could take a couple days to adjust. Dr. Rebecca Meiners with Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rouge says you can’t “make up” the sleep you’ve lost, so adjust now…

Cut 6 (08)  “minimize it.”

Meiners says a sleep friendly environment helps to encourage your body to sleep. It’s a good idea to ditch the cell phones and tablets while getting ready for bed…

Cut 7 (11)  “covered up.”

Also, she says to watch what kind of foods and drinks you consume before go to bed. Caffeine is definitely not good to drink late. Meiners says drink calming teas instead. She says look for a good amount of one particular ingredient…

Cut 8 (06) “the tea.”

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Senator John Kennedy is commending House Republicans for rejecting Governor John Bel Edwards’ tax proposals, in what some say is another step towards his eventual challenge for the governor’s house. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says a relocation to D.C. hasn’t kept the Senator from sticking his toes in local waters.

Cut 9 (12) “to Washington”

Tension between the Democratic governor and the Republican legislature dominated the failed special session negotiations. Cross says the dysfunction wasn’t solely the result of the 2019 governor’s race, but it certainly didn’t help.

Cut 10 (10) “the house.”

Cross says much of the blame lies at the feet of House Speaker Taylor Barras, who failed to build a republican coalition, and a Democratic caucus who refuses to budget on tax issues that target their constituents.

Cross says the legislative dysfunction hurts everyone involved, particularly a Democratic governor facing an uphill reelection battle in a Republican state.

Cut 11 (12) “against him”

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West Virginia teachers won a five percent raise for all state workers after a nine day strike. In the wake of reports showing Louisiana teachers are paid 2,000 dollars less than the regional average, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says if all other options are exhausted to get better conditions for teachers, he would support a strike.

Cut 12 (10) “point across”

At the moment though, Carter says there has been no discussions locally about staging a strike. He says they’re waiting to hear more from educators.

Cut 13 (12) “national strike”

Reports say Oklahoma teachers could be the next to strike. Carter says teachers in some parts of the state haven’t had a raise in a decade, and the victory in West Virginia is getting their attention.

Cut 14 (11) “the end”

Lawmakers are barely able to deal with the effects of a special session hangover let alone prep for the regular session. Jim Shannon reports a balanced budget in the regular session looks more like a pipe dream than a reality.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

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Parents and students alike are worried how they can afford higher education since TOPS funding may be cut back.  Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”.

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With the special legislative session being a memory for some and a nightmare for others, lawmakers are looking ahead to the regular session that starts Monday. The question is how the legislature will react to a highly fractured body after the recent blood-bath. Representative Barry Ivey.

Cut 3 (:11) “that we serve.”

Ivy says he can’t see any scenario  during the upcoming session that passes a budget.

Cut 4  (11) “more difficult.” 

Kenner Representative Julie stokes also is suffering the effects of a brutal special session that she also fears will bleed over to the regular session.

Cut 5  (07 ) “is respect.”

She says it’s time to reach out to the radical’s to reign in both sides.

Cut 6 (11)  “this situation.”

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Now that the special session concluded without a solution to fill a one-billion-dollar budget shortfall in July, TOPS funding could be cut by 80-percent. There are nearly 48-thousand TOPS students. Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo says many parents can’t afford to send their kids to college without some financial help. Those college prospects are looking elsewhere to get their education…

Cut 7 (11)  “students leaving.”

Governor Edwards has hinted at calling another special session at the end of the regular session to continue to find a way to cover the loss of one-billion-dollars. Rallo says legislators will need to consider funding both TOPS and higher education. One can’t go without the other…

Cut 8 (10) “faculty members.”

Rallo says if funding for Higher Education and TOPS is wiped out, it will hurt more than just the students, their families and faculty. It could cripple the state’s economy…

Cut 9 (12) “it deserves.”

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So what happens now that the legislature wasn’t able to come to any agreement on solving the fiscal cliff? Governor John Bel Edwards doubts legislators can pass a budget for next fiscal year in the regular session, so another special session is likely…

Cut 10 (11) “June 4th.”

But Republican House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry is optimistic they can pass a budget in the regular session, because the state can do more to reduce its spending

Cut 11 (10) “they want”

The state is facing a billion dollar shortfall, but Louisiana will receive an additional 300-million dollars in state tax revenues, because of changes made as a result of the federal tax overhaul. Edwards says even with the extra revenue deep cuts will be needed and there will be more urgency to raise revenue in a special session that he hopes will begin in May…

Cut 12 (11) “this year”

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Livingston Parish deputies have charged 27-year-old Chad Horsley with a hate crime. The Denham Springs man is accused of targeting a Muslim owned convenience store, while impersonating an East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputy. He allegedly caused thousands of dollars of damage by attempting to steal the store’s ATM machine. Sheriff Jason Ard says Horsley also accused the owner of engaging in illegal activities.

Cut 13 (10) “search warrant”

Ard says his office later received a call from someone who says they witnessed the crime, but…

Cut 14 (09) “doing it”

Ard says after being confronted with evidence, Horsley cooperated and admitted he picked that store for a reason.

Cut 15 (11) “that nature”