U-S Senator John Kennedy has co-authored legislation that he says will prevent the federal government from paying dead people. Kennedy says currently the Social Security Administration does not share its list of dead people to the Treasury Department. Kennedy says this bill will allow them to trade that information, stopping the waste of billions of dollars…
cut 5 (09) “…of why”
Kennedy says a Louisiana woman cashed 300-thousand dollars worth of checks sent to her mom, who had been dead for 10 years.

State Representative Barry Ivey has filed a bill for the regular session that would create an on-line checkbook so taxpayers can see how every penny of state government is spent. Ivey says the Louisiana checkbook would be helpful for legislators too….
cut 15 (09) “….to us”
House Bill 50 will be heard legislators next month.

We are seeing rain over a good portion of the state today as a cold front moves through. We dry out tomorrow, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says showers and thunderstorms return on Friday just in time for the big Mardi Gras weekend….
cut 11 (11) “…both days”
At least temperatures are expected to be mild.

A week from today is Valentine’s Day. Have you bought your sweetheart that special gift. Top-cash-back-dot-com spokesperson Natasha Rachel Smith says half of the women they surveyed would not be happy if their Valentine gave them money…
cut 9 (10) “….into that”
Smith says the top gift for men and women would be plans for a trip out of town or doing an unique experience together.

Republican U.S. Senator John Kennedy has joined Democratic Senator Tom Carper of Delaware in introducing the Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act. Kennedy says in 2015, the Social Security Administration made nearly ten-billion-dollars in improper payments…
Cut 4 (12) “dead people.”
Kennedy says he and his colleagues are confident this bill will pass.

A cold front is crossing the state bringing some heavy rain with it. State Climatologist Barry Keim says temperatures will drop once the front moves through….
cut 10 (07) “…northern parishes”
We’ll dry out tomorrow, but rain is in the forecast for the Mardi Gras weekend.

It’s national signing day and the LSU football program is hoping to receive a signed national letter of intent from the top cornerback in the country, Patrick Surtain Junior of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Shea Dixon of Geaux 24-7 sports is optimistic Surtain will sign with the Tigers over Alabama…
cut 17 (15) “….Bama’s won”
Surtain makes his decision known this morning.

A plane traveling from Slidell to Patterson had to make an emergency landing in the Atchafalaya River, because the aircraft began to run low on fuel. The U-S Coast Guard rescued the four people aboard the plane. One person suffered a minor arm injury.

With a one billion dollar state budget gap looming, Governor John Bel Edwards has a self imposed Friday deadline on whether he will call for a Legislative special session before the regular session starts on March 12th. Edwards says he’s still waiting on House leadership to support some revenue generating proposals, before he asks legislators to come to Baton Rouge for a special session…
Cut 6: “It just seems… …produce results” (:07)
The state will suffer a loss of a billion dollars of tax revenue when temporary taxes expire on July 1st. A possible start day for a February special session is February 19th.

Monday’s drop of over 11-hundred points of the Dow Jones Industrial average was the biggest one day point decline . Financial analyst Fred Dent says it’s not a time to panic, but a time for investors to reevaluate the market…
Cut 10 (11) “whole year.”

Some workers have more take-home pay as a result of the federal tax reform bill approved by Congress. Sanders Offner owns Crescent Payroll Solutions owner Sander Offner in Metairie says his clients have been asking why their employees are making more money. He says once their client is aware of the tax changes, everyone is happy…
Cut 9 (08) “in itself.”
He says those who didn’t see bigger checks in January because of the tax changes, can make note of that when they file their taxes next year.

A Krewe of Oshun horse rider was given a citation for animal cruelty after he war filmed abusing a horse during the uptown New Orleans parade on Friday. Louisiana SPCA spokesperson Alicia Haefele has recommendations for good Samaritarians looking to stop animal abuse…
Cut 15 (12) “every parade.”
The captain of the horse riding group says the rider will not be permitted to ride with the group again.

Governor Edwards says Friday is the deadline for a decision on whether a special session will be called to address a one-billion dollar shortfall. Edwards is talking with House Speaker Taylor Barras about what tax proposals GOP legislators would support. Port Allen Republican Rick Ward is one of several senators urging the governor to call a special session and give legislators a broad list of options to work with…
cut 5 (09) “…fall apart”

A Krewe of Oshun horse rider was given a citation for animal cruelty after they were filmed abusing their horse Friday during the uptown New Orleans parade. Louisiana SPCA spokesperson Alicia Haefele says the video was a disturbing example of animal abuse.
Cut 13 (11) “off screen.”
The horse is in good condition and is being transferred to SPCA control.

Investors are jittery after the largest one day point drop in the history of Dow Jones. Matt Doyle gets advice from a pair of financial advisers…
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Have you seen higher take home pay because of the federal tax reform legislation. Co-owner of Metairie-based Crescent Payroll Solutions Sanders Offner says the income tax braket changes are just to some employers…
cut 8 (10) “…In January”

We’ll find out this week whether there will be a special session to address the looming one billion dollar shortfall. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Investors are jittery after the largest one day point drop in the history of Dow Jones. Matt Doyle gets advice from a pair of financial advisers…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Several state senators are urging Governor John Bel Edwards to call a special session this month to fix a one-billion dollar revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. Edwards is waiting on House Republicans to get behind tax bills to make up the shortfall. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says for legislators to agree on a plan, they need to be at the State Capitol…

Cut 3 (11) “of happening.”

Ward is one of 14 Senators to sign a letter urging the governor to hold a special session after the Mardi Gras holiday. Ward says now is the time to address the loss of a billion dollars in temporary taxes on July 1st, so legislators know how much money they have available for next fiscal year’s budget…

Cut 4  (08) “long way” 

Ward says senators are also asking the governor to make the special session agenda as broad as possible…

Cut 5  (09)  “fall apart”

Edwards says he’ll need to issue a call for a special session by Friday in order for it to start and finish before the regular session begins March 12th. Edwards says he’s still waiting on House leadership to support some revenue generating proposals, before he asks legislators to come to Baton Rouge for a special session…

Cut 6 (07)  “produce results”

It’s been a reported a possible start date for the special session is February 19th.

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Workers are seeing a difference in their paychecks. The federal tax reform bill has kicked in, giving the average worker, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, an additional one-point-six-percent more in take home pay. Co-owner of Metairie based Crescent Payroll Solutions Sanders Offner says…

Cut 7 (10)  “their paychecks.”

But not everyone is seeing the increase just yet.  Offner says some of the income tax bracket changes are just getting to some employers…

Cut 8 (10) “in January.”

Offner’s phones have been off the hook with their clients calling asking why their employees are making more money.  He says once their client is aware of the tax changes, everyone becomes happy…

Cut 9 (08) “in itself.”

He adds that any who didn’t get the tax incentives on their January checks can make the proper adjustments on their tax forms next year.

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Investors are concerned with the recent drop in the Stock Market.  Monday’s drop of 1,175 points of the Dow Jones Industrial average was the biggest one day point decline and percentage wise the largest loss in six years. Financial analyst Fred Dent says it’s not a time to panic, but a time for investors to reevaluate the market…

Cut 10 (11) “whole year.”

Was this drop predicted and is there a way to see into the future if stocks are heading into a bear market?  Andy Anderson says ignore what some television analysts are saying and look at how your portfolio has performed in the past…

Cut 11 (09) “the trend.” (2X)

Anderson says if you find yourself concerned about your portfolio, don’t sell out.  He says it’s a good time to talk with a financial adviser…

Cut 12 (10) “rich quick.”

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A Krewe of Oshun horse rider was given a citation for animal cruelty after they were filmed abusing their horse Friday during the uptown New Orleans parade. SPCA Communications Director Alicia Haefele says the video was a disturbing example of animal abuse.

Cut 13 (11) “off screen.”

The horse is in good condition and is being transferred to SPCA control.

The video spread quickly across social media, and the SPCA was able to discover the rider’s identity after contacting the different riding Krewes. Haefele says the video is spurring a conversation about animal treatment during carnival season.

Cut 14 (12) “the past.”

Haefele has some recommendations for good Samaritans looking to stop animal abuse.

A group of 14 bipartisan senators have sent a letter to Governor Edwards urging him to call a special session this month, so legislators can solve the billion dollar shortfall the state faces on July 1st. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says solving the fiscal cliff now will make it easier for legislators to pass a budget in June…
cut 4 (08) “….long way”
Governor Edwards says he’s waiting to hear from House leadership on a final list of tax bills they could support in a special session.

President Trump has asked Congress to pass a one-point-five-trillion-dollar infrastructure funding bill. But will Louisiana see any of those dollars? State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says Louisiana doesn’t have enough transportation money to match what the federal government might be willing to offer…
Cut 30 (09) “those dollars.”
Wilson has pushed for a higher state gasoline tax.

Some workers have bigger checks as a result of the federal tax reform bill approved by Congress. Sanders Offner owns Crescent Payroll Solutions in Metairie and says their phones have been off the hook with clients calling, asking why their employees are making more money. He says once their client is aware of the tax changes, everyone is happy…
Cut 9 (08) “in itself.”
He says those who didn’t see bigger checks in January because of the tax changes, can make note of that when they file their taxes next year.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum says he’s fired Deputy Dustin Crabree who was arrested over the weekend and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Crabreee was off-duty and in a private vehicle. Police say a child was inside the vehicle.

Several state senators are urging Governor John Bel Edwards to call a special session this month to fix a one-billion dollar revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. Edwards is waiting on House Republicans to get behind tax bills to make up the shortfall. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says for legislators to agree on a plan, they need to be at the State Capitol…
Cut 3 (11) “of happening.”
Edwards says he’s made progress with House leadership on proposals to solve the fiscal cliff, but not enough to call a special session just yet.

Workers are seeing a difference in their paychecks. The federal tax overhaul legislation has kicked in, giving the average worker, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, an additional one-point-six-percent more in take home pay. Co-owner of Metairie based Crescent Payroll Solutions Sanders Offner says…
Cut 7 (10) “their paychecks.”
Peninsula Pacific says they are looking at moving the DiamondJacks Casino in Bossier City to Tangipahoa Parish near the Robert exit on I-12. Before considering a move, Manager Brent Stevens says he’d like to get some input from the Tangipahoa community.
Cut 13 (11) “this case.”
Stevens says the public can weigh in at community-conversations-la-dot-com. He says the other option is to spend over 100-million dollars to upgrade DiamondJacks in Bossier City.

Many Entergy customers are looking at higher than normal electricity bills, because of higher usage during the January cold snap. Spokesperson Shelia Pounders says they will work with customers on a payment plan. Pounders also recommends levelized billing, which allows customers to pay about the same amount for electricty every month…
Cut 29 (08) “customers like.”

The owners of Diamondjacks Casino in Bossier City are considering whether to invest over 100-million dollars in their current facility or build a new casino near I-12 in Tangipahoa Parish…
cut 15 (09) “…exciting place”
That’s Peninsula Pacific Manager Brent Stevens, who says the public can weigh in by going to Community Conversations-la-dot-com.

LSU Professor Tammy Dugas has developed a new treatment for heart disease using antioxidants from red wine. Research has indicated that having a glass of red wine could be good for your heart, so Dugas has developed a stent that releases red wine antioxidants slowly over time to prevent blood clotting…
Cut 4 (09) “an artery”
Dugas says she’s also working on a baloon coasted with the same compunds to treat flood flow blockages throughout the body.

Louisiana’s Transportation Secretary is worried the state may miss out if Congress approves a massive infrastructure funding bill.
Voicer 2 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

Because of the severe influenza season, the state health department will offer free flu vaccines at parish health units across the state until next Monday. L-D-H vaccinated about three-thousand people when they offered free flu shots last Wednesday. Hospitals continue to report large numbers of sick patients due flu and flu-like symptoms.