Arcadia Mayor Eugene Smith passed away yesterday at the age of 84. Matt Doyle has the story.

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A 9.4 billion dollar chemical manufacturing facility has been announced for St. James Parish. Matt Doyle has more.

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A proposal to raise fees on hunting and fishing licenses fails to get enough votes on the House floor. Jeff Palermo has more…

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15-year-old Seth Veillon was found dead by deputies in a mobile home Sunday in Paradis, and his mother is in critical condition. The child’s father is the suspected killer. Deputies found the boy, and his mother, both with multiple gunshot wounds. St. Charles Parish Sherriff’s spokesman Corporal James Grimaldi says could not resuscitate the boy.

Cut 4  (09) “no avail” 

Grimaldi says the boy’s father, Ed Veillon Jr. has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

Cut 5  (10)  “of deputies”

Grimaldi says the victim’s mother, Nicole Veillon was taken to a local hospital.

Cut 6 (10) “unharmed”

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84-year-old Arcadia Mayor Eugene Smith passed away yesterday from complications related to a lung illness. Smith sheparded the north Louisiana town for 16 years. Homer Representative Pat Jefferson, who was hired by Smith as the city’s first black attorney, says he was a man of the people.

Cut 7 (11)  “was everywhere”

Jefferson says Smith “mastered Baton Rouge”, and worked the rooms in the capital to get the best deal for his constituents and the surrounding areas.

Cut 8 (10)  “his stewardship”

The Homer Democrat says he tells mayors in his area to look to Smith as a role model for how to effectively guide their towns and cities. He says Smith’s secret was to never stop networking.

Cut 9 (06)  “of Arcadia”

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Governor John Bel Edwards and Formosa Petrochemical Corporation announced an agreement to build a 9.4 billion dollar facility in St. James Parish. Once the ten year project is completed, officials say it will generate 1,200 full time jobs with an average pay of 84,500 dollars a year. St. James Parish President Timothy Roussell says it’s a big deal.

Cut 10 (08) “these jobs”

8,000 construction jobs are expected to be created while the facility is built.

Roussell says Formosa, who employs over 100,000 people worldwide, including several hundred at its other Louisiana facilities, is looking forward to working with and in the St. James community.

Cut 11 (06) “organizations”

The project will require a major overhaul to local infrastructure, and Roussell says it’s the parish and state’s responsibility to make sure the road are up and working before construction begins.

Cut 12 (11) “kinda issues”

A LSU economic impact study estimates the facility will generate 313 million dollars in state revenue during its first ten years of operation.

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A proposal to increase fees for hunting and fishing licenses failed to get the necessary 70 votes to pass the House. The legislation would raise an additional six-point-eight million dollars a year for Wildlife and Fisheries, who says the increase is necessary to help sustain the department for years to come. But Erath Representative Blake Miguez says if L-D-W-F needs more money, they can get it from the Conservation fund

Cut 13 (08)  “what happens”

The legislation would also consolidate the number of licenses from 117 to 35 and actually lower some fees. Miguez says he’s fine with a consolidation of licenses, but his constituents are not happy about a fee increase…

The National Safety Council has released it’s first-ever “Road to Zero” report. They are trying to achieve zero roadway deaths in the future. Jim Shannon has more.

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US Senator John Kennedy is calling on major banks to reverse new policies that target companies that sell firearms. Matt Doyle has more.

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The National Safety Council has released it’s first-ever “Road to Zero” report. It’s their vision for achieving zero deaths on roadways by 2050. National Safety Council President Deborah Hersman says they have assembled a huge coalition to fight against roadway deaths.

Cut 3 (:12) “get to zero”

She adds that technology has helped bring down some of the statistics on roadway deaths. That coupled with tighter laws also help.

Cut 4 (:11) “best practices”

But here in Louisiana the road deaths are increasing.

Cut 5  (08) “2015”

Nearly 40-Thousand people die each year on our nations public roads.

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US Senator John Kennedy is asking Louisiana officials to cancel state contracts with Citigroup and Bank of America after the banks announced that they would enforce restrictions on companies that sell firearms. Kennedy says after getting bailed out in 2008, banks have no right to be dictating policy.

Cut 6 (11)  “on America”

Citigroup announced that it would no longer do business with companies that sell firearms to anyone under 21, or companies that do not require a background check for gun purchases.

Kennedy says bankers are not legislators, and shouldn’t be punishing citizens who are following currently established law.

Cut 7 (08)  “of America”

The Republican Senator has pushed back against federal efforts to implement increased gun control laws in the wake of the Parkland shooting that killed 17.

Kennedy says the restrictions are a form of political discrimination.

Cut 8 (10) “are blue”

Governor John Bel Edwards has responded to Kennedy’s divestment request saying: “The only contract with a direct cost to the state was signed by you during your tenure as state treasurer. This contract is  with Bank of America.” As such, the governor called for “less posturing on the issue.”

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The Louisiana Department of Health will be offering free STD testing at a series of rotating sites from Tuesday through Thursday. The initiative is part of the CDC’s STD awareness month. Assistant State’s Health Officer Dr. Parham Jaberi says testing is the most important thing you can do to stop the spread of STDs.

Cut 9 (07) “its spread”

Jaberi says Louisiana in particular is in need of more extensive STD education and testing.

Cut 10 (10) “raise awareness.”

The Department of Health says the screening is aimed at people who are unsure whether or not they are infected, and those showing symptoms should schedule an appointment at another time. Jaberi says if you plan on visiting, set a little time aside.

Cut 11 (10) “needs.”

Information on when units will be open is available at www.ldh.la.gov

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Huge economic development news as Formosa selects a site in St. James Parish near the Sunshine Bridge to build a nine-point-four billion dollar chemical manufacturing complex.  State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the 24-hundred acre site is branded as the Sunshine Project and it would create 12-hundred jobs…

Cut 12 (07)   “globally”

Pierson says construction should begin next year. He says Formosa Plastics Group operates three existing Louisiana facilities in East Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee which made it easy for the company to the Bayou State…

Cut 13 (10) “over decades”

Pierson says in order to secure the project, Louisiana offered a competitive incentive package that includes a 12-million dollar performance based grant….

Cut 14 (10)  “we have won”

The House is expected to vote this afternoon on a proposal to raise hunting and fishing license fees in order to pay for state Wildlife and Fisheries expenses. Jeff Palermo has a preview…

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An LSU medical graduate has put out a new supplement that was tested at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, aimed at improve gut health. Matt Doyle has more.

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A riverboat gambling bill is on deck for Senate consideration today. Michael Farrar has the story.

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A House floor vote is scheduled today on a proposal to raise the cost of a basic resident hunting and fishing license by a few dollars. Wildlife and Fisheries officials say the increase is needed to offset a 65-million dollar loss in state funding since 2009. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the proposal is having a difficult time passing, because it needs 70 votes from the 105-member House

Cut 4  (04) “for something” 

Pinsonat says a special session is likely coming in which legislators will be asked to pass tax measures to replace expiring revenue, so jacking up the price for a hunting or fishing license is not something legislators are quick to endorse

Cut 5  (06)  “to government”

Pinsonat says lawmakers are facing re-election next year, so voting for a fee increase on a hobby many Louisiana residents enjoy is not a good idea for most legislators

Cut 6 (07) “is reluctant”

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A new supplement wrapped up testing at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and claims it can help improve gut health that is lacking in most modern diets. “Biomebliss”, from LSU Medical School graduate and New Orleans Native Dr. Mark Heiman says there’s a lot of research showing Americans are lacking the proper bacteria in their stomachs.

Cut 7 (11)  “these mircronutrients”

Heiman says between processed foods and low carb diets, people are losing out on nutrients are that crucial to helping your body stay healthy, slim, and regular.

Cut 8 (12)  “GI microbiome.”

Heiman says Biomebliss is a prebiotic that feeds microorganisms in your gut that often starve when you try out a new, non-balanced diet plan.

Cut 9 (06)  “carbohydrate diet”

A report from 2015 studies of Biomebliss at Pennington is available, but the claims have not yet been reviewed by the FDA.

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A bill that would allow riverboat casinos to expand onto land is scheduled to be heard by the full Senate today, after being pulled from consideration last week. The bill would remove restrictions for Louisiana’s 15 floating gambling halls. Louisiana Casino Association Executive Director Wade Duty says more profitable casinos means more revenue for the state.

Cut 10 (08) “predictable jobs”

Duty says Louisiana is the only state that requires casinos be seaworthy, and that’s holding back the local industry.

Cut 11 (10) “the customer”

The bill’s sponsor, Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns, says the legislation is not an expansion of gaming, but Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills says that’s disingenuous.

Cut 12 (11) “of opportunity”

Mills, a conservative cultural values advocate, says allowing those casinos to expand would increase the number of gambling addicts, which currently numbers nearly 180,000 statewide.

Cut 13 (09)  “of Louisiana”

Another gambling bill, one that would allow Tangipahoa residents to vote on whether or not to accept a casino in Robert, is also expected to be discussed.

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The chairman of Senate Finance has no desire to approve the budget the House passed last Thursday. Ville Platte Senator Eric LaFleur says he can’t support a spending plan that would kick 46-thousand elderly and disabled people from nursing homes

Cut 20 (12) “since then”