After hitting the Southern regional average for teacher’s salaries back in 2007, Louisiana has fallen behind.   Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

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A Tangipahoa school board member is under fire after he shared a photo of a noose on Facebook. Jim Shannon has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”.

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US Presidents pardon turkeys on Thanksgiving, Louisiana pardons a crawfish early in the crawfish season. Emile the crawfish will be allowed to live his life out peacefully thanks to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser  who picked “Emile” to be pardoned for their “annual pardoning of the crawfish”…

Cut 3 (11) “boiled alive.”

Several were in attendance at the old U.S. Mint in New Orleans to witness the proclamation, including representatives from the the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board.  Nungesser says not everyone understands the event.  During a visit to the White House, he tried to explain it to Vice President Mike Pence…

Cut 4  (11) “for Thanksgiving.” 

This unique event celebrates the crawfish season which is underway. Nungesser says the price might be high now, but it will come down soon…

Cut 5  (08)  “price down.”

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Teacher salaries reached the Southern regional average in 2007, but Louisiana has fallen behind, as educators receive on average 17-hundred dollars less. And with a one-billion-dollar shortfall, it’s unlikely extra money will go towards the 47-thousand public school teachers. Legislative Director for the Louisiana Federation of Teachers Cynthia Posey says the pay is leading to fewer teachers…

Cut 6  (07)  “a job.”

Posey says teachers are in the profession to changes lives.  She says even though it isn’t all about the money, they have bills to pay and families to take care of…

Cut 7 (09)  “to ask.”

Posey hopes lawmakers can stabilize the budget in the ongoing special session, so more money can be available for teachers…

Cut 8 (09) “in Louisiana.”

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Tangipahoa Parish School Board member Mike Whitlow is facing heavy backlash for posting a picture of a noose on his public Facebook page. The picture had the caption: “If we want to make America great again, we will have to make evil people fear punishment again.” Tangipahoa Parish council member  Louis Joseph says it was a bad idea.

Cut 9 (09) “like that”

Joseph says that kind of behavior is unacceptable for someone in a position of authority.

Cut 10 (05) “is reprehensible.”

Whitlow says the post was not racially motivated, and was only inspired by an article he read that called for stiffer prison sentences for violent offenders. He says he’s taken the appropriate steps to remedy the situation.

Cut 11 (09) “my intent”

Whitlow says negative reactions to his post are misplaced, and has no intention of stepping down.

Cut 12 (08) “on this.”

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Attorney General Jeff Landry and Governor John Bel Edwards have agreed to coordinate efforts to bring litigation against opioid manufacturers, who they feel are responsible for the epidemic that’s claiming hundreds lives every year. The A-G’s Chief Deputy Bill Stiles says the state seeks damages for costs incurred within the Medicaid program.

Cut 13 (10) “these prescriptions”

Stiles hopes to expand the scope of the lawsuit into all state services effected, including corrections and family services.

Stiles says the suit is in the interest of all Louisianans, as the opioid epidemic is a problem that cuts across racial and class lines.

Cut 14 (08) “the other”

Stiles is optimistic that the suit will be successful in attacking the root of the epidemic, and help the state recoup the heavy cost of opioid addiction.

A couple of interstate projects are slated for Lake Charles.  Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

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North Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham told the Baton Rouge Press Club he has yet to decide on whether he’ll run for governor in 2019, but he sounded like a candidate. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the legislature on the first day of the special session.  Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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The State Transportation Department will begin work on the I-10 bridge in Lake Charles on March 3rd. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they will replace the expansion joints on the bridge, initially closing one eastbound lane. Mallett says this work is part of a large scale job they plan to perform…

Cut 4  (10) “be redecked.” 

Officials hope to minimize the amount of accidents during the work on the I-10 bridge in Lake Charles.  Mallett says it’s important that drivers pay attention while driving in the work zone to avoid adding delays…

Cut 5  (08)  “further delays.”

There are a few options for drivers to circumvent I-10 if they want to avoid the extra congestion…

Cut 6 (10)  “some point.”

The project is expected to be completed in four to six months.

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North Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham made no bones about his intentions to take a hard look at running for Governor. On the day when Governor John Bel Edwards took center stage at the capitol and opened the special legislative session, Abraham took a swipe at his potential opponent while speaking to the Baton Rouge Press club.

Cut 7 (09)  “lack of trust”

Abraham says Edwards position on how to pull the state out of the billion dollar deficit is proof positive Edwards is not being truthful.

Cut 8 (11) “with that”

Abraham says in the days of lightning fast social media Louisiana voters are less likely to consider where a candidate is from and more likely to hear his message.

Cut 9 (08 )  “with us”

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Three teens were arrested in connection with two alleged social media threats made against Tangipahoa Parish Schools. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says a 17-year-old female and a minor are charged in spreading a post that said, “Don’t go to school Monday.  A school shooting is going to happen and they are warning everyone.” Edwards says that resulted in his deputies sweeping the school before allowing students on campus…

Cut 10 (08) “the night.”

Edwards says 18-year-old Troy Webber of Amite was arrested in separate incident after he allegedly threatening to shoot students and teachers at school Monday…

Cut 11 (13) “as well.”

Social media threats have been made against several Louisiana schools just days after a gunman opened fire on a Florida school, killing 17.  Kelley Ray says State Police are distributed by the increase in threats, real or not…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

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The Senate Demcractic Caucus offers a plan on solving a one-billion dollar budget deficit, but it faces opposition from anti-tax groups. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”.

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At least three Louisiana schools have received social media threats, with Ville Platte under lockdown due to one received this morning.  Dutchtown and Ponchatoula High Schools were threatened in social media over the weekend.  State Police Major Doug Cain says in light of the recent Florida school shooting that killed 17, making false threats is not a game and creates problems for law enforcement officials…

Cut 3 (08) “of threats.”

If a threat against a school is found to be false, Cain says they will investigate and if they find the person who made it, there will be consequences…

Cut 4  (08) “be tolerated.” 

None of the Louisiana schools in question were closed today.  But Cain says each situation is evaluated on its own and safety of students for law enforcement and school administration is top priority…

Cut 5  (07)  “that school.”

Officials say the Dutchtown threat was made by a former student living in another state.

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The Senate Democratic Caucus offers a solution on solving the one-billion dollar shortfall. Chairman Troy Carter proposes compressing income tax brackets, removing sales tax exemptions that benefit some businesses and expand the sales tax base, so certain services are taxed…

Cut 6  (05)  “have to hurt”

Carter, who is a state senator from New Orleans, says the Democratic Caucus offers up this plan, because they oppose any effort to renew the temporary one-cent sales tax. He says the changing of income tax brackets would not mean a huge increase in taxes for higher income wage earners…

Cut 7 (10)  “richest of the rich”

But Director for the Louisiana Chapter of Americans for Prosperity, John Kay, says the Senate Democratic Caucus proposal would raise income taxes on the middle class by 50-percent…

Cut 8 (09) “they need.”

Kay doesn’t see how this tax plan will get the 70 votes needed in the House, especially when many legislators are looking at ways to reduce spending….

Cut 9 (09) “compromise at all”

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Just a few ago, some in Louisiana were putting up with ice and snow on the ground.  But recent above normal temperatures are making it feel more like Spring.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says areas of South Louisiana will continue to see the warm temperatures for some time…

Cut 10 (07) “of Louisiana.”

A pesky front is expected to move into North Louisiana starting tomorrow evening, which Keim says will bring the temperatures closer to normal in that area for the remainder of the week…

Cut 11 (11) “the weekend.”

Was Louisiana’s resident forecaster Pierre C. Shadow correct in saying we would have a longer Spring?  Keim says…

Cut 12 (11) “have happened.”

Keim says records indicate that Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport all recorded freezes in early April, though it’s been at least 29 years since the last April freeze was reported in Louisiana.

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Governor John Bel Edwards will lay out his plans on tackling the fiscal cliff when he speaks to a joint session of the legislature at 5: 00 today. Edwards called a special session to address a one-billion dollar budget deficit as a temporary one-cent sales tax expires on June 30th. Political pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Edwards might renew portion of that penny, but he’ll have to agree on spending reforms

Cut 13 (07) “for cuts”

Pinsonat says the governor will have difficulty getting tax bills passed out of the House, but might be able to work out a deal with the Senate…

Cut 14 (09) “the House.”

All tax bills must start in the House and will get their first hearing in front of the House Ways and Means committee. Pinsonat says Edwards will have a hard time convincing conservative lawmakers to raise taxes…