If you’re heading to New Orleans over the weekend, use alternative routes as I-10 East between Sorrento and Gramercy will be closed. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

New Orleans is one of the top five cities for millennials to live, according to a report from Time Magazine. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Juveniles serving life sentences for murder will soon be eligible for parole after 25 years. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

__________________________________

If you’re heading to New Orleans this weekend, be aware Interstate 10 East between the Sorrento and Gramercy exits will be closed as crews will install a repaired on-ramp bridge. Rodney Mallett with the state Department of Transportation says it’s the same ramp that was removed earlier this year…

Cut 4  (09) “back on”

Mallett says it will take a month for the on-ramp to open after the section of bridge is replaced but the interstate will open up before at 5 a.m. Monday morning. He says when this part of the interstate was closed in March, delays were minimal and expects the same this weekend.

Cut 5  (09)  “you’re going”

Mallett says the interstate will close at 9 p.m. tonight and is scheduled to open again early Monday morning but could open earlier, as it did for the same closure in March. He advises motorists to check online for updates on the closure and alternative routes.

Cut 6 (10) “out there”

________________________________________________________

A report from Time Magazine finds New Orleans is one of the top five metro areas in the country for millennials to live. Demographer Greg Rigamer says it’s obvious that when you’re in the Crescent City the main age group is 25 to 34 and many businesses target that demographic.

Cut 7 (07)  “positive draw”

The survey from Urban Land Institute finds the city saw a nearly 9-percent increase in millennials from 2010 to 2015. Rigamer says post Katrina New Orleans brought younger workers to the area and it helps the Crescent City likes celebrations, which attracts a younger crowd.

Cut 8 (08) “young people”

The cities that drew in more millennials are Virginia Beach, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; San Bernardino, California, and Memphis, Tennessee. Rigamer says the cost of living in the Big Easy is also a significant factor in where millennials choose to live.

Cut 9 (09)  “independently”

____________________________________________________________

Murderers convicted as juveniles will be eligible for parole after 25 years, as a bill by Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor wins final passage. Albany Representative Sherman Mack chairs the Criminal Justice Committee and pushed for 30 years instead of 25 because he says that’s what the families of the victims want.

Cut 10 (10) “than 25”

But some lawmakers asked why the House spent so much time splitting hairs over a five year difference. New Orleans Representative Gary Carter says there’s no law they could pass to give the victims in these situations back what they lost.

Cut 11 (09) “victim whole”

The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that juveniles could not be sentenced to life in prison without the chance for parole. Crowley Representative John Stefanski says without this bill, Louisiana could be subject to litigation for not complying with federal law.

Cut 12 (10) “have to do”

The measure finally passed on a 67 to 34 vote. It’s one of the 10 bills that are part of the governor’s criminal justice reform effort.

____________________________________________________________

Another special session has started at the State Capitol, after lawmakers failed to pass a budget for next fiscal year. Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards calls it an epic failure by House Republican leadership.

Cut 13 (12) “special session”

Legislators have been discussing a 28-billion dollar spending plan since March. The House wanted to withhold spending $100 million in case of a midyear shortfall, while the Senate only wanted to hold back $50 million to avoid deeper cuts to state agencies. House Appropriations Chair Cameron Henry expressed his disappointment in the session’s final minutes

Cut 14 (11) “for that”

Edwards says it’s a sad day in Louisiana because some lawmakers decided not to do what is in the best interest of the state. He says the options before lawmakers won’t be any different in the special than they were in the regular session.

Cut 15 (12) “our veterans”

Edwards says the House should have approved the budget passed by the Senate, which fully funded TOPS and spared higher education, prisons and child welfare programs from cuts.

Cut 16 (10)  “that budget”

_________________________________________________________________

We’ll find out today who LSU plans to pitch in Game One of the Super Regional Series against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have already announced a starter. Sophomore left-hander Konner Pilkington will pitch on Saturday. Former LSU pitcher and now college baseball analyst Ben McDonald says Pilkington is the real deal…

Cut 17 (17) “can do”

Mississippi State has one of the best hitters in college baseball. Brent Rooker is hitting .395 with 23 home runs and 82 RBIs. McDonald says LSU pitchers will have to make some quality pitches against him….

Cut 18 (21) “kind of mistakes” 

LSU brings a 14-game winning streak into the Super Regional series. The Tigers have scored 10 or more runs in half of those games. McDonald says the key for Mississippi State is no free passes to LSU hitters…

Cut 19 (13) “kinds of things ”

Louisiana has been recognized as one of the toughest states on fighting Medicaid fraud. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

After last week’s heavy rain, we could see an uptick in the mosquito population. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards signed into law a measure to allow video poker machines to accept 100 dollar bills, up from the current law of only 20 dollars. Video Poker Lobbyist Alton Ashy says the main reason for the legislation is the convenience factor for patrons and businesses.

Cut 3 (10) “dollar bill”

Critics say upping the amount allowed into gambling machines would increase the chances for an addiction but Ashy says statistics do not back that opinion up.

Cut 4  (10)    “gaming”

Plaquemine Rep. Chad Brown brought forth this legislation so gamblers at truck stops do not have to break a 50 or 100 dollar bill if they want to bet more than 20 dollars at a video poker machine. Ashy says the only reason for this measure is so a patron is not required to ask a cashier for smaller bills.

Cut 5  (08)  “dollar bill”

________________________________________________

We can expect to see more mosquitos out and about after more than a week of continued rain. LSU AgCenter entomologist Kristen Healy says more rain equals more mosquitos, and different types of mosquitos at that. She says a lot of rainfall can lead to hatching of so-called flood water mosquitos.

Cut 6 (09) “for example”

But Healy says they also see the southern house mosquito, which is known to carry diseases like the West Nile virus. She says while we haven’t seen local transmission of the Zika virus yet, that’s also a possibility.

Cut 7 (11)  “as well”

Healy says unfortunately mosquitos will always be a concern in Louisiana, especially during the summer months when people spend more time outside. She recommends that everyone take steps to protect themselves from these pesky critters.

Cut 8 (10) “own mosquitos”

_________________________________________________________

The Trump Administration recognizes Louisiana as one of the toughest states on fighting Medicaid fraud. Chief of Staff with the Louisiana Department of Health Andrew Tuozzolo says they’re doing everything they can to prevent, detect, and prosecute fraud. The US Inspector General reviewed 225 cases of suspected fraud in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (09)  “the referrals”

Tuozzolo says they refer 200 to 400 cases to the state Inspector General’s Office every year, which limits the liability for taxpayers. He says they use state-of-the-art software with pattern matching algorithms to look for potentially fraudulent billing practices.

Cut 10 (10) “for that service”

Louisiana was one of only four states to pass this audit since 2014. Lawmakers have suggested Medicaid fraud was one culprit of the state’s budget problems. But Tuozzolo says there’s only around $50 million in fraudulent claims annually in a $10 billion program.

Cut 11 (09) “in the program”

The feds could not make any recommendations for Louisiana to improve fraud detection.

_________________________________________________________

Budget negotiations are going down to the wire at the State Capitol as the House and Senate seek an agreement over how much money to spend. Publisher of La-politcs-dot-com, Jeremy Alford says House Republican leaders do not want to spend all of the dollars that are available

Cut 12 (09) “do not”

If the state doesn’t spend all of its available resources, the governor and senate are worried cuts will be made to health services, colleges and child welfare programs. Lawmakers have until 6 PM to reach a budget deal, if not, the governor will call for a special session to begin at 6:30 PM. Alford says many legislators are ready to go home

Cut 13 (07) “tonight”

Alford says the Senate is willing not to spend 50-million dollars, which could be used if Louisiana hits another mid-year budget deficit next year. But the House wants to hold back much more than that and Alford says legislators also must pass a bill that finances construction projects

Cut 14 (11) “construction budget”

_________________________________________________________