Louisiana Radio Network, I’m Kelley Ray…

A shooting injured two people on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond early Friday morning. University spokesperson Tonya Lowentritt says the shooting stemmed from a fight involving students and others who do not attend the school…
cut 3 (13) “…life threatening”
No arrests have been made.

The state has activated its crisis action team, because of the threat of severe weather and rising river levels. Multiple locations have already seen several inches of rain and Davyon Hill, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says a flash flood watch is in effect until 6 PM Saturday for that region of the state….
cut 13 (11) “…the area”
After five days of stalled negotiations, lawmakers are optimistic legislation will begin moving forward when legislators convene Sunday afternoon. Lake Charles Republican Representative Steven Dwight’s bill to extend a portion of the expiring one penny sales tax will be heard, and he’s optimistic about its chances…
Cut 5 (10) “floor monday.”
But Vice-chair of the legislative Black Caucus Ted James of Baton Rouge says a plan to solve the fiscal cliff could still be a ways off, with Democrats balking at allowing the state to maintain special sales tax exemptions for certain industries.
Cut 8 (08) “for us”
Louisiana faces a budget deficit of nearly one billion dollars on July 1st when temporary sales taxes expire.

Louisiana Radio Network, I’m Kelley Ray

There are signs the gridlock could be ending on tax negotiations in the special session. Legislators haven’t made much progress on closing a nearly one-billion dollar budget gap, but Vice Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, Ted James, says the lines of communication are finally open…

cut 7 (06) “…significant strides”
Two House committees are set to meet Sunday and lawmakers are hoping proposals dealing with state sales and income taxes, along with Medicaid reform can be voted on and sent to the House floor.

Law enforcement this week have announced the arrests of numerous individuals who allegedly made threats to do harm at local schools. Those convicted of the state’s terrorizing law can be fined up to 15-thousand dollars, but legal analyst Tim Meche says…
cut 16 (11) “…on that”

The 14-year tenure as chairman of the Republican Party ends on Saturday for Roger Villere. Jeff Palermo has more on how the party has changed during that time…
Voicer 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”.

LSU and Texas meet tonight for the first time since the 2009 College World Series. Zack Hess will start on the mound for the Tigers and Coach Paul Mainieri says he’ll face Nolan Kingham, who threw eight shutout innings last week…
cut 18 (09) “…of Zack”
First pitch is at 7 PM.

After five days of stalled negotiations, lawmakers are optimistic legislation will begin moving forward when legislatorsr convene Sunday afternoon. Lake Charles Republican Representative Steven Dwight’s bill to extend a portion of the expiring one penny sales tax will be heard, and he’s optimistic about its chances…
Cut 5 (10) “floor monday.”
But Vice-chair of the legislative Black Caucus Ted James of Baton Rouge says a plan to solve the fiscal cliff could still be a ways off, with Democrats balking at allowing the state to maintain special sales tax exemptions for certain industries.
Cut 8 (08) “for us”
Louisiana faces a budget deficit of nearly one billion dollars on July 1st when temporary sales taxes expire.

Officials are investigating a shooting that injured two people on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond early Friday morning. University spokesperson Tonya Lowentritt says the shooting stemmed from a fight involving students and others who do not attend the school…
cut 3 (13) “…life threatening”
No arrests have been made.

Roger Villere’s 14-year run as the state’s Republican Party Chairman ends Saturday when a new leader is elected. When Villere took over as GOP Chairman, the only Republican statewide official was the late Secretary of State Fox McKeithen. Now it has completely flipped the other way. Villere says there’s also been an increase in registered Republican voters…
Cut 10 (08) “than double.”

The special session is coming back to life, as lawmakers will convene Sunday to hear a series of tax and Medicaid proposals. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Two people were injured by gunfire on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond eary this morning. Officials say the shooting happened around 3 AM near the Assembly Hall. The two people shot are said to be suffering from non-life threatening injuries. No suspects are in custody.

Louisiana Republican Party chairman Roger Villere relinquishes his role on Saturday after serving for 14-years. It’s believed he’s the longest serving chairman of a state party in the country. Villere says during that time, the political demographics have changed, as the GOP is the dominant party for statewide offices…
Cut 9 (11) “that scenario”
A new party chairman will be elected on Saturday when Republicans gather for their quarterly meeting at the old State Capitol.

A flash flood watch is in effect through Saturday afternoon for four parishes in northwest Louisiana, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne and Webster. The National Weather Service expects storms will repeatedly move over the area dumping moderate to heavy rainfall.

Southeastern Louisiana University says two individuals suffered non-life threatening injuries from an overnight shooting that occured on North campus. Authorities say several individuals were involved when gunshots were fired and the incident remains under investigation. University officials say there is no threat to the campus community at this time.

A New Orleans area lawmaker says it’s time to revisit a bill to allow school educators to have guns on campus. Kelley Ray has the details…
voicer 1 (31) “…I’m Kelley Ray”

It’s day five of the legislative special session and there’s no activity at the State Capitol. That’s disappointing for Stonewall Representative Lawrence Bagley who sits on the House Health and Welfare committee and is ready to vote on something…
cut 13 (11) “…of it”
But there are signs of progress on a compromise to solve a looming one-billion dollar budget deficit. Lake Charles Representative Stephen Dwight says the House will re-convene on Sunday and he expects legislation dealing with Medicaid reform, reducing federal excess itemized tax deductions and his sales tax proposal will start moving through the legislative process…
cut 6 (10) “….democrats needed”
The special session must end on March 7th.

Louisiana Radio Network, I’m Kelley Ray

Secretary of State Tom Schedler faces accusations of sexual harrassment. A lawsuit filed in state court in Baton Rouge alleges that Schedler sent a female state worker love letters, made sexual advancements and gave her unwanted gifts, including sex tapes. Defense attorney Jill Craft says her client was punished after she rebuffed his repeated advances…
cut 14 (09) “…a relationship”
Schedler was elected in 2011 as the state’s elections chief. In a statement, the 68-year-old says he believes in a safe workplace, free from harassment.

Gridlock continued at the Capitol today as state lawmakers did not move any closer to closing a nearly one-billion dollar budget deficit that’s caused by expiring sales taxes. Medicaid reform bills that House Republican leaders are pushing failed to get out of a committe today. Legislation that would raise revenues are also not moving.

An LSU study paid for by the waterway and shipyard industries found that the downturn in oil prices resulted in a loss of 21-thousand jobs and 1.4 billion dollars in wages from 2014-2016. LSU economist Stephen Barnes says marine industries and shipyards help a wide range of Louisiana businesses…
cut 8 (12) “…pretty far”
The closure of the Avondale Shipyards in Jefferson Parish resulted in five-thousand lost jobs.

Flood watches and warnings are posted in north and central Louisaina, while south Louisiana is dealing with record heat. State Climatologist Barry Keim says strong thunderstorms are expected to redevelop over the northern parishes tonight…
cut 3 (08) “…flooding issues”
There’s a slight chance for severe weather in north Louisiana on Saturday