The man accused in the shooting death of an East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputy was wanted for questioning in the rape of a teen. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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As of 5:29 this morning, spring has officially sprung in the Bayou State. Jeff Palermo has more on the spring forecast…

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Spring is officially in the air, as the season kicked off at 5:29 this morning with the onset of the vernal equinox. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the Climate Prediction Center forecasts a hot and wet spring for Louisiana. He says that’s because of neutral conditions in the Pacific Ocean.

Cut 3 (10) “three months”

Keim says this means the chances of another freeze in the Bayou State are very low, and we can expect an early start to the growing season. He says we’ve been in warm conditions throughout the winter, and the wet spring weather has already started.

Cut 4  (06) “to continue”

Keim says it’s not unprecedented for Louisiana to see a cold front in April or even May. But he says it likely won’t bring the same freezing temperatures we saw last month. He doesn’t expect the cold fronts to get that cold.

Cut 5  (08)  “has to offer”

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Authorities say the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy killed in the line of duty was the epitome of public service. Police say 43-year-old Sgt. Shawn Anderson was fatally shot Saturday night after he encountered a rape suspect at a barber shop. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Casey Hicks says Sgt. Anderson exemplified everything a law enforcement officer should be. She says he was a true public servant who did whatever needed to be done.

Cut 6 (10) “of the road”

Hicks says the loss of Sgt. Anderson is devastating, only 8 months after Deputy Brad Garafola was killed and Deputy Nick Tullier was injured in an ambush last July. She says before that, it’d been 30 years since an East Baton Rouge deputy was killed in the line of duty in such a manner.

Cut 7 (09)  “for everyone”

Hicks says the outpouring of support from the public and law enforcement has been incredible. She says making sure the family of Sgt. Anderson has what they need is their top priority right now. She says Sheriff Sid Gautreaux was at the hospital with the family throughout the night.

Cut 8 (10) “get through this”

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State Police has identified the suspect accused in the shooting death of Sgt. Shawn Anderson with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office. Trooper Bryan Lee says 30-year-old Brandon Wiley is still in critical condition as he was also injured in the incident. Lee says Anderson was conducting a rape investigation with another deputy at a hair salon.:

Cut 9 (09)  “shots were fired”

According to authorities, Wiley was wanted for questioning in regards to the rape allegations made by a 15-year-old girl. He was remotely booked by EBRSO on the initial charges: first-degree rape, resisting an officer and with tattooing and body piercing of minors. Lee says Wiley has not been arrested yet in connection with the murder of Anderson…:

Cut 10 (09) “from there”

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The latest U.S. Censes report on income finds 44-percet of children under the age of 5 in New Orleans, are living in poverty. Demographer Greg Rigamer says that’s a very concerning number. He says we’ve seen statistics like this for a while.

Cut 11 (09) “a trend”

Rigamer says living in extreme poverty makes it difficult for these children to get ahead in life. He says this is a daunting problem everyone tries to address but more can be done.

Cut 12 (08) “educational facilities”

Rigamer says the median income for a household in Orleans Parish is very low, in the upper 30-thousands. He says focusing on improving education could help put an end to young children living in poverty.

Cut 13 (10) “good jobs”

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A north Louisiana lawmaker believes he has the solution to Louisiana’s ongoing midyear budget cuts. Jonesboro Senator Jim Fannin says the Revenue Estimating Conference consistently overestimates how much money the state will bring in, which leads to midyear cuts every year.

Cut 14 (10) “the reduction”

Fannin says he plans to propose a bill in the upcoming fiscal session to limit the amount of money the state budgets each year. He says the plan would limit lawmakers to using only 98-percent of the revenue forecast by the REC. He says that way if they come up short, midyear cuts wouldn’t be necessary.

Cut 15 (08) “with excess”

Fannin says if the state reaches the estimate three years in a row, they could go back to budgeting 100-percent of the funds. He says he proposed a similar idea under former-Governor Bobby Jindal, but it didn’t gain much traction. He says Governor John Bel Edwards supports the plan. But he doesn’t expect everyone in the legislature to back the bill.

Cut 16  (10)  “discussion about it”

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Opening arguments are scheduled to begin today in the murder trial of a law enforcement officer accused of fatally shooting a six-year-old boy. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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The state is taking new bids from companies that want to oversee the homeowner assistance program for flood victims. Halen Doughty has more…

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Governor Edwards hopes to revamp the Louisiana tax system in the upcoming legislative session. Emelie Gunn has more…

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Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana expands their KIDLINE services to 24 hours a day. The hotline services parents, victims of child abuse, and others who need a listening ear. PCA Louisiana Executive Director Amanda Brunson says a grant from the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement provided dollars to have counselors available around the clock.

Cut 4  (09) “chat online”

Brunson says the hotline offers confidential emotional support, information on child development, and positive discipline tips.

Cut 5  (09)  “and resources”

Brunson says the KIDLINE also connects families to local counselors and community services. She says that includes help meeting basic needs with resources like food banks and local shelters.

Cut 6 (07) “appropriately”

The 24 hour hotline is 1-800-CHILDREN, and counselors can be reached via text at 225-424-1533. She says counselors are also available for web chat at pcal.org/kidline. Calls to report child abuse should be made to law enforcement.

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Opening arguments in the Derrick Stafford trial are set for 9 a.m. in Marksville. The former deputy marshal faces murder and attempted murder charges after he and another officer allegedly shot at a vehicle killing a 6-year-old boy and injuring his father. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the main issue is whether the shooting was justified

Cut 7 (05)  “deadly force”

The shooting happened in November of 2015. Stafford and deputy marshal Norris Greenhouse Junior chased a vehicle driven by Christopher Few. The chase stopped at the end of a dead-end street and Few and his six-year-old autistic child were shot. The boy was fatally struck. It took five days for 12 jurors and two alternates to be selected and Ciolino says it will be an emotional trial…

Cut 8 (09) “circumstances”

The defense is expected to argue there was another shooter involved, possibly with testimony from experts and video simulation. Legal analyst Bryan Jeansonne says how it’s presented will make a difference.

Cut 9 (08)  “lose interest”

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The Office of Community Development is seeking new offers from companies that want to oversee the homeowner assistance program for flood victims. The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says there won’t be any delay in getting assistance to those who need it. She says they’re reopening the bidding process because they weren’t pleased with the initial offers.

Cut 10 (09) “best cost”

Payer says they will expedite this second round of bidding, and she’s confident a contractor will be in place in a month. As of right now, the federal government has yet to give the state access to the federal dollars made available for homeowners, so the only delay is in Washington.

Cut 11 (10) “opened up yet”

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says it’s disappointing the state is reopening the bidding process to find a new administer for the program. He says it’s just another delay and it’s frustrating because Congress approved one-point-six billion dollars last year…

Cut 12 (09) “out the door”

A program manager is needed to dole out money to homeowners and arrange state contractors to repair homes. Even though Louisiana has a Democratic governor, the Republic Congressman says this isn’t about politics, it’s about helping those that were affected by the flood.

Cut 13 (09) “people are in”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is seeking to give the Louisiana tax system a facelift during the upcoming legislative session. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward supports the effort to repeal many business tax exemptions, so that large companies are paying taxes to the state, instead of getting a big refund.

Cut 14 (10) “pay something”

Ward says the plan to eliminate more corporate tax breaks is a much more fair approach.

Cut 15 (04) “right now” 

But Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh is skeptical of Governor Edwards attempt at tax reform. He’s concerned that with the state searching for more dollars, higher taxes will be proposed when legislators meet in April.

Cut 16 (09) “gas tax”

Seabaugh also says if the state cuts exemptions and credits that businesses currently benefit from, then that will hurt economic development efforts…

Cut 17 (08)  “for everybody”