The governor’s spending plan for the next fiscal year has been presented to lawmakers, as they’re gearing up for the regular session in April.
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz is seeking more information from FEMA about an 84-year-old Baton Rouge man who died in an overheated mobile home issued by the federal government. Chaffetz says when authorities investigated the the M-H-U the temperature inside reached 138-degree even though the air conditioning control unit read 50-degrees.

US Senator Bill Cassidy held another town hall meeting this morning in Thibodaux and the crowd was not as raucous as what the senior senator faced yesterday in Metairie. Cassidy is one of several Republican Congressional members who has faced furious constituents upset over health care and public education. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says you can expect to keep seeing this type of activism….
cut 5 (11) “…to continue

LSU Health Shreveport will soon begin to help children who have chronic respiratory diseases as they are opening a new pediatric chronic ventilator clinic….
cut 12 (10) “….appropriate”
That’s Doctor Keith Scott who says there’s no other facility like this in north Louisiana.

The Edwards administration unveiled its proposed budget for next fiscal year and it does not fully fund TOPS. The spending plan funds the scholarship program at its current level, which is 70-percent. But Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says if additional revenue is approved in the regular session, it’s the governor’s top priority to fund TOPS at 100-percent.

The Louisiana Budget Project is calling for the governor to double the earned income tax credit, which benefits low income working families. Senior Policy analyst Nick Albares says lower income families currently pay taxes at twice the rate of the wealthiest families…
cut 9 (12) “….make ends meet”
Albares says they are also proposing to broaden the state sales tax and lower the overall rate from five to four percent.

Many students are turning to GoFundMe to pay for college as the cost of tuition is increasing. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 2 (28) “…I’m Emelie gunn”

Many Louisiana families are gearing up for a big Mardi Gras weekend. Doctor Nancy Welborn with the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine reminds pet owners that king cakes, jambalaya and fried foods are not pet friendly snacks….
cut 5 (09) “….for us”
Welborn also reminds people to be watch out for animals playing with Mardi Gras beads.

A chaotic scene erupted during a town hall meeting in Jefferson Parish hosted by U-S Senator Bill Cassidy. Hundreds of people upset about proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act showed up. Here’s what it sounded like courtesy of WWL-TV….
cut 30 (08) “…your job”

Changes to teacher’s tenure protections has led to more educators leaving the classroom, according to a report from Tulane. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

How are you planning to spend your tax refund? Well according to a new survey from the National Retail Federation, most people, especially millennials, won’t be spending returns, but instead saving. Denham Springs financial planner Matt Kennedy says younger people saw their parents suffer in the 2008 crash and don’t want to risk it…:
CUT 7 (10) “to spending”
The survey says of 66-percent of those getting a refund, only 21-percent plan to spend it on everyday expenses.

Help is still available for domestic abuse survivors in St. Martin and Iberia Parishes even though the domestic violence service provider in that area is closing its shelter and ceasing services. That’s according to the interim director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Mariah Wineski…
cut 12 (10) “be established”
Wineski says they have a statewide hotline that will connect survivors in these parishes to neighboring programs.

A report from Tulane has found that 17-hundred public school teachers have left their profession since the legislature passed a law in 2012 that made it more difficult for educators to achieve tenure. Co-author of the report, Nathan Barrett, says many of the educators that left were close to retirement and teachers who left under-performing schools rose by 27-percent….
cut 4 (12) “….F rated schools”
Student achievement became a major factor in a teacher receiving tenure as part of the 2012 law.

It appears state lawmakers have reached an agreeement on addressing the 304-million dollar budget deficit. The plan is expected to receive legislative approval this afternoon. A major sticking point has been the use of rainy day money to help plug up some of the hole.
A survey from the National Retail Federation finds that 48-percent of consumers who will receive a tax refund plan to put that money towards savings rather spend. The 48-percent is only second to last year’s record high of 49-percent. Denham Springs financial planner Matt Kennedy says consumers are also looking to reduce their debt….
cut 8 (11) “….later”

A domestic violence service provider has closed in the greater New Iberia area. But the Louisiana the Coalition Against Domestic Violence wants victims to know there is assistance avaialble to them. Interim director Mariah Wineski says they call 1-888-4-1-1-13-33….
cut 13 (08) “…housing assistance”
Wineski says they are working closely with stakeholders to get plans in place for a new permanent facility.

We’re still waiting on the state legislature to agree on a budget cut plan. They have until midnight tonight. That’s when the special session ends. The big sticking point is the use of rainy day dollars. The governor and the Senate have agreed on 99-million dollars, but House Republicans believe it should be lower, so more cuts to the budget can be made.

The National Retail Federation finds 48-percent of consumers plan to put their tax refunds into savings rather than spend it. Emelie Gunn has more…
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A study done out of Tulane shows 17-hundred public school teachers have left the profession since a new law went into effect in 2012 that makes it more difficult for teachers to obtain tenure. Co-author of the report, Nathan Barrett, says whether or not you agree with tenure protections, it’s something many teachers appreciate…
cut 5 (12) “…atrrition rates”
Barrett says many of the teachers who left, worked at low-performing schools or were close to retirement age.

All-Star Center DeMarcus Cousins had his first practice with his new team today. Cousins has teamed up with the Pelicans Anthony Davis and New Orleans now has one of the top front courts in the league. But Cousins can be a problem child, because of his attitude. Head Coach Alvin Gentry….
cut 11 (08) “…at all”
The Pels host Houston tomorrow night.

Lawmakers have until midnight tonight to come to an agreement on how many rainy day dollars to use to address a $304 million midyear deficit. Jeff Palermo has more…
voicer 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A study out of Tulane finds 17-hundred public school teachers have left their jobs in Louisiana because of a tougher tenure law which took effect two years ago. The report says many of the educators that left were close to retirement or worked in low-performing schools. Student achievement is now part of the formula to earn tenure.

Tonight’s Powerball jackpot has reached a whopping 403 million dollars, with a cash value of 244 million dollars. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kimberly Chopin says this drawing is the 19th in the current run…:
Cut 4 (10) “Powerball frenzy”
She says this is the 10th largest Powerball jackpot ever.

There are plans to film a movie called “Cowboy and Indiana” in the Monroe area. Executive producer Rodney Ray it’s about a troubled bull rider named Tulsa who struggles with a pain pill addiction and finds himself charged with a DUI…
cut 10 (11) “…named Indiana”
Ray says they plan to begin filiming in late May and over one-thousand actors from all over the country have applied for roles in the film.