The governor’s office will propose a 304-million dollar budget deficit reduction plan to  legislators this week. Jeff Palermo spoke with two republican lawmakers about the state’s budget troubles…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

New Orleans officials propose a plan to reduce crime in the French Quarter, but will it work? Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The Edwards administration will unveil a proposal on Friday on how to close a 304-million dollar budget deficit for this fiscal year. Lawmakers are split on whether or not to tap into the state’s rainy day fund to close the gap. Lake Charles Representative Mark Abraham sits on the Appropriations Committee and says he’s still not sure if that’s the way to go.

Cut 3 (12) “rainy day fund”

Some legislators are even debating whether or not another special session next month will be necessary. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris proposed a plan to cut the budget without a special session. Abraham says the governor could make the cuts needed to avoid another session, but without the session, they might be more devastating.

cut 4  (08) “those cuts”

Oil City Representative Jim Morris is not in favor of using the rainy day fund to ease some of the cuts to state agencies. He says you can’t spend money you don’t have, which many in the legislature constantly want to do.

Cut 5  (09)  “that’s going to work”

While there isn’t much of an appetite at the Capitol to raise more taxes, one option would be to broaden the base of the clean penny that was added to the sales tax last year. Morris says that might work, but he doesn’t want to put a bigger burden on taxpayers.

Cut 6 (12) “to consider it”

_______________________________________________________

New Orleans officials have announced a plan to reduce crime in the French Quarter, but some are skeptical the $40 million proposal will be effective. Crime analyst and New Orleans native Jeff Asher is particularly uncertain of the new regulation that will require bars on Bourbon Street to close their doors at 3 a.m. He says last year, only 20-percent of shootings in that area occurred between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m.

CUT 7 (11)  “of crime” 

One proposal would establish a new mobile booking unit for NOPD to use during big events. Asher says improving response time would be one way to reduce crime. But he says this mobile unit would only be effective in one part of town on some occasions.

Cut 8 (12) “citywide problem”

Another part of the plan is to put up over 200 cameras in the Quarter and other neighborhoods, as well as setting up a 24-hour command center to monitor them. Asher says the cameras could be effective, but it all comes down to law enforcement’s ability to respond in a timely manner.

Cut 9 (11)  “about it”

_______________________________________________________

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says a 28-year-old Covington man is dead, after he lit his home on fire while in a drunken fight with his father. Deputy Chief Brant Thompson says the man’s father, twin brother and step mother, went out drinking and when they returned home, things got physical.

Cut 10 (10) “the home”

Thompson says alcohol is believed to have played a factor in this fire and toxicology samples have been taken. He says Kellum’s father, 55-year-old Jamie Kellum, was critically injured with burns to 85-percent of his body.

cut 11 (10) “his body”

Thompson says during the verbal confrontation between Jamie and Brandon Kellum, his step mother and twin brother went outside. But he says Michael Kellum rushed back in the house when he heard a physical fight breaking out.

cut 12 (11) “into flames” 

_______________________________________________________

Former Angola Warden Burl Cain has responded to claims in a state legislative auditor’s report that said he may have illegally used public funds for personal reasons. One of the accusations is that prison workers performed work on his private home, while getting paid by the state. Cain says it’s not his job for them to fill out their time sheets properly…

Cut 13 (09) “after your work day“

The audit finds state employees worked for Cain, while they were still on the clock. But Cain says, at times, prison employees volunteered to help out at his home, but not while they were working..:

cut 14 (10) “took leave”

Cain’s comments were made during a live interview on Talk 107.3 in Baton Rouge. The state audit also says taxpayers picked up the tab for more than $27,000 in appliances and flat screen TVs at Cain’s residence on prison grounds. Cain says what the report doesn’t point out is how much of his personal money he spent on the public house…:

Cut 15 (09) “out of my pocket”

A state audit alleges that former-Angola Warden Burl Cain misused public funds while he was employed at the prison. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy says state’s should have the right to keep the Affordable Care Act. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

An audit accuses former-Angola warden Burl Cain of improperly using state funds during his tenure at the helm of the state’s largest prison. State legislative auditor Daryl Purpera says several state employees helped renovate Cain’s private home in Baton Rouge while on the clock, including Angola’s maintenance director Tim Byrd.

Cut 3 (10) “21 days”

Purpera says Cain also used prison equipment and labor to refinish the gates at his Baton Rouge home. He says Byrd made the 100 mile round trip twice to bring the large iron gates to the prison.

cut 4  (08) “public dollar”

Purpera says in addition to free labor, Cain also used state dollars to furnish his home on the prison grounds. He says taxpayers picked up the tab for more than $27-thousand in appliances and flat screen TVs. He says the former-warden also provided free food and housing for his family.

Cut 5  (11)  “prison grounds”

Cain’s lawyer, L.J, Hymel, has responded to audit by saying many of the report’s findings of fact and legal conclusions are in error. Purpera says he has given the audit’s findings to the US Attorney’s Office and the local District Attorney’s Office.

_______________________________________________________

Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy presented a health care plan this morning on Capitol Hill that would give states the ability to decide if they want to keep Obamacare. Cassidy says Republicans believe that if you like your health insurance, than you should keep it

Cut 6 (10) “by Washington D.C.”

Millions of people are concerned that if Congress repeals Obamacare, they’ll lose their insurance. Cassidy says by giving states the power to decide on a health care system, his Patient Freedom Act will have a chance to pass the Senate…

CUT 7 (10)  “get us to 60” 

Maine Senator Susan Collins is a co-author of the Patient Freedom Act. Cassidy says not only does this legislation return power to the states, it will also increase access and provide affordable health care for states who want a different health care system…

Cut 8 (11) “if you like”

_______________________________________________________

Crews are dealing with clean up in several parishes after at least five tornadoes touched down in Louisiana on Saturday. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says a twister hit near Colfax that left a wake of destruction, damaging 5 homes and injuring one person.

Cut 9 (07)  “were in it”

McCain says one woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries when the trailer overturned. The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado near Colfax had wind speeds up to 105 mph. A second tornado hit the parish near Georgetown, with winds reaching 100 mph.

Northwest Louisiana also saw a desctructive twister. Lt. Bill Davis with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office says a tornado with 115 mph winds made a 6 mile trek near Plain Dealing. He says about 29 homes were damaged, including three that were a total loss and seven that sustained extensive damage.

Cut 10 (09) “after all that”

Davis says after the twister hit, not only were people dealing with damage to their homes, but first responder crews had to fight downed trees and power lines to get in and help people. He says the community came together to clear roadways, and they’re doing what they can to help those who lost everything.

cut 11 (08) “their lives”

_______________________________________________________

An ROTC teacher at Mandeville High is under arrest amid allegations he had sex multiple times with two different students on campus. Mandeville Police Cheif Gerald Sticker says 48-year-old Hosea McGhee is charged with computer solicitation of a minor and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. He says the victims are ages 15 and 16:

cut 12 (10) “sexual acts” 

Although the investigation is continuing, the chief doesn’t think there are additional victims. Sticker says they believe the acts were carried out on school grounds for quite some time…:

Cut 13 (06) “ongoing“

________________________________________________________

A new custom-blend coffee, called the Ragin’ Cajuns French Roast Coffee was introduced to the public today. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette partnered with the Mello Joy Coffee Company to develop this dark roast blend. Assistant Director of Trademark Licensing at ULL, Leslie Saloom, says the coffee has a little sweetness and a chocolate flavor.

cut 14 (10) “the shelf”

Saloom says the Ragin’ Cajuns French Roast is exclusively available at Rouses at the Lafayette, Youngsville and Morgan City locations, as well as, at the bookstore on the university’s campus. She says officials from ULL and Mello Joy teamed up to determine which blend of Arabica beans would taste the best.

Cut 15 (09) “to go”

Saloom says the new French Roast joins other consumable products developed by the university that includes beer, seasoning and a Ragin Cajun burger available at Sonic.

Cut 16  (10)  “for us”

________________________________________________________

The state is sending a plan to the federal government on how they propose to spend one-point-two billion dollars in flood aid. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Homelessness is down 68-percent in Louisiana over the past seven years based on an estimate from the federal government. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Frustration over the lack of reliable high-speed internet in the DeRidder area has led to a petition that will ask the Public Service Commission to help out. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The Restore Louisiana Task Force approves a proposal for how to spend $1.2 billion in federal flood aid allocated by Congress. Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor’s Office, Julie Baxter Payer, says 938-million dollars will go towards rebuilding and repairing flooded homes.

cut 4  (08) “flood plain”

This state plan must get approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Louisiana is also awaiting HUD’s approval on a 438-million dollar package that will assist the elderly and disabled. Payer says they hope these federal dollars will get in the hands of flood victims by March or April.

Cut 5  (11)  “as possible”

Payer says once the federal government approves the state’s plan on spending the 1.6 billion dollars in federal aid, they will pick a private company to set up the application process. She says the website Restore.La.Gov will provide information as it becomes available on how flood victims can take advantage of this assistance.

Cut 6 (12) “their homes”

______________________________________

Homelessness in Louisiana is down 68-percent over the last seven years. That’s according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s yearly Point-in-Time count. Louisiana Housing Corporation Executive Director Keith Cunningham credits this decrease to hard work by his agency to help individuals living on the street….

CUT 7 (11)  “of society”‘

The count showed there was just below four-thousand homeless people in the state in 2016, down from 12,500 in 2009. Cunningham says this decrease surpassed expectations. He credits the state for making homelessness more of a priority.

Cut 8 (10) “it done”

One program used to combat homelessness is the Continuum of Care, which funds a rapid re-housing project. Cunningham says drug abuse and mental illness are some factors that play into homelessness. He says last August’s devastating floods could also become a problem, as many victims are stilling living in hotels or with family members.

Cut 9 (09)  “them before”

________________________________________

Today marks the start of tax season, as Louisiana residents can begin filing federal and state income taxes. Baton Rouge CPA Brandon Lagarde says if you plan to use a tax preparer to file your taxes, make sure you have all your documentation together and organized.

Cut 10 (08) “the process”

Federal returns are due April 18th this year, while state taxes must be filed by May 15th. Lagarde says refunds might take a little longer this year. He says measures to prevent identity theft have been enacted at the state and federal levels, and this red tape can lead to delays.

cut 11 (07) “get refunds”

Lagarde says filing taxes will be a little different this year for many Louisiana residents who were affected by the March and August floods. He says flood victims can claim their casualty losses.

cut 12 (11) “give you that”

_______________________________________

Residents in the greater DeRidder area are making a push to get high speed internet in the rural Beauregard Parish town. Beatrice Teague started a petition because she and her neighbors are unable to get broadband connections in their homes. She says they have to use satellite internet, which is expensive and unreliable.

Cut 13 (10) “your kids”

Teague says the internet in her home is down more days than not. She plans to present the petition to the Public Service Commission to see what can be done to resolve the issue. She says there are lines in place to provide high speed internet to her area, but the companies who own them are not willing to upgrade them.

cut 14 (11) “their turf”

Teague says the petition received more than 500 signatures in the first 24 hours alone, and she’s hoping to reach 750 before she brings it before the PSC. She says she’s constantly getting calls from people who want to be added to the petition.

Cut 15 (11) “our support”

_________________________________________________