First Lady Donna Edwards is teaming up with the Department of Children and Family Services to launch a new program supporting foster parents. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Louisiana’s budget deficit for the fiscal year that starts next July is now up to one-point-five billion dollars. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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It’s been a wet couple of weeks in the Bayou State, and State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s not showing any signs of stopping. He says the wet pattern is caused by summer fronts crossing Louisiana and stalling along the coast. He says that’s what led to the downpour in New Orleans, and now there’s another front heading our way.

Cut 3 (10) “a few days”

Keim says we can expect to stay in a wet pattern at least through the weekend. But he says fortunately, the rain clouds are bringing down the soaring temperatures, and the wet ground is helping to cool things off during one of Louisiana’s hottest months of the year.

Cut 4  (10) “creeping up”

The downside, however, is that rain makes things even more muggy than usual. Keim says all that moisture in the air is pushing humidity levels way up. But at least it’s not as hot.

Cut 5  (10)  “any day”

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The Department of Transportation says it’s been given the all clear to go ahead with the project to widen I-10 from Highland Road in Baton Rouge, to LA 73 in Ascension Parish. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says motorists should start seeing activity before the end of the year…:

Cut 6 (04) “of 2018”

Wilson says it will take around two and a half years to widen the interstate by one lane in each direction. He says it’s very exciting that this major improvement to infrastructure is being made on such a heavily traveled thoroughfare…:

Cut 7 (08)  “on a regular basis”

The $72 million project is being funded through a combination of state and federal dollars. The design-build process allows a designer and contractor to bid and collaborate on the project together, which results in quicker completion. Wilson wants the public to know that DOTD is committed to being as productive and innovative as possible…:

Cut 8 (08) “and paying attention”

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Louisiana foster parents can find support thanks to a new website launched by First Lady Donna Edwards. Louisiana-fosters-dot-la-dot-gov connects parents with businesses, church groups and nonprofits to help meet the child’s needs. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says these groups can provide parents with assistance that DCFS can’t offer.

Cut 9 (08)  “to be supported”

At any given time, there are about 4,300 children in foster care in Louisiana. DCFS served over 7,800 children during the 2017 fiscal year. Walters says it takes more than government to raise a child. That’s why this program gets the community involved to help.

Cut 10 (08) “little bit of respite”

First Lady Edwards says the program is all about meeting the immediate needs of these families and providing support services. Louisiana Fosters seeks to start new partnerships between community organizations and foster families.

Cut 11 (08) “come together”

Edwards says they’re looking for mentors who want to be involved in a foster child’s life, as well as organizations who can provide much needed supplies. She says 4-H is one organization that’s stepped up to the plate providing bags for when foster children are moved, and they’re asking more groups to make that commitment.

Cut 12 (10) “foster parents”

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The state’s budget deficit for fiscal year 2018, which begins next July, is up to one-point-five billion dollars. Most of the shortfall is due to the loss of temporary taxes. But rising costs and inflationary expenses also make up the budget gap. But Jonesboro Senator Jim Fannin questions why inflationary costs are included in the fiscal cliff deficit

Cut 13 (07) “scares everybody”

Fannin made his comments during Friday’s joint legislative budget committee. Barry Dusse, with the governor’s budget office, responded that inflationary dollars are added to the budget deficit projection, because state law requires them to do so…

Cut 14 (07) “look like”

The previous budget deficit estimate was one-point-two billion dollars. Fannin questions why the deficit has been increased to one-point-five billion dollars, when legislators do not have to fund inflationary costs …

Cut 15 (11) “this year”

(An agreement between the governor and legislators on how to close the budget gap has yet to be reached and it will likely take a special session to do so.)

Cut 16  (08)  “to everybody”

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Governor John Bel Edwards joined New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu today to discuss the possibility of more flooding on the east bank of the city. Michelle Southern reports…:

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Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says he’s glad President Donald Trump is taking a stand against continued threats from North Korea. Jeff Palermo reports..:

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Baton Rouge Police have made an arrest in the fatal armed robbery that cost a Tennessee truck driver his life. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says they identified the suspect, 18-year-old Landry Carter, from his involvement in other robberies.

Cut 3 (11) “those crimes”

McKneely says they issued a warrant for Carter’s arrest for those robberies. He says both video surveillance and witness testimony were essential to bringing in the suspect. He says they spoke with witnesses who saw the tragic event.

Cut 4  (11) “Mr. Odom”

Keith Odom of Tennessee was robbed and fatally shot while fixing a flat tire in a parking lot Tuesday morning. Carter is charged with four counts of armed robbery and one count of first degree murder. McKneely says the hard work of BRPD detectives got this man off the street before anyone else could be hurt.

Cut 5  (11)  “shooting them”

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A Walker woman is in critical condition after she jumped from a moving vehicle on I-12. Captain John Sharp with Walker Police says last night 26-year-old Whitney Cotton was riding with her fiancé, 27-year-old Matthew Roberts, when she leapt out of the pickup truck.

Cut 6 (10) “moving vehicle”

Sharp says no foul play is suspected in this incident. He says Cotton was taken to a local hospital with critical injuries.

Cut 7 (07)  “head injuries”

Sharp says detectives are looking into the matter. He asks that anyone who saw the incident to contact police.

Cut 8 (10) “talk to them”

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Governor John Bel Edwards joined New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu today to discuss the possibility of more flooding in the city, as a turbine caught fire overnight forcing a pumping station to move to last resort power. Landrieu says this outage has the potential to compromise the capacity of drainage on the East Bank of New Orleans…:

Cut 9 (09)  “National Weather Service”

Landrieu says that crews are on site now working to repair the downed turbine, and securing backup power to the pumping stations. He added that if all of the power from Entergy continues, the city will be able to handle a typical rainfall situation. Governor Edwards said he signed a declaration of emergency for Orleans Parish….:

Cut 10 (08) “as quickly as possible”

All Orleans Parish schools are closed today due to the flood risk, and people in the affected areas are being asked to park their cars on the neutral ground. Ladrieu said the city will be vulnerable over the next 24 to 48 hours, as four out of five turbines are out of service. Edwards stressed that while this is a serious situation…:

Cut 11 (11) “without undue problems”

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Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says he’s glad President Donald Trump is taking  stand against continued threats from North Korea. The Cajun John Wayne says previous administrations have dealt with aggressions from North Korea with a, “kick the can down the road” type mentality, but it’s about time to get serious…:

Cut 12 (06) “the real world”

Earlier this week, Mr. Trump warned that North Korea would “face fire and fury like the world has never seen” if Pyongyang keeps threatening the US. North Korea’s response was to say it’s seriously examining a plan to launch a missile strike targeting an area near the US territory of Guam. Higgins says this is completely unacceptable…:

Cut 13 (11) “over a decade”

Higgins believes Mr. Trump is carefully targeting exactly what would need to be hit, and hit hard….:

Cut 14 (08) “underground bunkers”

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