State Police announce the arrest of 13 people in Acadiana for their alleged involvement in a fake crash scheme. Master Trooper Brooks David says they believe the group defrauded insurance compamies out of over 30-thousand dollars….
cut 7 (09) “…still ongoing”
The 13 arrested were booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center and the search continues for three more suspects.

At the state capitol, the Senate Finance Committee heard from state Health Secretary Rebekah Gee. Several Republicans raised concerns about the state’s increased spending on health care, but Gee says healthcare funding benefits the state as a whole, not just her department….
cut 15 (09) “….ghose areas”
Gee raised concerns about proposed cuts to mental healthcare and pediatric programs.

Several state agencies have come together to create the Louisiana Veteran Entrepenurship Program which is designed to help veterans start their own business once they leave active duty….
cut 12 (11) “….own business”
That’s Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson, who says the Louisiana Business and Technology Center at LSU Innovation Park will deliver the training. For application details call (225) 578-7555.

For those planning to travel on this Memorial Day Weekend, AAA says the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.15. About a nickel higher than a year ago. AAA is anticipating the busiest Memorial Day travel weekend since 2005.

An insurance fraud investigation in the Acadiana area has led to over a dozen arrests. State Police Trooper Brooks David says last July they received complaints about 16 individuals who were filing false insurance claims…
cut 6 (08) “…of claims”
David says all 16 individuals were involved in a number of ficticious crashes.

Louisiana consumers will not have to pay the full five-percent state sales tax on Saturday and Sunday for purchasing emergency prepardeness supplies. Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson says the sales tax discount helps familes prepare for the hurricane season…
cut 4 (11) “…a storm”
To find out more go to the Department of Revenue’s website.

Louisiana Economic Development, along with several partners, has created a business startup program for military veterans. LED Secretary Don Pierson says the idea for the Louisiana Veteran Entrepreneurship Program came after hearing LSU helped disabled veterans in a similar way…
cut 11 (11) “…small businesses”
Pierson says those who participate in the program will take classes at LSU and they hope to enroll about 100 veterans in the first year.

State Police is asking motorists to buckle up, lay off the gas pedal and do not drink and drive this holiday weekend. Trooper Dustin Dwight…
cut 9 (08) “….preventable car crashes”
Dwight reminds residents that everyone inside a vehicle needs to be buckled up.

The number of travelers for this Memorial Day weekend is expected to be the largest since 2005. AAA forecast calls for over 39-million Americans to travel 50 miles or more and spokesperson Don Redman says 88-percent of those travelers will drive to their destination…
cut 5 (05) “….a lot of people”
And Redman says expect to pay $2.15 a gallon for regular gasoline, which is a nickel higher than last year.

Students with disabilities would be protected from corporal punishment in public schools under a proposal heading to the Senate floor. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil says his bill would prohibit school employees from spanking students with developmental disabilities.
Cut 7 (08) “not corporal punishment”
The House approved bill heads to the Senate floor.

Security will be ramped up for this weekend’s Bayou Country Superfest in New Orleans, because of the terrorist attack at a Manchester concert. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Consumers will receive a sales tax discount this weekend on purchases for hurricane preparedness items. So instead of paying a five-percent sales tax when buying flashlights, batteries, portable generators and other emergency supplies, residents would be hit with a three-percent sales tax on these items. The tax holiday starts Saturday and ends on Sunday.

Just over 39-million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more during this Memorial Day weekend. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says that’s the most since 2005. He says travel for the unofficial kick-off to this summer holiday has been growing since the Great Recession…
cut 6 (08) “….for the Holiday”
The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.15, a nickel more than last year.

Moving closer to final legislative passage is a bill that would prohibit corporal punishment in public schools involving children with disabiltiies. Representative Franklin Foil says his bill clearly defines what constitutes corporal punishment….
cut 8 (10) “…of a kid”
The House approved measure is heading to the Senate floor.

Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter is looking at ways on how he can get the necessary 70 votes in the House to pass a proposed 17-cent gasoline tax increase. Carter says he may lower the tax hike, but have it increase over time…
cut 15 (10) “…of time”
Carter says he plans to bring the bill up for a vote on Wednesday.

It’s Bayou Country Superfest weekend, but at a different venue this year. The three-day music festival was moved from Tiger Stadium to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Producer Quint Davis says they’ve made the show even bigger and better for the new locale…
cut 11 (11) “…the weekend”
And expect increased security in light of the terrorist attack in Manchester.

AAA projects the number of expected travelers for this Memorial Day weekend will be the highest it’s been since 2005. Michelle Southern reports.:

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

You can anticipate a bunch of LSU baseball fans heading to Hoover, Alabama this weekend. The Tigers won their ninth straight last night by blasting Kentucky 10-0 in seven innings. LSU’s next game is Saturday in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.

Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter is planning for the House to vote next week on his proposal to hike the state’s gasoline tax by an additional 17-cents per gallon. Carter says similar legislation has been shot down in the past, but lawmakers need to come together to vote for this measure….
cut 14 (11) “….have you”
Carter says he is considering lowering the proposed tax, but is concerned they won’t have enough money to fund major projects.

The Senate Education committee has approved a bill that prohibits the use of corporal punishment with students who have disabilities. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil, was surprised to learn that some schools spank children with disabilities….
cut 9 (09) “…can’t help themselves”
The bill has been approved by the House and is awaiting Senate approval.

This Memorial Day weekend will see its highest number of travelers since 2005, according to AAA. Spokesman Don Redman says they project nearly 40 million Americans are taking to the roads, skies, rails and water, which is a million more than last year. Redman credits an improving economy…:
Cut 4 (08) “…those numbers upwards”
The author of a bill to raise the state’s gasoline tax by 17-cents continues to work on the legislation so it can receive the 70 votes necessary to get approval from the House. Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter says he is looking at a variety of options, like lowering the proposed increase. But he says not everyone is pleased with that…
Cut 13 (09) “…Baton Rouge”
Carter will bring the bill up for a vote next Wednesday.

Concertgoers at this weekend’s Bayou Country Superfest in New Orleans can expect even more security after the terrorist attack at a concert in Manchester. Producer Quint Davis says safety is always the number one concern, and everyone should feel comfortable attending the event.
Cut 10 (10) “…pretty much alwqays”
Davis says this is the 9th annual B-C-S, but it’s the festival’s first time in the Superdome.
Last night the LSU baseball team run-ruled Kentucky beating the Wildcats 10-0 in 7 innings to advance to the SEC tournament semi-finals. The Tigers next game is at noon on Saturday

The LSU baseball team goes after its ninth straight victory tonight as they’ll face Kentucky in the SEC Tournament. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri is expecting an outstanding game….
cut 30 (13) “….a lot of confidence”
Tonight’s game should start around 8:00. Yesterday, LSU beat Missouri 10-3. Win number 500 for Mainieri at LSU.

Louisiana Tech was eliminated from the Conference USA Tournament Today as the Bulldogs could not overcome a 4-0 deficit and lost 5-2. Matt Miller was roughed up for four runs in two innings. The Diamond Dogs will now wait to see if they receive an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. Tech has a record of 36-20.

UNO kept its season alive with a 4-3 win over Stephen F Austin in 10 innings at the Southland Tournament in Sugar Land, Texas. Darren Willis two-out seeing-eye single drove home Hezekiah Randolph with the winning run. The Privateers play again tomorrow morning at 9 AM. They’ll face the loser of this afternoon’s Southeastern Louisiana—Sam Houston State matchup. Also tonight. top-seeded McNeese takes on Central Arkansas.

Tulane was eliminated from the American Athletic Conference as the Green Wave fell to UCF 8-3. Tulane’s season ends with a 27-31 record.

And the Ragin Cajuns begin play tomorrow in the rain-delayed Sun Belt Tournament. UL Lafayette will face Georgia Southern in what has been turned into a single-elimination tournament.

LSU will kick off the 2017 season 100 days from now and it was announced today that the Tigers season opener against BYU in Houston will kick-off at 8:30 central time and it will be shown on ESPN.

With two weeks to go before the end of the legislative session, still not much movement towards addressing the one-billion dollar budget gap that will hit the state in July 2018 when one-point-three billion dollars in temporary taxes expire. Governor Edwards and legislative leaders say a another special session is likely at this point.

The family of Alton Sterling is demanding the immediate termination of the cops involved in his shooting death. Michelle Southern reports….
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

NOAA is calling for an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season as their forecasters predict 11 to 17 named storms, five to nine hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes. Acting administrator Ben Friedman says we can’t prevent hurricanes, but we can prepare…
cut 8 (12) “…be prepared”
Hurricane season begins a week from today.

A state judge has ruled Ronald Gasser’s arrest in a similar road rage incident can be admitted in his trial on the shooting death of former-NFL player Joe McKnight. Legal analyst Tim Meche says like most states, Louisiana allows prior incidents of a similar nature into evidence if it is relevant. But he says in this case:
Cut 3 (11) “incident”
A trial date has not yet been set in the McKnight murder case.