Today is Martin Luther King Jr Day, and Wallet Hub has issued a report on race relations which indicates Louisiana is among the top 10 for making the most progress. We’re among a handful of other southern states in WalletHub’s rankings of racial progress, and spokeswoman Jill Gonzales says there is a bit of the “nowhere to go but up” factor at play…:
Cut 8 (09) “deep south states”
She says Louisiana’s biggest improvement areas over time were health care, education and civil engagement.

A homeowner in Slidell shot and killed a man early Monday morning, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. The resident told investigators that he was confronted by a subject acting erratically in the front yard of his residence; so he fatally shot the man. No arrests have been made. Sheriff Randy Smith is expected to give an update tomorrow.

A special session is likely next month so that lawmakers can decide how to deal with the state’s $313 million dollar budget shortfall. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the legislature raised nearly $2 billion in taxes last year, but it wasn’t enough to balance the budget…:
Cut 15 (12) “wants to do”
Dardenne says they plan to use money from the rainy day fund to close some of the gap, but that still leaves about another 200 million dollars in cuts.

AT-and-T Louisiana donates 150-thousand dollars to the Jobs for America’s Graduates program in Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards says JAG is a non-profit program that helps young people who face difficult challenges earning a high school diploma, going to college or getting a job. Edwards is appreciative of the donation that will help bolster the state’s workforce…
cut 11 (10) “…local level”

The personal finance website Wallet Hub has published a report on race relations which indicates Louisiana is among the top 10 for making the most progress. Spokesperson Jill Gonzales says the report measured the gaps between blacks and whites in 16 key areas that put the state at number 10…:
CUT 6 (08) “the most progress”
She says Louisiana is still struggling in areas of white/black business ownership, and average income.

State Police are looking for a vehicle that hit a trooper’s patrol car and injured the officer. Trooper Bryan Lee says the suspect sped off immediately after the wreck on Old Hammond Highway in East Baton Rouge Parish…
cut 13 (05) “….that vehicle’
The trooper suffered only minor injuries, but the search continues for a red or maroon Chevrolet HHR or Chrysler P-T Cruiser.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office says a homeowner fatally shot a man last night around midnight who was allegedly acting erratically in the front yard of his Slidell home. Deputies say the homeowner stayed on the scene and cooperating with the investigation. No arrests have been made and Sheriff Randy Smith is expected to give an update tomorrow.

A recent poll commissioned by Restore the Mississippi River Delta finds over half of Louisianans surveyed believe coastal land loss is at a crisis, while 96-percent said it needs attention. Jimmy Frederick with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana says saving the coast isn’t just about protecting coastal cities. He says it’s important for the entire state…:
Cut 3 (09) “other things”
Frederick says 2017 is a critical year for the coast as lawmakers will be asked to approve a revised coastal master plan.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating a fatal shooting by a homeowner who says they shot a man who was acting erratically in the front yard of their home. No arrests have been made at this time, but detectives are still gathering evidence. Sheriff Randy Smith is expected to have more to say tomorrow.

A poll of 500 likely Louisiana voters finds that 56-percent of them believe coastal land loss is at a crisis. Jeff Palermo has the story…
voicer 1 (27) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana’s Jobs for America’s Graduates program has received a 150-thousand dollar donation. JAG helps young people who face difficult challenges earn a high school diploma and receive a college education and empoyement. Governor John Bel Edwads says Louisiana is the largest JAG affiliate in the nation, with 115 sites…
cut 10 (10) “..graduation rate’
Last year, the program had a 76-percent job placement rate.

State Police are searching for a driver who hit and injured a trooper when his patrol car was stopped at a Baton Rouge intersection. Trooper Bryan Lee says the collision happened at about 3 p.m. yesterday when traffic was stopped on Old Hammond Hwy and the suspect immediately fled the scene.
cut 12 (10) “…from behind”
Trooper only suffered minor injuries.

State lawmakers are once again getting ready to enter a special session because the state is facing a $313 million budget deficit. Halen Doughty reports…
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

It’s is Martin Luther King Junior day. So state and local government offices are closed today. There are several M-L-K day celebrations taking place and officials urge residents to do volunteer work in honor of the civil rights leader, who would be 88 years-old today.

State Representative Jack Montoucet begins his role today as the state’s new Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary. Montoucet has been the owner of an alligator farm in Acadiana for 30 years. Montoucet says alligators were on the endangered species list years ago but through the work of LDWF, the population has grown substantially. He looks forward to expanding other similar programs…
cut 5 (10) “…other aspects”

According to guidelines recently established, parents of children up to age 5 should limit their child’s screen time to one hour per tday. Ochsner Health Center Zachary Pediatrician, Doctory Myrian Ortiz, says while it is esseential to limit a child’s media time, technology isn’t entireley bad either…
cut 9 (09) “….the internet”

State legislators will likely be called into a special session next month to deal with a budget deficit. The Revenue Estimating Conference has determined the midyear shortfall is around 313-million dollars. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says legislative input will be needed to address a budget gap of that magnitude…:
Cut 3 (04) “as possible”
Governor Edwards can make cuts to the budget, but state law only allows in certain areas.

Meanwhile Edwards is headed to Italy where the topic will be the human trafficking epidemic. He’ll be joined by State. Police Colonel Mike Edmonson and a couple of lawmakers and they’ll meet with nuns who want to open a shelter for victims of sex trade…:
CUT 7 (10) “human trafficking”
The governor hopes to meet with the pope on Wednesday and he says he’s paying his own way, but taxpayer dollars will pay for his security.

LSU’s leading receiver this past season Malachi Dupre has decided to enter the NFL draft. Dupre struggled early on during the 2016 campaign and finished with 41 catches for 593 yards and three touchdowns. NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier believes he’ll be selected in either the second or third round. Dupre is the fourth Tiger to turn pro early.

Racing continues at the New Orleans Fair Grounds, even though the entire track is under a quarantine in an effort to stop the spread of an equine herpes virus. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says horses in barns not exposed can keep racing, while exposed horses under quarantine are monitored for at least two weeks…
cut 11 (04) “…with these horses”
A two-year-old thoroughbred gelding was humanely eutanized right after Christmas, because of the virus.

And be careful on the roadways especially in south Louisiana where a dense fog adivsory is in effect until nine am Saturday.

It’s expected Governor John Bel Edwards will call a special session to address a budget shortfall that’s been projected to be at 313-million dollars. Edwards says a special session is needed to avoid major cuts to health care and higher education. We asked House Speaker Taylor Barras if there was an appeitte to raise taxes again to address the shortfall…
cut 5 (06) “…the gaps”
The special session is expected to take place next month.

State Senator Troy Brown of Ascension Parish said today that he will not resign even though he was convicted for a second time this week on a domestic abuse charge. There has been talk among senators to seek Brown’s expulsion from the upper camber. But in Brown’s statement, he believes that would be an excessive punishment and that only eight states have ever expelled a senator.

Governor John Bel Edwards travels to Rome to discuss ways to combat human trafficking with the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Thousands of long-distance runners are in Baton Rouge this weekend for the Louisiana Marathon….
cut 15 (07) “…our race”
That’s the marathon’s marketing director Danny Bourgeois, who says the Louisiana Marathon begins Sunday at 7 AM near the State Capitol. There’s a 5 K race and a marathon for kids tomorrow.