Hollywood South has taken a major hit over the past year since the legislature passed a measure that puts a cap on Louisiana’s film tax incentives. That’s according to Celtic Media Centre Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn. He says what’s scaring films away is the manner in which lawmakers capped the movie credits…
cut 6 (10) “…somewhere else”
Mulhearn says film executives are choosing to spend their money in states & nations where they know for sure obligations will be honored. He says the biggest film union in Louisiana reports that only 37% of their members are employed right now…
cut 7 (05) “…out of work”
Those who support the film industry tax program cap say the tax credits were costing the state more than what its worth.

A proposed bill would establish the process by which pharmacies go about selling medical marijuana, including a 5-thousand dollar application fee. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 5 (29) “….I’m Halen Doughty”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne went before the Senate finance committee and heard this question…
cut 30 (02) “….real”
Jonesboro Senator Jim Fanin wanted to know if the state has really found 40-million dollars worth of savings in the department of health and hospitals budget. Dardenne says the numbers are real. The 40-million in savings is part of the 70-million dollars cut from this fiscal year’s budget.

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is threatening a lawsuit involving Louisiana’s Presidential Primary. Trump is upset he won the primary here, but could get less delegates than opponent Ted Cruz. State GOP executive director Jason Dore says Trump & Cruz each have 18 delegates, but there are 10 delegates still uncommitted, which could result in Cruz winning the delegate vote…:
CUT 5 (07) “final decision”
Dore says they’ve followed the rules when it comes to allocating the delegates.

30 parishes in Louisiana are now eligible for federal aid. One of those parishes is Rapides and their homeland security director Sonya Wiley-Gremillion says things are so bad in some areas, many flood victims still have yet to begin the clean-up process…:
Cut 11 (09) “extremely difficult”
Hollywood South has taken a major hit over the past year since the legislature passed a measure that puts a cap on Louisiana’s film tax incentives. That’s according to Celtic Media Centre Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn. He would like to see lawmakers consider proposals that cap the number of credits issued, not the number of credits the state will honor…:
CUT 8 (08) “issuance cap”
He says the biggest film union in Louisiana reports that only 37% of their members are employed right now.

A fourth person has died in an ATV accident at Muddy Bottoms Park since it oppened nearly two years ago. Webster Parish Sheriff chief deputy Bobby Igo says the latest victim is 40-year-old Alissa Wiley of Dry Prong…
cut 14 (09) “…ultimate consquences”
Igo says no charges have been filed a this time. Muddy Bottoms issued a statement saying they cooperating with law enforcement and their hearts and prayer’s go out to the victim’s family.

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has tweeted out that a lawsuit is coming over the possibility he could receive fewer delegates from Louisiana than Senator Ted Cruz, even though Trump won the Louisiana Presidential Primary. State republican party executive director Jason Dore says they’ve followed the rules when it comes to allocating the delegates…
cut 3 (08) “…40-percent of the delegates”
Dore says at issue is what will happen with the five delegates awarded to Senator Marco Rubio, who has since dropped out of the race and five other delegates that have been unallocated since the primary.

Another person has died at the Muddy Bottoms ATV and Recreation Park in Webster Parish. Authorities say a woman was killed when one ATV collided with another one. It’s the fourth fatal accident at the park since May 2014.

Cleco goes before the Public Service Commission again this afternoon, seeking to get their approval on a proposed deal that would result in the Pineville-based utility company being sold to a foreign investment group. PSC Chairman Clyde Holloway has been a major opponent of the sale…
cut 6 (10) “…with money”
Cleco says if the sale goes through, customers would receive 100-million dollars in immediate rate relief.

There’s legislation moving through the legislature that would require pharmacies interested in selling medical marijuana to pay five-thousand dollars for an application fee. Ville Platte representative and pharmacist Harvey Lebas says federal law also prohibits the sale of medical marijuana in the same facility where other prescriptions are sold…
cut 10 (07) “….medical marijuana”
It’s unclear when medical marijuana will be available.

There’s another election coming up and early voting for the April election begins Saturday morning. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (27)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s concerned about the the future of  TOPS. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Many Louisiana residents probably do not know this, but there is an coming up. And early voting for the April 9th Municipal Election begins Saturday morning. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says there are 41 parishes statewide holding elections…:

CUT 3 (07)  “g-e-a-u-x”

The early voting period runs through Saturday April 2nd, but polls are closed Easter Sunday. Schedler says items on the ballot include local tax renewals, or runoffs if there were municipal elections in March to fill city council or mayoral seats…:

CUT 4 (11)  “April”

Schedler says there was a 30 percent turnout in the March Presidential primary, and this ballot will not generate as much buzz, but people still need to know it’s important to vote…:

CUT 5 (10)  “than 30%”

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The Louisiana Attorney General’s office is warning flood victims or those donating to charities that there are fraudulent people looking to make a quick buck. Spokesperson Ruth Wisher says educate yourself before you donate to a charity or hire a contractor.  She says never donate to a charity that asks for cash or wire transfers and doesn’t provide proof your contribution is tax deductible.

CUT 6 (10) “.com”

Wisher says they’re encouraging flood victims looking for home repair to get at least itemized, detailed bids from licensed contractors. She says if they are unlicensed that should be viewed as a red flag.

CUT 7 (10) “never hurt”

Wisher says FEMA will never call asking for financial account information and they always carry identification badges. She says don’t hesitate to call the Attorney General’s Office to ensure a contractor or charity is legitimate.

CUT 8 (10) “double check”

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A few years ago, Louisiana was ranked in the top ten nationally in tuberculosis rates, but the state Department of Health and Hospitals announces Louisiana’s case rate has fallen 43-percent since 2010.  DHH Tuberculosis controller Michael Lacassagne says the potentially fatal bacterial infections can be both prevented and cured with proper treatment and the state has taken steps to do that

CUT 9 (07) “for us”

Lacassagne attributes the decrease to a new blood testing procedure to improve the diagnosis and a new therapy to prevent the progression of the tuberculosis. He says to keep the number down, they focus on high risk populations, like those with HIV or born outside of the country…

cut 10 (10)  “that group”

Lacassagne says Louisiana is the first state to adopt a statewide blood test for the detection of tuberculosis.

Cut 11 (09) “of cases”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says changes to the TOPS scholarship program as we know it are likely coming, because of a 750-million dollar shortfall for next fiscal year’s budget. Edwards says because lawmakers are not able to raise additional revenues in this regular session, some tough cuts are needed…

cut 12 (09) “of those”

Edwards says the cost of the TOPS scholarship program is 300-million dollars this fiscal year and the price tag is expected to rise as colleges and universities hike tuition costs. The governor says in these tough budget times, many government services and programs will unfortunately suffer…

Cut 13 (07)  “at risk”

If no legislation comes out of this session that changes the TOPS program, Edwards says there are policies already in place spelling out who would  receive the scholarship, if the state can’t afford the program under the current eligibility requirements…

cut 14 (12)  “financial need”

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To close a budget deficit for this fiscal year, Governor John Bel Edwards has announced a 70-million dollar reduction in state funds for the state department of health and hospitals. Edwards says 40-million of that is lower than projected Medicaid expenditures and efficiencies his administration put in place when he took office…
cut 7 (11) “…to our people”
Colleges and universities avoided the budget ax for at least the next three months.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff deputies are still trying to determine why 73-year-old John Thomas of Kenner fatally shot a 75-year-old urologist while he was treating a patient near the East Jefferson General Hospital. Authorities say Thomas took his own life at a nearby fast food restaurant. Thomas did not have a prior criminal history.

Because of the flooding, hundreds of Louisiana residents will spend this Easter weekend out of their homes. Mike Steele, with the governor’s office of homeland security and emergency preparedness, says if the water has gone down, you don’t have to wait on a FEMA inspector to begin repairs…
cut 30 (10) “…assessment teams”
Steele also advises people to document and take pictures of damage to their homes.

Louisiana may have to relinquish control of state museums over to local agencies due to money concerns. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says his budget has taken a massive hit amid the fiscal crisis….
Cut 9 (05) “proposed scenario”
Schedler says there’s legislation moving through that would allow local governments to run several musuems like the Germantown Colony Musuem in Minden and the Chennault Musuem in Monroe.