Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in seven parishes as a result of Tuesday’s severe weather outbreak. Halen Doughty reports.

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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About two-thousand students rallied at the state capitol today to protest cuts to higher education. Michelle Southern reports…:

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State Police is investigating a deadly shooting in Baton Rouge involving several deputies with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. Troop A spokesman Bryan Lee says detectives were responding to a report of a domestic disturbance indicating a man had attacked two women with mace..:

CUT 3 (08)  “that subject”

Lee says witnesses reported that the subject, identified as 48-year-old Travis Stevenson, was threatening to kill himself all day. He says cops eventually caught up with him…:

CUT 4 (06)  “killing that subject”

Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said it’s possible Stevenson was trying to commit suicide by cop when he rammed them with his vehicle. The DA’s office will conduct an independent investigation. Lee says troopers were asked to investigate, as is typical protocol with officer involved shootings…:

CUT 5 (06)  “that fired”

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Cleanup is underway in several south Louisiana parishes today after as many as seven suspected tornadoes touched down during a powerful storm system that roared through the state yesterday. St. James spokesperson Brandon Keller says two people were killed when one of twisters leveled an RV park in Convent….

CUT 6 (09) “or destroyed”

Keller says 30 people were injured, seven of them are in critical condition. Keller asks that people avoid the immediate area around the park to keep the roads open for emergency vehicles and cleanup crews. He says there are ways people can get involved to help.

CUT 7 (06) “can help”

Assumption Parish was also hit hard by a tornado. John Boudreaux, director of the Assumption office of emergency preparedness, says there’s extensive damage and power outages. Power lines are still down, but power should be restored for most residents by the end of the day. He says a water tower on LA-1 also collapsed.

CUT 8 (07) “in the line”

Boudreaux says the cleanup process after this storm is similar to the procedure after a hurricane. He says crews from the state will assess the damage from the storm.

CUT 9 (10) “to the state”  

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The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would cut 117 million dollars from this fiscal year’s budget, which is 87 million dollars more than what Governor John Bel Edwards recommended. Chairman Cameron Henry of Jefferson Parish says there is bi-partisan support to go above and beyond what the governor has called for in budget cuts.

cut 10 (07)  “this time”

K-12^th grade public school education would receive a 44 million dollar cut as part of Henry’s plan to reduce government expenses. Governor Edwards has said he opposes any cuts to public schools. Democratic Representative Walt Leger of New Orleans also objects…

Cut 11 (08) “unhappy”

Baton Rouge Representative Pat Smith says she’s also concerned with proposed cuts to K-12 public education. She also doesn’t support Henry’s proposal to cut from Veterans Military Services…

cut 12 (11) “this bill”

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Governor John Bel Edwards spoke at a rally on the steps of the state capitol today in which about two-thousand students attended to protest proposed cuts to higher education. Edwards told the group he’s always stood with the students and he stands with them now…:

cut 13 (11)  “education”

Higher education could be on the chopping block in light of a massive budget deficit. Edwards said to the students they all have to work together to make their voices heard, because that’s the way things will get done:

cut 14 (11)  “cheering”

The Council of Student Body Presidents and the Board of Regents organized today’s rally. UNO Student Government Vice President Jessica Willis told the students from colleges and universities throughout the state that this effort is about working together as a group…:

cut 15 (10) “state of Louisiana” 

The Louisiana Public Service Commission votes on if Cleco will be sold to an investment group for close to 5 billion dollars today. Emelie Gunn has more…

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Over a third of Louisiana adults do not get the recommended 7 or more hours of sleep, according to a new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Halen Doughty reports…

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 It’s higher education day at the state capitol, and students are expected to rally on the steps of the capitol. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Today the Louisiana Public Service Commission votes on whether or not Cleco will be sold to the investment group Macquaire Infrastructure and Real Assets for almost 5 billion dollars. Cleco spokesperson Robbyn Cooper says approval of the sale would be the best outcome for their customers. Cooper says despite rumors, it won’t lead to higher rates for customers…

cut 4  (10)  “transaction”

The proposed sale is opposed by PSC member Clyde Holloway who says its not worth the long-term risk to Cleco ratepayers. But Cooper says the sale will result in 143 million dollars in credits and savings over the next 15 years to its customers…

Cut 5  (07)  “in place”

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St. James Sheriff Wily Martin says two people were killed and 30 people were injured after a tornado ripped through an RV park in Convent. The governor’s office of homeland security and emergency prepardeness spokesperson, Mike Steele, says the twister caused extensive damage

Cut 6 (10)  “heavy damage” 

Sheriff Martin says search dogs were used to find possible victims that might have been buried under piles of debris. Steele says the RV park served as a temporary home for those living there…

CUT 7 (11)  “construction sites”

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A new study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that over a third of Louisiana adults do not get the recommended 7 hours of sleep. LSU Health Shreveport Sleep Medicine and Neurology professor Oleg Chernyshev (ah-Leg CHER-nuh-shev) says reasons vary on why people don’t get enough sleep. He says many people that only get a few hours of sleep also suffer from high blood pressure and obesity, plus they…

Cut 8  (10)  “and fatigued”

Chernyshev says if you notice issues sleeping such as snoring, difficulty staying asleep, or a decrease in breathing while asleep, you should contact a sleep medicine physician He says the study shows only 64% of Louisiana residents are getting the recommended hours of sleep each night…

Cut 9 (08)  “healthy adult”

Chernyshev says individuals who do not get enough sleep sometimes have trouble functioning in the daytime and that could lead to significant consequences.

Cut 10 (04) “car accident”

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The public feud between Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards and Republican state Treasurer John Kennedy continues to ramp up. The Governor released a statement claiming Kennedy is misleading the public when talking about the state’s current budget crisis. UL-Lafayette Police Science Professor Pearson Cross says polls show a majority of Louisianans agree with Kennedy that we can cut our way out of the deficit.

cut 11 (10) “as well”

 Kennedy has pushed for the legislature not to raise taxes as a way to solve a 900 million dollar deficit for this fiscal year. While Edwards has maintained some new revenues are needed to balance the budget. Cross says this kind of fighting between political leaders isn’t helping the situation…

cut 12 (05) “budget problems”

The governor and the legislature are still trying to agree on a plan to close the budget deficit and avoid major cuts to higher education and health care. Cross says it’s not clear that Kennedy’s comments are helping them get their work done.

Cut 13 (06)  “the process”

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Today is higher education day at the state capitol. Hundreds of students are expected to rally on the steps of the capitol at noon to protest proposed cuts to public colleges and universities. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo is glad that college students are voicing their concerns.

Cut 14 (09)  “of the cuts” 

Several public colleges are also facing the threat of a credit rating downgrade. A lower credit rating will make it more difficult for schools to borrow money. Rallo says that is due in large part to the current budget crisis.

Cut 15 (08) “these issues” 

Under a best case scenario, public colleges and universities are facing a 70-million dollar cut this fiscal year. Rallo says budget issues have plagued higher ed for years and is hopeful lawmakers and the governor’s office can agree on a plan that doesn’t lead to a further reduction in state funding…

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Lawmakers are discussing letting voters decide whether or not Louisiana should legalize recreational marijuana so the state could tax it. Michelle Southern reports…:

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Over 30 different bills that would increase taxes on Louisiana residents and businesses advanced out of a House committee today. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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State lawmakers are discussing behind closed doors whether to file a proposed constitutional amendment in the special session that would ask voters should Louisiana legalize recreational marijuana so the state could tax it. Jesse McCormick is the head of the Louisiana Cannabis Association…

CUT 3 (10)  “regulate cannabis”

McCormick says they argue that these discussions need to be had as the state deals with such a major budget crisis that schools could be closed or lights turned off at hospitals…:

CUT 4 (07)  “benefiting from”

McCormick says some feel this is not the time to be getting into the marijuana debate, but he knows there is support from lawmakers who are open to considering every revenue raising option. But he believes getting such a constitutional amendment out of the legislature will be tough…:

CUT 5 (10)  “on the ballot”

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The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for south central and southeast Louisiana until five o’ clock today. A large cluster of storms is moving through southeast Louisiana.  Andrew Ansorge with the National Weather Service in Slidell says these strong thunderstorms are also producing lightning and some hail…

CUT 6 (06) “60 miles per hour”

A wind advisory remains in effect until 3pm Wednesday. Ansorge says people should expect rain and thunderstorms, among other risk factors.

CUT 7 (07) “moves through”

A moderate risk indicates intense, widespread storms are possible. Ansorge says it is rare to have the Storm Prediction Center issue a moderate risk for severe weather in Louisiana.

CUT 8 (05) “southeast Louisiana”

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A report out of Tulane University finds that students in Louisiana’s voucher program end up scoring drastically lower in math. But President of the Louisiana Federation for Children Ann Duplessis says we have to put the study into context because all of these students were attending failing and under-performing schools…

CUT 9 (10) “take time”  

Duplessis says the trends in the study show that the program is effective given the growth and the length of time the child spends using the voucher. She says reports like this show the program where it needs to improve…

cut 10 (10)  “ultimate goal”

Co-author of the study Jonathan Mills says after one year in the program, they found a large negative drop in both English and language arts and math scores on the Louisiana State assessment test…

Cut 11 (09) “effects”

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The House Ways and Means Committee sent several tax bills to the House floor today. But the panel used a procedural move to advance the tax hikes without having to vote “yes or “no.” Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack says the committee basically punted these revenue-generating pieces of legislation to the House floor

cut 12 (10) “these bills”

The full House is expected to vote on Thursday whether or not to increase taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, telephones, rental cars and there’s proposal to raise the state sales tax by a penny. Waguespack hopes the rest of the House is up to speed on these different tax proposals…

cut 13 (11)  “can get”

Governor John Bel Edwards is pushing lawmakers to approve some of these tax increases as a way to balance this fiscal year’s budget, which has a 900-million dollar deficit. Many republicans oppose the tax hikes, but Jan Moller, director of the Louisiana budget project, says there are other republican legislators who understand the need for them

cut 14 (08)  “those cuts”

Moller expects a fierce debate on the House floor over these tax bills as it will take 70 votes for them to advance to the senate…

cut 15 (08) “still ahead” 

Oil prices will not rebound this year, according to experts at the International Energy Agency. Halen Doughty reports…

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A House committee approves several bills aimed at reducing the number of state government contracts. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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A man who cops say was acting strange at a movie theater in Lafayette was issued a summons for disturbing the peace. Corporal Paul Mouton says during the film Deadpool, witnesses reported seeing 35-year-old Christopher Harmason of New Iberia walking up and down the aisles…:

CUT 3 (09)  “uncomfortable”

Mouton says that Harmason ended up going outside where he continued to act in an erratic manner. He says it doesn’t appear as though the man was an actual threat to anyone…:

CUT 4 (09)  “within the complex”

Lafayette was rocked last year when a man opened fire on a theater full of people, killing two and injuring 10 before turning the gun on himself. Mouton says Harmason got a misdemeanor summons and was told not to come back to the theater. He says they commend the citizens that were in the theater who brought it to the attention of the manager who contacted police…:

CUT 5 (09)  “and hope for the best”

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According to experts at the International Energy Agency, oil prices will not rebound until next year. David Dismukes, Executive Director at the LSU Center for Energy Studies, says this is disappointing news to the oil industry, after hearing reports about a production freeze in the Middle East. But Dismukes doesn’t see a cutback in production by oil producing countries…

CUT 6 (10) “lower prices”

Oil prices have plummeted 70% in the last two years, leading to layoffs in the oil industry and supporting businesses. Dismukes says oil companies have done what they can to avoid further job cuts…

CUT 7 (10) “financing mechanisms”

Dismukes says oil companies may have to look at asset sales to generate cash and explore measures for bankruptcy protection. The low oil prices have led to the lowest gas prices we’ve seen in over a decade as the statewide average is a $1.55, according AAA. He says although drivers are enjoying lower gas prices, it is not good for the economy…

CUT 8 (06) “right now”

Today the price of US oil is trading around $30 a barrel.

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More groups are coming forward expressing anger over the latest viral Crimestoppers video by Captain Clay Higgins with the Sheriff’s Office in St. Landry. The so called, “Cajun John Wayne” is coming under fire for some of the terminology he used to refer to the Gremlins Gang suspects. National Action Now President Rev. Raymond Brown says the video is racially tainted:

CUT 9 (08)  “their peers”

Indictments were issued against the wanted suspects said to be involved in crimes like murder, drug trafficking, armed robbery and more. But Brown feels Higgins’ video is a smack in the face to our criminal justice system. He says it sets a poor example to call people ugly names…:

cut 10 (10)  “maximum force”

The ACLU of Louisiana also said that Higgins implies using the force of summary execution which is not the way we work in this country. St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says Acadiana is dealing with this gang that’s been terrorizing the area for a long time. He says they may have veered off point, but the message is pretty simple…:

Cut 11 (09) “watch for ya”

Higgins rose to national fame with the videos which don’t hold back the way he personally feels about people who commit crimes. Guidroz says Higgins’ intentions are good, but he has been asked to refrain from being critical moving forward…:

cut 12 (07) “not saying”

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The House Appropriations Committee approved a series of bills today aimed at reducing or cutting down on number of state contracts, which supporters say will save the state some much needed dollars. Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy says there are dozens if not hundreds of contracts that the state spends money on that are NOT needed

cut 13 (06)  “you throw up”

Some of the examples Kennedy named… contracts for tutoring students and providing adult education to prisoners. He says there’s a 29-million dollar contract to help the state build a website for food stamp recipients. Kennedy says the governor should bring in his cabinet secretaries today and demand they cut at least 10-percent of their contracts

cut 14 (10)  “into place”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says an examination of state contracts is underway and they plan to eliminate some of them in the coming weeks as part of their cost cutting plan

cut 15 (10) “do something”