Governor John Bel Edwards says cuts to higher ed and health care are not solutions to the budget crisis. Eric Gill spoke with House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry to see what he thinks…

CUT 1 (27)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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Three Louisiana cities have been ranked in the top 10 for best places to live and work for filmmakers in 2016. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Governor John Bel Edwards released a column today saying cuts to higher ed and health care are not solutions to the budget crisis, but Republican House Appropriations Committee Chairman Cameron Henry says he’s more interested in where they can make cuts before raising taxes. Henry believes legislators will look at cuts first and do what they can to reduce the size of government…

CUT 3 (06)  “than we make”

Higher education leaders say the state’s colleges and universities can’t afford any more budget cuts. Henry says nobody likes budget cuts, but unfortunately they are necessary…

CUT 4 (11)  “looking at”

He believes legislators will exhaust every measure possible to reduce the size of government before raising taxes. Henry thinks Republican lawmakers are willing to work with Governor Edwards, but they are waiting on detailed budget plans…

CUT 5 (05)  “any steps”

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The plea deal entered by former Saints star Darren Sharper in New Orleans to charges he drugged and raped women, is imploding according to a legal filing this week. Sharper pleaded guilty last year and agreed to a nine-year federal prison sentence in a so called “global deal” to resolve all allegations in multiple states. Legal Analyst Tim Meche is not surprised this isn’t working out…:

CUT 6 (10) “firmed up”

Meche says, even though a written ruling has not been issued, the new filing suggests the judge in New Orleans wouldn’t accept the deal. He says this is not good news for Sharper as he’s already admitted to being a serial rapist in multiple jurisdictions…:

CUT 7 (10) “thought he would get”

The joint motion by Sharper’s attorneys and the US Attorney asked the judge to postpone a March 7th trial date. Meche says it looks like Judge Jane Triche Milazzo isn’t committing to the prison terms which means lawyers have to start over and come up with a sentence she’ll accept while preparing for trial. He says Sharper is in a precarious situation…:

CUT 8 (09) “good for him”

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Three Louisiana cities are in the Top 10 of the best places to live and work as a moviemaker in 2016. New Orleans ranks number two, Baton Rouge comes in at number three and Shreveport-Bossier is ranked ninth. Executive Director of Louisiana’s Film Office Chris Stelly says there was concern with recent changes to film tax credit program this industry would go downhill but that’s not the case…

CUT 9 (10)  “for you”

Stelly says it’s a testament to how these cities have welcomed the film industry. He says New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport-Bossier all have great infrastructure and staging facilities to invite filming into their cities.

cut 10 (11)  “very easy”

Stelly says Louisiana is currently booming with lots of different film projects. He says we have a variety of television shows and movies being filmed in the state.

Cut 11 (09) “in Shreveport”

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation is surveying an Iberia Parish railroad crossing where five people died right before Christmas. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says gates were installed over 10 years ago and a “do not stop on tracks” sign has been installed. He says they’ll see if any additional safety features can be added at this intersection and others in Iberia Parish.

cut 12 (11) “these routes”

Mallett says it’s a tragedy when an accident with a train occurs. He reminds drivers to always look out and listen when coming close to a train track…

cut 13 (10)  “be aware”

Mallett says on average there has been one crash per year at this railroad crossing intersection for the last four years. He says their study involves observing traffic volumes, the speed of vehicles crossing the tracks and additional reports.

cut 14 (10)  “features here”

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A new report LSU Institute for Public Health and Justice report suggests that Louisiana should increase the age for adult imprisonment. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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A Melville mother and her two sons have been arrested in connection with the death of a 15-year-old Treyvon Edwards. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A new report from LSU’s Institute for Public Health and Justice suggests that Louisiana should increase the age for adult imprisonment. The study recommends that 17-year-olds should be treated as juveniles instead of adults after they are arrested. Lead author, Professor Stephen Phillippi (Philip-ee), says this study did not look at heinous and very violent crimes committed by 17-year-olds…

CUT 3 (08)  “in Louisiana”

The report suggests raising the age for adult imprisonment in routine situations. The study was compiled at the request of the state legislature. Phillipi says several states have recently put 17-year-olds back in their juvenile system with good results…

CUT 4 (07)  “a little bit”

The report discovered that 17-year-olds sent to adult prison are more likely to to commit additional crimes when they are released. Phillippi says some states actually save money by making this change…

CUT 5 (10)  “into the adult”

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New York real estate heir Robert Durst pleads guilty to a weapons charge today in New Orleans federal court. Durst was arrested at a hotel on Canal Street in March 2015 when, during a search by the FBI fearing he was about to leave the country, a .38 caliber revolver was found which is illegal for a convicted felon to possess. Legal analyst Chick Foret says, under a plea bargain, Durst will be sentenced to 85 months in federal prison…:

CUT 6 (08) “California”

The judge said he would decide whether or not to accept the plea after receiving a pre-sentencing report. Foret says a seven year, one month sentence for the 72-year-old is a substantial one. He says Wednesday in court, Durst didn’t look so good…:

CUT 7 (08) “do that”

Foret says Durst had to make a deal today because his only defense was whether or not the search of the room was valid, but a judge ruled the evidence was admissible. The millionaire’s first wife vanished in 1982 and authorities believe he killed Susan Berman to keep her quiet about what she knew. Foret believes Durst is now looking for closure…:

CUT 8 (10) “Susan Berman”

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The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Melville woman and her two sons in connection with the shooting death of 15-year-old Treyvon Edwards. Capt. Clay Higgins says a 12-year-old has been charged with Negligent Homicide and it’s believed he and Edwards were playing with a gun and it went off accidentally killing Edwards.

CUT 9 (10)  “of justice”

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office charged 33-year-old Twanda Louray Washington with Obstruction of Justice and two counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile. Higgins says they suspect the mother and other son helped to cover up the crime scene. He says there are details of the case that might never be released…

cut 10 (09)  “the woods”

Higgins says the death is hitting hard in the close knit town of Melville. He says this was a tragic unfolding of events that went from bad to worse…

Cut 11 (11) “forever”

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LSU Football Coach Les Miles and his staff has brought in one of the best recruiting classes in the country. 24-7 sports and scout-dot-com rank it in the top five. Tiger Rag editor Cody Worshman says LSU is bringing in a bunch of blue chip prospects

cut 12 (10) “four star guys”

Worsham says the strength of this class is in the secondary as the Tigers signed five talented defensive backs…

cut 13 (09)  “next year”

Worsham says the 2016 class will also provide some quality depth on the defensive line…

cut 14 (10)  “first year”

State health officials, along with the EPA, are reviewing water quality concerns in the Tensas Parish town of St. Joseph. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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The Cajun groundhog climbed out of his cottage in New Iberia today to tell us if we’ll see an early spring. Emelie Gunn has more on Pierre C. Shadeaux’s forecast…

CUT 2 (27)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Louisiana’s Cajun groundhog, Pierre C. Shadeaux, predicts an early and long spring this year. The young nutria came out of his Cajun cottage in New Iberia this morning in front of a crowd awaiting to find out his forecast. Publisher of the Daily Iberian Will Chapman led the ceremony and says since he didn’t see his shadow, we will have a longer spring and put off the extreme summer heat.

CUT 3 (09)  “temperatures”

Chapman says every February 2^nd Pierre C. Shadeaux makes his prediction at Bouligny Plaza. He says every year there is a great turnout for the event and the kids really look forward to seeing him come out of his Cajun cottage.

CUT 4 (10)  “welcome Pierre”

Pierre’s cousin, Punxsutawney Phil, made a similar prediction today in Pennsylvania calling for an early spring. Chapman says Pierre takes his job very seriously, as he has a lot of responsibility with predicting this forecast.

CUT 5 (11)  “no shadow”

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The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, along with the EPA, are looking into water quality issues in the Tensas Parish town of St. Joseph. Residents have reported brown, murky water coming from their faucets. State Health Officer, Dr. Jimmy Guidry, says the system’s source water contains a level of iron that discolors the water…

CUT 6 (08) “quite expensive”

He says the iron in the water is not a health issue. Guidry adds that the St. Joseph Water System is an older system in need of maintenance and repair. The state legislature has approved funds to work on the system. Guidry says they’re doing everything they can at the state level to move this project on as quickly as possible…

CUT 7 (05) “address it”

He says the legislature would have to make water treatment a top priority before those funds are readily available. Guidry says it could be a while before the water is cleared up…

CUT 8 (10) “treatments occur”

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The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the murder of a Melville teenager. Capt. Clay Higgins says 14-year-old Treyvon Goudeau was shot once and found dead in the woods on Friday. He says the case was originally identified as just a suspicious death but it has now turned into a homicide investigation.

CUT 9 (10)  “the field”

The coroner says Goudeau was shot once in the head. Higgins says detectives searched a Melville home this morning and interviewed a number of people but no arrests have been made at this point.

cut 10 (07)  “an arrest”

Goudeau was a student at Port Barre High School. Higgins says they can’t imagine why someone would murder this teenager. He says detectives have been working non-stop to find who is responsible…

Cut 11 (10) “a homicide”

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Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says he’s paying his executive staff nearly 400-thousand dollars less than what employees were paid under the previous administration. Dardenne says he’s decided against filling a couple of positions and will pay a few people less, because of the state’s budget problems

cut 12 (10) “to understand”

Dardenne’s annual salary is 237-thousand dollars, a 33-thousand dollar increase than his predecessor. Dardenne says that’s the salary the governor offered him and he accepted the challenge of solving Louisiana’s budget mess…

cut 13 (11)  “do that”

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Governor John Bel Edwards will answer questions tonight from public school teachers at a town hall style meeting at a Baton Rouge high school. Edwards is participating in an event sponsored by the Louisiana Association of Educators at Broadmoor High School. L-A-E President Debbie Meaux says the governor will discuss a variety of topics…

cut 14 (06)  “several others”

Meaux says they’re honored to have the new governor attend one of their events and hopes he gives insight on the fate of funding for K-12 education. She says they’ll make sure L-A-E members who cannot come are updated on what Edwards’ says….

cut 15 (10)  “access that”