Louisiana’s high school graduation rate has reached an all-time high. Don Molino reports…:

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Don Molino”

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Officials in St. Tammany announce the start of a program that would let drug addicts turn in their drugs to police and get help instead of being arrested. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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South Louisiana is under flash flood watch until seven o’ clock tonight. State Climatologist Barry Keim says much of the state is already water logged after severe storms dumped several inches of rain along the I-10 corridor…

CUT 3 (08)  “been hammered”

Keim says the heavy rainfall is the result of a slow moving cold front that could produce in excess of three inches of rain in isolated areas…

CUT 4 (09)  “that in use”

Keim says the heavy rainfall is expected to move out of the state tomorrow, but until then, we have another afternoon where the umbrella will be needed…

CUT 5 (08)  “g0 away”

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Cleco utility customers can expect a $475 credit on their bills beginning in July, as a result of the Pineville-based company’s sale to foreign investors. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says the Louisiana Public Service Commission created this credit as a part of their transaction.

CUT 6 (06) “from Cleco”

Cahill says the credit will be applied until it runs out, meaning some customers will not have to pay a utility bill for a couple of months.

CUT 7 (09) “fifth month”

Cahill says the deal, which closed on April 13, will benefit both residents and businesses.

CUT 8 (03) “customers”

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Louisiana’s high school graduation rate is at an all-time high, as 78-percent of the Class of 2015 received their diplomas. State Education Superintendent John White, says that’s almost a 3-percent increase over the previous year, which is the second largest annual gain in 10 years. He believes more students are graduating, because educators raised the bar.

CUT 9 (09) “high expectation”

White says this achievement continues a trend since 2012 when BESE implemented policy changes that includes the start of the Jump Start program which prepares students for technical careers and the expansion of the Advanced Placement program. He says this graduating class also participated in education classes prior to kindergarten.

cut 10 (07)  “LA 4”

White says Louisiana is also the most improved state in the country on ACT test scores, and the second most improved in the number of graduates achieving an Advanced Placement college credit. Louisiana still lags behind the national graduation rate which was 82-percent in 2014. But White says the state’s graduation rate is rising faster than the nation’s.

Cut 11 (06) “significant gains”

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Officials in St. Tammany Parish announced today the beginning of “Operation Angel” – a program whereby a person addicted to drugs can walk into a police station and ask for help instead of being charged with a crime. Covington Police Chief Tim Lentz says it’s time law enforcement changes the way they do business…:

cut 12 (08) “not a crime”

Lentz says this program would provide addicts with the help they need, without fear of being arrested. He says chemically dependent people would need to surrender any drugs they have, then they’ll be escorted by an “angel” to walk them through the recovery process at Giving Hope Retreat in Lacombe…:

Cut 13 (07)  “a week”

Agencies participating include the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Slidell Police, Mandeville Police, Madisonville Police, Folsom Police and Pearl River Police. Lentz says the only requirement is that an addict must want to change their life. He encourages those suffering from addiction in St. Tammany Parish communities to go to your police department of sheriff’s office, and ask for help…:

cut 14 (10)  “in jail”

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is traveling the state to highlight different areas in Louisiana. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Today ULM students, alumni, and faculty are gathering on campus to email their state legislators about their concerns for the future of higher ed. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Governor Edwards is calling on a special task force for a list of ideas on how the state should handle a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Lt. Governor Bill Nungesser is touring the state to promote tourism as part of National Tourism Week. Nungesser says he’ll be in in West Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and St. Francisville today and then head to the northern part of the state later in the week. He says he just returned from a week-long trip to Canada.

cut 4  (09)  “Cajun music”

Nungesser will be traveling around the state in a van that’s wrapped with the state’s tourism marketing campaign. He says in 2015 nearly 29-million people visited the state, which was a record, but…

Cut 5  (10)  “hit parishes”

Nungesser says with the oil industry down and recent budget cuts, Louisiana needs as much tax revenue from tourists as possible. He says that’s why it’s important for him to visit historic sites, visitor centers and local tourism officials this week.

Cut 6 (08)  “our people”

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ULM students are gathering on campus today to collectively voice their concerns for the future of higher education. Katherine Dawson, Online Program Coordinator for ULM, says students, faculty, alumni, and others will all email their state legislators between 11:45 am and 12:15 pm at an event called Mission: Maroon.

CUT 7 (11)  “our voice” 

The governor’s proposed budget calls for a 183-million dollar cut to TOPS and higher education would receive a six-percent cut in state funding. Dawson says the purpose is not to gripe at lawmakers but to speak up and be heard. She says unfortunately, one email from one person may not make much of a difference, but she hopes that hundreds of emails will.

Cut 8  (10)  “an impact” 

Dawson says they are encouraging people who cannot be on campus for this event to participate from home by emailing their legislators and posting photos wearing maroon to social media using their hashtags.

Cut 9 (07)  “maroon”

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The LSU AgCenter has developed an eye-drop to prevent and treat cataracts. AgCenter Department of Biological and Agriculture Engineering Professor Cristina Sabliov says they became interested in developing a solution because cataracts are the leading cause of visual impairment in the United States. She says they found a way to use lutein to prevent the eye lens from becoming cloudy.

Cut 10 (07) “the eye”

Sabliov says lutein is currently prescribed as an oral treatment for cataracts and eye diseases, but she says LSU AgCenter researchers have developed a solution to drop it directly into your eyes.

cut 11 (09) “the eye”

 The AgCenter is working to patent the drop. Sabliov says they hope this new product will have the unique advantage for both being able to prevent cataracts before they start or to treat cataracts after they form.

cut 12 (08) “daily”

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Governor John Bel Edwards wants a list of budget reform recommendations in two weeks from a special task force. Some of the proposals will likely be presented to lawmakers during a special session in June to address a 600-million dollar shortfall.  Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin is on the task force and says lawmakers have already raised the state sales tax, so they are left with limited options to address the budget gap….

Cut 13 (10)  “you have”

Erwin says it’s key that any revenue raising measure that could be passed in a second special session doesn’t further hurt the state economy.

cut 14 (06)  “a structure”

Raising more revenue could help reduce cuts to vital state services. Erwin says they will be looking at corporate and personal income taxes to see if enough revenue can be raised by removing some exemptions and deductions.

Cut 15 (06) “bottom line”

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One of the Saints draft picks had a very interesting route to the NFL. Fourth round pick, defensive tackle David Onyemata, grew up in Nigeria and played college football at the University of Manitoba in Canada. New Orleans traded up to select the six-foot-four, 300-pounder and General Manager Mickey Loomis is glad they did…

Cut 16  (20)  “from him”

Loomis says while most football fans never heard of Onyemata, there were several clubs interested in Onyemata’s potential…

Cut 17 (20) “case at all

The Saints last selection was California running back Daniel Lasco, who New Orleans drafted in the 7th round. Loomis believes Lasco’s primary role will be on special teams…

Cut 18 (18) “as a running back”

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Officials with the USDA are investigating the series of recent deaths at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office arrests two people in connection with the double homicide investigation in a small Louisiana town. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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State Police announces the arrest of a Lafayette man who was allegedly traveling 150 miles per hour before crashing his 2016 Chevrolet Corvette and killing one person. Trooper Brooks David says 31-year-old Martin Nguyen was at the wheel when his vehicle ran off the road on April 18^th on LA Highway 339 and it killed 30-year-old Hoang Nguyen of Lake Charles.

CUT 3 (05)  “that crash”

David says Martin Nguyen’s blood alcohol concentration was over the legal limit when the crash occurred.

CUT 4 (11)  “miles an hour”

David says Martin Nguyen was in the hospital being treated for injuries after the accident, but he has now been arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, speeding, reckless operation, and improper lane usage.

CUT 5 (09)  “Nguyen”

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Investigators from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are looking into the number of animal deaths that have recently occurred at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Curator Sam Winslow says they asked for the USDA and the American Zoo Association to send in officials to assess the situation after 18 animals have died in the last year…

CUT 6 (10) “our procedures”

Winslow says the 2-year-old Malayan tiger that died earlier in the month likely suffered from gastric dilation. He says her death was something you unfortunately can’t do anything about.

CUT 7 (09) “30 minutes”

Two giraffes also recently died at the zoo. Winslow says they were 24 and 30-years-old. He says the normal life expectancy for a giraffe is about 13 years.

CUT 8 (07) “certainly”

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Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany introduces legislation that he believes will help lead to better detection of tornadoes in south Louisiana. Boustany’s bill would require a Doppler weather radar site to be built near Baton Rouge. The US Representative says last February’s tornado outbreak inspired him to author of this federal legislation…

CUT 9 (10) “property damage”

There are detection sites near Slidell and Lake Charles, but none near Baton Rouge. Boustany says a new site will close the gap in radar coverage in Louisiana. He says he is looking into how much the radar site will cost, but he wanted to get the legislation introduced first.

cut 10 (08) “property damage”

There are also Doppler radars near Fort Polk and Shreveport. Boustany says a new radar detection site will ensure that Louisiana is better covered by weather radar to give citizens as much warning as possible to seek shelter or evacuate.

Cut 11 (09) “unacceptable”

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A Grand Isle man has been arrested for attempting to purchase a child for sexual purposes. That’s according to State Police trooper Jesse Lagrange who says 30-year-old Wade Perkins asked someone to locate a 6 to 8-year-old child so Perkins could pay for a sexual encounter. Lagrange says that person then contacted police.

cut 12 (09) “a meeting”

Lagrange says when Perkins met up with an undercover trooper, he was arrested for attempt and conspiracy to commit first-degree rape. Perkins is a registered sex offender in Michigan for criminal sexual conduct. Lagrange says they expect to file more charges against Perkins.

Cut 13 (07)  “like that”

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A Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Deputy left his job with the Medium-Security Facility to play professional minor league baseball after discovering he can throw a 91 mile-per-hour-fast ball. 26-year-old Randy Zeigler was a pitcher for LSU and caught the eye of a Chicago White Sox scout. Zeigler says he’ll be playing for the Lincoln Nebraska Saltdogs.

cut 14 (10)  “his purpose”

Zeigler says he was just messing around with a radar gun, when he discovered he was throwing at the same speed he was three years ago. He says he’s excited to play baseball, but he’ll miss being a deputy in his hometown.

cut 15 (10) “up in”

Lt. Billy Jones says he’s sad to lose such a dedicated employee, but is excited for Zeigler to do what he’s always had a passion for.

cut 16 (08) “his dream”