Officials are watching a broad area of low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico that could affect parts of southwestern Louisiana tonight into tomorrow. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Eric Gill”

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Dozens of vehicles are trapped on a high hill at the Colfax Mudfest Park after a homemade levee gave way and water from the Red River rushed in. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

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Officials are watching a broad area of low pressure in the  Gulf of Mexico that could affect parts of western Louisiana tonight into tomorrow. Jonathan Brazzell, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says it’s very possible this system could develop into something stronger before it hits land…

CUT 3 (08)  “meeting the criteria”

Invest 91-L has a 90-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression or storm before making landfall. Brazzell says the main story with this system will not be the wind, but the rain…

CUT 4 (07)  “with this system”

Brazzell says southwest Louisiana could begin seeing rain this afternoon into tonight due to Invest 91-L. He says some areas between Lafayette and Lake Charles could see significant rainfall…

CUT 5 (11)  “to set up”

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State Police say two people have been arrested in connection with a March fatal hit and run in St. Mary Parish. 33-year-old Kista Sedotal of Jeanerette was struck twice and killed while walking along LA 182. Master Trooper Brooks David says a major clue leading to one arrest was found at the scene…

CUT 6 (10)  “pickup truck”

Investigators determined that 46-year-old Brian Timken of New Iberia drove the truck that initially struck Sedotal. Timken was arrested on hit and run and obstruction of justice charges. They also found that a car driven by 25-year-old Kayla Norris of Franklin struck Sedotal sometime after Timken. David says Norris thought she had hit an animal in the roadway…

CUT 7 (08) “and never stopped”

Norris is charged with hit and run. David says if you believe you hit something in the roadway, you should always stop…

CUT 8 (07)  “to your vehicle”

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Dozens of vehicles, ATVs and motor homes are still stranded at the Colfax Mudfest Recreational Park after a temporary levee gave way over the weekend, resulting in a considerable amount of water from the Red River entering the park area. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says thankfully a deputy there on security detail noticed the levee cracking

CUT 9 (09)  “that it broke”

Over 110 people had to be rescued when the homemade levee gave way. The Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security was contacted and coordinated air support from the National Guard. There were no injuries reported. McCAin says it was incredible to see how fast the water moved in…:

cut 10 (11) “in one piece” 

McCain says they were able to get the vehicles, including a deputy’s car, on a high hill which is now completely surrounded by water. He says one of the attendants lives seven and a half hours away…:

cut 11 (10)  “secure a road”

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Darren Sharper pleaded guilty today in an Orleans Parish courtroom to two counts of forcible rape and one count of simple rape. This was the final step in Sharper’s “global plea deal” resolving criminal charges in four states. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it appears Sharper has sealed the deal with authorities…

cut 12 (10)  “in ten years”

Sharper has admitted to raping at least nine women in Louisiana, California, Arizona, and Nevada. Under the agreement, Sharper is expected to serve 9 years in prison, with credit for good behavior and time already served. Meche says the understanding is that Sharper will serve his time at a federal prison in California…

cut 13 (12)  “much more favorable”

Many are upset about the length of Sharper’s sentence, but Meche says the criminal justice system doesn’t treat everyone equally. Meche says it appears Sharper’s lawyers used his multiple criminal acts in several different states to his advantage…

cut 14 (07) “much more harshly”

The Fighting Tigers play their worst game of the season in a 10-3 loss to TCU in the College World Series. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association President Will French believes the bill that caps the film tax program at 180-million dollars is unconstitutional. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Eric Gill”

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After viewing firsthand the flood damage caused by the Red River in northwest Louisiana, Senator Bill Cassidy will look to see what could have been done to minimize the impact. Scott Carwile has the story…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Scott Carwile”

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Higher education is appreciative lawmakers found enough funding to prevent deep budget cuts to public universities and colleges. But Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says long-term funding for colleges is still not guaranteed

cut 4  (10)  “every year”

Rallo says they will ask the next governor to put some budget reforms into place that will give higher ed leaders more assurances that they’ll have a certain amount of money available every year…

Cut 5  (08)  “is protected”

Rallo says even though higher ed avoided significant cuts this year, the amount of state funding going to colleges and universities has decreased substantially during Governor Jindal’s second term in office

Cut 6 (9)  “720-million”

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The LSU Tigers played their worst game of the season in a 10-3 loss to TCU on Sunday in the College World Series. The Bayou Bengals committed four errors, two of them by starting pitcher Jared Poche, who misfired on two throws to first base in the fourth inning that started the rout for TCU

CUT 7 (10)  “my fault”

The two throwing errors by Poche in the fourth inning led to two TCU runs. The Horned Frogs scored four additional runs in the 5th inning and four more in the 7th inning. Coach Paul Mainieri says the turning point was Poche’s miscues…

Cut 8  (13)  “fourth inning” 

The loss sends LSU into an elimination game on Tuesday afternoon. Mainieri hopes the Tigers bad play is out of their system

Cut 9 (08)  “describe it”

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The state legislature passed a measure capping the amount of the stae’s film tax credit program at 180-million dollars, but some believe the bill is unconstitutional. Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association President Will French says the legislation doesn’t address the issuing of film tax credits, but the redemption of those credits. He says the problem comes when one film tax credit is honored and another is not…

Cut 10 (05) “constitutional law”

French says it’s unconstitutional for the state to treat tax payers differently and by denying a tax credit that was honored for someone else, that’s what would happen. He also says it’s unlawful for the government to take something of value, like a tax credit, and devalue it or take away the person’s ability to use it…

cut 11 (05) “that, constitutionally”

French says there are many ways structure a cap on a tax credit program, but legislators got it wrong in this case. He points out that the legislation is not law, yet. Governor Jindal has yet to sign the measure into law. French says if the governor doesn’t veto the bill, then it will be challenged in court…

cut 12 (09)  “stricken down”

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After assessing the Red River flooding in the Shreveport area, US Senator Bill Cassidy says he’ll look into why NOAA’s earlier crest predictions were off. Cassidy says the federal agency’s prediction of a 34-feet crest resulted in an unpleasant surprise when the eventual crest came in at 37-feet

Cut 13 (10)  “much higher”

Cassidy says he’s will also look into whether the Army Corps of Engineers could have done anything differently as the water flowed down the Red River from Oklahoma…

Cut 14 (08) “is understood”

Cassidy says he’ll also push for federal assistance once the request for help is formally made the state level. He says after viewing the flooded areas, it appears a lot of people will need some financial help…

Cut 15  (08)  “for everybody”

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In response to the death of an infant in the care of an unlicensed day care operation, the state releases a list of illegal childcare center operators. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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The business community and the film industry are hot happy with what came out of the legislative session. Jeff Palermo has the story

CUT 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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In the wake of the arrest of two day care workers in the death of a 22-month old child, the state department of education is now posting on its website a list of unlicensed day care centers. The infant died in the care of a Baton Rouge day care center operator, who had her license revoked. State Superintendent of Education John White wants to make sure this tragic incident never happens again….

CUT 3 (10)  “of a child”

The registry comprises 16 individuals whose licenses were revoked from 10 different parishes. White says local law enforcement and school superintendents are being notified of the underground day cares in their area…

CUT 4 (06)  “communities”

White says he will also recommend to BESE to increase funding so that low-income families can afford licensed day care centers…

CUT 5 (09)  “less expensive”

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The department of transportation is reminding Baton Rouge area residents the deadline to take the online I-10 Corridor Improvement Study is this Monday. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says more than 12-thousand people have taken the online survey already, surpassing their goal…

CUT 6 (08)  “surveys in”

Mallett says the daily number of vehicles on the Mississippi River Bridge has surpassed over 100-thousand, up 14-thousand from 2010. He says this survey will help them come up with ideas on ways to alleviate traffic……

CUT 7 (09) “Baton Rouge”

Mallett says once the survey is completed, the next step is to have a public hearing that will present ideas on I-10 corridor improvements….

CUT 8 (11)  “concepts”

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With his final legislative session as governor complete, Governor Bobby Jindal says he has few regrets with what he’s been able to accomplish in the legislature. Jindal says if he got everything he asked for during a legislative session, then he didn’t ask for enough. The governor does say that he is disappointed that he was unable to repeal the state’s income tax…

CUT 9 (06)  “to accomplish”

The governor says this was a very successful legislative session, since lawmakers passed a balanced budget. Jindal says he’s proud of the work done on K-12 education reform. He says the School Voucher Program has proven to be very successful statewide and hopes more students will be able to take advantage of the program…

cut 10 (09) “children’s education” 

The governor thinks legislators took a step in the right direction this year in reforming Louisiana’s tax code by reducing some of the refundable tax credits. Jindal says, if you’re looking for a list of things he was unable to accomplish, he has an idea of where you can find it…

cut 11 (08)  “several months”

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Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack says lawmakers approved two-and-half billion dollars in tax increases on businesses over the the next five years on the final day of the legislative session. One of the bills reduces the inventory tax credit businesses receive and Waguespack says that’s something shoppers will notice

cut 12 (12)  “those stories”

Legislators approved the tax increases and a roll back of tax credits in order to prevent big cuts to higher education and health care. But Waguespack wishes lawmakers used a different method to fund those areas…

cut 13 (08)  “those dollars”

The Louisiana Film Industry is also not pleased with the final result of the session. Patrick Mulhearn, Executive Director of the Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge , says the legislature agreed to cap the amount of film tax credits at 180-million dollars, which will slow down movie production in this state

cut 14 (09) “it would”

Mulhearn says they hope Governor Bobby Jindal vetoes the legislation. He says the legislation also creates confusion on which credits the state will honor….

cut 15 (10) “or problems”