The State Department of Health and Hospitals sets up a program that encourages Louisiana residents to take control of their health. Scott Carwile has more…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

State Police are among several law enforcement agencies looking into an ATM scheme along the I-10 corridor. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

______________________________________

Louisiana’s budget picture continues to get worse because of falling oil prices. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (32) “reporting”

______________________________________

The State Department of Health and Hospitals sets up a program that encourages Louisiana residents to take control of their health. The program is called “Own Your Own Health”. It’s a three month wellness challenge that can assist residents in living a healthier lifestyle. Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Director Rudy Macklin says you can participate as an individual or part of a team…

cut 4  (07)  “challenges in one”

The challenges are meant to motivate Louisianians to make small daily steps in creating and maintaining a healthier lifestyle. You can sign up at oyohla-dot-com. To help keep participants on-track, Macklin says a daily e-mail will be sent…

Cut 5  (09)  “based on age”

The daily e-mail will have meal and exercise suggestion for participants based on their age. They’re also offering prizes for participants who log-in and update their progress. Macklin says another aspect of OYOH is called “Own Your Own Health Now” which helps you make the correct choices regarding your own wellness…

Cut 6 (07)  “your own health”

______________________________________

State Police says they are assisting in an investigation looking into an ATM scheme where customer’s debit card numbers and pins may have been compromised along the I-10 corridor. Whitney Bank has issued a statement acknowledging that they found devices called “skimmers” on ATM card receptors. Sgt. Nick Manale says local and federal authorities are also investigating.

CUT 7 (10)  “neighboring states”

Whitney bank says as an extra precaution they have deactivated and reissued about 71- hundred debit cards. Manale says people need to be watching their accounts and statements to check for possible fraudulent charges.

Cut 8  (09)  “own accounts.” 

Manale says “skimmers” are placed to look like they are part of the ATM. He says these devices steal some of the bar code information off of card as well as the PIN number entered into the machine.

Cut 9 (09)  “look into.”

______________________________________

Entergy has cut the ribbon on a new power plant in suburban New Orleans that company officials say will reduce fuel costs and produce reliable and affordable power for Louisiana customers. Entergy Spokesperson Mike Burns says Ninemile 6 is already using 30 percent less fuel than other natural gas combustion plants.

Cut 10 (07)  “in 2016” 

This is the first power plant Entergy has opened in Louisiana in 30 years. Burns says Ninemile 6 was completed under budget and ahead of time.

cut 11 (11) “721 million dollars”

The plant helps Louisiana’s economy by creating more jobs. Burns says Entergy plans to keep improving and modernizing their services and plants.

cut 12 (08)  “moving forward”

______________________________________

Falling oil prices will result in an 103-million dollar reduction in spending this fiscal year by state government. That determination was made by the Revenue Estimating Conference, after hearing from the chief economist for the Louisiana legislature, Greg Albrecht…

Cut 13 (09)  “is bad”

And based on economists projections, the Revenue Estimating Conference has increased the budget defict for next fiscal year by another 203-million dollars to one-point-six billion. Albrecht says weak oil prices are to blame for these falling oil prices…

Cut 14 (10)  “fiscal year with”

The 103-million dollar deficit for this fiscal year means, the Jindal administration will be forced to make cuts in the next few weeks. State government watchdog CB Forgotston says believes state government can handle that without a dramatic reduction to state services:

Cut 15  (07)  “unfilled positions”

A University of Michigan Medical School study finds there has been an almost 30-percent increase in the report of falls among the elderly since the late 90s. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

==================

US Representative John Fleming of Minden has joined with eight other republicans to form the House Freedom Caucus. Jeff Palermo tells us more…

CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

===================

A University of Michigan Medical School study finds there has been an almost 30-percent increase in the report of falls among the elderly since the late 90s. Dr. Cathi Fontenot, with LSU Health Internal Medicine, feels the increase could be, in part, due to older people maintaining higher levels of activity that make them susceptible to falls…

CUT 3 (09)  “get on ladders”

She says older adult’s higher activity levels are a result that they are generally feeling better and in better health…

CUT 4 (11)  “a little worse”

Fontenot says as one ages, your sense of balance typically gets a little worse. She says the weakening of core muscles in the elderly affect their sense of balance. Fontenot says it’s important to keep those core muscles as strong as possible to help maintain your balance…

CUT 5 (09)  “strengthens core muscles”

============================

It’s estimated over three-thousand people attended Saturday’s prayer rally on the LSU campus that featured Governor Bobby Jindal. The event was also streamed live on God T-V and the governor, who spoke a couple of times, told the crowd in the Maravich Center why this event was needed

CUT 6 (12)  “fix our country”

Jindal, who is considering a campaign for President, didn’t talk politics while on the stage, but he did ask the crowd to pray for President Barack Obama. Jindal also said that God has given us the book of life

CUT 7 (10)  “our God wins”

The event also drew hundreds of protesters upset the American Family Association paid for the event. The A-F-A has been classified as a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, because of it’s views on same sex relationships. During a Sunday appearance on A-B-C’s “This Week,” Jindal was asked what he would do if the US Supreme Court overturned Louisiana’s law that bans gay marriages…

CUT 8 (11) “man and a woman”

===================

An accidental shooting at a Shreveport casino resulted in a man being hospitalized with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Shreveport Police Cpl. Breck Scott says 34-year-old Jerry Grimes arrived at the casino valet early this morning…

CUT 9 (08)  “in the thigh”

Scott says Grimes was removing his firearm from his person and placing it in the trunk of his car when it discharged, shooting him in the upper thigh. Grimes was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  He says the investigation is ongoing, but Grimes had no signs of impairment…

cut 10 (05)  “on his person”

He says Grimes had no prior felony convictions that would make it illegal for him to carry a firearm. No charges have been filed at this time. Scott says, in the end, it’s fortunate that nothing more serious happened in this incident…

cut 11 (03)  “someone else”

===================

Republican Minden Congressman John Fleming says he along with eight other US House of Representatives have formed the House Freedom Caucus. Fleming says they’ll advance an agenda that calls for an of accountable and limited government

cut 12 (09)  “everyday lives”

Fleming says they plan on adding additional members to the House Freedom Caucus, but membership is only for those US House of Representatives that promote the liberty, safety and prosperity of all Americans

cut 13 (11)  “conservative”

Fleming says this new group of truly conservative lawmakers will look to advance legislation and also prevent measures that do not represent what he calls “America’s Agenda:….

cut 14 (08)  “amend it”

The Revenue Estimating Conference meets today and will determine the budget shortfall the state is facing this fiscal year and next. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

______________________________________

It appears that state Treasurer John Kennedy is testing the waters for a few races in this year’s upcoming elections. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (28) “reporting”

______________________________________

The trial for a man accused of tying up and abandoning a baby pit-bull in October 2013 begins in Caddo District Court today, and there are plenty of angry citizens expected to be in attendance. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 3 (32) “reporting”

______________________________________

The Revenue Estimating Conference meets today  to determine the budget shortfall the state faces this fiscal year and next. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says it’s likely mid-year cuts will be needed to offset the deficit. He says a big reason for the shortfall, lower than expected oil prices…:

cut 4  (10)  “less revenue”

Erwin says it’s hard to predict how much will be cut this fiscal year. He says we already had a projected shortfall of $1.4 billion for next fiscal year but more than likely that will grow as oil prices keep plummeting…:

Cut 5  (10)  “major part of those cuts”

Erwin says the falling oil prices aren’t the only reason we’re in this situation but the structure of the budget has never really been repaired since 2008-2009. He says we’ve just been borrowing money from ourselves over and over and then that ran out…:

Cut 6 (07)  “for state government”

______________________________________

It appears state Treasurer John Kennedy is testing the waters for a few races in this year’s upcoming election. It’s reported Kennedy has hired Virginia-based North Star Opinion Research to poll the races for governor, attorney general, and if there was a special US Senate election in 2016. Kennedy says, at this time, he’s keeping his options open…

CUT 7 (09)  “best contribute”

The survey shows the Treasurer topping a possible attorney general’s race and the leading Republican in a US Senate race should David Vitter become governor. Kennedy says he’s had a number of different groups talk to him about serving in a different capacity…

Cut 8 (10)  “made one, yet” 

The poll shows Kennedy coming in third in the governor’s race behind Vitter and Democrat John Bel Edwards. He says he enjoys being state Treasurer and this doesn’t mean he will not run for re-election. Kennedy says he’s trying to weigh the advice he’s been given and think things through. He says he’ll make a decision about his political future soon…

Cut 9 (11)  “work through”

______________________________________

The trial for a man accused of tying up and abandoning a baby pit-bull in October 2013 begins in Caddo District Court today, and there are plenty of angry citizens expected to be in attendance. The dog is now known as Braveheart and he is owned by Bo Spataro who says 32-year-old Gabriel Lee, charged with cruelty to an animal, has shown zero remorse…:

Cut 10 (10)  “it’s just a dog” 

According to authorities, when he was 4 months old, Braveheart was found chained inside a storage unit in Shreveport and it was believed he’d been there for several days as he was barely alive. Spataro says they are hoping Lee gets the maximum sentence allowed…:

cut 11 (08) “or ever again”

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office issued a release reminding those who plan to come to the trial no public demonstrations are allowed in or near the Courthouse. They say signs, buttons or t-shirts addressing the case are prohibited. Spataro says nothing like that is planned and they are asking that anyone who attend be a silent voice for Braveheart in court:

cut 12 (08)  “gone to waste”

______________________________________

Senate President John Alario plans to meet with Governor Jindal this week to discuss ways to reduce a potential budget cut of up to $380 million dollars to Louisiana’s public colleges. He says that kind of cut would completely devastate higher education not only to the universities but to the children who are seeking it…:

Cut 13 (08)  “shutting down”

Alario says he’s also heard that LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is in danger if this type of cut comes down. He says they need to put their heads together and try to figure out how to fix this problem..:

Cut 14 (04)  “table”

Alario says one of the items of discussion that’s on the table is trying to increase revenue…:

Cut 15  (07)  “tougher job”

______________________________________

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri says sophomore left-hander Jared Poche will start opening day on February 13th against Kansas, but he’s not sure on what the rest of his starting rotation will look like. Mainieri says he has several freshmen to choose from and the situation will play itself out during the non-conference portion of the schedule

Cut 16  (11)  “puzzle together”

LSU is expected to be young on mound this season, but Mainieri has confidence he’ll strong staff by the end of the season, because of pitching coach Alan Dunn…

Cut 17 (20)  “special”

Poche was a weekend starter last season and a Freshman All-American. The former Lutcher standout is one of eight returning pitchers and he likes what he sees from the young arms that have joined the team

Cut 18 (13) “to college’