Democrat John Bel Edwards laid out some of his priorities for the next four years as he was sworn in as the state’s 56th governor. Edwards says he’ll seek to expand Medicaid, increase the minimum wage and he’ll support efforts to make higher education more affordable…
cut 11 (14) “…tuition and fees”
Edwards says his top priority is fixing the state’s massive budget problems.

Before the inauguration ceremony, Edwards suffered a political defeat when the House voted for New Iberia Representative Taylor Barras, instead of Edwards choice, New Orleans Democrat Walt Leger…
cut 8 (12) “….of Representatives”
New Orleans Republican John Alario remains Senate president.

The Louisiana National Guard has mobilized almost 300 personnel to build protective barriers against approaching flood waters from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. Lt. Rebekah Malone says protective levees are being constructed in St. Landry Parish and St. Mary Parish. Malone says 120 guardsmen are in St. Mary to build the levee…
CUT 3 (10) “that’s approaching”
But the US Army Corps of Engineers announced today that there is not a need to open the Morganza Spillway, which will lessen the flood threat in St. Landry.

A 96-year-old driver plowed into the Mandeville community center, injuring four people inside. The accident happend around nine o’ clock this morning, authorities say the driver stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake as she was pulling up to the building. The injuries to the people inside are not considered life threatening.

Democrat John Bel Edwards was sworn in today as Louisiana’s 56th governor. Michelle Southern has more…
cut 2 (34) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

Before Edwards spoke at his inauguration, the House selected New Iberia Representative Taylor Barras as the new Speaker of the House. It’a political defeat for Edwards, who backed New Orleans Representative Walt Leger. New Orleans republican John Alario remains the Senate President.

The US Army Corps of Engineers says at this time, there is no need to use the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish to divert Mississippi River water before it reaches the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas. Meanwhile, the Louisiana National Guard has activated almost 300 soldiers, many of them are building protective levees to hold back the rising Mississippi River…
cut 5 (10) “…walls installed”
That’s Lt. Rebekah Malone.

LifeShare Blood Centers says they are low on blood supply and they need your help. Spokesperson Tina Hooper says their blood centers have a supply of less than two days for most types and that’s not good news for those who need blood…
cut 13 (09) “…many of those”
Hooper encourages people who are eligible to donate blood to please do so.

President Barack Obama will speak in Baton Rouge on Thursday. Eric Gill has more…
cut 2 (29) “..I’m Eric Gill”

Powerball retailers are busy spitting out tickets in advance of Saturday night’s record 800-million dollar jackpot. If you are lucky enough to win, Metairie CPA Jennifer Bordes says there is no financial incentive if you take the lump sum or payments over several decades…:
cut 14 (08) “…an attorney”
The cash value of the jackpot is 496-million dollars.

We’re now up to five universities across Louisiana that have told students not to bring their hoverboards to campus. It’s because the electric skateboards have been known to burst into flames while charging. Southeastern Louisiana University spokesperson Rene Abadie….
cut 9 (10) “…the campus”
LSU, UL Lafayette, and Nicholls are other univerisities who have banned hoverboards.

Governor Bobby Jindal, along with Governor-elect John Bel Edwards participated in a Unified Command Group meeting to get an update on the imminent flooding of the Mississippi and the Atchafalaya Rivers. US Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Ricky Boyett says the Bonnet Carre spillway will open Sunday at 10am, and the Morganza possibly on Tuesday…
CUT 5 (07) “in this are”
Jindal stressed the need for residents in the Morganza Spillway to have a game plan in place.

The rising Mississippi River has led to the US Army Corps of Engineers to open the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish on Sunday 10 AM. Corps spokesperson Ricky Boyett says this will prevent major flooding in New Orleans…
cut 3 (10) “…in New Orleans”
Boyett says it looks like the Morganza Spillway will also have to be opened, but Tuesday is the earliest that will happen.

President Barack Obama will be in Louisiana on Thursday as he’s planning to speak in Baton Rouge two days after he delivers the State of the Union….
cut 6 (08) “….president’s policies”
That’s LSU political science professor Robert Hogan. A spokesperson for John Bel Edwards says the new governor is hoping to have a face-to-face meeting with the commander in chief.

Bobby Jindal’s two terms as governor ends on Monday as Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is sworn in. U-L-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says one of Jindal’s lasting legacies will be his education reforms…
cut 30 (05) “…evaluating”
But Cross says Jindal leaves office with low approval ratings, because of budget cuts to higher ed and a failed run for President that had him out of the state for much of 2015.

If you win the 800-million dollar Powerball tomorrow, you’ll probably leave the country for awhile for a nice vacation. But what’s your odds of winning this massive prize. UNO Mathematics chair Doctor Tumules (Too-muh-lesh) Solanky (soe-LAWN-key) says its 1 in 292 million. But your odds do improve, if you buy more tickets…
cut 12 (08) “…292 million”
The cash value of the jackpot is 496-million.

Education Week Magazine’s Quality Counts report ranks Louisiana 49th in academic achievement as the state does not compare well with others when it comes the performance of fourth and eighth graders in the areas of math and reading. But Holly Yetcick says with Education Week says Louisiana is making slight gains. She says the biggest improvement was seen with fourth graders and their reading ability…
cut 15 (10) “….pretty low”

The Attorney General’s office is not happy that the town of Springfield in Livingston Parish re-hired Jimmy Jones as its police chief after he pled guility to misdemeanor criminal mischief last year. Prosecutor David Caldwell calls it a dumb idea, but Town Attorney Brian Abels says the community has faith Jones will do a good job as police chief…
cut 12 (05) “…somehow envisioned”
Jones started work as the town’s police chief this week.

The Louisiana National Guard is mobilizing to assist, local, parish and state emergency officials in advance of flooding threats due to near record crests expected on the Mississippi River. Eric Gill has more…
voicer 1 (28) “….I’m Eric Gill”

The man suspected of stabbing LSU tight end Dillon Gordon during a bar fight earlier this week has been arrested. Twenty-year-old Jamal Joseph Vaughn of Gonzales has been charged with aggravated second-degree battery.

And the voice of the Tigers, Jim Hawthorne, has been chosen as the master of ceremonies for Governor elect John Bel Edwards inauguration ceremonies.