The regular legislative session begins today as the state faces an 800 million dollar budget shortfall for the next fiscal year, with no way to raise revenue. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Budget matters will dominate the regular session which begins today, but there a lot of other bills are on the table. Jeff Palermo has a preview…:

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The regular session begins today, and legislators have proposed several bills that would affect Louisianans daily lives. Halen Doughty reports…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

As the regular legislative session begins today, the state faces an 800 million dollar deficit for next fiscal year with no way to raise additional revenue. Bills to raise taxes cannot be considered in this session. Senate President John Alario hopes this is a learning experience for legislators who were unwilling to raise more revenue during the special session.

cut 4  (07)  “this one”

Alario says as long as there is another special session before July 1^st the funds could be allocated for the next fiscal year and hopefully close the gap. He says Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne is looking into all the state’s contracts to see if we can get some savings during the regular session.

Cut 5  (10)  “by cuts”

Alario says we could see changes to TOPS. He says there are suggestions to raise the academic standards or limit the financial award a TOPS recipient receives.

Cut 6 (04)  “accomplishment” 

_________________________________________________________

There are several bills in the regular session that deal with higher ed reform. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says the budget is the main topic, but there is plenty to suggest that this will also be an education session…:

CUT 7 (11)  “requirements”

Alford says legislation is also on the table that seeks to get rid of the Board of Regents and other bills that would allow university management boards to raise tuition. He says there are also several measures that suggest this session will produce some of the same type of fights we saw in 2015…:

Cut 8  (11)  “that practice”

Alford says there are federal issues that will also be taken up on a state level like prohibiting the creation of sanctuary cities and making changes to a law that bars felons from running for office. He says, as in every session, there will also be those silly “distraction” bills that always make headlines…:

Cut 9 (11)  “for hunters”

______________________________________

There are several bills in the regular session that could have an immediate on impact Louisiana residents. One bill would require movie theaters to install metal detectors. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says theaters usually have an off-duty police officer on the premises.

Cut 10 (07) “slip through”

One proposed bill would raise the minimum wage, and another seeks equal pay for women. Dubos says these bills will be a contentious topic…

cut 11 (07) “this session”

There are also Several highway safety bills. One would no longer require motorcycle drivers over age 21 to wear a helmet. Dubos says this bill would face an uphill battle. He says other similar bills have a better chance of getting through the legislature.

cut 12 (05) “of passage”

_________________________________________________________

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and the disease is a significant problem in Louisiana. Dr. Jordan Karlitz with the Tulane Medical Center says they’re studying why there is such a high rate of colorectal cancer in Lousiana. He says it’s important for both men and women to be screened…

Cut 13 (09)  “50”

Karlitz says although the recommended age to begin screening is 50, it is suggested that African Americans begin at age 45, because colon cancer is more common in that demographic. He says without screening, it’s difficult to tell if you could have the disease.

Cut 14 (07)  “symptoms” 

Kartlitz says in the US, one in three people who should be screened for colorectal cancer haven’t been screened yet and in Louisiana the number is even higher. He says colonoscopies are a great way to detect colon cancer.

Cut 15 (07) “get screened” 

_______________________________________________________

The LSU Tigers took two of three from Ball State over the weekend as the Bayou Bengals outlasted Cardinals 10-6 in Sunday’s series finale. The Tigers first four hitters in the line-up led the way as they combined for eight hits, led by Jake Fraley who had three hits. Coach Paul Mainieri….

Cut 16  (15)  “setting the tone“

John Valek was the winning pitcher on Sunday as he improved to 4-0 on the year. The left-hander allowed one run in five innings and scattered eight hits. Mainieri liked what he saw from Valek….

Cut 17 (19)  good innings”

LSU begins conference play next weekend as they welcome Alabama to the Box. Mainieri believes his team has improved during non-conference play….

Cut 18 (18) “pretty well”

Much of Tangipahoa and Washington parishes are flooded today, after a storm dropped upwards of 17 inches of water in just 12 hours. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Governor John Bel Edwards issues a statewide declaration of emergency in wake of widespread flooding. Jeff Palermo reports…:

CUT 2 (27)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

Southeast Louisiana got hit with a lot of rainfall last night. Washington Parish Emergency Preparedness Director Tommy Thiebaud says to put it simply, water is everywhere.

CUT 3 (06)  “the parish”

Thiebaud says the Bogue Chitto River is expected to crest at 21 feet, but that estimate keeps rising as more rain is possible. He says they will be monitoring the rivers closely over the next 24 hours. He advises people not to drive anywhere, because many roads are also flooded.

CUT 4 (08)  “that’s possible”

Thiebaud says about a hundred homes have flooded already. He says the sheriff’s office and the fire department are currently rescuing people, and they don’t want to add anyone to that list. He says the water they are seeing is unprecedented in that area. Tangipahoa Parish Emergency Preparedness Director Dawson Primes says his parish is also seeing a lot of water.

CUT 5 (09)  “that much water”

Primes says the forecast for the river levels is skyrocketing because of water coming down from north Louisiana. He says they will be doing rescues all day.

CUT 6 (04) “at this time”

Much of southeast Louisiana is under a flash flood watch until Saturday afternoon. Chris Bannan with the National Weather Service in Slidell says rainfall totals varied across the southern part of the state.

CUT 7 (11) “17 inches”

Bannan says that much rain was dropped in just 12 hours. He says we could still get up to 5 more inches of rain, which could be an issue for people near the rivers.

CUT 8 (05) “currently have”

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

The Sabine River is overflowing in Vernon Parish due to water releases from Toledo Bend causing major flood damage. Vernon Parish Emergency Preparedness Director Kenneth Moore warns everyone located around the river to be careful and they’ve already issued evacuations. He says this is the most significant flooding he’s ever seen.

CUT 9 (04) “in them” 

Moore says they’ve already evacuated about 200 people from the area surrounding the Sabine River. He says the water level dropped overnight in Toledo Bend…

cut 10 (08)  “longer”

Moore says some flood victims have lost everything they’ve worked for their entire lives. But he says the community is coming together to help those in need.

Cut 11 (09) “be done”

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

The entire state has been declared a state of emergency. Governor John Bel Edwards traveled to Shreveport today to assess the destruction from the storm. He says although they have not come up with an estimate on the damage yet, he expects it to be quite high.

cut 12 (05) “of dollars”

Edwards took a tour of the Shreveport area to meet with residents and see firsthand the devastation caused by the massive storm. He says the cost for reparations may pose a problem for the legislature, given the fiscal deficit the state is facing.

Cut 13 (05)  “very well”

Edwards says the state government has met all of the requests for resources that his office has received. He says unfortunately, Louisiana is well-practiced in this kind of situation. Edwards says he will look to the federal government for additional money and resources.

cut 14 (11)  “that damage”

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

Over 20 inches of rain have fallen over north Louisiana causing immense damage. Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland says areas in Winn, Jackson, and Bienville Parishes have many roadway and bridge closures due to high water and infrastructure failure. He says they’ve placed multiple requests for assistance through the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness…

cut 15 (09) “of those” 

McFarland says many residents have lost their homes and business due to flooding. He says law enforcement is working to get those in hospitals proper medical care even with the flooded roadways because treatment must continue.

cut 16 (08)  “of us”

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

Parts of the state have seen an excess of 20 inches of rain, and the governor has declared a state of emergency for 22 parishes. Halen Doughty reports…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Governor John Bel Edwards says heavy rainfall and flooding has caused three fatalities in Louisiana. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

The governor has declared a state of emergency for 22 parishes as an enormous storm is terrorizing north Louisiana. Congressman Ralph Abraham of Alto says lives and livelihoods are at stake. He says he has seen over a hundred homes flooded and one person lost their life so far. He says they are getting an unbelievable amount of rain.

CUT 3 (07)  “a disaster”

Abraham says he has talked with FEMA and asked that the area be declared a federal disaster area so resources and funding can come this way. He says everyone in north Louisiana is pitching in to help.

CUT 4 (05)  “literally”

DeSoto Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says several emergency shelters have been set up throughout the parish as evacuations are ongoing. He says countless homes in the parish have flooded.

CUT 5 (08)  “on water”

Arbuckle says the Sabine River in DeSoto is rising to a dangerously high level, and people near the river are being evacuated.

CUT 6 (07) “that high”

Arbuckle says the last time the river was that high was in the 1940s.

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

In Bienville Parish, Sheriff John Ballance says the flood waters turned fatal in a small community just east of Lucky. He says they received a call Wednesday afternoon about a vehicle stuck in the water on a bridge over Saline Creek…:

CUT 7 (10) “from drowning”

Ballance says the man who died is identified as 63-year-old Jerry Garrett of Friendship. His 70-year-old wife, Leilani, was the woman rescued. He says the couple tried to drive over the bridge that was covered with water…:

CUT 8 (06) “Mrs. Garrett”

Ballance says there is water over the roads all over the parish, and people are ignoring warning signs and making life threatening decisions by doing so.

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

Jason Hansford, with the National Weather Service, says rainfall totals in Louisiana range from 11 to over 20 inches. He says we could see a break in the rain soon.

CUT 9 (06) “on the way” 

Hansford says the state could see up to 5 more inches of rain, but he says this massive storm should clear out by this weekend.

cut 10 (05)  “this system”

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

Governor John Bel Edwards has activated 750 Louisiana National Guard members to help combat the widespread flooding in north Louisiana. Edwards urges the public to stay inside and off the flooded roadways. He says there are now three confirmed deaths, one including a six-year-old girl…

Cut 11 (10) “thereto”

Officials say the 6-year-old died when her mother lost control of her vehicle due to the road conditions. A 64-year-old man from Bienville and a 22-year-old man from Ouachita also died in drownings. Edwards says many roads in northern parishes are closed and warns drivers not to cross barricades. State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says the water continues to rise and the storm is shifting into southeast Louisiana. He says if you don’t need to be on the road, don’t go out and sightsee.

cut 12 (09) “do so”

Governor Edwards plans to make a trip to north Louisiana tomorrow if weather permits to see the damage. In Lincoln Parish, the Ruston Fire Department has had to rescue over a dozen people from their home or vehicle due to flooding. State Representative Robert Shadoin says state and local officials are doing all they can to help flood victims.

Cut 13 (10)  “shine again”

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

Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal and one of his top lieutenants have been indicted on civil rights violations for their alleged involvement in the beatings of five jail inmates. The indictment claims Ackal directed officers to beat the inmates in the jail’s chapel in 2011. Former US attorney Harry Rosenberg says there have already been an array of civil lawsuits filed against the sheriff’s by inmates that are pending, but this federal suit will be different.

cut 14 (08)  “if convicted”

Eight former employees of the sheriff’s office have already pleaded guilty to related federal charges. Rosenberg says that while the inmates’ testimonies may not be as credible, the former employees’ statements will.

cut 15 (09) “these charges” 

If convicted, Ackal could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine for each civil rights violation. Rosenberg says the combined testimonies from the former jail employees and the inmates will make for a difficult case for the sheriff.

cut 16 (06)  “these charges”