The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State is calling for a slightly below-average 2017 Hurricane Season. They are predicting 11 named storms, four hurricanes, two of those major. Lead Researcher Dr. Phil Klotzbach says the primary reasons are the predicted development of an El Nino in the Pacific Ocean, which typically breaks up storms in the Atlantic..:

CUT 12 (08) “for the storms”
The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Noevmber 30th.

The State Department of Natural Resources has given their approval of the controversial Bayou Bridge Pipeline project. DNR Spokesperson Patrick Courreges (Koo-rezge) says after a permit was submitted, the DNR took public comment and reviewed the plans…:
Cut 6 (09) “wetland zone”
The pipeline would be built from Lake Charles into St. James Parish.

Forty-two percent of Louisiana households cannot afford their basic needs. A United Way report finds 23 percent of those live above the poverty level but are considered Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed, or ALICE. President of the Louisiana Association of United Ways, Sarah Berthelot, explains…:
Cut 3 (09) “job loss”
She hopes these findings can lead to change.

A student who used to play football for UL-Lafayette but was kicked off the team in March, has been accused of raping someone in a residence hall. According to campus police, Artez Williams was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on a charge of second degree rape with a $100,000 bond. He was reportedly removed from the Ragin Cajuns team last month for a violation of team rules.

Governor John Bel Edwards believes partisan politics were behind the harsh line of questioning at a Congressional hearing examining the response to last year’s historic flooding. Republican lawmakers questioned why the state has yet to appropriate the $1.6 billion Congress provided for flood recovery. Edwards said the holdup is on the federal level…:
Cut 13 (10) “second action plan”
The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

In the extended range outlook of Atlantic Seasonal tropical activity, the Colorado State University Forecast team anticipates the 2017 Hurricane season will have slightly below-average activity. They forecast this year there will be 4 hurricanes, 2 of them major, and 11 named storms. They say the probability of US major hurricane landfall is estimated to be about 80 percent of the long-period average.

US Senator Bill Cassidy is presenting an obesity fighting bill which would allow Medicare to cover the cost of new prescription drugs for chronic weigh management. He says the bill also makes weight loss counseling more available to Medicare recipients..:
Cut 8 (10) “behavioral therapy”

When it comes to criminal justice reform, the state DA’s Association says they support recommendations to reduce sentences for certain non-violent offenders. But Executive Director Pete Adams says careful consideration must be made to ensure dangerous criminals who pled down to non-violent offenses are not released…:
Cut 6 (09) “offenders”
Governor Edwards is leading an effort to reduce the state’s incarceration rate.

The National Weather Service says at least 17 tornadoes touched down in Louisiana during the Sunday/Monday severe weather event.

Governor John Bel Edwards was hammered by Republicans in Congress during a hearing on the response effort following the 2016 floods — a situation he believes was motivated by partisan politics. Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves blames the Edwards administration for the delay in dispensing the $1.6 billion Congress provided for flood recovery. But the governor says those are false comments that aren’t helping…:
Cut 14 (11) “not the case”
The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

US Senator Bill Cassidy is presenting an obesity fighting bill which would allow Medicare to cover the cost of new prescription drugs for chronic weigh management. He says healthcare costs related to obesity total nearly $200 billion each year, and if someone loses weight, they get healthier..
Cut 9 (09) “of Americans”

The state’s newly established Opioid Abuse Prevention Fund seeks to end the opioid epidemic. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Lake Charles Police Department is seeking information on a quadruple shooting that left one person dead, and three injured including one critically. They say it happened around 4am.

In the ongoing trial of former reality star Will Hayden in Baton Rouge, the jury heard disturbing testimony from a teenager who claimed she’d been raped by the accused when she was 12 or 13. The Suns of Guns star pleaded not guilty to multiple aggravated rape charges.

Governor John Bel Edwards blames partisan politics for hard attacks he underwent during a Congressional hearing on the response to last year’s floods. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Louisiana District Attorney’s Association supports recommendations to reduce sentences for non-violent offenders, but they oppose proposals to provide parole consideration for certain juvenile killers and inmates who have been behind bars for decades. Executive Director Pete Adams…:
Cut 4 (08) “incarcerated”
Governor Edwards is leading an effort to reduce the state’s incarceration rate.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is behind legislation that seeks to address the growing obesity rate in America. Cassidy says the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act would make weight loss treatment more accessible to those on Medicare. He says the bill allows Medicare to cover the cost of new prescription drugs for chronic weigh management…:
Cut 7 (03) “their weight”
Cassidy says nearly 70 percent of Americans are overweight or obese, and 13 million of them are seniors.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is the latest to get behind and effort that addresses Louisiana’s major opiod addiction problem. He says a new Opioid Abuse Prevention Fund will be paid for through a partnership with Louisiana Ambulance Alliance and Amphastar Pharmaceuticals.
CUT 11 (11) “that fund”
He says that will pay for an informational campaign complete with a website, advertisements, printed materials, and community outreach.

Governor John Bel Edwards believes partisan politics were behind the harsh line of questioning by the GOP at a Congressional hearing on the response to last year’s historic flooding. Edwards says it’s not surprising Republicans went in for the attack…:
Cut 15 (10) “what they do”
The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show. Even Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves blamed the Edwards administration for the delay in dispensing federal disaster funds.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is working to end the opioid epidemic in Louisiana with the new Opioid Abuse Prevention Fund. Landry that fund will pay for an informational campaign complete with a website, advertisements, printed materials, and community outreach…:
Cut 10 (07) “opioid addiction”
For details visit EndTheEpidemicLA.org.

A bipartisan bill co-authored by US Senator Bill Cassidy could help address the nation’s rising obesity rate. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A former football player from the University of Lafayette has been arrested amid allegations he raped someone at residence hall. Campus police say Artez Terrell Williams, who was kicked off the Cajuns team in March for a violation of  rules, is booked with second degree rape.

Republican lawmakers criticized Governor John Bel Edwards’ handling of the deadly August flood during a Congressional hearing in Washington D.C. today. Edwards says he gives his administration a grade of B-plus for handling the flood recovery. But Michigan Congressman Paul Mitchell disagrees…:
Cut 4 (11) “B+”
Edwards says they have done all they can do to move the process as quick as possible.

There’s been talk of raising the gasoline tax by as much as 17 cents a gallon in the upcoming legislative session. Franklin Representative Sam Jones has one of the many proposals for a tax increase. He says the state’s current 20-cent gasoline tax is not addressing the 13-billion dollar backlog of transportation needs…:
Cut 11 (09) “the megaprojects”
Jones recommends a 7 cent increase but says that’s neogilable.

Former St. Tammany and Washington Parish District Attorney Walter Reed was today sentenced in federal court to 48 months in prison for his conviction on fraud and money laundering. It was thought he’d get more than 10 for using campaign contributions for personal use. Reed is free on bond pending appeal which Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says is highly unusual…:
Cut 15 (10) “on appeal”
The judge said the facts were unusual and that led him to scrutinize the guidelines more carefully.

Governor Edwards faced criticism from Republican legislators in Washington D.C. about the way he handled the August flooding…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Rough job news in Ruston. LifeCare Specialty Hospital of North Louisiana is closing its doors and all employees laid off by June. The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the closure will affect all 167 employees and the first employees will be released April 15th. LWC’s Rapid Response team is in the process of scheduling re-employment workshops.

Former District Attorney Walter Reed was today sentenced to 48 months in prison for his conviction on fraud charges related to using campaign contributions for personal use. Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino says Reed got off a lot easier than many people thought he would…:
CUT 13 (10) “for which he was convicted”
U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon said the reason for the lighter sentence was because the case was outside the mainstream of fraud. Reed will remain free on an appeal bond.

Ride sharing services like Uber support a pre-filed bill that would let the state put rules on how they operate. Jackson Representative Kenny Havard says right now the regulations are set at the local level which is confusing, and his bill would also make rates the same everywhere:
Cut 9 (08) “the state”

There’s been talk of raising the gasoline tax by as much as 17 cents a gallon in the upcoming legislative session. Franklin Representative Sam Jones believes that’s too much of a hike, but he says the state needs to invest more in transportation…:
Cut 10 (11) “and traffic”
Jones has filed a bill to increase the state’s gasoline tax by an additional seven cents, but he says that’s negotiable.

A measure that would place statewide regulations for services like Uber and Lyft will also be up for debate this session. Currently, each parish decides the rules for how ride sharing companies should operate. Jackson Representative Kenny Havard says his bill would eliminate confusion…:
Cut 7 (09) “same umbrella”
Both Uber and Lyft are in support of the legislation because they believe it would help them expand their services across the state.

Republican lawmakers criticized Governor John Bel Edwards’ handling of the deadly August flood during a Congressional hearing in Washington D.C. today. The chairman of the panel, Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, couldn’t believe the governor didn’t know how many people were still displaced…:
Cut 3 (11) “that clueless”
The legislators also questioned Edwards over the complaints regarding the Shelter at Home Program and the slow dispersal of federal dollars to flood victims.

A group of business leaders throughout the state have formed a coalition that will advocate for an increase in the gas tax to go toward Louisiana’s massive backlog of road and bridge needs. More than 20 organizations have joined BUILD IT, including One Acadiana and its president Jason El Koubi. He says they are issuing a call to action to business leaders…:
Cut 12 (09) “build it”
He says they support a 17 cent increase in the gas tax.

46 brand new State Troopers graduate today. This is L-S-P’s 95th Cadet Class and Sgt. Jared Sandifer says these men and women will be spread out across the state…:
Cut 6 (08) “all over”

Governor John Bel Edwards is once again asking lawmakers to increase the state’s minimum wage and guarantee equal pay for equal work. But political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says business groups have historically opposed these measures because provisions in the bills allow people to sue their employers over pay inequity…:
Cut 15 (11) “would cause”.
Both measures failed last year.

Only one company bid for the job of removing New Orleans’ confederate monuments, and the $600,000 price tag is well above the $170,000 that the city was expecting. The original contractor for the removal withdrew after reporting receiving death threats. Critics say the single bid shows the New Orleans Mitch Landrieu’s desire to remove the monuments is misguided. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals gave the city the go-ahead to remove the statues.