Raising the minimum wage and closing the gender wage gap will be big issues for Governor John Bel Edwards in the regular session. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The governor is in D.C. today and his Deputy Cheif of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says he’ll testify before a Congressional panel about improvements that can be made to make disaster recovery processes shorter and homeowner friendly…:
Cut 8 (10) “a disaster”
She says the state faced challenges in administering every federally funded program.

Leaders representing the business community announce a new statewide coalition, BUILD IT, to advocate for significant transportation funding, mostly through an increase in the gas tax. The state has a $13 billion backlog of road and bridge needs, and more than $10 billion in megaprojects. More than 20 organizations have joined BUILD IT, including One Acadiana and its president Jason El Koubi…:
Cut 11 (12) “our people”
BUILD IT Coalition members represents 21 statewide, regional, and local economic development and industry groups.

It’s Pro Day at LSU, a chance for every professional football franchise to get a look at the former Tigers eligible for next month’s NFL draft. Some mock drafts have running back Leonard Fournette’s stock falling, but NFL analyst Mike Detillier doesn’t see it:
Cut 16 (09) “off teeth”

Raising the minimum wage and closing the gender wage gap will be big issues for Governor John Bel Edwards in the regular session. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The governor is in D.C. today and his Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says he’ll testify before a Congressional panel about improvements that can be made to make disaster recovery processes shorter and homeowner friendly…:
Cut 8 (10) “a disaster”
She says the state faced challenges in administering every federally funded program following the August floods.

Leaders representing the business community announce a new statewide coalition, BUILD IT, to advocate for significant transportation funding, mostly through an increase in the gas tax. The state has a $13 billion backlog of road and bridge needs, and more than $10 billion in mega-projects. Baton Rouge Area Chamber President Adam Knapp on their mission…:
Cut 11 (12) “our people”
BUILD IT Coalition members represent 21 statewide, regional, and local economic development and industry groups.

It’s Pro Day at LSU, a chance for every professional football franchise to get a look at the former Tigers eligible for next month’s NFL draft. Some mock drafts have running back Leonard Fournette’s stock falling, but NFL analyst Mike Detillier doesn’t see it:
Cut 16 (09) “off teeth”

Business leaders in Louisiana are coming together to support the passage of a higher gas tax. Baton Rouge Area Chamber President Adam Knapp says BUILD IT will back proposals to increase the state’s gasoline tax to fund highway construction…:
Cut 10 (11) “this session”
Build It stands for Businesses United for Improving Louisiana’s Development by Investing in Transportation.

Governor John Bel Edwards is once again asking lawmakers to increase the state’s minimum wage and guarantee equal pay for equal work. Both measures failed in last year’s session. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says raising the minimum wage is never easy…:
Cut 13 (11) “uphill battle”
Some say the equal pay bill has even less of a chance at passing than raising the minimum wage.

The Louisiana State Police Academy graduates 46 men and women today who are now full-fledged State Troopers. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 1 (27) “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.

Business leaders support a higher gas tax if they know how the dollars are being spent. Halen Doughty has more on the coalition that will be known as Build It…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

46 men and women graduate this morning from the Louisiana State Police Training Academy. Sgt. Jared Sandifer says they made it through the vigorous 22-week training program…:
Cut 4 (08) “next level”
This is L-S-P’s 95th Cadet Class.

Governor John Bel Edwards testifies before a Congressional panel today looking at FEMA’s response to the deadly flooding last August. The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer says Edwards will be accompanied by local officials…:
Cut 7 (10) “federal level”
She says the governor will discuss improvements that can be made to the recovery process.

Looking ahead to the session that begins Monday, the governor says he plans to try out equal pay and minimum wage increase proposals again. Both measures didn’t go far last year…:
Cut 14 (09) “don’t like them”
That’s political analyst Bernie Pinsonat’s take.

Criminal justice reform will be a big topic in the regular session. Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, Dr. Michael Henderson says the Louisiana survey found a big difference between blacks and whites over the fairness of the criminal justice system. He says 71-percent of black respondents say the system is not fair, and only 44-percent of white respondents agree.

Cut 4 (09) “the motivations”

A bill by River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot seeks to address the opioid epidemic in Louisiana by addressing workers compensation. Talbot’s bill is similar to a Texas law that he says has done a great job of getting people back to work and off opioid medications.

Cut 8 (09) “hurts families”

Shreveport restaurant owner Mark Colby will spend the rest of his life behind bars after killing his girlfriend and business partner Angela Godley. Caddo Assistant DA Brittney Green says the 2014 murder rocked the community, because Godley was well known business owner and a former cardiac care nurse.

Cut 13 (10) “wonderful nurse”
Godley was found dead in the laundry room of the couple’s home in September of 2014.

A Ruston hospital is closing, which is bad news for employees and patients. LifeCare Specialty hospital employs 167 people and has a total of 175 hospital beds between its Ruston and Shreveport campuses. Firing will reportedly begin next week, with final terminations taking place in June.

Criminal justice reform will be a big topic in the legislative session, and a statewide poll finds broad support for some proposals. Jeff Palermo has more from the survey out of LSU…
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

New Orleans has opened up the bidding process to take down three Confederate monuments in the city and only one bidder, Cuzan Services Limited, submitted a proposal for 600-thousand dollars. That’s three times more than the Crescent City budgeted for.

Some communities that were pelted with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes earlier this week are still monitoring rivers that have yet to crest. Stephen Carboni with the National Weather Service says areas in Central Louisiana saw as much as 10 inches of rain during the event. But he says there is some good news as the forecast over the next several days looks decent.
Cut 11 (08) “and see”

A North Louisiana man who murdered his longtime girlfriend and a prominent business woman has been sentenced to life in prison. Caddo Assistant DA Brittney Green says 59-year-old Mark Colby was found guilty of second degree murder. She says Colby shot Angela Godly 5 times in their home in 2014 and had a history of violence.
Cut 14 (10) “Mrs. Godly”

Several days after the shooting, Colby was arrested in Mexico.

Legislation to stop the opioid epidemic has been filed for the upcoming session with the support of Governor Edwards’. Emelie Gunn has more.:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Today Governor John Bel Edwards is in Washington D.C. where tomorrow he will testify before the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on FEMA’s response to Louisiana’s 2016 flood disaster. On Monday, April 10, Restore Louisiana is asking every flooded homeowner seeking assistance to fill out an initial survey at the program’s website: restore.la.gov.

A man who gunned down and murdered his longtime-partner and prominent business women in northwest Louisiana will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Caddo Assistant DA Brittney Green says a jury found 59-year-old Mark Colby guilty of second degree murder in the death of 53-year-old Angela Godley…:
CUT 12 (05) “Judge Mosely”
Godley was found dead in the laundry room at the couple’s Shreve Island home on September 10, 2014.

As cleanup and recovery continues in areas that were pelted with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes earlier this week, some communities are still keeping a close eye on rivers that have yet to crest. Stephen Carboni with the National Weather Service says parts of Central Louisiana experienced as much as 10 inches of rain during the event…:
Cut 9 (08) “for example”
He says the good news is that no significant rain is expected over the next several days.

Criminal justice reform will be a big topic in the legislative session, and a statewide poll finds broad support for some proposals. Jeff Palermo has more from the survey out of LSU…:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Also part of Governor Edwards legislative agenda is a bill aimed at addressing the growing opioid epidemic in Louisiana. River Ridge Representative and Co-author Kirk Talbot says you have to start with limiting prescriptions in some cases…:
Cut 6 (09) “workforce”

Victims of last year’s devastating floods will be asked to fill out a survey soon to see if they are eligible for the federally funded homeowner assistance program. The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer says federal law requires the state to dispense the initial $438 million that was approved first, which is going to families who need it most…:
Cut 15 (09) “or disabled”
Congress has appropriated 1.6 billion. The survey will be online Monday at restore.la.gov.

New Orleans Police say they are responding to a wellness check on Bourbon Street and have closed a portion of the roadway. Police sent a tactical team inside the building. Officers confirm one person dead inside, another in custody.

The 2017 Louisiana Survey indicates 75% of voters support criminal justice reform when it comes to shorter sentences for non-violent crimes. But Michael Henderson, Director of the LSU Public Policy Lab, says respondents weren’t in favor of going easy on criminals involved in things like fraud, burglary or selling illegal drugs which will likely be a significant part of the debate in the upcoming session…:
Cut 3 (09) “on the table”
Criminal justice reform is a big part of Governor Edwards’ agenda.

So is equal pay. Today is national Equal Pay Day and the governor has released his legislative proposal for how he’d like to fix Louisiana’s highest gender wage gap in the country. The measure up for debate would prohibit businesses from taking action against employees who ask or talk about how much they or others get paid, because he says when there is transparency there is fairness.

The state is one step closer to dispensing federal flood recovery dollars:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A UNO poll finds President Donald Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana is at 58-percent, the same amount of people who voted for him here in November. Pollster Ed Chervenak says that’s far higher than the president’s nationwide approval rating of 38-percent…:
Cut 4 (08) “Republican president”
He adds it’s a little too early for many voters here to pass judgement.