Another round of severe weather is approaching the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the risk of tornadoes, hail and damaging winds will move from the northeastern part of Louisiana this afternoon, down into the southeast on Thursday….:
Cut 7 (06) “urban areas”
Keim says the chance for severe weather persists into Thursday night ending in New Orleans.

Louisiana has the 10th highest black homicide victimization rate in the nation, according to the Violence Policy Center. VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann says their latest state data goes back to 2014 and there were 332 African American homicide victims, resulting in a rate of about 22 per 100,000….:
Cut 10 (08) “nationwide”
About 84 percent of the victims were male, and the average age for the victims was 31.

The state Weights and Measures Division finds an uptick in skimming devices at gas pumps in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards is today expected to release the details of his tax and budget reform proposals for the upcoming legislative session.

The state Weights and Measures Division finds an uptick in skimming devices at gas pumps in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Another bout of severe weather is headed towards Louisiana. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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According to the Violence Policy Center, Louisiana has the 10^th highest rate of black homicide victimization in the country. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Louisiana is seeing an uptick in skimming devices at gas pumps. That’s according to Ag Commissioner Mike Strain, who heads the Weights and Measures division. Strain says his inspectors are finding one or two skimmers a week, and more consumers are alerting his office to help track down the devices.

Cut 4  (10) “Secret Service”

Strain says the devices were found in Avoyelles, Calcasieu, Jefferson, Lafayette, Orleans, Rapides, St. Landry, St. Tammany, and Washington Parishes. He says before you pay at a gas pump, look for signs of forced entry on credit card readers, like broken security tape, and if you find one of these devices, alert the store clerk immediately.

Cut 5  (10)  “of time”

Strain advises people to check their bank statements online weekly, or even daily, and contact your bank if you notice any unauthorized purchases. He says there are other steps motorists can take to protect their information at the gas pump.

Cut 6 (08) “PIN number”

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Another round of severe weather is approaching the state.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says the risk of tornadoes, hail and damaging winds will move from the northeastern part of this state this afternoon, down into southeast Louisiana on Thursday.

Cut 7 (06)  “urban areas”

Keim says we are very likely to see severe weather in all parts of the state. But he says the biggest risk is in the northern parishes of Louisiana for today.

Cut 8 (08) “damaging winds”

Keim says the chance for severe weather persists into Thursday night ending in New Orleans. He says we’re in the time of year when the risk for real severe weather is there because the upper atmosphere is cold as the surface is heating up.

Cut 9 (09)  “certainly common”

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Louisiana has the 10^th highest black homicide victimization rate in the nation, according to the Violence Policy Center. VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann says these findings demonstrate that black Louisiana residents are disproportionately impacted by homicide. He says their latest state data goes back to 2014 and there were 332 black homicide victims, resulting in a rate of about 22 per 100,000.

Cut 10 (08) “nationwide”

Sugarmann says Louisiana has ranked near or at the top in all 11 years the VPC has conducted this study. The report finds 87 percent of black victims in Louisiana were killed with a firearm, compared to 83 percent nationwide. He says they see similar findings ever year.

Cut 11 (08) “a gun”

About 84 percent of the victims were male, and the average age for the victims was 31. The report also finds that 80 percent were killed by someone they knew. Sugarmann hopes these results will dispel some of the rumors that blacks are always killed during criminal activity.

Cut 12 (09) “the offender”

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Mining and lodging jobs in Louisiana, which includes the oil and gas sector, saw over the month gains for the first time since October 2014. That’s according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission who says employment in this employment sector rose by 200 from January to February. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says the primary reason for this is the slowdown of job loss in the Houma and Lafayette areas.

Cut 13 (09) “in half”

Scott says any job gains that have occurred in the oil and gas sector have taken place in northwest Louisiana. He says the Haynesville Shale rig count has doubled.

Cut 14 (10) “up there”

The report finds employment in the private sector rose by 57-hundred over the year, its first increase since August 2015. Scott says big industrial gains in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles are helping to drive up overall job gains.

Cut 15 (07) “oil patch”

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The LSU football team is now more than halfway done with Spring Football and Quarterback Danny Etling says he’s feeling a lot more comfortable in the Tigers new offense. Etling says he’s been working closely with new offensive coordinator Matt Canada….

Cut 16 (12) “ball too”

Etling believes he’s already seen an improvement in his game with Canada teaching him how to become a better passer

Cut 17 (18)  “grow with it”

Starting running back Derrius Guice has been limited in spring practice by an ankle injury, but that’s allowed back-up Darrell Williams to get more reps with the first team. Coach Ed Orgeron says Williams is having one fo the most improved springs of anyone on the team. The former John Ehret star says he’s ready for a big senior season…

Cut 18 (12)      “…of the game“

Williams also likes what he sees from LSU’s new offense…

Cut 19 (10)   “gonna be nice”

A state audit finds water rates in rural communities don’t bring in enough revenue to cover the cost of the water system, leading to poor quality water. The EPA finds Louisaian would need to spend over 5 billion on drinking water infrastructure in the next 20 years, but State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says many people don’t want to pay more to fix the problem.

Cut 10 (08) “too high”

Louisiana’s drinking water infrastructure receives a D plus rating from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Smokers could see cigarette taxes go up again, if a bill by West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman is approved in the regular session. Hoffman says the money generated by the proposed 22 cent hike would go into the general fund.

Cut 7 (09) “cigarette would”

Louisiana school districts decided not to move forward with a proposal to get high speed internet access because of a lack of information. Executive Director of the Louisiana School Boards Association Scott Richard says they could revisit the plan in the future, but proposed federal funding cuts for rural internet access are raising concerns.

Cut 5 (07) “been proposed”

Only 11 out of 69 districts agreed to the initial proposal.

A bill by Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody would prevent state and local governments from removing military monuments. He says the bill does allow municipalities to maintain the memorials.

Cut 12 (07) “tended to”

The bill would also protect controversial confederate monuments.

The state conducted an audit finding Louisiana’s drinking water systems aren’t producing enough revenue to keep up with the infrastructure leading to poor drinking water. Michelle Southern has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Seven former Iberia Parish Sheriff’s deputies have been sentenced to prison after being convinced of beating inmates in the parish jail. The men face sentences from six months to four years behind bars. Sheriff Louis Ackal was acquitted last year even though many of his former deputies testified against him stating he ran a corrupt department.

 
Legislation has been filed for the upcoming session that would up the cigarette tax by 22-cents to $1.30 a pack. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says this would create more money and create a healthier Louisiana. He expects positive results because there has been success with similar measures in the past.
Cut 8 (08) “with that”

The money generated from the increase would go into the general fund.

A plan that would provide all school districts in the state with high speed internet has been thrown out. Executive Director  of the Louisiana School Boards Association, Scott Richard, says the Board of Regents didn’t give districts much information or time to commit to a plan. He says everyone wants to have high speed internet access but many were hesitant due to funding uncertainties.
Cut 3 (10) “this endeavor”

The state conducted an audit looking at water rates in Louisiana and found many rural communities aren’t paying enough to produce revenue needed to keep up with the system. This leads to poor drinking water according to State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry. He says bigger, wealthier cities seem to be fine but the smaller towns have failing systems…:
Cut 9 (10) “be replaced”
He hopes this audit makes residents realize drinking water is a key part of our heath.

A measure has been filed for the upcoming legislative session that would increase cigarette taxes by 22-cents. Currently, the tax on a pack of cigarettes is $1.08 and the proposal would up that to $1.30 a pack. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman, says his bill would generate more revenue for the state and lead to a healthier Louisiana….:
Cut 6 (06) “makes sense”
Louisiana’s cigarette tax ranks 36th highest in the country.

A bill filed for the regular session seeks to protect Louisiana’s military monuments, including controversial confederate statues. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody authored the legislation that would prohibit state and local governments from removing, relocating, or destroying a memorial that commemorates wars in US history. He says there’s also a provision to make sure the monuments can be maintained…:
Cut 12 (07) “tended to”
New Orleans is calling for Confederate monuments to be removed by mid-May.

Fans are giving Southeastern University’s mascot Roomie a makeover. Erin Cowser with SLU says Roomie’s current costume is a little over 7 years old, and the average lifespan of a mascot’s look is 6 to 10 years. She says they don’t want to totally change it up…:
Cut 15 (07) “a pushover”
Voting for ideas will be open through April 4 at Southeastern.edu/RoomieMakeover.

Legislation has been filed for the upcoming session that would up the cigarette tax by 22-cents to $1.30 a pack. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The state Department of Ag is urging the public to be vigilant as there has been an increase in the number of skimming devices located on gas pumps throughout the state. They confiscated at least 15 of the credit card readers in Avoyelles, Calcasieu, Jefferson, Lafayette, Orleans, Rapides, St. Landry, St. Tammany, and Washington parishes in the past month.

All Louisiana school districts won’t be given high speed internet as a plan to connect everyone was scraped over funding concerns. Executive Director of the Louisiana School Boards Association, Scott Richard, says the deal would have meant districts partner with the Board of Regents in exchange for getting internet for free, but the wording was confusing..:
Cut 4 (08) “already receive”
He says they believe local districts will have an opportunity to pursue this going forward when they are more clear on the details of the deal.

The Louisiana State Police Retirement System released figures Monday which indicate former LSP Col Mike Edmonson could get an over $128,000 annual pension for life if approved by the board. Edmonson retired last week amid criticism over the way he was handling the department .

A bill filed for the regular session seeks to fully fund TOPS by using a portion of riverboat gaming revenue. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil says, under the measure, TOPS would have to be fully funded, before riverboat gaming revenues can be used on other items in budget…:
Cut 9 (09) “off the top”
For the first time ever, the popular taxpayer funded scholarship didn’t cover all of a student’s tuition costs this year.

The Department of Education says a recent survey finds most families are happy with their kid’s daycare. Assistant Superintendent of Early Childhood, Jenna Conway, says they want to improve the programs further by figuring out ways to engage families in the learning process…:
Cut 6 (10) “that work”
The survey indicates 90 percent of respondents are likely to choose their program again.

Louisiana’s revised coastal restoration master plan will be taken up by lawmakers in the regular session, as part of the governor’s legislative package to protect and restore the state’s coast. Jennings Senator Blade Morrish co-authored the legislation. The master plan costs $50 billion and Morrish says some state dollars are used, but most of the funding comes from outside sources….:
Cut 14 (09) “settlement money”
The bill contains 120 projects to be completed in the next fifty years that will maintain over 800 square miles of coastal land.

The Orleans Parish Coroner released a report Monday highlighting accidental drug-related deaths last year. It said there were more than double the number of ODs than in 2015, and it is likely the first time that drug-related deaths have surpassed homicides in New Orleans history. The report said there were 211 drug-related deaths in 2016 as compared to 92 drug-related deaths in 2015.

An LSU survey finds voters do not support reducing the amount of the TOPS award as a way to save money. Don Molino has more…:
Cut 3 (25) “I’m Don Molino”

Meanwhile a bill is up for the upcoming session that would use more riverboat gaming revenue to go towards the TOPS program. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil says currently less than 25 percent of the 75% of gaming funds that go to the state general fund are used for education…:
Cut 8 (11) “for that purpose”

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has ruled the fatal fire on March 18th in East Feliciana Parish was arson-suicide. They believe 59-year-old James Gilliland of Ethel set fire to the home, then took his own life with a gun. Apparently the man was set to be evicted from the home that day as he informed the landlords he lost his job and couldn’t pay rent.

Lawmakers are slated to talk about the revised coastal restoration master plan in the session. It’s part of Governor Edwards legislative package. Jennings Senator Blade Morrish co-authored the bill and said it contains 120 projects that are fairly evenly divided between protection and restoration….:
Cut 15 (09) “Louisiana coast”
Nearly $18 billion would go toward marsh creation, $5 billion set aside for sediment diversion, and $19 billion for hurricane protection.

Jazz Fest officials today will announce stages and times for this year’s performers. The lineup this year includes some artists making up for last year’s rain-out, including Stevie Wonder. The schedule also includes Snoop Dogg, Maroon 5, Aaron Neville, Harry Connick Jr, Tom Petty and more.