Many Republican state lawmakers do not want to use the Rainy Day Fund to solve the 304 million dollar budget deficit and there is also a Democrat opposed to it, as well. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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Cardell Hayes, the man convicted of killing former Saints star Will Smith has had his sentencing delayed until March 27th. Prosecutors believe Hayes should be sentenced to prison for 60 years. He was convicted last month of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter; and was originally slated to be sentenced mid-February.

State Police Col Mike Edmonson credits a strong awareness campaign as the reason more human trafficking victims than ever are reaching out for help. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 104 cases of human trafficking were called in last year, compared to 75 in 2015. Edmonson says getting victims to come forward begins with compassion..:
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Louisiana ranked 20th in the nation for the most human trafficking cases reported in 2016.

Entergy Louisiana broke ground today on an 869-million dollar power plant in St. Charles Parish. Michael Burns with Entergy says this new power station will be one of the cleanest and most efficient..:
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Burns says the plant will begin operations in June of 2019.

Case data has recently been released on the number of human trafficking reports received in Louisiana in 2016 and it shows a significant increase. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 104 cases of human trafficking were called in last year, compared to 75 in 2015. State Police Col Mike Edmonson credits a strong awareness campaign…:
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The Polaris data indicates that more victims than ever are reaching out for help.

Several Republicans in the state legislature oppose using money from the Rainy Day Fund to solve a 304 million dollar budget deficit, but there is at least one Democrat who also doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Shreveport Senator Greg Tarver made the comments to News Radio 7-10 KEEL
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A special session will likely begin on February 13th to address the budget shortfall.

Despite media reports to the contrary, several polls indicate that many people support President Donald Trump’s controversial travel man to some Middle Eastern countries. A survey by Rasmussen finds 57-percent of people polled support the ban but LSU Political Communications Chair Martin Johnson says that data was from landlines only…:
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Johnson believes a lot of the outcry comes from how quickly the ban was issued bringing a lot of confusion.

Governor John Bel Edwards is on hand today as Entergy breaks ground on the massive new plant in St. Charles Parish. The construction project will require some 700 workers, and the plant will have 27 permanent workers once operational in mid-2019, Entergy said.

Although most main stream media outlets have produced critical reports of President Donald Trump’s travel ban, multiple polls released show quite a bit of support for the executive order. LSU Political Communications Chair Martin Johnson says he expected this, especially with Louisianans…:
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A survey from the University of Quinnipiac finds between 42 and 48-percent of people support the order.

The man convicted of killing former Saints player Will Smith will learn how much time he’ll spend in jail for the crime on March 27th. A judge in New Orleans today agreed to delay the sentencing. Hayes was convicted on December 11th of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of Smith and the wounding of his wife in an apparent road rage incident.

The National Federation of Independent Business is waiting to see which regulations President Donald Trump has cut in an executive order. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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Human trafficking data compiled from the National Human Trafficking Hotline finds Louisiana saw a significant jump in reported cases in 2016. It shows 104 instances of human trafficking were called in to the hotline last year, which included 74 cases of sex trafficking and 21 cases of labor trafficking. In 2015, 75 human trafficking cases were reported according to the data.

For the first time in the state’s history, Louisiana is willing to partner with private companies in the construction of roads. Don Molino has the story…:
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The Zachary man suspected of killing his ex-girlfriend’s father and then burning the victim’s house down has been arrested by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. Officials believe the suspect was upset because he was dumped which could be a motive in the killing. At the end of December, 34 year old James Henry Rivers allegedly broke into the victim’s home, bound him with wire, robbed him of his phone and dog and then caused injuries that killed him. Rivers faces many charges.

President Donald Trump will announce who he plans to nominate for Supreme Court Justice tonight to replace the late Antonin Scalia. One of the reported candidates is William Pryor of Alabama, who is a graduate Tulane and ULM. LSU Political Science Professor James Stoner says he would be an interesting choice because he didn’t go to Yale or Harvard:
cut 11 (12) “or Yale”
Stoner believes the nominee will be a young Republican with a strong conservative voice.

President Trump has ordered a controversial travel ban to seven Middle Eastern countries. Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says under the 8-year Obama administration, the threat of radical Islamic terror was ignored…:
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The Archdiocese of New Orleans has publicly stated the travel ban goes against Catholic principles.

President Donald Trump announces tonight who he will nominate to replace the late Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia. Jeff Palermo has more.:
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The big national news story is Mr. Trump’s controversial travel ban to several Middle Eastern Countries. Louisiana Republican Congressman Clay Higgins says many are overreacting to something imposed to keep Americans safe…:
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The president has removed the acting attorney general for refusing to defend the travel order in court.

Human trafficking data compiled from the National Human Trafficking Hotline finds Louisiana saw a significant jump in cases in 2016. It shows 104 instances of human trafficking were reported to the hotline last year, which included 74 cases of sex trafficking and 21 cases of labor trafficking. In 2015, 75 human trafficking cases were reported according to the data.

The National Federation of Independent Business is thrilled about President Trump’s executive order that reduces regulations on small businesses. State Director Dawn Starns says they are still learning exactly what will be included in this order because the Obama administration placed so many restrictions on small businesses…:
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The NFIB says the president’s order is a good first step on the long road toward eliminating ball-and-chain regulations so small businesses can create jobs and expand the economy.

President Donald Trump is receiving backlash for imposing a travel ban to seven Middle Eastern countries. Louisiana Republican Congressman Clay Higgins says it’s necessary to take a temporary pause in immigration from these countries while we ramp up our vetting process…:
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On this matter the big news nationally is that Mr. Trump fired acting attorney general Sally Yates for saying she’d refuse to defend the travel ban in court.

The I-10 corridor in the Baton Rouge area has been pegged as one of the biggest travel problems in the state, and for the first time in Louisiana’s history DOTD plans to ask for private donor help. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says public-private construction partnerships like this attract companies who are part of the global market…:
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Wilson says private investment is an innovative way in getting the cash necessary to fund construction.

President Trump has signed an executive order to reduce regulations on small businesses. National Federation of Independent Business’ State Director Dawn Starns says this order can only help business owners run and grow their businesses…:
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Mr. Trump said earlier Monday that he wants to eliminate “a little more than 75 percent” of the regulations now on the books.

The President will tonight announce who he plans to nominate for Supreme Court Justice to replace the late Antonin Scalia. LSU Political Science Professor James Stoner expects Mr. Trump will appoint a strong Republican voice to sit on the nation’s highest court for at least the next couple of decades…:
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One of the reported candidates is William Pryor of Alabama, who is a graduate Tulane and ULM.

For the first time in the state’s history, Louisiana’s transportation department is looking to see if a private company wants to help pay for highway projects to alleviate congestion along the I-10 corridor in the Baton Rouge area. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says investors have until March 31st to submit their proposals…:
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Wilson says private firms that step up to the plate and help finance highway improvements would receive long-term financial contributions from the state.

A man from Zachary is under arrest for allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house, robbing and murdering her father before setting the house on fire — according to the East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s Office. State Police identified the victim as 54-year-old David Allen. 34-year-old James Rivers faces a host of charges in the December 2016 incident, including first degree murder, second degree robbery, false imprisonment and simple Arson.

The National Federation of Independent Business is waiting to see which regulations President Donald Trump has cut in an executive order. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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Today Governor John Bel Edwards will speak at an economic development announcement with Entergy in St. Charles Parish. The news conference in Montz begins at 1:30pm.

A majority of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation supports President Donald Trump’s executive order placing travel bans on people from seven Middle Eastern countries. U.S. Senator John Kennedy supports the President’s order and says unlike former President Barack Obama, the Trump administration is enforcing America’s immigration laws…:
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Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmond opposes the order.

With a 304 million dollar budget deficit and a special session coming up next month, does that mean more cuts to healthcare services? Angela Lorio, co-founder of Trach Mommas of Louisiana, hopes families of elderly and disabled people are prioritized as they are stressed enough
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She says tapping into the rainy day fund is a no-brainer.

Restaurants have teamed up with the Well Ahead initiative to begin offering healthier options on their menu. Well-Ahead Louisiana director Melissa Martin says the partnership with the Louisiana Restaurant Association would help residents make smarter food choices. She says Louisiana is known for its great food, but just because a dish is healthy doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor..:
cut 11 (09) “some of those calories”
To learn more about the initiative visit well-ahead-la.com.

4-year-old Isiah Winfrey of Metairie was hit and killed while walking with his mother along a roadway in Jefferson Parish. State Police Trooper Melissa Matey says it’s up to motorists and pedestrians to remain vigilant of each other…:
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She says the driver has not been cited in the incident and the matter is under investigation.