The Restore Louisiana Task Force approves a proposal for how to spend $1.2 billion in federal flood aid allocated by Congress. Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor’s Office, Julie Baxter Payer, says 938-million dollars will go towards rebuilding and repairing flooded homes…:
cut 4 (08) “flood plain”
This state plan must get approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Today marks the start of tax season, as Louisiana residents can begin filing federal and state income taxes. Baton Rouge CPA Brandon Lagarde says if you plan to use a tax preparer to file your taxes, make sure you have all your documentation together and organized…:
Cut 10 (08) “the process”
Federal returns are due April 18th this year, while state taxes must be filed by May 15th.

Homelessness is down 68-percent in Louisiana over the past seven years based on an estimate from the federal government. Emelie Gunn has more.:
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Funeral services have been announced for the Westwego officer who was fatally shot Friday morning while attempting to help out a woman he thought was in a traffic accident. Michael Louviere, who leaves behind a wife and 4-year-old girl and 1-year-old boy, will be laid to rest on Friday in Harvey.

Louisiana is looking at a stormy weather today and tomorrow. Emelie Gunn has more on what we can expect…:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

There is a large police presence on the Crescent City Connection in New Orleans where news outlets report cops are trying to determine if the man threatening to jump is the suspect who killed a Westwego cop and woman in Jefferson Parish this morning. The shooter is identified as Sylvester Holt, who allegedly killed 26-year-old Officer Michael Louviere and another person.

In his last days in office, former President Barack Obama approved sentence reductions for 330 federal inmates, 23 of those are from Louisiana. LSU New Orleans Public Health Criminologist Dr. Peter Scharf says these commutations were mostly drug related…:
cut 12 (08) “drug offenses”
He feels the former president needs to go public with an explanation.

Hundreds of thousands of women are expected to gather in the nation’s capital one day after President Trump’s inauguration for the Women’s March on Washington. Alyssa Leader of West Monroe is one of those. She says as an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, for her, this is personal…:
Cut 10 (12) “against women”
The march begins at 10 a.m.

A cop and civilian are dead after being gunned down in Jefferson Parish this morning. That’s according to Sheriff Newell Normand who says 26-year-old Officer Michael Louviere leaves behind a wife and two children and recently celebrated a birthday. He says these tragic incidents are the things officers worry when they go to bed at night…:
Cut 5 (09) “worry about”
He identifies the suspect as 32-year-old Sylvester Holt who has not yet been apprehended.

Hundreds of thousands of women are gathering in nation’s capital one day after President Trump’s inauguration for the Women’s March on Washington. Alyssa Leader of West Monroe is one of those and she says they hope to deliver a clear message to the new administration…:
Cut 9 (09) “or immigrants”
The march begins at 10 a.m.

Louisiana is looking at a wet and stormy weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the Storm Prediction Center forecasts that majority of Louisiana could see strong winds, hail, and tornadoes today and tomorrow…:
Cut 6 (09) “thunderstorms”
Keim says the greatest threat for severe weather could occur in northeast Louisiana on Saturday.

Democratic New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu weighs in on his feelings about the Trump Administration. He says no matter what, Trump is now the president but America is stronger than any one person…:
cut 12 (09) “time”.

Today is inauguration day and Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District says he’s elated about the future under the Trump Administration. The Cajun John Wayne says he’s already learned a lot in D.C. and, in many ways, it’s exactly what he expected..:
CUT 4 (11) “in American man

West Monroe High School’s Rebel Band will represent the Bayou State in the historic 58th inaugural parade. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Information is still being gathered on the shooting of a cop and another woman in Jefferson Parish. The two are said to be in very serious condition.

The mayor of the Webster Parish town of Doyline who was arrested on domestic battery charges, has resigned. Gary Carter allegedly assaulted his wife and said through his attorney that he’s embarrassed and feels that stepping down is what’s best.

KNOE is reporting that a pizza delivery driver who was allegedly being robbed, shot and killed one of the suspects. It states two men ordered pizza and when the driver arrived they attempted to rob him. That’s when the delivery driver shot and killed one in self-defense. The are still looking for the second suspect.

Republican State Representative Lance Harris of Alexandria has proposed a plan to cut the state’s budget without calling another special session. It includes a big cut to healthcare, but also K-12, prisons and capital outlay. But Democratic Representative Gene Reynolds of Minden says some of those cuts are matched with federal funds…:
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Harris says Louisiana has a spending problem but Governor Edwards calls the plan vague.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office reports a cop and another woman were shot at an intersection in Marrero this morning. They say both victims suffered very serious injuries and the search is on for the person responsible and a U-Haul pickup truck the shooter was driving.

More than 170 soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard are in Washington D.C. today to support the massive security effort surrounding the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.

Democratic New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu weighs in on his feelings about the Trump Administration. He says no matter what, Trump is now the president but America is stronger than any one person…:
cut 12 (09) “time”

Haydels Bakery is offering a reward for anyone with information about who stole one of their trucks filled with Mardi Gras supplies. The reward? A free king cake every week for a year.

The West Monroe High band is performing in the inaugural parade today. Director Robert Freeman says this is very different than when they played in 2005, but he’s glad the band and members of the West Monroe community were able to rise above the fray…:
Cut 9 (08) “58th inaugural”

Newly elected Acadiana Congressman Clay Higgins says he’s humbled and uplifted to be in attendance for the swearing in of Donald Trump…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The West Monroe High School Rebel Band gets the prestigious honor of performing in the inaugural parade at the nation’s capital today. Band director Robert Freeman says roughly 200 band members will entertain parade goers with a clever arrangement of “You Are My Sunshine,” “Jambalaya,” and “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
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He says he’s proud that the band and members of the West Monroe community were able to rise above this hot political climate.

Alexandria Republican Representative Lance Harris has proposed a plan to that would solve the state’s budget deficit without going into a special session. He thinks healthcare, K-12, prisons and capital outlay can deal with cuts right now..:
CUT 14 (09) “have the money”
Governor John Bel Edwards says Harris’ plan is vague and cuts like this would devastate these agencies.

State Police say a one-year-old baby has become the fourth victim of a deadly Allen Parish crash in which impairment is the suspected factor. They believe by 23-year-old Tyler J. Bamburg of Mamou was driving drunk when he crossed a center line and slammed head on into a vehicle occupied by Porsha and Derrick Williams of Kinder, and the baby. All involved in the crash were killed.

One of the state’s top Democrats, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu shares his feelings on the future of the Trump administration. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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Republican State Representative Lance Harris of Alexandria has proposed a plan to cut the state’s budget without calling another special session, but the tentative plan is already getting push back from Democrats. Harris’ plan does not call for cuts to public colleges, but it would levy a $147 million cut to the state Department of Health…:
Cut 13 (10) “14 years”
But Democratic Representative Gene Reynolds of Minden says public schools and hospitals can’t handle these cuts in the middle of the year. He says there has to be a better way to address the state’s budget problems…:
Cut 15 (07) “better option”
Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement about the plan, saying the recommendations are vague, and blindly slashing programs and statutory dedications could be devastating to these agencies.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is considered one of the leading Democrats in the state, and he weighs in on his feelings about the Trump administration. Landrieu says both Republicans and Democrats like President Trump’s proposal to invest one trillion dollars on infrastructure…:
Cut 10 (11) “we like”
But Landrieu says bi-partisan leaders are concerned about the immediate repeal of Obamacare without a replacement.

Republican Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District is looking forward to the changes that will come under the new administration. He says voters sent a clear message last November and now it’s time to deliver…:
Cut 5 (12) “a better day”