Prices at the pump continue to rise. Gregg Laskowski with GasBuddy-dot-com says the national average for a gallon of gas is up three-cents since last week. He says Louisiana is seeing similar price increases, as the statewide average is nearing two-dollars for a gallon of regular gasoline…:
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But he says Louisiana’s statewide average is 36 cents lower than it was at the same time last year.

Investigators from Iberville Parish are in Humble, Texas today to find out more information about the woman who was found dead under I-10 near Whiskey Bay. Sheriff Brett Stassi says the body of 28-year-old Elizabeth Ferrell of Humble was discovered by a fisherman over the weekend…:
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There is the chance of an 11 percent reduction in retail food inspectors if lawmakers approve of the governor’s proposed budget for next fiscal year. Department of Health and Hospital spokesperson Bob Johannessen says this means they would not be able to check out as many grocery stores and restaurants as they are now….:

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He says this could impact people’s health and hurt tourism in Louisiana because we’re known for our great food.

A state Senate panel advanced a measure known as the Raise the Age bill on Monday. Louisiana is currently one of nine states that charges a 17-year-old as an adult, but this proposal, approved unanimously in the upper chamber committee room, raises the age to 18. The bill now goes to the full Senate for approval.

FBI documents obtained by the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication reveal that during the mid-60s former-Governor John McKeithen made payments to the KKK to suppress racial violence. Jeff Palermo has more…
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Authories say foul play is suspected in the death of a 16-year-old girl from Kenner whose body was found in a ditch in St. Rose. The St. Charles Parish Sheriff office says Jorian White was reported missing from her home on Friday evening. They’re asking for anyone with information to come forward.

A Monroe woman is being evaluated at the Ouachita Parish Correctional Center after kidnapping a newborn from St. Francis Hospital. Monroe Police Detective Chris Bates says 24-year-old Anquinisha Cummings entered the hospital room with a mother and her baby and after visiting for a few hours, the mother went to the bathroom and came back to an empty room.
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Bates says Cummings is believed to have mental problems.

Louisiana might be the first state to have digital driver’s licenses. The House Transportation Committee passed legislation today that would allow drivers to pull up their licenses on a smart phone app. Deputy Commissioner with the Office of Motor Vehicles Stacy White says this would let people access their information if they don’t have their actual license with them.
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There is far less controversy this year when it comes to standardized testing compared to last year when public school students took Common Core exams. President of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents Hollis Milton says teachers are more prepared now since testing is later in the school year.
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Milton believes there will be a much smaller number of students who opt out of the test.

FBI records found Former-governor John McKeithen paid the KKK in the 1960s to stop violent racial outbreaks. Executive Secretary to McKeithen, Gus Weill, says he knew nothing about the payments at that time but was told by a man that McKeithen arranged to pay 10-thousand dollars to both black and white supremacist groups to stop violence in Bogalusa.
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A bill was approved by a House committee to allow drivers to access their license through a smart phone app.
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Louisiana’s budget shortfall has fallen to 600 million dollars from 750 million dollars. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says these savings come from Governor John Bel Edwards Medicaid expansion and the estimated people expected to use the service next fiscal year. The governor is proposing cuts to many state agencies to help close the gap and is planning a special session in June to raise additional revenue.

The House Transportation Committee passed a bill today that would allow people to access their drivers license from an app on their phone. OMV Deputy Commissioner Stacy White says this would allow people to have their license information on them even if they left the actual card at home. She says it wouldn’t be mandatory…:
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She says you would still have to have your license on your person if the establishment that you’re visiting still requires it such as a casino.

The man who was driving the vehicle which caused a triple fatality crash in Terrebonne Parish has been identified, and State Police suspect alcohol and speed were factors. On April 20th, troopers say 31-year-old Rafael Fandino of Metairie was driving a Civic when he crossed the center line and hit two vehicles coming the other direction including an 18 wheeler. Fandino and two other occupants of the Civic, all unrestrained, were killed in the crash.

FBI documents obtained by the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication reveal that during the mid-60s former-Governor John McKeithen made payments to the KKK to suppress racial violence. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told senators Monday that Louisiana’s projected budget shortfall for next fiscal year is down to $600 million dollars. That’s down from the previous estimate of $750 million. Dardenne says the savings is coming from the computed number of people who are expected to qualify for Medicaid under Governor John Bel Edwards planned expansion which begins July 1st.

Former-Governor John McKeithen made payments to the KKK in the 1960s to stop racial violent outbreaks. That’s based on FBI records obtained by the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication. Gus Weill, Executive Secretary to the former-governor, knew nothing about the payments at the time, but says he was recently told by a man that McKeithen arranged a payment of 10-thousand dollars to leaders of both black and white supremacist groups to stop a violent outbreak in Bogalusa…:
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He says this information doesn’t surprise him as McKeithen often went out of his way to end racial violence.

A nurse from Thibodaux is under arrest for allegedly forging prescriptions in the name of the doctor she worked for. They say a pharmacy in Houma let the doctor know about suspicious prescriptions being written and filled at their location with the doctor’s signature. The nurse, 49-year-old Vickie Ezell of Houma, was arrested for unlawfully prescribing, distributing or dispensing.

The body found in Whiskey Bay over the weekend has been identified as Elizabeth Ferrell of Humble, Texas. Her death is being investigated as a homicide by the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Public school students are taking standardized tests this week and without all of the fanfare and opt outs as Common Core tests received in the past — even though the assessments are similar. That’s according to Hollis Milton, president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents. He feels people are becoming more educated on what the standards are all about…:
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The test this year is called LEAP 2016. Milton also feels things are quieter because the testing is taking place later in the year giving teachers more time to prepare kids.

Standardized testing is underway in Louisiana this week and there is far less controversy surrounding the 2016 exams than in years past. That’s according to Hollis Milton, president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents. He attributes that, in part, to educators feeling better prepared since the testing is taking place later in the school year…:
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Milton anticipates there will be a much smaller number of students who opt of the test which is now called LEAP 2016.

The budget shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1st is down to $600 million dollars. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told Senators that the gap, which was once $750 million dollars, dropped thanks to Governor John Bel Edwards’ planned Medicaid expansion that begins next fiscal year.

A 24-year-old Monroe woman is being evaluated at the Ouachita Parish Correctional Center after she kidnapped a newborn from St. Francis Hospital. Monroe Police Detective Chris Bates says Anquinisha Cummings entered a hospital room occupied by a woman and her 3-day-old infant, claiming that a mutual friend had sent her. Bates says after visiting for a couple of hours, the mother of the child went to the bathroom and came back to an empty room:
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He says the suspect took the child home. She later turned herself in to police and was charged with one count of aggravated kidnapping of a child.

Lawmakers decided not to take up the bill that would make it illegal for a business in the private sector to fire someone based on their sexual orientation. The measure, which was previously on the agenda in the House Civil Law committee today, reportedly did not have enough votes, but it’s expected to return to the table next week.

A motorist who commits a moving violation when a child under the age of 15 is in the vehicle faces tougher fines under a bill set to be heard in the House Transportation Committee today. Baton Rouge Representative Paula Davis says she hopes to raise awareness about how dangerous bad driving habits are, and children have no control in a vehicle…:
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She believes the increased fines will help stop dangerous driving with children in the car.

A measure which seeks to stop the LHSAA from splitting playoffs for select-non-select schools is on the House floor schedule for today. Opponents don’t think it’s lawmakers job to be involved with the LHSAA. But River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot says he brought the bill because the LHSAA should not be separating schools based on whether they are public or private…:
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Educational TV shows in French are airing on Louisiana Public Broadcasting. LPB’s program director Jason Viso says French teachers are thrilled about helping future Francophones learn more about the language….:
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The shows are airing on LPB 2 between 3pm and 5pm Monday through Friday and also on the weekends.

A 56-year-old woman allegedly barged into a home Sunday afternoon and began stabbing another woman, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department. They say Teresa Ross is charged with counts of attempted second degree murder and home invasion for allegedly attacking the victim with a knife for messing with her man — leaving wounds to the victim’s chest and arm. The injuries are not life threatening according to authorities.

The body of a woman was recovered in Whiskey Bay and officials are treating it as a homicide. The Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office says an autopsy on the body, which they say was likely in Whiskey Bay not longer than 72 hours, is scheduled for today and the investigation is ongoing.