Governor John Bel Edwards remains hopeful lawmakers can agree on a plan to fix the state’s 900-million dollar deficit. Jeff Palermo has the story…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Former Monroe TV personality “Mr. Wonder” has been indicted on sexual assault charges. Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Brian Mosley says 76-year-old Frank Selas was indicted on a long list of charges and the extradition process for him to come back to Louisiana from San Diego has begun…
CUT 4 (05) “warrant”

State Police arrested a second officer assigned to the US Drug Enforcement Administration task force suspected of stealing and selling drugs seized in raids. Karl Newman, a deputy with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and abuse of office. State police spokesperson, Maj. Doug Cain says the investigation is ongoing.
CUT 7 (10) “law enforcement agency”

The Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance has started a campaign to build support for a new I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River. George Swift, president and CEO of the alliance, says the “In for 10” campaign is necessary because the bridge is too dangerous for motorists and the community can’t wait any longer for a new bridge.
cut 13 (08) “and region”

The bridge was built in 1952.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the special legislative session aimed at solving a 940-million dollar budget deficit this fiscal year is heading in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go. Edwards is disappointed the House didn’t move the tax bills sooner, but is optimistic there’s enough time for the Senate to act…

Cut 11 (09) “be modified”

The special session ends March ninth.

The 13 tornadoes that hit Louisiana on Tuesday set a record for the most in a day in February, according to officials at the Storm Prediction Center. The record more than doubled the old record from 2008, which was 6. The most powerful twister hit a mobile home park in Convent, where 2 people were killed and 30 were injured. The weather service upgraded the ranking of the Sugar Hill RV Park tornado to EF-3 with winds up to 140 miles per hour.

The “In for 10” campaign to build support for a new I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River has been launched by the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. George Swift, president and CEO of the alliance, says the bridge endures heavy traffic every day, and that traffic will only get worse as more industrial projects move to the area in the next few years.

cut 14 (10)  “and safer”

It will take millions of dollars from the federal government to replace the bridge.

State Police arrested a second officer assigned to the US Drug Enforcement Administration task force suspected of stealing and selling drugs seized in raids. Karl Newman, a deputy with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, was booked on counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and abuse of office.  State police spokesperson, Maj. Doug Cain, says investigators will get to the bottom of the allegations.

CUT 8 (06) “their officers”

The House has passed legislation to the Senate that’s a combination of budget cuts and tax increases, including a one-cent increase on the state’s 4-cent sales tax. But The House believes the additional penny should be removed after 18-months, but Governor John Bel Edwards wants the penny to stay on the books, until long-term budget reforms are in place

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One of the items in the supplemental spending bill that the full House approved includes a mid-year cut to the state Department of Education which amounts to $52 million dollars, according to the Council for a better Louisiana. CABL President Barry Erwin says this would also take away payments for mandated student testing for the current school year. He says some deals were made and essentially the House just wanted to make a statement that they wanted to cut the budget further…:

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The Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance has launched a campaign to build support for a new I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River. George Swift, president and CEO of the alliance, says the “In for 10” campaign is important because the bridge is dangerous for motorists…

cut 12 (06) “pull over”

The bridge was built in 1952, and the National Bridge Inventory deemed it “basically intolerable” in 2009.

Frank Selas, better known as former Monroe TV personality “Mr. Wonder,” has been indicted on sexual assault charges. Investigators have identified 7 alleged victims as a result of a 1979 investigation, according to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office. The alleged crimes took place on a camping trip when Selas was a Cub Scouts leader. Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Brian Mosley says Selas will be brought back to Louisiana to face the charges.

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Governor John Bel Edwards says the special legislative session aimed at solving a 940-million dollar budget deficit this fiscal year is heading in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go. House republicans are hesitant to raise taxes to fill the budget hole, but Edwards says there’s been no evidence they can reduce the deficit without raising revenues..:
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Edwards says an 18 month sunset on the one-cent sales tax increase is not realistic.

State Police arrests a second officer assigned to the US Drug Enforcement Administration task force suspected of stealing and selling drugs seized in raids. Karl Newman, a deputy with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, was booked on counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and abuse of office. State police spokesperson, Maj. Doug Cain…:
CUT 6 (07) “the north shore”
Cain says this investigation is very much not over.

One of the items in the supplemental spending bill that the full House approved this week includes a mid-year cut to the state Department of Education which amounts to $52 million dollars, according to the Council for a better Louisiana. CABL President Barry Erwin says this would take away 85% of the DOE’s remaining cash on hand for the current fiscal year…:
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He says hopefully the Senate can recognize how short sighted these proposed cuts to education are and will fix it.

Thursday on the Jim Engster Show, Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell of North Louisiana announces he’s making preparations to run for the US Senate.

Lawmakers are back to work today after a day the House approved the one cent sales tax increase and sent it over to the Senate. Governor John Bel Edwards said to reporters today that the provision added in the lower chamber that the clean penny only be added for 18 months is not realistic, and he wants it to last longer. Louisiana is dealing with a current year $940 million dollar shortfall.

The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Louisiana’s admitting privilege law for abortion doctors can be enforced, and the Center for Reproductive Rights plans to take it to the high court.
Cut 2 (25) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Former Monroe TV personality “Mr. Wonder” has been indicted on sexual assault charges. Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Brian Mosley says a grand jury indicted 76-year-old Frank Selas on a long list of charges in connection to accusations he sexually assaulted children during a camping trip in the 70s..:
CUT 3 (11) “a juvenile”
He says the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office will travel to California were Selas is currently jailed and bring him back to face the charges.

Harrison Lee Riley Junior, the man accused of killing two people in Sunset and injuring two others, has pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder. The St. Landry Parish DA’s office allowed Riley Jr to enter the plea in exchange for two mandatory life sentences for the murder charges and 50 years each on the attempted murder charges.

It’s back to work at the Capitol today as lawmakers keep working to solve the state’s $940 million dollar deficit for this fiscal year. The lower chamber sent to the Senate legislation that cuts government spending by 100-million dollars, and it includes a 44-million dollar reduction for public schools. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says the state department of education is not happy…:
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The Senate now has the one penny sales tax increase bill and the House is set to take up items today including alcohol and cigarette tax raising bills.

North Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Democrat Foster Campbell announced on the Jim Engster Show that he is making preparations to run for the US Senate:
CUT 17 (11) “coming home”

Secretary of State Tom Schedler says heading into Thursday, 47,000 early votes were cast in the March 5th Louisiana Presidential Primary, compared to just 35,000 through the entire early voting period in 2012. He says it’s nice to see republican and democratic voters get involved in the process..:
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Early voting remains open through Saturday.

The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation has submitted a bid to host the SEC baseball tournament at Zephyr Field in Metairie from 2017 to 2021. President Jay Cicero says the Zephyr’s new owners are extremely supportive of the bid…:
Cut 5 (07) “home games”
The SEC baseball tournament has been held in Hoover, Alabama for the last 18 years. It’s expected the SEC will award a bid to host the tournament after the 12 team event is held in late May.

The Center for Reproductive Rights says the abortion admitting privileges law, which got the go-ahead this week by the 5th US circuit Court of Appeals, puts women’s health in jeopardy. Attorney David Brown says now there are only two clinics with abortion doctors who can admit patients to a nearby hospital, one in Shreveport and on in New Orleans…:
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He believes now woman will turn to unsafe ways to have an abortion. They plan to appeal the ruling to the US Supreme Court.

The man known as Mr. Wonder, a Monroe children’s television host in the 70s, has officially been indicted on rape charges according to an AP report. A grand jury in Rapides Parish indicted 76-year-old Frank John Selas III on two counts of aggravated rape, three counts of sexual batter and 8 counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Louisiana’s budget instability over the last several years has led Moody’s Investors Service to downgrade the state’s credit rating which makes it more expensive to borrow money for construction projects. Lawmakers say they are staying the course as the House sent the one penny sales tax increase bill to the Senate.

A Hammond woman was booked into jail Thursday after East Baton Rouge Parish Sherrif’s office says she was jumping up and down and dancing naked on top of a vehicle parked at the children’s clothing store “Oh Baby” on Jefferson Highway. A report indicates 52-year-old Elizabeth Ferger was cussing and shouting that she wanted to save the world then trashed the store and threw a metal table through a window. Deputies booked her into Parish Prison on several charges.

The SEC is thinking about moving its annual baseball tournament and New Orleans has put in a bid. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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The state House sends to the Senate a bill that will increase the state’s sales tax by another penny for 18 months starting April 1st. It’s expected to generate an estimated 200-million dollars this fiscal year, but Jeremy Alford with la-politics-dot-com says more needs to be done to deal with the 940-million dollar shortfall..:
Cut 10 (08) “to them”
The full House still has revenue generating tax measures to take up.

With two days to go, Secretary of State Tom Schedler says early voting totals for the March 5 Louisiana Presidential Primary have already surpassed 2012 numbers. He says there’s been a lot of interest in this Presidential election…:
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Lots of folks are buzzing about the Republican Presidential debate last night where Marco Rubio and, at times, Ted Cruz went on the attack of Donald Trump in an intense showdown.

The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Louisiana’s admitting privilege law for abortion doctors can be enforced, and the Center for Reproductive Rights plans to take it to the high court.
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

North Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell announced on the Jim Engster Show that he is making preparations to run for the US Senate. Campbell says if he goes to Washington he’ll bring is populist beliefs with him…:
Cut 16 (08) “Louisiana“

The House moved legislation that would raise the four-cent sales tax by one penny, but there’s still more work to do to solve the state’s budget crisis. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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A Shreveport Police Officer is on paid leave after allegedly driving drunk and crashing into a concrete wall on I-49. Shreveport PD says their patrol was called to the scene of a wreck around 5am Thursday where they located the driver of a truck, 38-year-old John Scheen of Shreveport. Investigators believe Scheen, a Shreveport Police Officer, lost control of his vehicle when he crashed. He was charged with DWI and placed on paid leave.

The Center for Reproductive Rights plans to appeal the ruling by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals that says Louisiana’s admitting privilege law for abortion doctors can be enforced. David Brown, an attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights, says the ruling will make it very difficult for Louisiana women to get a legal abortion…:
CUT 7 (08) “the internet”
He says they are appealing the 5th Circuit’s ruling to the US Supreme Court.

Public Service Commissioner Democrat Foster Campell announces he’s running for the US Senate. The North Louisiana PSC member said on the Jim Engster Show that he has the support of Governor John Bel Edwards and that Louisiana needs someone in Washington who isn’t afraid to speak their mind.