Early voting begins tomorrow for Louisiana’s Presidential Preference Primary which will be held on March 5th. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says only registered Republicans and Democrats will be able to vote in their respective primaries…:
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Early voting runs through next Saturday.

Attorney General Jeff Landry announces new polices that attempt to rid his department of public corruption. Landry says one new policy eliminates all outside government legal contracts with District Attorneys and their civil practices. And He says fulltime lawyers in his office will no longer take on private legal cases on the side…:
Cut 10 (09) “the department”
He also announced the termination of existing contracts with outside council in the BP litigation.

Apple is fighting the federal government over hacking into iPhones and the ruling could impact a murder case in Baton Rouge. Halen Doughty has the story…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

It’s opening day in college baseball and the 7th ranked LSU Tigers host the Cincinnati Bearkats tonight at Alex Box Stadium. The 6th ranked Ragin Cajuns host Sam Houston State.

A federal judge in New Orleans has rejected former Saints star Darren Sharper’s plea deal. Sharper who is accused of drugging and raping women in several states was hoping to get a nine-year sentence, but Judge Jane Triche Milazzo says the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Legal analyst Chick Foret says Sharper has three options in front of him…
cut 8 (10) “…sentence”
Judge Milazzo had said the accusations against Sharper should lead to a 15 to 20 year prison sentence if found guilty.

State Police has charged a St. Mary Parish man with 18 counts of attempted murder of a police officer. 50-year-old Derrick Bodin of Baldwin was taken into custody after extenstive investigation. Authorities say Bodin shot at multiple officers who came to the aid of a shooting victim on December 27th .

Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says her agency needs 15-million dollars or she’ll be forced to furlough and layoff employess, which would impact adults and children who are in need…
cut 5 (09) “….food stamp program”

DCFS is in need of resources to care for the more than four-thousand children in foster care in Louisiana.

South Louisiana law enforcement are actively searching for the seven remaining wanted fugitives of the Gremlins Criminal Gang and their search efforts have been boosted by the latest video message from the “Cajun John Wayne.” Captain Clay Higgins with St. Landry’s parish sheriff’s office asks the public to contact police with any information about these crimes of the whereabouts of the wanted fugitives.

Cut 11 (04) “our knees”

The video has received over 8 million views.

Marketa Garner Walters, secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, tells legislators her department is in need of resources to care for the more than four-thousand children in foster care in Louisiana. Walters says the process of finding a place to stay can be difficult on children from abusive homes.

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Walters says without sufficient funding, Louisiana could receive federal penalties for falling short of the national standards for these agencies.

A debate broke out at the state capitol over a tax credit that benefits working individuals with low incomes. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala has legislation to do away with the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says in parishes like East Carroll and Madison, over 50-percent of the state’s tax filers receive the earned income tax credit. Leger is proposing to double the earned income tax credit, which would actually help the state and local economy.

cut 14 (12)  “necessities of life”

A federal judge officially rejected Former Saints safety Darren Sharper’s plea bargain in the case where he allegedly drugged and raped multiple women. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says Sharper is facing accusations in three other states and agreed to nine years in jail after pleading guilty in those jurisdictions. But Foret says US District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo believes nine years isn’t enough…

CUT 6 (10) “be convicted”

Judge Milazzo gave Sharper until March 3^rd to withdraw his guilty plea.

South Louisiana law enforcement are actively searching for the seven remaining wanted fugitives of the Gremlins Criminal Gang and their search efforts have been boosted by the latest video message from the “Cajun John Wayne.” Captain Clay Higgins with St. Landry’s parish sheriff’s office says the gang is very active in Acadiana and Higgins called out the remaining fugitives in a viral internet video.

CUT 9 (05)  “like you”

The video has received over 8 million views on St. Landry Parish’s Facebook page.

The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services tells legislators her department is in need of resources to care for the more than four-thousand children in foster care in Louisiana. Marketa Garner Walters spoke to the House of Appropriations about the $10.9 million hole in the DCFS budget. Garner says the process of finding a place to stay can be difficult on children from abusive homes.

CUT 4 (10)  “wanted there”

Walters says DCFS deals with things like child abuse investigation, foster care, food stamps, and child support enforcement.

A federal judge officially rejected Former Saints safety Darren Sharper’s plea bargain in the case where he allegedly drugged and raped multiple women. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says Judge Milazzo said this morning, the original plea deal does not reflect the severity of the crime.

CUT 7 (09) “plea bargain”

South Louisiana law enforcement are actively searching for seven wanted fugitives from the Gremlins Criminal Gang and their search efforts have been boosted by the latest video message from the “Cajun John Wayne.” Captain Clay Higgins with St. Landry’s parish sheriff’s office asks the public to contact police with any information about the gang’s crimes of the whereabouts of the fugitives.

Cut 11 (04) “our knees”

Higgins says the fugitives are armed and dangerous. Authorities say the Gremlins are responsible for violent crimes including murder, armed robbery, burglary, and drug trafficking.

37-year-old Shauna Reid allegedly attempted to check the wrong child into school in Calcasieu parish, while under the influence of prescribed narcotics. According to law enforcement, Reid brought a 3-year-old family member to school claiming it was her 6-year-old family member, but the 6-year-old was already in class. Reid was taken to a local hospital where she submitted to a toxicology test. She was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on one charge of cruelty to a juvenile. The Department of Child and Family Services placed the 3-year-old in the custody of a family member.

A federal judge officially rejected Former Saints safety Darren Sharper’s plea bargain in the case where he allegedly drugged and raped multiple women. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says Sharper is facing accusations in three other states and agreed to nine years in jail after pleading guilty in those jurisdictions. But Foret says US District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo believes nine years isn’t enough…:
CUT 6 (10) “be convicted”
Judge Milazzo gave Sharper until March 3rd to withdraw his guilty plea.

South Louisiana law enforcement are actively searching for the seven remaining wanted fugitives of the Gremlines Crimingal Game and their search efforts have gone viral with the Cajun John Wayne. St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s OFfice Captain Clay Higgins called out fugitives in the video:
CUT 9 (05) “like you”
The video had over 8 million views in less than 24 hours.

Marketa Garner Walters, secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, spoke to legislators about a $10 million hole in the DCFS budget. Halen Doughty reports…:
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The State Bond Commission has approved $375 million dollars in funding for projects across the state, and more than $35 million in interest savings.

The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services tells legislators her department is in need of resources to care for the more than four-thousand children in foster care in Louisiana. Marketa Garner Walters spoke to the House Appropriations Committee about the $10.9 million dollar hole in the DCFS budget. She says there is a shortage of foster homes…:
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She says Louisiana could face federal penalties if it falls short of meeting required standards for the agency.

Today a federal judge in New Orleans did not accept the plea deal set forth by former NFL & Saints star Darren Sharper on charges he drugged and raped several women. The ruling indicated that the 9-10 year prison sentence Sharper agreed to in exchange for pleading guilty in four states was too lenient. Sharper now has to decide before his sentencing hearing on March 3rd whether or not he wants to withdraw the guilty plea.

Lawmakers are considering raising the tax on alcohol for the first time since 1948 to help solve the state’s budget crisis. Halen Doughty has more:
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Tough second half for the LSU men’s basketball team as they lost their first home game in SEC play last night. The Tigers shot 32-percent in the second half against the Crimson Tide and lost to Alabama 76 to 69. LSU was outscored 45-33 in the final 20 minutes. Free throw shooting was a problem as they missed 15.

The House Ways and Means Committee is taking up several tax measures today for debate, but not yet vote. Republican Representative Chris Broadwater of Hammond says, in regards to the one cent sales tax, there is concern about whether or not it would be utilized short term or something that would stick…:
CUT 5 (10) “that need to be made”
Broadwater says it remains to be seen if lawmakers will decide to make this part of the solution to the budget crisis.

A federal judge in New Orleans did not accept the guilty plea put forth by former Saints player Darren Sharper in the drug and rape case. Last year Sharper said he was guilty of drugging and raping women in four states in exchange for a 9 year prison sentence, but today the judge said she didn’t think that the punishment reflected the seriousness of the alleged crime. Sharper must decide before a sentencing hearing next month whether he wants to withdraw his guilty plea.

Folks who are in the business of alcohol in Louisiana are not happy the state is considering an increase in the taxes on spirits. Alcohol taxes in Louisiana have not been raised since 1948. John Williams with the Beer Industry League of Louisiana says the tax increase in 1948 devastated the beer brewing industry in Louisiana. He says the state still has one of the highest alcohol taxes in the country…:
Cut 15 (05) “excise tax”
The measure to increase the tax on alcohol would go into effect beginning in April if it passes.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is expected to make a major policy change announcement this afternoon at the state capitol. In a release, Landry says the new guideline is aimed at ending the appearance of corruption as he’s committed to running an honest, ethical agency.

LSU Football coach Les Miles introduced two new additions to his coaching staff Wednesday. Jabbar Juluke is the new Tigers running backs coach while Dameyune Craig will be in charge of wide receivers.

A Republican lawmaker from Hammond says serious tax discussions are taking place in committee today including the one cent sales tax increase.
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Some lawmakers aren’t happy about threatening LSU football unless taxes are raised. But Democratic Baton Rouge Representative Pat Smith says lawmakers should be doing whatever possible to make sure schools stay open for students…:
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State Representative Kenny Cox of Natchitoches is proposing a higher tax on alcohol as a way to help close the state’s huge budget deficit. But if it happens, local craft beer breweries are worried that people while opt for cheaper alcohol as opposed to beverages made in Louisiana. State Representative Mike Huval of Breaux Bridge says this tax could hurt people that are trying to build their business in an already fragile economy..:
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Alcohol taxes in Louisiana have not been raised since 1948.

The Louisiana Supreme Court delays the scheduled March 14th execution of the so-called River Parishes serial killer Daniel Blank. He was sentenced to death for the brutal beating death of a 71-year-old Ascension Parish woman in 1997. Blank’s attorney, Gary Clements, says his client admitted to a crime after a 12-hour interrogation…:
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The state alcohol tax hasn’t been raised since the late 1940s but that could change as lawmakers working to solve the state’s budget crisis…:
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Republican Representative Chris Broadwater of Hammond, who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, says the proposal to increase the state sales tax by a penny is a significant part of the discussion at the capitol:
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The measure gets its first committee hearing today.

A lawmaker from north Louisiana rolls his eyes at the notion that there would be no college football in the spring because of potential cuts to higher ed. Republican State Representative Steve Pylant of Winnsboro says campuses shouldn’t be threatening to shut down unless they get more money. He’s says he’s against raising taxes to solve the problem and compares the matter to feeding hogs…:
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But others say lawmakers should be doing whatever is necessary to make sure schools remain open for students.

The state Supreme Court delays the scheduled March 14th execution of the so-called River Parishes serial killer Daniel Blank. His attorney, Gary Clements, says his client is innocent and the state needs to give the case another look…:
CUT 13 (06) “an execution”
He says the corrections department doesn’t have lethal injection drugs anyway.