The Confederate monument issue was taken up in New Orleans federal court Thursday, and it appears as though the preservationists are facing an uphill battle. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Justice Department announces that a former Mamou police chief has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after using a stun gun on an inmate without provocation. Prosecutors say 44-year-old Robert McGee administered a five second shock to inmate, George Gradney, Jr., who was posing no threat at the time. McGee pleaded guilty in October to civil rights charges.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says the December 2015 Net Receipts Report shows total state revenue is down 15-percent from the same time the previous year. The report shows a drop in sales taxes, severance taxes, and corporation taxes. Kennedy advises legislators to be cautious in addressing this issue…

cut 6 (08) “a lot worse”

The state legislature will be looking at increasing state revenues in the upcoming legislative session.

LSU freshman basketball sensation, Ben Simmons, was in attendance during President Barack Obama’s town hall meeting at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. The Commander-in-Chief took some time to show Simmons some love…

cut 15 (15) “Ben is better”

Simmons attended the town hall with his father and sister.

While in Baton Rouge, President Barack Obama said the fact that Louisiana voters chose Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards proves elections do matter. The President urged Louisianans, during the town hall meeting at McKinley High, to support Edwards…

cut 14 (08) “up some stuff”

He said Edwards has already proven he will be a leader that isn’t afraid to make big decisions.

According to an LSU poll, people in Louisiana want to see a range of issues addressed in the expected special legislative session. Public Policy Research Lab Director Michael Henderson says there isn’t exactly a good fit between what the public wants and what the state needs to address. He says many people may not understand what a special session is designed to do…

cut 11 (09) “are important”

He says 66% of respondents want to see education, jobs, and health care addressed in the special session.

The Confederate monument issue was taken up in New Orleans federal court Thursday and it appears the preservationists are facing an uphill battle. US District Judge Carl Barbier is considering a plea by four groups seeking to stop the monuments removal. Legal analyst Chick Foret says it didn’t seem Judge Barbier found any federal jurisdiction in the case…

cut 7 (09) “elsewhere”

The judge did not indicate when he would rule.

The December 2015 Net Receipts Report shows total state revenue is down 15-percent from the same time last year. State Treasurer John Kennedy says the low oil prices are beginning to affect corporate taxes, sales taxes, and income taxes…

cut 5 (07) “go down”

The report does not include gambling revenues, fees, self-generated revenue, or statutory dedications the state receives.

President Barack Obama said in Baton Rouge Thursday, the fact that Louisiana voters chose Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards proves elections do matter. Mr. Obama said the people of Louisiana have spoken and Edwards has already proven he will be a leader that isn’t afraid to make big decisions…

cut 13 (09) “not going to be easy”

Edwards is dealing with a $700 million dollar shortfall he has to close in the remaining 6 months of the current budget year.

State Treasurer John Kennedy reports the December 2015 Net Receipts Report shows total state revenue is down 15-percent from the same time last year. The report shows a drop in sales taxes, severance taxes, and corporation taxes. Kennedy offers a simple explanation…

cut 4 (06) “right now”

He attributes much of the decline in revenue to the price of crude oil.

People in Louisiana want to see a range of issues addressed in a special session, according to an LSU poll. Governor John Bel Edwards has said he’ll call the legislature into a special session in February to address the state’s budgetary challenges. Public Policy Research Lab Director Michael Henderson says their survey found 66% of respondents want to see a broad range of matters addressed in the special session such as education, jobs, and health care. He says the findings are surprising.

cut 10 (10) “those issues”

Henderson says there isn’t exactly a good fit between what the public wants and what the state needs to address.

President Barack Obama held a town hall style meeting today at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said today that Drew Brees is going to remain the quarterback. In fact, during the end of the season news conference Loomis chuckled at the notion that Brees would be going anywhere. Brees is scheduled to count $30 million dollars against the Saints 2016 salary cap.

A rare January hurricane is churning in the Atlantic Ocean. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Hurricane Alex is the second hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin during this month. He says although rare, history has shown us it can happen…:
cut 16 (11) “2006″
He says Alex is only the fourth named storm to form in the month of January.

In the lead up to Wednesday’s $1.6 billion dollar Powerball drawing, nearly $23 million worth of Powerball tickets were sold in Louisiana for the week beginning Sunday, Jan. 10. More than 442,000 Louisiana Lottery players won cash prizes, according to the Louisiana Lottery, including a $1 million dollar ticket purchased in Franklinton.

President Barack Obama spoke in Baton Rouge today at McKinley High. He did make an “oops” as he was leaving…:
CUT 1 (05) “America”
He began the speech thanking Baton Rouge for having him and expressing his love for Louisiana….:
CUT 8 (08) “in Louisiana”
Before leaving town, Mr. Obama grabbed lunch to go from Poor Boy Lloyd’s, a well-known Baton Rouge po-boy shop on Florida Street. Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Governor John Bel Edwards were among those in attendance.

Retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness says he’ll officially announce his candidacy for the US Senate on Wednesday January 27th at the Kenner Park Pavillion.

A January hurricane has formed in the Atlantic for the first time since 1938. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson has been ordered by a Texas judge to give a deposition in the court battle over the family trust. Legal analyst Tim Meche says because the teams are owned by this irrevocable trust, he sees only one logical outcome in this dispute…:
cut 13 (08) “of those teams”

President Barack Obama held a town hall style meeting today at McKinley High School in the Capital City. The President’s visit is part of his annual tour following the State of the Union Address. Mr. Obama congratulated Governor John Bel Edwards on expanding Medicaid in Louisiana.

CUT 6 (12) “state’s finances”

Parks Senator Fred Mills has been named chairman of the state Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Mills says the committee’s main goal is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Louisiana. Opponents of Medicaid expansion say it could make the state’s fiscal problems worse than they are now. Mills is confident the legislature will do what’s best for the state…

CUT 5 (07)  “of Louisiana”

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson has been ordered by a Texas judge to give a deposition in the court battle over the family trust.  Legal analyst Tim Meche says this is an important ruling because the family claims Benson is being manipulated by those around him. He says the biggest problem in this case for Benson is that he created an irrevocable trust…

cut 12 (09) “can’t undo it”

A rare hurricane has formed in the Atlantic Ocean in January for the first time since 1938. State Climatologist Barry Alex is only the fourth named storm to form during this month in the Atlantic and the second hurricane to form in January in this ocean since 1851, when record keeping began.

cut 15 (10)  “very rare”

President Barack Obama visited the Capitol City today and spoke to a crowd at McKinley High. Before he began taking questions from the audience, he expressed his fondness for the Bayou State…:
CUT 8 (08) “in Louisiana”
This is the President’s 10th visit to Louisiana. Mr. Obama talked of visiting New Orleans during commemorations of the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

A former Louisiana teacher accused in a 2014 sex scandal involving an underage student has entered a plea of not guilty through her lawyer in Jefferson Parish. 33-year-old Shelley Dufresne, who taught at Destrehan High, faces two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Also accused, 25-year-old Rachel Respess, pleaded not guilty earlier to a charge of failure to report Dufresne’s crime. Dufresne was also charged in St. Charles Parish and has agreed to a plea deal to avoid having to register as a sex offender.

A rare hurricane has formed in the Atlantic Ocean in January for the first time since 1938. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Hurricane Alex is the second hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin during this month. Keim says Alex is scheduled to make landfall late tonight around the Azores…:
cut 14 (09) “colder water”
He says Alex is only the fourth named storm to form in the month of January in the Atlantic and the second hurricane to form in this month in this ocean since record keeping began in 1851.

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson, of West Monroe, has announced he’s supporting Republican Ted Cruz for President. GOP candidates will face off tonight in a debate broadcast on the Fox Business Network. In an endorsement video, Robertson says Cruz fits the bill…:
cut 10 (09) “or never”
The 9th season of Duck Dynasty premiered last night.