The Colorado State University forecast team is predicting a below-average 2015 Atlantic hurricane season. Dr. Phil Klotzbach says a typical hurricane season has 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and two major hurricanes…:
CUT 10 (07) “hurricane season”
He says the tropical Atlantic has cooled over the past several months and the chance of an El Nino forming is high and historical data indicates fewer storms form in these conditions.

Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo is very concerned about how some universities will be able to operate if lawmakers are not able to come up with a funding solution to the state’s one-point-six billion dollar budget deficit. Rallo says higher ed is facing a potential cut of about 600-million dollars in state funds…:
CUT 7 (08) “would not be viable”
LSU president and chancellor F King Alexander says every parish will feel the impact if these deep cuts go through.

Republican Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says he plans to amend the religious freedom bill he has filed amid public concerns but gay rights advocacy groups want the legislation pulled altogether. Johnson told the Jim Engster Show he’ll remove a paragraph in the bill that some believed gave businesses the right to deny benefits to same-sex couples as other married couples based on religious beliefs…:
CUT 3 (09) “has been alleviated”
Gay rights groups feel this bill legalizes discrimination and are banding together in opposition to Johnson’s legislation.

State Treasurer John Kennedy announces he will seek re-election this year. The letter ends speculation Kennedy would join the governor or attorney general races.

The legislative session begins Monday and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is raising an eyebrow at a proposal to eliminate refunds businesses receive for paying an inventory tax to local governments. LABI president Stephen Waguespack says companies would leave the state…:
CUT 10 (08) “bad mistake”
The Jindal administration has proposed scaling back inventory tax refunds to deal with the budget crisis.

The state Department of Education says the number of students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses for the current school year is up over 18% from the previous year. They say over the last four years the number of AP course enrollments has nearly doubled increasing almost 90% from the 2011-2012 school year. The increased participation is leading to more students scoring high enough grades to earn college credit.

The city of Jeanerette is mourning the loss of 22-year-old police officer Juandre Gilliam. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”
Funeral arrangements have been set for Gilliam with visitation Saturday at the Patterson Civic Center beginning at 8am. The suspects in the crash face charges including manslaughter, aggravated flight from an officer and criminal mischief.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office says the 10-year-old little boy who apparently accidentally stabbed himself in the stomach with a machete is out of surgery and doing well. They say the incident happened Wednesday evening in the woods where the child was playing outside his subdivision.

House Transportation Committee Chairwoman Karen St. Germain of Pierre Part files a bill that would increase Louisiana’s gasoline tax by 4 cents a gallon. Here’s Michelle Southern…

cut 2 (29) “reporting”

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a man after he crashed his vehicle in a neighborhood ditch and came out firing a gun. They say when residents went to check on the driver, Trimaine Ballard, he exited the vehicle with a firearm and began shooting. Ballard faces numerous charges including illegal use of a weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. No injuries were reported in the incident.

With the legislative session starting Monday, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack is concerned about a proposal to eliminate the inventory tax credit as a way to soften cuts to higher ed and health care. With public colleges facing an almost 600-million dollar cut in state funding, Waguespack says it’s time to give universities more autonomy to raise tuition and fees…

cut 12 (08) “to compete”

Waguespack says you’ll see companies leaving the state if the inventory tax credit is eliminated.

A bill filed by Metairie Representative Joe Lopinto would essentially make playing fantasy football online for money legal in Louisiana. Lopinto says the measure recognizes that winning outcomes of fantasy reflect relative knowledge and skill of those participating — and that it shouldn’t be considered gambling. He says many people have been clamoring for legislation like this to be filed…

cut 15 (08) “obviously do this”

Right now, “play-for-cash” computer fantasy football violates Louisiana gambling laws.

The leader of LABI, Stephen Waguespack, doesn’t want to see businesses harmed as the state deals with a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall. Scott Carwile…

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

Republican 5th District Congressman Ralph Abraham throws his support in Louisiana’s governor’s race behind US Senator David Vitter. In his endorsement, Abraham says Vitter has the knowledge and experience that he doesn’t see in any other candidate for the state’s top elected post. Vitter previously received the endorsement of Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany.

A bill has been filed by House Transportation Committee Chairwoman Karen St. Germain of Pierre Part that would increase Louisiana’s gasoline tax by 4 cents a gallon. The funds, about $120 million per year, would be dedicated to the state’s roads and bridges on a local level. President of Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association Ken Perret says good roads lead to good jobs and this isn’t about just fixing potholes but about developing a first class transportation system…:

cut 9 (05) “for all our citizens”

There are over $12 billion dollars in backlogged road and bridge needs in the state.

The city of Jeanerette is grieving the loss of 22-year-old police officer Juandre Gilliam. Gilliam was killed in the line of duty Tuesday night following a car crash during a high-speed chase. Gilliam was a native of Jeanerette and was a quarterback for Jeanerette High School. Jeanerette Police Chief Marvin Grogan says Gilliam was relatively new to the police force…

cut 5 (06) “eager to learn”

Funeral services for Gilliam are scheduled for Saturday at the Patterson Civic Center.

Representative Karen St. Germain of Pierre Part, House Transportation Committee Chairwoman, files a bill that would increase the state’s gasoline tax by 4 cents a gallon. Dollars raised by the increased tax would go to the Parish Transportation Fund which finances local projects. President of Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association Ken Perret says this would also take some of the burden off of the statewide Transportation Trust fund…:

cut 8 (10) “as well as local needs”

The measure was also submitted by Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Robert Adley of Benton.

The city of Jeanerette is mourning the loss of 22-year-old police officer Juandre Gilliam. Gilliam was killed in the line of duty Tuesday night following a car crash during a high-speed chase. Jeanerette Police Chief Marvin Grogan says Gilliam was an asset to the force…

cut 4 (07) “with the community”

Grogan says it was Gilliam’s childhood dream to become a police officer.

With the legislative session starting Monday, the head of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is concerned about a Jindal administration proposal to eliminate refunds businesses receive for paying an inventory tax to local governments. LABI president Stephen Waguespack believes there are other solutions, including eliminating the inventory tax all together, which actually saves the state money…

cut 11 (07) “responsible way”

He says eliminating refunds will cause business to leave the state.

Metairie Representative Joe Lopinto files a bill that would essentially make playing fantasy football online for money legal. He says under the measure, Louisiana residents wouldn’t be restricted from collecting money online if they win at fantasy…:

cut 14 (08) “state of Louisiana”

Right now in Louisiana, “play-for-cash” computer fantasy football violates state gambling laws.

With the legislative session starting soon, the head of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is concerned about a proposal to eliminate refunds businesses receive for paying an inventory tax to local governments. LABI president Stephen Waguespack says you’ll see companies leaving the state if it happens…

cut 10 (08) “bad mistake”

The Jindal administration has proposed scaling back inventory tax refunds to deal with the budget crisis.

Metairie Representative Joe Lopinto files a bill for the upcoming legislative session that would essentially make playing fantasy football online for money legal. Right now in Louisiana, “play-for-cash” computer fantasy football would violate state gambling laws. Lopinto says there are numerous states which create gambling exceptions for fantasy…

cut 13 (08) “game of skill”

Lopinto says the bill specifies that no winning outcome would be based on scores, point spreads or on any single performance of a certain athlete.

House Transportation Committee Chairwoman Karen St. Germain of Pierre Part files a bill that would increase Louisiana’s gasoline tax by 4 cents a gallon. The funds, about $120 million per year, would be dedicated to the state’s roads and bridges on a local level. President of Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association Ken Perret says the funding is badly needed…

cut 7 (10) “to increase funding”

The measure was also submitted by Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Robert Adley of Benton. Dollars raised by the increased tax would go to the Parish Transportation Fund which finances local projects.

State Police is investigating an Iberia Parish crash which claimed the life of a Jeanerette Police officer. Master Trooper Brooks David says 22-year-old Juandre Gilliam was conducting a traffic stop when the suspect fled. Detectives determined the cop crashed his car in the chase and it overturned…:
CUT 4 (08) “pronounced dead”
There are two suspects, one a juvenile, and charges are pending in the tragedy.

The National Hurricane Museum and Science Center in Lake Charles has taken another big step toward opening, as the Stream family has made a pledge of one million dollars toward the project. The total amount contributed so far is about 40 million dollars, and Gray Stream says they’re about 15 million dollars away from the goal…
CUT 13 (09) Q: ‘big part of that”

An Orleans Parish grand jury has indicted millionaire murder suspect Robert Durst on gun charges in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

Baton Rouge Mayor President Kip Holden sort-of already spilled the beans this morning at a press conference, but it looks like the Miss USA pageant is officially once again coming to the Capitol City. The Baton Rouge Metro Council unanimously approved funding for the event in 2015 Wednesday afternoon.

State Police are investigating a crash in Iberia Parish that killed a Jeanerette Police officer last night. Here’s Eric Gill with more…
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

Republican US Senator David Vitter has picked up another endorsement for his campaign for Louisiana governor today. Fifth district Congressman Ralph Abraham announced that he is throwing his support to the Senator, saying Vitter has released a clear plan to stabilize the budget through spending and tax reform.
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An Orleans Parish grand jury has indicted millionaire murder suspect Robert Durst on gun charges in Louisiana. Durst’s attorney, Dick DeGuerin, has been attempting to get Durst extradited to California to face murder charges there. Legal analyst Tim Meche says this indictment means Durst won’t be going to California any time soon…
CUT 9 (09) “to get out”
Durst is charged for the 2000 shooting death of Susan Berman.

The coming National Hurricane Museum and Science Center in Lake Charles receives a $1 million dollar pledge toward the building and operations. The gift from the Stream family is the largest private donation since fundraising for facility began four years ago. Gray Stream says they are motivated by the fact that the Center promises to save lives…:
cut 12 (08) “educated by it”
He says they’re about 15 million dollars away from their financial goal.