The Council for a Better Louisiana doesn’t understand why parents would opt their kids out of taking the assessment tests that are part of the Common Core education standards.  So far a handful of parents have told local school systems their children will not take the tests, which will be given next month.  Former teacher and Common Core critic, Lee Barrios, backs Governor Jindal, who is calling on BESE to provide an alternate test…

cut 15 (09)  “instruction”

CABL President Barry Erwin says by allowing a child to opt out from taking an exam, it only hurts the student.

The city of Pineville is making final preparations for its first Mardi Gras.  The “Light the Night” parade will roll at 5:30.  Mayor Clarence Fields’ Chief of Staff, Rich Dupree, says they expect a great turnout…

cut 12 (12)  “at that parade”

Eleven floats and several marching bands will roll down Main Street tonight.

Crowley Police have arrested the man wanted in a Thursday morning deadly shooting.  They say 24-year-old Darius Thomas is accused of killing 24-year-old Daniel Tezeno when Tezeno tried to escape the vehicle they were riding in after Thomas attempted to rob him.  According to family members, Thomas and Tezeno were first cousins.  Thomas is charged with first degree murder.

There will be plenty for Louisiana to be rooting for this Sunday during the 57th annual Grammy Awards.  Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (30)  “reporting”

In an effort to reduce employee payroll in the face of budget cuts, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain is offering employees an early retirement incentive rather than lay off employees. This early retirement incentive is an effort to comply with budget cuts required to balance the state budget. Strain says his department has already seen two mid-year budget cuts…

CUT 12 (06) “second cut”

Strain says a third budget cut is making the early retirement offers necessary.

With 10 days before open enrollment ends, nearly 150,000 Louisianians have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Billy Justice, with Vantage HealthPlan in Monroe, says almost all of the carriers increased their premiums this year and the biggest challenge facing returning consumers is going back to recalculate their subsidy…

cut 4 (08) “paying each month”

Justice encourages people who are in need of health insurance to check out the marketplace.

Noranda Alumina in St. James Parish is asking the state department of environmental quality for permission to release mercury into the air, after learning they may have been doing so without a permit since they began operations in 1959. D-E-Q spokesperson Greg Langley says the refinery could be fined for releasing mercury without a permit…

cut 9 (09) “near future”

He says Norando didn’t know they were releasing mercury into the air so now they are seeking a permit so they can operate legally.

Abita Brewing Co. in Abita Springs has fired back at Budweiser’s Super Bowl commercial which essentially says craft beer is for snobs. The Budweiser commercial says “let them sip their pumpkin peach ale” and Abita President David Blossman responded to that with a video on YouTube bragging about making just such a beer once on a small scale…

cut 7 (09) “to point that out”

Blossman says Abita is proud to fuss over their beer which is a huge part of the culture in Louisiana.

The US Department of Health and Human Services reports, nearly 150,000 Louisianians have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act…
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

A judge in Texas has appointed someone to assist in the Tom Benson feud. At the same time, the judge kept the order preventing Benson from banning his heirs from assests tied to the car dealerships, and other property. Former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger is a lawyer and former chief justice for the Texas 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

———————————–
Noranda Alumina in St. James Parish is asking the D-E-Q for permission to release mercury into the air, after they recently discovered they may have been doing it already without a permit since they began operations in 1959. D-E-Q spokesperson Greg Langley says now the company is seeking a permit, so they can operate legally…
CUT 11 (10) Q: “all those are factor”
Noranda could be facing some fines as a result.

Abita Brewing Co. in Abita Springs has fired back at Budweiser’s Super Bowl commercial which essentially says craft beer is for snobs. The beer giant’s commercial shows people sniffing beer and saying brews shouldn’t be fussed over. Abita President David Blossman says they are proud to fuss over beer…
CUT 6 (11) “in a certain way”

With 10 days before open enrollment ends, nearly 150,000 Louisianians have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Billy Justice, Director of Marketing for Vantage HealthPlan in Monroe, feels people are getting more knowledgeable…
CUT 3 (07) “that are offered”
The deadline to enroll is Febrary 15th.

With Budweiser’s Super bowl ad attacking the so-called craft beers, The Abita Brewing Company in Abita Springs is firing back with their own video message, saying – quote- “we’re no dog and pony show,” with a jab at the puppy and horses, and reminding beer drinkers of the differences between the two brews…
CUT 8 (10) Q: “brewing is fun”
That’s Abita President David Blossman.
————————–
In St. James Parish, Noranda Alumina is asking the State Department of Environmental Quality for permission to release mercury into the air, after learning they may have been doing so without a permit since they opened. D-E-Q spokesperson Greg Langley says they need to determine how much mercury has been released, and for how long, first before they fine…
CUT 10 (10) Q; “how soon”

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says they are offering employees an early retirement incentive rather than layoffs, in an effort to reduce employee payroll in the face of budget cuts. He says the workforce has been almost cut in half since 2007, but despite their fourth layoff avoidance plan, they have worked hard to fufill their mission…
CUT 14 (08) Q: ’12 billion dollars’

With only a week and a half left in open enrollment for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, officials say it’s time to get it done. Billy Justice, who is the Director of Marketing for Vantage HealthPlan in Monroe says people need of health insurance have plenty of options for residents…
CUT 5 (07) “for themselves”

In an effort to reduce employee payroll in the face of budget cuts, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain is offering employees an early retirement incentive rather than layoff employees. Strain says a third budget cut is making the early retirement offers necessary. This plan is expected to result in continuing payroll savings and lessen layoffs next budget year. Strain says any further reduction in staff will make it difficult for his department to perform
CUT 13 (06) Q: ‘is critical’
———————————
Police in Crowley are searching for a suspect who allegedly shot and killed another man during an overnight robbery. The two men were reportedly in the same vehicle where a struggle took place, and 24 year-old Darius Thomas allegedly shot 24 year-old Daniel Tezeno as he tried to escape from the vehicle. Tezeno was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Abita Brewing Co. in Abita Springs has fired back at Budweiser’s Super Bowl commercial which essentially says craft beer is for snobs…:
CUT 2 (32) “reporting”

We’re 10 days away before open enrollment ends and so far nearly 150,000 Louisianians have signed up through the Affordable Care Act. That’s according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Billy Justice, with Vantage HealthPlan in Monroe, says almost all of the carriers increased their premiums this year and the biggest challenge facing returning consumers is going back to recalculate their subsidy…:
CUT 4 (08) “paying each month”
Justice encourages people who are in need of health insurance to check out the marketplace.

In an effort to reduce employee payroll in the face of budget cuts, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain is offering employees an early retirement incentive rather than lay off employees. This early retirement incentive is an effort to comply with budget cuts required to balance the state budget. Strain says his department has already seen two mid-year budget cuts…:
CUT 12 (06) “second cut”

Abita Brewing Co. in Abita Springs has fired back at Budweiser’s Super Bowl commercial which essentially says craft beer is for snobs. The Budweiser commercial says “let them sip their pumpkin peach ale” and Abita President David Blossman responded to that with a video on YouTube bragging about making just such a beer once on a small scale…:
CUT 7 (09) “to point that out”
Blossman says Abita is proud to fuss over their beer which is a huge part of the culture in Louisiana.

Saints Owner Tom Benson will not testify in a Texas courtroom at a hearing over his car dealerships, ranch and other assets in and around San Antonio. Benson’s attorneys say he has left Texas and returned to Louisiana. Analysts say it’s not good for the 87-year-old to not speak in the case where his daughter and grandchildren are fighting to try and force Benson to keep paying them trust fund money.

The US Department of Health and Human Services reports, with 10 days before open enrollment ends, nearly 150,000 Louisianians have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

A woman from Bossier City is under arrest for allegedly stealing over $42,000 from an elderly Medicaid patient she was assigned to assist in paying bills. Authorities say 51-year-old Connie Monts is accused of using her position as a bookkeeper to write fake checks to herself from the patient’s checking account.

Noranda Alumina in St. James Parish is asking the state department of environmental quality for permission to release mercury into the air, after learning they may have been doing so without a permit since they began operations in 1959. D-E-Q spokesperson Greg Langley says the refinery could be fined for releasing mercury without a permit…:
CUT 9 (09) “near future”
He says Norando didn’t know they were releasing mercury into the air so now they are seeking a permit so they can operate legally.

Gas prices jumped almost a nickle last night. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is now $1.98 according to the American Automobile Association.

With 10 days before open enrollment ends, nearly 150,000 Louisianians have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Billy Justice, Director of Marketing for Vantage HealthPlan in Monroe, feels people are getting more knowledgeable about the health care marketplace…:
CUT 3 (07) “that are offered”
Last year, almost 102,000 residents purchased health care plans through the federal marketplace.

A 32-year-old south Louisiana man faces several charges, including first-offense D-W-I, for his role in a head-on bus crash that injured several students. The collision occurred Tuesday morning in Livingston Parish and Sheriff investigators believe Brandon Vince of Livingston was impaired at the time of the crash. He is also charged with 17 counts of vehicular negligent injuring. The injuries to the school children were minor to moderate.

Abita Brewing Co. in Abita Springs has fired back at Budweiser’s Super Bowl commercial which essentially says craft beer is for snobs. Other small brewers throughout the country are doing the same. The beer giant’s commercial shows people sniffing beer and saying brews shouldn’t be fussed over. Abita President David Blossman says they are proud to fuss over beer
CUT 6 (11) “in a certain way”
Budweiser’s commercial also suggests brewing shouldn’t be that hard but Blossman says brewing isn’t hard — it’s fun.

There were no big Powerball winners last night according to the Louisiana Lottery. The prize for this Saturday night’s February 7th drawing now goes to an estimated $360 million dollars with a cash value of $250 million dollars.