It’s Mother’s Day weekend and a report from Move-dot-org says Louisiana is the third least expensive state to be a new mom. Move.org says the average cost for childbirth and childcare costs in Louisiana is 12-thousand dollars and that’s cheaper than daycare costs alone in D-C, Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut…
cut 5 (07) “…doing so much”
The two states that rank ahead of Louisiana are Mississippi and Alabama for the cost of having a baby.
No action at the State Capitol yesterday, but when lawmakers arrive on Monday, the House Ways and Means committee will discuss a bill that will lower the state sales tax from 4.45 to four-percent. The state sales tax was four percent for many years before Governor Edwards took office, and in his first year it jumped to five percent to cover a significant budget gap, before falling to 4.45 percent last year. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton supports the legislation…
Cut 13 (05) “…population.”
The Edwards administration is expected to oppose the measure.

Senator Kennedy is pushing to force the Social Security Administration to get more dead people off the rolls, to cut back on benefit fraud. Matt Doyle has more…

cut 2 (31) I’m Matt Doyle”  

LSU baseball has a season-high five-game losing streak after losing to Arkansas 11 to six last night. The Tigers had a 3-0 lead after two innings after Saul Garza hit a two-run homer. But LSU’s bats went away for several innings and Zack Hess couldn’t repeat the relief outing he had last week.

Senator John Kennedy is once again bringing legislation aimed at getting dead people off the social security rolls. The republican cited a case from last year in Louisiana where an instance of Social Security fraud by a relative cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars…

Cut 11 (11)   “…cashing them.”

House Ways and Means will hear a bill Monday that would repeal the .45 percent state sales tax levied in the last legislative session to plug a budget deficit. The state sales tax was four percent for many years before Governor Edwards took office, and in his first year it jumped to five percent to cover a significant budget gap, before falling to 4.45 percent last year. But Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says census figures show our population is declining…

Cut 13 (05) “…population.”

According to research from Move.org, Louisiana is the third least expensive state to be a new mom. Move.org spokesperson Cosette Jarrett says their study factored the cost of childcare for the first year of a child’s life as well as the medical cost of delivery.

Cut 3 (10) “…in the nation.”

The only other states with lower costs are Mississippi and Alabama.

Flash flood watches are in effect across Louisiana through Saturday as another two to four inches of rain is expected. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says if at all possible, reschedule your plans for the next two days.

Cut 7 (07) “…the way.”

The same system has already caused localized flooding in the northwestern portions of the state.

Senator Kennedy is pushing to force the Social Security Administration to get more dead people off the rolls, to cut back on benefit fraud. Matt Doyle has more…

cut 2 (31) I’m Matt Doyle”

Police say 49-year-old Ronald Greene, of West Monroe, is dead after a high-speed chase that started in Ouachita Parish and ended with a crash in Union Parish. According to Louisiana State Police, the chase began around midnight Friday, May 10, near the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Authorities say state troopers tried to pull Greene over but he sped away. After he crashed, troopers say they tried to take him into custody, but he became combative. A struggle ensued, and he was then handcuffed.

Police say when EMS arrived on the scene, he became unresponsive and died on the way to the hospital.

Police say toxicology tests and an autopsy are being performed. The results are pending.

House Ways and Means will hear a bill Monday that would repeal the .45 percent state sales tax levied in the last legislative session to plug a budget deficit. But Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says the nearly half-a-cent sales tax is producing a surplus…

Cut 12 (08) “…operate”

The bill is authored by Alexandria Representative Lance Harris.

Flash flood watches are in effect across Louisiana through Saturday as another two to four inches of rain is expected. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says keep a close eye on the roads, and do not attempt to cross flooded streets…

Cut 6 (06) “…drown”

The same system has already caused localized flooding in the northwestern portions of the state, flooding the required rescue operations.

Senator John Kennedy is once again bringing legislation aimed at getting dead people off the social security rolls. Kennedy says his legislation would address the long running issue by tackling the two biggest drivers of fraud, starting with Social Security’s list of deceased citizens…
Cut 10 (12)“…agencies.”
The Republican says every year the federal government spends 144 billion dollars on improper payments.
House Ways and Means will hear a bill Monday that would repeal the .45 percent state sales tax levied in the last legislative session to plug a budget deficit. Removing that .45 percent sales tax would likely mean cuts to state services, but Haughton Representative Dodie Horton says Louisiana needs to learn to live within it’s means.
Cut 14 (12) “…done that”
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The average cost of being a new mom in Louisiana is cheaper than all but two other states in the nation. Connor Ferrill has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Connor Ferrill”
The Corps of Engineers has decided to move their scheduled opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway up to today as the state faces a torrent of rain that could swell the Mississippi River ahead of schedule. This marks the second time this year the spillway has opened to relieve pressure on New Orleans levees, the first time the spillway has opened twice in one year.

LSU’s graduation ceremonies are this weekend as over four-thousand degrees will be handed out. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says students from the Houma area, or north and central Louisiana might have a hard time finding a job near their hometowns, but other markets are much more promising…
cut 14 (11) “…announced”

According to new research from analysts at Move.org, the cost of being a new mother is much cheaper in Louisiana than many other states.  Only Mississippi and Alabama are cheaper. Move.org spokesperson Cosette Jarrett says the breakdown of the basic costs came down to two contributing price tags.

Cut 4 (12) “…is $5,747.” 

Flash flood watches are in effect across Louisiana through Saturday as another two to four inches of rain is expected to blanket the state’s already saturated ground.

Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says keep a close eye on the roads, and do not attempt to cross flooded streets during this time…

Cut 6 (06) “…drown”

The same system has already caused localized flooding in the northwestern portions of the state, flooding the required rescue operations.

Steele says if at all possible, reschedule your plans for the next two days.

Flash flood watches are in effect across Louisiana through Saturday as another two to four inches of rain is expected to blanket the state’s already saturated ground. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says keep a close eye on the roads, and do not attempt to cross flooded streets during this time…
Cut 6 (06) “…drown”
The National Weather Service has confirmed eight tornadoes touched down in Louisiana Wednesday, impacting nine parishes across north Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards says says over 100 homes in Jackson Parish are reporting damage along with two schools. He says the national guard is on the ground…
Cut 28 (13) “…debris removal”
An EF-1 tornado touched down just south of Jonesboro.
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LSU seniors are set to walk the stage today and exit the Pete Maravich Assembly Center into a job market that appears to be on the upswing as the national economy continues to grow. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says grads with in-demand degrees are likely to do well as the need for skilled workers increases.
Cut 13 (10) “…good”
Louisiana has seen 13 straight months of job gains, according to the latest figures from the Workforce Commission.
According to new research from analysts at Move.org, the cost of being a new mother is much cheaper in Louisiana than many other states. Move.org spokesperson Cossette Jarrett says the study factored in the cost of childcare for the first year of a child’s life as well as the medical cost of delivery.
Cut 3 (10) “…in the nation.”

Governor John Bel Edwards held a press conference in Jackson Parish following a tornado outbreak that left widespread damage in the area.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Much of the state is under a flash flood watch through Saturday. Matt Doyle reports northwest Louisiana is already dealing with flooding.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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 LSU will be handing out diplomas today, and state leaders are anxiously hoping that most of those graduates will chose to keep their talents within state boarders. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance is urging high school seniors to take the proper steps prior to graduation to ensure there are no unforeseen issues that may delay TOPS scholarship for college.  Administrator of Scholarships and Grants Paula Smith says inconsistencies in student records can often cause a snag.

Cut 4 (09) “…numbers incorrect.”

Smith says they do not have a way of knowing there is an issue until a student flags a problem.  From that point, the amount to time to make corrections can vary with each student.

Cut 5 (09) “…the ball rolling.”

Smith recommends all students visit the LOSFA website and creating a student hub account.

Cut 6 (10) “…have a TOPS.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says nine parishes across north Louisiana experienced wind damage Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with extensive damage to the Jimmie Davis Park in Jackson Parish. Edwards says the park is closed until further notice…

Cut 7 (09) “…road is impassable”

An EF-1 tornado touched down just south of Jonesboro.  Edwards says over 100 homes in Jackson Parish are reporting damage and two schools also sustained damage from a possible tornado. He says the national guard is on the ground…

Cut 8 (13) “…debris removal”

Edwards says he’s also concerned about the potential for another four to eight inches of rain by Saturday night over north and west Louisiana

Cut 9 (12) “…other structures″

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Much of Louisiana is under flash flood watch until Saturday evening as a nasty storm system continues to dump rain on the region. Portions of Bossier Parish took on surprisingly large amounts of water Thursday, and Sheriff’s spokesperson Lt. Bill Davis says those areas and others could be in for another round of flooding…

Cut 10 (12) “…thing out.”

Davis says the Red River is expected to rise to about 31 and a half feet, but it should not cause tributaries to back up the 2015 flood event. The Lt. says low lying areas with poor drainage are likely the be the problem areas this time around…

Cut 11 (10) “…quickly.”

Two to four inches of rain are expected over the next two days.

Davis hopes locals are prepared, as many homes and businesses have already flooded as a result of the rains. He says the long running rain event had local authorities out rescuing a few unlucky folks throughout the parish…

Cut 12 (10) “…badly.”

All of north and central Louisiana are under a flash flood watch., as well as southwest Louisiana.

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LSU seniors are set to walk the stage today and exit the Pete Maravich Assembly Center into a job market that appears to be on the upswing as the national economy continues to grow.

LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says grads with in-demand degrees are likely to do well as the need for skilled workers increases.

Cut 13 (10) “…good”

Louisiana has seen 13 straight months of job gains, according to the latest figures from the Workforce Commission.

Scott says grads looking to stay home are getting a bit of a mixed bag. If you’re from the Houma area, or central and northern Louisiana, you could have trouble getting a desirable gig, but there’s a few markets that look promising in the south.

Cut 14 (11) “…announced”

Shreveport alone lost 1,700 jobs over the last year.

But as strong as Louisiana’s recent growth has been, the specter of a booming Texas still lingers over Bayou State grads. Grads can grab high paying Texas jobs, live in bustling Texas cities, and still live close enough to see the family on the weekend. Scott says it’s a tempting offer…

Cut 15 (12) “available”

Keeping locals from fleeing the state post-graduation has been a top goal of the Edwards Administration.

Another tornado outbreak has hit Louisiana. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (31) I’m Kevin Barnhart”
Storm damage assesment is underway at Jimme Davis State Park, one of the areas hit by those Wednesday tornadoes. Early appraisals indicate widespread damage, including major structural damage to most buildings, and falled and snapped trees throughout the park. 50 people were at the park when the twister ripped throught he area, but no major injuries were reported. The park will remain closed until further notice.
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New Orleans Police say a teenager fatally shot a woman and injured her husband in an attempted car robbery in Mid City last night. Police Chief Shaun Ferguson says the couple went outside of their home when their car alarm went off and another suspect in a nearby getaway car shouted to the teen to start shooting…
Cut 3 (11) “…between the two.”
The woman was shot in the head, the man in the arm and the teen also suffered a gunshot wound.
State Police arrest a man following a 911 call claiming the suspect pointed an AR-15 style pellet rifle at another vehicle on I-10. Trooper Taylor Scrantz says 40-year-old Jason Jarreau of Baton Rouge had an outstanding warrant.
Cut 15 (09) “…back in 2015.”
Jarreau was later booked on several charges.

New Orleans Police say a teenager fatally shot a woman and injured her husband in an attempted car robbery in Mid City last night. Police Chief Shaun Ferguson says he’s seen an uptick in juvenile crime in the city over the past few months, specifically car robberies. He calls on everyone in the city to help keep kids from falling into a life of crime.
Cut 5 (09) “…parents”
17-year-old Emanuel Pipkins has been charged in the case.
State Police arrest a man following a 911 call claiming the suspect pointed an AR-15 style pellet rifle at another vehicle on I-10. Trooper Taylor Scrantz says they eventually caught up to 40-year-old Jason Jarreau of Baton Rouge and stopped his vehicle.
Cut 13 (08) “…of the vehicle.”
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Another tornado outbreak has hit Louisiana. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (31) I’m Kevin Barnhart”
A one-year-old child is dead after a crash involving a group of children crossing the street in Napoleonville. Investigators say a 52-year-old woman was travelling down Jones Street when a group of children cross ahead of her. After the initial group of children crossed the street, the one-year-old attempted to follow them, and was struct by the driver’s truck and killed. Police do not suspect speed or impairment were a factor in the crash. The woman was not charged, but the crash remains under investigation.

The state has been hit with another tornado outbreak. Rep. Jack McFarland says in Jackson Parish residents are dealing with the aftermath of what appears to be two different tornados.

Cut 11 (11)   “…on the home.”

Some roads are impassable due to fallen trees.  McFarland says about 20,000 residents were without power after storms passed through last night. No serious injuries have been reported. Governor Edwards is scheduled to speak at the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office at 3PM.

Louisiana’s Community College system will offer a new two-year associate degree in cloud computing in partnership with Amazon Web Services. Delgado interim chancellor Doctor Will Wright says this will help students get tech-related jobs…
cut 14 (10) “….aerospace”

The House approved a 30-billion dollar budget. It contains money to give public school teachers a 12-hundred dollar raise. There’s a concern the raise is actually a one-time bonus. But House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says the pay raise will be permanent once the funding formula for public schools is approved…

Cut 6 (08) “…be a run-off.”

The M-F-P is making its way through the legislative process. The spending plan does not contain the 39-million dollars in block grant funding that the governor and the state’s education board.