A hit and run last night has left at 42-year-old Slidell woman dead.  LSP are asking for the public’s help as they are currently looking for a truck in the Slidell/Pearl River area.  Senior Trooper Dustin Dwight says to be on the lookout for possible damage to the front end and the passenger side of the vehicle.

Cut 3 (10) “…of the crash.”

One-point-four billion dollars is coming to Louisiana to pay for flood mitigation projects. 343-million dollars will fully fund the Comite River Diversion Canal, a major flood protection project for East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes. US Representative Garret Graves says receiving this money allows the state to focus on other issues…

cut 10 (12) “….in our region”

There’s also 760-million dollars for a flood protection project in the River Parishes.

A man sentenced earlier this year to five years in prison for driving drunk into a crowd of Mardi Gras parade goers is set to be released from prison later this month as a result of the criminal reform legislation passed last year. Twenty-six-year-old Neilson Rizzuto injured 32 people at the Endymion parade in 2017 and pleaded guilty to 11 felony counts. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino on why Rizzuto is not serving more time with all of the sentences being served consecutively….

cut 16 (11) “….case was”

Rizzuoto’s expected release date is July 20.

Here’s a peak at your commodities.

The Louisiana Revenue Department is estimating that they’ll be ready to start collecting sales taxes on all items purchased online by the start of next year. A recent Supreme Court decision has paved the way for collection of sales taxes from stores without a physical presence in states they ship too. Many major online sellers, such as Amazon, already collect state sales tax for online purchases, but Secretary Kimberly Robinson says  right now they’re not getting 100 percent compliance form many of the smaller online outlets.

Cut 13 (11)  “sales tax.” 

An 81-year-old West Monroe man is in jail after an alleged dispute involving his nephew resulted in the accidental shooting death of the nephew’s dog. Police say Doyle Quimby shut off the power to his nephew’s camper that was on the property. After the power went out, that nephew allegedly tried to break in and turn it back on, leading to Quimby firing what he called “warning shots” that flew through a wall and hit the canine. Quimby has been charged with aggravated assault.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has appropriated one-point-four billion dollars to Louisiana for flood and hurricane protection projects. 343-million dollars of that money will go towards completing the long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal in East Baton Rouge Parish, which can rapidly drain floodwaters. This funding also frees some slack for the ‘Comite Plus’ project which has nearly 2 billion dollars in federal funding which provides drainage improvements throughout the Comite, Amite, and Manchac River. Baton Rouge US Representative Garret Graves says the holistic upgrades should help bring parishes together.

Cut 9 (09)  “…one area to another.”

A recent escape from Swanson Center for Youth marks at least the fifth of the year for the juvenile detention facility.  While attention can be turned to staffing issues, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice, Dr. James Bueche says budget constraints are leading to a staffing crisis that’s partially responsible for the break outs.

Cut 5  (13)  “…able to retain”

The US Army Corps of Engineers has appropriated one-point-four billion dollars to Louisiana for flood and hurricane protection projects. 343-million dollars of that money will go towards completing the long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal in East Baton Rouge Parish, which can rapidly drain floodwaters.

Cut 7 (12)  “…the capital region.”

Despite being given a five year sentence, one of those years suspended, for injuring 32 people when he drunkenly plowing his truck into a crowd at a New Orleans Mardi Gras, 26 year old Neilson Rizzuto who was sentenced in January will be free later this month.  With the 2017 prison reform law allowing the release of well-behaved inmates after serving 35% of their sentence for non-violent offenses, Rizzuto is reaping the benefits of less time in the clink.  Law professor at Loyola University New Orleans, Dane Ciolino:

Cut 14 (08) “…time served in jail.”

Louisiana state and local governments could see a nice influx of revenue when the revenue department starts collecting sales tax from all online retailers starting next year. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A Shreveport woman was arrested and charged with Felony Theft after lifting 4,544 dollars from the Wal-Mart that she worked at. Police say Kayla Baker was caught on video removing the cash from cash registers on multiple occasions. Baker has been booked into the Caddo Correctional Center

A recent escape from Swanson Center for Youth marks at least the fifth of the year for the juvenile detention facility.  Kevin Barnhart has the details on the issues with the facility.

Cut 1 (31)  I’m Kevin Barnhart“

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The Comite River Diversion Canal has been fully funded in East Baton Rouge Parish. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 2 (33) ”I’m Connor Ferrill” 

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Louisiana state and local governments could see a nice influx of revenue when the revenue department starts collecting sales tax from all online retailers starting next year. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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A recent escape from Swanson Center for Youth marks at least the fifth of the year for the juvenile detention facility.  While attention can be turned to staffing issues, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice, Dr. James Bueche says dated facility installments such as doors and fences are partially to blame.

Cut 4  (09) “…in that function”

Bueche does say staffing is a big portion of the problem in dealing with the offenders and the agency continues to pursue additional funding.

Cut 5  (13)  “…able to retain”

While the agency hopes the most recent jailbreak is the last, Bueche says it is hard to guarantee that it will be.

Cut 6 (12) “…difficult to do.”

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The US Army Corps of Engineers has appropriated one-point-four billion dollars to Louisiana for flood and hurricane protection projects. 343-million dollars of that money will go towards completing the long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal in East Baton Rouge Parish, which can rapidly drain floodwaters.

Cut 7 (12)  “…the capital region.”

Now that the funding is in place, officials say the Comite River Diversion Canal can be completed in the next three to four years. Cassidy says the federal appropriation also contains 760 million dollars for Hurricane protection projects to come alongside River Parishes.

Cut 8 (10)  “..those river parishes.”

This funding also frees some slack for the ‘Comite Plus’ project which has nearly 2 billion dollars in federal funding which provides drainage improvements throughout the Comite, Amite, and Manchac River. Baton Rouge Representative Garret Graves says the holistic upgrades should help bring parishes together.

Cut 9 (09)  “…one area to another.”

With nearly 3 billion dollars in federal funding for priority flood and hurricane protection projects Graves says it allows the state to focus on other issues.

Cut 10 (12)   “…in our region.”

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The Louisiana Revenue Department is estimating that they’ll be ready to start collecting sales taxes on all items purchased online by the start of next year. A recent Supreme Court decision has paved the way for collection of sales taxes from stores without a physical presence in states they ship too. Secretary Kimberly Robinson says a recent report says that’ll be a good chuck of change in state coffers.

Cut 11 (10) “estimate is.”

But it won’t be a simple process. Louisiana, the state with the highest combined local and state sales taxes, can have widely different tax rates from parish to parish. Robinson says they’re working on software that will make it easy for retailers to make sure they’re charging you the right local rate.

Cut 12 (10) “come up.”

Many major online sellers, such as Amazon, already collect state sales tax for online purchases, but Robinson says right now they’re not getting 100 percent compliance form many of the smaller online outlets.

Cut 13 (11)  “sales tax.” 

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Despite being given a five year sentence for injuring 32 people when he drunkenly plowing his truck into a crowd at a New Orleans Mardi Gras, 26 year old Neilson Rizzuto who was sentenced in January will be free later this month.  With the 2017 prison reform law allowing the release of well-behaved inmates after serving 35% of their sentence for non-violent offenses, Rizzudo is reaping the benefits of less time in the clink.  Law professor at Loyola University New Orleans, Dane Ciolino, explains why this case is considered a non-violent crime.

Suspected members of the famed Felony Lane Gang were arrested with a treasure trove of illicit goods, including credit cards, Social Security cards, and pot. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

It’s been three months since the disappearance of a 4 year old in Claiborne Parish.  Rondriez “Junior” Phillips vanished on April 5^th, and the search still continues with a ten thousand dollar reward offered by the FBI for information that helps find him.  Sheriff Ken Bailey.

Cut 7 (05)  “…can get into.”

A 40-year-old man is under arrest after his 15-year-old son escaped captivity from a home in Sulphur where authorities say he was torturing the young man. Thomas Winniger and his girlfriend 34-year-old Desirae Tomcannin have been charged with 2^nd degree cruelty to a juvenile and false imprisonment. Calcasieu Parish Sherriff Tony Mancuso says the teenager made his escape to a neighbor’s house, where a 911 call was placed, by outsmarting his captors.

Cut 14 (12)  took off.”

An Arnaudville teen has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and attempted first-degree murder following an early Wednesday morning police pursuit.  St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Major Ginny Higgins says it appears that the suspect intentionally aimed his vehicle at deputies when the crash occurred, injuring the officers involved.

Cut 11 (10) “…for their injuries.”

Suspected members of the infamous Felony Lane Gang were arrested Tuesday as part of a routine traffic stop, where officers discovered nearly 12,500 dollars, 22 credit cards, 5 checkbooks, 40 grams of pot, 11 drivers licenses from across the country and even 14 wigs. The mountain of loot was initially hidden, but State Police Spokesperson Trooper Melissa Matey says the officer’s quick wit led to the arrest.

Cut 3 (10) “the vehicle”

The suspects were arrested on Veterans Boulevard in Jefferson Parish.

It’s been three months since the disappearance of a 4 year old in Claiborne Parish.  Rondriez “Junior” Phillips vanished on April 5^th, and the search still continues with a ten thousand dollar reward offered by the FBI for information that helps find him.  Sheriff Ken Bailey says the tips are still coming in.

Cut 6 (09)  “…what we knew.”

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An Arnaudville teen has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and attempted first-degree murder following an early Wednesday morning police pursuit.  St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Major Ginny Higgins says 17-year-old Dartamian Landry refused to pull over when deputies attempted a traffic stop.

cut 9 (08)  “…and a pursuit ensued.”

A 40-year-old man is under arrest after his 15-year-old son escaped captivity from a home in Sulphur where authorities say he was torturing the young man. Thomas Winniger and his girlfriend 34-year-old Desirae Tomcannin have been charged with 2^nd degree cruelty to a juvenile and false imprisonment. Calcasieu Parish Sherriff Tony Mancuso says the details of the crime are disturbing.

Cut 12 (12)   “feet together”

Suspected members of the famed Felony Lane Gang were arrested with a treasure trove of illicit goods, including credit cards, Social Security cards, and pot. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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A 15-year-old escapes captivity where he’d allegedly been hog tied and tortured at a home in Sulphur. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo” 

An Arnaudville teen has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and attempted first-degree murder following an early Wednesday morning police pursuit.  St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Major Ginny Higgins says 17-year-old Dartamian Landry refused to pull over when deputies attempted a traffic stop.

cut 9 (08)  “…and a pursuit ensued.”

Higgins says the suspect continued to drive at a high rate of speed for quite some time, when things turned south for the teen behind the wheel.

Cut 10 (09) “…with a traffic stop.”

Higgins says it appears that the suspect intentionally aimed his vehicle at deputies when the crash occurred, injuring the officers involved.

Cut 11 (10) “…for their injuries.”

Landry was booked at the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center with a bond set at $550k.

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A 40-year-old man is under arrest after his 15-year-old son escaped captivity from a home in Sulphur where authorities say he was torturing the young man. Thomas Winniger and his girlfriend 34-year-old Desirae Tomcannin have been charged with 2^nd degree cruelty to a juvenile and false imprisonment. Calcasieu Parish Sherriff Tony Mancuso says the details of the crime are disturbing.

Cut 12 (12)   “feet together”

Authorities suspect the minor has been kept out of school for some time now while the torture was taking place.

Mancuso says little is known about the family at this time, or Winninger, who hails from Sylvester Georgia, or than they suspect they move from place to place frequently. Mancuso says you could never justify the putting anyone through that kind of pain, which makes the arbitrary reasons given for the punishment that much more concerning.

Cut 13 (10) “that’s terrible” 

Mancuso says the teenager made his escape to a neighbor’s house, where a 911 call was placed, by outsmarting his captors.

Cut 14 (12)  took off.”

A 15-year-old escapes captivity where he’d allegedly been hog tied and tortured at a home in Sulphur. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The Comite River Diversion Canal project has been fully funded, one of several projects that’s received cash in a three billion dollar funding package from the feds. Comite will be completed in an estimated three to four years. Other projects funded include 760 million to the West Shore Hurricane Protection Project, 15 million to Grand Isle, and 15 million in other coastal restoration projects.

It’s been three months since the disappearance of a 4 year old in Claiborne Parish.  Rondriez “Junior” Phillips vanished on April 5^th, and the search still continues with a ten thousand dollar reward offered by the FBI for information that helps find him.  Sheriff Ken Bailey says there is no longer a physical search party in place looking for him, the investigation still continues in other ways.

Cut 7 (05)  “…can get into.”

An Arnaudville teen has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and attempted first-degree murder following an early Wednesday morning police pursuit.  St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Major Ginny Higgins says the suspect continued to drive at a high rate of speed for quite some time, when things turned south for the teen behind the wheel.

Cut 10 (09) “…with a traffic stop.”

17-year-old Dartamian Landry has been booked into the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center on a 500 thousand dollar bond.

Suspected members of the infamous Felony Lane Gang were arrested Tuesday as part of a routine traffic stop, where officers discovered nearly 12,500 dollars alongside credit cards, driver’s licenses, and even wigs. State Police Spokesperson Trooper Melissa Matey says the three suspected members were not picked up because they were being tracked.

Cut 4  (08) “their seatbelt”

The Gang will take identification and credit cards, from vehicles, then have one of the members disguise themselves, to look like the card’s holder, where they will then go to banks and withdraw large sums of cash.

It’s been three months since the disappearance of a 4 year old in Claiborne Parish.  Rondriez “Junior” Phillips vanished on April 5^th, and the search still continues with a ten thousand dollar reward offered by the FBI for information that helps find him.  Sheriff Ken Bailey:

Cut 7 (05)  “…can get into.”

Next time you get carded, you could have the option of pulling out your smartphone for a digital version of your Louisiana Drivers License. Commissioner at the Office of Motor Vehicles, Karen St. Germain, says the safety of the app has been tested with top of the line security measures and that the app is available now.

Cut 14 (07) “…just last weekend.”

A couple in Calcasieu has been arrested and charged with Cruelty to a Juvenile and False Imprisonment involving one of the two’s 15-year old son. 40-year-old Thomas Winninger allegedly would handcuff the boy and use shock collars to burn the boy for up to 12 hours a day.

Here’s commodities

In the two years since the death of Alton Sterling, legislation has been passed to try to address the gap in trust between some Louisiana communities and law enforcement.  Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (31)  I’m Matt Doyle“

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A Forbes report shows Louisiana is the state most at risk of being economically crippled by the escalating trade wars initiated by the Trump Administration.  Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (33) ”I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Next time you get carded, you could have the option of pulling out your smartphone instead of your billfold.  Kevin Barnhart has more.

Cut 3 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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Today marks the 2years since the shooting death of Alton Sterling by Officer Blane Salamoni. Since then legislation has been passed to try to address the gap in trust between some Louisiana communities and law enforcement. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says they’ve had some initial success with programs aimed at increasing training for cops on how to interact with communities they serve.

Cut 4  (11) “…the community”

But James says there’s still a long way to go to repair that bridge. He documented several recent cases that he says are troubling examples of officer misconduct that are going unaddressed by authorities, cases that are challenging the relationship between Baton Rouge citizens and police.

Cut 5  (13)  “…to establish”

James singled out the need to reevaluate the role of police unions in protecting officers who may have committed offenses. He says while the new, diverse group of cadets entering the force is showing great promise, he’s concerned by the attitudes of veteran officers who’ve resisted the changes.

Cut 6 (12) “…there”

James says he plans on pushing changes to job protections for officers who’ve committed offenses while in uniform.

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A House representative is now preparing to run for another elected position.  Republican District 66 Representative Rick Edmonds, has announced his candidacy for Secretary of State in the fall election.  Edmonds says security of state elections is one of his top priorities.

Cut 7 (12)  “…reliable and accessible.”

Edmonds says he views the handling of new voting machines as a vital piece of the job once in office.

Cut 8 (10)  “..going to occur.”

Edmonds says he anticipates it’ll be a lot of work, but will be working toward making sure that elections have a better voter turn out.

Cut 9 (09)  “…we possibly can.”

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A Forbes report shows Louisiana is the state most at risk of being economically crippled by the escalating trade wars initiated by the Trump Administration. The study shows nearly 21 percent of the state’s GDP comes from exports, with five percent coming from Mexico and China specifically. Louisiana US Congressman Garret Graves says he’s watching the negotiations closely.

Cut 10 (12)   “supports that.”

Graves acknowledged the risk factor that comes with playing hardball on trade with other nations, specifically for a state so reliant on international economic trade, but he says the risk may be worth the reward of better trade prices.

Cut 11 (11) “talked about.”

Graves says a message needs to be sent to countries that discriminate against American goods.

Cut 12 (12) “to continue.”

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Next time you get carded, you could have the option of pulling out your smartphone instead of your billfold.  Commissioner at the Office of Motor Vehicles, Karen St. Germain, says with the new LA Wallet app, users can display photo ID from a mobile device and it’s quite easy to get on your phone.

Cut 13 (05)  “on Google Play.” 

St. Germain says the safety of the app has been tested with top of the line security measures and that the app is available now.