A special election will be held in November as a result of Secretary of State Tom Schedler’s resignation. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Gnats are overstaying their welcome this year as a result of the abnormally cooler temperature. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

__________________________________

A bill heading to the US Senate could help out thousands who were denied disaster relief funds after the 2016 floods. Michael Farrar has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

____________________________________________

First Assistant Kyle Ardoin will take over the agency that handles elections starting May 8^th . Ardoin is replacing Secretary of Secretary Tom Schedler, who submitted his resignation papers in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal. Ardoin knows he’s been put in charge during a pivotal time for the department.

Cut 4  (10) “this state” 

The resignation will trigger a fall special election for the position.

Ardoin says “At this moment I’m interested in running the office, not for the office.” He says it’s a department that means a lot to him.

Cut 5  (12)  “a child”

LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremey Alford says the statewide elected post opening gives lawmakers an opportunity to move up the ladder.

Cut 6 (11) “this fall”

Alford says expect some big names in the legislature to potentially throw their hat into the ring come fall.

Cut 7 (12)  “right now”

_____________________________

Cooler weather this year has extended the usually brief gnat season, making trips out to the river a bit unpleasant for some. If you’re looking to make an outdoors trip, LSU Ag Center entomologist Sebe Brown says understand these pests don’t work like mosquitos.

Cut 8 (08)  “every year”

For those looking to brave gnat infested rivers, Brown has a non-scientific, but country tested protection plan.

Cut 9 (11)  “work well”

Brown says some folks might even find gnat bites are more of a problem than being swarmed by mosquitos.

Cut 10 (10) “coagulant”

Brown says as the temperature starts averaging 80 degrees, the gnats will go away, only to be replaced by mosquitos.

____________________________

The US House passed a bill that would allow Louisiana residents impacted by the 2016 floods to become eligible for grant money, even if they received low interest loans to help with their recovery. Baton Rouge US Representative Garret Graves, the bill’s sponsor, says this opens up recovery money to thousands.

Cut 11 (07) “a loan”

Graves says current recovery grant rules punish homeowners who didn’t want to wait for the feds to come through.

Cut 12 (09) “penalizing them”

Graves says they also managed to fix a few other issues from the 2016 flood with this legislation.

Cut 13 (11)  “of FEMA” 

The bill received near unanimous support in the House. Now they wait to see if the Senate approves.

_____________________________

Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler has submitted his resignation letter to the governor, in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal involving his former secretary, Dawn Ross. Ross’s attorney Jill Craft says the behavior should’ve never taken place, especially from someone entrusted with state authority.

Cut 15 (07) “higher standard”

In the letter, Schedler decries a “tabloid approach to an incredibly serious allegation”.

A House backed bill that would remove the requirement that florists be licensed was shot down in a Senate committee six to one. The bill was part of the governor’s licensing reform legislative agenda. Floral wholesaler Audrey Lemoine says removing license requirements would flood the marketplace with cut rate work from retailers.

Cut 10 (12) “anymore.”

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is asking the state legislature to hold off on voting a bill that extends Harrah’s New Orleans Casino’s contract with the state for 30 years. Kennedy says media reports that Harrah’s is considering selling the property so the state could unwittingly increase Harrah’s selling price by extending the contract. Kennedy sought the delay after a published report that indicated Harrah’s allegedly signed an agreement with another entity to purchase the casno, hotel and parking garage….

cut 8 (12) exchange commission”

And the Pelicans are looking to steal one away from the reigning champs as they take on Golden State in Oakland for game two of their playoff series. The Pels were run off the court in game one, as the Warrior offense blasted the outmatch New Orleans defense, and things wont get any easier as the Dubs say they’ll have MVP guard Stephen Curry back after an injury sidelined him five weeks ago. The game tips off at 9:30.

United States Senator John Kennedy is asking the state legislature to hold off on voting a bill that extends Harrah’s New Orleans Casino’s contract with the state for 30 years. Kennedy says media reports that Harrah’s is considering selling the property so the state could unwittingly increase Harrah’s selling price by extending the contract.

Cut 6 (13)  “to me”

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican who is Louisiana’s senior senator, has joined calls for fellow Republican Secretary of State Tom Schedler to resign, amid allegations he sexually harassed an employee for years.

“Increasingly it appears the allegations against Secretary Schedler are true,” Cassidy, of Baton Rouge, said in a statement to The Advocate Monday evening. “He should resign..”

Former Baton Rouge police officer Blane Salamoni, who was involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, is now facing a battery charge from a separate arrest that took place one month before the shooting. Salamoni’s attorney John Mclindon was asked about possible jail time for his client. Mclindon says this new charge against Salamoni is window dressing for the police department.

Cut 4 (09) “I don’t know”

Over 900 farmers and ranchers are receiving grants averaging 9900 dollars for disaster recovery efforts resulting from the 2016 floods. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s long overdue.

Strain says the grants will fill a reimbursement gap for farmers who’ve suffered damages that were uninsured.

Cut 14 (12) “federal goverment”

University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette has notified 770 employees that they could be laid off, and the facility shut down under proposed spending plans that slashes state funding for public-private partnership hospitals. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says legislators need to find a budget solution sooner rather than later, as the indecision is stressing out the industry.

Cut 6 (10) “private sector”

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris is defending the House backed budget that funds education, but slashes healthcare, ahead of a special session that is expected to start mid may. The budget has come under fire for threatening to eliminate public-private partnership hospitals and residency programs, but Harris says he sees two options for funding those healthcare priorities: keeping a piece of the expiring one cent sales tax, and eliminating sales tax deductions for certain industries in an anticipated special session.

Cut 9 (11)  “to exceptions”

Two current and two former Troopers have been arrested on various charges as part of a six month investigation into payroll fraud. The four men allegedly claimed bogus hours and wrote fraudulent tickets as part of a highway safety program funded by district attorneys. State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves says this has been a long and unfortunate journey….

Cut 12 (09) “their actions”

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican who is Louisiana’s senior senator, has joined calls for fellow Republican Secretary of State Tom Schedler to resign, amid allegations he sexually harassed an employee for years.

“Increasingly it appears the allegations against Secretary Schedler are true,” Cassidy, of Baton Rouge, said in a statement to The Advocate Monday evening. “He should resign..”

Cassidiy joins a growing chorus of Republicans and Democrats, including Gov. John Bel Edwards, to urge Schedler to step down

Two State Police Troopers and two former troopers are on the other side of the law as they’ve been arrested on allegations they received overtime pay for hours they never worked. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette has notified 770 employees that they could be laid off, and the facility shut down under proposed spending plans that slashes state funding for public-private partnership hospitals. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the public-private system was created after Charity Hospitals were dismantled under the Jindal Administration, and focus on covering the underinsured.

Cut 5  (10)  “primary care”

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris is defending the House backed budget that funds education, but slashes healthcare, ahead of a special session that is expected to start mid may. The budget has come under fire for threatening to eliminate public-private partnership hospitals and residency programs. The Alexandria Republican anticipates a May 18^th special session being called by the governor to fill the 648 million dollar budget gap reflected in the House budget, but he says the legislature will likely not increase income taxes to replace expiring sales taxes.

Cut 8 (08)  “being here”

Over 900 farmers and ranchers are receiving grants averaging 9900 dollars for disaster recovery efforts resulting from the 2016 floods. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s long overdue.

Cut 15 (10) “document signed”

The Restore Louisiana Task Force allocated 10 million dollars in total for the grants, as part of the 1.7 billion dollars in recovery money the state received for the floods.

GOP House Caucus Chairman Lance Harris says it’s likely we’ll see a special session kick off May 18^th. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette has notified 770 employees that they could be laid off, and the facility shut down under proposed spending plans that slashes state funding for public-private partnership hospitals. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says they are not the only jobs at risk.

Cut 4  (09) “smaller locations” 

Over 900 farmers and ranchers are receiving grants averaging 9900 dollars for disaster recovery efforts resulting from the 2016 floods. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s long overdue.

Strain says the grants will fill a reimbursement gap for farmers who’ve suffered damages that were uninsured.

Two current and two former Troopers have been arrested on various charges as part of a six month investigation into payroll fraud. The four men allegedly claimed bogus hours and wrote fraudulent tickets as part of a highway safety program funded by district attorneys.

State Police launched an internal investigation into the actions of these troopers after a New Orleans T-V station showed surveillance video that showed two Troopers filed for overtime pay for hours they didn’t work. State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves says changes have been made to this ticket-writing program

Cut 11 (09) “working”

A Hospital in Lafayette has sent out lay off warnings to 770 employees ahead of potential budget cuts that would close the facility. Michael Farrar has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris is defending the House backed budget that funds education, but slashes healthcare, ahead of a special session that is expected to start mid may. The budget has come under fire for threatening to eliminate public-private partnership hospitals and residency programs, but Harris says it’s just a first step in long budget process that he expects will carry over into a special session.

Cut 7 (11)  “may happen”

Two current and two former Troopers have been arrested on various charges as part of a six month investigation into payroll fraud. The four men allegedly claimed bogus hours and wrote fraudulent tickets as part of a highway safety program funded by district attorneys. State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves says it’s a disappointing day…

Cut 10 (06) “their actions”

Over 900 farmers and ranchers are receiving grants averaging 9900 dollars for disaster recovery efforts resulting from the 2016 floods. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s long overdue.

Cut 13 (08)  “devastating flood” 

A Hospital in Lafayette has sent out lay off warnings to 770 employees ahead of potential budget cuts that would close the facility. Michael Farrar has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Two current and two former Troopers have been arrested on various charges as part of a six month investigation into payroll fraud. The four men allegedly claimed bogus hours and wrote fraudulent tickets as part of a highway safety program funded by district attorneys. State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves says it’s a disappointing day…

Cut 10 (06) “their actions”

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris is defending the House backed budget that funds education, but slashes healthcare, ahead of a special session that is expected to start mid may. The budget has come under fire for threatening to eliminate public-private partnership hospitals and residency programs, but Harris says it’s just a first step in long budget process that he expects will carry over into a special session.

Cut 7 (11)  “may happen”

Over 900 farmers and ranchers are receiving grants averaging 9900 dollars for disaster recovery efforts resulting from the 2016 floods. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s long overdue.

Cut 13 (08)  “devastating flood” 

Strain says the grants will fill a reimbursement gap for farmers who’ve suffered damages that were uninsured.

University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette has notified 770 employees that they could be laid off, and the facility shut down under proposed spending plans that slashes state funding for public-private partnership hospitals. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says they aren’t the only jobs at risk.

Cut 4  (09) “smaller locations” 

Dardenne says the public-private system was created after Charity Hospitals were dismantled under the Jindal Administration, and focus on covering the underinsured.

Cut 5  (10)  “primary care”

Dardenne says legislators need to find a budget solution sooner rather than later, as the indecision is stressing out the industry.

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris is defending the House budget despite its cuts, saying it’s just the first step in a long process that he expects will involve a special session starting on May 18^th to fill the 648 million dollar funding gap. The GOP has resisted replacing the expiring revue that will hit July 1^st, and as a result he says the legislature will likely not increase income taxes to replace expiring sales taxes.

Cut 8 (08)  “being here”

Harris says he would not support the income tax increase, because he fears it would offset what he says are the benefits of the federal tax overhaul.

Harris says he sees two options for funding those healthcare priorities: keeping a piece of the expiring one cent sales tax, and eliminating sales tax deductions for certain industries in an anticipated special session.

Cut 9 (11)  “to execptions”

In a story out of Houston investigators are trying to determine if severed heads discovered last month near lakes in Texas and Louisiana are connected. Cameron Parish Sheriff Ron Johnson says the head found in his parish and one in Texas are eerily similar.

Cut 5  (:12) “good teeth.”

Doubts are growing that the legislature will be able to find a compromise budget before the end of the regular session. Michael Farrar has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Mike Farrar”

A political analyst says embattled Secretary of State Tom Schedler might not be able to stay in office much longer as the sexual harassment allegations against him will not go away. Bernie Pinsonat says published emails showing sexual advances by Schedler towards an employee could lead to his resignation…

Cut 4  (10) “resigns” 

A Senate-approved bill that would double, and in some cases, increased tenfold the fines associated with soliciting prostitutes passed a House committee nine to six. The bill would not change the current penalty of up to six months in jail for soliciting. Sponsor Franklinton Senator Beth Mizel says The bill would also allow judges to order people convicted of soliciting to attend an educational course that instruct “Johns” on how human trafficking destroys lives. Mizel says that kind of public shaming is a powerful disincentive.

Cut 8 (10)  “the product”