After five days of stalled negotiations, lawmakers are optimistic that legislation will begin moving forward when legislators convene Sunday afternoon. Lake Charles Republican Representative Steven Dwight’s bill to extend a portion of the expiring one penny sales tax will be heard, and he says he’s optimistic about its chances…

Medicaid reform is also on deck, with a proposal from West Monroe Republican Representative Frank Hoffman to implement work requirements for beneficiaries. New Orleans Democratic Representative Walt Leger’s bill to reduce itemized tax deductions will also be heard. Dwight says it’s something for both parties.

Cut 6  (10)  “democrats needed”

Baton Rouge Democratic Representative Ted James says after a week of haggling, the legislature is showing some signs of life.

If the proposals advance out of committee, they would then be heard on the House floor. James says a plan to get back in the black could still be a ways off, with Democrats balking at allowing special sales tax exemptions for certain industries.

Cut 8 (08) “for us”

The governor’s office of homeland security has activated it’s crisis action team due to the threat of severe weather in some portion of the state. In northwest Louisiana a flash flood warning is in effect through 6 p.m. Saturday.

A Baton Rouge Federal judge has closed the valve on construction of the Bayou ridge crude oil pipeline through the Atchafalaya Basin. The lawsuit was at the behest of environmental groups opposed to the project. U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick issued the order yesterday halting all work on the pipeline until quote…”the issue can be tried on its merits.”

Police arrested two people they say were involved in a shooting on the Southeastern Louisiana university campus. Spokesperson Tonya Lowentritt said the incident likely involved both students and non-students, but police are still working to determine who was at the scene.

CUT 4 :05   Under investigation.”

Officials say several individuals were near the assembly hall, where basketball games are played when the shooting occurred…

Governor Edwards released a statement that says “the state is ready to mobilize every available resource…to assist in this investigation.”

The 14-year tenure as chairman of the Republican Party ends on Saturday for Roger Villere. Jeff Palermo has more on how the party has changed during that time…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”.

The governor’s office of homeland security has activated it’s crisis action team due to the threat of severe weather in some portion of the state. In northwest Louisiana a flash flood warning is in effect through 6 p.m. Saturday.

Officials are investigating a shooting that injured two people on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond early Friday morning. University spokesperson Tonya Lowentritt says the shooting stemmed from a fight involving students and others who do not attend the school…

Cut 3 (13) “life threatening.”

Two people have been arrested in the incident.

After five days of stalled negotiations, lawmakers are optimistic that legislation will begin moving forward when legislators convene Sunday afternoon. Lake Charles Republican Representative Steven Dwight’s bill to extend a portion of the expiring one penny sales tax will be heard, and he says he’s optimistic about its chances…

Cut 5  (10)  “floor monday.”

The special session is coming back to life tomorrow, as lawmakers are convening Sunday to hear a series of tax and Medicaid proposals. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A Baton Rouge Federal judge has closed the valve on construction of the Bayou ridge crude oil pipeline through the Atchafalaya Basin. The lawsuit was at the behest of environmental groups opposed to the project. U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick issued the order yesterday halting all work on the pipeline until quote…”the issue can be tried on it’s merits.”

The governor’s office of homeland security has activated its crisis action team due to the on-going threat of severe weather in some portions of the northern part of the state. The warning was issued in large part due to high river levels caused by heavy rain in the region.

There is a risk for severe weather today over most of the state. Forecaster davyon hill with the national weather service in Shreveport says warm and unstable air could collide with a cooler air mass to cause some grief

Cut 12 : some tornadoes.”

Again most of the state should see some rain but the worst of it will be in the northern part of the state.

Police arrested two people they say were involved in a shooting on the Southeastern Louisiana university campus. Spokesperson Tonya Lowentritt said the incident likely involved both students and non-students, but police are still working to determine who was at the scene.

After five days of stalled negotiations, lawmakers are optimistic that legislation will begin moving forward when legislators convene Sunday afternoon. Lake Charles Republican Representative Steven Dwight’s bill to extend a portion of the expiring one penny sales tax will be heard, and he’s optimistic about its chances…

Cut 5  (10)  “floor monday.”

The Storm Prediction Center has north Louisiana under a slight risk for severe weather for Saturday. Forecaster Davyon Hill with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says warm unstable air will collide with a cooler air mass

Cut 12 (10) “some tornadoes”

Flooding is also a concern.  Several boat ramps along the Red River have been closed.

The 14-year tenure as chairman of the Republican Party ends on Saturday for Roger Villere. Jeff Palermo has more on how the party has changed during that time…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”.

A recent report by the LA Times states that an actor in the popular series Breaking Bad was investigated by New Orleans police last year for sexual assault.  Dean Norris was investigated after a woman said he sexually assaulted her. Prosecutors decided not to file charges, spokesman for Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro says there wasn’t enough evidence to merit prosecution.

There are signs of progress on a compromise to solve a looming one-billion dollar budget deficit. Lake Charles Representative Stephen Dwight says the House will re-convene on Sunday and he expects legislation dealing with Medicaid reform, reducing federal excess itemized tax deductions and his sales tax proposal will start moving through the legislative process…

cut 6 (10) “….democrats needed”

The special session ends March 7th.

Long time Louisiana Republican Leader Roger Villere will relinquish his role Saturday after 14 years.  When he took over as GOP Chair, the only Republican statewide official was the late Secretary of State Fox McKeithen. Now it has completely flipped the other way. Villere says there’s also been an increase in registered Republican voters…

Cut 10 (08) “than double.”

The Storm Prediction Center says there is a slight risk for severe weather Saturday.  Forecaster Davyon Hill with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says the entire state should see rain on Saturday, but most of the nasty weather will remain in the north.

Cut 14 (11) “the state”

Planned Parenthood wants a federal judge to force Louisiana’s health department to allow its New Orleans clinic to perform abortions.  The Associated Press says the lawsuit filed claims the Edwards’ administration, through the Louisiana health department, has put up unconstitutional roadblocks to prevent them from moving forward.  Planned parenthood says the legal fight has lasted nearly a year and a half. The lawsuit challenges as unconstitutional both the delays in approval of the abortion clinic license and a 2016 law pushed by Edwards to block Medicaid financing for entities that perform abortions in Louisiana.

The special session is coming back to life, as lawmakers are convening Sunday to hear a series of tax and Medicaid proposals. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Officials are investigating a shooting which injured two people on the campus of Southeastern University in Hammond.  Several people were near the assembly hall when a fight started and shots rang out.  University spokesperson Tonya Lowenritt…

Cut 4 (05) “under investigation.”

There is no official word on if the injuries involve students…

A new party chairman will be elected on Saturday at the Old State Capital in Baton Rouge, where the Republican State Central Committee will meet.  Outgoing chairman Roger Villere says the goal for the new chairman should work on getting more Republican mayors elected…

Cut 11 (08) “are terrible.”

Villere has served for 14 years.

The Storm Prediction Center has north Louisiana under a slight risk for severe weather for Saturday. Forecaster Davyon Hill with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says warm unstable air will collide with a cooler air mass.

Cut 12 (10) “some tornadoes”

Flooding is also expected.  Officials say boat launches on the Red River in Bossier and Caddo Parishes are closed..

(shooting)

Officials are investigating a shooting on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond this morning.  Spokesperson Tonya Lowentritt says early reports indicate the fight involved students and others who don’t attend S-E-L-U…

Cut 3 (:13) Life threatening

Officials say several still unidentified individuals were near the assembly hall when the shooting occurred.  Lowentritt says police are following up on leads…

Cut 4  (07) “under investigation.” 

Governor Edwards has made a statement saying “the state is ready to mobilize every available resource…to assist them in this investigation.” The campus is open as normal today.

Medicaid reform legislation has stalled at the special session. Matt Doyle covers the heated discussion between House Health and Welfare committee members.

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

There are some big Louisiana Lottery winners that haven’t claimed their prizes, which are in some cases at least 50-thousand-dollars.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says they are seeking a winner who matched

four of the five white ball numbers on September 2^nd.  Their ticket is about to expire…

Cut 7 (09)  “March 1st”

Chalmette Representative Raymond Garafalo will reintroduce a bill in the regular session that would allow school educators to carry weapons on campus if they have proper training.  Garafalo first suggested the idea in 2014, but it was defeated by House Criminal Justice committee.  In the wake of recent threats and attacks, Garafalo says allowing guns in the classroom may prevent future mass school shootings…

Garafalo says faculty who choose to voluntarily carry, would be trained appropriately while law enforcement officers would be notified as to who has a weapon and which teachers don’t…

Garafalo says this legislation will be a step in the right direction since the only sure way to stop the violence is to take all guns away…

Cut 6 (08)  “them away.”

There are some big Louisiana Lottery winners that haven’t claimed their prizes, which are in some cases at least 50-thousand-dollars.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says they are seeking a winner who matched four of the five white ball numbers on September 2^nd.  Their ticket is about to expire…

So what happens to the unclaimed lottery winnings?  Chopin says there are roughly between nine and 11-million-dollars in unclaimed money annually that can be won again…

Chopin’s advice is to sign the back of your tickets, then you can check for the winning numbers on the lottery tv show at 9:59pm on the nights they air.  The Lottery also has other means of getting the word out on winning numbers…

Cut 9 (12)  “as well.” (2X)

Gunfire this morning on the campus of Southeastern. University police have confirmed an incident overnight on North Campus involving several individuals. No word if those involved were students. Two individuals were shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries according to a statement from police. There is no present threat at the hammond university and the investigation is continuing.

Medicaid reform legislation was pulled from consideration in the House Health and Welfare Committee before it could be voted on, maintaining the special session’s current run of inaction. The bill would have implemented work requirements for Medicaid recipients. Opelousas Democrat Dustin Miller says the bill was mean spirited and wasteful.

Miller says the proposal was similar to Kentucky’s Medicaid reform that is currently estimated to cost that state roughly 300 million dollars to implement.

But West Monroe Republican Frank Hoffman says the bill would inspire unemployed Medicaid recipients to get a job and provide for themselves.

Cut 11 (11) “of Medicaid.”

Hoffman says the Medicaid program is burdened by a noticeable amount of unemployed people who lack the motivation to work, but Miller says the numbers don’t back that up.

Cut 12 (12) “ten percent.”

Miller says the bill would have endangered the lives of people too sick to work, but Hoffman says the legislation provides protections for those who qualify.

Gunfire this morning on the campus of Southeastern. University police have confirmed an incident overnight on North Campus involving several individuals. No word if those involved were students. Two individuals were shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries according to a statement from police. There is no present threat at the university and the investigation is continuing.

Chalmette Representative Raymond Garafalo will reintroduce a bill in the regular session that would allow school educators to carry weapons on campus.  Garafalo says faculty who choose to voluntarily carry, would be trained appropriately while law enforcement officers would be notified as to who has a weapon and which teachers don’t…

Cut 5  (10)  “of incidents.”

Over the last few days, there have been numerous juveniles and in some cases young adults arrested in Louisiana for making false and some real threats to commit school violence.  Even though some of the teens have been charged with causing terror, legal analyst Tim Meche says

In some cases serving time in a juvenile center is the best option for teens who are trying to cause panic in their community.  Meche says just slapping a fine on these teens for their delinquent behavior doesn’t work…

Cut 16 (11) “on that.”

Medicaid reform legislation was pulled from consideration in the House Health and Welfare Committee before it could be voted on, maintaining the special session’s current run of inaction.

only two significant pieces of legislation have escaped committee… Louisiana Checkbook, and a spending cap. Stonewall Representative Lawrence Bagley, who travels over 200 miles to attend the session, says he just wants to chance to do his job.

Cut 13 (11)  “of it.”

A Representative says it’s time to revisit a bill to allow school educators have guns on campus.  Kelley Ray has the details….

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

Medicaid reform legislation was pulled from consideration in the House Health and Welfare Committee before it could be voted on, maintaining the special session’s current run of inaction. The bill would have implemented work requirements for Medicaid recipients. Opelousas Democrat Dustin Miller says the bill was mean spirited and wasteful.

Cut 10 (09) “help them”

Over the last few days, there have been numerous juveniles and in some cases young adults arrested in Louisiana for making false and some real threats to commit school violence.  Even though some of the teens have been charged with causing terror, legal analyst Tim Meche says a juvenile face’s more legal issues, depending on if a threat was followed through…

Cut 15 (10) “including jail.”

There are some big Louisiana Lottery winners that haven’t claimed their prizes, which are in some cases at least 50-thousand-dollars.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says they are seeking a winner who matched four of the five white ball numbers on September 2^nd.

So what happens to the unclaimed lottery winnings?  Chopin says there are roughly between nine and 11-million-dollars in unclaimed money annually that can be won again…

Cut 8 (09) “one free.”