Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser announces Louisiana had a fifth consecutive record breaking year for tourism. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Attorney General Jeff Landry has once again filed suit against Governor John Bel Edwards. Don Molino has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Don Molino”

______________________________________

Louisiana now has just three abortion clinics in the entire state, after Bossier City Medical Suite closed. Jeff Palermo reports…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Louisiana is down to just three abortion clinics statewide, as Bossier City Medical Suites has closed. Executive Director of the New Orleans Abortion Fund, Amy Irvin says the only remaining clinics are in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport. She says this closure will greatly impact Louisiana women seeking an abortion.

Cut 4  (09) “more childcare”

Irvin says this latest closure is the result of the growing list of state regulations and laws that are in place making it more difficult for women to receive abortions, including a 72 hour waiting period. She says one less clinic in the state will only make it that much harder for women to have an abortion in Louisiana.

Cut 5  (10)  “for women”

Irvin says they are keeping their eyes on two bills in the current session that seek to place more restrictions on abortions. She says the New Orleans Abortion Fund is calling on lawmakers to cease their attacks on abortion access and work for comprehensive healthcare services.

Cut 6 (08) “in our country”

The Louisiana Right to Life is pleased to hear there is one less facility in Louisiana destroying the lives of innocent unborn babies. They say they look forward to a day when all babies are protected by law and welcomed with joy.

______________________________________

For a fifth consecutive year, Louisiana broke a record for tourism. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says in 2016, the state welcomed a record 47 million visitors, which is more than a 2 percent increase over the previous year. He says tourists spent an average of $360 a person.

Cut 7 (11)  “million”

Nungesser says the revenue represents a 40-to-1 return on investment. He says in order to protect that investment, we need to make sure the historical sites tourists come to see remain intact. That’s why Nungesser is asking for President Trump’s help in protecting the confederate monuments around the state.

Cut 8 (12) “repeating itself”

Nungesser also defends himself amid allegations made in a letter by a disgruntled former employee, who claims the Lt. Governor misused a state owned apartment in New Orleans. Nungesser says Tim Chester has been the interim museum director for six months and hasn’t done anything. He says it’s obvious Chester is just an angry old man.

Cut 9 (11)  “in my opinion”

_________________________________________________________

The feud continues between the governor and the attorney general as Jeff Landry has once again filed suit against John Bel Edwards. The lawsuit states the governor’s office doesn’t have the right to withhold 4 million dollars in operational funds from his agency. Landry says Edwards wants to circumvent the rules and continues to play politics with the state Department of Justice.

Cut 10 (06) “this office”

The Edwards Administration released a statement claiming this lawsuit is nothing more than a dog and pony show. The governor has said the money that is coming from 2014 pharmaceutical settlement is not legally Landry’s dollars to spend. But the attorney general says Edwards is jeopardizing the operations of his department.

Cut 11 (09) “the courts”

The lawsuit comes one day after Governor Edwards called on legislators to leave partisan politics out of the debate overhauling the state’s tax structure. But Landry says Edwards is being a hypocrite by withholding money that belongs to his office.

Cut 12 (06) “that cause”

Last year Landry and Edwards exchanged lawsuits language involving the governor’s LGBT executive order.

_______________________________________

State Farm reports dog bite claims have increased 15 percent nationwide over the last year. Company spokesperson Kip Diggs says State Farm paid more than $121 million in dog bite claims last year. He says the cost of those claims is on the rise.

Cut 13 (10) “in cost”

Diggs says while we might not be seeing as many bites, the bites are becoming more expensive to treat as the cost of healthcare continues to increase. He says State Farm saw a total of 3,660 dog bite claims last year, and Louisiana had quite a few of those.

Cut 14 (06) “million dollars”

State Farm has paid over a billion dollars in dog-related injury claims in the past decade. Diggs says more than 50 percent of the dog bite claims they see are for children. He says that’s why it’s important for both dog-owners and dog-lovers to be careful.

Cut 15 (08) “don’t know”

The majority of Louisiana small business owners oppose an increase to the state’s gasoline tax. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The 2017 Louisiana survey finds most Louisiana residents approve of Medicaid expansion. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

Small businesses oppose increasing the state’s gasoline tax. Dawn Starns, State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says they surveyed their members and 73-percent oppose a gas tax hike. Starns says everyone wants to see better roads but….

Cut 3 (09) “they have”

The business group, BUILD IT, supports an increase in the gasoline tax by anywhere from 15 to 20 cents to help with the construction of major transportation projects. Starns says those supporters are engineers and architects who would see a boom in their business with this hike.

Cut 4  (10) “to juggle”

Starns says small business owners are also worried increased revenue from a higher gas tax won’t go to roads. She says state government needs to do more with what they have available to them.

Cut 5  (08)  “transparency”

_______________________________________________________

An Easter egg hunt turned violent when a Thibodaux man’s ex-girlfriend showed up armed with a shovel handle. David Melancon with Thibodaux Police says 33-year-old Junius Boyd was at the event in Peltier (Pel-chay) Park when 25-year-old Florence Robinson arrived, just hours after the two ended their relationship.

Cut 6 (10) “his arm”

Melancon says Boyd’s child was in the vehicle when this transpired, and there were numerous children at the event who witnessed the incident. He says things escalated when Boyd got out of the vehicle and took the shovel handle, hitting Robinson in the head and causing a laceration. He says Boyd certainly had a right to defend himself, but this was taking it too far.

Cut 7 (12)  “defending yourself”

Melancon says Robinson is charged with aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon, criminal damage to property, and disturbing the peace. Boyd is charged with aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon. But he says things got even worse for Boyd.

Cut 8 (12) “was involved”

_______________________________________________________

The House Ways and Means Committee began looking at various tax proposals today that will be discussed over the next several weeks. First up was Jackson Representative Kenny Havard, who is pushing legislation that would reduce income taxes on individuals and make that revenue up by increasing taxes on businesses. He says with the state constantly facing budget cuts, it’s time for tax reform.

Cut 9 (10)  “do something”

Havard believes the most sensible approach is to alleviate the tax burden on residents and ask businesses to pay their fair share. 

Cut 10 (08) “that’s unfair”

A vote was not taken on Havard’s proposed legislation. There are over 140 tax bills filed in the House. Changing Louisiana’s tax laws are a major debate, because one-point-three billion dollars in temporary taxes expire next year. Havard says it is the legislature’s job to create a way to stabilize the budget.

Cut 11 (08) “the road”

_________________________________________________________

Most Louisiana residents approve of Medicaid expansion, according to an LSU survey. Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, Dr. Michael Henderson says 72 percent of respondents for the 2017 Louisiana Survey approve of the expansion. He says the approval rating for the Affordable Care Act has increased over the past few years.

Cut 12 (10) “more favorable”

Henderson says they’re seeing a similar trend nationwide. He says it could be because former-President Obama has left office and people no longer attach their feelings towards him to the law. But he suspects it has more to do with people learning more about the ACA.

Cut 13 (10) “have improved”

But the survey finds only 42 percent of voters approve of the Affordable Care Act. Henderson says people also may not realize that Medicaid expansion is a provision of the ACA. But he suspects the 51 percent unfavorable view has more to do with politics.

Cut 14 (11) “the ACA”

According to the survey, 76 percent of Democrats have a favorable view of Obamacare, while 80 percent of Republicans have an unfavorable view.

_________________________________________________________

The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating an early morning incident in which they believe a person or persons drove by a bunch of houses and cars and started shooting at random. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says they received reports of gunfire in Mt. Hermon around 4am…:

Cut 15 (10) “they had been shot”

Haley says they know the gunfire was coming from a pickup truck, but not much beyond that. He says it’s not known who is responsible or why they were doing it…:

Cut 16  (08)  “at this time”

A Chinese chemical company announces plans for a 1.1 billion dollar chemical plant to be constructed in Louisiana. Don Molino has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

______________________________________

Today the House Ways and Means Committee begins delving into the Governor’s proposed tax plan. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has released 1.6 billion dollars in flood recovery dollars. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

A Chinese chemical company chooses Louisiana over Texas to build a 1.1 billion dollar manufacturing complex. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says this will help Louisiana grow as a global leader in chemical manufacturing and he says the project by Wanhua (Wan-hwah) Chemical Group will bring 170 new direct jobs to the state.

Cut 4  (09) “a year”

LED estimates the project will also result in 945 indirect jobs. Pierson says a project like this creates a multiplier effect in the number of jobs it produces.

Cut 5  (12)  “the community”

The specific location of the site will be decided later in the year. Pierson says he led a Louisiana contingent to Wanhua’s headquarters in China last month where they completed final plans to move the project forward…

Cut 6 (11) “investments”

______________________________________

Another study by LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott finds the return isn’t there when it comes to state’s film tax credits program as the report shows it causes a significant hit to Louisiana’s budget. Scott says the return of investment was 22-percent in 2016.

Cut 7 (07)  “million bucks”

This is the third time Scott has examined whether the state is getting a bang for its buck when it comes to providing incentives to lure films and TV shows to Louisiana. Scott says each time the report concluded, Louisiana is losing money, but tax incentive program creates jobs.

Cut 8 (08) “of jobs”

Legislators will discuss changing the film tax credit program, which currently has a 180 million dollar cap on it. Scott says his report shows Louisiana is subsidizing about 30 to 35-percent of the cost of making a film.

Cut 9 (05)  “your favor”

_________________________________________________________

The House Ways and Means committee begins today pouring over some of the proposals included in the governor’s tax plan. John Bel Edwards ambitious proposal will increase taxes on many businesses, but he says it will lead to lower income taxes for 90-percent of the taxpayers.  Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says once more come out, there will be ample support.

Cut 10 (11) “very top”

But West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says Louisiana has one of the lowest income tax rates in the nation. He’s concerned about putting too much of the tax burden on businesses and losing jobs. He says lawmakers need to be cautious about lowering taxes for individuals and getting businesses to foot the bill.

Cut 11 (10) “to business”

Edwards says changes to our tax structure our needed to make sure TOPS is fully funded, more resources can be devoted to education and other priorities. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says the legislature has to do something to raise more revenue for vital state services.

Cut 12 (08) “can’t do it”

The governor is calling for a bipartisan effort to fix the state’s annual problem of budget cuts, especially during the middle of a fiscal year. Ruston Representative Rob Shadoin hopes lawmakers can come together across party lines to do what’s best for the people.

Cut 13 (07) “make progress”

_______________________________________

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has granted Louisiana access to start dispensing 1.6 billion dollars to flooded homeowners in federal aid. Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor Julie Baxter Payer says this will finally allow the state to move forward with recovery plans.

Cut 14 (11) “appropriated”

Payer says an action plan had to be submitted to HUD in order to spend the money, which is why the process of receiving funds took so long. She says federal restrictions have been placed on who first receives access to the money.

Cut 15 (09) “flood insurance”

Payer expects to have a contractor in place within the next week who will manage the Homeowner Assistance Program. The state is asking each homeowner who received flood damage to fill out a survey at restore.la.gov to determine their eligibility for federal assistance. She says in addition to that the governor is working on trying to receive more federal funding.

Cut 16 (11) “year’s flood”

___________________________________________________

After taking two of three from Arkansas, LSU is once again back in the top ten in three major college baseball polls heading into tonight’s matchup against UL Lafayette. Despite a lot of grumbling from the LSU fan base over how this team is played, the Tigers are 22-11 overall,. 7-5 in the SEC. Coach Paul Mainieri admits this team has its faults, but he believes in his guys

Cut 17 (21)  “wants to”

LSU has been getting great starting pitching from Eric Walker. The freshman from Texas pitched a complete game shutout on Sunday and he’s 4-0 on the year. Mainieri says Walker has shown a great ability to command all of his pitches…

Cut 18 (18)    glove a lot“

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he will resign if the federal government is holding up flood recovery financial assistance. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards asks lawmakers to leave partisan politics at the door as they begin the 2017 legislative session. Michelle Southern has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

The father of the 6-year-old autistic boy killed by a Marksville deputy marshal has been arrested for allegedly trying to strangle his girlfriend. Chief Deputy Steven Martel with the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office says they received a call Saturday about a domestic dispute between 26-year-old Christopher Few and his girlfriend.

Cut 3 (09) “strangle him”

The incident happened at a home in Moncla, just north of Marksville, only a week after former Marksville officer Derrick Stafford was convicted in the death of 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis. Martel says there was sufficient evidence to book Few on one count of domestic abuse battery by strangulation.

Cut 4  (07) “had occurred”

Martel says Few is currently being held in the Avoyelles Parish Jail, and he’s expected to have his bond hearing today. But he says Few also has two outstanding warrants for theft in St. Landry Parish.

Cut 5  (05)  “on him”

_______________________________________________________

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he will resign if the federal government is the reason flood victims have not yet received any federal assistance. Graves made the comments on the Jim Engster Show, also issuing a call for Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same.

Cut 6 (09) “with the governor”

Richard Carbo with the Governor’s Office says there is no truth to Graves’ claims that the state is holding up the process. He says Louisiana submitted its plan on how to spend recovery dollars to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development with record speed, and the funds are tied up in red tape on the federal level.

Cut 7 (09)  “of the funds”

Congress has approved a total of $1.6 billion for Louisiana’s flood recovery, but no dollars have yet been dispersed. The Governor’s Office says the funds will be available in the coming weeks. But Graves is adamant the state is delaying the process.

Cut 8 (08) “or not”

Carbo says the Governor’s Office in no way wants Graves to resign. He says instead, they want to work with him because that’s what’s best for the flood victims. He says these kinds of comments aren’t doing anything to help homeowners.

Cut 9 (08)  “not accurate”

_______________________________________________________

Have you noticed gas prices are on the rise? AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says the cost of regular gasoline rose 7 cents a gallon over the last week for a statewide average of $2.19. Redman says it’s that time of the year when the price at the pump rises.

Cut 10 (11) “their equipment”

Gas prices are at their highest level since January. Redman says refineries are switching from a winter grade of gasoline to a summer, which will lead to a decrease in supply, possibly pushing gas prices to $2.50 a gallon by May or June. He says motorists should be prepared to pay more for gasoline this year.

Cut 11 (10) “a gallon”

Redman says the more expensive summer grade gasoline has to be in place by May. He says while the swing in prices varies a little from one year to the next, we can always expect gas prices to go up this time of year.

Cut 12 (11) “in June”

_________________________________________________________

The 2017 session is underway and Governor John Bel Edwards told lawmakers now is the time to pass long-term tax reform that provides budget stability, so Louisiana can better fund its priorities. Edwards is pushing a plan that would increase taxes on many businesses, but promises to lower taxes on most Louisiana residents.

Cut 13 (12) “days ahead”

During an address to a joint session of the legislature, the governor also pushed legislators to pour money into roads, even if that means increasing the state’s gasoline tax…

Cut 14 (07) “traffic congestion”

The legislative session will last for two months. During that time, the governor will call on legislators to pass a series of changes to the state’s criminal laws in effort to lower the state’s incarceration rate. He also wants legislators to raise the minimum wage and pass legislation that ensures women receive the same wages as men for equal work

Cut 15 (08) “(applause”

TOPS, criminal justice reform and raising the gas tax will be hot topics during the legislative session that begins today. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Homeowners affected by last year’s floods can now fill out a survey to see if they qualify for federal aid. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

A bill to raise the minimum age of strippers to 21 is back again for this legislative session. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 3 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

TOPS, criminal justice reform and proposals to raise the gasoline tax are some of the big topics up for discussion as the legislative session begins today. There are bills filed that raise the minimum GPA to qualify for the TOPS scholarship. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this proposal will face fierce opposition from the legislative black caucus.

Cut 4  (08) “income schools”

There’s also a push to raise the state’s gasoline tax, which is currently 20-cents. Supporters say a higher gas tax is needed for better roads. But Pinsonat says passing a tax hike is difficult. He says many lawmakers are concerned that the additional revenues will not go towards their intended purpose.

Cut 5  (10)  “structure”

Governor John Bel Edwards is pushing for criminal justice reform as part of his legislative agenda. The governor is seeking to lower the state’s incarceration rate, which has been referred to as the highest in the world. Pinsonat says the concept is easier said than done.

Cut 6 (09) “group out”

______________________________________

Even Democrats are unsure about the Governor John Bel Edwards ambitious tax plan that he’s asking lawmakers to pass during the legislative session. Edwards’ proposal calls for a new tax that would be placed on the state’s largest businesses. Minden Representative Gene Reynolds heads the state Democratic Caucus and says getting the necessary 70 votes in the House will be a challenge.

Cut 7 (10)  “to get”

Reynolds expects it will take a lot of compromise to reach a majority consensus. A contentious point in the plan involves levying a gross receipts tax on businesses, which is basically a sales tax paid by sellers instead of buyers. He says many lawmakers are hesitant about the proposal.

Cut 8 (08) “I would think”

Lawmakers won’t have another chance to revisit the state’s tax code until the next fiscal session in 2019. Reynolds says that means the time to act would be now. He says the only other option would be for lawmakers to come in for a constitutional convention.

Cut 9 (09)  “a while”

_________________________________________________________

Flood impacted homeowners can now fill out a survey to see if they qualify for federal assistance. The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer says this is a very important first step for homeowners who were affected by the March and August 2016 floods. She says they need to know what their recovery needs are now.

Cut 10 (06) “some reimbursement”

Payer says this 15 minute survey will give the state real time information to show Congress the ongoing need for flood recovery. She encourages all homeowners to fill out the survey, whether or not they think they will qualify for assistance.

Cut 11 (10) “becomes eligible”

Congress has approved 1.6 billion dollars in flood recovery dollars. Much of that money will be available to residents impacted by either of last year’s floods. Payer expects the federal government will make that money available in a couple of weeks. She says the federal aid will be doled out in phases, and families most in need of assistance will get help first.

Cut 12 (11) “severe damage”

The survey can be found online at restore.la.gov.

_______________________________________

A bill to raise the minimum age of strippers to 21 is back again for this legislative session. A similar measure passed last year but the law was recently temporarily blocked by a judge over broad wording. That’s why Lake Charles Representative Ronnie Johns says he’s trying again. He says the judge didn’t seem to have an issue with the age restriction aspect..

Cut 13 (09) “talking about”

Johns says many victims who are brought into Louisiana end up working in strip clubs. He says the new bill is a clarification of the original goal of putting some type of a dent into the human trafficking trade…:

Cut 14 (07) “my intent”

The law that was passed last year had wording that could have placed age restrictions on other occupations, according to the ruling, and violated the constitution. Johns says that’s why the new bill makes clear what he means by nudity and strip club…:

Cut 15 (09) “at 21 years old”

______________________________________________

Head coach Mark Hudspeth has named Jordan Davis his starting quarterback as the Ragin Cajuns have completed spring football. Davis was 11-of-14 for 174 yards and a touchdown in the Red-White Spring Game. Hudspeth says Davis looked sharp in the spring and has a great grasp of the offense…

Cut 16 (07) “in him”

The Cajuns will being the 2017 season by hosting Southeastern Louisiana. Hudspeth says he liked the development of his defensive backs during spring…

Cut 17 (16)  “got better”

________________________________________________________________

Louisiana Tech also wrapped up spring practice over the weekend. Quarterback J’Mar Smith threw for over 300 yards and a touchdown. Bulldogs head coach Skip Holtz says Smith has the makings of a really dangerous quarterback for opponents…

Cut 18 (19)    with his feet“

A feel good moment for Louisiana Tech was return of Jaqws Dancy. He’s back on the field after being diagnosed of Hodgkin lymphoma in October. He had a 24-yard reception. Holtz says it was great to see Jaqwis back in pads…

Cut 19 (20)   “couple plays”

The Bulldogs will open the season on Spetember 2nd at home against Northwestern State. Holtz says developing consistency will be the key when the team begins fall camp in August…

Cut 20 (19)   “on defense”

It’s festival season in the Bayou State. Jeff Palermo has more on the festivals underway around the state…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

A proposed law would exempt items like tampons and diapers from the state sales tax. Emelie Gunn has more on the measure filed by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell….

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Festival season is in full swing in all corners of the Bayou State. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the Blues Festival gets underway in the Capitol City, while the Crawfish Festival kicks off in Lake Charles. He says there’s plenty to do in Louisiana this weekend.

Cut 3 (11) “strawberry festival”

Nungesser says festival season brings a ton of tourists to the Pelican State. He says some even use motor homes to tour the state and travel the festival circuit. He says it’s a great chance to show off the Louisiana lifestyle and hospitality.

Cut 4  (07) “new friend”

Nungesser says with over 400 festivals, there’s something to do every weekend in every town and city around the state. He says he wants to visit them all, but with new festivals popping up every year, that seems impossible.

Cut 5  (10)  “visit em all”

_______________________________________________________

Republican members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation fully support the United States missile attack on an air base in Syria. Retired Major General Ron Richard from Louisiana was a guest on WRKF’s Talk Louisiana and says the president made the right move following Syria’s chemical attack on civilians.

Cut 6 (10) “took place”

While on the campaign trail, Trump said the U.S. would not get involved with conflicts in the Middle East. But Richard says this action was necessary given the heinous attack on innocent people. He says these missiles caused serious damage.

Cut 7 (08)  “of action”

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul says President Trump should have received Congressional approval before authorizing a military strike on an air base in Syria. But Richard said on W-R-K-F’s Talk Louisiana that he supports the President’s surprise attack..

Cut 8 (07) “to do”

_______________________________________________________

A Baton Rouge man faces over 200 counts of theft after allegedly cashing his dead mother’s retirement checks for 18 years. Attorney General Jeff Landry says 42-year-old Lester Joseph stole over $400 thousand from the state’s Teacher’s Retirement System. Landry says the suspect’s father was the beneficiary for his wife’s retirement checks after Ruby Joseph passed away in 1997.

Cut 9 (09)  “send checks”

Landry says the son illegally forged his name on his father’s checks, collecting more than $460-thousand in undue benefits. He says Joseph has been charged with 201 counts of felony theft and two counts of identity theft.

Cut 10 (11) “particular benefits”

Landry says this arrest is a result of the hard work of people in his department who are ensuring the rule of law is followed. He says from here, the case will go to the local District Attorney, and if convicted, Joseph should serve time behind bars.

Cut 11 (10) “go to work”

_________________________________________________________

A New Orleans lawmaker has filed legislation that would eliminate the state sales tax when purchasing feminine products. Senator J.P. Morrell’s measure would exempt items like tampons and diapers. Supporter of the bill, executive director of Lift Louisiana, Michelle Erenberg, says these products are not luxury items for women. She says even though the cost saving is only a few dollars, every little bit helps.

Cut 12 (10) “of money”

Erenberg anticipates push back from some lawmakers because previous bills dealing with women’s issues have not much success in the legislature. But she says a significant amount of women in the Bayou State live below the poverty line so any extra savings each month helps them feed their families.

Cut 13 (08) “than opposition”

Erenberg says this is common sense legislation.

Cut 14 (10) “made sense”

_________________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards has some big priorities for the legislative session that begins Monday. One of those is raising the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour, a hike he calls modest but meaningful. Edwards says in 2017, $7.25 an hour is inadequate to pay for the basic cost of living.

Cut 15 (11) “one job”

Edwards adds several other states have already increased their minimum wage well above the federal minimum.

Another key item on the Governor’s legislative agenda is criminal justice reform. Edwards said on his monthly call-in radio show the proposals will be consistent with the findings of the Criminal Justice Reinvestment task force he commissioned last year. He says we have to do something to lower Louisiana’s highest-in-the-world incarceration rate.

Cut 16  (09)  “any longer”

Edwards says they will look at proven strategies from other southern conservative states.

_________________________________________________________

The Department of Transportation breaks ground on a project to widen a 7 mile stretch of I-10 in the Lafayette area. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The American Society of Addiction Medicine’s annual conference is New Orleans is ongoing working on ways to treat opioid addiction. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The Strawberry Festival kicks off today in Ponchatoula. Halen Doughty has more on this weekend’s festivities…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The Department of Transportation has broken ground on a project to widen a 7 mile section of Interstate 10 from I-49 to the Atchafalaya Basin. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says they are replacing the original pavement and widening it to three lanes. He says this will increase the interstate’s capacity for the 60-thouasnd people who drive this stretch of highway every day.

Cut 4  (09) “on interstates”

Wilson says the 124-million dollar project is funded through state dollars and federal grant known as FASTLANE. He says this widening project should alleviate congestion in the Lafayette area and lead to a smoother ride for a very important highway.

Cut 5  (10)  “to grow”

Wilson says construction will begin in May, and the project is expected to take two years to complete.

Cut 6 (09) “this project”

______________________________________

The American Society of Addiction Medicine’s annual conference is underway in New Orleans bringing together researchers and doctors from around the world to address new ways to treat opioid addiction. Addiction Specialist at LSU Heath New Orleans Ross DeLeonardo Jr., says this is a great opportunity to find alternatives to the traditional 12 step program.

Cut 7 (10)  “90%”

DeLeonardo says they are discussing treating opioid addictions with maintenance medications that can prevent drug users from withdrawals. He says unlike methadone clinics where users have to wait in line daily, this gives an addict an alternative and chance to get their lives in order.

Cut 8 (09) “same way”

Critics of maintenance medication claim users can abuse the drugs. DeLeonardo says these prescriptions allow addicts to stay in control without the use of street drugs. He says during the conference, doctors are working to develop new maintenance drug treatments, like a rod put into the skin eliminating the need to take a daily pill.

Cut 9 (10)  “prescriptions”

_________________________________________________________

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival gets underway today and lasts all weekend. Festival Queen Katie Robinson says it’s the second largest free festival in the state next to Mardi Gras. Robinson says this is a great event for the whole family.

Cut 10 (09) “eating contest”

Louisiana has nearly 400 acres of strawberry fields producing 850,000 flats a year worth $14 million. Festival King Bill Wheat says last weekend’s severe weather did a little damage to the crop, and supply is dwindling as the season comes to an end.

Cut 11 (11) “on supply”

Robinson says severe weather won’t be a problem this weekend. The festival draws around 200,000 people every year, and Robinson hopes the sunshine will bring an even bigger turnout.

Cut 12 (08) “larger crowds”

_______________________________________

Louisiana Economic Development announces Lotte Chemical is moving their headquarters from Houston to Lake Charles. LED Secretary Don Pierson says Lotte already has a chemical plant under construction at the junction of Interstates 10 and 210. He says this is a big win for the Bayou State.

Cut 13 (10) “for Louisiana”

Pierson says the company is also teaming up with Westlake Chemical to build a roughly $2 billion ethane cracker complex there. He says Lotte also added a $1 billion monoethylene glycol plant at the interstate junction as well.

Cut 14 (10) “to Louisiana”

Lotte Chemical is based in Korea, while Westlake is out of Taiwan. He says it’s encouraging to see two international companies choosing to conduct business in Louisiana.

Cut 15 (09) “chemical production”

______________________________________________

The LSU baseball team begins a huge series tonight in Fayetteville against the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Hogs are tied for first in the SEC West with a 7-2 record, while the Tigers are 5-4 and have lost their last two conference series. But LSU senior starting pitcher Jared Poche says knows they can play better…

Cut 16 (11) “see what happens”

Arkansas is 24-6 overall. They’ve hit 40 home runs on the season, which leads the SEC. They’ve scored 214 runs, which is tied for third in the league. Poche says they’ll need to execute their pitches to have success…

Cut 17 (12)  “should be okay”

On the mound, Arkansas pitchers have struck out a league-high 317 hitters. Senior shortstop Kramer Robertson says they’ve already faced some talented pitchers this season and this weekend is no exception…

Cut 18 (09)    your ability“

Alex Lange will start on the mound for LSU tonight. He’s 3-3 with a 3.73 ERA. The Tigers have failed to score runs for him in his last two starts. Robertson says they know they only have to score a few runs on the nights that Lange pitches

Cut 19 (08)   “for success”

A report from United Way finds 42 percent of Louisiana households cannot afford basic necessities. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State is calling for a slightly below-average 2017 Hurricane Season. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

Forty-two percent of Louisiana households cannot afford their basic needs, according to the United Way. The report finds 23 percent of those live above the poverty level but are considered Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed, or ALICE. President of the Louisiana Association of United Ways, Sarah Berthelot says that’s a 2 percent increase from their first report.

Cut 3 (09) “job loss”

Dr. Stephanie Hoopes of Rutgers University authored the report. She says we’re seeing an increase in ALICE families in Louisiana because the cost of living is going up, but inflation is not. She says this means affording basic needs is becoming more of a challenge.

Cut 4  (09) “14 percent”

The report finds households living below the ALICE threshold make up at least 25 percent of the population in every parish. In New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport, more than 49 percent of households struggle to make ends meet. Berthelot hopes these findings can lead to change.

Cut 5  (10)  “in homes”

_______________________________________________________

The State Department of Natural Resources gives its approval to the controversial Bayou Bridge Pipeline project. DNR Spokesperson Patrick Courreges (Koo-rezge) says they determined the pipeline, which would dip into 17 miles of Louisiana’s coastal zone, would pose no risk of damage to wetlands. He says after a permit was submitted, the DNR took public comment and reviewed the plans.

Cut 6 (09) “wetland zone”

Permission is still needed from the state Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Army Corp on Engineers before the pipeline can be built from Lake Charles into St. James Parish. Courreges says D-N-R’s role in the permitting process was to make sure the pipeline did not produce a net loss of wetlands.

Cut 7 (09)  “be altering”

The Gulf Restoration Network has expressed concern with the pipeline due to the potential of oil leaks into the drinking water of nearly 300-thousand residents. But Courreges says the pipeline poses no threat. He says the department took a long look at the plans before approving the project.

Cut 8 (07) “recommend approval”

_______________________________________________________

The Louisiana Survey finds 91 percent of Louisiana residents support the concept of equal pay for equal work. Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, Dr. Michael Henderson, says it always raises eyebrows when you see such a large majority falling on one side of an issue. But he says that could change as the issue is debated in the legislative session.

Cut 9 (08)  “of businesses”

Bills requiring men and women to be paid the same wage for the same job have been filed. Henderson says public support won’t be the only thing lawmakers keep in mind as the debates unfold. He says they’ll also be interested in what interest groups have to say about equal pay measures. He expects opponents to the proposals to make a strong case before the legislature.

Cut 10 (08) “gonna be”

Henderson says there are gender and party differences in how respondents view gender discrimination. The report finds 61 percent of women say there is a lot or some discrimination, while only 55 percent of men agree. Likewise 56 percent of Democrats say there’s a lot of discrimination, and just 11 percent of Republicans think so. He says that opens the door to see some divide on equal pay legislation.

Cut 11 (10) “highly debated”

_________________________________________________________

The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State is calling for a slightly below-average 2017 Hurricane Season. They are predicting 11 named storms, four hurricanes, two of those major. Lead Researcher Dr. Phil Klotzbach says the primary reasons are the predicted development of an El Nino in the Pacific Ocean, which typically breaks up storms in the Atlantic..:

Cut 12 (08) “for the storms”

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Noevmber 30th. There has been some concern that since Louisiana had such a warm winter that it was keeping temps Gulf of Mexico at a level that fuels storms. Klotzbach says the water in the Gulf of Mexico always has warm conditions, but other factors need to be present to carry a storm there..

Cut 13 (10) “Gulf of Mexico”

Klotzbach says when it comes to landfall probability, there’s a 1 in 4 chance a major hurricane would impact the Gulf Coast, and the long-term average is about one in three…:

Cut 14 (10) “every year”

_________________________________________________________

Walgreens is taking a stance against the growing opioid epidemic in Louisiana by placing safe drug disposals kiosks in 12 locations around the state. Governor John Bel Edwards held a press conference at a Walgreens pharmacy earlier today to discuss the importance of safely throwing away old prescription medications. He says the placement of the kiosks is a step in the right direction to stopping opioid addiction.

Cut 15 (07) “we  can”

Statistics show by mid-year 2016 in East Baton Rouge and Orleans Parishes, death due to narcotics overdoses surpassed homicide deaths. Edwards says properly disposing of old prescription drugs can prevent friends and family members from experimenting with opioids. He says once addiction begins it can spiral out of control.

Cut 16  (09)  “we can”

_________________________________________________________

A bipartisan bill co-authored by US Senator Bill Cassidy could help address the nation’s rising obesity rate. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The state’s newly established Opioid Abuse Prevention Fund seeks to end the opioid epidemic. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards blames partisan politics for hard attacks he underwent during a Congressional hearing on the response to last year’s floods. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The Louisiana District Attorney’s Association supports recommendations to reduce sentences for non-violent offenders, but they oppose proposals to provide parole consideration for certain juvenile killers and inmates who have been behind bars for decades. Executive Director Pete Adams says they reviewed recommendations made the governor’s task on criminal justice reform and they back some of the ideas.

Cut 4  (08) “incarcerated”

Governor Edwards is leading an effort to reduce the state’s incarceration rate. Adams says in the upcoming legislative session, the focus should be on making sure non-violent offenders are behind bars for a lengthy amount of time.

Cut 5  (05)  “offenses”

Adams says they fully support addressing criminal justice reform, but careful consideration must be done to ensure dangerous criminals who pled down to non-violent offenses are not released…

Cut 6 (09) “offenders”

______________________________________

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is behind legislation that seeks to address the growing obesity rate in America. Cassidy says the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act would make weight loss treatment more accessible to those on Medicare. He says the bill allows Medicare to cover the cost of new prescription drugs for chronic weigh management.

Cut 7 (03)  “their weight”

Cassidy says nearly 70 percent of Americans are overweight or obese, and 13 million of them are seniors. He says obesity increases the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. He says the bill also makes weight loss counseling more available to Medicare recipients.

Cut 8 (10) “behavioral therapy”

Cassidy says healthcare costs related to obesity total nearly $200 billion each year, and reducing the obesity rate could save federal healthcare dollars. He says if someone loses weight, their blood pressure and diabetes will get better at almost any age.

Cut 9 (09)  “of Americans”

_________________________________________________________

Attorney General Jeff Landry is working to end the opioid epidemic in Louisiana with the new Opioid Abuse Prevention Fund. Landry that fund will pay for an informational campaign complete with a website, advertisements, printed materials, and community outreach.

Cut 10 (07) “opioid addiction”

Landry says the fund will be paid for through a partnership with Louisiana Ambulance Alliance and Amphastar Pharmaceuticals. He says rebates from medications that treat opioid overdoses will pay for the cost of the End the Epidemic LA campaign.

Cut 11 (11) “that fund”

Landry says the website EndTheEpidemicLA.org is now up and running. He says we have to do something because opioid overdose deaths are now the leading cause of injury related deaths among adults. He says this epidemic can be prevented with the right amount of education.

Cut 12 (10) “affecting everyone”

_______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards believes partisan politics were behind the harsh line of questioning at a Congressional hearing examining the response to last year’s historic flooding. Republican lawmakers questioned why the state has yet to appropriate the $1.6 billion Congress provided for flood recovery. In an interview on the Jim Engster Show, Edwards said the holdup is on the federal level.

Cut 13 (10) “second action plan”

Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves blames the Edwards administration for the delay in dispensing the funds. But the governor says those kinds of false comments aren’t helping.

Cut 14 (11) “not the case”

The Democratic governor says he’s worked well with the state’s Congressional delegation throughout the recovery process, and it’s only recently that some members chose to make it harder by releasing misinformation. Edwards says it’s not surprising the GOP went in for the attack.

Cut 15 (10) “what they do”

______________________________________________

At LSU Pro Day, running back Leonard Fournette weighed in at 228, 12 pounds lighter than what the scale read at the NFL combine a month ago. Fournette says he wanted to show NFL teams that he has the discipline to lose weight and maintain…

Cut 16 (12) “that’s it”

Fournette ran a 4.51 at the Combine last month, but chose not to run again yesterday. The New Orleans native left LSU as the school’s fourth leading rusher, but he missed several games last year because of an ankle injury. Fournette says he’s told NFL teams that he’s healthy…

Cut 17 (10)  “that’s it”

18 players participated in LSU pro day and NFL executives from every team were on hand, including the Saints. Since Sean Payton was named head coach in New Orleans, the Black and Gold have only drafted one LSU player, defensive tackle Al Woods in 2010. But General Manager Mickey Loomis says they don’t intentionally avoid players from Tiger Town…

Cut 18 (17)    worked out“

The Saints are coming off three consecutive 7-and-9 seasons. New Orleans has five picks in the first three rounds in this month’s NFL draft and Loomis says the front office understands the urgency to make them count…

Cut 19 (22)   “trying too”

Governor Edwards faced criticism from Republican legislators in Washington D.C. about the way he handled the August flooding. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft are becoming more popular and a state lawmaker wants to regulate this growing industry.  Michelle Southern has the story..

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

Republican lawmakers criticized Governor John Bel Edwards’ handling of the deadly August flood during a Congressional hearing in Washington D.C. today. The chairman of the panel, Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, couldn’t believe the governor didn’t know how many people were still displaced.

Cut 3 (11) “that clueless”

The legislators also questioned Edwards over the complaints regarding the Shelter at Home Program and the quality of work that was done to help flood victims get back into their homes. Edwards says he gives his administration a grade of B-plus for handling the flood recovery. But Michigan Congressman Paul Mitchell disagrees.

Cut 4  (11) “B+”

South Carolina Congressman Tom Rice questioned the Governors’ handling of the storm before it started flooding.

Cut 5  (14)  “in advance”

Chaffetz also criticized the state for how it has handled the 1.6 billion dollars that Congress has appropriated to help flood victims.

Cut 6 (11) “the process”

Edwards says they have done all they can do to move the process as quick as possible and they are still waiting of the federal government to make the money available so the state can use it.

_______________________________________________________

A measure that would place statewide regulations for services like Uber and Lyft has been filed for the upcoming legislative session. Currently, each parish decides the rules for how ride sharing companies should operate. Jackson Representative Kenny Havard says his bill would eliminate confusion.

Cut 7 (09)  “same umbrella”

If signed into law, Louisiana would be the 40^th state to implement statewide rules. Havard says under this proposal, ride sharing companies would be required to keep records of every trip and drivers will have to go through a background check before they are hired by the ride sharing service.

Cut 8 (07) “the nation”

Both Uber and Lyft are in support of the legislation because they believe it would help them expand their services across the state. Havard says this bill would also make payment rates the same in each parish.

Cut 9 (08)  “the state”

_______________________________________________________

There’s been talk of raising the gasoline tax by as much as 17 cents a gallon in the upcoming legislative session. Franklin Representative Sam Jones believes that’s too much of a hike, but he says the state needs to invest more in transportation infrastructure.

Cut 10 (11) “and traffic”

Jones has filed a bill to increase the state’s gasoline tax by an additional seven cents, but he says that’s negotiable. He says the state’s current 20-cent gasoline tax is not addressing the state’s 13-billion dollar backlog of transportation needs.

Cut 11 (09) “the megaprojects”

Expanding I-49 south and building new bridges in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles are among the megaprojects lawmakers are looking to fund. Jones is hopeful there will be bipartisan support for raising the gas tax, as long as it ensures the money will be used to improve roads and bridges.

Cut 12 (12) “to pass”

_________________________________________________________

Former St. Tammany and Washington Parish District Attorney Walter Reed was today sentenced in federal court to 48 months in prison for his conviction on fraud and money laundering. Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino says Reed got off a lot easier than many people thought.:

Cut 13 (10) “wonderful nurse”

A jury convicted Reed last May on 18 counts ranging from conspiracy to fraud for using campaign contributions for personal use. U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon said the reason for the lighter sentence was because the case was outside the mainstream of fraud. Ciolino says it sounds like the judge may have felt Reed’s attorneys had a good case…:

Cut 14 (08) “federal criminal one”

Reed will remain free on an appeal bond. Ciolino says typically criminals file appeal only as a formality on trivial matters. He says it’s extremely unusual that a defendant would get bail pending appeal…:

Cut 15 (10) “on appeal”

_________________________________________________________