Criminal justice reform will be a big topic in the legislative session, and a statewide poll finds broad support for some proposals. Jeff Palermo has more from the survey out of LSU…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Legislation to stop the opioid epidemic has been filed for the upcoming session with the support of Governor Edwards’. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Most Louisianans support criminal justice reform, according to the 2017 Louisiana Survey. According to the poll from the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, 75 percent of voters support shorter sentences for non-violent crimes. But Dr. Michael Henderson says they asked respondents about particular offenses like fraud, burglary or selling illegal drugs and support for shorter sentences drops. He says this finding could shape the debate in the legislative session.

Cut 3 (09) “on the table”

Governor John Bel Edwards plans to push criminal justice reform in the legislative session that begins next week. Henderson says their survey found a big difference between blacks and whites over the fairness of the criminal justice system. Henderson says 71 percent of black respondents say the system is not fair, only 44 percent of white respondents agree.

Cut 4  (09) “the motivations”

Henderson says another interesting point from the survey is that 65 percent of respondents say crime has increased over the past five years. That’s a 10-percent increase from the last time they asked this question. But he says the overall crime rates don’t line up with public opinion about crime rates.

Cut 5  (12)  “some of this” 2x

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As part of Governor John Bel Edwards legislative agenda for the upcoming session, a bill has been filed to help address the growing opioid epidemic in Louisiana. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot co-authored the measure and says the legislation would limit first time opioid prescriptions for acute pain to a seven day supply.

Cut 6 (09) “workforce”

Talbot says this measure would only apply to acute pain, not chronic pain, cancer or individuals on palliative care. He says the Bayou State has more opioid prescriptions than people in the state and once doctors cut them off, addicts turn to harder drugs.

Cut 7 (11)  “on that”

Another measure filed by Talbot to tackle the opioid problem is modeled after a Texas law that the lawmaker  says has done a great job getting injured people back to work and off opioid medications. He says this is a bigger problem than many think.

Cut 8 (09) “hurts families”

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As cleanup and recovery continues in areas that were pelted with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes earlier this week, some communities are still keeping a close eye on rivers that have yet to crest. Stephen Carboni with the National Weather Service says parts of Central Louisiana experienced as much as 10 inches of rain during the event…:

Cut 9 (08)  “for example”

Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy called called Sunday’s storms “a Gustav-level event.” Carboni says there are homes and businesses in several historically flood-prone areas that should monitor river forecasts…:

Cut 10 (07) “Allen Parish”

Carboni says there is some good news. He says unlike some of the weather events that caused devastating flooding in 2016, this was a quick downpour and the forecast over the next several days looks decent…:

Cut 11 (08) “and see”

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A man who gunned down and murdered his longtime-partner and prominent business woman in Northwest Louisiana will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Caddo Assistant DA Brittney Green says a jury found 59-year-old Mark Colby guilty of second degree murder in the death of 53-year-old Angela Godley…:

Cut 12 (04) “Judge Mosely”

Godley was found dead in the laundry room at the couple’s Shreve Island home on September 10, 2014. Green says the incident rocked the community as the victim was a well known restaurant owner and former cardiac care nurse…:

Cut 13 (10) “wonderful nurse”

Green says on the night of the murder, something went wrong between the two after a night out that resulted in Colby taking a .45 handgun and shooting the victim 5 times, including 4 in he back. She says Colby had a violent history…:

Cut 14 (10) “for Ms. Godley”

A University of New Orleans survey finds President Trump has a much higher approval rating in Louisiana than he does nationwide. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A report from WalletHub finds Louisiana is the second most stressed state. Halen Doughty has more on why we are stressed out…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The state is one step closer to dispensing federal flood recovery dollars to families affected by the 2016 floods. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A University of New Orleans poll finds President Donald Trump approval rating in Louisiana is at 58-percent, which equals the 58-percent received from the state’s voters in November. A recent Gallup poll found President Trump’s approval rating at 38-percent nationwide. UNO pollster Ed Chervenak says Mr. Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana is much higher here

Cut 4  (08) “Republican president”

The survey also shows a majority of independents and third party members also approve of the president. Chervenak says they surveyed 740 residents and found there is a large racial divide with 71-percent of whites rating Trump positively, 70-percent of blacks rate him negatively.

Cut 5  (10)  “divide”

Mr. Trump has received criticism for failing to get legislation passed for repealing and replacing Obamacare. There have also been concerns over his relationship with Russia. Chervenak says Trump supporters in Louisiana are giving the president the benefit of the doubt. He says it’s too early for many voters to pass judgement.

Cut 6 (10) “that happens”

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Louisiana is the second most stressed state, according to a report by WalletHub. Michelle Many (Main-ee) with LSU Health New Orleans believes that’s because so many in the Bayou State are poor. Many says a lack of money can prevent people from getting the psychological help they need.

Cut 7 (11)  “of providers”

Many says it’s not surprising WalletHub ranked the Bayou State the worst state for psychologists per capita, since access is governed by income. The report finds Louisiana’s crime rate is the fourth worst in the nation and high crime rates can also take a toll on a person’s mental health.

Cut 8 (07) “more stressed”

According to WalletHub, Louisiana has the 4^th highest rate of adults in poor health. Many says when people are living in poverty, they sometimes have to make decisions that make sense financially, but not in terms of health.

Cut 9 (12)  “have to go”

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Recovery efforts are underway from the severe weather that damaged homes and killed two people. Spokesperson for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Mike Steele says they are working with parish leaders in hard hit areas to see what kind of assistance is needed. He says preliminary damage assessment teams will survey the destruction.

Cut 10 (09) “from FEMA”

Steele says Rapides seems to be the hardest hit parish, but this was an unusual weather event that affected nearly every corner of the state.

Cut 11 (09) “the state”

The severe weather caused for road closures in many parishes, uprooted trees and left thousands without power. Steele says Governor Edwards took a trip to Alexandria and Breaux Bridge to see the damage first hand. He says a mother and her 3-year-old daughter died after their trailer flipped in Breaux Bridge early Sunday morning.

Cut 12 (09) “that family”

A GoFundMe account has been set up for funeral expenses in the name of Francine Gotch and her toddler, Neveah Alexander. An account has also been set up at Farmers Merchant Bank and donations can be made at all bank locations in St. Martin Parish.

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Victims of last year’s devastating floods will be asked to fill out a survey soon to see if they are eligible for the federally funded homeowner assistance program. Congress has appropriated 1.6 billion that will soon become available. The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer says the first step for every homeowner who needs assistance is to fill out the survey at restore.la.gov.

Cut 13 (08) “application process”

Payer says the survey will be available Monday, and flood victims can learn more about the homeowner assistance program online. She says homeowners will be able to choose between state managed construction, where the state would oversee rebuilding, or a homeowner managed option, where people would oversee their construction with financial assistance from the state. She says there’s also a reimbursement option.

Cut 14 (08) “their homes”

Payer says 193-thousand families were affected by the March and August floods, and they’re working to get enough federal money to help as many as they can. She says federal law requires the state to dispense the initial $438 million that was approved first, which is going to families who need it most.

Cut 15 (09) “or disabled”

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The LSU baseball team returns to the diamond tonight for the first time since Saturday’s stunning loss to Texas A&M. The Tigers led that game 3-0 in the 9th inning, but ended up losing 4-to-3. LSU has lost five of its last seven, but Coach Paul Mainieri still has a lot of faith in his team, but they need to be more consistent in certain areas…

Cut 16 (17) “bullpen too”

LSU has fallen out of the top ten in the major college baseball polls and they are in fourth place in the SEC with a 5-4 league record. But Mainieri says he’s not giving up on the season…

Cut 17 (12)  “around here”

LSU hosts Grambling State tonight and then travel to Arkansas this weekend. Mainieri expects the players will bounce back from a rough couple of weeks…

Cut 18 (16)    my  livelihood“

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency after severe weather caused two deaths and left a wake of destruction. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The bids to produce medical marijuana are in with the LSU Ag Center, but how much longer do patients have to wait? Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Severe weather across the state resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries, as well as road closures and downed power lines in all corners of Louisiana. Maj. Ginny Higgins with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says two people were killed when an EF1 tornado touched down in a rural area of the parish.

Cut 3 (09) “flipped over”

The victims have been identified at 38-year-old Francine Gotch and 3-year-old Neveah Alexander. Higgins says the woman’s other child, a little boy, left the trailer home to go next door just moments before the tragedy.

Cut 4  (09) “a home”

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Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb says his parish sustained major damage, resulting in one injury. He says trees were uprooted or snapped in half, roofs were blown off buildings, and some structures even shifted in the heavy winds. He says limbs ripped from trees and flying debris downed power lines and injured one person.

Cut 5  (10)  “hospital there”

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Vernon Parish wasn’t spared from the storm’s destruction. Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Kenneth Moore says more than 30 parish roads were closed, and several homes took on water. He says three people had to be rescued by sheriff’s deputies.

Cut 6 (10) “life jackets”

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LaSalle Sheriff Scott Franklin says there was extensive damage throughout the parish as the storm moved from Rapides to Catahoula Parish, leaving a wake of destruction. He says volunteers and parish officials are working to open roads and restore power.

Cut 7 (09)  “work effort”

A suspected tornado caused of much of the wreckage. Franklin says the area of Fellowship, south of Jena, saw extensive damage from the storm.

Cut 8 (08) “houses and cars”

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Rapides Parish was also hit by a suspected tornado along the Highway 165 corridor. Capt. Tommy Carnline with the Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported, but they worked 30 weather related calls between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

Cut 9 (10)  “high water”

Carnline says deputies are working to clear roadways, and Cleco has people on the ground repairing power lines. He says everyone is thankful no one was hurt.

Cut 10 (08) “that’s for sure”

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There are two bills filed for the upcoming legislative regular session that seek to raise the minimum GPA for high school students to receieve the TOPS scholarship. A cumulative GPA of 2.5 is currently required and the proposed legislation raises the requirement to 3.0. Minden Representative Gene Reynolds is the author of the one of the bills

Cut 11 (04) “3.0”

There are currently 50-thousand students who receive the TOPS scholarship. But this year for the first time, the state was able to fully fund the program. So legislators are looking at ways to make TOPS more cost effective. Reynolds says raising the standards on receiving the scholarship is a good place to start…

Cut 12 (04) “more dedication”

Reynolds bill also would give TOPS students the opportunity to leave college or postpone entering college for a year or two, possibly for a job, and then receive the scholarship once that person makes the decision to go back to college. He’s hopeful his legislation will pass…

Cut 13 (04) “how it goes”

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Now that the bids are in with the LSU Ag Center to produce medical marijuana in Louisiana that would one day be used for patients who suffer from specific diseases, many are wondering how much longer they’ll have to wait. New Iberia Senator Fred Mills, who was instrumental in creating the medical marijuana law, gives his best guess on a timeline…:

Cut 14 (09) “that’s done”

LSU is expected to select a contractor by June, who will pay for the production costs. The facility will be located off campus and the first crop should be ready by the end of 2017. Mills says patients have to know that they are working to make a pharmaceutical grade product that’s consistently delivered. He says they can’t get this wrong…:

Cut 15 (10) “we’re being cautious”

The estimated cost to cultivate the drug it its raw form is 10-million dollars. Mills says he knows this process is going a little slower than some people had hoped, but it could be much worse…:

Cut 16  (08)  “quickly done”

A state lawmaker wants the public to decide whether speed enforcement cameras should be legal. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The rising popularity of essential oils for massaging, air fresheners and medicinal purposes is posing a greater risk to children. Emelie Gunn has more on why…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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You can now donate household items to flood victims through the new online donation campaign CrowdRelief. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Speed enforcement cameras would be taken down around the state, under a proposal to be discussed in the regular session. Covington Representative Paul Hollis says these cameras deny people their constitutional right to confront their accuser. He says he’s uncomfortable turning the duties of police over to robots and cameras.

Cut 4  (11) “your mailbox”

Hollis says only a few cities in the state even allow these devices, which means a majority of municipalities have decided against these money grabs. But he says Louisianans are travelers, so many will be subject to tickets if they pass through a city that uses the cameras.

Cut 5  (09)  “the constitution”

Hollis says many times drivers aren’t even aware the cameras are there, they just get a ticket in the mail. The proposed constitutional amendment will need a two-thirds vote approval by the legislature and then go on the ballot for the public to decide. He’s confident that if given the chance, voters will reject using speed enforcement cameras.

Cut 6 (08) “uncomfortable”

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The popularity of essential oils are on the rise for massages and air fresheners, but they also poses a greater risk to children. Louisiana Poison Center Managing Director Dr. Mark Ryan says more and more children are accidentally ingesting these oils which can lead to seizures or liver damage. He says it’s easy for kids to get into air fresheners.

Cut 7 (11)  “their mouth”

Poison control centers saw an uptick in calls reporting children ingesting essential oils. Ryan says the majority of cases reported were very minor. He reminds parents to be mindful of where they place these oils.

Cut 8 (06) “and away”

Ryan advises parents to call the poison control system if they suspect their child has gotten into essential oils. He says the symptoms of ingestion of many oils are the same…

Cut 9 (10)  “nasty outcome”

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The online donation campaign CrowdRelief is working to replace items families lost in the floods. Founder Rob Gaudet says all the household items that were piled up on the side of the road after the flood need to be replaced. He says flood victims can fill out a survey online, and then a CrowdRelief volunteer will meet with them to hear their story and take pictures of their rebuilding.

Cut 10 (09) “their help”

Once approved, the site lists specific items that flood victims need replaced next to the story of the family seeking help. Gaudet says donors can visit the site and find a family they connect with. He says they can then donate specific items they need.

Cut 11 (10) “disaster recovery”

Gaudet says over 120 flood victims have already completed the initial surveys, and they’ve raised over $1,500 for the first two families who are on the website. He says the call center based in Lafayette, and the whole organization, is operated by volunteers. He says the campaign is changing the lives of both flood victims and volunteers.

Cut 12 (08) “they are”

To donate or apply for assistance, visit CrowdRelief.net.

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A measure in the Governor’s proposed criminal justice package for the regular session seeks to improve police training. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James authors a bill that strengthens requirements for the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST. James says this bill requires all officers to complete 400 hours of this training, with an additional 20 hours annually.

Cut 13 (10) “developmental disabilities”

James says after the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling last summer, lawmakers have worked with police to discuss how everyone can do better. He says this is all about making sure police officers go home, and the people they encounter go home, which is why de-escalation tactics are a key part of the training.

Cut 14 (09) “last year”

James is optimistic this modernized training can help ease tensions and build trust between law enforcement and the public. He says there’s also a provision to revoke an officer’s training certification after certain disciplinary actions. He says this will prevent those officers from moving to other agencies.

Cut 15 (08) “certain agencies”

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A cruel April Fool’s joke was played on the LSU baseball team on Saturday. Up 3-0 in the 9th inning,  pitcher Caleb Gilbert and the Tigers gave up 4 runs and ended up losing to Texas A&M 4-3 and lose the series to the Aggies. Coach Paul Mainieri says the defeat was a hard punch to the stomach…

Cut 16 (11) “good team”

Mainieri on what he told the team after the loss…

Cut 17 (13)  “can do”

The loss drops LSU’s record to 5-4 in the SEC. Senior shortstop Kramer Robertson described the loss as shocking…

Cut 18 (19)      hurts a lot“

The “I Voted” George Rodrigue Blue Dog sticker was one incredible investment in outreach, according to Secretary of State Tom Scheder. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Legislation for the upcoming session has been filed that would give convicted felons who have been out of prison for five years the right to vote. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A criminal justice package for the regular session has been released by Governor John Bel Edwards. Halen Doughty has more on the proposals…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Secretary of State Tom Schedler told a House panel this week that the popular “I Voted” George Rodrigue Blue Dog sticker is one of the best investments his department has made. This was the reward citizens received for casting a ballot in the 2016 fall elections. Schedler said he had to make sure EVERYONE who voted got the precious sticker…:

Cut 4  (10) “sticker”

Schedler says his office received calls from people outside of the country wanting to know if they could have one, but they were only for Louisiana voters. He says when they made the announcement about the “Blue Dog for President” campaign, lawmakers called asking how much taxpayers were dishing out for the stickers…:

Cut 5  (11)  “I’ve been there”

Schedler says the Rodrigue family charged the state nothing for their part in the stickers. He said it was amazing to see how people would re-purpose the Blue Dog to brag that they had voted…:

Cut 6 (06) “laptops”

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A measure has been filed for the legislative session that would give convicted felons, who are on parole and have been out of jail for at least five years, the right to vote. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says many of these individuals have been out of jail for over 20 years…

Cut 7 (07)  “is vote”

Currently, anyone convicted of a felony cannot vote in Louisiana because the law considers anyone on parole imprisoned. The Democrat from Baton Rouge offered similar legislation last year and it was killed on the House floor. The difference with this bill, felons would not be able to vote until they are out of jail for five years. Smith says these individuals are still citizens and if allowed to vote, could choose their elected officials and contribute to society.

Cut 8 (08) “of life”

Smith says taking away privileges for people who committed crimes solves nothing and only makes them still feel like prisoners. She says some states allow convicted felons the right to vote immediately after being released from jail.

Cut 9 (09)  “to vote”

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Louisiana drivers are the second worst in the nation for cell phone usage while driving, according to a report from Life360. Co-founder Alex Haro says a feature in their family location app allows users to see how their family drives using the sensors on their phone. He says Louisianans use their phones an average of 2.4 times every time they get behind the wheel.

Cut 10 (09) “national average”

Haro says there are over 3,000 deaths nationwide every year due to distracted driving. He says some people say they only text at red lights, but he insists that’s not safe either. He says the National Safety Council found divers are still distracted up to 30 seconds after using their phones.

Cut 11 (11) “that happen”

Haro hopes this report will get more families to discuss the dangers of using cell phones while driving. He says over 58 percent of their users are using the phone less while driving. He hopes this report shows drivers that using your phone can wait.

Cut 12 (09) “they’ll understand”

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The Governor has released his comprehensive criminal justice legislative package that lawmakers will debate in the regular session that begins April 10. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny will attempt to push several of the proposals through the legislature. Martiny says in an effort to lower the state’s massive prison population they’ll seek to expand alternatives to incarceration.

Cut 13 (07) “their incarceration”

Louisiana is known as the incarceration capital of the world, and Governor Edwards has said with that comes a significant price tag. Martiny says one of the measures he’ll attempt to pass will expand incentives for inmates to participate in recidivism reducing programs, like drug and psychiatric treatment.

Cut 14 (10) “out bad people”

Martiny says habitual offender laws keep people in jail for the rest of their lives if they commit three violent crimes. But by classifying more and more offenses as violent crimes, he says we’re putting more people than necessary behind bars forever. He says streamlining parole eligibility for some of the lesser offenses could help reduce the incarceration rate.

Cut 15 (10) “not be affected” 2x

Three death row inmates at Angola have filed a lawsuit after being held in solitary confinement for decades. I’m Jeff Palermo…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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According to the 2017 Louisiana Survey, optimism in the future of the state is on the rise. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of three death row inmates who have spent decades in solitary confinement at Angola. All of Louisiana’s death row inmates are housed in solitary, where they spend 23 hours a day in a windowless cell without air conditioning. Attorney Betsy Ginsberg says this amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.

Cut 3 (10) “solitary confinement”

Ginsberg notes the inmates are in solitary by virtue of their sentence alone, not disciplinary problems. Plaintiffs Marcus Hamilton, Winthrop Eaton, and Michael Perry have all spent more than 25 years in solitary confinement. She says living in isolation for this long takes a serious toll on the inmates’ physical and mental health.

Cut 4  (08) “they experience”

Ginsberg says the United Nations has said that anything more than 15 days in solitary constitutes a form of torture.  She understands that offenders lose certain rights when they commit violent crimes, but there has to be a limit as to what the system can do to inmates.

Cut 5  (11)  “they are”

The Department of Corrections has not issued a comment on the suit.

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For the first time since 2012, more people in Louisiana are optimistic about the future of the state, according to the 2017 Louisiana Survey. Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab Michael Henderson says 46-percent of residents believe the state is headed in the right direction. Henderson credits this to the evolving political landscape.

Cut 6 (08) “this year”

Henderson says despite a better sense of optimism in the state, Louisiana residents still have a lot of concerns and the number one concern is the state’s budget problems.

Cut 7 (10)  “of those”

But 40-percent of the respondents say they are confident state government can effectively address the state’s important problems. That’s a six percent increase from the year before. Henderson says usually residents are more pessimistic about the ability of our elected officials.

Cut 8 (10) “increase”

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Legislation has been filed that would require TOPS recipients who leave Louisiana after graduating to pay 50-percent of their scholarship back to the state over time. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says the goal of his bill is to keep the best and brightest in the Bayou State.

Cut 9 (10)  “citizens”

Luneau says this would be much like paying back an interest free student loan. He says students would be required to follow through with a contractual agreement, ensuring they will pay back the money if they leave the state.

Cut 10 (09) “of documents”

The bill does include circumstances where if a recipient does leave the state for special reasons, they will not be required to pay the 50-percent back, like if they enter into the military. Luneau hopes this encourages students to stay and work in Louisiana but also saves the state money if they decide to move to another state.

Cut 11 (07) “four years”

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Louisiana has the worst financial literacy in the nation, according to the personal finance website WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzales says the median credit score in the state is 654, which is verging on bad credit. She says only 28 percent of residents are setting aside money for their children’s education, and less half have a rainy day fund.

Cut 12 (11) “emergency funds”

Gonzales says Louisiana has the highest unbanked rate in the country, meaning 15 percent of residents do not have a bank account at all. She says that means people aren’t earning interest on any cash they may be putting back, and they’re borrowing from nonbank lenders like payday loans. She adds Louisianans are not being responsible with credit cards either.

Cut 13 (09) “sooner”

Gonzales says this can stretch your interest out for years to come. The report finds only 2 percent of households attended a financial literacy class or counseling session in the past year. She says Louisiana residents also have a bad habit of spending more money than they make.

Cut 14 (10) “the minimum”

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Poor quality roads are costing Louisiana motorists an additional $6.5 billion annually, according to a report from the national transportation research group TRIP. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Governor Edwards has released his legislative package designed to improve public education. Michelle Southern has details on some of the proposals…:

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Louisiana State Police is investigating the death of a 3-year-old who was found dead in her mother’s car outside of a nursing home in Ville Platte. Trooper Brooks David says authorities are working to determine a timeline of how long the toddler was in the car.

Cut 3 (08) “coroner’s office”

David says the identity of the child has not been released. He says they are still investigating why the child was left alone in the vehicle.

Cut 4  (04) “visiting there”

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A report from the national transportation research group TRIP finds Louisiana drivers are paying an additional $6.5 billion annually because of poor transportation infrastructure. Research and Policy Manger Rocky Moretti says deteriorating roads, congestion, and lack of safety features are leading to increased costs for motorists.

Cut 5  (11)  “traffic crashes”

Moretti says Louisiana has the 7^th highest rate of traffic fatalities in the country. The report finds traffic accidents claimed the lives of more than 35-hundred between 2011 and 2015. He says adding roadway safety features could greatly reduce that rate.

Cut 6 (11) “fatal traffic crashes”

Moretti says the absence of these features may not cause accidents, but it can contribute to the seriousness of them. TRIP finds 13 percent of the state’s bridges are structurally deficient, and 26 percent of major roads are in poor condition. He says Louisiana didn’t get into this problem overnight, and it can’t be resolved overnight either.

Cut 7 (09)  “roadway safety”

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As part of Governor John Bel Edwards’ plan to improve K-12 education outcomes, a measure has been filed for the legislative session that would prohibit the use of corporal punishment in public schools for students with disabilities. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil says his legislation would prohibit physical punishment for kids with intellectual disabilities.

Cut 8 (10) “certain disabilities”

Foil says he was surprised that this was even an option in place for students with disabilities. He says corporal punishment varies from school system to school system but physical punishment should never be the answer for students with a mental handicap.

Cut 9 (10)  “vulnerable”

The state Department of Education found over 500 students with disabilities received some kind of corporal punishment during the 2015-2016 school year. Foil says his measure would only apply to students with disabilities.

Cut 10 (09) “to do”

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Governor John Bel Edwards laid out his plan today for a new tax structure in Louisiana. It calls for lower sales taxes, but more services would be subject to a sales tax and there would be adjustments to the income tax bracket, which he says would benefit a majority of residents….

Cut 11 (13) “federal income taxes”

While many citizens would see a tax cut under this plan, many businesses would be hit with what would be called a Commercial Activity Tax, which would raise nearly a billion dollars a year. Edwards says there are many companies who are not paying their fair share of taxes….

Cut 12 (12) “state income taxes”

Edwards and his team have spent weeks working on this tax proposal. The governor believes it’s the best way to to stabilize the state’s budget, while allowing Louisiana to adequately pay for its critical priorities. He looks forward to working with state lawmakers in getting it approved…

Cut 13 (12) “currently on”

Legislation has been filed for the upcoming session that would up the cigarette tax by 22-cents to $1.30 a pack. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The state conducted an audit finding Louisiana’s drinking water systems aren’t producing enough revenue to keep up with the infrastructure leading to poor drinking water. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A plan to provide all Louisiana school districts with high speed internet has been scrapped. Executive Director of the Louisiana School Boards Association, Scott Richard says districts were given a short time period to commit to a plan with very little information from the Board of Regents. He says every school district wants to have high speed internet access, but funding uncertainties caused many to be hesitant.

Cut 3 (10) “this endeavor”

Only 11 out of 69 districts signed up for the program by the deadline last week. Richard says in the initial documents, it appeared the service would be available to school districts at no cost, but they would enter into a partnership with the Board of Regents. He says the documents didn’t clearly explain the details of that agreement.

Cut 4  (08) “already receive”

Richard says they believe local districts will have an opportunity to pursue this going forward. But he says there’s also uncertainty at the federal level with the new administration. He says proposed cuts to funding streams for internet in rural areas are raising some concern.

Cut 5  (07)  “been proposed”

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A measure has been filed for the upcoming legislative session that would increase cigarette taxes by 22-cents. Currently, the tax on a pack of cigarettes is $1.08 and the proposal would up that to $1.30 a pack. Author of the legislation, West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman, says this increase would generate more revenue for the state and lead to a healthier Louisiana.

Cut 6 (06) “makes sense”

Since 2015, the legislature has increased the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 72-cents.  Hoffman says the money generated from the 22-cent increase would go into the general fund.

Cut 7 (09)  “cigarette world”

Louisiana’s cigarette tax ranks 36^th in the country for highest in the country. Hoffman hopes the bill will receive enough votes to pass and expects positive results because there has been success with similar measures in the past.

Cut 8 (08) “with that”

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The state conducted an audit looking at water rates in Louisiana and found the rates many rural communities are paying, don’t produce enough revenue to keep up with the water system, leading to poor drinking water quality. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says big cities have a better quality of water because of number of people paying, but poor communities like, St. Joseph, have failing systems.

Cut 9 (10)  “be replaced”

The EPA finds Louisiana water systems would need to spend 5.3 billion dollars on drinking water infrastructure over the next 20 years. Guidry says with the state’s budget problems, it’s hard to prioritize where drinking water fits in. He says many people don’t want to pay more to fix the problem.

Cut 10 (08) “too high”

The American Society of Civil Engineers rated the Bayou State’s drinking water infrastructure a D-plus. The state audit found that 41-percent of local water systems tested had expenses that exceed revenue. Guidry says if you don’t keep up with an aging system, the repair costs continue to rise. He hopes this audit makes residents and elected officials realize drinking water is a key part of our heath.

Cut 11 (09) “the tap”

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A bill filed for the regular session seeks to protect Louisiana’s military monuments, including controversial confederate statues. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody authored the legislation that would prohibit government from removing, relocating, or destroying a memorial that commemorates wars in US history. He says there’s also a provision to make sure the monuments can be maintained.

Cut 12 (07) “tended to”

Carmody says he represents many military veterans and since Louisiana has always been known for its support of military personnel, he wants to demonstrate that commitment through this legislation.

Cut 13 (11) “our behalf”

New Orleans is seeking to remove  Confederate monuments to be removed by mid-May. Carmody says the bill would protect any monument in Louisiana related to military actions of the United States. He says we should honor those who fought for our country and protect the monuments that commemorate their service.

Cut 14 (09) “our military”

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Fans are giving Southeastern University’s mascot Roomie a makeover, as voting is open for the lion’s new look. Erin Cowser with SLU says Roomie’s current costume is a little over 7 years old, and the average lifespan of a mascot’s look is 6 to 10 years. She says they’ve learned when giving a mascot a makeover, it’s important not to totally change up the look.

Cut 15 (07) “a pushover”

Cowser She says the plan is to have the new mascot ready to go for football season. She says the designs for the lion mascot are on the university’s website where students, faculty, and fans can cast their votes. She notes that these are just initial sketches, as one design shows Roomie without any clothes.

Cut 16  (07)  “go commando”

Voting will be open through April 4 at Southeastern.edu/RoomieMakeover.

A survey from the Department of Education finds most Louisiana families are satisfied with their early childhood provider. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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TOPS would be fully funded by using revenues from riverboat gambling, under a proposal to be taken up in the upcoming regular session. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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An LSU survey finds voters do not support reducing the amount of the TOPS award as a way to save money. Don Molino has more…

Cut 3 (25) “I’m Don Molino”

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Most families are satisfied with their child’s early childhood provider. That’s according to a recent survey from the Department of Education, which finds 90 percent of respondents are likely to choose their program again. Assistant Superintendent of Early Childhood, Jenna Conway says families also say they are befitting from changes making more families eligible for childcare assistance and simplifying the enrollment process.

Cut 4  (09) “process locally”

Survey respondents say they are finding it easier to apply and access early childhood. While 88 percent say they are satisfied with the quality of their child’s program, Conway says four out of ten families note they are not sure if their child is making progress, or whether they are learning the necessary skills to prepare them for kindergarten.

Cut 5  (10)  “quality benchmarks”

Conway says the results of this study can be used to improve DOE’s early childhood program. She says the first step is identifying the challenges they face. She says local communities are leading the way in figuring out ways to engage families in the learning process.

Cut 6 (10) “that work”

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A bill filed for the regular session seeks to fully fund TOPS by using a portion of riverboat gaming revenue. For the first time ever, the popular taxpayer funded scholarship didn’t cover all of a student’s tuition costs this year. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil says he wants to make sure the program isn’t underfunded in the future.

Cut 7 (08)  “a year”

Foil says currently over 75 percent of riverboat gaming funds go to the state general fund. He says less than 25 percent of the funds are going to education. But he says the whole purpose of those funds is supposed to be funding education.

Cut 8 (11) “for that purpose”

Foil says the governor’s proposed budget for next fiscal year only funds TOPS at 70 percent. The Republican legislator says if his bill passes, TOPS would have to be fully funded, before riverboat gaming revenues can be used on other items in budget…

Cut 9 (09)  “off the top”

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Most Louisianans oppose reducing the amount of the TOPS scholarship award to cut costs, according to a recent survey from LSU. State leaders have proposed several means of making TOPS more affordable, including limiting the amount each student receives. Michael Henderson with the LSU Public Policy Research Lab says 64 percent of respondents are not in favor of that method.

Cut 10 (05) “fan of that”

TOPS is only funded at 70 percent under the governor’s budget proposal for next fiscal year. That means lawmakers will have to find a way to fund the $300 million program, or nearly 50-thousand college students will foot part of the bill for their tuition. Henderson says the public is interested in other ways to reduce TOPS spending.

Cut 11 (08) “for that”

The survey found 60 percent of respondents support raising the academic requirements for the scholarship, which are currently a 2.5 GPA and a 20 on the ACT. Henderson says while 52 percent of voters do not support limiting the program to only low income families, 56 percent would take TOPS eligibility away from families on the upper end of the income bracket.

Cut 12 (08) “for that”

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Louisiana’s revised coastal restoration masterplan will be taken up by lawmakers in the regular session, as part of the governor’s legislative package to protect and restore the state’s coast. The bill contains 120 projects to be completed in the next five years that will maintain over 800 square miles of coastal land. Jennings Senator Blade Morrish co-authored the legislation.

Cut 13 (07) “can afford”

Morrish says this living document is updated every year, so projects can be moved around depending on funding. Thirty projects are scheduled to begin or continue construction in the next fiscal year. The masterplan allocates $50 billion over 50 years, and Morrish says some state dollars are used, but most of the funding comes from outside sources.

Cut 14 (09) “settlement money”

Nearly $18 billion will go toward marsh creation, $5 billion is set aside for sediment diversion, and $19 billion will be used for hurricane protection. Morrish says the projects are fairly evenly divided between protection and restoration.

Cut 15 (09) “Louisiana coast”

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Sixth ranked LSU will host instate rival Tulane tonight at the Box as the Tigers begin a five-game homestand. The Bayou Bengals are coming off a 10-6 victory over Florida. They trailed 5-0 in that contest. Coach Paul Mainieri says a win like that can mean a lot during a long season…

Cut 16 (11) “for our team”

LSU is 18-7 on the season and they are coming off a week in which they split four games. Mainieri says he’s seeing improvement out of his bullpen…

Cut 17 (20)  “our bullpen”

The Green Wave won two games over the igers last season, winning seven to one in Baton Rouge and four to one in New Orleans. Mainieri says everytime they play Tulane it’s a spirited game…

Cut 18 (15)      “…of the game“

A nationwide shortage of doctors means seeing your regular physician could become more difficult in the coming years. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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State Police investigated 10 fatal crashes resulting in the deaths of 15 people since Friday. Michelle Southern reports on the tragic weekend:

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Seeing a doctor could become more difficult in years to come, as a nationwide shortage of doctors is expected to impact Louisiana. The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts we could see 88-thousand fewer doctors by 2025. Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans, Dr. Steve Nelson, says one reason for that is the increased need for medical services.

Cut 3 (07) “only increase”

Nelson adds that doctors are also aging, which means there are fewer of them still able to practice. He says Louisiana ranks 15^th in the nation for the oldest physician population. He says Medicaid expansion has also put a strain on doctors.

Cut 4  (10) “that service”

Nelson says the shortages are most pronounced in rural areas. He says LSU is doing what it can to keep medical students in Louisiana to practice, including giving tuition incentives to those who continue their training in the state. He says their efforts are paying off.

Cut 5  (06)  “their training”

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Over a decade ago, legislators discussed placing an oil processing tax on Louisiana refineries. Amite Representative Robby Carter has filed that bill for the upcoming legislative session and knows it will face fierce opposition from the oil and gas industry. But Carter says all options should be on the table when it comes to addressing the state’s budget problems….

Cut 6 (09) “going through”

It’s unclear how much money this proposal would generate for the state, but Carter says the idea with the legislation is to create a larger tax base, so residents are paying fewer taxes…

Cut 7 (11)  “this scenario”

Another measure filed by Carter would create a 2-percent tax on oil that passes through Louisiana pipelines to other states. Carter believes oil and gas companies have the money to pay for these additional taxes…

Cut 8 (10) “of profit”

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State Police say it was a deadly weekend on Louisiana’s roadways. From Friday through Monday morning, troopers investigated 10 fatal crashes that resulted in the deaths of 15 people. Sgt. Jared Sandifer says these tragedies, which also claimed the lives of children and teenagers, were preventable…:

Cut 9 (09)  “their seat belt”

Sandifer says several of the crashes also involved vehicles crossing over into the opposite lane of travel. He says the high number a fatal crashes over this three day period is highly unusual as it’s not a holiday or a reason there would be more people on the roadways….:

Cut 10 (10) “seat belt”

A crash in St. Helena Parish claimed the life of a 3-month-old infant and the 27-year-old mother along with another individual. Sandifer says knowing that these crashes could have been avoided continues to frustrate law enforcement…:

Cut 11 (08) “change your life forever”

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A statewide survey finds a majority of Louisiana residents support higher taxes if the tax revenues go towards public schools, colleges, health care and roads. But Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, Michael Henderson, says their poll doesn’t mean taxpayers are completely fine with just higher taxes to fund government…

Cut 12 (09) “somewhere else”

Henderson says their survey also found the public does not support higher taxes to pay for prisons, food stamps or other welfare programs. He says when it comes to raising taxes to pay for key services, it’s not clear what taxes the public would like to see raised…

Cut 13 (05) “sales tax”

Henderson says there’s more clarity when it comes to raising the gasoline tax to pay for highway improvements. He says a majority of respondents favor increasing the state’s tax on gasoline, but support from republicans falls when you ask about a 20 cent per gallon hike…

Cut 14 (12) “gasoline tax”