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”

_________________________________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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

_______________________________________________________

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”

_______________________________________________________

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”

_________________________________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

_________________________________________________________

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.

_______________________________________

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”

______________________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

_________________________________________________________

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”

_______________________________________________________

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”

_______________________________________________________

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”

_______________________________________________________

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”

_______________________________________________________

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”

_________________________________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

_________________________________________________________

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.

_______________________________________

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”

______________________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

_________________________________________________________

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”

_______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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”

______________________________________

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.

_________________________________________________________

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”

_______________________________________________________

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”

_________________________________________________________

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”

_________________________________________________________