We could see an above average hurricane season this year, according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The family of Alton Sterling is demanding the immediate termination of the cops involved in the man’s death. Michelle Southern reports..:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A state judge has ruled Ronald Gasser’s arrest in a similar road rage incident can be admitted in his trial in the shooting death of former-NFL player Joe McKnight. Legal analyst Tim Meche says like most states, Louisiana allows prior incidents of a similar nature into evidence if it is relevant. But he says in this case, it’s a stretch for the prosecutor.

Cut 3 (11) “incident”

The incident occurred 10 years ago at the same intersection in Terrytown where Gasser allegedly gunned down McKnight. Meche says the ruling to allow this as evidence is wide open for reversal on appeal. But he says if the incident is brought up in the courtroom, the defense could even use it to their advantage.

Cut 4  (11) “weak case”

In the decade-old case, Gasser was charged with a misdemeanor and never prosecuted. Meche says the prosecutor should think twice about using the prior incident as evidence. He says it’s possible with Gasser’s testimony, it could backfire.

Cut 5  (09)  “might think”

A trial date has not been set.

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NOAA predicts an above average 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season with the potential for as many as 17 named storms and a half a dozen hurricanes. Acting administrator Ben Friedman says they are anticipating a weak or nonexistent El Nino, which typically leads to an above normal season.

Cut 6 (09) “become hurricanes”

Friedman says they predict two to four of those hurricanes will become major hurricanes of category 3 strength or higher. Freidman says when an El Nino is nonexistent, conditions are more conducive for tropical development.

Cut 7 (10)  “same region”

Friedman says their predictions cover the entire 6 month season in the Atlantic. He says they do not predict when, where, or how these storms might hit and if they will make landfall. He says we can’t prevent hurricanes, but we can prepare.

Cut 8 (12) “be prepared”

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The House rejects a proposal to prohibit children under 12 from handling Uzis and automatic weapons. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton authored the measure after a child in Arizona accidentally killed a gun safety instructor with an Uzi.

Cut 9 (09)  “someone’s life”

Lafayette Representative Stuart Bishop raised concerns about automatic weapons not being defined in the bill. He says the bill would not allow kids to use pellet guns either, which he says many children have to learn about gun safety.

Cut 10 (10) “6 months”

Norton argues the measure is about keeping children safe. But River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot asked why the bill only included automatic weapons. He says any gun can be dangerous in the hands of an unsupervised child.

Cut 11 (09) “fully automatic weapon”

The measure failed on a 59-21 vote.

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Legislative leaders and Governor John Bel Edwards agree another special legislative session is likley to address the state’s looming $1.3 billion dollar fiscal cliff. In July 2018, over a billion dollars in temporary sales taxes expire. President of the Council for a Better Louisiana Barry Erwin says the push to address this latest fiscal problem is not there.

Cut 12 (09) “come back”

Democrats are blocking the financing bill for construction and criminal justice reform measures in an effort to push Republicans to develop a budget balancing plan rather than going to a special session. Erwin says this kind of move is part of the political process.

Cut 13 (11) “ill will”

This legislative session is set to end June 8^th. Erwin says waiting to the last minute to come up with solutions always happens during the session but…

Cut 14 (11) “this session”

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The governor calls on Louisiana’s congressional delegation to oppose President Donald Trump’s spending plan for next fiscal year. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana’s crawfish harvest is being threatened by a deadly virus. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on the Louisiana congressional delegation to oppose President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins October 1. The governor’s communications director Richard Carbo says they’re disappointed the budget repeals the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, which entitles Louisiana to a portion of offshore drilling revenue for oil leases.

Cut 3 (09) “every year”

Louisiana is set to receive its first GOMESA payment in October 2018. Carbo says they’re also concerned the President is calling for a cut to federal funding for Medicaid patients by eliminating Medicaid expansion coverage. He says that’s why they’re calling for Louisiana’s congressional delegation to reject the White House budget proposal.

Cut 4  (09) “amount of money”

Carbo says they understand the need to balance the budget, but this spending plan does it in a way that’s harmful to Louisiana and its citizens. He says the governor will also make his concerns known to Vice President Mike Pence when he visits Baton Rouge today.

Cut 5  (10)  “our concerns”

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A deadly virus is threatening Louisiana crawfish. Aquaculture specialist Mark Shirley with the LSU AgCenter says the white spot syndrome virus showed up in Acadiana about a decade ago. He says the virus is showing up again in ponds across southwest Louisiana, and it’s hurting the crawfish harvest.

Cut 6 (10) “they die”

Shirley says how the virus got into Louisiana waters is still a big unknown. He says it originated in shrimp ponds in Thailand and Southeast Asia in the early 1990s. That’s why it’s called the white spot syndrome.

Cut 7 (09)  “that white spot”

Shirley says this virus can greatly affect a crawfish farmer’s income by killing off the harvest. But he says it won’t affect consumers as much. He says this virus only affects crustaceans, and the dead crawfish shouldn’t make it to the boiling pot.

Cut 8 (09) “sack of crawfish”

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A measure that would raise the minimum wage to 8-dollars an hour beginning on July 1^st of 2018 was killed by the Senate Finance Committee for a second consecutive year. The bill is by New Orleans Senator Troy Carter who says raising the minimum wage will benefit the state as a whole.

Cut 9 (10)  “the community”

Shreveport Senator Greg Tarver offered an amendment to put the minimum wage up to the voters. He says it’s hard to believe employers are not willing to pay workers a little more.

Cut 10 (07) “nobody”

The bill would also increase the minimum wage to 8.50 an hour beginning on January 1^st, 2019. But Metairie Senator Conrad Appel spoke out in opposition and says the current $7.25 minimum wage is not the problem in Louisiana…

Cut 11 (08) “to have”

The measure was killed on a party line vote. Republican senator Sharon Hewitt of Slidell voted against it, because she believes government shouldn’t be mandating what an employee makes…

Cut 12 (09) “and wages”

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Vice President Mike Pence echoed many of President Donald Trump’s campaign promises when he told a crowd in Port Allen the administration will make America prosperous again. He says the president’s leadership is already making a remarkable difference in the economy. He says businesses are responding to the president’s call to buy American and hire American.

Cut 13 (11) “this year alone”

The Affordable Care Act was a big topic of discussion, as the vice president says it’s affecting business owners. Pence says the Obamacare nightmare is about to end. He says it’s putting an undue burden on job creators, and the ACA has caused premiums to skyrocket across America.

Cut 14 (12) “dollars more”

The vice president hit on several issues important to the Bayou State, including the oil and gas industry. He says the president is fighting every day to make American energy and putting the country on a path to energy independent.

Cut 15 (10) “offshore drilling”

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The House is scheduled to take up a proposal today to increase the state’s gasoline tax by 17 cents a gallon. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Vice President Mike Pence is travelling to Baton Rouge today to meet with business leaders. Halen Doughty has more on what to expect from the meeting…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Legislation that would lead to Louisiana citizens on parolees paying an additional 37-dollars a month to fund parole officers’ salaries is moving closer to final legislative passage. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Today lawmakers in the House are expected to debate raising the state’s gasoline tax for the first time in 27 years. A proposal by Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter would up the tax by 17 cents a gallon. President of the Council for a Better Louisiana, Barry Erwin says more revenue is needed to pay for better roads.

Cut 4  (09) “all have them”

The state gasoline tax is currently 20-cents a gallon. Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere is skeptical the additional revenue raised by the tax would be used to pay for roads. That’s why he’s calling on GOP lawmakers to reject this proposal. He says the state needs to use the money they have now properly before asking for more from taxpayers.

Cut 5  (10)  “new roads”

Erwin understands the hesitance but says that won’t be the case with this bill. He says there are provisions in this measure that ensure any revenue generated by the tax hike will go towards better roads and bridges. He says there’s more accountability and transparency with this proposal.

Cut 6 (09) “in legislation”

Villere is disappointed the measure has made it this far with some Republican support. He says GOP lawmakers ran on a platform of no new taxes, and they should be true to that commitment. He’s also concerned about how this measure would impact businesses.

Cut 7 (11)  “good business”

The proposal will need support from two-thirds of the House to advance, and according to Carter, they will vote next week.

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Vice President Mike Pence will be in Baton Rouge today to meet with business leaders. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the frustration business owners have experienced over the last few years has peaked. He says in the first year of opening a small business, owners spend more than $80-thousand just complying with federal regulations.

Cut 8 (11) “new approaches”

Graves says government regulations, taxes, and fees are making it harder for someone to run a small business. He says he will fly down with the Vice President, which will give him the opportunity to discuss some of the issues that are important to Louisianans.

Cut 9 (07)  “president’s budget”

Graves says Louisiana business leaders can offer the Vice President a unique perspective, as we’ve faced some unusual challenges, from a historic flood to new energy policies. He says a lot of these issues have applications for the rest of the country as well.

Cut 10 (12) “or inefficiently”

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A Senate Judiciary committee voted to raise the fees for individuals on probation and parole in Louisiana to increase salaries for parole officers. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris’ measure would up the fee by 37-dollars to 100 dollars. Harris hopes this would be an incentive for parole officers to stay in their position.

Cut 11 (08) “recruit some”

The Senate panel passed the House approved measure on a 3 to 1 vote. Harris says his legislation is needed because the governor’s criminal justice reform effort will lead to more offenders on probation and parole.

Cut 12 (11) “be making”

But New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson says this bill would increase the financial burden placed on parolees. She also says until the House passes a budget that adequately funds state government, no state employee should get a raise.

Cut 13 (12) “to us”

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The bill that would require students starting 9th grade this fall to have at least a 2.75 GPA in order to receive the TOPS scholarship advanced on the House floor. The current requirement is 2.5. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil says there is a reason his bill wouldn’t take effect for 4 years…:

Cut 14 (10) “this fall”

TOPS is currently not fully funded and Foil says he’s trying to help the financial sustainability of the program, and also encourage students to strive to do better in order to get the award. But New Orleans Representative Joe Bouie says this bill would have unintended consequences…:

Cut 15 (10) “TOPS program”

A concern about this bill by opponents was that it would cut out poor kids who need help paying for college the most. That’s why New Orleans Representative Gary Carter offered an amendment that would take any savings generated by the measure and put that money towards the Go Grant Program, but the change was not added.

Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox says many people who support this bill don’t understand communities that struggle…:

Cut 16 (07)  “in the face”

The bill heads to the Senate on a 53-32 vote.

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Freshman Todd Peterson was scheduled to start today’s SEC Tournament game against Missouri, but the freshman from Florida has been suspended for one game, because of a violation of team rules. So sophomore right-hander Caleb Gilbert will get the start. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Gilbert should do just fine….

Cut 17 (14)  “butt off”

LSU is seeking its sixth SEC Tournament championship with Coach Paul Mainieri at the helm. Moran doesn’t think the change in starting pitchers will have a negative impact on the Tigers….

Cut 18 (19)    “little bit”  

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McNeese State heads into the Southland Conference Tournament in Sugar Land, Texas as the top seed after winning the league’s regular season championship. The Pokes will take on Lamar today after taking two of three from the Cardinals last week. Cowboys Head Coach Justin Hill….

Cut 19 (16)   “that much”

Hill says the key to winning the Southland Tournament is staying out of the losers bracket….

Cut 20 (18)   “here and there”

Louisiana stands to lose $140 million a year in coastal restoration funding under the budget proposal released by President Donald Trump today. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Authorities in LaFourche Parish are looking for a man accused of living in his ex-girlfriend’s attic when stalking her. Emelie Gunn reports:

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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President Donald Trump’s proposed budget released today would end oil lease royalty payments to Louisiana before they even begin. The proposal repeals the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, which splits 35 percent of offshore revenue among several Gulf States. Managing Director with the America’s Wetland Foundation, Val Marmillion says Louisiana stands to lose a lot of money if GOMESA is repealed.

Cut 3 (12) “of that”

Gulf States would lose a total of $3.6 billion over the next decade. Marmillion says GOMESA has been in the works for decades to get coastal states a fair share of the revenue from oil leases. Louisiana was set to receive the first $140 million payment in October 2018. He says this money was dedicated mostly to coastal restoration and coastal infrastructure projects.

Cut 4  (09) “in Louisiana”

Marmillion hopes Louisiana’s congressional delegation will fight to get this money back in the budget, which they were successful in doing when the Obama Administration tried to do the same thing in 2015. He says losing this coastal restoration funding will have huge impacts for the country, not just Louisiana.

Cut 5  (12)  “United States”

US Senator Bill Cassidy released a statement saying, taking funding away from Louisiana’s coastline is a nonstarter.

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The full House will vote on a Senate approved measure that would give drivers a warning before coming up on speed cameras. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter’s legislation would require a warning sign several hundred feet before the ticket issuing device. He says local municipalities should not have a problem with a warning sign because the cameras are meant to deter speeding.

Cut 6 (07) “a consequence”

Carter’s bill has been approved by the Senate and has also received a green light from the House Transportation Committee and awaits final passage on the House floor. Carter says if you oppose this legislation then you’re just interested in collecting money from unsuspecting motorists.

Cut 7 (11)  “municipality”

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A Senate Judiciary Committee advances a bill to include dating partners in Louisiana’s domestic abuse laws. Current domestic violence laws only apply to couples who are married or living together. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says her bill closes a huge loophole in the law, and Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow agrees.

Cut 8 (08) “love them”

Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White raised concerns about expanding the law. He says a situation could arise between two young people that would have lifelong consequences. He gave an example of a boyfriend pushing his drunk girlfriend into the car after a night out.

Cut 9 (09)  “different deal”

Despite minimal concerns, the measure was approved without objection and heads to the Senate floor.

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Authorities in Lafourche Parish are looking for a man who is facing several charges amid allegations including living in the attic of his ex-girlfriend for a period of time while stalking her. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Brennan Matherne says officers responded to the home in reference to a disturbance involving 21-year-old Taylor Broussard..:

Cut 10 (10) “one incident”

Matherne said following the attack, Broussard allegedly stole the victim’s purse and phone, then took off in her SUV and fled the scene. He says cops located evidence that showed Broussard had been living in the victim’s attic for a while…:

Cut 11 (09) “in the attic”

Broussard is at large and has nine active warrants for several felony crimes including stalking, auto theft, battery, and aggravated assault. Matherne says the suspect has ties to the Erath and Lafayette area..:

Cut 12 (10) “XLG-572”

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Vice President Mike Pence will travel to Louisiana tomorrow to discuss health care, jobs and the economy.  The White House says the Vice President will participate in a listening session with local business leaders in the Baton Rouge area and he’ll make remarks afterwards at Cajun Industries in Port Allen. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan on the visit…

Cut 13 (11) “for him”

The White House says during the Vice President’s visit, he’ll hear first-hand stories about health care, job creation and the economy. Hogan says the Trump administration wants to show they listen to the public…

Cut 14 (10) “craft policies”

The governor’s office says John Bel Edwards plans on meeting with the Vice President at the Baton Rouge airport. Edwards released a statement claiming the President’s proposed budget ignores Louisiana needs by reducing Medicare funding and dollars for Louisiana’s coast. Hogan expects the governor to ask Pence about this

Cut 15 (07) “state of Louisiana”

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Today the House is expected to take up a proposal to raise the minimum GPA requirement for TOPS. Don Molino has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has launched a Horse Tourism initiative to attract visitors to go to the state’s racetracks and horse shows. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Louisiana State Police officials say a proposed budget cut to the agency is coming at a bad time. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Lawmakers in the House are expected to take up a proposal today that would raise the minimum GPA requirement for TOPS. The measure by Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil increases the requirement from a 2.5 to a 2.75. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this would knock out about 30 percent of the students currently eligible for the scholarship.

Cut 4  (09) “lot of kids”

Pinsonat says it doesn’t seem like a big jump, but it is for many students, especially those who attend underperforming schools. That’s why he doesn’t expect lawmakers to approve the measure.

Cut 5  (09)  “hell no”

The governor also opposes the bill. Foil has said upping the GPA requirement would save around $12 million, which has been a big issue as lawmakers struggle to fully fund the taxpayer-funded program. Pinsonat says while lawmakers struggle to fully fund TOPS, many of them will say raising the GPA requirement isn’t the answer.

Cut 6 (11) “to do that”

The measure passed out of the House Education Committee on a 9-3 vote.

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has launched a new Horse Tourism Initiative to bring visitors to Louisiana racetracks, campgrounds, therapeutic riding centers and state parks. Nungesser says Texas and Mississippi have great horse shows, but Louisiana is also home to some of the finest equestrian services in the country.

Cut 7 (11)  “a priority”

Nungesser says the Louisiana is one of the top three horse producing states in the country. He plans to put a statewide circuit together to bring national and international horse competitions to the state’s world class facilities.

Cut 8 (09) “the state”

Nungesser says visitors embrace the communities where horse shows are held and he says the horse industry remains a top ten Louisiana agriculture business, which generates more than two-billion dollars a year.

Cut 9 (09)  “with that”

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Louisiana State Police has serious concerns over the budget that has been approved by the House. The governor recommended a five-million dollar cut to State Police, but the House’s spending plan calls for an overall reduction of $23 million from the current fiscal year. Maj. Doug Cain says this could lead to fewer troopers.

Cut 10 (12) “next year”

Cain says LSP would also have to look at reducing the increased force in New Orleans’ French Quarter to ensure there are enough troopers in every parish. He adds that 60 percent of LSP’s vehicle fleet is due for replacement, because they have more than 100,000 miles on their odometer.

Cut 11 (10) “new vehicle”

Cain says since they can’t reduce the number of troopers on Louisiana’s highways, they would turn to equipment to make the cuts. That includes a plan to provide body cameras to all troopers in the state.

Cut 12 (08) “funding issues”

Cain says its State Police’s hope the Senate will fund their agency to the level that the governor recommended.

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A bill to stabilize the state’s film tax credit program is heading to the House floor and it has the support of the tourism industry and small businesses. Jo Banner with River Parishes Tourist Commission says the film industry has a tremendous economic impact for her parishes. She says local businesses see a 30 percent hike in their bottom line when productions film in the area.

Cut 13 (07) “our churches”

Banner says the more tourists they have coming to the area, the more jobs that are being created. She says media coverage of movie productions in the River Parishes equates to advertising for the area that the Tourist Commission afford.

Cut 14 (10) “Tourist Commission”

Gabriel Markel with Markel Lumber in New Orleans says his family’s business has been around for more than 90 years.  He says the film industry has been a huge benefit to his business, as he supplies materials for sets. He adds that he also gets his supplies from other Louisiana companies.

Cut 15 (09) “these guys”

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The LSU baseball team is in Hoover, Alabama preparing for the SEC Tournament. The Tigers will play tomorrow against the winner of today’s game between Missouri and Texas A&M. The Tigers are co-champs of the SEC Regular season, but shortstop Kramer Robertson says there’s still a lot to play for…

Cut 16 (19)       “do it again “

LSU heads into tournament play winners in 11 of its last 12 conference games. Robertson says the hot bats they are swinging have been a big factor in their success…

Cut 17 (15)  “since then”

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Louisiana Tech is the 5th seed in the Conference USA Tournament and they’ll face Charlotte on Wednesday night at MGM Park in Biloxi. Bulldogs Coach Lane Burroughs says winning this tournament will not be easy…

Cut 18 (15)    “the bus”   

The Diamond Dogs are 36-18 and they need a good showing in order to make back-to-back NCAA Tournament trips for the first time in program history since 1986 and 1987. Burroughs says they can remove all doubt if they win the tournament

Cut 19 (16)   “through Sunday”

The Diamond Dogs are coming off a disappointing series loss to Middle Tennessee. But Burroughs says a new season begins tomorrow…

Cut 20 (24)   “new season now”

Flash flooding could be a problem in south Louisiana, as more heavy rainfall is expected today and tomorrow. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A Mississippi lawmaker is facing backlash after saying Louisiana leaders should be lynched for removing four confederate monuments in New Orleans. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Following a weekend of heavy rainfall, the southern half of Louisiana is in for more wet weather today and tomorrow. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a cold front is slowly creeping across the state, bringing with it more rain.

Cut 3 (11) “in particular”

Jackson, Lake Charles, and Covington all saw more than 4 inches of rainfall over the weekend. Keim says with the area already heavily saturated, flash flooding could be a serious problem. He says the rain potential is higher across the southeastern part of the state.

Cut 4  (08) “some problems”

The National Weather Service is calling for another one to five inches of rainfall across the state. Keim says we could also see rising rivers resulting in more localized flooding in some areas.

Cut 5  (08)  “river systems”

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Two Lafourche Parish teens were killed in a single vehicle crash in Kraemer over the weekend, according to State Police. Trooper Jesse LaGrange says 19-year-old Jaydon Labat (la-bot) was driving down LA 307 at a high rate of speed when he ran off the road and hit a utility pole. He says 18-year-old Candace Reulet (Ru-lay) was also in the vehicle.

Cut 6 (10) “a result”

LaGrange says impairment and speed are considered factors in the wreck. He says this crash was 100-percent preventable.

Cut 7 (09)  “the wheel”

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Two teens are dead and another critically injured after a crash in Kentwood on Sunday morning. Kentwood Police Chief Michael Kazerooni says 18-year-old Ashley Moreau was driving down Line Creek Road when she over-corrected and her car slid and crashed into a tree.

Cut 8 (10) “injuries”

18-year-old John Moore was the front seat passenger and also killed in the crash. Kazerooni says speed was the main factor in the wreck.

Cut 9 (08)  “safe speed” 

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A Mississippi lawmaker called for Louisiana leaders to be lynched after four confederate monuments were taken down in New Orleans. State representative Karl Oliver made the statement in a Facebook post that has since been deleted, saying the monuments were removed in a “Nazi-ish fashion.”  Courtney Carter with News Mississippi says the Mississippi GOP has said these kinds of comments have no place in public discourse.

Cut 10 (07) “his remarks”

Oliver also said in the post that he will do everything in his power to prevent this from happening in his state, but it’s unclear if he’s taken steps to protect any of Mississippi’s monuments. Carter says the four monuments from New Orleans could be moved to the Beauvoir estate in Mississippi, which is home to many confederate-era memorials.

Cut 11 (08) “to put there”

Oliver has since apologized for the post, saying his choice of words was horribly wrong, and the word “lynched” is in no way ever an appropriate term. Carter says Oliver has made inflammatory statements like this in the past, including last year when he responded to an email from a citizen about a proposed tax cut.

Cut 12 (11) “Karl Oliver”

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Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle has been named the director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says this is the perfect job for Angelle, coming off a recent loss for Congress. He says Angelle is suited for the position under the Trump administration.

Cut 13 (08) “this position”

BSEE is a part of the Department of the Interior and strives for the safe and responsible production of energy and watches over the oil and gas industry. Cross says after losing in the Governor and Congressional elections, there wasn’t anywhere else for Angelle to go politically in Louisiana. He says this job gives him more national name recognition.

Cut 14 (10) “to him”

Angelle’s first day as the BSEE director is Tuesday and he will be forced to resign as a public service commissioner. Cross says he anticipates a lot of candidates to run for this open PSC position.

Cut 15 (08) “state hierarchy”

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All four Confederate monuments in New Orleans have come down, so what’s next for the hundred-year-old statues? Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The warmer than average winter has hurt this season’s peach crop. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Industry leaders are hopeful Louisiana’s film industry could rebound if the legislature approves proposed changes to the state’s film tax credit program. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The Click It or Ticket campaign kicks off today in Louisiana. State Police Sgt. Jared Sandifer says during this wave of enforcement, drivers can expect to see more officers on the road making sure that everyone is buckled up.

Cut 4  (08) “every time”

Sandifer says not only is wearing your seatbelt the law, it could also save your life. He says your chances of being killed or sustaining bodily injury are greatly reduced if you buckle up.

Cut 5  (06)  “that car”

Sandifer says it’s important for parents to make sure their kids are properly restrained as well. He says even though this campaign only runs through Memorial Day weekend, drivers and passengers must buckle up every time they get in a vehicle.

Cut 6 (08) “at all times”

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is hoping his office can take ownership of the four confederate monuments that were taken down in New Orleans. Nungesser is meeting with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu today to try and come to an agreement. He says this is a fight for Louisiana’s history and culture.

Cut 7 (11)  “that era”

Nungesser is optimistic Landrieu will let the Office or Tourism, Recreation, and Culture take the monuments, as the mayor has said publicly that’s where they belong. He says it’s a sad day for Louisiana because we didn’t need this right now.

Cut 8 (09) “to happen”

It’s unclear where the statues will go, but they could be rehomed in state parks or possibly a new museum. Nungesser is disappointed monuments to Louisiana’s history have been taken down, and he suspects the memorials to the confederate leaders won’t be the last to be removed.

Cut 9 (10)  “with slaves”

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The peach harvest is extremely slim this year thanks to a warm winter. Owner of Mitcham Farms in Ruston, Joe Mitcham, says the crop needs a lot of cold hours, temperatures under 45 degrees for a majority of the winter in order for the fruit to properly develop.

Cut 10 (09) “300”

Mitcham says without enough chill hours, the leaves don’t fill out on the trees in turn, shedding fruit and the fruit actually produced is often misshaped and poor quality. He says a fungus in the soil is also killing many of his peach trees.

Cut 11 (10) “to grow”

Mitcham says this fungus is slowly taking his orchard out and he is down to only 10-percent of the crop he originally had when he started his farm.

Cut 12 (10) “winter months”

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Louisiana’s film industry could rebound if the state’s film tax credit program is stabilized. That’s according to executive director of Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge, Patrick Mulhearn, who says a bill is being heard today that would do just that. He says TV in particular could be promising if the back-end cap on the program is fixed.

Cut 13 (08) “in schools”

The measure to be heard in the House Ways and Means Committee would make it a front-end cap on the program. Mulhearn says the film industry has a huge economic impact for the state. He says that’s evidenced by the show NCIS: New Orleans, which never left despite the uncertainty in the tax credit program.

Cut 14 (09) “for tourism”

The bill would also reserve 10 percent of the available credits for Louisiana filmmakers. Mulhearn says filmmakers in Louisiana will love this bill. He says it’s important that we keep the talented people in our state here, and this gives them that opportunity.

Cut 15 (09) “New York”

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Three people were killed when their vehicle split in half in Ascension Parish. Halen Doughty has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The Senate is committed to fully funding the TOPS scholarship program, despite budget troubles, according to President John Alario. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Safe Boating Week kicks off Saturday in Louisiana and runs through May 26. Adam Einck with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says their agents will be conducting more safety checks on waterways this week. He says it’s important to remember three things when out on the water.

Cut 3 (08) “working condition”

With the summer boating season getting underway, Einck encourages boaters to make sure they have the proper safety equipment on their vessels, including life jackets for everyone on board and a fire extinguisher. He says it’s important to stay safe on the water at all times, or it could cost you your life.

Cut 4  (07) “boating fatalities” 2x

Alcohol consumption is the leading cause of boat crashes and fatalities. Einck advises people to sign up for LDWF’s free boating safety course. For more information on the class, visit wlf.la.gov.

Cut 5  (09)  “as well”

Louisiana saw 24 boating fatalities in 2016, and this year 9 people have died in boating accidents.

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Three people were found dead in an Ascension Parish bayou by their own family member. State Trooper Bryan Lee says the family had not heard from 23-year-old Thomas Jones, 22-year-old Austin Kiernan, and 19-year-old Sydney Persac of St. Amant after they went out Wednesday night.

Cut 6 (09) “a canal”

It’s believed the crash occurred in the early morning hours on Thursday, and the crash site was not discovered until just before midnight Thursday. Lee says when troopers arrived they discovered a grisly scene of the vehicle split in half by a tree.

Cut 7 (09)  “in half”

Lee says this was a gruesome discovery for a family member to make, as the bodies of all three victims were found outside the vehicle. He says the investigation is ongoing, and troopers still have a lot of unanswered questions in this case.

Cut 8 (09) “a factor”

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Senate President John Alario says the upper chamber is committed to fully funding the TOPS scholarship program. Alario says the House budget plan takes money away from the Department of Health to fully fund TOPS and they are taking a close look at that proposal.

Cut 9 (07)  “TOPS funding” 

Alario says tapping into 200 million dollars that has yet to be allocated could reduce some cuts in multiple departments, as the House wants to only use 97.5-percent of what the Revenue Estimating Conference says is available. He is concerned the Department of Children and Family Services is not properly funded.

Cut 10 (08) “supervised”

A measure filed by Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil would raise the GPA requirement from 2.5 to 2.75 and would save the state 17 million dollars a year.  Alario expects any changes to TOPS will be unsuccessful in the Senate. He says too many students rely on the program.

Cut 11 (10) “for us”

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Higher training standards for police officers have been approved by the full House. A proposal by Baton Rouge Representative Ted James would require officers to receive at least 400 hours of basic POST training before entering the field.

Cut 12 (10) “the 400 hours”

James says he’s worked with law enforcement around the state to come up with the best practices to prepare officers for work in the field. The measure also mandates 20 hours of additional training annually. He says his bill also requires more training in some key areas.

Cut 13 (09) “peace officers”

James authored the measure after Alton Sterling, a black man, was killed in a confrontation with two white police officers outside a convenience store last July. He says that’s why his bill also includes training on bias policing recognition.

Cut 14 (10) “those situations”

The measure passed on an 82-5 vote and heads to the Senate.

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The Black and Gold Classic Fishing Rodeo gets underway in Grand Isle today with the help of some former and current Saints players. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A Senate-approved proposal to alter the state’s film tax credit program has the support of the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Congressman Garret Graves calls the investigation into the connection between President Donald Trump and Russia during the election a total distraction. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Former and current Saints players will participate in a weekend of fishing, shooting and entertainment at the Black and Gold Classic in Grand Isle. Former Saints tackle Stan Brock hosts the event and says today teams will participate in a private shooting event and tomorrow the fishing rodeo begins at 6 a.m. He says all the proceeds go to the Green Beret Foundation and All American Caliber, groups which support veterans.

Cut 4  (09) “for them”

Zach Strief and other current players will also be present at the rodeo. Brock says the public is welcome to participate in the speckled trout and redfish rodeo at Bridgeside Marina and each team will be partnered with a Saints legend.

Cut 5  (09)  “called Butter”

Brock says tickets are 30 bucks to enter the fishing rodeo and 10 to enter the concert. He says this is a great way to raise money for the people who sacrifice so much for our freedom.

Cut 6 (10) “good time”

To enter in the rodeo visit blackandgoldclassic.com/Louisiana/registration.

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A measure to require litter prevention education in Kindergarten through 5^th grade heads to the Senate floor for final legislative passage. The bill received approval from the Senate Education Committee and the author of the proposal Lafayette Representative Stuart Bishop told the panel Louisiana has a serious litter problem that needs to be addressed.

Cut 7 (10)  “of litter”

Bishop says litter education would be included in regular science courses. He says he cannot promise this will solve the state’s litter problem…

Cut 8 (07) “go forward”

Bishop says it’s time to stop thanking Mississippi and Arkansas for ranking lower than us…

Cut 9 (07)  “embarrassing”

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The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association supports proposed changes to the state’s film tax credit program. A Senate-approved measure would place a front-end cap on the program, as opposed to the back-end cap enacted in 2015. Association president Robert Vosbein says the bill also reserves 10 percent of the available credits for Louisiana filmmakers.

Cut 10 (10) “the program”

Vosbein hopes this will bring back some of the filmmakers who left for other states because of the uncertainty surrounding the program. The measure would sunset the program after 8 years if the industry can’t prove its value. But he says industry leaders aren’t worried.

Cut 11 (11) “worth keeping”

Vosbein says this bill is a collaborative effort among the film industry, lawmakers, and Louisiana Economic Development to fix what was broken two years ago. He says there’s even incentives to get producers outside of the Big Easy.

Cut 12 (07) “in the state”

The bill was approved 33-3 in the Senate. Its next hearing will be in the House Ways and Means Committee.

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Louisiana Congressman Garret Graves calls the investigation into the connection between President Donald Trump and Russia during the election a total distraction. Former FBI Director Robert Mueller has been hired to look into claims that Mr. Trump and Russia somehow teamed up to help sway the vote in November. Graves says this is the 4th probe underway..:

Cut 13 (08) “problematic”

There are reports that President Trump asked now-fired FBI Director James Comey to stop looking into the matter, which Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmand says qualifies as obstruction of justice. The President has called this a witch hunt, which Graves feels isn’t too far off the mark because past administrations weren’t treated this way…:

Cut 14 (08) “do our jobs”

Graves says he’s not going to prejudge whether Mueller is going to find anything of substance…:

Cut 15 (10) “been substantiated”

Legislation that establishes statewide regulations for Uber and Lyft heads to the Senate. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A measure that would make it illegal for adult to allow a children 12 and under from handling fully automatic guns heads to the House floor. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A bill to regulate Uber and Lyft statewide is heading to the Senate. Jackson Representative Kenny Havard says these ride sharing services keep people safe, offers an affordable ride, and provides thousands of employment opportunities. He says very rarely do lawmakers get a chance to do something that really affects people’s lives.

Cut 3 (09) “fatal accidents”

The measure would establish a blanket set of regulations and collect a fee of one percent, ending various deals some local municipalities have with the companies. New Orleans has one such agreement in which the city charges riders a 50 cent fee. New Orleans Representative Gary Carter was upset this bill would supersede that arrangement.

Cut 4  (08) “state level”

Carter says New Orleans would lose $2 million if this bill threw out the city’s deal with Uber. But Monroe Representative Jay Morris says the Big Easy is charging riders the highest fee in the country. He says the City of New Orleans used Uber’s desire to move into the city to get the most money possible out of the business.

Cut 5  (09)  “in the city”

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A measure that would penalize adults if they let a child who is 12 years old or younger handle a fully automatic weapon passed out of the House Criminal Justice Committee on a 7 to 6 vote. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says she brought forth this bill after a nine year old girl accidentally shot and killed her instructor with an Uzi submachine gun in Arizona.

Cut 6 (10) “United States”

Adults would face fines if they violate the proposed law. Norton says she’s pro-gun and supports children of a proper age learning the correct way to shoot guns. She says she filed this measure strictly for the safety of young children too small to operate these weapons.

Cut 7 (10)  “that gun”

But Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says this measure subjects gun collectors to a fine.

Cut 8 (12) “fine”

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A measure that would prohibit public universities from having their name or images to market alcoholic beverages was voluntarily deferred in the House Education Committee. Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover filed this bill because he believes LSU and UL-Lafayette licensed “official” beers promote underage drinkings.

Cut 9 (12)  “get sick” 

UL-Lafayette has Ragin Cajuns Genuine Louisiana Ale, while the LSU beer is “Bayou Bengal Lager.” But Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says given the massive cuts to higher education, schools need this opportunity to generate funds.

Cut 10 (10) “our kids”

Stephanie Knott with Bayou Teche Brewing spoke out in opposition of the measure, discussing the brewery’s partnership with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Cut 11 (11) “and equipment”

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Two arrests have been made after a 7-year-old at Moss Bluff Elementary School was accidentally shot when a child brought a gun to school. Authorities say the gun fell out of the child’s backpack, and another child picked it up causing it to fire, hitting another student. Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso says the brother and father of the child who had the gun have been arrested.

Cut 12 (08) “in the house”

The father, 50-year-old Michael Lane Dugas, is charged with negligent injury and improper supervision of a minor. The brother, 17-year-old Jake Adam Dugas, is charged with negligent injury. Mancuso says the gun was kept just four feet off the ground in a shoe organizer hanging on the wall of the bedroom the boys shared.

Cut 13 (09) “was committed”

Mancuso says the actions of the child’s father and brother were the cause of the accident, not the young boy. Calcasieu Parish District Attorney John DeRosier says gun owners must store their weapons out of the reach of small children. He says we’re very lucky that the child injured in this case was not killed.

Cut 14 (11) “bu children”

The child who was shot underwent surgery Monday and continues to recover.

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