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

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

Cut 3 (08) “coroner’s office”

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

Cut 4  (04) “visiting there”

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

Cut 5  (11)  “traffic crashes”

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

Cut 6 (11) “fatal traffic crashes”

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

Cut 7 (09)  “roadway safety”

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

Cut 8 (10) “certain disabilities”

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

Cut 9 (10)  “vulnerable”

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

Cut 10 (09) “to do”

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

Cut 11 (13) “federal income taxes”

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

Cut 12 (12) “state income taxes”

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

Cut 13 (12) “currently on”

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

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

Cut 3 (10) “this endeavor”

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

Cut 4  (08) “already receive”

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

Cut 5  (07)  “been proposed”

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

Cut 6 (06) “makes sense”

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

Cut 7 (09)  “cigarette world”

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

Cut 8 (08) “with that”

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

Cut 9 (10)  “be replaced”

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

Cut 10 (08) “too high”

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

Cut 11 (09) “the tap”

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

Cut 12 (07) “tended to”

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

Cut 13 (11) “our behalf”

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

Cut 14 (09) “our military”

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

Cut 15 (07) “a pushover”

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

Cut 16  (07)  “go commando”

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

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

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Cut 3 (25) “I’m Don Molino”

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

Cut 4  (09) “process locally”

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

Cut 5  (10)  “quality benchmarks”

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

Cut 6 (10) “that work”

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

Cut 7 (08)  “a year”

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

Cut 8 (11) “for that purpose”

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

Cut 9 (09)  “off the top”

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

Cut 10 (05) “fan of that”

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

Cut 11 (08) “for that”

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

Cut 12 (08) “for that”

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

Cut 13 (07) “can afford”

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

Cut 14 (09) “settlement money”

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

Cut 15 (09) “Louisiana coast”

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

Cut 16 (11) “for our team”

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

Cut 17 (20)  “our bullpen”

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

Cut 18 (15)      “…of the game“

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

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

Cut 3 (07) “only increase”

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

Cut 4  (10) “that service”

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

Cut 5  (06)  “their training”

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

Cut 6 (09) “going through”

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

Cut 7 (11)  “this scenario”

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

Cut 8 (10) “of profit”

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

Cut 9 (09)  “their seat belt”

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

Cut 10 (10) “seat belt”

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

Cut 11 (08) “change your life forever”

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

Cut 12 (09) “somewhere else”

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

Cut 13 (05) “sales tax”

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

Cut 14 (12) “gasoline tax”

Spike’s hit show Bar Rescue has rescued Big Mike’s in Denham Springs, not because they were failing but because they flooded. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore is not happy with some of the Governor’s proposals for criminal justice reform. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Spike will air a special episode of its hit TV show “Bar Rescue” on Sunday, featuring Denham Spring’s own Big Mike’s. But veteran bar consultant and host John Taffer didn’t step in because the bar was failing, he helped owner Mike O’Neal reopen after his business was devastated by the August flood. O’Neal says they have no idea how long it would have taken them to rebuild on their own.

Cut 3 (11) “unrecoverable”

O’Neal says they might not have been able to reopen at all without Taffer’s help. Taffer didn’t change the sign or the name because the business had done so well, but there are some upgrades. O’Neal says the designers changed the colors, updated the equipment, expanded to nearly 11-thousand square feet, and added a second bar.

Cut 4  (11) “they did”

O’Neal says by reopening, they wanted to be a beacon of hope for the rest of the community that’s still trying to recover. He says they also want to give people a place to come and escape from their problems or even seek advice for rebuilding.

Cut 5  (11)  “still is today”

Big Mike’s episode of “Bar Rescue” airs Sunday night at 9 on Spike.

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A 24-year-old Jena woman has been arrested after allegedly running over her boyfriend with a truck then punching an EMT. Cpl. Wade Bourgeois with the Alexandria Police Department says at around 7 p.m. last night authorities responded to a call of a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle. He says when the ambulance came to take the victim to the hospital…

Cut 6 (11) “the eye”

Bourgeois says the driver of the vehicle, Alana Joy, was charged with aggravated second degree battery, battery of an emergency service worker and DWI. He says responding officers could tell Joy likely had a lot to drink that night.

Cut 7 (10)  “investigation”

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Tomorrow is Election Day in 37 parishes across Louisiana and Secretary of State Tom Schedler is encouraging voters to get out and cast their ballots. Schedler says the majority of the elections are local but there are several bigger seats up for vote. He says severe weather tomorrow morning could affect voter turnout.

Cut 8 (09) “turn out”

New elected U.S. Representative Mike Johnson’s old seat in district 8 is one of the three open state representative seats. Schedler says the few competitive races in the state could increase the number of voters hitting the polls.

Cut 9 (08)  “quite frankly”

On the ballot for the 3^rd and 4^th Circuit Court of Appeals and the Civil District Court in New Orleans are all female candidates.  Schedler says the polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Cut 10 (10) “code in”

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District Attorneys across the state have a serious problem with some of the Governor’s proposals to reduce Louisiana’s incarceration rate. That’s according to East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says what began as a reform for nonviolent offenders has creeped into letting violent offenders serve less time. He doesn’t believe DA’s are over prosecuting, but that other things are leading to an increased crime rate.

Cut 11 (08) “drive crimes”

Moore says one recommendation would take power away from DA’s and give it to judges in the hopes of keeping people out of jail and continue probation instead. But he says probation and parole officers are already overworked, and without that supervision, many of these people end up with more charges down the road.

Cut 12 (07) “coming right back”

Moore says the DA’s are in support of criminal justice reform, but not at the expense of public safety. He says another proposal would condense the habitual offender law. He says the law currently applies to people who commit multiple violent crimes throughout their life.

Cut 13 (13) “violent offense”

The task force that put the recommendations together says the ideas would put Louisiana where it needs to be in terms of prison population.

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The 32^nd annual World Championship Crawfish Etoufee Cook-Off takes place Sunday in Eunice. Teams will compete to see who can make the best smothered crawfish in amateur, professional and club categories. Francine Hughes, Director of the Eunice Chamber of Commerce, says a huge festival takes place surrounding the contest.

Cut 14 (09) “cooking booths”

A cook-off dance will begin the celebrations tomorrow night. Hughes says celebrity and professional judges will decide the winners in each category. She says in years past, anywhere from a thousand to 5-thousand people attend the free cook-off and it’s a great environment for the entire family.

Cut 15 (10) “of fun “

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Three people and a police K9 are dead and an officer is wounded following an officer involved shooting in Crowley. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The latest census data finds Louisiana is showing a pattern of out migration with 12-thousand more people leaving the state than coming in. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Three people and a police K9 are dead following an officer involved shooting in Crowley that also left the officer wounded. Master Trooper Brooks David says they received a call that an officer was shot around 10:30 last night. He says when troopers arrived, it was a gruesome scene.

Cut 3 (10) “and killed”

The identities of the victims have not been released, but authorities say a woman was dead when they arrived on scene. A male suspect then reportedly shot and killed the K9 before he was fatally shot by police. David says the investigation is ongoing.

Cut 4  (07) “Crowley PD”

Authorities say another female victim was discovered when detectives came back to question witnesses. David says the wounded officer is in stable condition, but it’s a tragedy the K9 was killed.

Cut 5  (05)  “his partner”

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New census numbers find Louisiana’s population was 4.6 million residents in 2016, only growing but 0.3-percent from the previous year. The Bayou State also saw a continuing pattern of out migration with nearly 12-thousand more people moving out of the state than coming in. Demographer Greg Rigamer says many citizens leave to follow the money…

Cut 6 (10) “with that”

Data also shows more people left New Orleans for other cities around the country than moved in for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. Rigamer says the Crescent City continues to lack high paying jobs.

Cut 7 (09)  “people want”

Rigamer says East Parish Rouge Parish remains the largest in the state with 447-thousand people but St. Tammany Parish has grown substantially and is now the 4^th biggest parish in the state, overtaking Caddo with 253-thousand residents. He says the quality of life is good in St. Tammany.

Cut 8 (10) “stands out”

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The Walker Police Sergeant accused of hanging a noose in the squad room has resigned. Capt. John Sharp says the resignation comes ahead of the city council meeting where the allegations against the officer would be discussed.

Cut 9 (10)  “be necessary”

The noose was discovered hanging in the squad room with a cookie tied to it on February 24, and the sergeant was later suspended for three days without pay. Sharp says the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident. He says it will be up to the Livingston Parish District Attorney to decide whether or not to file criminal charges.

Cut 10 (11) “group of people”

Sharp says the sergeant has been with the department for a long time. He says they hate to lose a good officer over a lapse in judgement, but this accusation could cast the department in a bad light if no action was taken. He says this resignation was best for the department.

Cut 11 (11) “suggest racism”

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Authorities in Rapides Parish are investigating two break ins this morning at Tioga High School and Tioga Jr. High where extensive damage was done to school property. Capt. Tommy Carnline with the Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to a call at around 5:15 this morning when a janitor reported the destruction…

Cut 12 (10) “were destroyed”

The report indicates two suspects entered the school between 1 and 3 am. Carnline says they are following up on leads but no arrests have been made at this time and encourages anyone with information to come forward. He says investigators believe the break ins are connected.

Cut 13 (10) “this time”

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Mourners gathered at the Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge to say their final good-byes to a fallen East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputy. During the touching funeral service, Becky Anderson spoke fondly of her husband Sergeant Shawn Anderson, who was fatally shot on Saturday night

Cut 14 (09) “do it again”

Anderson was investigating a reported rape of a teenager and went to a barber shop to talk with 30-year-old Brandon Wiley. Authorities say Anderson and Wiley exchanged gunfire, killing both men.

During Becky Anderson’s eulogy of her husband, she talked about the day they meant and how the Sergeant loved his job and his co-workers….

Cut 15 (11) “brothers of SWAT “

Anderson also spoke about how her husband loved his two children, but she told the large crowd who attended the services that the family will do their best to move on without him…

Cut 16  (08)  “some rain”

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Louisiana could lose 3.6 billion dollars in infrastructure and business if no action is taken to stop shoreline erosion. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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New Tigers Coach Will Wade laid out his plans for the future of LSU basketball at a press conference in the student union today. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Same sex couples would face equal penalties for domestic violence, under a proposal to be taken up in the regular session next month. Marrero Representative Patrick Connick says currently, domestic violence laws only apply to household members, married or not, of the opposite sex.

Cut 3 (11) “this bill”

Connick says Louisiana and South Carolina are the only two states with the opposite sex distinction on the books. He says after talking with the DA’s it was clear something had to be done to protect all couples from domestic violence.

Cut 4  (06) “sexual orientation is”

The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports Louisiana has a domestic violence rate twice the national average. Homosexuals report domestic abuse at a rate equal to or higher than heterosexuals, according to the 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. Connick says it happens to people in all demographics.

Cut 5  (12)  “is protected”

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The Bayou State could lose 3.6 billion dollars in homes, businesses, and infrastructure over the next 50 years if Louisiana does not take action to stop the massive coastal land loss problem. That’s according to a study by the LSU Economics and Policy Research Group. Researcher Stephen Barnes says they studied the direct impact of land loss in different areas of the state…

Cut 6 (09) “stake here”

The study determined economic losses between 390-million to 600-million dollars for Lafayette and Baton Rouge if no action is taken to restore the coast. Barnes says Lake Charles has become a hub for commerce, but it faces 490 million dollars in business disruptions from land loss.

Cut 7 (10)  “city center”

Statewide, the study finds Louisiana could lose nearly 8 billion dollars in wages and consumer spending if no action is taken to restore the coast.  But Barnes says if Louisiana goes through with its 50 year Coastal Master Plan to restore the coast, it will create jobs and boost the economy.

Cut 8 (10) “jobs”

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A Medicaid program that serves mentally ill children will remain intact after the Senate Health and Welfare Committee rejects a proposal to eliminate it. The administration proposed cutting the program by April 1 to save the state $2.2 million because of cuts to the Department of Health made in the special session. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns is frustrated lawmakers didn’t use more rainy day dollars to avoid this.

Cut 9 (08)  “be here today”

In 2016, more than 47-thousand children and teens received psychosocial rehabilitation services through the program. Lawmakers heard testimony about the services that would be eliminated, including one that helps suicidal and depressed teens learn coping skills so they can stay in school and out of jails and hospitals. Houma Senator Norbert Chabert says these kinds of programs have to be protected.

Cut 10 (09) “like this”

LDH must also deal with an $8.1 million budget reduction, and keeping this program means they’ll have to trim a total $10.3 million from other areas. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow was shocked that a program that serves children on the autism spectrum was in jeopardy. She says there must be other ways to cut back on spending without eliminating such a vital service.

Cut 11 (12) “to govern”

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LSU officially introduced its new basketball coach, Will Wade. The 34-year-old got a crowd at the student union  fired up when he said he knows LSU can have a successful basketball program…:

Cut 12 (11) “no option to fail”

Wade’s head coaching career spans four years; two in Chattanooga and the past two at VCU. His overall record is 91-45, and at VCU he lead the team to the NCAA Tournament both years. Wade says he will do everything it takes to make the LSU basketball team the best it can be…:

Cut 13 (10) “first class fashion”

Wade takes over for Johnny Jones, who was 90-72 in five seasons at LSU. Jones was fired following LSU’s 10-21 2016-17 campaign. It’s said that Wade considers coaching at LSU his dream job because he says he’s always known there was something special here…:

Cut 14 (12) “we can make it work”

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The Department of Children and Family Services hopes to extend the age of kids in the system to 21 years old during the upcoming legislative session. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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LSU will offer the mumps vaccine to all students, faculty, and staff following the Department of Health’s confirmation of a dozen cases, most of them on the Baton Rouge campus. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Louisiana’s film tax credit program won’t get a sequel next year under a proposal by Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau. Jeff Palermo has more on proposed legislation to eliminate movie tax incentives…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Children who grow out of the foster care system at age 18, are not adequately prepared to enter the real world. That’s a major concern for the Department of Children and Family Services. Manager of the foster care program Toni Buxton says these teens are faced with responsibilities like finding a job and enrolling in health insurance without any support. She hopes to see changes to foster care during the legislative session…

Cut 4  (10) “more years”

DCFS is urging legislation to be filed that would increase and extend services up to the age of 21. Buxton says these children who are age out of the foster care system are more likely to face homelessness, drug addiction and incarceration. She says they don’t have the resources to turn to…

Cut 5  (11)  “homeless shelter”

DCFS reports 23 other states have extended the age to 21. Buxton says given the state’s budget problems, they are scraping resources from their funds to assist these teens. She says it would have a significant financial impact on these kids who aren’t prepared to fully support themselves.

Cut 6 (11) “financial resources”

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Today and tomorrow, LSU will offer the mumps vaccine to all students, faculty, and staff, after the Louisiana Department of Health confirmed at least dozen cases of mumps, several of them on the Baton Rouge campus. Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Fred Lopez with LSU Health New Orleans says two doses of the MMR vaccine can significantly reduce the chances of a major outbreak.

Cut 7 (09)  “not perfect”

Lopez for most people, the mumps consists of fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, and swelling of the salivary glands under the jaw. He says that typically lasts for 7 to 10 days and clears up. But he says there are some people who could see serious complications.

Cut 8 (13) “in infertility”

Students and faculty who have been or could be exposed to the virus, particularly those in campus housing, are encouraged to get a third dose of the MMR vaccine. Lopez recommends that everyone on a college campus get the vaccine to prevent spreading the virus.

Cut 9 (08)  “have immunity”

The vaccines will be offered today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Student Union.

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Louisiana’s film tax credit program could be on its last reel, as Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau plans to file legislation that would cut the program. Luneau says in these tough budget times, lawmakers need to assess the return on investment of state funded programs. He says a recent study by LSU economist Loren Scott shows that return isn’t there when it comes to film tax credits.

Cut 10 (08) “too long”

Luneau says if that analysis is correct, the state has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in the program. But Executive Director of Celtic Media Studios in Baton Rouge Patrick Mulhearn discredits Scott’s study.

Cut 11 (10) “that’s spent”

A $180 million back-end cap was placed on the film tax credit program in 2015. But Mulhearn hopes legislators work to improve the program, instead of eliminating it, because the film industry is a huge job creator.

Cut 12 (08) “are created”

But Luneau doesn’t think removing this tax incentive would destroy Louisiana’s film industry. He says there were plenty of great movies made in Louisiana before the state ever offered film tax credits.

Cut 13 (07) “afford it”

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The US Department of Education would face a $9 billion budget reduction under President Trump’s budget proposal and one of the state’s major teacher unions is not happy about it.  Les Landon with the Louisiana Federation for Teachers says it would devastate public education. And he says dollars for private and religious schools would increase by $1.4 billion to help pay for vouchers.

Cut 14 (08) “public schools”

Landon says under the proposed budget, Louisiana would lose more than $51 million in funds used to recruit, train, support, and pay teachers. He says that’s bad enough, but unfortunately it gets worse.

Cut 15 (10) “for children”

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told the National Association of State Boards of Education that the President promised to invest in underserved communities and investing in school choice programs will do just that. But Landon says they have a big problem with spending public funds on private and religious schools for “school choice.”

Cut 16 (09) “public schools”

DeVos says their goal is to provide an equal opportunity for quality education for all students.

LSU’s new men’s basketball coach is Will Wade. Jeff Palermo tells us more about the 34-year-old who leaves VCU after two seasons…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Louisiana Housing Corporation launches the Housing Heroes initiative to get flood victims into affordable rental housing. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Will Wade is the new men’s basketball coach at LSU. He’s 34-years-old and the last two seasons he led VCU to the NCAA Tournament. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says Wade will bring some much needed energy to the program…

Cut 3 (11) “get a kid”

wade has been a head coach for four years. His first two years were at Chatanooga and the last two seasons were at VCU and he compiled a 67-percent winning percentage. Worsham says Wade is a solid hire for LSU…

Cut 4  (12) “land him”

It’s been reported Wade agreed to a six-year deal. Worsham says the Clemson grad has a reputation as someone who eats, sleeps and breathes basketball..

Cut 5  (08)  “10 years”

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Two suspects are in critical condition in the case of an apparent robbery in which a Breaux Bridge homeowner shot the men as they were trying to enter the residence armed with a gun. Major Ginny Higgins, with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, says one of the suspect’s rang the doorbell of the resident’s home around 3am this morning…:

Cut 6 (08) “both suspects”

The suspects are identified as 26 year old Joseph Broussard of Morse and 31-year-old Drewe Schexnider of Kaplan.  Higgins says it’s unclear what the suspects intentions were, but the two were apparently involved in a similar crime a few hours earlier…:

Cut 7 (05)  “yesterday evening”

Higgins says it appears at this time to be a justified shooting, but the incident is still under investigation. She says both of the suspects were shot by the homeowner…:

Cut 8 (08) “hospital”

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Property owners in Louisiana are stepping up to help flood victims struggling to recover from the March and August floods. The Housing Heroes initiative launched by the Louisiana Housing Corporation calls on landlords to make their rental units affordable for those still in need of housing. Governor John Bel Edwards says this statewide effort is critically important to families around the state.

Cut 9 (09)  “median income”

LHC says the homelessness population in Louisiana doubled after the floods, and this program seeks to use available resources to get that rate back down. Edwards says renters make up 35-percent of the state’s population, and one in four flood victims are renters. He says federal dollars will be available to help these people get back into rental properties.

Cut 10 (08) “to recover”

The Department of Housing and Urban Development says there are 373 flood victims still staying in hotels and an additional 45-thousand living with friends and relatives. Manager of Fairway View Apartments in Baton Rouge, Charmaine Roddy, says they opened 45 units to flood victims in August. She says they did what they could to make the units as affordable as possible.

Cut 11 (09) “rent free”

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Today is Ag Day — one to celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture; and recognize the contribution of the industry in our everyday lives. State Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says today is also a celebration of the fact that, out of the entire industrialized world, we enjoy the lowest cost of food..:

Cut 12 (06) “every day”

Strain says, given the historic floods in March and August, 2016 was a difficult year for many farms across the state — both large and small. He says all one would have to do is travel to a foreign country that doesn’t have enough food to truly appreciate what the agriculture industry means…:

Cut 13 (07) “successful”

Strain says farmers do important work to keep our families healthy and productive, especially when that work is most challenging. He says farmers are eternal optimists…:

Cut 14 (10) “bountiful harvest”

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A state law limits the search for the new State Police superintendent, as Col. Mike Edmonson is set to retire on Friday. Jeff Palermo has more on the restriction…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The confirmation hearings for President Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nomination are underway in the nation’s capital and he has the support of U.S. Senator John Kennedy. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Louisiana residents would be able to concealed carry a firearm without a permit, under a proposal by Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The head of State Police, Col. Mike Edmonson retires this week, but a state law narrows the search for his permanent replacement. A statute requires the next superintendent to be a commissioned State Police officer who graduated from the LSP academy. But President of the Metropolitan Crime Coalition Rafael Goyeneche says a nationwide search should be conducted.

Cut 4  (10) “in Louisiana”

Governor Edwards is expected to announce the interim head of LSP this week as Edmonson is set to retire on Friday. Once an interim replacement is named, Edwards is expected to begin the process of finding a full time leader. Goyeneche hopes a measure could be filed for the upcoming legislative session to give the governor permission to seek someone outside of Louisiana.

Cut 5  (11)  “state police”

Edmonson announced his retirement last week as the agency is facing multiple investigations looking into a travel scandal. Goyeneche says the LSP could really use a fresh voice and a fresh face to change the culture.

Cut 6 (10) “organization”

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Confirmation hearings are underway for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nominee, Neil Gorsuch. U.S. Senator John Kennedy supports the president’s pick and says Gorsuch is especially qualified to be a justice. He says he’s read a number of Gorsuch’s opinions on cases he’s ruled on as a federal appeals judge, and it’s apparent he is extremely intelligent.

Cut 7 (12)  “the law”

Democrats are pushing back against Gorsuch because of his conservative stance on social issues. But Kennedy says Gorsuch genuinely cares about each case he tries and the individuals involved.

Cut 8 (10) “like that”

Kennedy says Gorsuch supports the separation of power and understands the role of this position as a check on the legislative and executive branches. He says Judge Gorsuch has shown a desire to rule fairly and fight for his view of justice.

Cut 9 (07)  “that person”

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Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey is once again bringing back his proposal to the legislature that would allow non-felons over the age of 21 to carry a concealed gun without a permit. He says the Constitution guarantees our right to carry guns, and it doesn’t dictate how they should be carried.

Cut 10 (10) “to choose”

This is the third time Ivey has proposed similar legislation. Opponents say the bill would eliminate certain safeguards. For instance, to receive a permit to carry a concealed firearm, a resident must take a safety course. But Ivy argues gun owners should always be responsible, no matter how they possess a firearm.

Cut 11 (11) “proper training”

Ivey adds that prohibited persons like convicted felons would still be barred from carrying under his proposal. He says this bill is part of a larger national movement towards constitutional carrying, and other states already have similar laws on the books.

Cut 12 (10) “constitutional carry states”

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A state audit examining a missing 22-thousand dollars in student activity funds from West Ridge Middle School in West Monroe has been turned over to law enforcement. Roger Harris with the Legislative Auditor’s Office says over 11-thousand dollars was collected from eighth graders between 2013 and 2014 for a trip to Disney World. He says there was one teacher in charge of collecting the money for the trip, Jodie Dean.

Cut 13 (09) “that regard”

Harris says there’s also another 10-thousand dollars in unaccounted money that never made it to the bank. The school’s bookkeeper, Stacey Rogers, was responsible for making deposits and keeping records of the funds. He says they’re still trying to piece together what may have happened to the money.

Cut 14 (10) “took place”

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation into whether criminal charges are warranted. Ouachita Parish School Board Superintendent Dr. Don Coker says it’s always concerning if there’s a misappropriation of money at a school because these are taxpayer dollars.

Cut 15 (10) “has gone on”

Coker says this incident occurred several years ago, and they’ve taken steps to ensure the school’s spending has been monitored. He says the school board holds its employees to a very high standard, and they’re trying to do what’s right.

Cut 16 (07) “are responsible”

Reportedly, Dean has been placed on administrative leave, and Rogers has since retired. OPSO did not issue a comment on the audit, but a spokesperson says their investigation is ongoing.