A legal analyst says the man accused of injuring more than two dozen Endymion parade goers in New Orleans may only face 5 years in jail. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Sneezing more than normal? Itchy/watery eyes? Experts say allergy season is hitting Louisiana with a bang this year. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Volunteers from around the country are coming together to help Louisiana flood victims get back into their homes. Louisiana Launch volunteer Shanna Forrestall says a lot of families either aren’t getting what they need from insurance or there’s delays on getting help from FEMA. She says Let’s Rock is collecting donations to help cover the cost of the sheetrock needed to make their homes livable.

Cut 3 (10) “their houses”

Forrestall credits the hard work of Melissa Armand and Janet Rhodus for getting the campaign moving, and giving her a way to get involved, as the Gonzales native now lives in Los Angeles. She says through the donations, flood victims are given a gift certificate to cover the cost of their drywall, and 100-percent of the donations go directly to flood victims.

cut 4  (10) “those walls up”

Forrestall says the donations are going to families who need it the most, those with elderly, disabled and special needs members. She says donations can be made at LaunchLouisiana.com and encourages everyone to share the link on social media to raise awareness for the cause.

Cut 5  (10)  “that are hurting”

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The man accused of drunkenly plowing into parade goers at Endymion in New Orleans may not face much jail time. That’s according to legal analyst Tim Meche, who says 25-year-old Neilson Rizzuto is only charged with negligent vehicular injury, a hit and run with serious injury, and reckless operation after police say he crashed his truck into a crowd and sent 21 people to area hospitals.

Cut 6 (10) “five year sentence”

New Orleans police say Rizzuto’s blood alcohol content was .232, nearly three times the legal limit. A judge reportedly says if the suspect can make his $125-thousand bond, he’ll be put on house arrest and not allowed to drive. Meche says Rizzuto’s circumstances aren’t really that bad.

CUT 7 (11)  “jail time”

Despite at least 28 reported injuries, Rizzuto only faces two counts of negligent injuring for two serious injuries named in the police report. But Meche says more charges could be added as the investigation unfolds. He says Rizzuto’s public defenders will likely try to play the sympathy card in court.

Cut 8 (11) “of this guy”

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Allergy season is in full swing a little early this year, and experts say because Louisiana had such a mild winter, there never really was a low pollen period. Dr. Kenneth Paris, head of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at LSU Health New Orleans, says warm winters typically mean pollen season will peak earlier, and last longer…:

Cut 9 (09)  “when we don’t have rain”

Paris says people who have seasonal allergies are typically bothered by itchy, drippy and sneezy symptoms. But he says the pollen season really impacts kids and adults with asthma a great deal…:

Cut 10 (10) “respiratory symptoms”

Paris says there are plenty of effective medications on the market to help people keep their allergy symptoms under control. He recommends oral antihistamines that are non-sedating, and a now-available over the counter intranasal steroid sprays…:

cut 11 (10) “the burden of illness”

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A Mansfield man has been arrested for fatally shooting a man who was allegedly vandalizing his car on Sunday night. Mansfield Police Chief Gary Hobbs says 34-year-old Cody Parker saw 50-year-old James Hewitt near his car and came outside with a firearm and shot Hewitt multiple times as he was fleeing the scene….

cut 12 (11) “pronounced dead”

Hobbs says Parker is charged with second-degree murder. He says based on the evidence, Hewitt was doing nothing other than committing the crime of property damage before he was shot.

Cut 13 (09) “deadly force“

Hobbs says detectives are working to determine if Parker and Hewitt had a previous connection. He says recently, Parker has had other issues with vandalism, as he filed multiple reports with the police department about someone vandalizing his vehicle.

cut 14 (11) “of it”

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It’s been a warm February for the Bayou State and it could turn out to be the warmest on record since 1932. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn” 

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Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana’s 3^rd Congressional District has been appointed to a task force to stop terrorists from entering the country. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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US Senator John Kennedy believes its time for the Commander of the State Police to go. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A new study out of London finds stress may be linked to obesity. Dr. Amanda Staiano (Sty-AH-no) with LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center says chronic stress can promote fat accumulation on the body. She says while it could be a physiological reason, it might also be because people change their behaviors when they’re stressed.

Cut 4  (07) “obesity”

Staiano says the 4 year study linked obesity to a stress hormone called cortisol. She says people who were obese through the entire study showed higher levels of stress hormones. She says while some stress is out of our control, there are ways people can try to reduce their stress levels.

Cut 5  (09)  “long term health”

Staiano says over two-thirds of Louisiana adults and half of the children in our state are overweight or obese, so this is an important study for the Bayou State. She hopes to see more research in this area.

Cut 6 (09) “citizens healthier”

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This February could go down as the warmest on record since 1932 for the Bayou State. That’s according to State Climatologist Barry Keim who says the average temperature in Louisiana this month is floating right around 61 degrees and the current record is 61.2 degrees.…

Cut 7 (10)  “1895″

Keim says so far for February, we’re averaging eight degrees above normal and he attributes this to a lot of warm air moving in from the coast.

Cut 8 (06) “and humid”

Keim says although Louisiana has seen a few cold fronts the last few weeks, not much Canadian air moved down south this winter…

Cut 9 (06)  “February”

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US Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana’s 3^rd Congressional District has been appointed to the Homeland Security Task Force, which seeks to close gaps in terrorist screenings and vetting procedures. Higgins says their most valuable resource is the human resource, and they want to hear what the people have to say about securing our borders.

Cut 10 (12) “to stop it”

Higgins says he wants to get a boots-on-the-ground perspective from the people directly involved in vetting the people who enter our country. He says it’s far past time for us to control our southern border. He says they’re going to explore every possible option to make our country safe.

Cut 11 (08) “for it to stop”

Higgins says the task force will search for solutions to eliminate terrorist entry into the country. But he says immigrants and visitors who come into the US legally have nothing to worry about. He says they want to take a balanced approach to ensure that those who do not mean us harm are still welcomed.

Cut 12 (08) “put in place”

The panel will begin working in March and hopes to provide their final report later this year.

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Colonel Mike Edmonson has no plans to resign even though U-S Senator John Kennedy is calling on the head of the L-S-P to step down as result of four troopers charging the state overtime and hotel expenses while taking a side trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.  Edmonson says Kennedy doesn’t have the facts

Cut 13 (08) “those changes”

Kennedy says enough facts have already come out and he’s disgusted as a Louisiana taxpayer over what happened….

Cut 14 (11) “get an award”

The controversial trip to the annual conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police in San Diego occurred last October. The governor has auditors within the Division of Administration looking into the incident and Edmonson says State Police is conducting its own probe…

Cut 15 (05) “change those”

But Kennedy says if Governor Edwards wants to restore taxpayer confidence he’ll call in the legislative auditor to perform an independent investigation

Cut 16 (10) “not right”

Kennedy is disappointed the legislative auditor is not being used for this investigation….

Cut 17 (06)  “find the truth”

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LSU rallied back from an early 3-0 deficit to beat Maryland 9-5 on Sunday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep of the Terrapins. Right-handed sophomore Caleb Gilbert earned the win as he struck out all six hitters he faced in relief and LSU took control of the game with five runs in the 3rd inning. Coach Paul Mainieri…

Cut 18 (18) “mistaken”

LSU’s pitchers struck out 15 in the game, but also walked seven. Reliever Doug Norman left the game after throwing a pitch and Mainieri says that was tough to see…

Cut 19 (15)   “on it yet”

LSU is now 7-1 on the season. One of the big surprises so far has been freshman Rankin Woley from Atlanta. He’s 5-for-11 at the plate and Mainieri says Woley is making the case for more playing time…

Cut 20 (19)   “about that”

Today the Board of Regents will look at proposed changes to TOPS, as the scholarship program is only funded at 70-percent under the governor’s spending plan for next fiscal year. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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The big Mardi Gras weekend is here and celebrations are in full swing in every corner of the state. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Grambling State University officials are working to have the undergraduate nursing program reinstated by 2018. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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TOPS is not fully funded under the governor’s spending plan for next fiscal year. Officials say it will take more than 80 million additional dollars to pay for the scholarship program. Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo has concerns about how students will react to TOPS once again being funded at only 70-percent.

Cut 4  (10) “differently”

The Board of Regents meets today to discuss possible changes to TOPS. Under the newest proposal, those recommended changes do not include making the award amount tiered for freshmen, sophomores, and upperclassmen. Rallo says a flat grant amount is one option on the table.

Cut 5  (08)  “their tuition”

The recommendations will go into a bill by Baton Rouge Senator Sharon Hewitt that will be taken up in the regular session. Rallo says a proposal to require TOPS students to complete 30 credit hours a semester, rather than 24, is also up for consideration. He says this could ensure that students complete their degrees in four years.

Cut 6 (10) “degree program”

If approved, the changes to the program would impact the incoming class of 2018.

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The big Mardi Gras weekend has arrived as cities and towns will be celebrating the carnival season with parades and traditional Mardi Gras festivities Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says Mardi Gras is not just popular in New Orleans and Lafayette, central and north Louisiana are getting into the act. He says he was recently the Grand Marshall of the first parade ever in Ball.

Cut 7 (10)  “celebrations”

Nungesser will also serve as the Grand Marshall of the Lions Club parade in Covington starting at 10 a.m. on Fat Tuesday. The Lt. Governor says the celebrations across Louisiana have really grown over the last few years.

Cut 8 (11) “Louisiana”

Thousands of tourists will be in New Orleans for the biggest celebration of them all. The big parades of Endymion and Bacchus will roll down St. Charles Ave on Saturday and Sunday night. And Nungesser says the party doesn’t stop until Fat Tuesday…

Cut 9 (09)  “Mardi Gras”

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Grambling State University is one step closer to reinstating their undergraduate nursing program. The undergraduate program was closed in December of 2015, and officials have been working to get a new program instated. University President Rick Gallot says they have the support of the University of Louisiana System Board, but he says their work is far from over.

Cut 10 (11) “Board of Nursing”

Gallot says they are confident the program will be accepted by both the Board of Regents and the Board of Nursing. He says once they are approved, they can then hire a program director and move forward on reinstating the undergraduate degree program.

Cut 11 (11) “fall of 2018″

Gallot says a requirement to have a nursing program is a passing rate above 80-percent. He says after the program fell into a period of decline, passage rates fell to around 70-percent, and the program was closed. But he says they’re doing everything they can to ensure that doesn’t happen when the program is reinstated.

Cut 12 (10) “junior year”

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While many Louisianans will be celebrating Mardi Gras this weekend, Governor John Bel Edwards is heading to Washington to discuss more federal assistance for flood recovery and the recent tornadoes in south Louisiana. The governor’s Communications Director Richard Carbo says Edwards will meet with the acting FEMA Administrator today to discuss recovery for tornado victims.

Cut 13 (09) “last month”

Carbo says on Monday Edwards and other governors from around the country will meet with President Donald Trump. He says this meeting will give the governor a chance to discuss his request for an additional $2 billion in federal flood recovery aid.

Cut 14 (07) “on Monday”

Governor Edwards has said another $2 billion is needed for Louisiana to have a full and robust recovery from the Great Flood of 2016. Carbo says that’s why Edwards will also meet with House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and the new director of the Office of Management and Budget to discuss the state’s unmet needs.

Cut 15 (10) “on their feet”

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The LSU baseball team begins a three-game series tonight against Maryland, who is a favorite to win the Big 10. The Terrapins are off to 1-2 start as they lost two games to Ball State. But Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri says don’t be fooled by Maryland’s slow start….

Cut 16 (20) “Cape Cod”

Maryland has recently appeared in the Super Regionals in both 2014 and 2015. LSU is 3-1 on the season and Mainieri says the Tigers are still a work in progress…

Cut 17 (13)  “at bats “

Mainieri says his starting line-up is not set in stone. He says he’s waiting for someone to step up in left field between Beau Jordan and Brennan Breaux

Cut 18 (10) “my liking”

Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy faced a slew of protesters in a town hall meeting yesterday. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The governor’s spending plan for the next fiscal year has been presented to lawmakers, as they’re gearing up for the regular session in April. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy faced a rowdy crowd at a town hall meeting in Metairie yesterda6y as many upset residents screamed at him about healthcare, the travel ban, and public education. This is a trend around the country at town hall meetings with Republican lawmakers. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says in the past, these types of protests have proven effective.

Cut 3 (07) “diminished”

Cassidy is scheduled to host another town hall meeting tonight in Assumption Parish. Cross says people expressed their concerns to Cassidy about the Affordable Care Act. He says Republicans likely won’t make the changes the protesters want, but it could happen with enough uprising.

cut 4  (09) “to this”

Cross says this popular uprising can make a difference as the Tea Party effectively used this tactic in 2009. He expects this type of activism to be part of a new pattern over the next few years…

Cut 5  (11)  “to continue”

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The Edwards administration unveiled a spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1, and TOPS is not fully funded under their proposal. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says it will take an additional $81 million to fully fund the scholarship program.

Cut 6 (12) “is recognized”

Dardenne says state employees have not had performance pay adjustments for a number of years. He says another priority will be providing cost of living or performance pay increases for state employees if more money is found.

CUT 7 (08)  “of the budget”

The proposed budget does not call for any additional dollars for public schools, maintenance for buildings on college campuses, or additional dollars to hire the needed 187 case workers for the Department of Children and Family Services.  He says the Department of Transportation is also facing a reduction in funding, which adds to state’s inability to repair roads.

Cut 8 (10) “bridge needs”

The governor’s proposed budget will be discussed over the next several months, and lawmakers will make changes to it. Any taxes or fee increases approved in the regular session could lead to increased funding for TOPS and roads.

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Governor John Bel Edwards expressed a serious tone when asked about the travel scandal involving four members of the State Police who took side trips to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon while attending a law enforcement conference in San Diego. Edwards, who has already ordered a full investigation, says this incident shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Cut 9 (09)  “things going on”

State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson issued a statement saying he’s instructed all administrative personnel at LSP to cooperate with the investigation. Edwards says he won’t speculate on what the findings might be until the investigation is over.

Cut 10 (12) “unbiased report”

Edmonson’s statement goes on to say they have already made internal changes to prevent any recurrence of an incident like this.

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LSU Health Shreveport will launch a Pediatric Chronic Ventilator Clinic in April to allow care for children who require mechanical ventilation. Director of the Pediatric Ventilator Unit Dr. Keith Scott says currently, families are required to travel 300 miles for a one-hour visit or their child will not get the proper care. He says the new clinic will be more convenient for patients.

cut 11 (10) “healthcare needs”

Scott says there are no other facilities in the northern Louisiana area like this clinic. He hopes this will be able to bring holistic care and improve longevity in patients who use a ventilator by providing quality care.

cut 12 (10) “appropriate”

Scott says the main goal is to ultimately get the kids off the ventilator. He says with the clinic, patients that need the service will be able to stay in their hometown and have the same doctor throughout the process.

Cut 13 (10) “to travel“

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With the special session behind us, state leaders are shifting their attention to tax reform in the upcoming regular session. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Many students are turning to GoFundMe to pay for college as the price of tuition is increasing. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The special session ended with lawmakers agreeing to use $99 million from the rainy day fund to address a $304 million shortfall. Halen Doughty reports…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is reminding pet owners to be vigilant about your animal’s physical and emotional well-being when celebrating Mardi Gras. Dr. Nancy Welborn with the school advises parade goers to leave their pets at home because most dogs and cats aren’t used to those situations.

Cut 4  (08) “a bite”

Welborn says be mindful of what you’re feeding your pets. She says king cakes, jambalaya, and fired foods are not pet friendly snacks.

Cut 5  (09)  “for us”

Welborn also reminds people to be watch out for animals playing with Mardi Gras beads or small parade throws as they can become a choking hazard. But she says if you do attend a pet friendly carnival celebration, there are some guidelines to follow.

Cut 6 (08) “the area”

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Now that the special session is over, attention turns to the fiscal session that begins in April. The Louisiana Budget Project has released its tax reform blueprint. Senior Policy Analyst Nick Albares says we need a tax system that is fair, adequate, competitive, timely, and sustainable. He says one way to do that is to eliminate the federal income tax deduction, which is a credit only two other states offer.

Cut 7 (12)  “state priorities”

Albares says this credit costs the state nearly $1 billion a year, while only those at the top of the income spectrum benefit from it. He says they’re calling for a reduction in the state sales tax from 5-percent to 4-percent and a broadening of the sales tax base.

Cut 8 (11) “neighboring states”

Landscaping services, haircuts, internet and cable subscriptions, and security services are some things that would be newly taxed under the proposal. Albares says they also want to double the earned income tax credit, which benefits low income working families. He says lower income families currently pay taxes at twice the rate of the wealthiest families in the state.

Cut 9 (12)  “make ends meet”

Other recommendations include limiting some tax exemptions, including the film tax credit, and eliminating excess itemized deductions.

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With the rising cost of college tuition, many students are looking towards the internet to find ways to pay for school. GoFundMe Spokesperson Bobby Whithorne says nationally over the last three years, they’ve had over 130-thousand campaigns on their website raise over 60 million dollars for kids in college. He says there’s been an increase in this state, as well.

Cut 10 (09) “donations”

Whithorne says the majority of the donations come from friends and family, as students share their GoFundMe campaign on Facebook and other social media sites. But he says there are complete strangers who contribute…

Cut 11 (10) “raising money” 

Whithorne advises kids turning to GoFundMe for tuition assistance to just tell your story and show the community how hard you’ve worked to get into your dream school.

Cut 12 (10) “your story”

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After 10 days of what became some heated debates, the special session ended with lawmakers agreeing to use $99 million from the rainy day fund to address a $304 million midyear deficit. Governor John Bel Edwards originally asked legislators to use the full $119 million available to minimize cuts to state agencies. But he says he’s pleased with the outcome.

Cut 13 (12) “I’ll take that”

But budget cuts are still coming to state agencies. The Department of Health will take the biggest hit with a 36-million dollar cut. Statewide elected officials will have their budget cuts and there will be a reduction in spending on roadwork. But Edwards says some critical state services were spared.

Cut 14 (11) “family services”

Edwards says the most concerning part of the plan is the $12 million in attrition savings lawmakers believe they identified in funded vacancies in state government. The governor says they will work to identify every dollar that can be saved through funded vacancies, but he’s skeptical that much money is available.

Cut 15 (07) “are not there”

Changes to teacher’s tenure protections has led to more educators leaving the classroom, according to a new report from Tulane University. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The National Retail Federation finds 48-percent of consumers plan to put their tax refunds into savings rather than spend it. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A study out of Tulane finds 17-hundred public school teachers have left their jobs in Louisiana because of a tougher tenure law that took effect two years ago. That’s a three-percent loss of the state’s teacher workforce. Co-author of the report is Nathan Barrett…

Cut 3 (05) “leaving”

In 2012, the legislature passed a law that made student achievement a major part of the formula to earn tenure. Barrett says many of the educators that left were close to retirement, and teachers leaving under-performing schools rose by 27-percent.

cut 4  (12) “F-rated schools”

Barrett says poorly-performing schools typically have students with troubled backgrounds, meaning teachers chance poor tests schools leading to bad teacher evaluations.  Barrett says whether or not you agree with tenure protections, it’s something many teachers appreciate.

Cut 5  (12)  “attrition rates”

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A survey from the National Retail Federation finds many consumers plan to put their tax refunds into savings rather than spend. Denham Springs financial planner Matt Kennedy says we’ve seen this trend over the past eight years ever since the 2008 stock market crash.

Cut 6 (12) “our mind”

The survey says of 66-percent of those getting a refund, only 21-percent plan to spend it on everyday expenses. Kennedy says surprisingly, millennials are the ones saving more than the baby boomers. He says younger people saw their parents suffer in the 2008 economic downturn and don’t want to risk it in the stock market.

CUT 7 (10)  “to spending”

48-percent of Americans plan to put their money into savings, second only to last year’s record high of 49-percent. Kennedy says a big reason consumers are saving is for debt reduction. He says this is especially true in Louisiana after last August’s historic flooding.

Cut 8 (11) “later”

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Demarcus Cousins, aka Boogie, was officially introduced today as one of the newest members of the New Orleans Pelicans. The All-Star comes to The Big Easy from Sacramento and practiced with the Pels for the first time today. Cousins says he’s excited about the opportunity to hit the court with fellow All-Star Anthony Davis…:

Cut 9 (10)  “is scary”

Cousins will suit up with the Pelicans for the first time tomorrow night against Houston in the Smoothie King Center. Pels Coach Alvin Gentry is confident Cousins will be a huge addition to the team, as he and Davis’ style of play is very complimentary of each other…:

Cut 10 (11) “on the floor”

The Kings dealt Cousins and forward Omri Casspi to New Orleans in exchange for Tyreke Evans, Buddy Hield, Langston Galloway and 1st and 2nd round draft picks this summer. Some say while Davis and Cousins are among the top 10 in the league when it comes to ball skills, they have polar opposite personalities and attitude. Gentry is optimistic:

cut 11 (08) “at all”

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Help is still available for domestic abuse survivors in St. Martin and Iberia Parishes even though the domestic violence service provider in that area is closing its shelter and ceasing services. That’s according to the interim director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Mariah Wineski…

cut 12 (10) “be established”

Wineski says they have a statewide hotline that will connect survivors in these parishes to neighboring programs. That number is 1-888-411-1333. She says these programs provide vital support to domestic abuse victims.

Cut 13 (08) “housing assistance“

The Safety Net for Abused Persons for the greater New Iberia area closed because of financial struggles. Wineski says they are working closely with stakeholders to get plans in place for a new permanent facility. She says last year LCADV provided over 90-thousand shelter nights to domestic violence victims around the state, which is why it’s imperative services are available to survivors in these parishes.

cut 14 (07) “running shortly”

The Powerball jackpot has jumped up to 403 million dollars. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn” 

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A new movie is being filmed in Monroe that highlights the importance of mentorship and fatherhood. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Lawmakers have until midnight tonight to come to an agreement on how many rainy day dollars to use to address a $304 million midyear deficit. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Tonight’s Powerball jackpot has reached a whopping 403 million dollars, with a cash value of 244 million dollars. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kimberly Chopin says this is the 10^th largest Powerball jackpot ever. She says this drawing is the 19^th in the current run…

Cut 4  (10) “Powerball frenzy”

Chopin says every time the jackpot reaches these high numbers, more and more people start to play. She says although Louisianans haven’t won the jackpot in a while, a lot of people still win smaller Powerball prizes.

Cut 5  (10)  “winners”

Chopin says the last time the Powerball jackpot was won in Louisiana was in May 2013, where the jackpot was split between two other states.

Cut 6 (12) “or more”

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The state Office of Group Benefits is considering a 50 dollar a month surcharge on health insurance premiums for state employees who use tobacco products. OGB chief executive officer Tommy Teague says individuals who receive health insurance through the state would be required to self-report if they are a smoker.

Cut 7 (09)  “random basis”‘

The proposal would need to receive approval from a legislative oversight committee. Teague says this type of surcharge is already being used in the private sector.

Cut 8 (10) “to implement”

Teague says they are considering a surcharge against smokers and other possible surcharges because the Office of Group Benefits is facing a shortfall and they do want to raise premiums on all employees. Teague hopes these benefits will be in place by January 1^st 2018. He says the proposal could produce about 7.5 million dollars.

Cut 9 (10)  “increases”

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A movie is being filmed in Monroe that highlights the importance of mentorship and fatherhood. Executive Producer Rodney Ray says “Cowboy & Indiana” follows a troubled bull rider named Tulsa as he chases a million dollar bounty on a killer bull no one has been able to ride. He says Tulsa’s life spins out of control as he struggles with an addiction to pain pills and finds himself charged with a DUI.

Cut 10 (11) “named Indiana”

Ray says the filming process takes about 30 days, and they plan to begin in late May. He says from there it will take 6 to 9 months to edit the film. He says filming the bulls will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge they face during production.

Cut 11 (11) “a unique challenge”

Ray says over 1,000 actors from all over the country have applied for roles in the film. He says the support from the local community has also been tremendous. He says everything that goes into the film, from pre-production to post-production and editing, happens in Monroe.

Cut 12 (10) “to our community”

To learn more about “Cowboy & Indiana” and find out how to get involved, visit r2films.net.

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It’s the final day of the special session and the major sticking point is how much of the rainy day fund to tap to resolve a $304 million midyear deficit. Governor Edwards and the Senate proposes using $99 million from the state’s savings account, but LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says House Republicans want the Senate to pass a bill that frees up statutory dedications in future budgets.

Cut 13 (09) “bend first”

It will take a two-thirds vote in the House to approve using money from the Rainy Day Fund, which means 70 yes votes. Some House GOP members say $99 million is too much to take from the state’s savings account and suggest $90 million. Alford says the deadline to reach an agreement is midnight.

Cut 14 (11) “or you don’t”

Alford says it’s a possibility lawmakers will fail to pass a budget cutting plan by midnight. He says if that happens, the governor could call them back for yet another special session, or the budget shortfall could be resolved in other ways.

Cut 15 (10) “on thier own”

State lawmakers are moving close to agreeing to a plan that would close a 304-million dollar midyear budget deficit. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Restaurant Brands International, the owner of Burger King, has placed a 1.8 billion dollar bid to buy Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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In the final two days of the special session, lawmakers are close to reaching a compromise on how many rainy day dollars to use versus what cuts to make to resolve a $304 million midyear deficit. The Senate approved a plan that would tap $99 million from the state’s savings account. Senate President John Alario says it’s a fair compromise that would protect vital services from deep cuts.

Cut 3 (08) “of this state”

While $99 million is far short of the $119 million the governor requested, it is more than the $74 million House Republicans wanted. The deal hinges on a plan by House Speaker Taylor Barras that would free up statutory dedicated funds in the future, including about $97 million next year. Barras’ bill would not affect the current deficit, but it’s what Republicans say it will take to get their vote for using 99 million rainy day dollars. Alario is wary this proposal would take dollars away from the Transportation Trust Fund and TOPS.

cut 4  (08) “make it work”

Alario says if $99 million rainy day dollars were used, it would mean a $60 million cut to the Department of Health and budget reductions for some statewide elected officials, including Attorney General Jeff Landry. Alario is hopeful lawmakers are close to reaching a compromise.

Cut 5  (07)  “under that assumption”

Alario says if everything goes well, things could wrap up around noon tomorrow, but he’s not packing his bags just yet. The special session must end by midnight on Wednesday.

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A Baton Rouge contractor is now facing a slew of charges in multiple parishes after allegedly scamming dozens of August flood victims. Baton Rouge Police say the owner of Complete Construction, Matthew Morris, was arrested this morning for home improvement fraud, felony theft, theft of assets of an aged person, and exploitation of the infirmed.  Legal analyst Tim Meche says there’s a chance Morris won’t serve any jail time.

Cut 6 (11) “some jail time”

Today’s arrest comes less than two weeks after Morris was booked in Ascension Parish after 13 flood victims claimed he overcharged them and failed to complete work. Morris is also wanted in Walker and Livingston Parish on charges of residential fraud and theft of assets of an aged person. Meche says the Attorney General will likely consolidate Morris’ charges.

CUT 7 (09)  “these cases”

Meche encourages flood victims who have dealt with Morris to contact authorities and file a complaint about any questionable behavior. He says unfortunately these arrests aren’t shocking because we typically see this kind of fraud after disasters.

Cut 8 (10) “to see this happening”

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The owners of Burger King could soon be in the fried chicken market, as Restaurant Brands International says they’re buying Popeyes for 1.8 billion dollars. The company also owns the coffee shop chain, Tim Horton’s. Tulane Business Professor Dr. Mark Rosa says it’s obvious Restaurant Brands International sees a bright future in Popeyes.

Cut 9 (09)  “healthy premium”

Rosa says around the globe, everyone recognizes Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen as a place to get fried chicken that tastes like it’s home cooked. He says Popeyes recently revamped their brand to potentially attract a larger restaurant chain, and it appears it worked.

Cut 10 (04) “aggressively”

Popeyes started in New Orleans in 1972. Rosa believes Restaurant Brands International will aggressively expand Popeyes to get a big return on their investment.

cut 11 (09) “like it”

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Governor John Bel Edwards orders a full investigation into trips made by State Police officers, amid a report 4 troopers took side excursions during a business trip on the taxpayer’s dime. The Division of Administration’s auditor will conduct the probe. Political analyst Clancy Dubos…:

cut 12 (10) “will show”

In response to the allegations against the troopers in question, Col Mike Edmonson announced a number of disciplinary actions and policy changes that will take place. Dubos says it will be interesting to see what happens following the Governor’s investigation as obviously the buck stops with the man in charge…:

Cut 13 (11) “happen“

The Governor’s Office says their investigation will also look at trips dating back to the previous administration. Dubos says considering Louisiana’s current financial troubles, this incident doesn’t look good for anybody in state government…:

cut 14 (11) “the consequences”

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The former Avoyelles Correctional Center’s business manager has turned herself in after being indicted on charges of malfeasance, theft, and injuring public records. Tonia Cain is the wife of former-Avoyelles Warden Nate Cain, who is the eldest son of former-Angola Warden Burl Cain. Avoyelles District Attorney Charles Riddle says a warrant for her arrest was issued after her January indictment.

Cut 15 (07) “in April”

Tonia Cain resigned in May 2016 amid investigations into her and her husband’s actions at the prison. A legislative audit alleges Tonia Cain told a prison employee to shred public records to hide the fact that more than $30-thousand in concession sales was missing. Riddle says his office does not tolerate acts of public corruption.

Cut 16  (06)  “lightly”

Tonia Cain’s attorney, Jill Craft, issued a statement saying, “Tonia voluntarily turned herself in and has continued to cooperate fully in this process. While we respect the process, we also look forward to presenting the facts and justice.”

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The Department of Transportation needs an additional $700 million annual investment to meet the state’s transportation needs, according to DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty” 

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A 56-year-old woman has been deemed a hero after jumping on a man who was attacking a Baton Rouge police officer. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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State Representative Paul Hollis has a plan to make it easier to recall a politician, and he plans to bring it up in the regular session. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (26) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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If Louisianans want better roads and bridges, the Department of Transportation will need an additional $700 million a year. That’s according to DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson, who says Louisiana is one of only five states that hasn’t adjusted its transportation revenue stream in nearly 30 years. He says that’s why Louisiana’s roads are the 8^th worst in the nation.

Cut 4  (11) “due to inflation”

Wilson says the Transportation Task Force established by the governor has made recommendations on how to raise the necessary funds to maintain and rebuild infrastructure, and one of those is a 23-cent hike on the state’s gas tax. He says currently the average Louisianan only pays $108 a year in gas taxes.

Cut 5  (11)  “always make”

Wilson says there is an appetite at the capitol to build new roads, but not to pay for them. There’s been talk of raising the gas tax by a few pennies, but Wilson says it wouldn’t be enough to cover the needs around the state. He says for every penny on the gas tax, DOTD gets about $30 million.

Cut 6 (11) “manage expectations”

Wilson says he is confident there will be a bill proposed in the regular session that looks at ways to increase funding for the state’s transportation needs.

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The 56-year-old woman who tackled a man who was attacking a Baton Rouge Police officer on Sunday morning has been deemed a hero. Vickie Williams-Tillman was driving when she saw 28-year-old Thomas Bennett and a police officer in a physical altercation. She says she’s just so happy that she was able to help Officer Billy Amie.

Cut 7 (09)  “needed help”‘

Tillman jumped on Bennett’s back and knocked the baton out of his hand which he had taken from the officer. She says she called 911 before taking action.

Cut 8 (08) “took action”

The altercation began when Amie started to arrest Bennett. Amie says he’s so thankful for Tillman. He says she is a true hero but her actions shouldn’t have been needed…

Cut 9 (07)  “the world”

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Covington Representative Paul Hollis plans to propose a bill for the regular session that would make it easier to remove a politician from office. He says it currently takes signatures from 33-percent of a jurisdiction’s registered voters to recall a politician in Louisiana.

Cut 10 (08) “in that election”

Hollis says the current requirement makes it nearly impossible to remove a politician from a large jurisdiction. He says this was evidenced when former St. Tammany coroner Peter Galvan could not be removed, even after he was indicted for using state tax dollars for personal gain. He says that’s why his bill would only affect big districts with 25-thousand qualified voters or more.

Cut 11 (10) “it’s impossible”

There’s currently an effort to recall Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni after a sexting scandal with 17-year-old boy. The petition expires in April and there are reports the organizers are well short of the needed number of signatures. Secretary of State Tom Schedler is open to altering the formula for removing corrupt leaders from office.

Cut 12 (09) “hasn’t been any”

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A 30-day ban on crabbing is in effect throughout the state, so what does this mean for Louisiana’s seafood industry? Chalin Delaune (Shal-in Duh-lawn) with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board says there’s always been a closed season, but it’s typically just for two weeks while derelict traps are removed from the waters. He hopes this longer closure will revitalize Louisianans’ love for blue crabs.

Cut 13 (08) “for em”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says this closure will allow crabs to mature because the population is down and crabbing is on the rise. Delaune says while it may not seem like it to the crabbers, this is a good thing for the industry.

Cut 14 (11) “for the consumer”

Delaune doesn’t expect a huge blue crab shortage in the Bayou State during the 30-day ban. He says many distributors have planned ahead by flash freezing fresh crabs. He adds that there are other seafood options during this month-long ban.

Cut 15 (05) “pretty strong”

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The Pelicans have the best front court in the NBA as a result of acquiring Center DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings. That’s the opinion of Jake Madison who writes for Bourbon Street Shots and host of Locked On Pelicans podcast

Cut 16 (10) “reckon with”

Cousins will help the Pelicans make a push for the playoffs this season. New Orleans is currently 2.5 games back of Denver for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Cousins has the reputation as a trouble maker inside the locker room, but Madison believes variables are  in place for the All-Star to fit in with the Pelicans

Cut 17 (14)  “at home “

Madison says the trade means that fellow All-Star Anthony Davis can move back to power forward, a position he’s more comfortable with…

Cut 18 (23) “that he has”

Alleged misuse of State Police funds for a trip to a training conference in San Diego has led to an internal investigation into four troopers’ spending. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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More people than ever are feeling politically stressed out. Michelle Southern explains.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The search is ongoing for three escaped Avoyelles Parish inmates. Sheriff Doug Anderson says 31-year-old Blake Reine, 23-year-old Joseph James, and 22-year-old Andre Steward escaped from a detention center near Bunkie on Saturday night.

Cut 3 (11) “from there”

Anderson says authorities are unsure if the inmates hid the wire cutters by the fence, or if someone left the tool to assist the escapees. Reine was serving a sentence for manslaughter, while both James and Steward were charged with armed robbery. He says once apprehended, the inmates will face additional charges of simple escape.

cut 4  (09) “their capture”

Reine is described as a 5’8” white male with blue eyes, brown hair, and a tattoo under his right eye. James is a black male 5’9” with brown eyes and black hair, and Steward is a 5’11” black male with brown eyes and black hair. Anderson says authorities believe the inmates fled south after escaping.

Cut 5  (09)  “law enforcement agency”

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State Police has launched an investigation into the spending of four troopers who made stops at the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas while on their way to a training conference in San Diego. The story was first reported by the Advocate. State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson says this is an unfortunate incident that never should have happened.

Cut 6 (11) “taken place”

While most troopers who attended the conference flew, Major Derrell Williams, Lt. Rodney Hyatt, Master Trooper Thurman Miller, and Trooper Alexander Nezgodinsky drove an LSP SUV. The Advocate’s report finds the stop at the Grand Canyon cost more than $700, and a night at the Palazzo Resort in Las Vegas cost over $500. Edmondson says these troopers have some explaining to do.

CUT 7 (10)  “that route also”

The scenic route also added 300 miles to the journey. According to the Advocate’s report, the troopers were also paid for overtime while on the trip. Edmonson says Maj. Williams is the head of internal affairs at LSP, which means the former head will lead this investigation. He says in the meantime, officials are making sure troopers play it by the book.

Cut 8 (09) “for it”

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Do you feel politically stressed? A new report by the American Psychological Association finds, no matter what party you are, anxiety over political matters is at an all time high. Michelle Many (Main-eee) with the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans finds the principle factor in this deals with social relationships:

Cut 9 (11)  “on the individual”

Many says there were heated arguments and a lot of disagreements during the 2016 presidential campaign, and it’s carried over. She feels there is also a renewed focused on media reports these days and what people are seeing all over social networks online…:

Cut 10 (06) “interactions”

Many says, as with anything, when anything is done in excess, you’ll typically see problems arise either physically or mentally. She says the best thing you can do is try to bring balance back into your life, and that means moderation..:

cut 11 (08) “news viewing”

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The Louisiana Senate passed a measure on Sunday night that would use 99 million dollars of the Rainy Day Fund to help offset the state’s 304 million dollar budget deficit. Last week, the House passed legislation that would use 75 million dollars, but Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Gene Reynolds, supports using the higher amount…

cut 12 (09) “just can’t”

But Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmunds says Republicans don’t have an appetite for using 99 million dollars out of the Rainy Day Fund. He says the state is also facing another major budget shortfall next fiscal year.

Cut 13 (10) “last resort“

This special session ends Wednesday at midnight. Reynolds says the House plan that calls for using 75 million dollars in Rainy Day funding is a proposal that is full of gimmicks.

cut 14 (10) “the past”

Originally the governor proposed using 119 million dollars from the Rainy Fund but says 99 million is an acceptable compromise. But Edmunds says Republicans believe they’ve already compromised enough and would rather keep it at 75 million dollars of the fund.

Cut 15 (10) “of corrections”

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