The Louisiana Office of Tourism and the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau announce a new partnership with East West Marketing Corporation in China to boost tourism. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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If you’re having trouble keeping up with your New Year’s weight loss resolutions, behavioral counseling could help.Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A Flash flood watch is in effect for much of southeast Louisiana until this evening. Christopher Bannan with the National Weather Service in Slidell says a system stalled over Texas is pushing wet weather towards the Bayou State and the potential impact is two to five inches of rain in a short period of time, with isolated higher amounts.

Cut 3 (05) “are area”

Bannan says A 4 to 5 inch swath of rainfall occurred this morning from just south of New Roads to north Baton Rouge. He says this very strong weather system will continue to affect much of the state into the weekend….

cut 4  (07) “Sunday morning”

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LSU announces a timeline for finding a new live mascot and the plan is to have a new tiger before the start of the next football season. Ginger Guttner with the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine says they are searching rescue facilities and sanctuaries for a young, male tiger to become Mike VII.

Cut 5  (05)  “in August”

But Guttner says LSU is officially ending the tradition of putting Mike into a mobile cage, so that he can be on the field before the start of football games.

Cut 6 (03) “see him”

Guttner says in April, Mike’s habitat will undergo renovations, which are expected to be complete by August. She says LSU is also working to have Mike’s habitat accredited as a tiger sanctuary.

CUT 7 (10)  “needs one” 

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The Louisiana Office of Tourism and the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau is teaming up with a marketing firm in China to bring more Chinese tourists to the Bayou State. Assistant Tourism Secretary Kyle Edmiston says the Chinese travel market is the fasted growing inbound market in the US. He says it currently ranks third and is poised to grow to number one by 2021.

Cut 8 (11) “6 million”

Edmiston says thanks to the partnership with East West Marketing Corporation, Louisiana is in a position to be a top destination for Chinese travelers. He says the Chinese love our food, music, and culture. He says there’s an ease of access to the Bayou State because of direct flights from China to Houston.

Cut 9 (08)  “their trip”

International travel to Louisiana increased by 36-percent over the last year, and Edmiston says Chinese travelers spend more money than any other tourists to Louisiana. He says that means more visitors from China could have a huge economic impact for the state.

Cut 10 (10) “for the state”

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Struggling to be successful with your New Year’s fitness resolution? Dr. Steven Heymsfield with LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Center says if cutting calories is not working for you, undergoing behavioral counseling could help with weight loss.

cut 11 (11) “treatment”

Heymsfield says many YMCAs offer an affordable high intensity lifestyle treatment, along with commercial companies like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig. He says an individual must lose 5-8-percent of their weight in one to two years to have successfully completed the program.

cut 12 (09) “diabetes” 

Obesity can lead to an increased risk for diabetes, hypertension, and some cancers. Heymsfield says there is also medication for obese and overweight individuals to manage their weight. He says it’s a good idea to ask your doctor if certain a certain medication could benefit you.

Cut 13 (09) “time period”

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State Police say three people are dead and a child is in serious condition following a crash in Allen Parish. Sgt. James Anderson says around 10am Thursday morning, a vehicle traveling west on Hwy 190 in Kinder crossed the center line…:

cut 14 (11) “other vehicle”

Anderson says there was a young child in the second vehicle who was transported to the Rapides Trauma Center in serious condition. He says they are still trying to figure out how this happened…:

Cut 15 (08) “center line”

The Festival International de Louisiane will go on, as new corporate sponsors have been announced. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Louisiana Republicans are flocking to Washington ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration Friday. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Higher Education officials are urging lawmakers to tap into the Rainy Day Fund to offset the state’s $304 million massive budget shortfall. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Festival International de Louisiane announces new corporate sponsors to help keep the annual international music festival in Lafayette going. Executive Director Scott Feehan says they have to raise over one-million dollars every year to put on the festival. He says one third of that cost comes from corporate donors, and just over a month ago they didn’t have any sponsors.

cut 4  (10) “was great”

LUS Fiber, Service Chevrolet, and J.D. Bank are among the sponsors for the 2017 event that will take place April 26^th to the 30^th.  But Feehan says their work isn’t over yet. He says now they’ll begin collecting donations from small businesses and individuals.

Cut 5  (09)  “focus on”

Feehan says unfortunately they didn’t get enough sponsors to keep the Heritage Stage. He says the event is free to the public and it attracts 300-thousand festival goers every year, so all the funding for the event has to come from donors. He says the founders of the festival wanted everyone to be able to enjoy it.

Cut 6 (09) “sticking to that”

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Hundreds of Louisiana Republicans are gathering in Washington ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Friday. Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere says everyone is excited about watching Mr. Trump take the oath of office to become the 45^th President of the United States.

CUT 7 (09)  “huge parade”‘

Villere says it’s also exciting to have the West Monroe High School band participate in the inaugural parade. But after such a contentious election cycle, many Americans have expressed concerns about the new administration. Villere believes it’s more of a fear of the unknown. And He says a Democratic administration hasn’t proven to be effective.

Cut 8 (12) “get a job”

Villere says all Mr. Trump wants is for people to give him a chance. He says Democrats may be even more afraid that the President-elect will succeed than fail.

Cut 9 (11)  “scared of that”

More than 900-thousand people are expected to attend the inauguration, which will take place on the West Front of the US Capitol at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

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Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the budget deficit for fiscal year 2017 is 304 million dollars, so how will this shortfall impact higher education? Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says there has been talk of using the state’s Rainy Day Fund to offset some of the deficit. But Rallo says if lawmakers decide against, it could be detrimental to higher education.

Cut 10 (09) “to manage”

Rallo says each university is different, but the first thing many schools would be forced to cut is instruction. He says the projected deficit would be substantially lowered with the use of the Rainy Day Funding, leading to less cuts to higher ed.

cut 11 (08) “than that”

House Republican lawmakers have voiced concerns with using the Rainy Day Fund to offset the shortfall. But Rallo says we’re in real trouble.

cut 12 (10) “$66 million”

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During his trip to Italy, Governor John Bel Edwards met with Pope Francis, who blessed the state’s project to support human trafficking victims. Edwards told Vatican Radio that Louisiana is a hotbed for sex trafficking along I-10. He says a big component of the project is retraining police not to treat sex trafficking victims like prostitutes.

Cut 13 (09) “modern day slavery”

Edwards said during his week-long trip to Italy, he met with anti-trafficking experts to learn best practices for fighting human trafficking. He says as part of their effort to protect victims, they’ll open a shelter near Baton Rouge that can house up to 16 young women.

cut 14 (09) “their parents”

Edwards says we have to do much better in Louisiana in ending human trafficking. He’s hopeful that policies implemented in Louisiana will succeed.

Cut 15 (08) “replicated elsewhere”

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Former LSU running back Leonard Fournette will wear Under Armour gear as he prepares for the NFL draft in April. Fournette has signed an endorsement deal with the sports clothing and apparel company. The 22-year-old says he’s been training in Pensacola and wants to run a 4.3 at the NFL Combine, because people don’t think he’s fast

Cut 16 (11) “that’s all”

Fournette could be a top five pick in the NFL draft. He says he’ll go to any team that wants him and he will not lobby to be the top overall pick…

Cut 17 (12)   “will fall”

The former Tigers running back rushed for 843 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016, despite an ankle injury that forced him to miss five games. He says the ankle is better and he’s getting into the best shape possible

Cut 18 (10) “full potential”

President Barack Obama’s approval rating is over 60-percent nationally, according to a CBS poll. Halen Doughty has more on what the numbers look like in Louisiana…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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2016 was the warmest recorded year on Earth, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A new poll from CBS finds President Barack Obama’s approval rating is over 60-percent nationally. Local pollster Bernie Pinsonat says while that might be the case nationwide, it’s certainly not true in Louisiana. He says Mr. Obama has been unpopular in the Bayou State throughout his entire term. He says the high favorability rating nationally is likely, because of large states like New York, Illinois and California.

Cut 3 (06) “numbers up”

Mr. Obama is still leaving office with the third highest approval rating since 1981. Pinsonat says it’s not the president himself voters disapprove of, it’s his policies.

cut 4  (10) “very unpopular”

Pinsonat says we’ll see just how much Republicans disapprove of his policies when a decision comes down about whether or not to repeal Obamacare. He says although many Americans are not in favor of Mr. Obama’s policies, for the most part, they like him as a person.

Cut 5  (09)  “give you credit”

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Secretary of State Tom Schedler is asking President-elect Donald Trump to undo President Obama’s designation that all 50 states’ election systems to be considered “critical infrastructure.” Schelder says it’s unclear why a critical classification is necessary, when there was no credible evidence of hacking discovered in any state during the November 2016 election…

Cut 6 (10) “the states”

Dams, nuclear reactors, and government facilities are also included in critical infrastructure. Schedler says the federal government claims considering election systems as critical infrastructure would allow them to work with federal homeland security officials. But he says his office can already do this without this designation….

CUT 7 (10)  “do that” 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says the designation does not mean a federal takeover, regulation, oversight or intrusion concerning elections in this country. But Schedler says it’s extremely difficult to manipulate the voting process, because each state uses a different method.

Cut 8 (10) “the election”

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Shreveport Police say an 11-year-old has been arrested for armed robbery. Corporal Marcus Hines says surveillance video shows the juvenile they have in custody pulled a gun on a woman at an ATM around 10 p.m. Saturday and made off with a small amount of cash.

Cut 9 (07)  “the victim”

Hines says it’s very saddening that someone this young would commit a crime like this. Surveillance footage of the incident was released to the public and he says apparently the young boy’s family saw the video, which led to his arrest.

Cut 10 (08) “young man in”

Hines says we have to address the underlying problem in situations like this and find out why someone so young would think to rob someone. He says unfortunately, seeing children commit crimes like armed robbery isn’t as rare as you might think.

cut 11 (09) “into automobiles”

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The World Meteorological Organization announced 2016 was officially the warmest on Earth since 1880, when record keeping began. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ve gone three straight years for breaking the warmest year on record. He says there is clearly a pattern of increasing temperatures.

cut 12 (09) “Pacific Ocean” 

Keim says 2016 was Louisiana’s third warmest year on record. The warmest was in 1921. He says the state’s biggest concern with these increased temperatures worldwide is melting glaciers…

Cut 13 (11) “sinking”

Keim says the average temperature in Louisiana for 2016 was 68.7 degrees. And he says 2017 is already off to an extremely warm start.

cut 14 (07) “entire week”

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Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office announces the arrest of six men on over 200 counts of child pornography and exploitation. The alleged perpetrators range from age 18 to 73. A-G spokesperson Ruth Wisher says the men were booked on over 200 counts of child pornography and exploitation…

Cut 15 (11) “sexually abused”

Wisher says Landry was sworn in last year, the A-G’s office has made or assisted in over 100 child exploitation arrests….

Cut 16  (08)  “search of justice”

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State House Republican leaders believe it is not a good idea to use the Rainy Day Fund to offset Louisiana’s 313 million dollar mid-year budget shortfall. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The Guttmacher Institute finds there was an 18-percent decline in the number of abortions in Louisiana between 2011 and 2014. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Despite floods, droughts, and freezing temperatures, experts say Louisiana strawberries are doing just fine. Whitney Wallace with the LSU AgCenter doesn’t think there will be too much damage to this year’s strawberry crop. She says the freeze affected some farmers worse than others, but all in all, it should be a good season.

Cut 3 (07) “March and April”

Wallace says the multiple floods that occurred last spring and August weren’t as devastating to strawberry production as they were to other crops, because farmers weren’t planting strawberries yet when the floods hit. She says many farmers did what they could to protect their blooms from the freeze earlier this month.

cut 4  (09) “below 32″

Wallace says fortunately, most of the strawberry crop made it through the freeze unscathed, which means we should see a good crop in March and April. She says this is great news because strawberry farming is an important industry for the state.

Cut 5  (11)  “local berries”

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Several Republican in the state House say it would be a bad idea to use the Rainy Day Fund to reduce the state’s 313 million dollar mid-year budget deficit. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris, who chairs the House Republican Delegation, says the state has to stop dipping into the Rainy Day Fund every time it has budget troubles.

Cut 6 (07) “problem”

But Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says using the Rainy Day fund is necessary to soften cuts critical services like higher education and healthcare.

CUT 7 (10)  “very painful” 

Harris says when he entered the legislature five years ago, the Rainy Day Fund had over 850 million dollars in it, and today it has 357 million dollars. He says the state has a spending problem.

Cut 8 (08) “concerned about”

It will take a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate to access money from the Rainy Day Fund. Dardenne says even with the Rainy Day Fund, more cuts will be required. He says this fund is designed to address a situation like the state is currently facing.

Cut 9 (08)  “up for”

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New research finds there was an 18-percent decline in the number of abortions in Louisiana between 2011 and 2014. Guttmacher Institute researcher Rachel Jones says nationally, there was a 12-percent decline over the same period. She credits better use of contraceptives for the decrease in abortions.

Cut 10 (06) “such as an IUD”

The study found there were less than one million abortions in the US in 2014, the lowest rate since the Roe v. Wade ruling. Jones says more effective birth control would explain the decline in states that support abortion rights. She says in some other states, women have less access to abortions than they used to.

cut 11 (08) “in abortions”

Jones says Louisiana was one of the states that experienced a large decline in abortion clinics, with 29-percent of the clinics in the state closing during the time period studied. She says Louisiana also imposed stricter regulations on abortions.

cut 12 (09) “to access abortions” 

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Three people are dead after a fiery crash in Vernon Parish. State Trooper Scott Moreau says around 1:40 a.m. troopers responded to a crash on Highway 1146 near Rosepine. He says there were three people inside a 2009 Chevy Malibu, when the driver apparently veered off the roadway and hit several trees.

Cut 13 (08) “in the vehicle”

Moreau says all three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. He says it’s not yet known if the occupants were wearing seatbelts or if the driver was intoxicated. He says they are not releasing the suspected identities of the victims, as the investigation is ongoing.

cut 14 (09) “pending as well”

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A 47-year-old Chauvin man has turned himself into State Police for allegedly hitting a man on LA 56 in Terrebonne Parish just after midnight. Trooper Jesse LaGrange says Christopher Little saw the press release put out this morning looking for the driver of a Chrysler 300, responsible for the fatal hit and run of 39-year-old Taylor Thibodeaux.

Cut 15 (10) “way home”

LaGrange says Little’s vehicle had damage consistent with hitting a person and he was brought in for questioning where he was later arrested and charged with felony hit and run driving and improper lane usage. He says the lesson here is to pull over and search if you think you’ve hit something while driving.

Cut 16  (07)  “vehicle received”

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A new study from Tulane University finds the use of cockroach bait can eliminate enough roaches to reduce symptoms in children with asthma by about 50 days. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Hot chili peppers could help you live longer, according to a study from the University of Vermont. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The man who was shot and killed by a Slidell homeowner was high on cough syrup, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office. Halen Doughty Reports…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A Tulane University study finds the use of cockroach bait can eliminate enough pests in a home to reduce a child with moderate to severe asthma symptoms by nearly 50 days. Lead study author and Tulane University Public Health and Tropical Medicine Epidemiologist Felicia Rabito says the roaches eat the bait then go back to die…

cut 4  (10) “the children”

Asthma suffers can be highly sensitive to cockroach saliva, skin and droppings. Rabito says the study monitored 102 low income families where children were diagnosed with asthma. She says the bait was placed in slightly over half of the homes and checked about every two months.

Cut 5  (10)  “their homes”

The study also found the number of unscheduled doctor visits was 17-percent lower in the group who had bait placed in their homes. Rabito says research has shown that cockroaches are directly related to asthma illness so….

Cut 6 (08) “asthmatic kids”

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Researchers at the University of Vermont believe eating hot chili peppers could help you live longer, which is good news for Louisianans who love their spicy foods. Dr. Benjamin Littenberg with the Larner College of Medicine says their study found consumption of hot red chili peppers was associated with a 13-percent lower risk of death. He says that could have something to do with an ingredient in the pepper- capsaicin.

CUT 7 (06)  “might work”‘

Littenberg says the study followed more than 16-thousand people for about 20 years. He says they noticed something about the causes of death for people in the study who reported eating a lot of hot red chili peppers.

Cut 8 (08) “and stroke”

But Littenberg says in the science world, correlation does not prove causation, so researchers aren’t convinced that eating the peppers is why study participants lived longer. He says the findings don’t mean you should start eating the peppers if you don’t like them.

Cut 9 (07)  “chili pepper diet”

Littenberg co-authored the study with Mustafa Chopan, who is the lead author and a medical student at the university.

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Kenner Police say a man is behind bars in connection with the dismembered body parts that were discovered near the Reserve Canal off I-10. Chief Michael Glaser says a 27-year-old man from Honduras, Ivis Portales-Lara, was reported missing on November 13. He says detectives questioned his roommate, 44-year-old Viusqui Perez-Espinosa, about the man’s disappearance.

Cut 10 (10) “the walls”

Glaser says upon further investigation, larger pools of blood were discovered in the apartment. He says on December 29, a severed human arm was discovered in the canal, and it was a match to the blood in Perez-Espinosa’s apartment. He says more body parts were later discovered in the same area.

cut 11 (10) “and dismembered”

Glaser says the only part of the body that still hasn’t been discovered is the skull. He says witnesses reported seeing Perez-Espinosa loading plastic bags into his vehicle the day after the victim was reported missing.

Glaser says Perez-Espinosa previously lived in the same apartment with his now ex-girlfriend, who allowed him to stay with her and the victim when things didn’t work out at his new residence.

cut 12 (11) “the homicide”

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The man who was shot and killed by a Slidell homeowner when he was apparently acting erratic in the front yard of the residence was on a severe amount of cough syrup. That’s according to St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith. He says the shooter, 24-year-old Shane Hicks, told deputies that he was inside his home when he heard a loud noise outside.

Cut 13 (09) “and yelling”

At this point, there have been no charges filed in association with the incident, as it’s believed Hicks was in fear for his life.. Smith says Hicks was armed with a semi-automatic pistol when he asked Flores what he was doing in the yard.

cut 14 (10) “ was invincible”

Smith says Hicks asked Flores to leave, and that’s when the alleged intruder lunched toward the resident and backed him up against the house while trying to take his pistol. Hicks then fired multiple shots, fatally shooting Flores on the front porch. Smith says they learned that prior to this incident, Flores had an altercation with this girlfriend.

Cut 15 (09) “hallucinogenic effects”

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State House Republican leaders believe it is not a good idea to use the Rainy Day Fund to offset Louisiana’s 313 million dollar mid-year budget shortfall. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The Guttmacher Institute finds there was an 18-percent decline in the number of abortions in Louisiana between 2011 and 2014. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Despite floods, droughts, and freezing temperatures, experts say Louisiana strawberries are doing just fine. Whitney Wallace with the LSU AgCenter doesn’t think there will be too much damage to this year’s strawberry crop. She says the freeze affected some farmers worse than others, but all in all, it should be a good season.

Cut 3 (07) “March and April”

Wallace says the multiple floods that occurred last spring and August weren’t as devastating to strawberry production as they were to other crops, because farmers weren’t planting strawberries yet when the floods hit. She says many farmers did what they could to protect their blooms from the freeze earlier this month.

cut 4  (09) “below 32”

Wallace says fortunately, most of the strawberry crop made it through the freeze unscathed, which means we should see a good crop in March and April. She says this is great news because strawberry farming is an important industry for the state.

Cut 5  (11)  “local berries”

______________________________________

Several Republican in the state House say it would be a bad idea to use the Rainy Day Fund to reduce the state’s 313 million dollar mid-year budget deficit. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris, who chairs the House Republican Delegation, says the state has to stop dipping into the Rainy Day Fund every time it has budget troubles.

Cut 6 (07) “problem”

But Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says using the Rainy Day fund is necessary to soften cuts critical services like higher education and healthcare.

CUT 7 (10)  “very painful” 

Harris says when he entered the legislature five years ago, the Rainy Day Fund had over 850 million dollars in it, and today it has 357 million dollars. He says the state has a spending problem.

Cut 8 (08) “concerned about”

It will take a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate to access money from the Rainy Day Fund. Dardenne says even with the Rainy Day Fund, more cuts will be required. He says this fund is designed to address a situation like the state is currently facing.

Cut 9 (08)  “up for”

______________________________________

New research finds there was an 18-percent decline in the number of abortions in Louisiana between 2011 and 2014. Guttmacher Institute researcher Rachel Jones says nationally, there was a 12-percent decline over the same period. She credits better use of contraceptives for the decrease in abortions.

Cut 10 (06) “such as an IUD”

The study found there were less than one million abortions in the US in 2014, the lowest rate since the Roe v. Wade ruling. Jones says more effective birth control would explain the decline in states that support abortion rights. She says in some other states, women have less access to abortions than they used to.

cut 11 (08) “in abortions”

Jones says Louisiana was one of the states that experienced a large decline in abortion clinics, with 29-percent of the clinics in the state closing during the time period studied. She says Louisiana also imposed stricter regulations on abortions.

cut 12 (09) “to access abortions” 

______________________________________

Three people are dead after a fiery crash in Vernon Parish. State Trooper Scott Moreau says around 1:40 a.m. troopers responded to a crash on Highway 1146 near Rosepine. He says there were three people inside a 2009 Chevy Malibu, when the driver apparently veered off the roadway and hit several trees.

Cut 13 (08) “in the vehicle”

Moreau says all three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. He says it’s not yet known if the occupants were wearing seatbelts or if the driver was intoxicated. He says they are not releasing the suspected identities of the victims, as the investigation is ongoing.

cut 14 (09) “pending as well”

________________________________________________________

A 37-year-old Chauvin man has turned himself into State Police for allegedly hitting a man on LA 56 in Terrebonne Parish just after midnight. Trooper Jesse LaGrange says Christopher Little saw the press release put out this morning looking for the driver of a Chrysler 300, responsible for the fatal hit and run of 39-year-old Taylor Thibodeaux.

Cut 15 (10) “way home”

LaGrange says Little’s vehicle had damage consistent with hitting a person and he was brought in for questioning where he was later arrested and charged with felony hit and run driving and improper lane usage. He says the lesson here is to pull over and search if you think you’ve hit something while driving.

Cut 16  (07)  “vehicle received”

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Amazon shoppers in Louisiana aren’t paying as much in sales taxes as you may think. Jeff Palermo has more on what is and isn’t being taxed…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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SeekingArangement.com says 35 LSU students joined the online dating site last year to find a Sugar Daddy. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A Gallup poll finds President-elect Donald Trump has a 42-percent approval rating. Emelie Gunn has analysis from a local political analyst…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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If you’re buying items from Amazon in the New Year, you might not pay as much in sales taxes as you thought. It was announced that starting January 1^st the online retailer would begin collecting state sales taxes for the first time. But Department of Revenue Secretary, Kimberly Robinson, says the only sales tax collected are on products sold directly by Amazon, LLC.

cut 4  (10) “from Amazon”

But Robinson says that does not include items purchased through third party vendors on Amazon. She says the easiest way to tell whether or not sales tax will be charged is to look at the seller of the item.

Cut 5  (05)  “that item”

Robinson says if you purchase online you are required to pay sales taxes at the end of the year, if the seller did not collect them at the time of purchase. She says this has been the law for some time, but participation is low.

Robinson says other online retailers will not be collecting sales tax. But she says starting July 1, those vendors will have a reporting requirement. She says online shoppers will have to submit those taxes themselves.

Cut 6 (10) “this year”

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More LSU students are seeking Sugar Daddies to help pay for their education. That’s according to SeekingArangment.com, which saw 35 LSU students enroll in 2016. Spokesperson Brook Urick says that’s a substantial increase over the previous year.

CUT 7 (10)  “more accepted”‘

SeekingArangement.com is one of the fasted growing Sugar Daddy dating sites. Urick says online dating in the sugar lifestyle isn’t much different than regular online dating. She says the main difference is the lifestyle expectations.

Cut 8 (09) “to do that”

The average monthly allowance for a Sugar Baby is around $24-hundred. But Urick says not all Sugar Babies get the same allowance from their Sugar Daddies. She says it’s important to be open and honest about what you expect to give and receive in the Sugar Bowl.

Cut 9 (10)  “a relationship with”

As the cost of tuition continues to increase while funding for TOPS decreases, Urick says we could see even more Louisiana students turn to the lifestyle for financial assistance.

________________________________________

A Gallup poll finds President-elect Donald Trump has a 42-percent approval rating, the lowest since George W. Bush, who had 59-percent. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. John Sutherlin says Trump will likely come into office and follow through with his agenda, regardless of what polls say.

Cut 10 (09) “majority wants”

Trump will be sworn into office on Friday. Sutherlin says Trump will do what he thinks is best but on certain issues that will be problematic, because of the low approval numbers.

cut 11 (09) “projects”

Sutherlin says Trump doesn’t seem like he is bothered by public opinion.

cut 12 (09) “100 days”

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LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva fired football coach Les Miles in mid-season, could it happen again? The LSU men’s basketball team is 1-4 in the SEC. They’ve lost three in a row and all three defeats have been by double digits. Glen Guilbeau covers LSU hoops for the USA Today Network and says as the losses mount, Alleva might make a change…

Cut 13 (11) “look good”

Johnny Jones is in his fifth season in Baton Rouge. His record as LSU’s head coach is 89-58, 41-35 in the SEC. Jones has guided one LSU team to the NCAA Tournament, but the Tigers missed out on postseason play last year with Ben Simmons, the top overall pick in the NBA draft. Guilbeau says the losses this season and last’s year disappointment have Jones on the hot seat

cut 14 (06) “at it”

Guilbeau says fan interest in LSU basketball has dropped during Jones’ tenure, so there’s not nearly the pressure to win in basketball as there is in football. But he says Alleva is the former A-D at Duke, which has a rich basketball tradition and he can’t be happy with what he sees at LSU…

Cut 15 (07) “program again”

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A poll of 500 likely Louisiana voters finds that 56-percent of them believe coastal land loss is at a crisis. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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On this Martin Luther King Junior Day, the personal-finance website Wallet Hub issues a report that finds Louisiana ranks 10th among states for making the most progress on race relations. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A recent poll commissioned by Restore the Mississippi River Delta finds over half of Louisianans polled believe coastal land loss is at a crisis, while 96-percent said it needs attention. Jimmy Frederick with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana says saving the coast isn’t just about protecting coastal cities. He says it’s important for the entire state.

Cut 3 (09) “other things”

The survey by Applied Technology Research Corporation also finds that 62-percent of respondents are in favor of Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan. A revised master plan is up for legislative approval this year. It calls for a variety of projects to build land and reduce flood risk. Frederick says the findings show coastal restoration is important to many Louisiana residents.

cut 4  (06) “the future”

The state’s coastal Master plan would cost 50-billion dollars. Frederick says there are federal dollars and money from BP available to get some of the work started and this survey shows Louisiana residents want major coastal projects completed.

Cut 5  (10)  “have in mind”

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Today is Martin Luther King Jr Day, and Wallet Hub has issued a report on race relations which indicates Louisiana is among the top 10 for making the most progress. Spokesperson Jill Gonzales says the report measured the gaps between blacks and whites in 16 key indicators that put the state right at number 10…:

Cut 6 (08) “the most progress”

Gonzales says, when it came to education, Louisiana ranked 4th and 6th best for making improvements on standardized test scores in reading and math, respectively. She says even though there was a lot of growth shown here on racial matters, there are still areas that are struggling…:

CUT 7 (11)  “percentage point” 

Gonzales says there is also a large imbalance of workplace participation among blacks and whites in Louisiana. We’re among a handful of other southern states in WalletHub’s rankings of racial progress, and Gonzales says there is a bit of the “nowhere to go but up” factor at play…:

Cut 8 (09) “deep south states”

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AT&T Louisiana has donated 150-thousand dollars to the Louisiana Jobs for America’s Graduates program. JAG is a non-profit program that helps young people who face difficult challenges earn a high school diploma, successfully receive post-secondary education and find employment. Governor John Bel Edwards says this program is critically important to our state.

Cut 9 (11)  “a skill”

Edwards says Louisiana is the largest JAG affiliate in the nation, with 115 sites.

Cut 10 (10) “graduation rate”

Last year, the program had a 76-percent job placement rate and an 80-percent full time jobs rate. Edwards says this donation will help create a better workforce.

cut 11 (10) “local level”

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State Police are searching for a driver who hit and injured a trooper when his patrol car was stopped at a Baton Rouge intersection. Trooper Bryan Lee says the collision happened at about 3 p.m. yesterday when traffic was stopped on Old Hammond Hwy and the suspect immediately fled the scene.

cut 12 (10) “from behind” 

Lee says the trooper sustained minor injuries and the driver of the second vehicle was unharmed. He says the drive who ran into the trooper’s vehicle, sped off immediately following the crash and was headed westbound on Old Hammond.

Cut 13 (05) “that vehicle”

LSP says the suspect is a man and vehicle should have significant front-end damage. Lee urges anyone with information to contact authorities.

cut 14 (07) “public safety”

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State Rep. Jack Montoucet of Crowley takes over as Louisiana’s new Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Napoleonville Senator Troy Brown says he will not resign, even after being convicted of his second domestic abuse charge in four months. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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State lawmakers are once again getting ready to enter a special session because the state is facing a $313 million budget deficit. Halen Doughty reports…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Crowley Representative Jack Montoucet begins his duties today as the new Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Montoucet was appointed by Governor Edwards and says his main goal is to ensure Louisiana stays the Sportsman’s Paradise. He plans to try to get more residents involved in outdoor activities, like preservation, hunting and fishing.

cut 4  (10) “being concerned”

Montoucet has been the owner of an alligator farm in Acadiana for 30 years. Montoucet says alligators were on the endangered species list years ago but through the work of LDWF, the population has grown substantially. He looks forward to expanding other similar programs…

Cut 5  (10)  “other aspects”

There’s been allegations of misappropriation of funds by the previous administration and former Secretary Charlie Melancon clashed with recreational fishermen over red snapper management. Mountoucet plans to have a meeting to resolve all issues with the red snapper. And he says when it comes to the controversial spending under former Secretary Robert Barham….

Cut 6 (08) “talked about”

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A local doctor advises parents to limit their children’s screen time each day because too much time looking at a TV, computer or tablet can be bad for a child’s health. Ochsner Health Center Zachary Pediatrician Dr. Myriam Ortiz says children younger than 18 months shouldn’t be exposed to digital media at all, and children up to 24 months should take precautions.

CUT 7 (07)  “they’re seeing”‘

Ortiz says when children spend too much time in front of a screen, it limits their outdoor activity time, which leads to higher rates of childhood obesity and diabetes. She adds playtime is essential for children’s development. Studies show most eight year olds spend on average over two hours watching TV, playing video games or using a computer.

Ortiz says that’s why parents of children up to age 5 should limit their child’s screen time to one hour per day. She says parents of kids who are older than 6 should keep the media restrictions consistent.

Cut 8 (10) “type of media”

Ortiz recommends establishing media-free times together like dinner, as well as media-free locations like bedrooms. She says while it is essential to limit a child’s media time, technology isn’t entirely bad for children.

Cut 9 (09)  “the internet”

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Napoleonville Senator Troy Brown issued a statement saying he has no intention of leaving office, as some state lawmakers are calling for his resignation after he was convicted for a second time on a charge of domestic abuse battery. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor hopes Brown won’t force the Senate to expel him from office.

Cut 10 (09) “move on”

Brown says expulsion is the most severe punishment available, calling it the political equivalent to execution. This is the second time that Brown has pleaded no contest to domestic violence charges in four months. Claitor says it’s the kind of charge that matters more than anything.

cut 11 (10) “that’s okay”

Brown says only 8 states have ever expelled a senator, and always over more serious matters. The Senate Resolution could be filed either in a potential special session next month or in the regular session in April. Claitor says it’s likely the Senate will take up the matter sooner rather than later.

cut 12 (08) “special topics”

Brown says if the body decides to remove him from office, he will respect their wishes, but he will utilize all legal options available to protect constituents’ rights to be represented.

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State lawmakers are gearing up for the third special session in just one year, after the Revenue Estimating Conference recognized a budget shortfall of about $313 million for the current fiscal year. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says at this point, a special session is inevitable so the cuts can be spread around.

Cut 13 (12) “right now”

Dardenne says they plan to use money from the rainy day fund to close some of the gap, but that still leaves about another 200 million dollars in possible cuts. He says after years of budget cuts, this next round will be especially painful.

cut 14 (12) “to accomplish”

Dardenne says there doesn’t seem to be much of an appetite among legislators to raise additional revenue. He says lawmakers raised nearly $2 billion in taxes last year, but it just wasn’t enough to balance the budget.

Cut 15 (12) “wants to do”

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State leaders heard grim budget news today, which likely means a special session next month. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Governor John Bel Edwards travels to Rome to discuss ways to combat human trafficking with the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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State legislators will likely be called into a special session next month to deal with a budget deficit. The Revenue Estimating Conference has determined the midyear shortfall is around 313-million dollars. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says legislative input will be needed to address a budget gap of that magnitude…

Cut 3 (04) “as possible”

Governor Edwards can make cuts to the budget, but state law only allows in certain areas, like higher education and health care. Dardenne says a special session is likely, so legislators can spread the cuts around…

cut 4  (10) “fiscal year”

House Speaker Taylor Barras agrees another special session could be needed to address the massive deficit. But he says after the last two extraordinary sessions, the appetite to raise more revenue isn’t strong at the Capitol.

Cut 5  (06)  “the gaps”

Dardenne says they do to intend to use 119-million dollars from the rainy day fund to close the gap, but that’s not enough to address the entire shortfall. The deficit is the result of lagging tax collections. Economists say the state has been losing job monthly since August 2015. Barras says unfortunately, state agencies are in for another round of painful cuts, because the revenue picture is not getting better.

Cut 6 (05) “as a result”

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Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Rome, Italy for the next few days to discuss ways to fight human trafficking with the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy. Edwards says the Houston to New Orleans corridor has one of the worst trafficking problems in the country and we must put an end to this. He says the sisters plan to open the Metanoia House, a Louisiana shelter for young victims of sex trade…

CUT 7 (10)  “human trafficking” 

State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson and a few state legislators are traveling with the governor. Louisiana has been recognized as the leading state in the fight against sex trafficking. Edwards says Rome is leading the way putting an end to human trafficking and they hope to learn new ways to assist victims.

Cut 8 (09) “that lifestyle”

Edwards is also planning on meeting with Pope Francis next Wednesday. The governor says he will be paying out of pocket for himself and his wife to travel to Rome.

Cut 9 (07)  “are going”

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The entire New Orleans Fair Grounds race track is under a quarantine in an effort to stop the spread of an equine herpes virus. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says this quarantine has been implemented out of an abundance of caution…

Cut 10 (08) “under control”

Strain says nine of the two-thousand horses at the track are in isolation. He says horses in barns not exposed can keep racing, while exposed horses under quarantine are monitored for at least two weeks…

cut 11 (04) “these horses”

A two-year-old thoroughbred gelding was humanely eutanized right after Christmas, because of the virus. Strain says an infectious disease specialist from Kentucky has been called in to contain the spread of the virus…

cut 12 (10) “to horses” 

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Almost 10,000 people are expected to be in Baton Rouge this weekend for the biggest running event of the year in the state: The Louisiana Marathon. That’s according to spokesman Danny Bourgeois. He says over the last 5 years, they’ve seen runners attend from here and beyond.:

Cut 13 (06) “very exciting”

The Quarter Marathon & 5K takes place Saturday morning, then the big event and half marathon begin early Sunday. It all kicks off at the State Capitol. He says one of the coolest things about this event is that it takes the work of over 1000 volunteers to make it happen…:

cut 14 (10) “run eat dance laugh”

The Louisiana Marathon course takes runners from downtown, along the river, through the University Lakes, the LSU campus, and through historic neighborhoods. Byourgeois says it’s truly inspiring to hear feedback from people all over Louisiana…:

Cut 15 (07) “our race”