State agencies are implementing the first round of budget cuts for the current fiscal year today. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The ACLU of Louisiana is suing the City of Slidell because of an ordinance that requires a permit to panhandle. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A Walker man has been charged with attempted murder following a road rage incident. Capt. John Sharp with Walker Police says 35-year-old Johnny Franz was tailgating 31-year-old Bradley Deville, causing Deville to drive even slower. He says the two then stopped at an intersection near Walker Freshman High School. Sharp says at that point Franz invited Deville to step out of the car, and that’s when Deville pulled out a 9mm handgun.

Cut 3 (09) “man’s car”

Sharp says Deville then fled onto Interstate 12 as Franz followed him. He says they were pulled over on the interstate, and officers noticed bullet holes in the side of Franz’ car.

cut 4  (10) “open container”

Sharp says this incident is especially concerning after two high profile road rage incidents in New Orleans that led to homicides. He says they were fortunate no one was hurt.

Cut 5  (08)  “Mr. Franz”

Sharp says Deville faces several charges including attempted 2^nd degree murder, illegal use of a firearm, and possession of an open container.

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Beginning January 1, Amazon will charge sales taxes on purchases made by Louisiana residents. Byron Henderson with the state Department of Revenue says both state and local sales taxes will be added to purchase totals.

Cut 6 (07) “address”

Henderson says so far Amazon is the only totally online retailer that has announced they will collect sales taxes. He says the taxes will be filed and remitted with the state and to local jurisdictions in Louisiana.

CUT 7 (10)  “Louisiana customers”

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State department heads will have to start making cuts to their respective agencies today as $277 million dollars has been carved from the state’s operating budget. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says these cuts are being made through attrition – by not hiring people or not filling already vacant positions…:

Cut 8 (10) “current fiscal year”

Dardenne says taking the biggest hit is the Department of Health which will have to cut from medical vendor payments. The state’s colleges are taking an $11 million dollar hit this time. Dardenne says for the first time in about 10 years, higher education did not take a dramatic cut in this budget year…:

Cut 9 (10)  “very painful”

Dardenne says we’ll get the full budget picture when the Revenue Estimating Conference meets again on January 17th. He says that’s when reality will set in…:

Cut 10 (08) “information”

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The ACLU of Louisiana is suing the City of Slidell to block a panhandling permit requirement. Executive Director Marjorie Esman says Slidell residents have to register with police to engage in their First Amendment right to ask others for money.

cut 11 (12) “to speak”

Esman says the suit filed on behalf of panhandlers Gary Blitch, David Knight, and Daniel Snyder seeks to find the ordinance illegal and block its enforcement. She says everyone has the right to speak freely, regardless of what they’re speaking about.

cut 12 (11) “this country”

Slidell city attorney Brian Haggerty says they have no comment on the lawsuit. Esman says in the past Slidell Police have arrested panhandlers, but the new ordinance was passed in October. She says although the permit is free, it still requires a background check and wearing the permit to avoid being ticketed up to $500. Or facing up to 6 months in jail.

Cut 13 (07) “to speak”

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Following the declaration of a public health emergency in St. Joseph, Governor John Bel Edwards is vising the Tensas Parish town today. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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All of Louisiana’s 8 electors selected Donald Trump for president, and Mike Pence for vice president. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Near-freezing temperatures have Louisianans across the state bundling up today. Matt Hemmingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says temperatures dropped to just below freezing this morning in North Louisiana, while the southern half of the state is hovering around 40 degrees.

Cut 3 (11) “cold temperatures”

Hemmingway says people will want to break out the winter wear tomorrow as well.

cut 4  (10) “24 hours”

Hemmingway says things will start to warm up once we get into the middle of the week. He says we’ll see milder temperatures just in time for the official start of winter.

Cut 5  (07)  “on Wednesday”

Hemmingway says another cold front will move in Thursday, but it won’t be as cold as it is today and tomorrow.

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Governor John Bel Edwards is meeting with residents of St. Joseph today, after a public health emergency was declared in the small Tensas Parish town. Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor’s Office, Julie Baxter Payer, says high levels of lead and copper were found in two water samples in St. Joe.

Cut 6 (10) “drinking water”

The Governor’s Office is providing three liters of water a day to each of the roughly 500 residents of St. Joe. Payer says the governor has ordered that the water in every home be tested for lead and copper. She says they believe the problem is the pipes, and there’s a lot of construction that needs to be done on St. Joe’s water system.

CUT 7 (10)  “treatment plant”

Residents of St. Joe have been dealing with dirty water flowing from their faucets for nearly a decade. Payer says construction on the water system is underway. She says they are doing what they can to get clean water to the town’s residents sooner rather than later.

Cut 8 (07) “that process”

The public meeting will be held at 5:00 p.m.

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A man from El Salvador who admitted to being an illegal alien has been detained by federal authorities in Covington after a St. Tammany Parish deputy discovered an outstanding warrant on him out of Central America. Captain Daniel Seuzeneau says 36-year-old Juan Sanchez-Roldan was pulled over on Highway 190…:

Cut 9 (10)  “out of El Salvador”

Seuzeneau says the deputy contacted US Immigration Customs Enforcement.:

Cut 10 (10) “federal authorities”

Seuzeneau says during detainment, Sanchez-Roldan admitted he’d been in the United States for over 10 years illegally, was living in Baton Rouge and working in St. Tammany. He says this was a good pop by one of their deputies…:

cut 11 (08) “under his belt”

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All of Louisiana’s 8 electors selected Donald Trump for president, and Mike Pence for vice president. Lloyd Harsch spoke following the vote and told reporters he’d received over 90,000 emails and several hundred letters from people urging him not to vote for Mr. Trump. He says he considered every candidate and all of their options…:

cut 12 (09) “to change my vote”

The vote was taken today at the state Capitol’s Senate Chambers. Harsch says being able to be a part of history and this process is a responsibility he takes seriously…:

Cut 13 (07) “vice president”

Matt McCann was there today protesting the election of Mr. Trump. He says the president-election teaches ignorance and hate…:

cut 14 (09) “human being”

Now the votes will be sent to Washington where they will be read to the new Congress that convenes in January. McCann says he’s extremely concerned about the future of the US with Mr. Trump as president…:

Cut 15 (08) “anymore war”

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More changes could be coming to the TOPS scholarship program. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

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A report from United Health Foundation finds Louisiana is no longer the unhealthiest state in the country. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Get ready for another change in the weather. Andy Tingler, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says a strong cold front will move through the state Saturday and produce a big temperature drop….

Cut 3 (12) “upper 30s”

Tingler says the Storm Prediction Center also says there’s a slight chance we could see severe weather in the Monroe and Alexandria areas along with a portion of south Louisiana…

cut 4  (04) “a potential”

Tingler says the cold air will stick around for a couple of days, at least through Tuesday. He says Sunday might be a good day to watch football, a movie or wrap gifts…

Cut 5  (12)  “around 60”

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With budget shortfalls still looming, higher education leaders are looking at more potential changes to the TOPS scholarship program. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says one option being discussed is raising the hourly requirement for the scholarship from 24 credits per year to 30. He says the idea is to encourage students to graduate more quickly, as TOPS only covers 8 semesters.

Cut 6 (11) “extra year”

Rallo says this would mean students would have to take either 15 credits per semester or 6 additional hours during the summer. He says up until about 20 years ago, it was normal for students to take 15 hours a semester, until the feds lowered the requirements to be considered a fulltime student.

CUT 7 (08)  “for four years”

Rallo says this is just one of several changes they’re considering to stabilize the program. Lawmakers are hopeful they can find the necessary $89 million to fully fund the program next year, but Rallo says changes will likely come to TOPS whether or not it’s fully funded.

Cut 8 (10) “on them”

Opponents of the change say it would add to students’ workload, especially for those who take time-consuming labs or play sports.

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Louisiana is no longer the least healthy state in the country, according to United Health Foundation. State Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee says this is great news, but unfortunately Louisiana still ranks 49^th in the nation for overall health. She says the state has high rates of low birth weight, infant mortality, and obesity.

Cut 9 (12)  “in Medicaid”

The report found that funding for public health decreased by 28-percent over the last four years. Gee says that’s because of state budget problems. She hopes public health will become more of a spending priority, because money is used to protect against Zika outbreaks and flu epidemics.

Cut 10 (09) “it is”

Mississippi was the only state found to be less healthy than Louisiana. A troubling sign for the Bayou State is that in the past year, the rate of diabetes among adults has increased 12-percent. Gee says that’s due in part to the high rate of obesity. She says a healthy lifestyle starts with the individual.

cut 11 (08) “of money”

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The Big Easy is gearing up for the big R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl tomorrow featuring the UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns taking on Southern Miss. Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President Jay Cicero says they’ve never had these two regional teams in the bowl game so they’re seeing tons of fans in town…:

cut 12 (09) “for us”

Cicero expects this year’s game to bring in as much as $30 million dollars for area businesses. He says the game itself looks to be a great one…:

Cut 13 (14) “in his career”

There’s no shortage of events surrounding the game as the Gin Blossoms and Better Than Ezra perform a free show Friday night in Champions Square. Cicero says it’s always great when you can get one team that’s two hours one way, and another that’s 90 minutes the other way…:

cut 14 (08) “two schools”

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LSU running back Leonard Fournette’s college football career is over. The junior, who has already said he intends to enter the 2017 NFL Draft, announced today that he would not play in the Citrus Bowl with the Tigers. He and head coach Ed Orgeron broke the news on Friday…:

Cut 15 (11) “best for my future”

Fournette said he plans to rest and rehab the ankle injury that has limited him to seven games this season. Some fans may not be happy about this, but Coach O reminds fans that Fournette was the best player in the nation his senior year in high school…:

Cut 16  (07)  “great games”

Swarms of small beetles resembling ladybugs are moving into yards around the state. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Three Louisiana cities rank as some of the highest in the US for losing the most jobs. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The National Institutes of Health grants LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center with 5.3 million dollars to study why certain people benefit more or less from exercise. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Tiny beetles resembling ladybugs are swarming homes around Louisiana more than usual this year. Dr. Chris Carlton with LSU’s Entomology Department says it’s the Asian Lady Beetle and it’s not the typical ladybug we normally see, but it’s in the same family.

cut 4  (11) “in Louisiana”

Carlton there are more of these pesky beetles this year than we typically see, as many Louisiana yards are teeming with large swarms of the beetles. He says many insect species go through dramatic population fluctuations from one year to the next.

Cut 5  (11)  “next year”

Carlton says the best way to keep these ladybug look-alikes out of your home it to make sure all the doors are windows are closed and tightly sealed, the same way you’d keep any bugs out of your home. He says while they have been known to bite people, they aren’t really aggressive.

Cut 6 (11) “you’re food”

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Three Louisiana cities rank as some of the highest in the US for losing the most jobs. According to 24/7 Wall St, the Lafayette area topped the list having accounted for 9400 losses in the past year. Houma/Thibodaux ranked third highest with an area employment decline of 3.7%, and Shreveport-Bossier came in at No. 4 with a loss of 4200 jobs. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott…:

CUT 7 (08)  “three areas”

Scott says the rig count in northwest Louisiana’s Haynesville Shale area has gone from about 140 to around 16, and in the Gulf of Mexico there used to be about 56 rigs online and that’s now down in the teens. He says their forecast shows the job losses in these three areas continuing into 2017, but at a slower rate…:

Cut 8 (10) “in 2017″

Scott says it might be 2018 before these cities start seeing positive job growth, but it all depends on the price of oil. He says it’s good news that OPEC and other oil exporting countries have said they’ll reduce production by about 2% in the first half of next year…:

Cut 9 (10)  “right now”

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LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center receives a 5.3 million dollar grant to study why some people benefit more or less from exercise. Associate executive director of clinical research and study investigator Dr. Eric Ravussin says everyone knows exercise improves health, but they hope to determine which activity is the most effective on certain people and why.

Cut 10 (11) “molecular changes”

The award is from the National Institutes of Health and Pennington is one of six clinical centers around the country that will recruit healthy, inactive adults to participate in this exercise study. Ravussin says they hope their efforts will help people reap the maximum benefits from physical activity…

cut 11 (08) “of health”

For more information on the study, visit Pennington’s website. Ravussin hopes the research will help scientists understand how proteins, lipids and other molecules change during and after exercise and to develop personalized exercise recommendations.

cut 12 (09) “of that”

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U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham’s Office has begun handing out their tickets to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration and they are a hot commodity. Spokesperson Cole Avery says they had a link on the Congressman’s website for people to request tickets, but they had to take it down because requests were flooding in. He says there were about 300 ticket requests, and they only have about 185 to give away.

Cut 13 (10) “notifying people”

Avery says they are choosing which applicants from the 5^th Congressional District will get tickets through a lottery. He says they’ve already begun drawing names, so unfortunately it’s too late for more people to throw their names in the hat. But he says they are keeping a record of who all made requests.

cut 14 (09) “to waste”

Mr. Trump carried the Bayou State by a landslide over Secretary Hillary Clinton, 58 to 38-percent. Avery says even if people are not able to get tickets to the January 20^th inauguration, they will still be able to attend. He says there will be public viewing areas open in the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Cut 15 (09) “usually are”

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After a one year absence, the Ragin Cajuns football team makes its return to the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl tomorrow night when they face Southern Miss. Kick-off is at 8 PM. UL Lafayette played in this bowl game for four consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2014 and the team is excited about its return…

Cut 16 (20) “in a bowl game”

Hudspeth believes turnovers will play a big role in who wins this game…

Cut 17 (12)    “job of that”

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SWAC champion Grambling State faces the champion of the MEAC, North Carolina Central, in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta on Saturday. The game will air on ABC at 11 o’ clock and Grambling Coach Broderick Fobbs says it’s a great opportunity for both programs…

Cut 18 (18) “particular time”

Both teams have outstanding quarterbacks. Grambling’s Devante Kincade was named SWAC Offensive Player of the year has he threw 28 touchdowns and only three interceptions. N-C Central’s Q-B Malcolm Bell has over 6-thousand passing yards in his career. Fobbs says it should be a great game

Cut 19 (18)   “as well”

Doctors at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston gave an update today on wounded East Baton Rouge Deputy Nick Tullier’s condition. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Louisiana has one of the biggest wage gaps between its richest and poorest residents, according to a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Alexandria Police announce the arrest of two people in connection with a stabbing death. Cpl. Wade Bourgeois says the victim was discovered when police received a call Tuesday night.

Cut 3 (10) “multiple times”

Authorities have yet to release the identity of the stabbing victim. Bourgeois says their investigation led them to 54-year-old Daniel Mikkelson and 35-year-old Natarsha Meredith, who were brought in for questioning.

cut 4  (08) “murder”

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State Police say a West Carroll Parish woman has been arrested in the shooting death of her husband. A television report says the victim was killed a day after his birthday. Senior Trooper Michael Reichardt says they responded to a call of a shooting in Epps shortly after midnight Tuesday.

Cut 5  (08)  “Larry Carroll”

Reichardt says 44-year-old April Sollars has been charged with second degree murder. He says she was booked into the West Carroll Parish Jail without incident, and the investigation is ongoing.

Cut 6 (08) “early stages”
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A report by Bankrate.com finds Louisiana is the fourth worst state for drivers. Data Analyst with the company Claes Bell says the survey looked at a broad range of data to determine the ranking. He says Louisiana was ranked 49^th for insurance cost, which helped to secure the low ranking.

CUT 7 (11)  “of accidents”

Bell says the high number of auto fatalities contributed to Louisiana’s high ranking. He says another negative factor was a motorist’s average commute time.

Cut 8 (10) “public transit”

The report found New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, and California round out the bottom five states. But Bell says Louisiana did well in terms of low repair costs and the Bayou State ranked positively in one other category.

Cut 9 (07)  “in general”

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Doctors at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston announced today that wounded East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Tullier is fully conscious and making strides in his recovery. Dr. Sunil Kothari, says they believed Tullier would be in a vegetative state when he arrived, but they quickly learned that he was minimally conscious.

Cut 10 (11) “fully conscious”

Tullier was one of six officers who were shot in an ambush in Baton Rouge last July. Kothari says no one ever recovers completely from this kind of brain injury, and at this point Tullier’s mind and body are out of sync. Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Katherine O’Brien says they identified several cognitive capacities Tullier can demonstrate.

cut 11 (09) “where he is”

O’Brien says he can also communicate with nonverbal signals and respond to commands. Physical therapist Julie Welch says Tullier has severe weakness throughout his body. But she says he spends three to four hours a day doing physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

cut 12 (08) “as well”

Tullier’s father, James, celebrated the announcement with the doctors, saying Christmas has come early.

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A report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finds Louisiana has one of the biggest wage gaps between its richest and poorest residents. Director of the Louisiana Budget Project Jan Moeller says the Bayou State has the fourth highest rate of income inequality in the country. Moeller is not surprised by the finding.

Cut 13 (09) “very richest”

Moeller says this large wage gap is a reason why Louisiana’s economy has trouble growing.

cut 14 (11) “for everybody”

Moeller hopes the state legislature will look to address the large gap in wage earners. He says it will take higher income individuals paying more taxes and a higher minimum wage to help make a difference.

Cut 15 (11) “for everybody”

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser wants to boost international travel throughout Louisiana. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Don Molino”

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LSU President F. King Alexander expresses his concerns to legislators about future budget cuts to higher ed. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The number of international visitors has grown in Louisiana, but Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, who oversees tourism in the state, doesn’t just want these travelers to visit New Orleans. Nungesser says there are direct flights into New Orleans from London, Germany, and Honduras, but he wants to see these tourists get out to the rest of the state.

Cut 3 (12) “of Louisiana”

Nungesser says there are 17 scenic byways across Louisiana through 53 parishes covering 2,400 miles. He hopes these highways encourage international travelers to get off the interstates and see more of the Bayou State. He says this would not only benefit the small towns in Louisiana, but the state as a whole.

cut 4  (09) “by tourists”

Louisiana saw a 36-percent increase in international tourism from 2014 to 2015, ranking second in the nation for overall growth. Nungesser says Louisiana could see one million more international visitors by 2018, representing an economic impact of $1.7 billion.

Cut 5  (09)  “more money”

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Governor John Bel Edwards’ executive order preventing LGBT discrimination in state government and businesses who have contracts with the state has been overturned. Attorney General Jeff Landry says he applauds Judge Todd Hernandez’ ruling. He says at the end of the day, this case was about the governor trying to create his own law.

Cut 6 (11) “the process”

The governor had filed a lawsuit against the AG for blocking state contracts that contained anti-discrimination language. Landry says it wasn’t the anti-discrimination aspect of the order that was the problem, it was the legality. He says if a bill passed that established the LGBT community as a protected class, then that would be different.

CUT 7 (07)  “create it”

Sean Sullivan with Forum for Equality Foundation says this ruling is another setback for the LGBT community in Louisiana. But he says they are confident the Governor’s Office will continue to fight to move these protections forward.

Cut 8 (09) “the state”

Sullivan says these are not new protections, as they have been in place under two previous Louisiana governors, Edwin Edwards and Kathleen Blanco. He says unfortunately, at this point in time these kinds of protections are necessary.

Cut 9 (08)  “and socially”

Governor Edwards released a statement saying he plans to appeal the ruling.

________________________________________

LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron has hired former Pittsburgh Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada to be the Tigers new O.C. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says once it was obvious Alabama’s Lane Kiffin was seeking a head coaching job, Canada was the best choice.

Cut 10 (10) “he’s been”

Moran says Matt Canada will fit well in the mix with defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. He says both started their coaching careers young and worked their way up quickly…

cut 11 (09) “and versatility”

________________________________________________

LSU President F. King Alexander went before the House Appropriations Committee and expressed his concerns over the 16^th budget cut in nine years that the school is facing. Alexander says they can’t be much more efficient when LSU is already 46 out of 50 flagship universities in per student spending. He says at some point the state needs to invest in the next generation of students.

cut 12 (11) “they have”

Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo is asking the legislature to increase funding by 189-million dollars in next year’s budget. But the state has as an estimated 600-million dollar budget deficit for this year. Alexander says the University of Alabama is in the process of hiring 300 new teachers, while LSU has lost over 500 in the past nine years.

Cut 13 (07) “this weekend”

The state’s budget problems have forced TOPS students in the upcoming semester to pay over 50-percent of their tuition. Alexander says enrollment is down 3.5 percent for the next semester compared to the previous spring…

cut 14 (11) “our institution”

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The tables turned on a robbery suspect in Shreveport when a 71-year-old shop owner took action into his own hands. Cpl. Marcus Hines with Shreveport Police says the owner let 36-year-old Michael Kelly into his business to use the bathroom. He says that’s when Kelly stole the man’s wallet and things turned violent.

Cut 15 (07) “multiple times”

Hines says Kelly was struck three times and tried to flee on foot, but collapsed in front of the business. He says when police arrived, the owner was visibly shaken.

Cut 16  (10)  “minor injuries”

Hines says Kelly faces a laundry list of charges, including armed robbery, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, resisting an officer, and an outstanding warrant.

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The National Federation for Independent Business says small business optimism is through the roof since last month’s election. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Even during this time of year, the Zika virus is still a threat. Don Molino has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Don Molino”

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Former-Texas Governor Rick Perry is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for Energy Secretary. Halen Doughty has more on what that means for Louisiana’s oil and gas industry…

Cut 3 (26) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Small business optimism has skyrocketed since the election of Donald Trump, according the National Federation of Independent Business’ monthly Index of Small Business Optimism. NFIB state director Dawn Starns says business owners said they are now excited about the future.

cut 4  (10) “branches”

The survey finds small businesses job creation plans have increased from 9-percent to 23-percent since October. Starns says business owners felt bogged down recently by government regulations.

Cut 5  (07)  “businesses growing”

Starns says many business owners now have a renewed since of hope that they can grow their companies. She says optimism is soaring in many categories.

Cut 6 (08) “the economy”

________________________________________

Louisiana is home to three of the most sinful cities in the country, according to WalletHub. Baton Rouge came in at number 8 on the list, New Orleans is number 10, and Shreveport cracked the top 20. Jill Gonzales with WalletHub says they looked at a variety of metrics to determine which cities were the most sinful.

CUT 7 (10)  “per capita”

The report found that New Orleans came in second for excessive drinking, while Baton Rouge came in 12. Shreveport ranked 12^th for violent crimes per capita, and Baton Rouge landed at number 14 on the list. Gonzales says these Louisiana cities didn’t fare well in many categories.

Cut 8 (10) “lust ranking”

According to the report, Baton Rouge is the laziest city in the US, Shreveport came in third, and New Orleans was number 7. Gonzales says several factors went in to determining which cities are the laziest.

Cut 9 (12)  “dropouts”

________________________________________

The Zika virus is still a threat even this time of year. LSU Health New Orleans Professor and Program Director of Environmental/Occupational Health Sciences Dr. James Diaz says in Louisiana the temperatures fluctuate during the winter and the eggs of the mosquitoes carrying Zika can survive even when it’s cold outside.

Cut 10 (08) “blood meal”

Diaz says the best way to prevent getting bitten is to wear proper clothing like long sleeves and pants. He says using mosquito repellent with DEET is always a good idea when spending time outside.

cut 11 (08) “very effective”

Diaz says it’s important to stay vigilant about Zika because there have been cases of local transmission in the surrounding states. He says while most cases are travel related, local transmission is the biggest scare.

cut 12 (11) “not infected”

________________________________________

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen former-Texas Governor Rick Perry as the Secretary for the Department of Energy. So what does that mean for Louisiana’s oil and gas industry? Acting president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, Gifford Briggs, says this nomination adds to the narrative of hope.

Cut 13 (13) “those barriers”

Briggs says Trump’s other cabinet selections, including Scott Pruitt to run the EPA and Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as future Secretary of State, give them hope for what the industry could be. He says at this point they are cautiously optimistic.

cut 14 (12) “unpredictable”

Briggs says what they would like to see is a reduction in the number of regulations on the industry. He says every regulation comes a cost, which makes it harder for oil and gas companies to do business.

Cut 15 (11) “break even point”

_________________________________________________

The National Federation for Independent Business says small business optimism is through the roof since last month’s election. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Even during this time of year, the Zika virus is still a threat. Don Molino has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Don Molino”

______________________________________

Former-Texas Governor Rick Perry is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for Entergy Secretary. Halen Doughty has more on what that means for Louisiana’s oil and gas industry…

Cut 3 (26) “I’m Halen Doughty”

_____________________________________________

Small business optimism has skyrocketed since the election of Donald Trump, according the National Federation of Independent Business’ monthly Index of Small Business Optimism. NFIB state director Dawn Starns says business owners said they are now excited about the future.

cut 4  (10) “branches”

The survey finds small businesses job creation plans have increased from 9-percent to 23-percent since October. Starns says business owners felt bogged down recently by government regulations.

Cut 5  (07)  “businesses growing”

Starns says many business owners now have a renewed since of hope that they can grow their companies. She says optimism is soaring in many categories.

Cut 6 (08) “the economy”

________________________________________

Louisiana is home to three of the most sinful cities in the country, according to WalletHub. Baton Rouge came in at number 8 on the list, New Orleans is number 10, and Shreveport cracked the top 20. Jill Gonzales with WalletHub says they looked at a variety of metrics to determine which cities were the most sinful.

CUT 7 (10)  “per capita”

The report found that New Orleans came in second for excessive drinking, while Baton Rouge came in 12. Shreveport ranked 12^th for violent crimes per capita, and Baton Rouge landed at number 14 on the list. Gonzales says these Louisiana cities didn’t fare well in many categories.

Cut 8 (10) “lust ranking”

According to the report, Baton Rouge is the laziest city in the US, Shreveport came in third, and New Orleans was number 7. Gonzales says several factors went in to determining which cities are the laziest.

Cut 9 (12)  “dropouts”

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The Zika virus is still a threat even this time of year. LSU Health New Orleans Professor and Program Director of Environmental/Occupational Health Sciences Dr. James Diaz says in Louisiana the temperatures fluctuate during the winter and the eggs of the mosquitoes carrying Zika can survive even when it’s cold outside.

Cut 10 (08) “blood meal”

Diaz says the best way to prevent getting bitten is to wear proper clothing like long sleeves and pants. He says using mosquito repellent with DEET is always a good idea when spending time outside.

cut 11 (08) “very effective”

Diaz says it’s important to stay vigilant about Zika because there have been cases of local transmission in the surrounding states. He says while most cases are travel related, local transmission is the biggest scare.

cut 12 (11) “not infected”

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President-elect Donald Trump has chosen former-Texas Governor Rick Perry as the Secretary for the Department of Energy. So what does that mean for Louisiana’s oil and gas industry? Acting president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, Gifford Briggs, says this nomination adds to the narrative of hope.

Cut 13 (13) “those barriers”

Briggs says Trump’s other cabinet selections, including Scott Pruitt to run the EPA and Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as future Secretary of State, give them hope for what the industry could be. He says at this point they are cautiously optimistic.

cut 14 (12) “unpredictable”

Briggs says what they would like to see is a reduction in the number of regulations on the industry. He says every regulation comes a cost, which makes it harder for oil and gas companies to do business.

Cut 15 (11) “break even point”

The Office of Community Development is hosting public meetings in flood impacted areas of the state to update flood victims on the recovery process. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Former Governor Edwin Edwards is in the hospital with another bout of pneumonia. Michelle Southern speaks with his wife Trina…:

Cut 2 (24) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Public meetings are being held in flood impacted areas of the state to update flood victims on the ongoing recovery efforts. Executive Director for the Office of Community Development, Pat Forbes says the task force wanted to make sure that everybody had a chance to weigh on how dollars will be distributed…:

Cut 3 (10) “those meetings”

The first round of money will go to elderly and disabled low income families who are not in a flood plain and don’t have flood insurance first. Forbes says they are working as quickly as possible, but the action plan still has to go through the bureaucratic process.

cut 4  (11) “or reply”

Former-Denham Springs mayor Jimmy Durbin sits on the Restore Louisiana Task Force. He says once approved, they’ll get to work on a plan to spend the $1.2 billion in federal aid. He says they’re moving about 60 days ahead of the normal timeline, and they hope to have the money in the hands of those who need it most soon.

Cut 5  (09)  “housing rehab”

A meeting will be held tonight in Lafayette, and more are scheduled in Rapides, Caddo, Ouachita, East Baton Rouge, and Ascension parishes.

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Governor John Bel Edwards has sent a letter to Senator-elect John Kennedy to bring him up to speed on the efforts to get more federal aid for flood recovery. The letter comes after Kennedy told USA today that the governor hasn’t done enough to secure federal funding. Edwards’ Communications Director, Richard Carbo, says Kennedy’s statements just weren’t based in reality.

Cut 6 (11) “his remarks”

Carbo says the governor has worked closely with the state’s congressional delegation to secure as much funding as they can as quickly as possible. He adds that the first round of aid was approved with unprecedented speed. But he says they understand Kennedy is new to this.

CUT 7 (10)  “flood recovery”

Carbo says the letter outlined the efforts made by the administration, as well as the process by which federal funds are approved. He says they will be working closely with Kennedy on flood recovery and a number of other issues when the now-State Treasurer takes his new office next year.

Cut 8 (10) “with him”

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A Baton Rouge father has been arrested after allegedly killing his 4-year-old while play fighting. Baton Rouge Police Sgt. Don Coppola says on November 30^th, Kristopher Carter brought his unconscious son, Marcel, to the hospital. He says Carter transported the child to the hospital himself, hours after the incident because his son did not want to go.

Cut 9 (10)  “abdomen area”

Coppola says Carter has been charged with negligent homicide. He says detectives spoke with a witness inside the home who said Carter hitting his son with a closed fist and told him to fight back.

Cut 10 (10) “too hard”

The autopsy revealed Marcel died from a laceration on his small bowel. He says the child’s mother and school officials told detectives Marcel had no signs of any illness before being with Carter.

cut 11 (08) “sad story”

Carter was bonded out of jail this morning.

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Former Governor Edwin Edwards is in the hospital with another bout of pneumonia. His wife Trina says that the 89-year-old has been having trouble with this infection for a while. She says it seems every winter about this time Edwards comes down with it:

cut 12 (07) “what it was”

Mrs. Edwards says its been an eventful couple of days as she deals with the couple’s three year old son Eli in a hospital room with a sick husband. She says hopefully Edwards will be discharged soon…:

Cut 13 (07) “this weekend”

Mrs. Edwards says her husband has a spot in one of his lungs that he keeps getting pneumonia in every year and doctors are working on a way to treat that so it doesn’t continue to recur. She says of course the state’s only four term governor is still in good spirits…:

cut 14 (05) “starts doing that”

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The state’s income forecasting panel has decided to delay the state’s reduced budget outlook for the financial year that ends June 30th; saying the picture of where Louisiana stands should be more clear in a month. The income projections were expected to be dismal; and Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the delay is irresponsible…:

Cut 15 (11) “where we have to cut”

Higher than estimated revenue would mean a large portion of the budget could get funding the state can’t afford, leaving higher ed and health care to face more mid-year cuts. A new reduction would come on top of a $313 million dollar shortfall from last year yet to be closed. Dardenne says the wait gives agencies less time to deal with inevitable cuts…:

Cut 16  (11)  “blind eye to reality”

The Transportation Task Force will vote on recommendations today that they plan to present to the governor;, including a $700 million dollar a year budget increase for roads and bridges. Halen Doughty reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Congressman Garret Graves spoke before the Baton Rouge Press Club to discuss his feelings about flood relief in the state. Don Molino has more….

Cut 2 (24) “I’m Don Molino”

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The Louisiana Department of Health has seen an uptick in mumps cases around the country and is concerned the disease could find its way here. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Transportation Task Force will vote today on a recommendation that the budget for roads and bridges be increased by $700 million a year. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says the need in Louisiana is great, and in order to address that need, they need an annual infusion of dollars that’s indexed for the Transportation Trust Fund.

cut 4  (07) “million dollars”

Wilson says that money could come from toll roads, public-private partnerships, or an increase in the gas tax. He says the state’s 20-cent gas tax that was imposed 30 years ago is only worth half hat today. He says the state has $16 million in projects needed, including a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, and those projects require funding.

Cut 5  (10)  “state system”

Wilson says addressing all of the state’s needs at once would be impossible, as the state still has a $13 billion backlog of road and bridge needs. But he says that with a good annual investment, Louisiana can have an infrastructure system that we can be proud of.

Cut 6 (07) “onetime solution”

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Congressman Garret Graves spoke before the Baton Rouge Press Club to express his frustration with the flood recovery and what he hopes to accomplish with President- elect Trump. Graves says the fact that some families will not be placed in a FEMA trailer until after Christmas is ridiculous.

CUT 7 (10)  “status quo”

Graves says he’s been able to talk with President-elect Donald Trump along with vice president-elect Mike Pence about the timeline of FEMA assistance. He says both agreed that the efficiency of getting flood relief dollars to victims was absurd…

Cut 8 (10) “for itself”

Graves addressed the Restore Louisiana Taskforce and how relief dollars are being appropriated. He says the flood didn’t discriminate based on income level and neither should the disaster aid.

Cut 9 (12)  “per household”

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The Louisiana Department of Health says they’ve been seeing an uptick in mumps cases around college campuses nationwide but more recently a large concentration in Arkansas. Dr. Frank Welch with LDH says Mississippi and Alabama have seen outbreaks, as well as, a fairly large one in Texas so it’s very concerning…

Cut 10 (07) “this outbreak””

Welch says the mumps is easily spread as it’s airborne and can be passed along by saliva and mucus. He says Louisiana has a very good vaccination rate in children, which is in the mid-90s, and shelters us from this disease somewhat but the public can still take steps to prevent catching the mumps.

cut 11 (10) “your doctor”

But Welch says everyone should be vaccinated for mumps. He says most kids in our state have had two doses of the MMR vaccine but adults can receive it as well.

cut 12 (10) “against this”

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New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno has launched a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for women’s issues in Louisiana. Moreno says the Ignite Advocacy Network seeks to bring women together to raise awareness, advocate for positive policies, and ignite the network into action.

Cut 13 (12) “a change”

Moreno says Louisiana ranks 49^th for wage equality and 49^th for women’s overall health, with more women dying of breast and cervical cancer in Louisiana than in many other states. She says she wants to address those issues, as well as educational opportunities and domestic violence prevention.

cut 14 (09) “deserve it”

Moreno says Ignite is the next phase of the #ItsNoJoke campaign, which she started after a male lawmaker made degrading jokes about exotic dancers. She invites women around the state to join her effort by visiting IgniteForChange.org.

Cut 15 (11) “things done”

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The Saints haven’t been able to put it together for the last couple of games, but there are still three weeks left starting with the contest against the Cardinals on the road this Sunday. New Orleans offensive tackle Zach Strief says they can’t focus on the past, but instead on winning the remaining games of the season…:

Cut 16 (14) “nobody is quitting”

Several current Saints players commented Monday on their thoughts about the high profile Will Smith trial after discovering the killer, Cardell Hayes, was convicted of manslaughter. Strief said it’s a tragedy for Smith’s wife Raquell, the family/friends and everyone involved…:

Cut 17 (13)    “they realize that”

Hayes is slated to be sentenced on February 17th, and Orleans Parish DA Leon Cannizzaro says he will go for the maximum 60 years. Smith was a friend and former mentor of New Orleans defensive end Cam Jordan. In the locker room Monday, Jordan says the loss of Smith is a pain he can’t describe…:

Cut 18 (14) “you can’t make sense of”