Louisiana has begun handing out disaster food assistance for residents impacted by extreme flooding. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Gas prices are going up in Louisiana as refineries shut down for annual maintenance. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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According to a recent LSU poll, Louisiana voters are split on whether or not they want their elected officials to compromise. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The state has started handing out disaster food aid to families who have been impacted by the flooding. Deputy Assistant Secretary with the Department of Children and Family Services Sammy Guillory says the number of those applying has been pretty steady in the Covington area but not so much in north Louisiana, where it’s rare for the state to provide disaster food stamps.

cut 4  (11)  “hurricanes”

Guillory recommends pre-registering for food assistance if you live in one of the 23 parishes that have been declared a federal disaster. He says the amount of aid you receive isn’t a set amount.

Cut 5  (07)  “from there”

The food aid benefit cards are being distributed at 25 sites in parishes impacted by the floods. Guillory says flood victims that have a last name with E through K and have been approved, can get their emergency benefit card today. He encourages all people who want to apply to apply.

Cut 6 (09)  “HELP-U” _________________________________________________________

Louisiana voters are split over whether or not elected officials should compromise, according to a new LSU survey. Doctor Michael Henderson, director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, says 55-percent of Democrats would like their representatives to compromise, while 52% of Republicans want their elected officials to stand their ground. Henderson says this does not bode well for getting things done in the legislature.

CUT 7 (09)  “have become”

Henderson says with a Democratic governor and a Republican legislature, it’s likely state politicians will have a hard time coming to agreements. He says we’re starting to see Washington-style politics here in Louisiana.

Cut 8  (10)  “by the wayside “

About 87% of Louisiana Republicans have an unfavorable opinion of the Democratic Party in Louisiana, while 67% of Democrats in Louisiana have a negative opinion of the Republican Party. Henderson says this could be why the two parties are having a hard time compromising.

Cut 9 (10)  “be able to”

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Gas prices are climbing in Louisiana. The average price for a gallon of gas in the state has surpassed $1.80. AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says those prices could continue to go up for a couple more months.

Cut 10 (06) “a gallon”

Redman says the transition from winter-grade to summer-grade gas means refineries have to shut down for a while. He says that, coupled with more people out on the road, keeps gas prices higher.

cut 11 (10) “prices up”

Redman says we should see a decline in gas prices by the time summer arrives.

cut 12 (09) “fairly soon”_________________________________________________________

The governor’s top budget advisor told the House Appropriations Committee despite the additional one-point-two billion dollars in taxes raised, some government agencies are looking at a 30-percent cut in state funding. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says painful cuts will need to occur for the fiscal year that starts July 1st…

Cut 13 (07)  “throughout the state”

Dardenne says more details will be released in a couple of weeks. He says with the revenue raised during the special session they’ve been able to avoid the worst case scenario, but delivery of services around the state will still be impacted…

Cut 14 (09)  “government level” 

Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Committee will begin budget hearings this week, without a proposed spending plan from the governor. Dardenne urges legislators to do what they can, until the administration plugs in the 750-million dollar deficit into the budget…

Cut 15 (09) “2016 year”

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NBA superstar Pelicans center Anthony Davis says he’s been playing with a torn labrum in his shoulder for three years and will take the rest of the season off due to surgery. This also means he won’t go to the summer Olympics in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. Davis says he isn’t looking forward to being off the court but something needs to be done.

Cut 16  (10)  “next season”

Davis is also suffering from a knee injury. Davis says when you want to play, you find ways but it’s time to permanently fix the problem. He says the main reason he’s getting his shoulder fixed is because he was already getting surgery on his knee.

Cut 17 (14) “the way”

Davis says he’ll be out four to five months after surgery.  He says the hardest thing about taking this time off is he’ll miss representing his country in the Olympics.

Cut 18 (16) “the floor”

Parts of Ouachita parish are still underwater, as the Monroe area received over two feet of rain in the recent flooding event. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Fewer Louisiana medical school graduates are choosing to stay in the state for their residencies, according to Dr. Steve Nelson, Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Two more Disaster Recovery Centers opened today, one in Monroe and the other in Slidell. Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says at these centers, flood survivors can find personnel from all of the agencies involved in disaster recovery, as well as small business administrators with information about low-interest loans…

CUT 3 (06)  “assisting people”

Steele says the volunteer groups will be able to help people with their immediate needs, like clean up. He says these centers will be open from 8 to 6 Monday through Saturday, and noon to five on Sunday. The first one opened up last week in Bossier City and Steele says more centers should open soon.

CUT 4 (05)  “working towards now”

Steele says people can still report their damage online at emergency-dot-la-dot-gov. He says people do not have to go to one of these centers to register for federal aid.

CUT 5 (09)  “assistance”

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Two weeks after Louisiana’s major flooding event, much of Ouachita parish is still underwater. Neal Brown, Director of Ouachita Parish Homeland Security, says rivers and bayous throughout the parish are still cresting, which means the water has nowhere to go right now.

CUT 6 (08) “the parish”

Brown says his biggest concern is the high water putting pressure on levees around neighborhoods that were not meant to hold that much water for so long. He says when the water does start to drain, it could be bad for nearby parishes.

CUT 7 (07) “hit them”

Brown says people are coming together and across the country to help. He says seeing volunteers in the area helps keep people in high spirits.

CUT 8 (11) “greatly appreciated”

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Only 51% of LSU Health New Orleans medical graduate are staying in Louisiana for their residencies. Dr. Steve Nelson, Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans, says that’s a significant drop from previous years.

CUT 9 (09) “62%”

Nelson says the drop in grads staying in the state is due to Louisiana’s budget concerns. He says 70% of Louisiana doctors trained at an LSU facility, so losing those doctors could be detrimental to the state’s healthcare system.

cut 10 (11)  “come back”

Nelson says a lack of doctors will make it harder for people, especially since the governor is looking at expanding the state’s Medicaid program. Forty percent of LSU Health Shreveport grads and only 10% of Tulane grads will take residencies in Louisiana. Nelson says 50% of LSU Health New Orleans graduates are entering primary care in Louisiana, which is a good thing.

Cut 11 (08) “the state”

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Two giraffes at the Baton Rouge Zoo died over the weekend, and workers are heartbroken. Sam Winslow, the zoo’s general curator, says one of the giraffes, a 24-year-old named Hope, was receiving treatment for a chronic illness. He says when severe storms moved in, they were forced to put another female into a stall with a male she’s normally not with…:

cut 12 (07) “happened so quick”

The 30-year-old female giraffe named Mopani was knocked over by a male giraffe named Roan which caused injuries that led to her death. Winslow says Hope’s condition worsened and she had to be euthanized. He says it’s hard enough losing one animal to an illness you’ve been working so long to treat…:

Cut 13 (06)  “discouraging”

Winslow said Roan and Mopani generally got along fine and their keepers would never put them together if they thought there was a chance of conflict. He says they’ve been criticized for moving Mopani, but she needed shelter from the thunderstorm…

cut 14 (10)  “like that”

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LSU’s Ben Simmons has told ESPN he is entering his name into the NBA Draft and he’ll hire an agent soon. Simmons will mostly likely be the number one overall pick in June. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says statistically, Simmons had one of the best seasons in college basketball history, but he was not able to lead the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament…

cut 15 (09) ” he would” 

Simmons averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in his only season in a Tigers uniform. But since LSU missed the NCAA Tournament, many fans wonder if it was worth having a one-and-done player. Worsham says it remains to be seen if it was a good thing that Simmons played for the Tigers…

cut 16 (12) “bad thing”

Expect the legislature to address the controversial split playoffs in high school atheltics. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee begins reviewing today the 400 tax exemptions given by the state to individuals and businesses. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Southeast Louisiana could be at an increased risk for the Zika virus, according to health officials. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Experts say southeast Louisiana is at a high risk of a Zika outbreak this summer. Dr. Frank Welch, with the Louisiana Department Health and Hospitals says state and local health officials are performing extensive surveillance…

cut 4  (11)  “rapidly”

A study from the National Center for Atmospheric Research finds New Orleans is at a high risk because of the high poverty rate and a lot of visitors from countries where Zika is prevalent. Welch says different agencies are coming together to protect the state from an outbreak.

Cut 5  (10)  “humans”

The Center for Disease Control says there were two confirmed travel-related Zika cases in Louisiana last month but none transmitted locally. Welch says New Orleans isn’t at an increased risk just yet because right now the mosquito is not active, but…

Cut 6 (07)  “transmission”  _________________________________________________________

It’s expected the legislature will get involved in the public versus private school split that’s impacted high school sports. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot has filed a bill that attempts to reverse the LHSAA’s decision to split its postseason in several sports. Talbot says the split is hurting high school athletics…

CUT 7 (06)  “in mind”

Talbot’s bill would prevent a high school from receiving state funds, if they participate in an association with a split postseason…

Cut 8  (07)  “A,B and C “

Schools around the state have been invited to join a new high school sports association that would NOT have a split playoff system. Talbot says he hopes this legislation will lead to the end of the LHSAA split and bring public and private schools back together for postseasons.

Cut 9 (08)  “kids in mind”

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The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee begins reviewing today hundreds of tax exemptions, exclusions, rebates and refunds provided by the state to individuals and businesses. Chairman JP Morrell of New Orleans says during the course of this legislative session they will take a close look at each exemption to decide which ones are beneficial to the state.

Cut 10 (09) “of it”

Louisiana gives about 400 tax exemptions, costing the state over 8-billion dollars in revenue.  Morrell says some of these credits are ridiculous.

cut 11 (11) “of beads”

Morrell says the state cannot afford to give away money and the credits or exemptions that are deemed unnecessary will be removed in a potential second special session or during next year’s fiscal session.

cut 12 (06) “budget crisis” _________________________________________________________

Last year, the state legislature approved a bill that gives Louisiana residents legal access to medical marijuana, but it’s still not available in this state. The man who pushed for the legislation, St. Martin Parish Senator Fred Mills, says the department of agriculture along with a couple of other groups are still working on the details.

Cut 13 (10)  “dispensed”

The legislation that passed last year allows people with glaucoma, patients undergoing chemotherapy or those suffering from a rare form cerebral palsy to get medical marijuana in Louisiana. Mills is back this year with a bill that would expand the list to include cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis and several other chronic conditions….

Cut 14 (11)  “will be successful” 

Medical marijuana is currently not available in Louisiana, and Mills says many people are moving to others states that do have it. He says there are plenty of people who are waiting to get it in Louisiana.

Cut 15 (08) “medical condition”

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The sixth ranked LSU baseball team busted out of a hitting slump by scoring six runs in the 8th inning to beat Alabama 7-5 to avoid a three-game sweep. The Tigers needed that inning after getting swept in a doubleheader on Saturday. Coach Paul Mainieri is pleased his team found a way to win the series finale…

Cut 16  (16)  “at bats“

A key hit in the 8th inning rally was Brody Wofford’s two-run pinch hit single. Wofford says he just focused on hitting a pitch up the middle and that’s what he did…

Cut 17 (09) make it happen “

Kramer Robertson’s fly ball into right field scored the eventual go-ahead run. The outfielder lost the ball in the sun, allowing two runs to score. Robertson was relieved to get the win…

Cut 18 (03) “going forward”

A Slidell Teacher has been arrested for allegedly having sexual contact with students. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The extensive flooding in Louisiana is raising concerns for a boom in the mosquito population. Halen Doughty reports health officials are concerned about the diseases carried by these pesky insects….

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden says he is 90% sure he’ll run for the 2^nd Congressional District seat this fall. Holden would challenge US Representative Cedric Richmond, who has held the seat since 2011. The term-limited Baton Rouge mayor is expected to make an official decision next week. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says if Holden gets in, it will make for an interesting race….

CUT 3 (05)  “for Holden”

Dubos says although Holden ran a good campaign when he ran for Lt. Governor last year, he did not raise a lot of campaign money, which would pose a problem…

CUT 4 (08)  “not just here”

Dubos says while it is not easy to unseat an incumbent, there is a level of dissatisfaction with the federal government, which could help Holden. Dubos says the outgoing Baton Rouge mayor and former state legislator would present a challenge for Richmond.

CUT 5 (11)  “a pushover”

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A Slidell High School teacher has been arrested after allegations of inappropriate behavior with students were reported to police. Slidell Police Chief Randy Smith says 35-year-old Raymond Winzy allegedly would start casual conversations with his students, which turned into sexual conversations. He says once Winzy gained their trust he would invite them into his classroom…

CUT 6 (11) “classroom”

Winzy was also the girls basketball coach at Slidell High School. Smith says police searched Winzy’s home and classroom and found nude photos and videos on multiple electronic devices. He says Winzy has been fired and this type of behavior will not be tolerated.

CUT 7 (10) “with him”

Winzy is charged with two counts of molestation of a juvenile by an educator, nine counts of production of child pornography, and three counts of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Smith says some students at Slidell High School have been bullied and threatened regarding this case and anyone involved will be arrested if a complaint is filed.

CUT 8 (10) “victims”

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All the flood waters are bringing in more mosquitoes and health officials are urging folks to make sure they are taking precautions. Dr. Frank Welch with the Department of Health and Hospitals says this is typical for this time of year, but the flooding makes it worse.

CUT 9 (09) “mosquitoes”

Flooding can cause excessive mosquito breeding, which means there’s a possibility of diseases being carried by these insects. Welch says the mosquito that carries the Zika virus is active in southeast Louisiana. He says people need to remove standing water in and around their yards to keep those mosquitoes away.

cut 10 (09)  “a tire”

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Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says his office will announce next week how much of a cut in state funding higher education and health care will receive as a result of a 70-million dollar deficit for this fiscal year. Dardenne says unfortunately these two areas are on the chopping block, because cuts have already been made to other state agencies…

Cut 11 (09) “those out”

Dardenne says public colleges have already received a 28-million dollar loss in funding this fiscal year, because the state ran out of money to pay for TOPS scholarships and that cost is being absorbed by universities

cut 12 (07) “cuts around”

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Rapides and Avoyelles Parish are making preparations to protect themselves from flooding as the Red River is expected to crest over the weekend at a level that hasn’t been seen in over 30 years. The Homeland Security Director of Rapides Parish Sonya Wiley-Gremillion urges people in the most flood prone areas to take action now and not wait until it’s too late.

Cut 13 (08)  “that area”

Wiley-Gremillion says the Red River is expected to crest at 10 o’clock Sunday night at 39.5 feet. She says their main concern is the safety of the people in Rapides Parish, not their property.

cut 14 (10)  “our office”

Avoyelles Parish Director of Homeland Security Joey Frank says there is a low spot in the levee at Brouillette and they’re placing super sack sandbags to raise it a foot and a half. He says they’ve also raised the Vick levee 18 inches.

cut 15 (07) “Monday morning” 

Frank says so far no homes have been flooded but many are surrounded by water.

cut 16 (09)  “this time”

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A bill to allow pet owners to have their furry friends buried alongside them will be heard in the current legislative session. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating has climbed 9-percent in just three weeks, according to a new UNO poll. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Flood victims can pre-register for disaster food stamps through the Department of Children and Family Services. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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As more rain is expected today, could that cause a problem with more flooding? State Climatologist Barry Keim says it shouldn’t contribute to more river basin flooding, but it could slow down the recovery process. But he says flash flooding in urban areas is always a possibility.

cut 4  (10)  “even more”

Keim says a stationary front has locked in across the state and isn’t likely to clear until Sunday. He says all parts of Louisiana will receive rain but southeast Louisiana is expected to get the most today at about one to two inches.

Cut 5  (10)  “parishes”

Keim says scattered thunderstorms are also expected to move in across Louisiana but we shouldn’t see any additional problems with flooding

. Cut 6 (05)  “last week”

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A proposed bill for the current regular legislative session would allow pet owners to have their deceased pets buried alongside them in a human graveyard. Author of the legislation, Metairie Senator Conrad Appel, says currently it’s illegal in Louisiana. He says he was approached by a veterinarian who suggested creating a law because many people have strong connections with their cats and dogs.

CUT 7 (09)  “areas”

Appel says he and his family are big pet lovers and are keen on the idea of being buried with their furry friends. He says being buried with a pet is legal in a few other states and many people get upset it’s not allowed in Louisiana.

Cut 8  (08)  “cemetery “

Appel expects the legislation will get a hearing within the next few weeks. He says he doesn’t see anything wrong with allowing a pet owner this option…

Cut 9 (07)  “that option”

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Forty-three percent of Louisiana voters have a positive view of the governor, according to a new poll from the University of New Orleans. That’s compared to a 34% favorability just three weeks ago. UNO pollster Ed Chervanek says that could be because the legislature was unable to resolve the state’s budget deficit during the special session.

Cut 10 (08) “his numbers”

The poll also shows that nearly half of Louisiana residents blame former-Governor Bobby Jindal for the state’s budget crisis. Chervanek says this could be contributing to Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating.

cut 11 (04) “current governor”

The legislature has a much lower approval rating, receiving only a 15% favorability rating. Twenty-four percent of respondents blame the legislature for the budget deficit. Chervanek says these numbers are comparable to the ratings for Washington politicians.

cut 12 (07) “happening here”

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The Department of Children and Family Services is asking flood victims to pre-register for disaster food stamps. Distribution begins next week in 23 parishes that were declared federal disaster areas as a result of the catastrophic flooding. Deputy Assistant Secretary of DCFS, Sammy Guillory, says people can pre-register online.

Cut 13 (08)  “SNAP”

DSNAP provides food support to eligible families who were impacted by the flooding and do not currently receive food stamps.

Cut 14 (11)  “related expenses” 

Guillory says individuals who pre-registered can go to one of the sites in the affected parishes to get their cards. He says the benefits should be available rather quickly.

Cut 15 (06) “or two”

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The sixth ranked LSU baseball team begins SEC play tonight against Alabama. Coach Paul Mainieri has made a change to his weekend rotation. Last year’s national freshman of the year, Alex Lange, has been starting the second game of the three-game sets, but tonight he’ll get the ball to start the series and he’s looking forward to it…

Cut 16  (16)  “to that“

Through four starts this season, Lange has not been as sharp as his freshman campaign. His ERA is 4.24 and he’s walked 13 hitters in 23.1 innings. Coach Paul Mainieri believes moving him up a day to pitch, may help him…

Cut 17 (20)  all year”

LSU will not have third baseman O’Neal Lochridge for the start of conference play. His back continues to give him problems. Mainieri says he’ll start Chris Reid at the hot corner and he likes what he sees from Reid…

Cut 18 (20) “really well”

A survey out of LSU shows nearly two thirds of Louisiana residents think the state is heading in the wrong direction. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The total number of parishes to receive federal aid for flood damage is up to 26 now, as three more parishes were added last night. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A proposed constitutional amendment that asks voters if convicted felons should be allowed to run for state or local office for 15 years after completion of their sentence is making its way through the legislative process. The author of the measure, Norco Representative Gregory Miller, says it’s similar to a constitutional provision that was recently thrown out by the state Supreme Court…

CUT 3 (11)  “both houses”

The state’s highest court removed the former constitutional amendment on this subject, because the language on the ballot was not the same as what the legislature approved in 1998. Miller says he’ll make sure his legislation doesn’t make that same mistake again

CUT 4 (06)  “the people”

Miller’s proposed amendment received strong support from the House Governmental Affairs committee. Shreveport Representative Sam Jenkins asked whether some felons should be exempted from the 15-year ban from running for office

CUT 5 (12)  “that long”

Jenkins’ argument did not result in any change to the legislation.

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An LSU Public Policy Research lab survey finds 63 percent of Louisianans believe the state is heading in the wrong direction. This is the most on record since the survey began tracking opinions in 2003. Director Dr. Michael Henderson says usually when a new governor takes office we start to see residents become more optimistic.

CUT 6 (07) “received”

Henderson says some Louisianans are likely displeased because of a mix of politics and the recent struggles with the massive budget deficit. He says there is also a huge increase in the number of people who say the state’s business conditions are worse than a year ago.

CUT 7 (10) “Louisiana”

Henderson says for many years people believed the economy and education were the most important problems in the state, now it’s the budget.

CUT 8 (10) “important”

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Flooding in West Carroll Parish is hurting the corn crop. LSU Ag Center Extension Agent Bruce Garner says some fields will survive better than others.

CUT 9 (11) “severe degree”

Garner says it doesn’t look like it’s getting any better because more water is spilling over into the fields from the bayous. He says the damage to the corn varies, even in just one field.

cut 10 (08)  “across the board”

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Twenty-six parishes impacted by the flooding are now eligible for federal assistance from FEMA. Governor John Bel Edwards says the list of parishes to receive federal aid keeps growing.

Cut 11 (08) “parishes”

Edwards says they are looking at 11 additional parishes to see if they met the threshold for FEMA assistance. FEMA Director Craig Fugate says they will be here as long as it takes. He encourages people to register for federal aid by going to DisasterAssistance-dot-gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA.

cut 12 (12) “32,000”

Fugate says they will offer assistance to people who did not have flood insurance. He advises people to add flood coverage to their policies, even if they are not in a high risk area.

Cut 13 (11)  “lost everything”

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Due to flooding from the Sabine River, I-10 at the Louisiana/Texas state line is expected to remain closed for at least a of couple days. Sgt. James Anderson with State Police encourages motorists to plan an alternate route if headed to The Lone Star State….:

cut 14 (10)  “into Texas”

Anderson says you don’t have to travel all the way to I-20, as US 190 into Texas crosses in northern Beauregard Parish. He says traffic has been moderate, but it’s flowing well…:

cut 15 (06) “thus far” 

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New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop is co-sponsoring a bill that would create a plan to better assist pregnant high school students. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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 A north Louisiana lawmaker introduces the Pastor Protection Act which will be debated during the regular legislative session. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The bill to raise the state’s sales tax by a penny has been signed into law by the governor, and it will take effect April 1. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop has filed a bill that will develop a plan to better support students who are expecting or parenting a child while in high school. He says it would establish the Louisiana Expectant and Parenting Students Act…:

cut 4  (11)  “to graduate”

Bishop says the number one cause of females dropping out of high school is pregnancy. He says the ultimate goal is to help keep students in school while pregnant and following birth…:

Cut 5  (07)  “to school”

Bishop says pregnant girls have a harder time catching up in school when they have to miss classes for doctor’s appointments. He says the boys involved are also affected if they have to get jobs or take on additional hours to support the child and he’d like to see them have more help…:

Cut 6 (05)  “this particular challenge” 

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A bill has been introduced in the current regular legislative session to allow a religious organization or clergy member to refuse participation in a same sex marriage. Author of the Pastor Protection Act, Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson, says the bill simply protects an individual’s religious belief.

CUT 7 (11)  “conscience”

Johnson says we’re seeing courts and public officials around the country beginning to trample on the first amendment right of freedom of religion. He says this legislation is needed to ensure protection from the government.

Cut 8  (08)  “belief”

Johnson expects this legislation to get a hearing within the next few weeks. It’s expected to receive opposition from lesbian and gay rights groups. He says other states already have a similar law and he’s optimistic about it passing here.

Cut 9 (06)  “that idea”

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Schools in the LHSAA are not satisfied with the current state of affairs in Louisiana, so Paul Rainwater and others are proposing a new option, the Louisiana High School Sports Cooperative. Rainwater says it will take 60 schools’ commitments to form a new organization, which would be open to both public and private schools. He says this group would not have annual feels, outside of the initial fee to join.

Cut 10 (09) “annual basis”

Rainwater would be the Executive Director of the newly formed LHSSC. He says they are looking into the option of holding many of their championship events at LSU.

cut 11 (07) “out costs”

Rainwater says the LHSSC could be in place for the 2016-2017 school year, if things go smoothly. He says they have extended the offer to schools throughout the state. Rainwater says, at the end of the day, it’s all for the kids.

cut 12 (04) “all about”

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The governor has signed into law a bill that raises the state sales tax by a penny beginning April 1. Gina Rachel, Treasurer for the Society of Louisiana CPAs, says people who are planning to make a big purchase might want to do it before the higher tax takes effect.

Cut 13 (08)  “few dollars”

Rachel says some things like food for home consumption, gas, and prescription meds are still excluded from the state’s sales tax. She says shoppers will probably not even notice the increase when they make ordinary purchases.

Cut 14 (06)  “additional penny” 

Rachel says the legislature has also temporarily ended the sales tax exemptions companies received for utilities and equipment. She says this legislation will have a greater impact on businesses and they’ll have to figure out how this will affect them.

Cut 15 (09) “of time” 

President Barack Obama nominated a new Supreme Court justice, Merrick Garland, but not all agree with this decision. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (26)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Revenue Estimating Conference is out with it’s measure of Louisiana’s budget deficit this fiscal year and next. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The National Weather Service is concerned about potential flooding along two major rivers in the northern half of the state. Hydrologist C.S. Ross says all the rain that fell in northwest and northeast Louisiana is making its way down south.

CUT 3 (07)  “Ouachita River”

Ross says last week’s rain event produced almost 27 inches of rain near Monroe. He says the Red River crest is moving through the Coushatta area today. He says the crest will rout toward the Grand Ecore area tomorrow, and into Alexandria later this week and into the weekend.

CUT 4 (05)  “1958”

Ross says a flood wave continues to develop on the Ouachita River, but the levels on the river will not even rank in the top 10 in Monroe. He says it will be the highest water there since November of 2009, and there could be flooding in between the levee systems in Monroe. He says the Red River will also cause flooding.

CUT 5 (04)  “Red River”

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LSU President F. King Alexander tells the House Education Committee budget cuts are impacting enrollment, faculty and research. Alexander says the university has been receiving more money from the federal government than they have from the state. He says research funding originally for LSU is now going to universities in other states because we don’t invest in higher education.

CUT 6 (05) “institutions”

Higher education is facing a 27 million dollar cut in state funding this fiscal year but that number is expected to grow once a new round of cuts are announced.  Alexander says the TOPS program is getting hit the hardest. He says the number of public university visits from TOPS eligible kids is now down about 25 percent.

CUT 7 (09) “28 ACT”

Alexander says LSU’s medical schools are also suffering because they are hit hard by both cuts to higher education, as well as, cuts to heath care. He says with the new medical center opening in New Orleans last year they never had more demand, now people are running away from us.

CUT 8 (08) “medical field”

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Flooding throughout the southeastern part of the state will impact the strawberry crop this year, particularly in Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes. Whitney Wallace, with the LSU Ag Center, says we won’t know how much the crop was damaged until farmers harvest their strawberries.

CUT 9 (05) “production loss”

Wallace says the losses will vary from one field to another, based on the soil, berries, and other factors.

cut 10 (10)  “later on”

Wallace says losing part of a crop is all part of the job, but it shouldn’t be a total loss. She encourages people to buy local berries.

Cut 11 (11) “local farmers”

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The Revenue Estimating Conference met today to get more exact figures on budget deficit numbers for this and next fiscal year. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says for the budget period that ends June 30th, Louisiana is now looking at about a $70 million dollar hole that will have to be filled. He says that’s higher than they first thought so another challenge lies ahead…:

cut 12 (09) “this shortfall”

Dardenne says there was slightly better news for the fiscal year that begins July 1. He says that after the special session ended, they thought lawmakers had gotten the next budget shortfall down to about a billion dollars…:

Cut 13 (10)  “good news”

Dardenne says they are on a time crunch for this fiscal year, but over the next several days they will sit down and decide how to cut colleges and healthcare in the best possible way to minimize the damage…:

cut 14 (06)  “affected”

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Today President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to be a Supreme Court justice after the death of former justice Antonin Scalia. Republican US Senator David Vitter believes with the next president coming into office soon, we should let the voters decide the new justice. Vitter is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and says he will not vote to advance the nomination.

cut 15 (10) “nominee 

Vitter says Supreme Court Justices needed to be decided carefully because they have such a big and lasting impact on our country. He says he hasn’t done much research on President Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland.

cut 16 (09)  “a hearing”

The Revenue Estimating Conference meets today to discuss the exact budget deficit the state faces. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (25) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Cleco has revised the terms of their proposed sale to a foreign investment group in the hopes of being granted a rehearing on the deal by the Public Service Commission. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The total number of parishes that have been declared federal disaster areas has climbed to 23, after 16 more parishes were added to the list. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 3 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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It’s expected we’ll get a better idea of the exact budget deficit facing the state at today’s Revenue Estimating Conference meeting. LSU Economist Dr. Jim Richardson serves on the panel and he says they’ll hear from the state’s fiscal office about how much was actually raised during the special session.

cut 4  (10)  “beverages”

Richardson says they’re required to give their best estimate of how much was raised for this year and next year because budgets must be made based on those revenue estimates. He says many people say the state is short of 30 million dollars this year but…

Cut 5  (08)  “carefully”

Richardson says we’re about 800 million dollars short for next fiscal year.

Cut 6 (08)  “deal with” 

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Cleco says they’ve made changes to their proposed sale of the Pineville-based utility company that would benefit customers and employees. Cleco President Darren Olagues says if the Public Service Commission agrees to the enhanced commitments, ratepayers will receive a $370 upfront credit on their bill and there would NOT be a significant reduction in Cleco’s workforce for at least 10 years.

CUT 7 (07)  “of the day”

Olagues says they will also give Louisiana a $15 million investment in economic development. Cleco is requesting that PSC rehear the merits of their proposed sale to a foreign investment group. He says incorrect statements were made at the previous hearing that may have affected the PSC’s “NO” vote last month.

Cut 8  (05)  “get corrected”

Logan Atkinson-Burke, with the Alliance for Affordable Energy, says this revised proposal is still not in the interest of ratepayers, because Cleco already has one of the highest rates.

Cut 9 (09)  “already suffering”

Atkinson-Burke says their alliance is concerned about how much money the company will pocket from taxes if the deal passes. She says they do not expect the PSC to change their vote.

Cut 10 (09) “last month’s meeting”

The requested hearing is expected to take place on Tuesday.

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An Opelousas man was arrested after allegedly killing his mother’s dog when she refused to give him money. Corey Leger with the Opelousas police department, says Johnathan Williams became furious when his mother would not give him $4 for a pack of cigarettes.

cut 11 (05) “the dog”

Leger says Williams was not as his residence when the complaint was issued, but officers found him at a Dollar General two hours later.

cut 12 (07) “without incident”

Williams was arrested for allegedly killing his mother’s miniature collie.

Cut 13 (04)  “at this time”

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Sixteen more parishes were declared federal disaster areas, bringing the total number of parishes to receive federal aid to 23. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says more parishes could be added to that list in the next few days.  He says FEMA is proving to be a good partner…

Cut 14 (11)  “we’re facing” 

Steele says some parts of the state are still feeling the after effects of the major flooding, such as the overflow of the Sabine River, which led to the closure of I-10 at the Texas Border. He says people whose homes were damaged need to register to receive their federal assistance.

Cut 15 (10) “by telephone” 

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Southern University takes on Holy Cross tonight in the NCAA Tournament. Both teams are 16-seeds as they meet in the First Four Round. Jaguars coach Roman Banks says they would like to push the tempo tonight…

Cut 16  (14)  “get em rotating“

Banks believes they can also dominate the paint tonight….

Cut 17 (13)  good at”

LSU men’s basketball Johnny Jones stands by his decision to reject an opportunity to play in the NIT. Jones says a season-ending injury to Keith Hornsby and an illness to shooting guard Antonio Blakeney would have made it a tough to put a compeitive team on the court.

Cut 18 (16) “popular decision”

Jones says they’ll use this time to begin preparations for next season, a year they hope will result in a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Cut 19 (18) “doing that”

SEC Freshman of the Year Ben Simmons is not expected to be part of the team next year. He could be the number one pick in the NBA draft in June. Jones says it was a pleasure to coach him.

Cut 20 (20) “program”

The Red Cross is helping thousands of people in Louisiana who have been impacted by the recent flooding. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Bernette Johnson wants to follow the lead of other states and decrease the incarceration rate in Louisiana. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Officials in Livingston Parish have also been working around the clock dealing with flood waters and residents who were displaced from their homes. Sheriff Jason Ard says they saw high levels in the Maurepas area, Springfield, Holden and Denham Springs…:

CUT 3 (10)  “seeing it”

Ard says they’ve rescued over 100 people since the flood event started, but now it seems as though the rivers have crested and are now going down. He says many people in the parish took on water and are dealing with nightmare cleanup and recovery…:

CUT 4 (10)  “lost their home”

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Louisiana State University is launching the car sharing service, Zipcar, so students without a car can rent a vehicle by the hour, week, or month. Jeff Campbell, LSU’s Sr. Director of Parking and Transportation Services, says interested college kids or anyone in the area would pay a yearly membership fee and the vehicles are conveniently located around campus.

CUT 5 (10)  “communities”

Campbell says to sign up for the Zipcar service either go online to their website or download the Zipcar app on your smartphone. He hopes this will help with the increase of international students at LSU.

CUT 6 (10) “campus”

Zipcar pays for your gas and insurance. Campbell says this is the first car sharing program at a college campus in Louisiana. He says any service like this is a plus to LSU.

CUT 7 (09) “initiatives”

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The Red Cross has been active in and around the state assisting people affected by the flooding. Nancy Malone with the Red Cross says hundreds of disaster workers are responding in Louisiana. Malone says more than 200 people stayed overnight in the 14 Red Cross and community run shelters throughout the state.

CUT 8 (08) “in 2012”

Malone says the Red Cross has 6 shelters in north Louisiana, three in southeast Louisiana and one in the Calcasieu area that are still open. She says hundreds of homes were either destroyed or received major damage.

CUT 9 (04) “in the state”

Malone says people can get involved with flood relief efforts by applying to become a member of the Red Cross at red cross-dot-org or by making donations.

cut 10 (11)  “in the past”

Malone says people can donate $10 to the Red Cross via cell phone by texting the word “REDCROSS” to 9-0-9-9-9.

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Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the United States and Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson wants to reduce the number of low level inmates, which will save the state money. Johnson says the US locks up more people than Iran, China, and Germany.

Cut 11 (08) “average”

Johnson says Louisiana spent over 600 million dollars in state corrections last fiscal year. She says our greatest resource is our people, so the state needs to invest in programs to provide job opportunities…

cut 12 (09) “connection there”

Johnson says South Carolina has passed legislation to significantly reduce the prison population while also influencing a reduction in violent crimes, all while saving the state 350 million dollars. She says comprehensive solutions to the state’s over-incarceration should include changes to pre-trial services, like South Carolina and Kentucky have done.

Cut 13 (08)  “of it”

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Alexandria attorney Thomas Davenport is asking the Rapides Parish Police Jury to remove a Confederate monument outside of the Rapides Parish Courthouse. Davenport says the monument, which has been there for over 100 years, alters the perception of justice.

cut 14 (11)  “of a crime”

The tall monument features a Confederate soldier on top, along with the phrases such as “Lest We forget.” Davenport says this statue is not the kind of thing people should see before they enter a courthouse to seek justice. He says he wants the monument to be replaced.

cut 15 (08) “this state” 

The police jury has reviewed Davenport’s request, but is holding off on any action, until the state legislature acts on legislation dealing with the confederate monuments. He says it is saddening that of all the good things our state has done, this is what was chosen to be memorialized.

cut 16 (04)  “a message”