The newly elected president of Louisiana college officially begins April 7th, but Rick Brewer says he’s already started working. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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A new poll on Louisiana’s governor’s race shows Republican US Senator David Vitter leading with 35% followed by Democratic Amite Representative John Bel Edwards at 33%. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (28) “reporting”

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Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil has filed a Constitutional Amendment for the 2015 session which would give colleges control of raising their own fees. Scott Carwile reports..:

Cut 3 (32) “reporting”

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New Louisiana College president Rick Brewer is on the Pineville campus this week even though he doesn’t officially begin until April 7th. Brewer will meet with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools who placed the institution on academic probation. Brewer says he took the job, because he believes the private Baptist College has a great future…

cut 4  (08)  “think critically”

Brewer says he plans to turn things around for LC and make it a place students, faculty and alumni can be proud of again. He says they are under utilizing a lot of classroom space and one of the main things he’ll work towards is boosting enrollment…:

Cut 5  (06)  “I’m one of them”

Brewer says it’s time to change the dial at LC and that’s what he plans to do slowly, but surely…:

Cut 6 (07)  “the mind”

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A new poll on Louisiana’s governor’s race shows Republican US Senator David Vitter leading with 35% followed by Democratic Amite Representative John Bel Edwards at 33%. The survey by Triumph Campaigns shows Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne third with 15% and Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle with 7%. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross…:

CUT 7 (08) “vote totals”

Cross says Dardenne needs to find a way to get at least another 18% in order to get past Edwards and make it into the runoff which may be tough. He says there may be one too many Republicans in this race but there are also one few too Democrats..:

Cut 8  (12)  “into the runoff” 

11% of those polled remain undecided. Cross says Edwards numbers are fairly high and predicts the state lawmaker will probably top off with the Democratic support at about 40-42%. Angelle reportedly bought a $200,000 television ad schedule and Cross says even though he’s in the single digits, he’s come up from having nothing…:

Cut 9 (10)  “David Vitter”

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Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil has filed a Constitutional Amendment for the 2015 session which would give colleges control of raising their own fees. Currently the legislature has to approve a hike in education fees at public institutions. Foil says this would be an important step to managing the higher education budget crisis…:

Cut 10 (10) “any fees”

Foil says currently our state constitution does not allow colleges the autonomy to raise their fees — it has to be approved by two-thirds vote of the members of each house. He says if this constitutional amendment passes, colleges would have the option to raise fees in certain areas as they see fit for the students…:

cut 11 (07) “can pay”

Foil says he hopes for favorable passage of this amendment in order to give our colleges more stability and control over their budgets. He says if tuition is raised then the state would have to raise the TOPS money to cover the tuition increases…:

cut 12 (07)  “in that respect”

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A republican lawmaker describes Governor Bobby Jindal’s budget proposal as “insane” in a letter to supporters. Monroe Representative Jay Morris says the Americans for Tax Reform has okayed the Jindal administration’s plan, but it’s not the best way to handle a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall next fiscal year

Cut 13 (09)  “front of us”

Morris says the Americans for Tax Reform, which is an anti-tax group, has said its okay to scale back the inventory tax credit, but they do not approve of capping the state’s film tax credits and that’s why Jindal’s budget proposal doesn’t address the benefits the entertainment industry gets

Cut 14 (09) “fiscal problems”

Morris says it’s hard to say what the final budget will look like. He suspects there will be a combination of cuts to state government and measures to raise revenue that are supported by the Americans for Tax Reform

Cut 15  (07)  “another governor”

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The NFL free-agency period begins today. Teams will be able to sign free agents to their roster beginning at 3PM. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says the Saints will be looking to improve the team on both sides of the ball. He says they need to address a couple of issues going into the 2015 season…

Cut 16  (09)  “offensive line”

Detillier says the Black & Gold need to find a veteran starting cornerback and improve their offensive line this off-season. He says the team needs to revamp their linebacking corps, as well. Although the Saints are dealing with salary cap issues, Detillier says that won’t stop the team from getting the players they need…

Cut 17 (08)  “free agency process”

Detillier says you can expect more contract restructuring and personnel moves to create salary cap room to sign free agents. He says the Saints have always been a team to address obvious needs through veteran free agency…

Cut 18 (11) “in free agency’

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No one is playing better basketball than U-L Lafayette heading into this week’s Sun Belt Tournament in New Orleans. The Ragin Cajuns have won six straight to raise their overall record to 19-and-12. Coach Bob Marlin says better play on the defensive end of the court has been the key…

Cut 19 (20)   “this stretch”

U-L Lafayette will play either U-T Arlington or Texas State in the semi-finals on Friday at Lakefront Arena. The Cajuns won the Sun Belt Tourney and earned an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament last year. Marlin likes how his team is playing

Cut 20 (13)  “of the year”

A state audit looking at the “Road Home” program finds that $939 million was given out to homeowners who did not comply with the rules. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

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Central Casting Louisiana is looking for people with oil rig, merchant marine, and Coast Guard experience to work on the upcoming feature film, “Deepwater Horizon”. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

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A state audit looking at the “Road Home” program finds that $939 million was given out to homeowners who did not comply with the rules of the program. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says recipients had certain requirements and deadlines to meet…

CUT 3 (11)  “supposed to get”

“Road Home” was set up following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to help homeowners repair and reoccupy their homes. Purpera says it’s possible the federal government will ask the state to return the money that was not used appropriately, but he says the feds also understand the complexity of the program…

CUT 4 (09)  “the very beginning”

Purpera the $939 million in noncompliant funds s just the tip of the iceberg…

CUT 5 (10)  “costs out there”

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Central Casting Louisiana is looking for people with oil rig, merchant marine, and Coast Guard experience to work on the upcoming feature film, “Deepwater Horizon”. Director of Casting, Adam Hochfeld (HOCK-feld), says this movie is based on the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion…

CUT 6 (11)  “in that tragedy”

He says the movie will tell the story of the rig workers on the platform when the explosion took place and the rescue of them. Those interested can e-mail their information, including work experience, to deepwater-at-centralcasting-dot-com. Hochfeld says they’re looking for people with various experience working on a rig…

CUT 7 (09)  “story of it”

The film will star Mark Wahlberg. The movie will be shot in New Orleans and production is expected to begin in May. Hochfeld says these are paying roles and there are some additional perks, as well…

CUT 8 (10)  “A-list celebrities”

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Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says swimming pools at four north Louisiana state parks will be closed this summer because they don’t have enough money to open them. Dardenne oversees the office of state parks and says mid year budget cuts have caused the office to make significant reductions in spending…:

CUT 9 (08)  “for this summer”

Dardenne says these closures do not impact the wave pool at Bayou Segnette (Sin-yet) State Park in Westwego and beach swimming will still be available. He says if the closures affect people who made reservations expecting to have a pool, they will be taking cancellations…:

cut 10 (07) “impacted”

(Swimming pools at Chemin-A-Haut, Lake Bistineau, Lake D’Arbonne and North Toledo Bend state parks will not open for summer 2015.) Dardenne says it’s too early to say if the pools will open back up for summer 2016 because that will depend on the next fiscal year’s budget which begins July 1…:

cut 11 (09)  “do that”

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Trilby Lundberg, which monitors gas prices across the country, says Baton Rouge has the lowest national average gas price in the country at $2.16. Gas-buddy-dot-com’s Gregg Laskoski  says Louisiana’s statewide average of $2.24, ranks in the top ten for lowest gas prices in the nation

cut 12 (07)  “state taxes”

The lowest statewide average in the country is Wyoming and South Carolina at $2.14 a gallon. Laskoski says gas prices have been rising since the start of February and he expects that trend to continue…

cut 13 (05)  “week or two”

Laskoski says Louisiana has the seventh lowest statewide average in the country, just behind Alabama and Mississippi….

cut 14 (10)  “in the nation”

With the beginning of Daylight Saving Time over the weekend, everyone lost an hour of sleep. But State Police says that’s no excuse to drive fatigued. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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Lafayette has been named as one of the top 20 hardest working cities in the US by the personal finance site badcredit-dot-org. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

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A Baton Rouge lawmaker will file a bill for the upcoming legislative session that seeks to let citizens vote on whether or not marijuana should be legal in Louisiana for recreational use. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (32) “reporting”

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With the beginning of Daylight Saving Time over the weekend, everyone lost an hour of sleep. But State Police says that’s no excuse to drive fatigued. Sgt. Nick Manale says they often see accidents that were caused by sleepy drivers, so it’s imperative to be sharp behind the wheel…

cut 4  (08)  “roadway, there”

Manale says if you do feel yourself becoming fatigued while driving, there are some things you can do to help yourself…

Cut 5  (06)  “do something”

Manale suggests pulling over and getting a breath of fresh air, stepping out of the car, or getting something to drink as ways you can revive yourself if you begin to feel fatigued behind the wheel. Manale says sleepy driving can be as dangerous as impaired or distracted driving…

Cut 6 (10)  “avoiding crashes”

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A Louisiana physician is working on a way to perfect a permanent solution to sleep apnea. The condition, which causes people to not get enough air while they are sleeping, affects more than three million people in the US. Dr. G. E. Ghali, an oral surgeon and instructor with LSU Health Shreveport, says apnea patients are often given CPAP masks to ensure oxygen flow but the problem there is compliance…:

CUT 7 (08)  “necessarily fit”

Ghali says since CPAP masks aren’t perfect, some people choose surgery that removes excess tissue down the throat and at the base of the tongue. He says they’ve come up with a treatment for that which uses the daVinci Robot inside a person’s mouth…:(Ghali says if you are interested in learning more about the procedure, call 318-675-6101.)

Cut 8  (11)  “in the pallet” 

Ghali says recovery from the surgery can take several weeks, but many patients report that after a month or two they are feeling better, sleeping better and sleeping in bed with their spouse again. He says they’ve had a 90% success rate in the surgery permanently opening up airways of sleep apnea patients…:

Cut 9 (04)  “a mask, comfortably”

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Lafayette has been named as one of the top 20 hardest working cities in the US by the personal finance site badcredit-dot-org. Editor Steven Richmond says about 350 cities were ranked on four separate categories for this report…

Cut 10 (08) “making the list”

Richmond says they looked at percentage of population over age 16 in the workforce, average commute times, percentage of households with children, and average number of hours worked each week to compile their list. He says Lafayette scored high in the number of people in the workforce…

cut 11 (09) “in Lafayette”

Richmond says they used data from the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. He says says this list represents some of the busiest, hardest working, and most workaholic populations in the US…

cut 12 (11)  “they put in”

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A Baton Rouge lawmaker will file a bill for the upcoming legislative session that seeks to let citizens vote on whether or not marijuana should be legal in Louisiana for recreational use. Representative Dalton Honore is also bringing back his medical marijuana bill which failed last year. He says people should be able to vote on the recreational pot law…:

Cut 13 (09)  “with the legislators”

Recreational marijuana for adult use is legal in Oregon, Washington D.C., Colorado, Alaska and Washington. Honore says he hopes other lawmakers will get on board with letting people decide whether or not marijuana for recreational use should be legal…:

Cut 14 (08) “people vote for it”

The legislative session begins April 13th. Honore says regardless of how lawmakers feel about the recreational use of marijuana, they should at least allow the issue to be put on a ballot…:

Cut 15  (08)  “in 2016”

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Spring football is underway for the LSU Tigers. A point of emphasis is the passing game. The Tigers ranked 114th in the country in pass offense last year and Coach Les Miles says they will throw it a lot this spring

Cut 16  (11)  “will be fun”

Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris will once again battle to be the starting quarterback. It’s the second spring practice for Harris, while Jennings is looking to be the starter for a second consecutive year. Miles says both Q-Bs have matured since last year

Cut 17 (19)  “those things”

Spring practice gives new LSU defensive coordinator Kevin Steele a chance to install his defense. Miles says the Tigers ‘D” should look to familiar to fans

Cut 18 (15) “carry over’

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A nice start to the weekend weather-wise in Louisiana, but it is not expected to last. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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Mike Danna, a staple in the agriculture broadcasting industry, has died of cancer at the age of 54. Danna was the director of public relations for the Louisiana Farm Bureau — spokesman Neil Melancon reports…:

CUT 2 (33) “I’m Neil Melancon”

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After waking up to cold temperatures this morning, it appears things will brighten heading into the weekend. Baton Rouge set a record low this morning of 26 degrees and record lows were tied in New Orleans and Shreveport. Andy Tingler, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says the weekend will start with sunny skies and warmer temperatures…

CUT 3 (08)  “of next week”

Tingler says rain chances will increase Sunday and not really drop off until maybe Thursday of next week. He says much of the state can expect gray skies and light rain for much of the week…

CUT 4 (08)  “to three inches”

He says some areas of the state could pick up two to three inches of rainfall next week. Tingler says temperatures will be a little below average for the coming week…

CUT 5 (06)  “for the lows”

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A former tight end on LSU’s 2003 national championship team has been sentenced to five decades in prison for his involvement in a 2011 truck stop casino shooting in Port Allen. 32-year-old Demetri Robinson pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted second degree murder. West Baton Rouge Parish Prosecutor Tony Clayton says Robinson received the maximum sentence…

CUT 6 (07)  “what he did”

Robinson was sentenced to 50 years in prison on each count, but each count was set to be served concurrently. Clayton says Robinson walked into the casino in September 2011 after being banned from the establishment. He says a cashier asked Robinson to leave…

CUT 7 (12)  “hit the manager”

Robinson entered his plea one day before his trial was scheduled to begin. Clayton says when Robinson opened fire he missed hitting two employees in the casino…

CUT 8 (06)  “of it now”

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The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says a man is charged with the illegal killing of a Louisiana Black Bear while he was hog hunting in St. Mary Parish. LDWF spokesman Adam Eick says 52-year-old Richard Picard Jr. of New Iberia accidentally shot the animal thinking it was a feral hog…:

CUT 9 (07)  “12 gauge shot gun”

Einck says it happened last Saturday when Picard was out hunting with a group of friends on private land when their dogs starting chasing the bear…:

cut 10 (08) “with a buck shot”

The state citation brings a $900 to a $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail, but Picard also faces up to a $10,000 civil restitution for the replacement value of the black bear. Einck says one of the very first rules of hunter safety is to identify the target before pulling the trigger and know what you are shooting at…:

cut 11 (11)  “would be”

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Mike Danna, a staple in the agriculture broadcasting industry, has died of cancer at the age of 54. Danna was the director of public relations for the Louisiana Farm Bureau and host of This Week in Louisiana Agriculture. He passed away peacefully in his sleep shortly before 9am Friday morning. Louisiana Farm Bureau spokesperson Neil Melancon says Danna’s biggest passion was his career…:

cut 12 (11)  “or form”

Melancon says Danna spent more than 30 years in agriculture journalism coming to work for the Farm Bureau in 1985. Danna extended the public relations department to not only cover ag in Louisiana, but all over the world…:

cut 13 (10)  “to everyone”

Danna is quoted as saying that the most rewarding thing he’s ever done is work with farmers to bring the message that nothing is more important than the production of food and fiber. Melancon says Danna was born to be in public relations as he never met a stranger…:

cut 14 (10)  “friends with”

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“Marsh Madness” gets ramped up today in Lake Charles as three girls’ state championship basketball teams will be crowned tonight. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office says the woman “Bossier Doe,” who was found murdered in January 1981, has finally been identified. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 2 (31) “reporting”

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BESE votes against a proposal that would have waived penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking Common Core exams. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 3 (31) “reporting”

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“Marsh Madness” gets ramped up today in Lake Charles as three girls’ state championship basketball teams will be crowned tonight. Four more championships will be decided tomorrow and the boys’ Top 28 tournament will begin there next week. Sales Director of the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Eric Zartler, says these events are great for the local economy…

cut 4  (06)  “this year”

This is the second year Lake Charles has hosted both the boys’ and girls’ state basketball tournaments. Today’s state championship games will be highlighted by the Class 3-A title game between Mansfield and Baton Rouge’s University High. Zartler says they’re excited about tonight’s championship clash…

Cut 5  (05)  “that match-up”

Zartler says if you’re a hoops fan, the best basketball in the state will be played in Lake Charles over the next two weeks. He says they’re hopeful that they can make “Marsh Madness” a tradition.

Cut 6 (05)  “years, as well”

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Yesterday was a brutally cold day, but as things warm up today there’s hope that spring is just around the corner. Fred Zeigler with the National Weather Service in Slidell says temperatures across the state remained in the 30s most of Thursday but today we’ll be in 40s to low 50s…:

CUT 7 (10)  “about 15 to 20 degrees”

Zeigler says yesterday was about as miserable a day you can get weather-wise as it was not only cold but cloudy, damp and wind chills were in the 20s. He says while it’s not unusual in March to see that kind of cold, the dramatic difference from 70s and 80s one day to 30s and 40s the next was not the norm…:

Cut 8  (08)  “the deep south” 

Zeigler says today it’s still cool but it’s dry and nice outside. He says taking a look at the long range forecast, we can expect temperatures in the 50s and 60s the next couple of days, but get ready for some gloomy rain to return on Sunday…:

Cut 9 (12)  “rain chances”

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The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office says they are pleased to announce that after 34 years “Bossier Doe” now has an identity. Sgt. Dave Faulk says in January 1981 hunters found a partially decomposed body of an unknown white female who had been murdered and left in the woods. He says all these years they didn’t know who she was or where she came from…:

Cut 10 (11) “all this together”

Faulk says in November of last year they launched a full DNA profile of Bossier Doe then in February, in a desperate attempt to find out who she was, detectives launched a Facebook page in the name of Bossier Doe. He says someone recognized the composite on Facebook as looking familiar to a picture of a woman missing from Michigan on a Craigslist ad..:

cut 11 (08) “lining up”

Authorities gathered more information about 17-year-old Carol Ann Cole of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and determined through DNA testing that she was Bossier Doe. Faulk says she was stabbed to death and this is now an open homicide investigation. He says they are grateful a family in Michigan has closure…:

cut 12 (11)  “looking for her”

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BESE rejects a proposal to waive penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking the Common Core exam. In a 7-to-4 vote, BESE agreed with Superintendent of Education John White, who says let’s wait and see how many opt outs there are first

Cut 13 (09)  “somewhere else”

A zero score will be given for each student who doesn’t take the test, which could lower a school’s performance score. Critics say that’s not fair to the school or the child, but White says let’s wait and see what happens March 16th to the 20th when students take the standardized test

Cut 14 (08) “the situation”

Before the vote, BESE members heard from frustrated parents and educators who are upset over the new academic standards and the tests tied to them. This parent didn’t hide her feelings…

Cut 15  (07)  “you’re delusional”

Bossier Parish school board member Bill Lott complained to BESE that he’s for higher standards but Common Core teaches children liberal messages

Cut 16  (10)  “grand children”

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Spring football gets underway for LSU on Saturday and Tiger fans hope the the 14 practices that will lead up to the Spring Game on April 18th will result in improved play out of the quarterback position. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham expects the Q-B battle between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris to continue into the fall

Cut 17 (14)  “football office more”

Worsham says spring football will give a chance for some of the Tigers young wide receivers to mature like Malachi Dupre and Trey Quinn….

Cut 18 (10) “much better’

On the other side of the ball, LSU needs two new starting defensive ends. Worsham says this is a big spring practice for six-foot-five junior Tashawn Bower and the rest of the Tigers D-Line….

Cut 19 (16)   “the mix”

With the temperatures all over the place it’s prime time for sickness. But there are ways you can protect yourself. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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It looks like the end of an era is coming for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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The Alexandria Police Department says they’ve arrested two juveniles in the murder of a 21-year-old man who was found dead early Sunday in the City Park Area. Lt. Bruce Fairbanks says solving the case of Kendrick Dewayne Hayes was a top priority…:

CUT 3 (06)  “processing evidence”

Cops found Hayes after a call came in around 2:45 am Sunday. The body has been sent for an autopsy, but officials said the case was being treated as a homicide. Fairbanks says detectives have charged a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old with the offense of first degree murder…:(No other details are being released at this time.)

CUT 4 (08)  “tried as an adult”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a mother in Houma dragged her daughter around by her hair, made her drink hot sauce and whipped her with a belt for punishment. Captain Dawn Foret says they got a call from a local junior high where the 13-year-old victim attended school…:

CUT 5 (10)  “from her mother”

Detectives confirmed the 13-year-old had severe bruising on several areas of her body. The mother, 33-year-old Gricelda Mejia (Gra-Sil-Da Ma-Hee-A) was arrested for one count of cruelty to a juvenile. Foret says the report from the child was disturbing…:

CUT 6 (06)  “around the house”

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The cold front that moved through Louisiana has produced some dicey driving conditions across Louisiana. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says some overpasses, bridges, and on-and-off ramps are closed in the northern half of the state. Reichardt says there’s even some slick spots in south Louisiana…

CUT 7 (08)  “but passable”

Reichardt says there are sheets of ice on some roadways. He says temperatures today are only going to be above freezing for a couple of hours and that will not give sufficient time for ice on roadways to completely melt. But Reichardt says the more people travel on those roads, the better the roads will get…

CUT 8 (10)  “into tomorrow”

He says roads that are not well traveled, especially in rural parishes in north Louisiana, could see the ice remain into tomorrow. Reichardt says if you do have to drive in these conditions, use extreme caution and make smart decisions when you get behind the wheel…

CUT 9 (10)  “your house”

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Many people feel like these dramatic changes in the outside temperature fuels a greater opportunity for sickness and there are some healthy measures you can take from experts. High temperatures were in the 70s yesterday and today they are in the 30s and 40s. James Diaz is the Program Director of Occupational Health Sciences at LSU Health New Orleans. He says during seasonal changes you need to make sure air passages are dry.:

cut 10 (07) “keep well hydrated”

Diaz says if this weather is causing your nose to get crusty, use saline nose drops. He says if you haven’t already done so, it’s extremely important to get your flu shot…:

cut 11 (08)  “infections”

Diaz says when the temperature changes your immune system can weaken and make you more susceptible to germs. He says after it rains, the rise in pollen can make your allergy symptoms worse. Diaz says there are simple things you can do to protect yourself…:

cut 12 (09)  “last fall”

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It looks like the end of an era is coming for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Feld Entertainment, the circus’ parent company, has announced they are phasing out their fabled elephant acts by 2018. Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, wants to thank Ringling Bros. for finally doing the right thing…

cut 13 (09)  “for them”

The 13 elephants currently in the circus’ shows will be transferred to their Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida. Many in the public have voiced concerns regarding how elephants and other animals have been treated by the circus. Dorson says negative reinforcement is often used to train animals…

cut 14 (07)  “public’s wishes”

Ringling Bros. says they will continue to use horses, dogs, tigers, and other animals in their performances. Dorson says that’s a fight for another day…

cut 15 (05) “major victory”

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How to prepare your children for the springing forward this Sunday with the time change. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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A report released this week by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera suggests that Louisiana can increase revenues by increasing oyster lease rates. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

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The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet today and one of them items on the agenda is the question of what to do about Common Core Opt-Outs. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (28) “reporting”

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Sleep experts have some tips for parents on ways to prepare their children for losing an hour of sleep this weekend as we spring forward. Mother of six, Laura Swartz with Healthy Happy Sleep says plan on  keeping sleep patterns the same after the time has changed.

cut 4  (14)  “…go about it. “

Swartz says give yourself permission to relax about this change since parents tend to over think the process. She says starting today wake up your kids 15 minutes earlier than usual.

Cut 5  (11)  “of seven”

Swartz says the rhythms of daily life will regulate your childrens new sleep schedule. She says the change will be easy for naturally early risers but most parents will know if they’re children are sensitive to changes in their routine.

Cut 6 (15)  “certain activities”

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A report released this week by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera suggests that Louisiana can increase revenues by increasing oyster lease rates. The audit report recommends almost tripling the lease rate, from $2 and acre to $5.20. Sal Sunseri is with P&J Oysters in New Orleans…

CUT 7 (10)  “not the route”

Louisiana has the second lowest oyster lease rates among the top six states that produce Eastern Oysters. Sunseri says oyster farmers have continuously put back in the building of infrastructure to further strengthen the industry. He says the oyster industry is not a subsidized farming industry like many industries in agriculture…

Cut 8  (12)  “get subsidized” 

Sunseri says a reasonable rate increase would be acceptable, but what is proposed is just too great. He says this proposed rate increase will effect more than just the consumer…

Cut 9 (06)  “lose farmers”

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The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet today and one of them items on the agenda is the question of what to do about Common Core Opt-Outs. Some families who oppose the education standards have said they won’t let their child take the PARCC test. BESE member Jane Smith seeks to delay consequences for schools who have students who opt out…:

Cut 10 (13) “performance score”

Smith says students who opt-out of taking the Common Core test won’t be punished but it’s the school that would get a zero for that student towards its performance score. She says parents not letting their kids take the PARCC test is a variable that punishes the school but that they can’t control…:

cut 11 (09) “accountability policy”

Smith says BESE needs a least a year to figure out a compromise when it comes to Common Core because clearly there issues as students opt-out of the tests because their parents don’t think it’s appropriate…:

cut 12 (10)  “and teachers”

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The New Orleans Saints have released running back Pierre Thomas from the team. The 30-year-old will save the Black and Gold $1.735 million dollars against the salary cap. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says it’s a heart breaking move, but not really a surprise…:

Cut 13 (09)  “a year too late”

New Orleans needs to continue to move or lay-off some players by March 10th to get below the salary cap. Detillier says Thomas, who’s spent all of his 8 seasons with the team, gave New Orleans the screen game back like no one since Dalton Hilliard. He says what the Saints will really miss is his pass protection skills…:

Cut 14 (07) “with one team”

Thomas complied 3,745 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns on 187 carries for New Orleans. He was a key component in the Saints Super Bowl win. Detillier says you could argue Thomas was the best undrafted free agent in the Sean Payton era. He says the fans love him and he’s very active with the community and quick to speak to the media, but this is about winning games…:

Cut 15  (13)  “and how much they’re paying you”

________________________________________

With just two regular season games left, the ULM men’s basketball team is in a three way tie for first place in the Sun Belt Conference. The Warhawks host Georgia State tonight, one of the three teams they are tied with at the top of the standings. ULM Coach Keith Richard likes the position his squad is in….

Cut 16  (20)  “we have an opportunity”

ULM lost to Georgia State by 20 points in the Sun Belt opener back on December 30th. But Coach Richard says his team is much better on offense then they were a couple of months ago….

Cut 17 (09)  “Thursday night”

Richard likes the challenge in front of his team….

Cut 18 (13) “doing this’

The Ragin Cajuns are playing as well as anyone in the Sun Belt as they host Arkansas Little Rock tonight. U-L Lafayette has won four in a row and Coach Bob Marlin credits improved play on the defensive end of the court….

Cut 19 (13)   “NCAA Tournament” (2x)

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for parishes north of I-20, ahead of a strong cold front that will move through the state this evening. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is dead after officers responded to reports that the suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of the street. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for parishes north of I-20, ahead of a strong cold front that will move through the state this evening. Gary Chatelain, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says rain is forecast for the area today and that could become a problem as that front descends across north Louisiana…

CUT 3 (10)  “and power lines”

The Winter Storm Warning is in effect through tomorrow morning. Chatelain says a Winter Weather Advisory is also in effect along and south of I-20. He says areas under this advisory will not be hit as hard as areas north of the interstate…

CUT 4 (06)  “noon or so”

Chatelain says this weather event should not be as severe as last week’s, especially on roadways. He says warmer ground temperatures will melt a lot of the ice on roads, but the main concern is bridges and overpasses freezing over. He says this cold front will mainly bring freezing rain to the state…

CUT 5 (05)  “the Ark-La-Tex”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is dead after officers responded to reports that the suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of the street. Captain Dawn Foret says they got several 911 calls early this morning with reports of a man who was running in the middle of the road with the weapon near the Schriever Overpass…:

CUT 6 (07)  “in the air”

Foret says when cops responded they located 49-year-old Troy Brady sitting in the middle of the road with a shot gun near him…:

CUT 7 (08)  “unresponsive”

Foret says Brady was detained and then shortly after he became unresponsive…:(Foret says there were no obvious signs of trauma to Brady so they’ve ordered an autopsy to determine cause of death.)

CUT 8 (08)  “pronounced dead”

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The mother of Victor White III’s child has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal and a deputy in White’s death. White died from a gunshot wound while handcuffed in the backseat of the deputy’s squad car. Monroe attorney, Carol Powell Lexing, who represents White’s family, says reason for the lawsuit is simple…

CUT 9 (07)  “accountable for it”

Calls to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department have not been returned. It has been one year since White died while in custody. The Sheriff’s Department and coroner claim that White shot himself while handcuffed in the police car. White’s family disputes this claim. Powell Lexing says federal authorities are still looking into this case…

cut 10 (07) “hear from them”

The suit claims that Ackal inadequately trains deputies and tolerates the use of exessive force. It also alleges Cpl. Justin Ortis, who arrested White, beat him and failed to protect his safety while in custody. Powell Lexing says there will be an event at Southern University tonight to discuss White’s case and similar cases…

cut 11 (10)  “of these cases”

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As officials with the US Army visited the Leesville area last night to listen to the concerns of folks in the community surrounding reductions to the Vernon Parish base, people once again lined the streets in support of keeping things as is. Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese says the church venue was filled as they made the presentation to the military…:

cut 12 (10)  “and city hall”

Reese says the Army evaluators stayed until about 10:30pm and believes they understand the level of support they enjoy across the state…:

cut 13 (10)  “statewide issue”

Personnel reductions are being considered at about 30 bases across the country. Reese says they believe the visitors from the military heard loud and clear that the entire state of Louisiana does not support yet another troop reduction at Fort Polk…:

cut 14 (06)  “those evaluators”

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A strong cold front heading into the state could produce some winter precipitation. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

______________________________________

State Treasurer John Kennedy sees pros and cons to Governor Bobby Jindal’s budget proposal. Scott Carwile reports…

Cut 2 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

The Energy Department says there is a major increase in crude oil and the US is running out of room to store it. Some say this could mean another huge drop in the price we’re paying for gas at the pump in Louisiana. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (28) “reporting”

______________________________________

Get ready for a big change in the weather. State climatologist Barry Keim says high temperatures today will be in the 70s and tomorrow they’ll be back in the 30s and 40s as a result of a strong cold front….

cut 4  (12)  “southern parts of the state”

This front has the potential to produce another round of winter precipitation. Keim says the northern half of the state could see see freezing rain during the overnight hours

Cut 5  (12)  “of the state”

Keim says enjoy the warm temperatures while you can, because the weather is about to change….

Cut 6 (11)  “on Thursday”

______________________________________

State Treasurer John Kennedy sees pros and cons to Governor Bobby Jindal’s budget proposal. The governor has proposed scaling back certain tax credits and cut spending in other areas to address a $1.6 billion revenue shortfall. Kennedy says some of the proposed reductions in spending make sense, especially in the area of consulting contracts…

CUT 7 (11)  “point eight million”

Kennedy says the proposed budget looks to reduce the 60-percent of the deficit by repealing tax credits and 40-percent by reducing spending. However, Kennedy does question the proposal of closing all health clinics in New Orleans, which will effect about 57,000 people…

Cut 8  (12)  “us more money” 

Kennedy spoke about the budget on Louisiana Radio Network’s Jim Engster show. He says the budget’s biggest revenue increase comes with the repeal of the inventory tax credit, which would add about $525 million dollars to the state’s coffers. Kennedy says he’s not sure this was chosen wisely…

Cut 9 (09)  “small businesses”

______________________________________

The Energy Department says there is a major increase in crude oil and the US is running out of room to store it. Some say this could mean another huge drop in the price we’re paying for gas at the pump in Louisiana. David Dismukes, the director for the Center for Energy Studies at LSU, says refineries are in a transition period right now but it won’t last long..:

Cut 10 (10) “on prices”

Dismukes says once again while this will be welcome news for the consumer, the low oil prices will not be good for the service side of the industry oil and gas industry…:

cut 11 (10) “less jobs”

Dismukes says refineries and consumers will be the main beneficiaries so it may end up not having such a major effect on the economy in Louisiana:

cut 12 (10)  “impacts are going to be felt”

______________________________________

Agents with the state office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control say a Ruston woman is under arrest accused of selling booze out of her personal residence. ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert says 21-year-old Bryanna Jackson was taking money for cocktails at her apartment…:

Cut 13 (07)  “two of them”

Hebert says undercover agents went in one evening and were able to purchase two mixed drinks from the suspect. He says they discovered the illegal activity was going on from ads the woman was posting online…:

Cut 14 (12) “easy on us”

Jackson was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and charged with operating without a local or state high content permit. A man in central Louisiana was arrested for apparently operating a bar out of his house last week and Hebert says these illegal actions are not necessary…:

Cut 15  (10)  “already”

________________________________________

The LSU men’s basketball team plays its final home game of the year tonight as they host the Tennessee Volunteers at six pm in the Maravich Center. These two teams met in Knoxville on Valentine’s Day and it was all LSU as they won by 18 points. LSU forward Jarell Martin expects a tougher game this time around

Cut 16  (10)  “hard fought battle”

The Volunteers bring a five-game losing streak to Baton Rouge. LSU guard Keith Hornsby says despite Tennessee’s struggles they can’t look past them

Cut 17 (09)  “battle of course”

LSU has won its last three and they are ten and six in league play. Hornsby says they are trying to close out the regular season on a strong note

Cut 18 (13) “to us’

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###Changes made to the newscall as a result of two arrests in the fatal home invasion in Shreveport#####

The state Department of Revenue announces that state tax refunds are now being issued. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

==================

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says Governor Bobby Jindal’s proposal to eliminate the inventory tax credit will hurt the state’s economy. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

===================

The Shreveport Police Department says they are looking for a suspect following an overnight fatal home invasion. Corporal Marcus Hines say officers were called to the scene at around one AM…

(At this point officers believe a resident in the home fatally shot one of the suspects, the other fled.)

CUT 3 (10)  “shot the man”

There were  children inside the home at the time of the shooting, but they  were not injured . Hines says they believe the two men entered the home wearing masks and one of them was armed with a semi-automatic rifle…:

CUT 4 (11)  “not been captured”

Hines says evidence seized during a search of the residence suggest illegal narcotics may have been a motivating factor in the attempted robbery…:

(Officers have arrested two people living inside the home, because of illegal drugs inside the home.)

CUT 5 (09)  “degree of involvement”

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The state Department of Revenue announces that state tax refunds are now being issued. The department had said that it would not issue refunds until March 2nd, but actually began last Friday. Spokeswoman Kizzy Payton says the delay was due to the increase of the filing of fraudulent tax returns across the nation…

CUT 6 (08)  “taxpayer’s accounts”

She says the department issued additional security measures so they would more easily detect suspicious activity around taxpayer’s accounts. Payton says the department strives to make sure they are not handing out tax refunds to people who do not deserve them…

CUT 7 (08)  “anti-fraud initiative”

Payton says some may have already received their refund, depending on the method of payment they chose. She says, thus far, over 763,000 tax returns have been filed and about 244,000 have been processed. But Payton says that’s just the beginning…

CUT 8 (05)  “each year”

===============================

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry plans to fight Governor Bobby Jindal’s proposal to repeal the inventory tax credit. Such a move would save the state an estimated $380 million which could be used for health care and higher education. But LABI Vice President, Jim Patterson, says a repeal of this tax credit would be devastating to business across the state…

CUT 9 (09)  “to our economy”

Patterson says the vast majority of states do not have inventory taxes, so if the refund went away, jobs could leave as well…

cut 10 (08) “such a tax”

Patterson says businesses could decide to shift inventories to states that do not have such a tax and those warehouse jobs would be lost. He says Louisiana is one of only 13 states that have an inventory tax on the books. Patterson says if the inventory tax credit is repealed, then business will have to make up that money somewhere…

cut 11 (06)  “to consumers”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says a 14-year-old student from H.L. Bourgeois High in Gray is under arrest accused of calling in 2 bomb threats to the school. Captain Dawn Foret says last Tuesday and yesterday there were two separate bomb threats they were emailed to the school’s principal…:

cut 12 (10)  “could resume”

Foret says they began an investigation and were able to track the email address that the suspect had sent both threats from to the H.L. Bourgeois student…:(The suspect is charged with two counts of False Communication of a Bomb Threat. Foret says it does not appear the teen had any access to items that would let him carry out his threats.)

cut 13 (06)  “emails”

============================

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says  a 73-year-old woman died in a house fire in Opelousas today. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says St. Landry Parish firefighters responded to a wood frame dwelling around 4am which they found fully engulfed in flames. He says the 73 year old victim, Mary Ann Sam, was also located…

cut 14 (09)  “that’s been done”

They are still working to determine the cause of the blaze. Browning says they know the woman was living alone in the home and the fire was discovered by someone who was driving by…:

cut 15 (06) “those things out”