Authorities say 19-year-old LSU student Madison Brooks was raped before she was hit by a car on Burbank Drive and died as a result. Four men are facing rape charges and an attorney says video evidence will prove their innocence. The incident happened after a heavy night of drinking and only one of the four men is over the age of 21.

Frustrated with rising violent crime in his small city, the mayor of Bogalusa asks the Governor to send in State Troopers or the National Guard.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The state department of education says a new report shows a two-percent increase in the percentage of teachers choosing to stay in the profession over last year. Superintendent of Education Doctor Cade Brumley says the department has worked to retain teachers by increasing teacher salaries and providing no-cost counseling services for teachers.

Cut  4 (09)  “…pay opportunities” 

The average teacher’s salary has increased by 12 hundred dollars to 52-thousand dollars.

The Bayou State is the 6^th worst state for retirement, that’s according to WalletHub’s most recent report. WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzales. says Louisiana needs to enact more laws to protect the elderly from crime and improve healthcare accessibility, like hospitals that specialize in geriatric care and more home health nurses. She says Louisiana is deemed affordable compared to other states.

Cut 15 (07)  “…better quality.”

Four men who were with 19-year-old LSU student Madi Brooks before she was struck and killed by a vehicle on Burbank drive January 15^th, are facing rape charges. Authorities say Brooks was raped in the back of a car after a night of heavy drinking at a Tigerland bar. Attorneys representing the men accused say video evidence will prove their innocence. Only one of the three suspects is of legal drinking age. Brooks’ blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit.

Violent crime is Bogalusa is so bad new Mayor Tyrin Truong (TIE-rin TRUNG) has asked Governor Edwards to send in State Police or the National Guard. A shooting outside of a high school football game has even prompted other schools to refuse to play there. Truong says the problem is disproportionately large for a town of just over 12 thousand, so he’s asked for help…:

Cut 5 (08) “…about gun violence.”

Truong says he’s yet to hear from the governor.

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry supports Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon’s plan to create a 45-million-dollar incentive fund to bring more insurance companies to Louisiana willing to write property insurance policies…
cut 8 (07) “…the private market”
That’s Lauren Hadden with L-A-B-I. Lawmakers will begin a week-long special session on Monday.

The Bayou State is the 6^th worst state for retirement, that’s according to WalletHub’s most recent report. WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzales says they look at affordability, healthcare, and overall quality of life, and where Louisiana falls short is the availability of home healthcare and geriatric hospitals.

Cut 13 (09)  “…most improvement.”

The state also ranked the worst in property crime.

The state department of education says a new report shows a two-percent increase in the percentage of teachers choosing to stay in the profession over last year. Superintendent of Education Doctor Cade Brumley says the same report shows a five-percent increase in first-year teacher retention…
cut 3 (12) “…and appreciate”
Brumley says this data is proof of what can happen when you listen to teachers and create an environment where their voice matters.

A special legislative session will begin Monday to create an incentive fund to attract more property insurers into Louisiana. Lauren Hadden with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
Cut 7 (09) “…successful.”

How bad is violence & crime in the small Washington Parish town of Bogalusa? Bad enough that new Mayor Tyrin Truong (TIE-rin TRUNG) has asked Governor Edwards to send in State Police or the National Guard. On WWL radio in New Orleans, Truong says gun violence in his city has reached a fever pitch…:
Cut 4 (11) “…get this fever down.”
Truoung says he’s yet to receive a response from the governor.

Today is a day to be weather aware as there’s an enhanced risk for severe weather for coastal southwest Louisiana, Acadiana and all of southeast Louisiana. LRN meteorologist John Wetherbee says take the proper precautions needed to stay safe and alert…
cut 12 (14) “….it’s happening”
Much of the state will be under a wind advisory this afternoon, while Lake Charles, Alexandria and Lafayette will be under a high wind warning.

Rape charges have been filed against four men who were with 19-year-old LSU student Madi Brooks before she was hit by a vehicle on Burbank Drive on January 15th. East Baton Rouge authorities say Brooks was raped in the back of a vehicle after a night of heavy drinking at Reggie’s, a bar in Tigerland. An attorney refutes the allegations Brooks was raped.

Frustrated with rising violent crime in his small city, the mayor of Bogalusa asks the Governor to send in State Troopers or the National Guard. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The personal finance website Wallethub ranks Louisiana as the sixth worst state for retirees. Analyst Jill Gonzales says one of the reasons Louisiana ranks so low on their list is the amount of property crime…
cut 14 (11) “…as well”
Gonzales says Louisiana also needs to improve healthcare accessibility.

Louisiana is trying to do something to improve the accessibility to private property insurance coverage. That’s why state lawmakers will hold a special session next week. Lauren Hadden with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry supports a proposal to create an incentive fund to bring more private insurers to Louisiana…
cut 9 (13) “…those initiatives

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry supports Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon’s plan to create a 45-million dollar fund that will be used to bring more insurance companies to Louisiana willing to write property insurance policies…
cut 8 (07) “….the private market”
That’s Lauren Hadden with LABI. Lawmakers will begin a week long special session on Monday to discuss this plan that’s trying to reduce the number of people who have to rely on expensive coverage from the state’s insurer of last resort Citizens Property Insurance.

Strong storms will roll through south Louisiana today….
cut 11 (09) “…from Canada”
That’s LRN meteorologist John Wetherbee who says lighting, damaging winds, and tornadoes are the biggest threats from this storm system that will arrive in western Louisiana this afternoon.

According to WalletHub Louisiana is among the worst states for retirees. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Still no arrests in the two mass shootings that took place over the weekend in Louisiana. One of them was a drive-by-shooting in Shreveport that injured eight and the other was a shooting in a night club in Baton Rouge. No one was killed in either incident, but the shootings left several people in critical condition.

A special legislative session will begin Monday to address insurance issues in Louisiana. Lauren Hadden with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry  says during the regular session last year lawmakers created an incentive program to attract more property insurers, but it wasn’t funded.
Cut 7 (09) “…successful.”
Hadden says they support Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon’s goal to reduce the number of Citizens Insurance policies, which is the state insurer of last resort and more expensive than the private market.

2022 has been called the deadliest year for the city of Bogalusa and the new mayor, 23-year-old Tyrin Truong, has written a letter to Governor Edwards asking for him to send State Troopers or the National Guard to help curb the violence in Bogalusa. Truong says they need the public’s help too…
cut 6 (09) “…interested in”

The potential for severe weather exists for all of south Louisiana today. Whitney Thomas reports on what we can expect…
Cut 3 (26) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

And the threat exists for southwest Louisiana and Acadiana today as multiple schools have decided to close early for the day before the afternoon thunderstorms roll in.

Edit

State Democrat Party chair Katie Bernhardt, of Lafayette, seems to be running for governor, though her newly released video doesn’t actually declare that. “LAPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says Baton Rouge activist Gary Chambers says he and other party members are not pleased with the ad…

Cut 4 (07)  “…for governor.” 

So far, NO Democrats have declared in the governor’s race.

Louisiana is assisting California after heavy rain caused flooding and landslides. A four-person recovery team from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness left today. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says Louisiana got word of California’s needs through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

Cut 13 (13) “…accept it.” 

The state Board of Elementary & Second Education elects its new president for 2023; district 7 BESE member Dr. Holly Boffy (Bow-fee).

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Bad weather is expected tomorrow for Louisiana, as a strong low-pressure system takes aim on the state. Widespread rain will quickly develop Tuesday morning and then become heavy, possibly severe at times Tuesday afternoon. And behind all that rain is another round cool temperatures.

A Democrat has yet to jump in the governor’s race but there is a new TV ad featuring the state Democratic Party chair…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Thorington.”

In Amelia, in St. Mary Parish…sheriff’s deputies called to home about a suspicious package – possibly an explosive device. The bomb squad responded, the area cordoned off. After nearly nine hours they determined the package was…and egg wrapped in a bandana.

Louisiana’s Solicitor General Liz Murrill, A.G. Jeff Landry’s 2^nd-in-Command at the state Department of Justice, announces she will run to be Louisiana’s next attorney general this fall. Murrill says she has abundant experience and savvy for the job, and a high point in her career was arguing Louisiana cases before the U.S. Supreme Court…:

CUT 10(12)      “…as a lawyer.”

If elected, Murrill would be the state first female attorney general.

En route now to California, a team from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness…to help them with getting disaster recovery money from FEMA. GOHSEP spokesman Mike Steele…:

CUT 12(04)      “…they can.”

California has been racked recently with torrential rains that have brought on disastrous flooding and landslides. Steele says Louisiana had to answer their call for help.

The state Board of Elementary & Secondary Education selects its new president for 2023. She is District 7 member Dr. Holly Boffy, who says she wants to lower the state truancy and dropout rates. She says kids often feel they’re not missed when they don’t attend, so they quit going…and a shortage of teachers has made that worse. Boffy says school systems are hiring now, and they hope to outreach people who may want to become a teacher…:

CUT 07(06)      “…opportunities that exist.”

GOHSEP is sending a team to help California with its recent flooding and landslides. Spokesman Mike Steele says other state’s help us when we are in need, and so…:

CUT 14(09)      “…the favor.”

The GOHSEP team left today.

In the 2023 Governor’s Race, no Democrat has officially declared candidacy, but the state Democratic Party chair has released a video that makes her sound like a candidate. In the 60-second video Katie Bernhardt, of Lafayette, says “help is on the way.” “LAPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says she never mentions running for office, but sure sounds like a candidate…:

CUT 03(10)      “…difficult to tell.”

Alford says there are a number of Democrats who do not want Bernhardt to run for office.

One of those running for governor is Attorney General Jeff Landry, meaning his current job will be open. Landry’s 2^nd-in-Command, solicitor General Liz Murrill has announced she will run to be the attorney general. After 7 years in her current job, she says she’s ready to “level up”…:

CUT 09(12)      “…and Attorney General.”

Murrill has argues Louisiana’s cases before the U.S. Supreme Court 5 times.