So far, no Democrat has announced their candidacy for governor but a new TV ad featuring state party Chair Katie Bernhardt says help is on the way. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says while there’s no mention of the governor’s race in the recently released video, she certainly looks and sounds like a candidate…:

CUT 03(10)      “…difficult to tell.”

But Alford says in-party trouble may be brewing as a number of state Democrats do not approve of Bernhardt as their standard-bearer.

The state’s Board of Elementary & Secondary Education has chosen Lafayette area educator Dr. Holly Boffy (pronounced BOE-fee) as its new president. She has represented BESE District 7 since 2012, and says she wants to lead BESE toward overhauling how the state evaluates school performance…:

CUT 06(09)      “…committed to studying.”

Baton Rouge Police are investigating a Saturday night mass shooting inside a nightclub that injured 12 people, three of them critically. Police Chief Murphy Paul says some one knows who did it and they should call Crimestoppers…:

CUT 27(10)      “…for life.”

Police say the attack was not random; someone was targeted and others were innocent victims.

Across then state in Shreveport, eight people shot and wounded Sunday afternoon, as a hail of gunfire penetrated their home from outside. Among those injured: 4 small kids. Police Chief Wayne Smith says it was likely a drive-by shooting, and a targeted act…:

CUT 11(08)      “…have very well been.”

The search for the gunman or men is ongoing.

Baton Rouge Police are investigating a mass shooting inside a nightclub that injured 12 people, three of the victims are said to have life-threatening injuries. The shooting happened inside The Dior Bar and Lounge early Sunday morning on Bennington Avenue near College Drive. Lt. Bryan Ballard says it was a targeted attack…

Cut 13 (13) “of Baton Rouge.”

Eight people were shot inside a home in Shreveport on Sunday afternoon. Police chief Wayne Smith says five adults and three children, two three-year-olds and a five-year-old were wounded…

Cut 10 (14)  “…so much.”

Four of the victims are listed in critical condition, including a three-year-old boy.

A special legislative session to address the state’s lack of property insurance providers will begin on January 30^th. Commissioner Jim Donelon pleaded with legislative leaders last week to hold a session to approve an incentive program to entice insurance carriers to the state after 20 have either left the state or gone insolvent.

The U.S. Postal Service unveils the new postage stamp featuring Louisiana author Ernest J Gaines during a ceremony today. Whitney Thomas Reports.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

There were two mass shootings in Louisiana yesterday. In Baton Rouge, gunfire rang out at a nightclub early in the morning in an incident that left 12 people injured. Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul says their officers were already outside the club when shots rang out and responded quickly…:
CUT 15 (12) “medical services”
He believes it was a targeted attack and the shooter remains at large.

In Shreveport eight people were shot inside a home in what police believe was a drive by shooting. The search for that shooter is ongoing. Councilwoman Tabitha Taylor is upset at this kind of violence in her district…:
Cut 12 (11) “thought is”
Four of the victims are listed in critical condition, including a three-year-old boy.

Governor John Bel Edwards has called a special session to address the state’s ongoing property insurance crisis. It will start a week from today and adjourn Sunday, February 5th. State leaders are hoping to have an intermediate fix to the issues before the regular session in April.

Be prepared for major changes when filing your 2022 taxes as today marks the first day you can file. Brooke Thorington has more…:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Governor John Bel Edwards has called a special session to address the state’s homeowner’s insurance crisis. Lawmakers will convene next week to discuss just one topic, appropriating funds to the Insure Louisiana Incentive fund.

Police in Baton Rouge continue to seek information regarding a mass shooting at a nightclub early Sunday morning that injured 12 people including 3 critically. Anyone who knows anything about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

In Shreveport, a mass shooting Sunday sends adults and children to the hospital…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Today on the campus of UL-Lafayette, the US Postal Service continues its Black Heritage series by honoring renowned author Ernest J Gains with a stamp. USPS Spokesperson David Walton says they are thrilled to celebrate Gaines as the 46th stamp in the Black Heritage Series…:
Cut 8 (12) “in the air”
The Ernest J. Gaines Black Heritage stamp will be a forever stamp that holds the same value as the current First- Class Mail stamp.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals are once again headed to the AFC championship game following a 27-10 victory over the Bills Sunday. Cincinati will face The Chiefs who they beat in the same game last year, and Burrow believes The Bengals are a better team this year…:
Cut 18 (09) “last year”
The game will be in Kansas City on Sunday at 5:30.

Baton Rouge Police believe the mass shooting at a nightclub early Sunday morning that injured 12 people was a targeted attack. Chief Murphy Paul is urging anyone with information on this incident to come forward…:
CUT 14 (10) “for life”
Officers were already outside the club when the shots rang out and were able to respond quickly, which Paul says saved lives. Of the 12 shot, he said 3 sustained life-threatening injuries.

Eight people were shot inside a home in Shreveport on Sunday afternoon. Police chief Wayne Smith says five adults and three children, including two three-year-olds and a five-year-old were wounded…:
Cut 10 (14) “so much”
The search for the shooter is ongoing.

You can begin filing your state and federal income taxes for 2022 today but be mindful of several changes that could reduce your refund amount. Connor Brown, with LaPorte CPAs and Business Advisors, says pandemic incentives are expiring like the enhanced child tax credit. He says in 2021 it was up to $3,600 per qualifying child under five or $3,000 if they were under age 17..:
Cut 5 (08) “16 and under”
He says not only will refunds be smaller, but turnaround time could be longer due to IRS staffing shortages.

The U.S Postal Service is continuing their Black Heritage series by honoring renowned author Ernest J. Gaines with a postal stamp. USPS Spokesperson David Walton says Gaines was a vital voice to the African American experience…:
Cut 7 (08) “..and violence.”
The ceremony will take place today at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where Gaines once taught creative writing.

There were two shooting incidents in Louisiana on Sunday making national headlines. In Baton Rouge, gunfire rang out at a nightclub early in the morning in a mass shooting that left 12 people injured. It happened inside The Dior Bar and Lounge on Bennington Avenue near College Drive. Baton Rouge Police Lt. Bryan Ballard:
CUT 13 (13) “of Baton Rouge”
He says 9 of the victims have injuries considered non life threatening while 3 others are in critical condition. The shooter or shooters remain at large.

In Shreveport, 5 adults and 3 children were shot at a residence Sunday afternoon leaving 4 in critical condition including a 3 year old boy. Police chief Wayne Smith says they believe this was a drive by shooting…:
CUT 11 (08) “have been”
The search for the shooter is ongoing.

Governor John Bel Edwards has called a special session to address the state’s ongoing property insurance crisis. It will start a week from today and adjourn Sunday, February 5th. State leaders are hoping to have an intermediate fix to the issues before the regular session in April.

You can begin filing your 2022 taxes today and your refund may be smaller this year due to some changes from 2021. Connor Brown, with LaPorte CPAs and Business Advisors, says incentives from the pandemic are no longer in effect like the CARES Act which allowed up to $600 of charitable contributions for married filing joint on top of a standard deduction even if you didn’t itemize
CUT 4 (06) “be itemizing”
The enhanced child tax credit and the child and dependent care credit also expired in 2021.

The man driving the big rig that went off the road and stuck & killed three members of the Southern University marching band last month has been charged with negligent homicide. 62-year-old Clyde Gay was northbound on I-49 on the night of December 6^th, when he hit the group as they were changing a flat tire on the roadside.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon’s proposal to create a $45-million fund that would be used to attract additional private insurance companies to Louisiana is met with skepticism from state lawmakers…:

CUT 02(35)      “…Palermo.”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser expresses his frustration with the Louisiana Republican Party and its chairman, after they rushed to get behind Attorney General Jeff Landry for governor; shutting out any support for other GOP candidates – himself included. On WWL radio in New Orleans, Nungesser also accused party member of taking bribes to support Landry over others…:

CUT 05(08)      “…an embarrassment.”

Nungesser says state GOP chairman Louis Gurvich needs to resign.

A five-year-old was killed in Jennings Thursday evening, after police say his six-year-old cousin got a hold of a gun and it went off. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says they received a call from a neighbor who was approached by the 26-year-old male babysitter of the five children…:

CUT 09(11)      “…his cousin”

The baby sitter and the child’s aunt, who possessed the gun are charged with negligent homicide and more.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser addresses the elephant in the room when asked his thoughts on the state GOP and its endorsement of Jeff Landry for governor…:

CUT 01(29)      “…Thorington.”

Tangipahoa Parish deputies arrest a Kentwood school cafeteria worker for allegedly selling edible marijuana to a student. 45-year-old Tymetrica Cohn was a contract substitute worker at Sumner High school in Kentwood. Among charges against her, distributing drugs in a designated drug-free zone.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon went to state lawmakers Friday to ask for a special session to address the big decline in private insurance companies willing to provide property coverage. He wants $45-million in surplus cash used as an incentive fund to attract new private insurers and help de-populate the state-run last-resort insurer Louisiana Citizens (which costs significantly more money)…:

CUT 13(10)      “…rate increase.”

But lawmakers were not so keen. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says Donelon’s plan contains zero assurances of success…:

CUT 14(08)      “…it’s a maybe.”

Donelon says the plan worked years ago, after Katrina & Rita sent insurance companies running…and he says it’ll work again. Donelon says the sooner the incentive fund is set up the better.

Police in Jennings say a negligent babysitter is largely to blame for Thursday’s fatal shooting of a 5-year-old child. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says 26-year-old Desome Daniels was watching the children in the home, but left the house for a few minutes to go smoke marijuana. During that time, one of the five kids in the house found a loaded handgun left lying in plain view and shot the other toddler in the chest. Semmes says Daniels and the victim’s aunt were arrested and taken to the Jefferson Davis Parish Jail…:

CUT 11(11)      “…back stolen.”

Semmes says they waited at least 10 minutes after the child was shot to call 911.

In Baton Rouge, another person has been struck and killed by traffic while walking on the city’s often-darkened Burbank Drive near LSU. Police says the victim was hit by multiple vehicles. We don’t know how many. She died in a nearby hospital. An LSU sophomore was hit & killed by traffic less than a week ago on the same street.

On a New Orleans radio program, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser had some choice words about the Louisiana Republican Party’s decision to come out early with full backing for Attorney General Jeff Landry for Governor, despite other GOP candidates (himself included) interested in running. He is especially angry with GOP Central Committee chairman Louis Gurvich…:

CUT 03(10)      “…endorse.”

Nungesser decided instead to run for another term in his current post, rather than fight the GOP machine.

An ongoing labor study by fiscal website “WalletHub” ranks Louisiana among the top states for people leaving their jobs. Wallethub.com analyst Jill Gonzales says, even in the face of record high inflation, folks are choosing to just quit work…:

CUT 06(08)      “…higher side of things.”

Gonzales says job burnout is the prime factor making people quit. Better opportunities are also behind many resignations, but a great many simply re-evaluated how and where they want to work…and check out.

A five-year-old was killed by his six-year-old cousin Thursday night after the child found a gun in the home. Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes says the victim’s mother and his aunt, Kursten Richard, live at the home along with four other children. The babysitter Desome Daniels and the aunt were arrested and taken to the Jefferson Davis Parish Jail.

Cut 11 (11)  “…back stolen.”

Richard is charged with principal negligent homicide, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and cruelty to a juvenile.

Avoyelles Parish deputies arrest a man for impersonating a law enforcement officer. 45-year-old Patrick P. Miller allegedly wore a uniform and badge while intimidating a neighbor over a dispute. Officers found and took his uniforms away, plus they arrested him on outstanding warrants for obscenity, contempt of court & tampering with a surveillance or monitoring system. His bond is set at $ 100 thousand.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon made his case to state lawmakers Friday on why a special session is needed next month to address the big decline in private insurance companies willing to provide property coverage. Donelon wants to give insurance companies a financial incentive to write policies in coastal areas…

Cut 12 (08) “…incentive program.”

Louisiana ranks 4^th among states with the highest percentage of people leaving their jobs. WalletHub Analyst Jill Gonzales says 3.4 percent of workers in Louisiana are part of the great resignation. She says burnout is the main reason people leave their jobs and the pandemic caused many to re-evaluate their careers. She says employers are also re-evaluating things like pay scales, benefit packages, and more…and if they can get that done…:

Cut 8 (04)  “…slowly but surely.”