You can now view 5 years of financial disclosures for all 298 judges in the state of Louisiana at the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission’s website. MCC President Rafael Goyeneche says they’ve made it easy to find out how much your local judge makes, and any potential locally financial ties they may have.

Cut 9 (10) “…system.”

12 years ago an ethics reform package was passed that required the executive and legislative branches to publicly post financial disclosures, but the State Supreme Court blocked judges from having to comply.

A third Louisianan has now died from vaping related illnesses linked to the use of Vitamin E Acetate in E-cigs. Office of Public Health Assistant Secretary Alex Billioux says 35 people have been diagnosed with the illness, and they’re disproportionately older…

Cut 7 (08) “…currently”

Bayou Country Super Fest is now more, going on hiatus after years of declining attendance. The festival traditionally was held in Tiger Stadium, and President and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge Paul Arrigo says several factors contributed to last year’s modest attendance, including bouncing back from the festival’s two-year run in New Orleans, shrinking the schedule from three days to two, and a late lineup release.

Cut 4 (09) “…made in November.”

Authorities arrest a Calhoun man on a drug charge after he approached two people asking to borrow guns at a Planet Fitness parking lot in West Monroe. West Monroe Police Major David May says it is unclear why he thought it was a good pitch, but the suspect told the two why he needed the money.

Cut 13 (11) “…down the road.”

19-year-old Leonard Duke faces one count of possession of a schedule II controlled dangerous substance.

A third Louisianan dies from a vaping related lung illness linked to a thickening agent found in the devices. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a home invasion in Duson that left one person dead last night. 33-year-old Shenard Simmons of Duson was shot and killed. A second person inside the home was not injured. No arrests have been made. Deputies are still seeking more information.

Authorities arrest a Calhoun man on a drug charge after he approached two people asking to borrow guns at a Planet Fitness parking lot. West Monroe Police Major David May says the two declined 19-year-old Landon Duke offer and then called the police once they got into the gym…
Cut 12 (09) “…to rob someone.”
May say Duke wanted to rob someone, so he can get out of town.

Louisiana residents now have a database to see where a state judge gets their income. New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche says they made the public records request to get the financial earnings of every state judge so that citizens can see if a local judge has a conflict of interest…
cut 11 (10) “…available”
You can go to the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission’s website to see the database.

State Police have located four children as well as their mother, 33-year-old Amanda Morgan of Jackson Parish following the issuance of a Level Two Endangered/Missing Children Welfare Concern. All are reported to be safe, with the grandmother of the children picking them up in Union Parish.

The New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission has assembled a database on their website of financial disclosures for every single judge in the state. Jeff Palermo spoke with President Rafael Goyeneche…

cut  2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Bayou Country Superfest is riding off into the Baton Rouge sunset as festival organizers have announced the annual Memorial Day weekend event will be on hiatus until further notice.  President and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge Paul Arrigo says looking back, it was a great event for the city.He’s not sure what the future holds for the festival.

Cut 5 (07) “…the near future.”

At the peak in 2014, 135,000 people attended the festival.  Last year drew about 50,000.

The Louisiana Department of Health reports a third person has died in Louisiana from complications related to vaping, while the total number of vaping-related cases has risen to 35. Office of Public Health Assistant Secretary Alex Billioux says despite the tragic recent death, growth in the number of cases seems to be slowing down.

Cut 8 (08) “…of use.”

LDH’s number one recommendation to stop the illness is still to just not vape.

The Bayou Country Superfest is riding off into the Baton Rouge sunset as festival organizers have announced the annual Memorial Day weekend event will be on hiatus until further notice.  President and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge Paul Arrigo believes several factors contributed to last year’s modest attendance, including bouncing back from the festival’s two-year run in New Orleans, shrinking the schedule from three days to two, and a late lineup release.
Cut 4 (09) “…made in November.”
At the peak in 2014, 135,000 people attended the festival.  Last year drew about 50,000.

The Louisiana Department of Health reports a third person has died in Louisiana from complications related to vaping, while the total number of vaping-related cases has risen to 35. Office of Public Health Assistant Secretary Alex Billioux says it’s older vapers who tend to buy vaping liquids with additives.
Cut 7 (08) “…currently”

The Own Your Own Health challenge is underway, giving Louisianans a fun, competitive way to start living a healthier life. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

The Louisiana Department of Health reports a third person has died in Louisiana from complications related to vaping, while the total number of vaping-related cases has risen to 35. Office of Public Health Assistant Secretary Alex Billioux says these cases are being linked back to Vitamin E Acetate, which is used as a thickener in E-cigs.

Cut 6, 8 seconds, lungs

Symptoms of the Vitamin E Acetate illness include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, and more.

The Bayou Country Superfest is riding off into the Baton Rouge sunset as festival organizers have announced the annual Memorial Day weekend event will be on hiatus until further notice. President and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge Paul Arrigo says looking back, it was a great event for the city.

Cut 3 (10)  “…as we had” 

Today is National Plan for a Vacation Day. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is encouraging Louisiana residents to use some of their vacation time by exploring Louisiana with a Staycation…

cut 8 (09) “…new to do”

Nungesser says to plan a trip within the state go to Louisiana-stay-cation-dot-com.

Louisiana is one of the most obese states in the nation and the state Department of Health may have found a fun, competitive way to help fix it. It’s called Own Your Own Health, and it allows you to compete with other residents to see who can log the most steps, or lose the most weight. Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness Director Rudy Macklin says it’s a great way to ease into exercise.

Cut 12 (08) “…have it”

Visit O-Y-O-H-Dot-com to sign up.

State Police issue a Level Two Endangered/Missing Children Welfare Concern as they need assistance in locating four children as well as their mother, 33-year-old Amanda Morgan of Jackson Parish.  The children, ages 4 to 11, were last seen with their mother in a blue 2015 Ford F-150 with a Texas license plate and is believed to be traveling to Alabama.  The family is concerned about the mental health of the mother and safety of the children.

Bo Pelini is back as LSU’s defensive coordinator. In 2007 he helped the Tigers win a national championship and in each of his three years with the Tigers, Pelini’s defenses ranked number three in the nation in yards allowed.  Safety Craig Steltz was an All-American on that 2007 team and says Pelini was always one step ahead of opposing offenses…

Cut 14 (11) “…big time sack.”

Today is National Plan Your Vacation Day and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says the state has been busy marketing itself to visitors from outside of Louisiana but also encourages residents to take a staycation in their home state. Nungesser says if you are looking for one of a kind culture, Louisiana has a massive selection of attractions and details on many of them can be found at LouisianaStaycation.com.

Cut 9 (07) “…for everybody’s taste.”

Nungesser says last year nearly nine million days of vacation went used in Louisiana.

Nicholls State University gets recognition from the National Council on Teacher Quality as the top teacher prep program for early reading instruction, receiving an A+ rating.  Nicholls head of teacher education Dr. Alyson Theriot says feedback received from those that have gone through the program is further verification of the program’s effectiveness.

Cut 6 (12) “…in the field.”

Two people were fatally shot in Natchitoches last night in the nine-hundred block of Short Seventh Street. 41-year-old Larry Batiste and 35-year-old Hiram Phillips were pronounced dead. A female was also shot and she’s listed in severe condition at a Shreveport hospital. Police have not released any other details.

LSU brings back Bo Pelini as its defensive coordinator. Jeff Palermo spoke with a former LSU all-American on what Pelini’s return means for the Tigers…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Nicholls State has received an A-Plus rating from the National Council on Teacher Quality for having one of the top programs in the country when it comes to training future teachers on how to teach early reading skills. Head of teacher education at Nicholls, Alyson Theriot, says teacher candidates practice what they learn in mentor teachers’ classrooms…
cut 5 (10) “…the success”

Louisianans are encouraged to participate in the state’s Own Your Own Health Fitness Challenge. It gives a chance for individuals or groups to participate against others to find out who can walk more steps or lose more weight. Director of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Rudy Macklin, says different cities even compete against each other…
cut 11 (12) “…another”
To sign up, visit O-Y-O-H-L-A-dot-com.

The Own Your Own Health Challenge is underway, giving Louisianans a fun, competitive way to start living a healthier life. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Today is National Plan for a Vacation Day. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is encouraging Louisiana residents to use some of their vacation time by exploring Louisiana with a Staycation…
cut 8 (09) “…new to do”
Nungesser says to plan a trip within the state go to Louisiana-stay-cation-dot-com.

Nicholls State University gets recognition from the National Council on Teacher Quality as the top teacher prep program for early reading instruction, receiving an A+ rating. Nicholls head of teacher education Dr. Alyson Theriot…
Cut 4 (08) “…how to do.”
Theriot says this is a positive sign for the nationwide movement to bring down the high rates of illiteracy.

Bo Pelini is returning for a second stint as defensive coordinator at LSU. Pelini guided the Tigers defense from 2005 to 2007 and left to be the head coach at Nebraska after the Bayou Bengals won the BCS National Championship. Former Tigers safety Craig Steltz played for Pelini and expects Coach Bo will work well with Coach O….
cut 15 (12) “…I’m excited”
Pelini’s contract is reportedly three years at two-point-three million dollars a year.

07:30 Newscast
The ten-year-old Bayou Country Superfest is no more. The two-day lineup of country music superstars began in 2010 in LSU’s Tiger Stadium. It briefly moved to New Orleans, but returned to Baton Rouge last year. Faced with declining ticket sales over the years, festival organizers yesterday announced it was on hiatus until further notice.
Today is National Plan Your Vacation Day and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says the state has been busy marketing itself to visitors from outside of Louisiana but also encourages residents to take a staycation in their home state. Nungesser says last year nearly nine million days of vacation went un-used in Louisiana.
Cut 7 (08) “…here in Louisiana.”
“LouisianaStaycation.com” to find out more.
********
Shreveport Police arrest two of their own on charges related to off-duty activities. Officer Delandro Washington is accused of making violent threats to his estranged wife via text and telephone. Officer Jaquerus Turner is accused of domestic abuse battery. Both are on administrative leave pending investigations.
Bo Pelini is back as LSU’s defensive coordinator. In 2007 he helped the Tigers win a national championship and returns to Baton Rouge after heading coaching stops at Nebraska and Youngstown State. Safety Craig Steltz was an All-American on that 2007 team and says it’s great to have Coach Bo back…
Cut 13 (08) “…be successful.”
Some LSU fans wonder how he’ll mesh with Ed Orgeron’s coaching staff. Steltz expects Pelini will work well with Coach O.

Bo Pelini is returning for a second stint as defensive coordinator at LSU. Pelini guided the Tigers defense from 2005 to 2007 and left to be the head coach at Nebraska after the Bayou Bengals won the 2008 BCS National Championship. Pelini is known as a fiery coach and some LSU fans wonder how he’ll mesh with Ed Orgeron’s coaching staff. Former Tigers safety Craig Steltz played for Pelini at LSU and expects Coach Bo will work well with Coach O….
cut 15 (12) “…I’m excited”
Pelini’s contract is reportedly three years at two-point-three million dollars a year, which will make him the second highest paid assistant coach in college football.

The Pelicans are at Cleveland tonight. A good chance for the Pels to get a win as the Cavs have the third worst record in the NBA.

_______________________________________________________________________

LSU basketball’s eight game winning streak has caught the attention of voters. The Tigers are back in the A-P Top 25 poll y are ranked 22nd. LSU is 24th in the coaches poll. The Bayou Bengals put their undefeated SEC record on the line tomorrow night when they host Alabama, who has won 10 of its last 13. Also LSU’s Trendon Watford has been named SEC Freshman of the Week after averaging 18 points a game in two victories last week.

Ragin Cajuns forward Jalen Johnson has been named Sun Belt men’s basketball player of the week. Johnson had a career-high 27 points in an 81-60 win over ULM on Saturday.

McNeese forward Sha’Markus Kennedy is the Southland Men’s basketball player of the week for a second straight week. Kennedy averaged 32 points and 10 rebounds a game last week. The Cowboys have won six in a row and host second-place Nicholls tomorrow and rival Lamar on Saturday.

And McNeese is searching for a new athletics director as Bruce Hemphill is transitioning to a new role.