The latest report from the Louisiana Survey shows many residents believe income tax rates have increased, but that’s not the case. Director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab Dr. Mike Henderson says many residents are also confused on the sales tax rate. He says 40% incorrectly believe the state sales tax rate is higher than one year ago. It actually went down about a half-a-cent. However, 60% correctly said the sales tax is higher than four years ago

Cut 4 (05) “…the Edwards administration.”
During the Jindal administration, the state’s sales tax rate was four-percent, it’s now around 4.5-percent.
Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton has a bill that would enforce pay equality between men and women in Louisiana’s private sector. Currently only public sector employers must pay women the same as men for equal work. According to a report Louisiana ranks 48th in pay equality, and Norton says something must be done.

Cut 9 (10) “…their work”

20 percent of the Bayou State has ordered their groceries online for delivery or pickup, part of a growing trend nationwide. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

A father has been arrested on numerous charges after his seven-year daughter was killed in a single vehicle wreck in the Donaldsonville area last night. State Police Trooper Taylor Scrantz says 25-year-old DeVontae Sanders had three kids in the car, and they believe he was was impaired.
Cut 7 (10) “…local hospital”
The ages of the children that survived are three and four-year-olds and they were sent to separate hospitals with critical injuries.
The latest report from the Louisiana Survey shows many people throughout the state have a misunderstanding of taxes rates. Director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab Mike Henderson says 46% say the state income tax rates are higher than they were four years ago, and 32% say the rates are higher than last year.
Cut 3 (10) “…simply not true.”
Henderson says 40% incorrectly believe the state sales tax rate is higher than one year ago.
__________________
A report shows one in five Louisiana shoppers have either had their groceries delivered or done some curb side pickup through online ordering at their local grocery. Curbside pickup is most popular in the southeast, but has low participation rates in California and the north east. Offers.com editor Kristen McGrath says the service caught up in our area because it was started by Walmart, and unlike densely packed urban centers, we’ve got space to spare.
Cut 11 (11) “…pickup.”
40 percent of those who chose curbside pickup chose Walmart, followed by local chains.
Police are hunting a suspect in the shooting of an Abbeville officer last night. Authorities have I’D a person of interest as Nahshon Ismael Brooks. The shooting occurred when a female officer was making a routine traffic stop Wednesday night, when the suspect allegedly fired two shots at the officer, and fled on foot. The officer is in stable condition with a collapsed lung. Brooks is considered armed and dangerous.

The search continues for a man who shot a female cop during a traffic stop in Abbeville last night. KLFY News reports the person of interest is Nahshon Ishmael Brooks. The officer is said to be in stable condition.

For the third time in the last 10 days, a church in St. Landry Parish has burned down. Investigators are on the scene after firefighters received a call about a fire at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas.

A father has been arrested on numerous charges after his seven-year daugther was killed in a single vehicle wreck in the Donaldsonville area last night. State Police Trooper Taylor Scrantz says they believe 25-year-old DeVontae Sanders of Donaldsonville was impaired….
Cut 6 (11) “…vehicle overturned”
Two other young children survived the crash but they sustained critical injuries. None of the kids were buckled up.

Is Louisiana on a path to financial disaster? Republican State Treasurer John Schroder thinks so….
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A survey from offers-dot-com finds that one in five Louisiana consumers have used either grocery delivery or curbside pickup, which is about the national average. But Kristen McGrath says only 42-percent of those place more than one order a month for the service….
cut 12 (09) “…grocery run”
The average amount spent on an online order is about 110 dollars.

A report shows one in five Louisiana shoppers have either had their groceries delivered or did curb side pickup through online ordering with a local grocery store. Offers.com editor Kristen McGrath says most services come with a fee and a one to two hour wait time, but it definitely has its perks.
Cut 10 (09) “…delivery.”
The survey showed the top concern about online ordering was that folks can’t inspect the produce, and that it might be spoiled.

Strong storms are moving through southeast Louisiana this morning. Matt Hemingway is a forecaster with the National Weather Service…
cut 8 (09) “….the remainder”
Severe weather in northwest Louisiana has knocked out power for hundreds of SWEPCO customers.

And in St. Landry Parish, firefighters are on the scene of another church fire, the third one in the parish since March 26th.

Republican State Treasurer John Schorder believes the state is headed for financial disaster, because the Edwards administration is failing to say no to more government spending and mathematics indicate a crash is coming…
cut 14 (09) “…their max”
In an interview with USA Today Network, Governor Edwards dismissed Schroder’s claims as political posturing.

Cajun Navy Relief will hold its second annual Search and Rescue Games on Saturday in the Jefferson Davis Parish town of Welsh. The event will also feature hands-on training for those who want to give involved in the organiziation. Cajun Navy Relief President Shawn Boudreaux says for the competition part, they’ll have three divisions and participants will compete for prizes…
cut 6 (09) “…prizes as well”
For more information go to Cajun-Navy-Relief-dot-com.

In Abbeville, the search continues for the suspect after a female police officer was shot. The officer was making a routine traffic stop Wednesday night when the suspect fired two shots at the officer and then fled on foot. The officer was airlifted to a local hospital and KLFY-TV reports that she is listed in stable condition with a collapsed lung. The male suspect is considered armed and dangerous.

20 percent of the Bayou State has ordered their groceries online for delivery or pickup, part of a growing trend nationwide. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

State Treasurer John Schroder is criticizing Governor Edwards and says he’s putting the state on course for financial disaster.

Schroder suggested that the government could benefit from voting for more business-minded people in public office.

Cut 15 (11) “…to do that.”

In an interview with USA Today Network, Governor Edwards dismissed Schroder’s claims as political posturing.

The Cajun Navy Relief will host the second annual Search and Rescue Games Saturday in Westlake. The event features hands-on training for participants with real-life scenarios. Cajun Navy Relief President Shawn Boudreaux says this time of year is the organization’s offseason, so it’s a great time to recruit those interested in disaster relief.

Cut 5 (10) “…us during disaster.”

Is the Louisiana on a path to financial disaster?  Republican State Treasurer John Schroder thinks so.  Kevin Barnhart has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The suspect is considered armed and dangerous as the search continues for the man who shot Abbeville police officer. A female police officer was making a routine traffic stop Wednesday night when the suspect fired two shots at the officer and then fled on foot. KLFY-TV reports the officer was airlifted to a local hospital and she is listed in stable condition with a collapsed lung.

We’re experiencing thunderstorms across the state today despite a few weeks of mild weather. Strong storms across the state this morning are expected to last into the afternoon. National Weather Service Forecaster Matt Hemmingway says expect our current situation to become more of the norm.

Cut 9 (06) “…in Louisiana.″

For those that have the desire to help others following natural disasters, Cajun Navy Relief will host the second annual Search and Rescue Games Saturday in Westlake. The event will feature hands-on training including mock rescues, dispatch simulation, and boater response in an effort to train volunteers for real scenarios.  Cajun Navy Relief President Shawn Boudreaux…

Cut 4 (08) “…exposure to boaters.”

Boudreaux says this time of year is the organization’s offseason, so it’s a great time to recruit those interested in disaster relief.

It comes as no suprise that LSU freshman big man Naz Reid has announced he’s entering the NBA draft and forgoing the rest of his college eligibilty. Reid is the Tigers first one-and-done player since Ben Simmons, who left at the conclusion of the 2016 season. Reid could be the first of several Tigers who leave for the NBA. Tremont Waters is likely to declare for the draft and freshman Javonte Smart and Emmit Williams might also leave.

LSU interim head coach Tony Benford denies reports he’s taking an assistant coaching job at Texas A-and-M. Benford’s good friend Buzz Williams has been named the head coach of the Aggies sparking speculation Benford would leave Baton Rouge for College Station. But Benford tells the Advocate he remains committed to the LSU program.

Julius Randle had 34 points but it wasn’t enough as the Pelicans lost to the Charlotte Hornets 115 to 109 last night. Just three games left in the regular season.

LSU baseball won its fourth straight last night and for the second straight night it was a shutout victory. Five LSU pitchers combined to throw a four-hit shutout in a two to nothing win over South Alabama. Ma’Khail Hilliard started and struck out five over three innings. Trent Vietmeier was the winning pitcher as he threw two shutout innings and Devin Fontenot earned the save. Antoine Duplantis had two more hits and drove in one run.

Louisiana Tech downed McNeese 10 to four. Both Parker Bates and Steele Netterville each hit two home runs.

The Ragin Cajuns scored five runs in the sixth inning and defeated Southeastern Louisiana nine to eight. Tremaine Spears had a two-run homer and Todd Lott extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

Northwestern State blanked Mississippi Valley State nine to nothing as Jerry Maddox pitched five shutout innings to get the win.

Mississippi State clobbered ULM 21 to 8 and it was Louisiana College over Centenary 10 to three.

Louisiana is in for some nasty weather today statewide, heavy precipitation and winds could spawn severe weather. National Weather Service forecaster Matt Hemmingway says its classic warm air meets cool air situation.

Cut 7 (12) “…hours”

State Treasurer John Schroder is criticizing Governor Edwards for growing government at a faster pace than revenues are coming in. Schroder says Louisiana is on course for financial disaster.  Schroder says he is tired of hearing about how great everything is.

Cut 13 (10) “…is just wonderful.”

Edwards has responded by saying if Schroder doesn’t believe the state is in a better place than three years ago, he needs a reality check.

In Abbeville the search continues for the suspect after a female police officer was shot. The officer was making a routine traffic stop Wednesday night when the suspect fired two shots at the officer and then fled on foot. The officer was airlifted to a local hospital and KLFY-TV reports that she is listed in stable condition with a collapsed lung.  Multiple law enforcement agencies are assisting with the search for the suspect and Louisiana State Police are investigating the shooting.

The natural disaster relief volunteer organization known as Cajun Navy Relief is holding the second annual Search and Rescue Games Saturday in Westlake.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (27) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The Louisiana Department of Health announces 30-thousand individuals have been removed from the Medicaid program, because they make too much money. LDH spokesperson Bob Johannessen says 40-thousand Medicaid enrollees were informed in February they could lose their insurance coverage, unless they could show that they still met the program’s income requirements Cut 10 (09)“…for Medicaid” Johanessen says the state has a new computer system that can conduct eligibility checks every quarter, instead of every year and it also uses more wage data… Cut 11 (06) “are eligible” Johanessen says those who lost their taxpayer funded health insurance are working adults, who have experienced a rise in income who may have recently joined the workforce, or got a small pay bump that put them just outside the qualifying level. ____________________________ The Louisiana Good Roads Association says the state should steer clear of toll roads as a way to raise more funds to build highway projects. President Kenneth Perret says toll roads have generated a lot of money in places like Houston, but only because that city has a large population. Cut 6 (10) “…in it” He says unlike in Florida and Texas, Louisiana generally only has rush hour periods of intense traffic volume, which leads to underwhelming toll collections that would likely scare away potential investors, or the state which would hope to recoup the cost. The arraignment hearing of the five arrested in connection with the murder of Chandler Erskine and attempted murder of another in Oak Grove in January took place today. Of those, Wesley Freeman and James Turner were each charged with one count of First Degree Murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon. Both pleaded not guilty. The trial is set for October.

An Infrastructure advocate is speaking out against calls for toll roads to pay for infrastructure, instead of raising the gas tax. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The arraignment hearing of the five arrested in connection with a murder in Oak Grove in January took place today.  Of those, Wesley Freeman and James Turner were each charged with one count of First Degree Murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon.  Both pleaded not guilty. Pretrial is set for next month, with trial is set for October.

The State Fire Marshal and ATF are investigating three church fires in the span of a week, two in St. Landry Parish, the other in Vivian in north Louisiana.  Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the first fire was a significant one and occurred in the early morning hours of March 26^th at the St. Mary’s Baptist Church in Port Barre.
Cut 3 (10) “…go in that.”
The second fire happened over the weekend in the Shreveport area.  The third occurred early Tuesday morning. Both churches destroyed in St. Landry Parish were historically black Baptist churches. Investigators say it’s too early to say if there is a connection between any of the fires.
Motorists traveling on I-10 near Baton Rouge received a surprise this morning when a small plane landed next to the interstate. The plane reportedly took off from Baton Rouge Regional Airport and it was supposed to land at Louisiana Regional near Donaldsonville. But State Police Trooper Taylor Scrantz says during the short flight the Piper Cherokee began to experience engine failure…

Cut 13 (07) “…he could”