The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services warns that unless more funding is approved in the special session, that the food stamps program will be shut down. The money on SNAP cards comes from the feds, but the state has to foot much of the administrative bill, and the current budget leaves no money for it. Secretary Marketa Walters says people who receive SNAP benefits don’t have the income to feed their family. She says the loss of this program would be a disaster.

Cut 13 (10) “their children” 

A new state law allows Louisiana public school teachers up to 30 days of paid leave for the adoption process. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds, who sponsored it as a bill, says he wanted to see the burden put on families eased by the new legislation.

cut 8 (10) “…has been removed.”

A record setting amount of money was returned to a North Louisiana resident as part of the state’s Unclaimed Property Program. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

More tech jobs are coming to Louisiana with the recent announcement that Accruent will be coming to New Orleans.  Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the tech center is expected to bring in 350 jobs into the Big Easy.

Cut 9 (10)  “…multiplier effect with this.”

The third special session of 2018 will begin next Monday. Governor John Bel Edwards is still looking for a fix to the fiscal cliff. The governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Carbo says after the legislature failed to replace a large portion of the 1.4 billion dollars in temporary taxes that expire June 30th, they had no choice but to give it one more try….
Cut 14 (11) “unfunded”

The Department of Children and Family Services warns that unless more funding is approved, the food stamps program will be shut down. The money on SNAP cards comes from the feds, but the state has to foot much of the administrative bill, and the current budget leaves no money for it. Secretary Marketa Walters says one in five Louisianans are at risk of going hungry.
Cut 12 (10) “about it”

The Louisiana Department of Treasury announces it has returned two-point-three million dollars to a north Louisiana resident. It’s the largest amount returned in the history of the Unclaimed Property Program. State Treasurer John Schroder says the money was from unclaimed oil royalities from a deceased relative. He says they also collect old bank accounts, insurance proceeds, utility deposits and other business funds…
cut 5 (10) “..our webiste”

A tech firm out of Austin, Texas, announces plans to open an office in New Orleans, which will lead to 350 more jobs in the Central Business District. Accruent plans to begin commerical operations later this month and the first has already started hiring.

A third special session of 2018 will begin next Monday and once again legislators will be asked to replace expiring sales taxes in an effort to avoid deep budget cuts. During the second special session, lawmakers approved a budget that contains over 500-million dollars in cuts. Governor Edwards signed the spending plan, Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Carbo explains why….
cut 16 (07) “…to take

Your child can now go to school with a bulletproof backpack as a result of legislation that passed in the regular session. West Monroe Senator Michael Walsworth hopes a child never has to use a bulletproof backpack, but if a shooter comes on campus, it could save a student’s life…
cut 9 (10) “….the child”

A North Louisianan got a huge surprise when the Treasury Department informed them that they were owed 2.3 million dollars as part of the state’s Unclaimed Property Program that returns uncollected money from estates to the next of kin. Treasurer John Schroder says he’s never seen anything like it.

Cut 3 (06) “in Louisiana”

Schroder says the state has collected 83 million dollars this year, and has managed to return nearly 30 million of it.

A new state law allows Louisiana public school teachers up to 30 days of paid leave for the adoption process. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds sponsored a package of bills promoting adoption after seeing families tackle the hurdles of the process during his campaign.

Cut 6 (09)  “…related to financial loss”

The change also applies to school social workers and school psychologists.

For the first time since its inception in 2001, the state may have to reduce enrollment to its taxpayer funded pre-k program. About 16-thousand students are enrolled in LA4. Superintendent of Education John White says state budget cuts are the reason for the reduction, but he hopes legislators will raise the necessary revenue to fully fund this program….

Cut 10 (09)   “…early childhood is one of them.”

Public school students can have a bulletproof backpack next school year as a result of a new state law. Republican Senator Mike Walsworth, who sponsored the bill, says it could protect students in the event of an active shooter on campus. But, if you are interested in obtaining one, you may need to act now to have one in time for the next school year.

Cut 7 (10)  “…the backpacks themselves”

Walsworth says even with a mesh backpack, you can purchase a kevlar plate to provide protection.

The state transportation department says 77 percent of the nearly 800 crashes annually along a notorious stretch of Interstate 10 just west of the Mississippi River are the result of drivers not paying attention. Kevin Barnhart has more.

Cut 1 (28)  I’m Kevin Barnhart“

The Louisiana Treasury Department returned 2.3 million dollars in Unclaimed Property toa north Louisianan in the largest property return in the department’s history. Treasurer John Schroder is encouraging people to come get their money, as the state is sitting on over 800 million in unclaimed property.

This year’s special session trilogy is set to begin its final chapter June 18th. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (31) ” I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor John Bel Edwards announced this morning that Austin, Texas, based Accruent will bring 350-jobs to New Orleans as the tech company plans to open an office in the city’s Central Business District. Accruent has already started hiring and is expected to reach full employment in New Orleans by 2020.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is looking at alternative ways to promote the state’s new tourism slogan, “Feed Your Soul,” as the state agency could be impacted by budget cuts. Nungesser says he’s talking to LSU, about having a Feed Your Soul logo visible along the sidelines at Tiger Stadium and also looking towards the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board to assist with marketing efforts as well …
Cut 13 (08) “…in Louisiana”

The state department of transportation reports there are 800 accidents every year just west of Baton Rouge on interstate 10. The DOTD has taken multiple measures to ensure the safety along this stretch of highway. Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says it also comes down to the responsibility of drivers….
Cut 5 (10) “…and for others”
Mallet says that 77 percent of the 800 accidents are from people not paying attention.

Bulletproof backpacks can be brought into public schools this year thanks to legislation approved in the regular session. West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth authored the legislation and he says due to demand, he’s heard there’s a wait to purchase the protective gear. Walsworth says even with a mesh backpack, you can purchase a kevlar plate to provide protection…
cut 8 (11) “….through that pretty easily”
Bulletproof backpacks were previoulsy illegal in the classroom, because body armour was not allowed in public schools.

Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says an investigation into a double fatal home invasion in Denham Springs has taken some interesting turns and his detectives are following the evidence. Ard has not released the identities of the two people killed. The sheriff has increased patrols in the area.

The Edwards administration is gearing up for a third special session of 2018 as the governor will once again ask legislators to raise revenues to avoid cuts to TOPS, education, the food stamps program and the department of corrections. The governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Carbo says they were seven votes shy in the second special session of passing a bill to replace a half-penny of an expiring one-cent sales tax…
cut 15 (10) “…have passed”
The state’s tourism office is facing cuts as well. That will make it difficult for Louisiana to promote its new “Feed Your Soul” tourism campaign. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser may turn to college students, who love using social media…
Cut 12 (12) “in Louisiana”

A third special session of 2018 will begin next Monday and once again legislators will be asked to replace expiring sales taxes in an effort to avoid deep budget cuts. During the second special session, lawmakers approved a budget that contains over 500-million dollars in cuts. Governor Edwards signed the spending plan, Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Carbo explains why….
cut 16 (07) “…to take

The state department of education is one of several departments that will see a budget cut, unless additional revenues are not raised. State Superintendent of Education John White says based on the current budget for next fiscal year, L-A-four, which is a taxpayer-funded pre-k program would see a 10-to-20-percent cut, which means fewer students….
cut 11 (12) “….cut to LA 4”

There are nearly 800 crashes annually along a notorious stretch of Interstate 10 just west of the Mississippi River. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallet says a video recently released showcasing accident data on the agency’s Facebook page is a stern message to distracted drivers who are to blame for the lion’s share of the accidents.
Cut 4 (12) “…paying attention or tailgating.”
Mallet says that 77 percent of the 800 accidents are the result of distracted driving.

Authorities say a female suspect stole a Monroe police car yesterday and drove it on I-20 before crashing the vehicle in Lincoln Parish after hitting spike strips put in place by Louisiana State Police. Monroe P-D says the incident started when an officer attempted to arrest the suspect, she ended up manipulating the hand restraints and took off with the cruiser.

The third special session of 2018 will begin a week from today and must end June 27th. Governor John Bel Edwards is still looking for a fix to the fiscal cliff. The governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Carbo says after the legislature failed to replace a large portion of the 1.4 billion dollars in temporary taxes that expire June 30th, they had no choice but to give it one more shot….
Cut 14 (11) “unfunded”

Your child can now go to school with a bulletproof backpack as a result of legislation that passed in the regular session. West Monroe Senator Michael Walsworth hopes a child never has to use a bulletproof backpack, but if a shooter comes on campus, it could save a student’s life…
cut 9 (10) “….the child”

The state department of transportation is asking for the public’s help in reducing the number of crashes that happen on I-10 just west of the Mississippi River Bridge. Traffic usually slows up in that area and state department of transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they’ve found out that 77-percent of the 800 accidents that happen annually on that stretch of highway is the result of distracted driving…
cut 6 (05) “…in front of them”

A decomposing body of a female was found over the weekend on a levee in St. Landry Parish in Port Barre. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz told a Lafayette TV station the victim is a missing person out of St. Martin Parish, but there has been no public release of her identity.

The state legislature will begin a third special session of 2018 on June 18th. Governor John Bel Edwards is giving legislators one more opportunity before the new fiscal year begins July 1st to address the fiscal cliff. Edwards is hoping legislators can pass a revenue raising tax bill by 6 PM June 27th to replace a portion of the more than one-billion dollars in temporary taxes that expire June 30th.

Without additional revenue, the TOPS scholarship program will be cut 30-percent and public colleges would see a 25-percent reduction in state funding.

Louisiana corrections Secretary Jimmy Leblanc says his department would be forced to release at least 10-thousand non-sexual and non-violent prisoners after July 1st, because of a reduction in state funding.
cut 13 (11) “…four prisons”

A CDC report reveals Louisiana has seen a massive spike in suicides since 1999. Connor Ferrill has more.
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Connor Ferrill”

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is optimistic the Water Resources Development Act can help move along flood, hurricane and coastal projection projects. Graves says language in the bill gives state and local governments the opportunity build projects that are currently assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers…
cut 9 (08) “….more efficient”
Gaves says this legislation heading to the Senate can save millions of dollars and years of delays.

Governor John Bel Edwards has called his third special session of 2018. It will begin June 18th and must end June 27th. Edwards is still looking for a fix to the fiscal cliff. The governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Carbo says after the legislature failed to replace a large portion of the 1.4 billion dollars in temporary taxes that expire June 30th, they had no choice but to give it one more shot….
Cut 14 (11) “unfunded”
Without additional tax revenue, TOPS is facing a 30 percent cut, and higher ed, corrections, district attorneys, pre-k education, and other state services would be on the block for deep reductions starting July 1st.

The House Republican Legislative Delegation has told Governor Edwards that they can’t support additional taxes without spending reforms.

The man in charge of the state’s prison system says over 10-thousand inmates could be released unless additional revenue is raised…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana’s suicide rate is up 29 percent since 1999 according to the CDC. Louisiana’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator Danita Leblanc says a disturbing statistic is contained in the report that looks at all 50 states.
Cut 5 (08) “mental illness”