Forecasters continue to watch a low pressure system near Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula that could bring the Gulf Coast wet weather for the Memorial Day Holiday. Invest 90L is being given about a 60 percent chance of developing into at least a tropical depression in the central or eastern Gulf. State Climatologist Barry Keim
Cut 6 (11) “whole weekend”
Keim says there’s no anticipation of this storm developing into a hurricane.

A new report shows Louisiana’s prison population had one of the biggest declines in the nation at five percent from 2016-2017. State Department of Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc is proud to report that it has not led to an increase in crime…
cut 10 (10) “…that’s important”

New Orleans will host a record-tying 11th Super Bowl in 2024 after an unanimous vote by the N-F-L’s owners. The Big Easy was the only city asked to bid and Saints Owner Gayle Benson made the official presentation this morning. Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President Jay Cicero says the NFL used to have multiple teams bidding for one Super Bowl, but they changed its bidding process, because…
cut 5 (09) “….elected officials”
2013 was the last time New Orleans hosted a Super Bowl and the economic impact that year was 480-million dollars.

With an 8-5 victory over Mississippi State last night, the LSU Tigers are now in the double elimination portion of the SEC Tournament. They’ll face top ranked Florida later today. Ma’Khail Hilliard starts on the mound for LSU.

A big win for the Big Easy as the city has been awarded the 2024 Super Bowl. New Orleans officials say the last Super Bowl, in 2013, had a 480 million dollar economic impact, and Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President Jay Cicero confirmed that the city and state had to provide an economic incentive package to seal the deal.

Cut 4 (10) “five days”

A Marshall Project report shows Louisiana saw its largest drop in prison population in a decade between 2016 and 2017. The 1,943 person decrease is a 5.4 drop in the total population, one of the biggest drops in the nation. State Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says it’s a testament to recent criminal justice reforms.

Cut 9 (09) “with it.”

In 2012 Louisiana was named the world’s “Prison Capital”.

Vacation once held the luxury of being offline, but more workers are admitting they cannot stop checking into the office. A recent study by staffing firm Accountemps reports that 56-percent of vacationing workers check in with the office. Spokesperson Carrie Lewis advises we set our own limits.

Cut 6 (10) “set limits”

Speaker Taylor Barras ripped into the Governor for holding his special session opening speech at ULL, calling it a political stunt. Barras accused the Governor of resisting bipartisan offers, and being personally responsible for legislative gridlock of the regular session. He went after the governor, who he says is trying to scare Louisianans into higher taxes, with a little one liner.

Cut 12 (11) “heard taxes”

The session is set to run until June 4^th.

A big win for the Big Easy as the city has been awarded the 2024 Super Bowl. For years teams have been required to big against each other each year for the honor, but the NFL made a big change this time when New Orleans was the only city that was invited to compete for the league’s biggest economic gift. Saints owner Gayle Benson says Tom would have been proud.

Cut 3, 10 seconds, legacy alive

The special session is underway and lawmakers can now replace one-point-four-billion dollars in sales taxes that are set to expire June 30th. Those expiring sales taxes are at the heart of the impending fiscal cliff that threatens to wreck healthcare and higher ed. But LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says don’t expect a deal to be reached any time soon.

Cut 10 (11)   “possibility”

Reports say a consensus is building around a compromise plan to renew a portion of the one cent sales tax that was raised two years ago to plug the last fiscal cliff.

CGI, an international tech company, has announced a big expansion, bringing 400 new jobs to the Lafayette area as part of its IT Center of Excellence. Another Lafayette Parish site will add an additional 100 jobs, bringing the company’s total to 900 employees in Acadiana. Louisiana Secretary of Economic Development Don Pierson says the expansion comes down to ULL’s partnership with the company.

Cut 14 (08) “paying jobs”

Vacation once held the luxury of being offline, but more workers are admitting they cannot stop checking into the office. A recent study by staffing firm Accountemps reports that 56-percent of vacationing workers check in with the office.  Spokesperson Carrie Lewis says 70-percent of respondents ages 18-34 will keep in touch with work, while only 39-percent of 55 and older respondents staying plugged in.

Cut 5  (12)  “habit”

Another special session is back on after a failed attempt in February to solve the fiscal cliff. Michael Farrar has more.
Cut 3 (32) “I’m Michael Farrar”

New Orleans will host the Super Bowl in 2024 for a record tying 11th time. NFL owners made the decision after hearing a presentation from Saints owner Gayle Benson.

LSU legendary football player Billy Cannon will be laid to rest today. A public vistiation begins at noon at the Maravich Center on the LSU campus.

An LSU Pennington Biomedical Research study finds improved blood pressure and blood sugar in individuals who eat all of their meals in a six-hour period and finish by mid-afternoon. Researchers found their fasting diet improved insulin sensitivity, but co-author of the report, Doctor Eric Ravussin says this type of dietary plan may not work for everyone, specifically those who engage in strenuous early morning activity.
cut 9 (08) “…fitting all”

Canadian tech giant C-G-I announces it will hire over 400 more workers in Lafayette by 2023, bringing C-G-I’s total employment to 900. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the jobs will be located at UL Lafayette’s Research Park facility….
cut 15 (11) ‘…the state”

Today is the first full day of the special session that’s been called to address the fiscal cliff and Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras says Governor John Bel Edwards’ scare tactics will not lead to new taxes….
cut 12 (11) “…heard taxes”
Over a billion dollars in temporary taxes are set to expire June 30th, Governor Edwards hopes legislators will approve legislation to replace about 650-million dollars in expiring taxes.

Meanwhile, Governor Edwards has a big economic development announcement involving a global technology firm in Lafayette…
cut 16 (19) “…2023”
C-G-I solves complex business and I-T challenges for clients.

A new study out of LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center shows health benefits for people who only eat early in the day….
Cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

Saints Owner Gayle Benson goes before the NFL owners today, asking them to approve New Orleans has a Super Bowl host site in 2024.

The National Hurricane Center says a sub-tropical or tropical depression could form this weekend over the eastern or central Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters say we could see heavy rain from the Central to the Eastern Gulf Coast through the Memorial Day weekend.

In a video message, Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras calls it “political theater” Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards’ decision to begin the special session by delivering a speech on the UL Lafayette campus. Barras also blames the governor for resisting bipartisan efforts and being responsible for legislative gridlock…
cut 11 (12) “….new taxes”
Barras also says the governor’s decision to veto a budget approved by lawmakers can make it difficult to pass another budget, plus raise revenue to stave off cuts during a two-week special sesion which begins its first full day today. Yesterday, Edwards asked legislators to stay away from divisive partianship.

We’ll find out today if New Orleans will host the Super Bowl in 2024. A vote by the NFL owners will take place this morning in Atlanta.

A pilot study from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center shows a noticeable, positive drop in blood pressure and blood sugar when restricting your eating to early in the day. The study had participants restrict eating to 6 hours a day, starting in the morning. Associate Executive Director for Clinical research Dr. Eric Ravussin has a suggestion if you’re interested in trying out fasting.
Cut 7 (05) “at night”
Researchers say eating late at night is bad for the metabolism.

When you go on vacation, do you still check in on work. A study from Accountemps finds that 56-percent of Americans do. Spokesperson Carrie Lewis says their study found millennials are more prone to being tethered to their phone, while only 39-percent of 55 and older respondents stay plugged in….
cut 5 (12) “…habit”

State legislators are seeking a solution to avoid going over the fiscal cliff, which would result in big cuts in state government. Jeremy Alford of La-Politics-dot-com says there is some consensus around a plan to renew a portion of a temporary one-cent sales tax that’s set to expire June 30th….
cut 13 (10) “…quarter penny”
The special session on taxes must conclude June 4th.

An LSU Pennington Biomedical Research pilot study finds that by restricting your eating to six hours a day and finishing meals by mid-afternoon, it can help drop your blood pressure. Clinical research Doctor Eric Ravussin says fasting helps cut back on the unhealthy habit of snacking….
cut 8 (10) “…designed for”

G-C-I, a tech company in Lafayette, is adding 400 new jobs in a planned expansion. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…reporting”

Lafayette’s Antoine Duplantis had three hits and drove in two runs as LSU defeated Mississippi State 8-5 to advance to play top ranked Florida today in the SEC Tournament.

The sixth special session since Governor John Bel Edwards took office is underway. Edwards opened the session on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus, as public colleges are at risk of budget cuts, unless legislators approve 648-million dollars in taxes. Edwards hopes the legislature can come together on a plan…
Cut 12 (12) “deserve”
UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross expects any tax plan that comes out of the special session to only be a temporary solution…
cut 11 (11) “…2020″
The special session comes to an end June 4th, but there are already concerns whether two weeks is enough time to pass a budget and revenue raising measures in two weeks.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical disturbance in the Caribbean, which is expected to impact the Gulf Coast during Memorial Day weekend. National Weather Service Slidell Meteorologist Danielle Manning says Louisiana could dodge the worst of it.
Cut 3 (07) “of Louisiana”
Forecasters give the system a medium chance of developing into at least a tropical storm when it reaches the Gulf of Mexico later this week.

For the second time this year, the Monroe Police Department lost an officer while on duty. Twenty-six-year-old Ayrian Williams died last night in a car crash while responding to a call. Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo…
cut 8 (08) “…Monroe police department”
In January, Officer Chris Beaudoin was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash. Williams joined Monroe P-D last November after graduating from LSU and then serving as a Southern University Police officer. She’s a native of New Orleans.

Another special session to solve the fiscal cliff started today. Governor John Bel Edwards says this is the last chance for lawmakers to approve revenue raising measures to avoid deep cuts when temporary taxes expire on June 30th…
cut 13 (13) “….tourism”
Instead of giving the opening address to a session with a speech in front of lawmakers at the State Capitol, the Democratic Governor spoke on the campus of University of Louisiana at Lafayette. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Edwards is hoping to draw attention to the importance of higher ed….
cut 9 (09) “…chopping block”
The special session must end June 4th.

The National Hurricane Center says an area of disturbed weather has a medium chance of development once it reaches the Gulf of Mexico…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A 26-year-old Monroe Police Officer was killed in a single vehicle wreck last night. Police Chief Eugene Ellis says 26-year-old Ayrian Williams was in her patrol vehicle…
Cut 6 (09) “large tree”
Williams was an LSU grad who worked as a Southern University Police Officer before taking a job with Monroe P-D just over six months ago

The sixth special session since Governor John Bel Edwards took office is underway. Don Molino reports the governor is optimistic this one will be successful…
voicer 2 (30) “….I’m Don Molino”

A February special session to address the fiscal cliff did not accomplish anything, so will this one be more successful. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross….
cut 10 (09) “…governor wants”

A 26-year-old Monroe Police Officer died in a single-vehicle crash last night. Ayrian Williams was an LSU grad and New Orleans native who worked at the Southern Campus Police Department before taking a job with Monroe P-D last November. Police Chief Eugene Ellis says Officer Williams had a great reputation and had the talent to work anywhere.
Cut 7 (09) “police department”
Williams is the second Monroe officer to die in the line of duty this year.

If you are heading to beach this Memorial Day weekend, you might want to keep an eye on the Gulf as forecasters are predicting a tropical weather system could impact the Gulf coast this weekend, anywhere from Louisiana to Florida. Danielle Manning with the National Weather Service in Slidell….
cut 5 (11) ‘…gulf coast”