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”

Governor John Bel Edwards has issued the call for a third special session. It will begin June 18th 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 that ended earlier this year, lawmakers approved a budget that contains over 500-million dollars. Governor John Bel Edwards announced he signed the spending plan, Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Carbo explains why….
cut 16 (07) “…to take”

The Louisiana Department of Corrections warns unless additional tax revenue is raised by June 30th, thousands of inmates will be released. Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says his department is facing a nearly 63-million dollar reduction in state funding and it’s not like corrections can cut back on staff.
Cut 12 (08) “look at”

Louisiana has seen a 29 percent increase in the suicide rate since 1999. That’s according to a CDC report that revealed national suicide rates have skyrocketed over the last two decades. Louisiana Department of Health Suicide Prevention Coordinator Danita Leblanc says the state, and country, need to beef up their suicide detection efforts, increase the amount of mental health education, and expand mental health services, but that’s tough to do under a budget crunch.
Cut 6 (08) “to deliver”

Four West Monroe men have been arrested in connection with Wednesday night’s shooting death of 17 year old Hannah Crenshaw, who was shot in the front yard of her West Monroe home. Chris Williams, Jeterrius Patrick, Cortez Williams, all in their early 20s, and 35-year-old Paul Tillman, were charged with Criminal Conspiracy and 2nd Degree Murder. The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office says the investigation continues.

As expected, Governor John Bel Edwards will bring legislators back to Baton Rouge for another special session. It will start June 18 and must at 6 PM on June 27. It’s the third time this year the governor has called a special session for legislators to pass tax bills to replace a portion of the over 1-billion dollars in temporary sales taxes that are set to expire June 30th.

Edwards also signed a budget that will go into effect on July 1st. It contains over 500-million dollars in cuts.

A large group of Fiscal conservatives in the House have been pushing to reduce government spending and have been blocking the sales tax legislation

A Sabine Parish pastor was killed while jogging after he was struck by a pickup truck driven by a teenager. State Police Master Trooper Scott Moreau says the driver from Many was charged with careless operation and he was transported to a local hospital following the collision.

Cut 4  (07) “…dead on the scene.”

The man in charge of the state’s prison system says over 10-thousand inmates could be released unless additional revenue is not raised. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m I’m Jeff Palermo” 

US Congressman Garret Graves says legislation is getting close to passage that would allow local governments to take over flood protection and coastal restoration projects from the Corps of Engineers. He says it help clear a massive backlog of work.

cut 8 (11) “for decades.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has issued the call for the year’s third special session that will kick off June 18^th, at 4PM, and must wrap up by 6PM on June 27^th. The Governor also signed transparency legislation. One of the transparency bills is Louisiana Checkbook, which would create an online resource that allows Louisianans to drill deep into agency budgets, and track every expenditure.

Edwards also put pen to a legislatively passed budget that, if not funded, would result in a 30 percent cut to TOPS, a 96 million dollar reduction in higher ed, and cuts across the board to state agencies.

The Louisiana Department of Corrections is warning that unless additional tax revenue is raised by June 30th, thousands of inmates will be released. Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc:

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”

Congressman Graves says Their close to passing the 2018  Water Resources and Development Act that would allow local governments to take over funds for the execution of protection projects from the Corps of Engineers. Congressman Graves says it’d be big for the state.

Cut 10 (10) “river region”

Louisiana has seen a 29 percent increase in the suicide rate since 1999, that according to a CDC report that revealed national suicide rates have skyrocketed over the last two decades. Louisiana Department of Health Suicide Prevention Coordinator Danita Leblanc says the state, and country, need to beef up their suicide detection efforts, increase the amount of mental health education, and expand mental health services, but that’s tough to do under a budget crunch.

Cut 6 (08)  “to deliver”

The Louisiana Department of Corrections is warning that unless additional tax revenue is raised by June 30th, thousands of inmates will be released. Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says  they can’t absorb that kind of budget cut, because it’s not like corrections can cut back on staff.

Cut 12 (08)   “look at”

The current budget, without additional funds, would require a nearly 63-million dollar cut to corrections.

US Congressman Garret Graves says they’re one step closer to a massive reform of the way the feds handle flooding and hurricane protection projects. The 2018 Water Resources and Development Act would allow local governments to take over funds for the execution of protection projects from the Corps of Engineers. Graves says passing this bill would speed up construction of some desperately needed hurricane protection and coastal restoration plans.

Cut 10 (10) “river region”

Four people have been arrested in the shooting death of a 17 year old West Monroe girl. Hannah Crenshaw was shot in the front yard of her home Wednesday night. Chris Williams, Jeterrius Patrick, Cortez Williams, all in their early 20s, and 35-year-old Paul Tillman, all of West Monroe, were charged with Criminal Conspiracy and 2^nd Degree Murder.

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”

A Sabine Parish pastor was killed while jogging after he was struck by a pickup truck driven by a teenager. Troopers responded to the crash Thursday morning on Highway 6. State Police Master Trooper Scott Moreau says a 17 year old male was behind the wheel of a Chevy pickup that struck 46-year-old Matthew Haggard….
Cut 3 (07) “…on the westbound shoulder”
Moreau says the driver from Many was charged with careless operation.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the House approved legislation that reforms how flooding and hurricane protection projects are completed. The 2018 Water Resources and Development Act would allow local governments to take over funds for the execution of protection projects from the Corps of Engineers. Graves says this could help knock out a 100 billion dollar backlog.
cut 8 (11) “for decades.”
The measure heads to the US Senate.