United States Senator John Kennedy is asking the state legislature to hold off on voting a bill that extends Harrah’s New Orleans Casino’s contract with the state for 30 years. Kennedy says media reports that Harrah’s is considering selling the property so the state could unwittingly increase Harrah’s selling price by extending the contract.

Cut 6 (13)  “to me”

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican who is Louisiana’s senior senator, has joined calls for fellow Republican Secretary of State Tom Schedler to resign, amid allegations he sexually harassed an employee for years.

“Increasingly it appears the allegations against Secretary Schedler are true,” Cassidy, of Baton Rouge, said in a statement to The Advocate Monday evening. “He should resign..”

Former Baton Rouge police officer Blane Salamoni, who was involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, is now facing a battery charge from a separate arrest that took place one month before the shooting. Salamoni’s attorney John Mclindon was asked about possible jail time for his client. Mclindon says this new charge against Salamoni is window dressing for the police department.

Cut 4 (09) “I don’t know”

Over 900 farmers and ranchers are receiving grants averaging 9900 dollars for disaster recovery efforts resulting from the 2016 floods. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s long overdue.

Strain says the grants will fill a reimbursement gap for farmers who’ve suffered damages that were uninsured.

Cut 14 (12) “federal goverment”

Two current and two former Troopers have been arrested on various charges as part of a six month investigation into payroll fraud. The four men allegedly claimed bogus hours and wrote fraudulent tickets as part of a highway safety program funded by district attorneys. State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves says it’s a disappointing day…
Cut 10 (06) “their actions”
State Police launched an internal investigation after a New Orleans T-V station aired surveillance video that showed two Troopers filed for overtime pay for hours they didn’t work,.

Former Baton Rouge police officer Blane Salamoni, who was involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, is now facing a battery charge from a separate arrest that took place one month before the shooting. John Mclindon is Salamoni’s attorney and was asked about possible jail time for his client.
Cut 3 (07) “traditionally”
The Baton Rouge Police Department says body camera video shows Salamoni slapped a handcuffed man in the head in June of 2016.

A Hospital in Lafayette has sent out lay off warnings to 770 employees ahead of potential budget cuts that would close the facility. Michael Farrar has the story.
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

In order to avoid deep cuts to health care, it will likely take a special session to replace revenue from expiring sales taxes, which is why there’s such a huge shortfall. House GOP Caucus Chairman Lance Harris says the legislature will likely not increase income taxes….
cut 8 (08) “….being here”

University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette has notified 770 employees that they could be laid off, and the facility shut down under proposed spending plans that slashes state funding for public-private partnership hospitals. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says legislators need to find a budget solution sooner rather than later, as the indecision is stressing out the industry.

Cut 6 (10) “private sector”

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris is defending the House backed budget that funds education, but slashes healthcare, ahead of a special session that is expected to start mid may. The budget has come under fire for threatening to eliminate public-private partnership hospitals and residency programs, but Harris says he sees two options for funding those healthcare priorities: keeping a piece of the expiring one cent sales tax, and eliminating sales tax deductions for certain industries in an anticipated special session.

Cut 9 (11)  “to exceptions”

Two current and two former Troopers have been arrested on various charges as part of a six month investigation into payroll fraud. The four men allegedly claimed bogus hours and wrote fraudulent tickets as part of a highway safety program funded by district attorneys. State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves says this has been a long and unfortunate journey….

Cut 12 (09) “their actions”

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican who is Louisiana’s senior senator, has joined calls for fellow Republican Secretary of State Tom Schedler to resign, amid allegations he sexually harassed an employee for years.

“Increasingly it appears the allegations against Secretary Schedler are true,” Cassidy, of Baton Rouge, said in a statement to The Advocate Monday evening. “He should resign..”

Cassidiy joins a growing chorus of Republicans and Democrats, including Gov. John Bel Edwards, to urge Schedler to step down

Two State Police Troopers and two former troopers are on the other side of the law as they’ve been arrested on allegations they received overtime pay for hours they never worked. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette has notified 770 employees that they could be laid off, and the facility shut down under proposed spending plans that slashes state funding for public-private partnership hospitals. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the public-private system was created after Charity Hospitals were dismantled under the Jindal Administration, and focus on covering the underinsured.

Cut 5  (10)  “primary care”

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris is defending the House backed budget that funds education, but slashes healthcare, ahead of a special session that is expected to start mid may. The budget has come under fire for threatening to eliminate public-private partnership hospitals and residency programs. The Alexandria Republican anticipates a May 18^th special session being called by the governor to fill the 648 million dollar budget gap reflected in the House budget, but he says the legislature will likely not increase income taxes to replace expiring sales taxes.

Cut 8 (08)  “being here”

Over 900 farmers and ranchers are receiving grants averaging 9900 dollars for disaster recovery efforts resulting from the 2016 floods. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s long overdue.

Cut 15 (10) “document signed”

The Restore Louisiana Task Force allocated 10 million dollars in total for the grants, as part of the 1.7 billion dollars in recovery money the state received for the floods.

GOP House Caucus Chairman Lance Harris says it’s likely we’ll see a special session kick off May 18^th. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette has notified 770 employees that they could be laid off, and the facility shut down under proposed spending plans that slashes state funding for public-private partnership hospitals. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says they are not the only jobs at risk.

Cut 4  (09) “smaller locations” 

Over 900 farmers and ranchers are receiving grants averaging 9900 dollars for disaster recovery efforts resulting from the 2016 floods. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s long overdue.

Strain says the grants will fill a reimbursement gap for farmers who’ve suffered damages that were uninsured.

Two current and two former Troopers have been arrested on various charges as part of a six month investigation into payroll fraud. The four men allegedly claimed bogus hours and wrote fraudulent tickets as part of a highway safety program funded by district attorneys.

State Police launched an internal investigation into the actions of these troopers after a New Orleans T-V station showed surveillance video that showed two Troopers filed for overtime pay for hours they didn’t work. State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves says changes have been made to this ticket-writing program

Cut 11 (09) “working”

A Hospital in Lafayette has sent out lay off warnings to 770 employees ahead of potential budget cuts that would close the facility. Michael Farrar has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris is defending the House backed budget that funds education, but slashes healthcare, ahead of a special session that is expected to start mid may. The budget has come under fire for threatening to eliminate public-private partnership hospitals and residency programs, but Harris says it’s just a first step in long budget process that he expects will carry over into a special session.

Cut 7 (11)  “may happen”

Two current and two former Troopers have been arrested on various charges as part of a six month investigation into payroll fraud. The four men allegedly claimed bogus hours and wrote fraudulent tickets as part of a highway safety program funded by district attorneys. State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves says it’s a disappointing day…

Cut 10 (06) “their actions”

Over 900 farmers and ranchers are receiving grants averaging 9900 dollars for disaster recovery efforts resulting from the 2016 floods. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s long overdue.

Cut 13 (08)  “devastating flood” 

A Hospital in Lafayette has sent out lay off warnings to 770 employees ahead of potential budget cuts that would close the facility. Michael Farrar has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Two current and two former Troopers have been arrested on various charges as part of a six month investigation into payroll fraud. The four men allegedly claimed bogus hours and wrote fraudulent tickets as part of a highway safety program funded by district attorneys. State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves says it’s a disappointing day…

Cut 10 (06) “their actions”

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris is defending the House backed budget that funds education, but slashes healthcare, ahead of a special session that is expected to start mid may. The budget has come under fire for threatening to eliminate public-private partnership hospitals and residency programs, but Harris says it’s just a first step in long budget process that he expects will carry over into a special session.

Cut 7 (11)  “may happen”

Over 900 farmers and ranchers are receiving grants averaging 9900 dollars for disaster recovery efforts resulting from the 2016 floods. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s long overdue.

Cut 13 (08)  “devastating flood” 

Strain says the grants will fill a reimbursement gap for farmers who’ve suffered damages that were uninsured.

University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette has notified 770 employees that they could be laid off, and the facility shut down under proposed spending plans that slashes state funding for public-private partnership hospitals. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says they aren’t the only jobs at risk.

Cut 4  (09) “smaller locations” 

Dardenne says the public-private system was created after Charity Hospitals were dismantled under the Jindal Administration, and focus on covering the underinsured.

Cut 5  (10)  “primary care”

Dardenne says legislators need to find a budget solution sooner rather than later, as the indecision is stressing out the industry.

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris is defending the House budget despite its cuts, saying it’s just the first step in a long process that he expects will involve a special session starting on May 18^th to fill the 648 million dollar funding gap. The GOP has resisted replacing the expiring revue that will hit July 1^st, and as a result he says the legislature will likely not increase income taxes to replace expiring sales taxes.

Cut 8 (08)  “being here”

Harris says he would not support the income tax increase, because he fears it would offset what he says are the benefits of the federal tax overhaul.

Harris says he sees two options for funding those healthcare priorities: keeping a piece of the expiring one cent sales tax, and eliminating sales tax deductions for certain industries in an anticipated special session.

Cut 9 (11)  “to execptions”

Two current and two former Troopers have been arrested on various charges as part of a six month investigation into payroll fraud. The four men allegedly claimed bogus hours and wrote fraudulent tickets as part of highway safety program funded by district attorneys. State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves calls its a disappointing day for the department.

Severed heads in Texas and Louisiana have law enforcement officials wondering if there is a connection. Jim Shannon has more.
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

Baton Rouge Police is searching for an LSU cop who is wanted on a charge of second-degree battery after he allegedly hit a woman and then held her captive for several hours. B-R-P-D Sergeant Don Coppola says the victim survived the assault, but…
cut 12 (08) “…extensive damage”
The suspect has been identified as 25-year-old Samuel Ellis the Third.

Australian-based Syrah Resources has selected Vidalia in Concordia Parish as its preferred site for a 25-million dollar graphite facility. The plant will make materials for batteries in electric vehicles and other products. Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft says the project means 25 new jobs for his town….
cut 10 (09) “…its exciting”
Syrah Resources expects to start hiring later this year.

State Police announce two current and former Troopers have been arrested on charges that include theft, malfeance and filing false records. Authorities say they filed and altered records in order to receive more overtime pay as part of a program that provides them extra cash for traffic enforcement. Colonel Kevin Reeves calls it an extremely disappointing day for their agency.

An LSU police officer is being sought for allegedly battering his girlfriend and holding her hostage overnight. Twenty-five-year-old Samuel Ellis the Third is facing charges of 2nd Degree Battery and False Imprisonment as a result. Baton Rouge Police Spokesman Sgt. Don Coppola says it was a brutal crime.
Cut 11 (12) “he fled”
Coppola says Ellis had a handgun and rifle in his possession when left and he’s considered armed and dangerous.

Australian-based Syrah Resources announces plans of building a 25-million dollar graphite processing plante in Vidalia. Mayor Buz Craft hopes this economic development announcement will lead to more businesses coming to Concordia Parish…
cut 9 (12) “….this region”
The Syrah Resources facility will product products that will be used in commercial and automative batteries.

An unrestrained Deville teen was killed in a car crash Sunday morning around 4AM on LA Highway 8 in Grant Parish. State Police Master Trooper Scott Moreau says the tragedy occurred after the driver, 18-year-old Benjamin Williford, lost control…
Cut 3 (10) “overturning”
Moreau says a 20-year-old passenger survived the crash, because he was buckled up.