Governor John Bel Edward’s worst-case-scenario budget is making waves across the state, from both inside, and outside government. The budget is the result of the expiration of a billion dollars in sales taxes this summer, and Edwards says the revenue will need to be replaced to avoid the deep cuts. State Treasurer John Schroder says he doesn’t think the public is willing to pay more taxes…

Cut 4  (10) “more money ” 

Some good news on the unemployment front.  Louisiana’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.6 percent in December.  It’s been nearly ten years since the rate was that low.  It’s a one-point-four-percent decrease from December 2016.  The biggest job gains came in construction, manufacturing, leisure and hospitality and education and health services.

“Feed Your Soul” is the new brand Louisiana will use to promote tourism.  Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says they’re taking the slogan on the road in Atlanta, Houston, Dallas and Washington D.C. on Mardi Gras Day Feb. 13^th…

Cut 10 (08) “four areas.”

The new slogan replaces Pick Your Passion the state has used for the last seven years.

It’s been five years since New Orleans last hosted a Super Bowl.  Since then, the city has put in attractive bids to host the game for 2018 and 19, but lost to Minneapolis and Atlanta, with their new stadiums.  President and CEO of the New Orleans Sports Foundation Jay Cicero says they’re not sure what the NFL will be looking for when they ask for bids for Super Bowl 57 in 2023…

Cut 15 (08) “new stadium”

Governor John Bel Edward’s worst-case-scenario budget is making waves across the state. The budget is the result of the expiration of a billion dollars in sales taxes this summer, and Edwards says the revenue will need to be replaced to avoid the deep cuts. President of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Stephen Waguespack, says the governor is using scare tactics..:
Cut 7 (07) “about politics”
The state has until July 1st to address the fiscal cliff.

Super Bowl 52 in Minneapolis is right around the corner, so when will New Orleans host it’s 11th NFL Championship Game? President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, Jay Cicero, hopes The Big Easy will get to land one after 2022…:
Cut 16 (11) “to be determined”

A study from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research finds walking just ten minutes a day brings great health benefits. Jeff Palermo spoke with Dr. Tim Church:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Tulane Law School graduate Wendy Vitter was nominated by President Donald Trump Tuesday to fill a federal judgeship in New Orleans. Vitter was the campaign manager for her husband David Vitter’s three US House elections, and has served as general counsel for the Archdiocese of New Orleans since 2012.

Reaction to Governor John Bel Edwards’ worst-case budget proposal is rolling in. The Administration presented a plan to lawmakers showing deep cuts in order to fill a one billion dollar shortfall coming this summer as a one-cent sales tax falls off the books. Edwards suggested the plan is what would happen if lawmakers don’t increase tax revenues. State Treasurer John Schroder says before Louisiana raises anymore taxes on the public, it should show exactly how its spending money…:
Cut 5 (10) “wouldn’t happen”
Schroder says Louisiana needs to get its spending under control, but recognizes it won’t be easy to do.

A thirty-three-year-old Livingston Parish teacher was arrested Monday and charged with three counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Ashley Meyer is an Albany High School teacher, and has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.

Louisiana’s new tourism slogan is Feed Your Soul. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says they found that in this state, you’re always in the moment, which is why they chose that one…:
Cut 9 (11) “in Louisiana”
Nungesser says the new brand will roll out on Mardi Gras with a food truck serving Louisiana food throughout the country.

A study from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center finds that walking, even if only ten minutes per day, can be beneficial. That’s according to Dr. Tim Church, an exercise and obesity research physician…:
Cut 12 (08) “of walking”
He says that 10 minute walk a day is a great place to start if you’re trying to lose weight.

Governor John Bel Edwards’ budget proposal is coming under heavy fire from GOP and business leaders across the state. Matt Doyle has the story…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”
The governor made clear that the proposal was not one he wanted to present if lawmakers couldn’t come to an agreement on how to avoid the fiscal cliff.

The wife of former US Senator David Vitter, Wendy Vitter, was formally nominated by President Donald Trump to be a federal judge in New Orleans. Mrs. Vitter will need the US Senate’s approval to take the bench, and if confirmed, she will be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the state’s Eastern District.

Super Bowl 52 in Minneapolis is right around the corner, so when will New Orleans host it’s 11th NFL Championship Game? President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, Jay Cicero, says Super Bowl host sites are booked through 2022, but New Orleans would like to host the game in 2023…:
Cut 14 (10) “to bid”
The next few years will see Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, and Los Angeles host.

“Feed Your Soul” is the new brand Louisiana will use to promote tourism. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser unveiled the slogan Tuesday:
Cut 8 (10) “other options”
Feed Your Soul replaces Pick Your Passion.

Governor John Bel Edward’s worst-case-scenario budget is making waves across the state. The plan comes as the result of the expiration of a billion dollars in sales taxes this summer, and Edwards says the revenue will need to be replaced to avoid the deep cuts. Republican State Treasurer John Schroder says people don’t want to pay more taxes…:
Cut 4 (10) “more money”
President of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Stephen Waguespack, believes the governor isn’t considering spending changes…:
Cut 6 (06) “only solution”
Edwards says he is under a constitutional obligation to present a balanced budget, and this proposal represents the will of legislators who refuse to compromise on how to avoid the fiscal cliff.

Louisiana has a new tourism slogan…:
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray”

A study from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center finds that walking, even if only ten minutes per day, can be beneficial. Dr. Tim Church says a group of 464 women who walked for 72 minutes a week for six months improved their heart health and fitness…:
Cut 11 (12) “energy levels”

Governor John Bel Edwards’s budget proposal is coming under heavy fire from GOP and business leaders across the state. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Louisiana has a new tourism slogan. Kelley Ray tells us what it is…

Cut 2 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray”

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A study from Pennington Biomedical Research finds walking just ten minutes a day brings great health benefits.  Jeff Palermo spoke with Dr. Tim Church about what they discovered…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Governor John Bel Edward’s worst-case-scenario budget is making waves across the state, from both inside, and outside of government. The budget is the result of the expiration of a billion dollars in sales taxes this summer, and Edwards says the revenue will need to be replaced to avoid the deep cuts. State Treasurer John Schroder says he doesn’t think the public is willing to pay more taxes…

Cut 4  (10) “more money ” 

Schroder says if the state was more transparent about how it spends money, then it wouldn’t have to turn so often to tax increases…

Cut 5  (10)  “wouldn’t happen”

Schroder is pushing a plan to have state agencies post their expenditures online.

The governor’s proposal to fill the billion dollar gap leans heavily on eliminating tax breaks for businesses. President of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Stephen Waguespack, says Edwards refuses to consider spending cuts…

Cut 6 (06)  “only solution”

Waguespack says the governor is using scare tactics to push through his legislative agenda…

Cut 7 (07)  “about politics.”

The state has until July 1^st to address the fiscal cliff.

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“Feed Your Soul” is the new brand Louisiana will use to promote tourism to the state. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser hopes the slogan will target travelers who are in constant pursuit of enjoyment…

Cut 8 (10) “other options.”

Feed Your Soul replaces Pick Your Passion, which has been used for the past seven years. Nungesser says the new brand is the culmination of six months of rebranding research and analysis and the goal is to bring visitors who want to be in the moment…

Cut 9 (11)  “in Louisiana.”

Nungesser says the new brand will be rolled out on Mardi Gras Day with branded Louisiana: Feed Your Soul food trucks serving the taste of Louisiana in Atlanta, Houston, Dallas and Washington D-C to potential travelers…

Cut 10 (08) “four areas.”

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A study from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center finds that walking, even if only ten minutes per day, can be beneficial.  Dr. Tim Church says a group of 464 women who walked for 72 minutes a week for six months improved their heart health and fitness…

Louisiana Radio network news, I’m Matt Doyle

The governor presented a doomsday budget that includes an 80 percent cut in funding for TOPS. On top of TOPS, The higher education budget included an additional 26-million dollar cut. Higher Ed dodged budget cuts last year, and President of the University of Louisiana System Dr. Jim Hendersonsays it had a big impact…

Cut 13 (10) “five years”

Henderson says cutting TOPS would be a betrayal of hard working students.

Congressman Clay Higgins is aiming to pass a bill that would bolster existing immigration laws. The St. Landry Parish Republican says the Obama Administration created a bureaucratic situation that is keeping the Trump Administration from hiring more boarder guards.

Cut 9 (10) “new job.”

Higgins would like 10,000 more boarder agents.

LRN

The recent cold snap could cause the strawberry crop to be pushed back a couple of weeks.  There are nine to 12 commercial growers in Tangipahoa Parish.   Whitney Wallace from the LSU Ag Center says those farmers took extra precautions during the brutally cold weather and expects the crop should come through just fine…

Cut 3 (08) “great season.”

She says everything should be fine for the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival.

A thirty-three-year-old Livingston Parish teacher was arrested Monday and charged with three counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Ashley Meyer is an Albany High School teacher, and has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.

Tulane Law School graduate Wendy Vitter was nominated by President Donald Trump today to fill a federal judgeship in New Orleans. Vitter was the campaign manager for her husband David Vitter’s three US House elections, and has served as general counsel for the Archdiocese of New Orleans since 2012.

Republican Congressman Clay Higgins is cosponsoring legislation that seeks to make immigration and border security reforms. Higgins says there’s also provisions in the bill that would punish sanctuary cities. New Orleans currently prohibits police officers from asking suspects about their immigration status. Higgins is tired of these cities disrespecting federal laws…
Cut 11 (07) “been discarded.”
Back in November, the Justice Department found no evidence that New Orleans is out of compliance when it comes to immigration laws.

University of Louisiana System President Doctor Jim Henderson is not happy to see the governor proposing a budget for next fiscal year that cuts TOPS by 80-percent. Henderson says cutting TOPS would be a betrayal of hard working students…
cut 14 (07) “….to them”
Henderson is hopeful TOPS will be fully funded when legislators approve a budget in June.

The recent cold snap could mean a delay in the strawberry harvest this year, and a possible increase in price at the grocery store. Whitney Wallace, LSU AgCenter agent in Tangipahoa Parish, says many of the blossoms on the plants that weren’t protected will have to regrow again, which is a 21 day process:
Cut 4 (09) “cold weather”
Strawberry production in Louisiana is valued at an estimated 17-million-dollars.

The 2018 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be headlined by Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Buffett and Lionel Richie. Producer Quint Davis says they will also celebrate the City of New Orleans’ 300th anniversary. He says there will be a massive Cultural Exchange Pavilion featuring all things New Orleans…:
Cut 7 (10) “festival”
Jazzfest is April 27 to May 6 this year.

A record breaking year could be on tap for oil producers. Crude oil has topped $60.00 a barrel. Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association President Chris John says since the cost of oil could top $70.00 per barrel, Louisiana operators and oil producers in West Texas are willing to ramp up production…
Cut 28 (11) “production year.”

The governor’s proposed budget calls for an 80 percent cut in state funding for TOPS, because of a one-billion dollar reduction in state revenues. University of Louisiana System President Dr. Jim Henderson says a cut like that would cost students and their families thousands of dollars…
Cut 12 (12) “good ballpark”
Henderson is hopeful TOPS will be fully funded by the time legislators approve a budget in June.

U-S Reprsentative Clay Higgins is one of 70 cosponsors for a bill that would address the concerns agriculture and crawfish producers have when it comes to hiring workers from other countries. Higgins says the legislation would create an improved guest worker programs…
cut 10 (12) “…address that”
Higgins says at the same the time, the legislation would also improve the process to hire an additional 10-thousand Border Patrol agents.

Aerosmith, Sting, Jimmy Buffett, Lionel Richie and Aretha Franklin will be headliners for this year’s New Orleans Jazz and Hertigage Festival, which takes place every year on the last weekend of April and May. Festival producer Quint Davis says they will also have a “Locals Thursday” discount day on May 3rd….
cut 8 (10) “…Lionel Richie”
Bonnie Raitt and Smokey Robinson are also scheduled to perform during the two weekend festival.

The governor’s proposed budget calls for an 80 percent cut in state funding for TOPS, because of a one-billion dollar reduction in state revenues. the budget also included an additional 26-million dollar cut to higher education. Higher ed dodged budget cuts last year, President of the University of Louisiana System Dr. Jim Henderson says it had a big impact…

Cut 13 (10) “five years”

UL analysis showed Louisiana universities currently operating at the lowest per student funding in the country.

Now that the federal government shutdown is over, Congressman Clay Higgins is setting his sights on passing a bill to bolster the existing immigration law.  Higgins is co-sponsoring the “Securing America’s Future Act”.  The St. Landry Parish Republican says he wants to make it easier to hire Border Patrol Agents…

Cut 9 (10) “new job.”

The 2018 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will feature Aerosmith and Aretha Franklin Michelle Southern spoke with Festival Producer Quint Davis…:

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The recent cold snap could cause the strawberry crop to be pushed back a couple of weeks, but Whitney Wallace from the LSU Ag Center says the weather should perk up just in time for the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival…

Cut 5  (09)  “to enjoy.”

Louisiana Radio Network