Procrastinators have a few extra days to file their federal income taxes this year, as the deadline is April 18th. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Louisiana is the trashiest state in America, according to State Parks Director Robert Barham. He says we have got to do better…:
Cut 8 (09) “of Louisiana”

Ponchatoula-based Elmer’s Chocolate continues to be an Easter tradition. CEO Rob Nelson says this year they brought back the Double Nut Gold Brick Fudge, that’s not the most popular item in the Easter basket…:
Cut 4 (10) “close race”
He says due to Easter falling late this year, they’ve seen a big increase in candy sales.

The LSU Gymnastics team can win its first national title in program history this weekend as they compete in the NCAA Championships in St. Louis. Head Coach D.D. Breaux says if everyone brings their A game, they will come home with a trophy…:
Cut 18 (09) “right stuff”
Breaux is in her 40th year and LSU just won its first SEC Championship since 1981.

Louisiana residents are evenly split in their opinions of religious freedom laws that allow businesses to refuse service based on sexual orientation. Dr. Michael Henderson with the LSU Public Policy Research Lab says the survey also finds three-fourths of respondents support protection from workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Cut 8 (09) “the workplace”

Louisiana has selected a contractor to oversee the homeowner assistance program for flood victims. The Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says the first round of assistance will go to low-income and disabled individuals.

Cut 11 (08) “couple of weeks”
Flood victims should fill out the survey at restore.la.gov to see if they’re eligible for federal aid.

Authorities are still not sure why a Vermillion Parish man set fire to a home, killing an 89-year-old Ponchatoula woman who lived there. Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they don’t know of a motive, but 26-year-old Timothy Rouchon did know the victim.

Cut 3 (07) “I believe”

The state Fire Marshal’s Office found the presence of accelerant used to fuel the fire.

Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic in Louisiana. That’s according to Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Dr. Katara Williams, who says they’re educating the public about the dangers of distracted driving. She says it’s also important for parents to set a good example for their kids.

Cut 14 (10) “they’re seeing”

The Louisiana Survey finds 47 percent of respondents support religious freedom laws for businesses to refuse service based on sexual orientation. Dr. Michael Henderson with the LSU Public Policy Research Lab says 56 percent of residents think transgender people should use the bathroom of their birth gender.

Cut 7 (10) “nationally”

The survey also finds three-fourths of Louisianans support legal protections from discrimination at work based on sexual orientation.

A bill by Shreveport Senator John Milkovich seeks to end bullying in the Bayou State. Milkovich says children deserve a safe place to learn. He says that’s why his bill empowers teachers to do whatever it takes to keep students safe.

Cut 23 (09) “police involved”

The state has selected the same contractor it had originally denied to handle the federal flood aid program. The details still need to be hammered out, according to the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Julie Baxter Payer, but it looks like IEM will be the lead on helping homeowners rebuild.

Cut 9 (09) “cost figure”

IEM was the same firm originally chosen to do the work, but the state scrapped the contract because it was too costly.

Louisiana is the trashiest state in America. That’s what State Parks Director Robert Barham told lawmakers at a budget hearing this week. He says if you don’t believe him, just look at the litter in ditches on the side of the road. He says he’s been to all 50 states, and he’s never seen anything like the litter here in the Bayou State.

Cut 24 (10) “in shame”

Louisiana selects a contractor to manage the distribution of over one-billion dollars in federal flood aid for homeowners who can use the money to help in their rebuilding efforts. IEM was the same firm originally chosen to do the work, but the state scrapped the contract because it was too costly. The governor’s deputy chief of staff Julie Baxter Payer says re-opening the bidding process ended up saving the state money…:
cut 10 (10) “…sent to us”
It was reported IEM’s first contract award was 250-million dollars.

Court records released today say a federal judge in Louisiana was ordered to get treatment for alcoholism. The documents show Judge Patricia Minaldi was moved to an assisted living facility after a criminal trial she was presiding over was cut short without explanation. The 58-year-old Minaldi has been on medical leave since January fourth. She was appointed as a federal judge in Lake Charles in 2003.

The 2017 Louisiana Survey finds opinion is divided on religious freedom laws and the use of public bathrooms by transgender individuals. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

One person is dead and another seriously injured following a fiery crash between a fuel truck and a dump truck on Interstate 310 in St. Charles Parish. State Police Trooper Melissa Matey say two other vehicles were also involved….
Cut 15 (08) “crash that happened”
The tanker involved in the crash belongs to Gaubert Oil Company in Thibodaux.

Louisiana residents are evenly split on religious freedom laws that allow businesses refuse service to same sex couples based on their religion. That’s according to the 2017 Louisiana Survey. Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab Dr. Michael Henderson says this follows the nationwide trend.
Cut 6 (11) “the nation”
Henderson says he’s surprised only 47-percent of residents support refusal of services, because Louisiana is a conservative state.

Charges have been announced against an Abbeville man who is accused in the murder of 89-year-old Dorothy Poche. Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards says 26-year-old Timothy rochon faces several charges including second-degree murder and an aggravated arson charge is pending…
cut 4 (07) “….this home”
Edwards says Rochon knew Poche and her grandson and was living at the home, but a motive is unclear at this point.

Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Dr. Katara Williams says distracted driving is an epidemic in the Bayou State. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Authorities say a 66-year-old man was killed by his own truck in Shreveport this afternoon. Police say the victim was working the truck and there was a mechanical malfuntion that caused the truck to roll over him. He died at a local hospital.

Also, one person was killed and another person sent to a burn unit after a dump truck and fuel truck collided on I-310 in St. Charles Parish.

One person was killed, another person sent to a burn unit in Baton Rouge after a firey wreck on Interstate 310 in St. Charles Parish between a fuel tanker and a dump truck. The stretch of I-310 near Luling is closed and State Police Trooper Melissa Matey says they will reopen the highway as soon as LSP finishes its investigation…
cut 16 (08) “…it’s safe”
The tanker involved in the crash belongs to Gaubert Oil Company in Thibodaux.

Louisiana has selected a contractor that will be in charge of distributing federal funds to flooded homeowners who will use the cash to rebuild from last year’s devastating floods. Julie Baxter Payer, the governor’s deputy chief of staff, says the first dollars will go to low-income and disabled indiduals and they will see the money soon…
cut 11 (08) “…next couple of weeks”
To begin the application process to see if you’re eligible for recovery dollars, fill out a survey at restore.la.gov

The latest installment of the LSU Survey finds 47-percent of residents support religious freedom laws that say businesses have the right to deny services to same sex couples because of religion. Doctor Michael Henderson, director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, says the survey also finds 56-percent think transgender people should use the restroom of their birth gender….
cut 7 (10) “…nationallY”

Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards says an Abbeville man has confessed to setting fire to a home in Ponchatoula that killed an 89-year-old woman. Edards says Dorothy Poche was a very sweet lady…
cut 5 (08) “….this way” An Abbeville man
Twenty-six-year-old Timothy Rouchon is facing several charges and a motive is not known.

The 2017 Louisiana Survey finds opinion is divided on religious freedom laws and the use of public bathrooms by transgender individuals…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The state has selected the same contractor it had originally denied to handle the federal flood aid program. The details still need to be hammered out, according to the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Julie Baxter Payer, but it looks like IEM will be the lead on helping homeowners rebuild…:
CUT 9 (07) “cost figure”

Distracted driving is an epidemic in Louisiana according to Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Dr. Katara Williams. She says last year there were over 2,500 crashes linked to this risky habit….:
Cut 12 (09) “on the roadway”
She says all it takes is 5 seconds to make a decision that could cost you your life.

One person is dead and another seriously injured following a fiery crash between a fuel truck and a dump truck on Interstate 310 south in St. Charles Parish. State Police Trooper Melissa Matey say two other vehicles were also involved in the wreck….:
Cut 3 (08) “crash that happened”
She says they will reopen the I-310 South as soon as LSP has finished its investigation and it’s safe for drivers.

Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, Dr. Katara Williams says distracted driving is an epidemic in the Bayou State…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Authorities have fired a Mandeville Police Department cop who was allegedly driving her patrol car drunk. They say Becky White is accused of arriving to a Ponchatoula bar after hours intoxicated in her marked cop car on March 27th. There is no criminal investigation into the matter and further questions are being diverted to the Ponchatoula Police Department. White was Mandeville Police Department’s Special Olympics representative.

LSU Public Policy Rearcher Director Michael Henderson is surprised that the Latest Louisiana Survey showed three-fourths of Louisianans support the legal protection from discrimination at work based on sexual orientation, even across party lines…:
Cut 8 (09) “the workplace”
He also says only 47-percent of residents support religious refusal of services to same sex couples.

Authorities are still not sure why a Vermillion Parish man set fire to a home killing an 89-year-old Ponchatoula woman who lived there. Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they do know that 26-year-old Timothy Rouchon of Abbeville was acquainted with the victim, Dorothy Poche…:
Cut 15 (07) “I believe”
Rouchon faces charges including second degree murder and aggravated arson.

Louisiana residents are evenly split when it comes to religious freedom laws allowing businesses to refuse service to same sex couples based on their religion. That’s according to results from the 2017 Louisiana Survey. Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab Dr. Michael Henderson says this follows the nationwide trend.
Cut 6 (11) “the nation”
Henderson says he’s surprised only 47-percent of residents support refusal of services because Louisiana is such a conservative state.

A study from EverQuote ranked the Bayou State dead last in the nation for the percentage of drivers using their phones, with 92 percent admitting to doing it in the past 30 days. Louisiana Highway Safety Executive Director Katara Williams..
cut 13 (07) “…your life”
During a budget hearing, higher education leaders said the colleges can’t take a $17 million dollar reduction in state funding as the governor is proposing. Louisiana Community and Technical College President Monty Sullivan says doing more with less is not possible anymore…:
CUT 10 (07) “to happen”
It’s too early in the session to tell if legislators can spend more on Louisiana colleges.

A Shreveport lawmaker is trying to tackle bullying in Louisiana with a bill to be heard in the Senate education committee…
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Higher Education leaders plead with legislators not to cut state funding to Louisiana colleges. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

An active duty member at Ft. Polk has been detained in Vernon Parish after authorities discovered what could be bomb making materials in Kisatchie National Forest. The man’s apartment complex was evacuated as hazmat teams searched for hazardous substances in the home. The search comes after a fire broke out in the forest, believed to be caused by the suspicious materials.

ULM researchers are looking at ways to use a compound from extra virgin olive oil to treat and prevent Alzheimer’s. Dr. Amal Kaddoumi says oleocanthal is effective at removing a particular protein that inhibits brain function. She says a grant from the Board of Regents will help fund clinical trials.

Cut 8 (05) “clinical trial”

She believes this compound could one day be used to prevent the disease.

The food delivery app Waitr now has a web ordering option customers can use without the app. Sonny Mayugba with Waitr says it’s a great platform for customers, but…

Cut 6 (09) “the consumers”

Waitr was founded in Lake Charles in 2015, and over 2 thousand restaurants partner with the company.