According to the 2017 Louisiana Survey, optimism on the future of the state is on the rise. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The George Rodrigue Blue Dog “I Voted” sticker is considered a collectors item according to a survey by eBay. The auction site said the prize voters got for casting a ballot last year in Louisiana is on sale for about $5 to $50. Secretary of State Tom Schedler said the Blue Dog stickers were so popular that people from all over the country were calling his office asking if they could get one. But he says they only went to folks around the state who took part in elections.

Louisiana has the worst financial literacy in the nation, according to the personal finance website WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzales says the median credit score in the state is 654, which is on the verge of bad. She says only 28 percent of residents are setting aside money for their children’s education, and less half have a rainy day fund…:
Cut 12 (11) “emergency funds”
She says Louisiana residents also have a bad habit of spending more money than they make.

Legislation has been filed that would require TOPS recipients who leave Louisiana after graduating to pay 50-percent of their scholarship back to the state over time. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau hopes this encourages students to stay and work in Louisiana, but the bill also saves the state money if graduates choose to leave…:
Cut 11 (07) “four years”

Three death row inmates at Angola have filed a lawsuit after being held in solitary confinement for decades…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisianians are feeling great about the future for the first time since 2012, according to the 2017 Louisiana Survey. But Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, Michael Henderson, says folks here are still concerned about the state’s budget problems…:
CUT 7 (10) “of those”
He says 46-percent of residents believe the state is headed in the right direction.

The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against Lafayette Consolidated Government after one of their police officers allegedly confiscated a woman’s phone and deleted a picture. Louisiana ACLU executive director Marjorie Esman says the lawsuit seeks an injunction prohibiting Lafayette P-D from interfering with the rights of individuals to photograph police activities in public…..
cut 13 (07) “…that right”
Lafayette PD has no comment on the suit.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office reports there’s been another burglary at Tioga High and the junior high school where extensive damage occurred to the interior of the schools. Authorities are offering a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of three death row inmates who have spent decades in solitary confinement at Angola. All of Louisiana’s death row inmates are housed in solitary, where they spend 23 hours a day in a windowless cell without air conditioning. Attorney Betsy Ginsberg says this violates their right to due process and their 8^th amendment protection from cruel and unusual punishment.

Cut 3 (10) “solitary confinement”

Ginsberg notes the inmates are in solitary by virtue of their sentence alone, not disciplinary problems.

For the first time since 2012, more Louisianans are optimistic about the future of the state, according to the 2017 Louisiana Survey. Director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab Michael Henderson says 46 percent of residents believe the state is headed in the right direction.

Cut 6 (08) “this year”

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on businesses to pay their fair share of taxes through the proposed Commercial Activity Tax, which would levy a gross receipts tax on businesses with at least 1.5 million dollars in annual sales. Edwards says most businesses paid no state taxes in 2015. President of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Stephen Waguespack says this will put an additional strain on businesses.

The ACLU of Louisiana has filed a lawsuit to protect people’s right to film police. Executive Director Marjorie Esman says everyone has the right to take cell phone video of police activity, as long as they don’t interfere, and cell phones are also private by law.

Cut 12 (08) “without a warrant”

The suit comes on behalf of a Lafayette mother who says a cop deleted a picture from her phone without her permission.

Governor John Bel Edwards’ proposed Commercial Activity Tax is raising concern with business groups…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Power is expected to return to Ruston this hour after a massive power outage that led Lousiaina Tech to cancel classes and operations on their campus this morning.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office reports there’s been another burglary at Tioga High and the junior high school where extensive damage occurred to the interior of the schools. Authorities are offering a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of a Lafayette mother who allegedly had a photo deleted from her phone by a police officer. Louisiana ACLU executive director Marjorie Esman says the photo was of her minor son sitting in the back of a police car, but the woman had every right to take and keep that photo…
Cut 11 (08) “this lawsuit”
The Lafayette Police Department has no comment on the lawsuit.

Louisiana is the 5th worst state to retire in the country, according to a report from the finance website Bankrate.com. Analyst Claes Bell says the Pelican State scored near or at the bottom in several areas.
Cut 4 (09) “not great”
Louisiana has the third worst crime rate in the study.

Many businesses will be subject to a new tax on sales as part of Governor Edwards overhaul of the state’s tax system. President of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Stephen Waguespack, is not a big fan of the idea…
cut 8 (11) “…other states”
But Edwards says in 2015, 129-thousand of the 149-thousand corporate tax filers in Louisiana paid no taxes to the state.

Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they’ve closed 16 bridges this year, because they need to be refurbished. Wilson says without more funding , it’s more than likely additional bridges will be shut down…
cut 16 (07) “…closed bridge”
There will be a push in the upcoming legislative session to raise the state’s gasoline tax to pay for better roads and bridges.

Also classes at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans have been cancelled for the rest of the week, because of a social media threat of violence. Officials have identified the person responsible for the threat and the school is working with police.

The finance website Bankrate.com finds Louisiana is the 5th worse state to retire. Jeff Palermo has more…
Voicer 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Classes and operations at Louisiana Tech have been cancelled this morning because of a power outage. There are widespread power outages in Ruston and a cause for the lack of electricity has not been released.

Louisiana’s business community is raising concern over Governor John Bel Edwards tax proposal that attempts to shift a lot of the state’s tax burden from most individuals to larger businesses who have profits over one-point-five million dollars a year. Edwards says the plan will provide stability, which is what corporations want…
cut 9 (09) “…it’s stable”
Legislators will begin debating the tax plan next month.

The finance website Bankrate-dot-com ranks Louisiana as the fifth worst state to retire. The Bayou State scored poorly in the areas of crime and cultural vitality. But there are some positives for those over the age of 65 and that’s weather and affordability according to analyst Claes Bell…
cut 6 (09) “…social security check”

The American Civil Liberties Union files a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Lafayette woman who claims a police officer deleted a picture off of her phone. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 3 (29) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

A Bastrop man has been arrested for purchasing over 130 computers on Johnny’s Pizza corporate credit card, but when company officials asked him about the purchases, he allegedly couldn’t say who had possession of all those computers. 42-year-old Eric Carney was booked on one count of felony theft.

Governor John Bel Edwards’ proposed Commercial Activity Tax is raising concern with business groups. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Three death row inmates have filed a federal class-action lawsuit seeking to end an Angola prison policy that automatically sends prisoners serving death sentences into solitary confiement for the length of their incarceration. The plantiffs have been on death row for over a quarter of a century and they must spend 23 hours a day in a windowless cell.

A national report has come out that says Louisiana drivers are spending thousands of dollars a year, because of the poor condition of the state’s roads. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says his department needs a 700-million dollar annual increase in funding to meet transportation needs…
cut 15 (10) “…asked to deliver”
Bills to raise the gasoline tax will be considered in the upcoming legislative session.

The finance website Bank-rate-dot-com fins Louisiana is the fifth worst state for retirees. Analyst Claes Bell says the state’s crime rate and the well-being of seniors were factors for the poor ranking. Bell also says Louisiana scored near the bottom for cultural vitality, which means funding for the arts is low, which is discouraging to seniors….
cut 5 (07) “….as retirees”

A national report finds Louisiana’s poor and congested roads are costing drivers thousands of dollars a year. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says we can do better, but it will cost money…
cut 14 (08) “….in the process”
The DOTD is pushing a higher gasoline tax.

The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against Lafayette Consolidated Government after one of their police officers allegedly confiscted a woman’s phone and deleting a picture. Louisiana ACLU executive director Marjorie Esman says the lawsuit seeks an injunction prohibiting Lafayette P-D from interferring with the rights of individuals to photograph police activities in public…..
cut 13 (07) “…that right”
Lafayette PD has no comment on the suit.

Louisiana business groups are raising concerns over Governor Edwards tax plan that would shift the tax burden from most Louisiana residents to your bigger and more profitbable businesses. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack says many corporate tax incentives have already been reduced, making it more expensive to do business. He says companies are struggling to keep up with that cost, and it’s causing job loss…
cut 10 (10) “…will do”
Edwards points out that in 2015, 129-thousand of 149-thousand corporate tax filers in Louisiana paid no taxes to the state.

The finance website Bankrate.com finds Louisiana is the 5^th worse state to retire. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards’ proposed Commercial Activity Tax is raising concern with business groups. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The American Civil Liberties Union files a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Lafayette woman who claims a police officer deleted a picture off of her phone. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Louisiana is the 5^th worst state to retire in the country, according to a report from the finance website Bankrate.com. Analyst Claes Bell says the Pelican State scored near or at the bottom in several areas.

Cut 4  (09) “not great”

Louisiana has the third worst crime rate in the study, and also scored near the bottom for cultural vitality. Bell says that means funding for the arts is low, which is discouraging to seniors.

Cut 5  (07)  “as retirees”

Not surprisingly, Bell says Louisiana did score well for our weather, but unfortunately it’s not enough to make up for the shortcomings in other areas.  He says another positive rating is affordability for retirees, who live on a budget.

Cut 6 (09) “social security check”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on businesses to pay their fair share of taxes. That’s why he’s proposing the Commercial Activity Tax, which would levy a gross receipts tax on businesses with one-point-five million dollars a year in sales or more. Edwards says a vast majority of businesses paid no state taxes in 2015….

Cut 7 (12)  “their part”

President of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Stephen Waguespack says this is a harmful tax if you’re trying to create jobs and grow your economy…

Cut 8 (11) “other states”

Edwards says the CAT would exempt businesses making less than $1.5 million a year. He says small businesses would instead pay the minimum fixed rate of $250 to $750. He doesn’t believe higher taxes will discourage businesses in the Bayou State, because they want a stable and predictable tax structure.

Cut 9 (09)  “it’s stable”

Waguespack says many corporate tax incentives and deductions have already been reduced in recent years, making it more expensive for companies to do business in Louisiana. He says businesses are struggling to keep up with that cost, and it’s causing job loss in the state.

Cut 10 (10) “will do”

_________________________________________________________

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of a Lafayette mother who allegedly had a photo deleted from her phone by a police officer. Louisiana ACLU executive director Marjorie Esman says the photo was of her minor son sitting in the back of a police car, but the woman had every right to take and keep that photo…

Cut 11 (08) “this lawsuit”

Esman says everyone has a right to photograph what they see, including actions of police as long as they don’t interfere. She also says cellphones are by law private..

Cut 12 (08) “without a warrant”

The Lafayette Police Department has no comment on the lawsuit at this time. Esman says the lawsuit seeks an injunction prohibiting Lafayette police from interfering with the rights of individuals to photograph police activities in public…

Cut 13 (07) “that right”

_______________________________________

More revenue is needed to repair Louisiana’s crumbling roads and decrepit bridges. That’s according to Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson, who says it’s been 30 years since the state has made any real investment in transportation. The transportation research group TRIP found 26 percent of major roads in Louisiana are in poor condition. Wilson says we have to provide better infrastructure for our people.

Cut 14 (08) “in the process”

Wilson says DOTD invests the available dollars in the best way they can, but at the end of the day, there’s not enough to do what needs to be done. There’s already talk of raising the state’s gasoline tax in the regular session. Wilson says his department needs a $700 million annual increase in funding to meet the transportation needs.

Cut 15 (10) “asked to deliver”

TRIP finds 13 percent of Louisiana bridges are structurally deficient. Wilson says he’s closed 16 bridges around the state this year alone. He says without more funding, it’s more than likely additional bridges will be shut down. He says DOTD inspects every bridge in the state annually.

Cut 16 (07) “closed bridge”

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on businesses to pay their fair share of taxes. That’s why he’s proposing the Commercial Activity Tax, which would levy a gross receipts tax on businesses with one-point-five million dollars a year in sales or more. Edwards says a vast majority of businesses paid no state taxes in 2015….
cut 7 (12) “…their part”
President of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Stephen Waguespack says this is a harmful tax if you’re trying to create jobs and grow your economy…
cut 8 (11) “…with other states”
The debate will intensify when the session begins April 10th.

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of a Lafayette mother who allegedly had a photo deleted from her phone by a police officer. Louisiana ACLU executive director Marjorie Esman says the photo was of her minor son sitting in the back of a police car, but the woman had every right to take and keep that photo…
Cut 11 (08) “this lawsuit”
The Lafayette Police Department has no comment on the lawsuit at this time.

Louisiana State Police is investigating the death of a 3-year-old who was found dead in her mother’s car outside of a nursing home in Ville Platte. Trooper Brooks David says authorities are working to determine a timeline of how long the toddler was in the car.
Cut 3 (08) “coroner’s office”
David says the identity of the child has not been released.