The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State is calling for a slightly below-average 2017 Hurricane Season. They are predicting 11 named storms, four hurricanes, two of those major. Lead Researcher Dr. Phil Klotzbach says the primary reasons are the predicted development of an El Nino in the Pacific Ocean, which typically breaks up storms in the Atlantic..:

CUT 12 (08) “for the storms”
The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Noevmber 30th.

The State Department of Natural Resources has given their approval of the controversial Bayou Bridge Pipeline project. DNR Spokesperson Patrick Courreges (Koo-rezge) says after a permit was submitted, the DNR took public comment and reviewed the plans…:
Cut 6 (09) “wetland zone”
The pipeline would be built from Lake Charles into St. James Parish.

Forty-two percent of Louisiana households cannot afford their basic needs. A United Way report finds 23 percent of those live above the poverty level but are considered Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed, or ALICE. President of the Louisiana Association of United Ways, Sarah Berthelot, explains…:
Cut 3 (09) “job loss”
She hopes these findings can lead to change.

A student who used to play football for UL-Lafayette but was kicked off the team in March, has been accused of raping someone in a residence hall. According to campus police, Artez Williams was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on a charge of second degree rape with a $100,000 bond. He was reportedly removed from the Ragin Cajuns team last month for a violation of team rules.

Governor John Bel Edwards believes partisan politics were behind the harsh line of questioning by GOP legislators at a Congressional hearing on the response to last year’s historic flooding. The chairman of the panel called the governor clueless, another lawmaker wanted to know why he didn’t call an evacuation and there were also questions pertaining to the state’s process in hiring an administrator to oversee the upcoming housing recovery programs. Edwards says it’s not surprising Republicans went in for the attack…:
Cut 15 (10) “what they do”
Edwards comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State is calling for a slightly below-average 2017 Hurricane Season. The researchers are predicting 11 named storms, four hurricanes and two to reach major hurricane strength.

Budget hearings continue at the state capitol today and the Department of Corrections is providing lawmakers information on how they spend their money. There will be an attempt in the upcoming legislative session to reduce the state’s incarceration rate. Executive director of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association, Pete Adams, says the focus should be on making sure non-violent offenders are not behind bars for a lengthy amount of time…
cut 5 (05) “….offenses”

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is behind legislation that seeks to address the growing obesity rate in America. Cassidy says the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act would make weight loss treatment more accessible to those on Medicare. He says the bill allows Medicare to cover the cost of new prescription drugs for chronic weigh management…:
Cut 7 (03) “their weight”
Cassidy says the bipartisan bill also makes weight loss counseling more available to Medicare recipients.

Governor John Bel Edwards believes partisan politics were behind the harsh line of questioning at a Congressional hearing examining the response to last year’s historic flooding. Republican lawmakers questioned why the state has yet to appropriate the $1.6 billion Congress provided for flood recovery. Edwards said the holdup is on the federal level…:
Cut 13 (10) “second action plan”
The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

In the extended range outlook of Atlantic Seasonal tropical activity, the Colorado State University Forecast team anticipates the 2017 Hurricane season will have slightly below-average activity. They forecast this year there will be 4 hurricanes, 2 of them major, and 11 named storms. They say the probability of US major hurricane landfall is estimated to be about 80 percent of the long-period average.

US Senator Bill Cassidy is presenting an obesity fighting bill which would allow Medicare to cover the cost of new prescription drugs for chronic weigh management. He says the bill also makes weight loss counseling more available to Medicare recipients..:
Cut 8 (10) “behavioral therapy”

When it comes to criminal justice reform, the state DA’s Association says they support recommendations to reduce sentences for certain non-violent offenders. But Executive Director Pete Adams says careful consideration must be made to ensure dangerous criminals who pled down to non-violent offenses are not released…:
Cut 6 (09) “offenders”
Governor Edwards is leading an effort to reduce the state’s incarceration rate.

The National Weather Service says at least 17 tornadoes touched down in Louisiana during the Sunday/Monday severe weather event.

Governor John Bel Edwards was hammered by Republicans in Congress during a hearing on the response effort following the 2016 floods — a situation he believes was motivated by partisan politics. Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves blames the Edwards administration for the delay in dispensing the $1.6 billion Congress provided for flood recovery. But the governor says those are false comments that aren’t helping…:
Cut 14 (11) “not the case”
The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

US Senator Bill Cassidy is presenting an obesity fighting bill which would allow Medicare to cover the cost of new prescription drugs for chronic weigh management. He says healthcare costs related to obesity total nearly $200 billion each year, and if someone loses weight, they get healthier..
Cut 9 (09) “of Americans”

The state’s newly established Opioid Abuse Prevention Fund seeks to end the opioid epidemic. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Lake Charles Police Department is seeking information on a quadruple shooting that left one person dead, and three injured including one critically. They say it happened around 4am.

In the ongoing trial of former reality star Will Hayden in Baton Rouge, the jury heard disturbing testimony from a teenager who claimed she’d been raped by the accused when she was 12 or 13. The Suns of Guns star pleaded not guilty to multiple aggravated rape charges.

Governor John Bel Edwards blames partisan politics for hard attacks he underwent during a Congressional hearing on the response to last year’s floods. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Louisiana District Attorney’s Association supports recommendations to reduce sentences for non-violent offenders, but they oppose proposals to provide parole consideration for certain juvenile killers and inmates who have been behind bars for decades. Executive Director Pete Adams…:
Cut 4 (08) “incarcerated”
Governor Edwards is leading an effort to reduce the state’s incarceration rate.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is behind legislation that seeks to address the growing obesity rate in America. Cassidy says the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act would make weight loss treatment more accessible to those on Medicare. He says the bill allows Medicare to cover the cost of new prescription drugs for chronic weigh management…:
Cut 7 (03) “their weight”
Cassidy says nearly 70 percent of Americans are overweight or obese, and 13 million of them are seniors.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is the latest to get behind and effort that addresses Louisiana’s major opiod addiction problem. He says a new Opioid Abuse Prevention Fund will be paid for through a partnership with Louisiana Ambulance Alliance and Amphastar Pharmaceuticals.
CUT 11 (11) “that fund”
He says that will pay for an informational campaign complete with a website, advertisements, printed materials, and community outreach.

Governor John Bel Edwards believes partisan politics were behind the harsh line of questioning by the GOP at a Congressional hearing on the response to last year’s historic flooding. Edwards says it’s not surprising Republicans went in for the attack…:
Cut 15 (10) “what they do”
The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show. Even Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves blamed the Edwards administration for the delay in dispensing federal disaster funds.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is working to end the opioid epidemic in Louisiana with the new Opioid Abuse Prevention Fund. Landry that fund will pay for an informational campaign complete with a website, advertisements, printed materials, and community outreach…:
Cut 10 (07) “opioid addiction”
For details visit EndTheEpidemicLA.org.

A bipartisan bill co-authored by US Senator Bill Cassidy could help address the nation’s rising obesity rate. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A former football player from the University of Lafayette has been arrested amid allegations he raped someone at residence hall. Campus police say Artez Terrell Williams, who was kicked off the Cajuns team in March for a violation of  rules, is booked with second degree rape.

Republican Congressional lawmakers criticized Governor John Bel Edwards’ handling of last year’s flood in south Lousiiana. Edwards appeared before a panel examing the response. Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, couldn’t believe the governor didn’t know how many people are still displaced…:
Cut 3 (11) “that clueless”
Congress approved one-point-six-billion dollars in federal disaster aid, but it has yet to make its way to flooded homeowners. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves accuses the Edwards administration of dragging its feet in getting this money out, but Edwards says they are awaiting for the federal government to make the money available. The governor added Graves is needlessly adding to the frustration of homeowners. Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmond of New Orleans said he was disappointed with the tone of the hearing.

Ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft are becoming more popular and a state lawmaker wants to regulate this growing industry. Michelle Southern has the story..
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Former St. Tammany and Washington Parish District Attorney Walter Reed received a four-year prison sentence on corruption charges. A jury determined Reed was guilty of using his campaign funds illegally, but legal obeservers expected a longer sentence. Reed will remain out of prison, until his appeal is heard.

Republican lawmakers criticized Governor John Bel Edwards’ handling of the deadly August flood during a Congressional hearing in Washington D.C. today. Edwards was asked the grade he would give the state for how it has handled the recovery. The governor said B-plus. But Michigan Congressman Paul Mitchell disagrees…
Cut 4 (11) “B+”
Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz says he doesn’t understand how one-point-six billion dollars in flood recovery dollars approved by Congress last year still hasn’t made it into the hands of flood victims…
cut 6 (11) “…the process”
Edwards says the state is waiting for the federal government to make the money available so the state can use it.

There’s talk of raising the gasoline tax by as much as 17 cents a gallon in the upcoming legislative session. Franklin Representative Sam Jones has a bill to raise the gasoline tax. He says the state’s current 20-cent gasoline tax is not addressing a 13-billion dollar backlog of transportation needs…:
Cut 11 (09) “the megaprojects”

Former St. Tammany and Washington Parish District Attorney Walter Reed was sentenced today in federal court to 4 years in prison for his conviction on fraud and money laundering. It was thought he’d get more than 10 years for using campaign contributions for personal use. Reed is free on bond pending appeal which Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says is highly unusual…:
Cut 15 (10) “on appeal”

Republican lawmakers in Washington DC criticized Governor John Bel Edwards today during a hearing on the federal and state response to the deadly flood last summer. South Carolina Congressman Tom Rice questioned the Governor’s handling of the storm before it started flooding…
cut 5 (14) “….in advance”
Edwards told the Jim Engster show that he believes politics were behind line of questioning.

There’s been talk of raising the gasoline tax by as much as 17 cents a gallon in the upcoming legislative session. Franklin Representative Sam Jones believes that’s too much of a hike, but he says the state needs to invest more in transportation…:
Cut 10 (11) “and traffic”
Jones has filed a bill to increase the state’s gasoline tax by an additional seven cents, but he says that’s negotiable.

Former northshore District Attorney Walter Reed was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for his conviction on fraud charges related to using campaign contributions for personal use. Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino says Reed got off a lot easier than many people thought he would…:
CUT 13 (10) “for which he was convicted”
Ride sharing services like Uber support a pre-filed bill that would let the state put rules on how they operate. Jackson Representative Kenny Havard says right now the regulations are set at the local level which is confusing, and his bill would also make rates the same everywhere:
Cut 9 (08) “the state”

Governor Edwards was on the receiving end of harsh criticism today at a Congressional hearing examining the federal and state response to the historic flooding that hit south Louisiana last year. Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz says he doesn’t understand how one-point-six billion dollars in flood recovery dollars approved by Congress last year still hasn’t made it into the hands of flood victims…
cut 6 (11) “…the process”
Edwards says the state is waiting for the federal government to make the money available so the state can use it.

Legislation has been filed that would place regulations on the ride share services like Uber and Lyft. Jackson Representative Kenny Havard says one of the proposed rules would be mandatory background checks for drivers…
cut 8 (07) “…the nation”

Franklin Representative Sam Jones has filed a bill that would increase the state’s gasoline tax by seven-cents. Supporters of raising the gasoline tax say it will help improve our highway system. Jones says the key to passing a gasoline tax hike is that the public must have certainity the extra money will be used to improve roads and bridges…
cut 12 (12) “…to pass”

Former St. Tammany and Washington Parish District Attorney Walter Reed received a four-year prison sentence on corruption charges. A jury determined Reed was guilty of using his campaign funds illegally, but legal obeservers expected a tougher sentence. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says it sounds like the judge may have felt Reed’s attorneys had a good case…
cut 14 (08) “…criminal one”
Reed will remain out of prison, until his appeal is heard.