President Donald Trump nominates federal appellate judge Neil Gorsuch of Colorado to the Supreme Court. Several Democrats have said they will try and block Trump’s nominee from U.S. Senate confirmation. Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana is disappointed Democrats started voicing their concerns, before they knew who the nominee would be..:
Cut 13 (11) “gonna be”
Gorsuch fills the vacancy created by the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

A 5-year-old girl has died in a two alarm fire Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge, according to the BRPD Fire Department. They said the blaze happened around 7, and the girl was reported missing by family members who lost her while trying to escape. Officials discovered her body hours later. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

The Tax Foundation releases data on what each state imposes when it comes to state and local sales taxes, and Louisiana leads the nation with a rate of 9.98-percent. Vice President for State Projects Joe Henchman says the state’s high rate is also very complicated…:
CUT 7 (10) “of complexity”
Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama and Washington are ranked behind Louisiana in the top five.

The group, Operation We Care out of St. Tammany Parish, has shipped 300 red, white and blue king cakes to U.S. soldiers overseas to celebrate Mardi Gras. Public Relations Director Colleen Smith..:
CUT 10 (10) “very happy”
She says these cakes were specially made by Randazzo’s Camellia City Bakery in Slidell for the troops.

Many Republican state lawmakers do not want to use the Rainy Day Fund to solve the 304 million dollar budget deficit and there is also a Democrat opposed to it, as well. Jeff Palermo has more…
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is currently in France promoting tourism to Louisiana. Nungesser is scheduled to return back to the states on Thursday after visiting Lyon, France. The Lt. Governor says we’ve seen a 37-percent increase in international visitation, as overseas visitors are spending more money and staying longer in Louisiana. The cost of the trip has not been released.

There’s been a lot of criticism on social media and nightly news shows over President Donald Trump’s immigration order. But there are public opinion polls, including one from Rasmussen that finds strong public support for the travel ban. But LSU Political Communications Chair Martin Johnson says Rasmusson surveys tend to support conservative candidates and issues…
cut 5 (05) “…policies’

Entergy Louisiana broke ground today on an 869-million dollar power plant in St. Charles Parish. Michael Burns with Entergy says this new power station will be one of the cleanest and most efficient..:
Cut 6 (10) “for customers”

Burns says the plant will begin operations in June of 2019.

Several Republicans oppose using money from the Rainy Day Fund to solve a 304 million dollar budget deficit and there is at least one Democrat who also doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Shreveport Senator Greg Tarver made the comments to News Radio 7-10 KEEL
Cut 9 (06) “that money”
A special session will likely begin on February 13th to address the budget shortfall.

State Police Col Mike Edmonson credits a strong awareness campaign as the reason more human trafficking victims than ever are reaching out for help. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 104 cases of human trafficking were called in last year, compared to 75 in 2015. Edmonson says getting victims to come forward begins with compassion..:
Cut 13 (08) “the things you’re doing”
Entergy Louisiana began work today on an 869-million dollar power plant in St. Charles Parish. Entergy spokesperson Michael Burns says the plant will produce carbon dixoide emissions 40-percent lower than those of its current gas-fired plants and customer savings will total one-point-three billion dollars over 30 years…
cut 8 (08) “.generation fleet”
The plant is expected to be operational in 2019.

President Trump has signed an executive order to reduce regulations on small businesses. National Federation of Independent Business’ State Director Dawn Starns says this order can only help business owners run and grow their businesses…:
CUT 27 (11) “its neck”
Mr. Trump said he wants to eliminate “a little more than 75 percent” of the regulations now on the books.

We’ve heard republican lawmakers say they oppose using money from the rainy day fund to offset the state’s 304-million dollar budget deficit. There’s also at least one democratic senator who supports that too. Greg Tarver of Shreveport believes revenues will increase soon, because the state’s economy is showing signs of improving as a result of rising oil prices…
cut 10 (10) “…experts says”
A special session will begin February 13th to address the budget deficit.

Entergy Louisiana broke ground today on a new power station that the company says will save customers one-point-three-billion dollars for the next 30 years, because it will be able to produce electricity more efficiently. Spokesperson Michael Burns says the power plant will also produce jobs…
cut 7 (10) “….the plant”
Burns says they expect the plant to begin running in 2019.

Case data has been released on the number of human trafficking reports received in Louisiana in 2016 and it shows a significant increase. Michelle Southern Reports…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

A 63-year-old Gailliano man is facing seven counts of attempted murder after deputies say he fired a 22 caliber rifle into a bedroom of a home. The LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s office says there were five children inside that bedroom. No one was injured and Francis Lee was taken into custody outside of the home, after he allegedly threatened to kill everyone inside, as result of a dispute.

A special session is set to begin February 13th to address a 304-million dollar budget shortfall. Governor Edwards recommends a combination of cuts and Rainy Day dollars to eliminate the deficit. But Democratic Shreveport senator Greg Tarver says he’s against using the rainy day fund and suggests cuts to eliminate the shortfall…
cut 11 (09) “…these credits’

There’s been a lot of criticism on social media and nightly news shows over President Donald Trump’s immigration order. But there are public opinion polls, including one from Rasmussen that finds strong public support for the travel ban. But LSU Political Communications Chair Martin Johnson says Rasmusson surveys tend to support consertative candidates and issues…
cut 5 (05) “…policies’

The National Human Trafficking Hotline says they saw an increase in the number of reports of human trafficking in Louisiana in 2016. Of the more than 100 cases reported last year, 74 were of sex trafficking and 21 for labor trafficking. It’s an issue State Police takes very seriously and Colonel Mike Edmonson says he’s talked to victims who felt like this was the only life that they were going to ever have…:
cut 14 (09) “…somebody else”
Louisiana ranked 20th in the nation for the most human trafficking cases reported in 2016.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office announces they’ve arrested 14 individuals and they are still seeking three men from Alexandria who were involved in a string of residential burglaries where jewelry, guns and body armour were taken. In each case, the suspects forced their way into the home. Some of the stolen items have been recovered.

Many Republican state lawmakers do not want to use the Rainy Day Fund to solve the 304 million dollar budget deficit and there is also a Democrat opposed to it, as well. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Cardell Hayes, the man convicted of killing former Saints star Will Smith has had his sentencing delayed until March 27th. Prosecutors believe Hayes should be sentenced to prison for 60 years. He was convicted last month of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter; and was originally slated to be sentenced mid-February.

State Police Col Mike Edmonson credits a strong awareness campaign as the reason more human trafficking victims than ever are reaching out for help. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 104 cases of human trafficking were called in last year, compared to 75 in 2015. Edmonson says getting victims to come forward begins with compassion..:
Cut 13 (08) “the things you’re doing”
Louisiana ranked 20th in the nation for the most human trafficking cases reported in 2016.

Entergy Louisiana broke ground today on an 869-million dollar power plant in St. Charles Parish. Michael Burns with Entergy says this new power station will be one of the cleanest and most efficient..:
Cut 6 (10) “for customers”
Burns says the plant will begin operations in June of 2019.

Case data has recently been released on the number of human trafficking reports received in Louisiana in 2016 and it shows a significant increase. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 104 cases of human trafficking were called in last year, compared to 75 in 2015. State Police Col Mike Edmonson credits a strong awareness campaign…:
cut 12 (09) “listen to us”
The Polaris data indicates that more victims than ever are reaching out for help.

Several Republicans in the state legislature oppose using money from the Rainy Day Fund to solve a 304 million dollar budget deficit, but there is at least one Democrat who also doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Shreveport Senator Greg Tarver made the comments to News Radio 7-10 KEEL
Cut 9 (06) “that money”
A special session will likely begin on February 13th to address the budget shortfall.

Despite media reports to the contrary, several polls indicate that many people support President Donald Trump’s controversial travel man to some Middle Eastern countries. A survey by Rasmussen finds 57-percent of people polled support the ban but LSU Political Communications Chair Martin Johnson says that data was from landlines only…:
CUT 4 (08) “you have”
Johnson believes a lot of the outcry comes from how quickly the ban was issued bringing a lot of confusion.

Governor John Bel Edwards is on hand today as Entergy breaks ground on the massive new plant in St. Charles Parish. The construction project will require some 700 workers, and the plant will have 27 permanent workers once operational in mid-2019, Entergy said.

Although most main stream media outlets have produced critical reports of President Donald Trump’s travel ban, multiple polls released show quite a bit of support for the executive order. LSU Political Communications Chair Martin Johnson says he expected this, especially with Louisianans…:
Cut 3 (09) “the policy”
A survey from the University of Quinnipiac finds between 42 and 48-percent of people support the order.

The man convicted of killing former Saints player Will Smith will learn how much time he’ll spend in jail for the crime on March 27th. A judge in New Orleans today agreed to delay the sentencing. Hayes was convicted on December 11th of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of Smith and the wounding of his wife in an apparent road rage incident.

The National Federation of Independent Business is waiting to see which regulations President Donald Trump has cut in an executive order. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Human trafficking data compiled from the National Human Trafficking Hotline finds Louisiana saw a significant jump in reported cases in 2016. It shows 104 instances of human trafficking were called in to the hotline last year, which included 74 cases of sex trafficking and 21 cases of labor trafficking. In 2015, 75 human trafficking cases were reported according to the data.

Louisiana is looking for private investors to help improve the congestion along the I-10 corridor in the Baton Rouge area. The state has a 13-billion dollar transportation backlog, because of the lack of state dollars. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says private investment is an innovative way to secure dollars to fund highway construction….
cut 6 (06) “…deliverying today”
Wilson says they’ll spend the next two months talking with firms who might be interested.

President Donald Trump will announce his Supreme Court nomination tonight. The U.S. Senate will then have to confirm the choice, we asked LSU Political Science Professor James Stoner if the 60 votes are there to avoid a filibuster by the Democrats….
cut 12 (07) “…is proposed”
Tulane and ULM graduate William Pryor has been mentioned as someone Mr. Trump will nominate.

A Louisiana small business group organiziation applauds President Donald Trump’s decision to cut federal regulations on small business owners. National Federation of Independent Business State Director Dawn Starns says they are still awaiting more information on this executive order, but they hopes the cost of compliance for small business drops and the complexity of law they are required to follow are simplified….
cut 9 (08) “…first step”
The Louisiana Heath Hospital in St. Tammany Parish announces it will close it’s doors within a month and file for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. The medical facility opened in 2003 and it has 134 beds. The CEO of Louisiana Heart Hospital cites financial challenges.

Cardell Hayes, the man convicted of killing former Saints star Will Smith has had his sentencing delayed until March 27th. Prosecutors believe Hayes should be sentenced to prison for 60 years.

For the first time in the state’s history, Louisiana is willing to partner with private companies in the construction of roads. Don Molino has the story…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

The Zachary man suspected of killing his ex-girlfriend’s father and then burning the victim’s house down has been arrested by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. Officials believe the suspect was upset because he was dumped which could be a motive in the killing. At the end of December, 34 year old James Henry Rivers allegedly broke into the victim’s home, bound him with wire, robbed him of his phone and dog and then caused injuries that killed him. Rivers faces many charges.

President Donald Trump will announce who he plans to nominate for Supreme Court Justice tonight to replace the late Antonin Scalia. One of the reported candidates is William Pryor of Alabama, who is a graduate Tulane and ULM. LSU Political Science Professor James Stoner says he would be an interesting choice because he didn’t go to Yale or Harvard:
cut 11 (12) “or Yale”
Stoner believes the nominee will be a young Republican with a strong conservative voice.

President Trump has ordered a controversial travel ban to seven Middle Eastern countries. Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says under the 8-year Obama administration, the threat of radical Islamic terror was ignored…:
Cut 15 (09) “called for”
The Archdiocese of New Orleans has publicly stated the travel ban goes against Catholic principles.