President Donald Trump’s idea to impose a 20-percent tax on Mexican imports to pay for the border wall could have implications for the Bayou State. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A group that opposes legalized abortion will are in Washington D.c. today for the annual March for Life; including over 2000 people from Louisiana. There will be similar marches locally like in Shreveport where 5,000 people are expected. Louisiana Right to Life Ben Clapper says this event has been going on more than 44 years..:
Cut 9 (10) “or unborn”

We’ll learn more today about whether lawmakers will go into a special session to address a $304 million dollar budget shortfall. Governor John Bel Edwards will go before the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget to address the gap. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says if a special session is needed, it’ll likely happen mid-February…:
CUT 5 (11) “million dollar deficit”
The meeting is taking place at this hour.

According to the number of U-Haul trucks coming into the state compared to the number going out, the company believes Louisiana’s population grew last year. U-Haul North Louisiana president Warren Iles says the state came in number 8 on their recent growth report. But he says even if the population isn’t growing, another sector is…:
cut 12 (08) “last year”
He says Baton Rouge had a net gain in the number of U-Hauls arriving rather than departing, so did Lake Charles and Denham Springs.

A special session to re-balance the state’s budget could become more of a reality today. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford anticipates the Edwards administration will present three options to the joint legislative budget on fixing a 304-million dollar shortfall…:
cut 4 (12) “special session”
He says whether or not a special session will happen will be based on what the committee decides today.

State leaders are voicing frustration over the process of getting federal flood aid for victims of the 2016 March and August devastating events. Congress has set aside $1.6 billion dollars in flood recovery, and Governor John Bel Edwards Chief of Staff Ben Nevers says the state is hampered by the rules the federal government has implemented. It could be April or May before the first round of federal dollars gets into the hands of flood victims.

More than 2-thousand Louisianans are in Washington D.C. for the annual March for Life. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A report from U-Haul finds that Louisiana’s population might have grown during 2016. The Bayou State came in at number eight in U-Haul’s growth report, based on the number of trucks going in and out. U-Haul North Louisiana president Warren Iles…:
Cut 10 (11) “U-Haul trucks”

Today the possibility of another legislative special session could become a reality. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Over 2-thousand Louisiana residents are in Washington D.C. along with hundreds of thousands of Americans for today’s annual March for Life. Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life Ben Clapper says there is a renewed sense of hope under a Trump administration…:
CUT 7 (08) “in America”‘

President Donald Trump is considering a 20-percent tax on Mexican imports to pay for a wall along the southern border, so what does that mean for Louisiana? LSU economist Loren Scott says if the tax is imposed, Mexico will likely up the price of their exports to the US, which means American consumers will foot the bill…:
Cut 13 (10) “from Mexico”
Scott says that would be bad news for the economy because Mexico is America’s number two trading partner behind Canada.

The 2017 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival lineup will be announced today. This year Jazzfest runs April 28 to April 30, and from May 4 to May 7th.

Former Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham defends his spending decisions as a legislative audit alleges he misused BP money while in office. Barham says the department was put in charge of bringing seafood back into the market

Cut 13 (10) “a fish”
the audit says samples were not properly tested, but Barham says the samples were taken properly and frozen.

A Go Fund me page has been set for the Westwego police officer who was fatally shot in Marrero. Michael Louviere’s childhood friend, Reese d’Aquin says the goal is to raise 300-thousand dollars to help Louviere’s family.

Cut 7 (11) “leaves behind”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ chief of staff Ben Nevers told state lawmakers today that federal regulations are preventing Louisiana from recovering from two historic floods. Nevers says they’re moving as quickly as possible to get flood aid to the people that need it, but red tape is slowing things down. It could be April or May before the first round of federal dollars gets into the hands of flood victims.

LSU basketball suffered its worst loss at home since 1963 and it appears Johnny Jones’ days as the head coach of the Tigers is over. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Former Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham told lawmakers a state audit questioning how he spent Gulf oil spill money is the worst Monday morning quarterbacking he’s seen. Barham says allegations of extensive financial problems with the agency he once led couldn’t be further from the truth…
cut 14 (11) “…safety program”
Auditors say money intended for fish testing was used on unnecessary items.

The historic loss the LSU men’s basketball team suffered last night against Florida might be all she wrote for Tigers Coach Johnny Jones. That’s according to Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham. But Worsham doesn’t think Athletic Director Joe Alleva will fire Jones mid-season like he did with Les Miles…:
cut 4 (11) “and coaches”
Worsham says Jones has two years on his contract this season concludes.

A close friend of the fallen Westwego police officer is raising money for his family on a Go Fund Me Page. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

In football recruiting….LSU has been able to get the country’s number one rated inside linebacker to flip from Oklahoma to the Fighting Tigers. Jacob Phillips of Nashville, Tennessee says he’ll sign with LSU on Wednesday. But the state’s top rated running back, Travis Etienne of Jennings, says he’ll sign at Clemson and play at the real “Death Valley.”

Former state Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham defended his spending practices before lawmakers amid allegations he misappropriated BP funds while in office. Barham admits LDWF made unusual purchases, like three metal shark boats.

Cut 12 (11) “in Louisiana”

A legislative audit looked at purchases made when Barham was secretary.

A friend of the fallen Westwego police officer has set up a Go Fund Me page to support Michael Louviere’s family. Reese d’Aquin established the page, which features a video of him telling the world about his friend.

Cut 6 (12) “heard of”

Donations can be made at GoFundMe.com/michael-louviere-an-american-hero.

A team of LSU engineers is in California testing out a pod that can travel 500 to 600 miles per hour inside a vacuum tube. LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Assistant Professor Aly-Mousaad Aly is the team’s faculty adviser says they’re eager to see how fast the pod will actually travel.

Cut 9 (10) “real world”

The team is one of 30 participating in a competition for a new high-speed transportation system.

The LSU men’s basketball team suffered a historic loss last night to Florida. It was the Tigers worst loss at home since 1963, as the Gators devoured the Tigers 106-71. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham believes Johnny Jones’ days are numbered as head coach.

Cut 3 (08) “are off”

Former Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham defended his agency’s use of gulf oil spill recovery money. A state audit claims there were extensive financial problems within L-D-W-F while Barham led the state agency. Barham says the department used the money to make sure seafood was safe after the BP oil spill..
cut 13 (10) “….a fish”
Barham made the comments in front of the Legislative Audit Advisory Council.

A Go Fund me page has been set for Michael Louviere. He’s the Westwego police officer who was fatally shot in a double homicide last Friday. His good friend, Reese d’Aquin says the goal is to raise 300-thousand dollars to help Louviere’s family…
cut 7 (11) “…leave behind”

A Carencro man is facing charges for disposing used oil into state waters. Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson Greg Langley says 41-year-old Roshell Darjean changed the oil in an 18-wheeler and poured between 5 and 10 gallons of oil into a ditch that drains into Bayou Carencro.
Cut 15 (12) “or both”

There’s a group of LSU engineering students in California for a competition to see how fast their pod can travel inside a vacuum tube. Many of the pods in this compeition could travel 500 to 600 miles. LSU faculy adviser Aly-Mousaad Aly is proud of the student’s work…
cut 11 (12) “….transportation’

Former Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham told lawmakers a state audit questioning how he spent Gulf oil spill money is the worst Monday morning quarterbacking he’s even seen. Barham says suggestions there were extensive financial problems with the agency he once led couldn’t be further from the truth…
cut 14 (11) “…safety program”
Auditors say money that was intended for fish testing were used on unnecessary items.

On his 44th birthday, criminal charges against Robert Jones were dropped, but not before he spent over 20 years in prison for a 1992 French quarter crime spree that included the murder of a British tourist. His attorneys have argued there was no evidence linking Jones to the crimes.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality announces the arrest of a Carencro man who allegedly poured five to 10 gallons of motor oil into state waters. DEQ spokesperson Greg Langley says they don’t tolerate this kind of act…
cut 16 (10) “…drinking water”
Langley says if convicted, 41-year-old Roshell Wayne Darjean, faces a fine of at least 25-hundred dollars and possibly jail time.

LSU basketball hit a new low last night with a 35-point loss to Florida, worst home defeat since 1963. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham expects Athletic Director Joe Alleva will fire coach Johnny Jones at the end of the season, with two years left on his contract…
cut 5 (11) “…will do”

The childhood friend of the late Westwego Officer Michael Louviere has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the family of the fallen cop. Louviere was killed last week when he was shot in the head trying to help a woman who was also murdered. The friend, Reese d’Aquin (DAH-can), pleas for people to hug their loved ones…:
Cut 8 (12) “better place”
Donations to Louviere’s family can be made at GoFundMe.com/michael-louviere-an-american-hero.

An autopsy is being performed on the woman who was found dead underneath I-12 in Walker. Captain John Sharp says there are still so many unanswered questions in this case…:
Cut 16 (08) “her death”
He says they are treating the investigation as a homicide.

Former state Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham defended his spending practices before a panel of lawmakers discussing an audit of the agency under Barham’s tenure. In his testimony, Barham admits LDWF made unusual purchases, like three metal shark boats..:
cut 12 (11) “in Louisiana”
Barham says suggestions that there were systemic problems couldn’t be further from the truth.

A pod that could travel from Baton Rouge to New Orleans in 10 minutes is being tested by a team of LSU mechanical engineers on the West Coast. The team’s faculty adviser Aly-Mousaad Aly expects they will do well among 1,000 other competitors in this weekend’s event in California
Cut 10 (10) “the goal”
He says the team is eager to see how fast the pod will actually travel.

A close friend of the fallen Westwego police officer is raising money for his family on a Go Fund Me Page. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A team of LSU mechanical engineers are in California to test out a pod that can float inside a vacuum tube and travel 500 to 600 miles per hour. The team’s faculty adviser Aly-Mousaad Aly says they are eager to see how fast the pod will actually travel…:
Cut 9 (10) “real world”

A Grand Isle woman who allegedly backed over her husband with a truck killing him, has been charged with DWI and vehicular homicide, according to the Jefferson Parish records. 46-year-old Sherry Pruitt os being held on $26,150 bond.

The historic loss the LSU men’s basketball team suffered last night against Florida might be all she wrote for Tiger Coach Johnny Jones. That’s according to Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham. LSU fell 106-71 to the Gators, the worst loss at home since 1963. But Worsham doesn’t think Athletic Director Joe Alleva will fire Jones mid-season like he did Les Miles…:
cut 4 (11) “and coaches”
But he says all bets are off once the season is over.