A UNO statewide poll finds six-out-of-10 Louisiana residents blame former Governor Bobby Jindal for the state’s budget problems. The Louisiana legislature is set to begin a third special session to correct a budget deficit since Jindal left office. UNO political scientist Ed Chervenak says the state’s fiscal troubles started early in Jindal’s term…:
Cut 13 (08) “institutional”
The telephone survey interviewed about nine-hundred Louisiana residents earlier this week.

A survey by insuranceQuotes finds 39-percent of drivers in the U.S. have never shopped around to find cheaper auto insurance. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says looking for the best policies and rates is a great idea given that auto insurance prices are on the rise…:
Cut 4 (10) “cell phones”
He suggests increasing your deductible or lower your coverage limits.

Valentine’s Day sales are expected to be about 18.2 billion dollars this year, compared to 19.7 billion dollars last year. Emelie Gunn has more:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

State Senator Dan Claitor said he plans to introduce a resolution Monday to expel Senator Troy Brown from his post at the Capitol. The Baton Rouge lawmaker said he has heard from constituents who are “appalled” by the allegations against Brown, who recently pleaded no contest to two charges of domestic abuse.

Flu season is in full swing. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Marvel is shooting a TV series in New Orleans. Louisiana Entertainment Executive Director Chris Stelly says television productions last longer and employ more people than movies and there’s the potential a series can be picked up year after year…
cut 5 (07) “…the state”
Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger will air on the Freeform channel.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said today that Wednesday’s deadly explosion at Packaging Corporation America in Beauregard Parish occurred as contractors were welding near a tank during a facility shutdown. State Police Sergeant James Anderson says they have an idea what was inside that tank…
cut 16 (09) “….this time”
Three people were killed and one person remains hospitalized.

A Baton Rouge contractor has been arrested amid allegations he defrauded more than dozen homeowners who flooded in August. That’s according to Ascension Sheriff Jeff Wiley who says 39-year-old Matthew Morris would complicate agreements to rack up thousands in claims:
cut 12 (08) “price gouging”
Morris faces a number of charges and his bond has been set at 500-thousand dollars.

State health officials say we have reached the peak of the influenza season as every five out of 100 doctor visits are for flu-like symptoms. Doctor Frank Welch with the Louisiana Department of Health says they are also seeing other illnesses that first started as the flu…
cut 7 (10) “….pneumonia”
Welch says the H-3-N-2 strain is making people very sick.

Filming is underway in Louisiana for a new TV series from Marvel. Louisiana Entertainment Executive Director Chris Stelly says they’re very excited to have the Marvel brand in Louisiana. He says the new show is a spin off from a Marvel classic, The Spectacular Spider-Man…:
Cut 3 (11) “their own thing”
He says they’ll be filming in New Orleans and likely in other areas of the state as well.

There’s more encouraging news about state Wildlife and Fisheries agent Tyler Wheeler. They anticipate he’ll leave a rehab facility in Mississippi and return to his home by the weekend. Wheeler was shot five times during a traffic stop in Monroe last month. LDWF Colonel Joey Broussard says there’s been an outpouring of support for Wheeler across the nation…
cut 26 (09) “…help out”
Two people have been arrested in connection with the shooting.

Ascension Parish Sheriff deputies have arrested a Baton Rouge business owner for allegedly defrauding over a dozen homeowners who were victims of the August flood. Sheriff Jeff Wiley says any other contractors who are doing the same thing need to take heed…
cut 14 (07) “…to operate”
Wiley says 39-year-old Matthew Morris faces several charges.

Filming is underway in Louisiana for a new TV series from Marvel. Louisiana Entertainment Executive Director Chris Stelly says it’s based on a comic book called Cloak & Dagger. He hopes this encourages more production crews to choose Hollywood South…:
cut 4 (07) “to have it”
Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger will air on the Freeform channel after production is completed.

The flu season in Louisiana is ramping up as we’ve surpassed other states with the number of cases. Dr. Frank Welch with LDH says five out of 100 visits to the doctor are for flu like symptoms, and a nasty strain is going around this year…:
Cut 6 (11) “flu season”
He says this bad flu season will likely last six to eight weeks.

The names of the three victims killed in Wednesday’s explosion at a packaging plant near DeRidder have been released. 32-year-old William Rolls, 40-year-old Sedrick Stallworth and 40-year-old Jody Goch were working at the plant when two tanks burst into flames. State Police Sergeant James Anderson says they do have a preliminary cause…:
Cut 15 (10) “ensued”
Seven other workers were injured, but only one is still in the hospital.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon advises tornado victims not to wait to file a claim. He says while it’s important for consumers to know what their coverage is, there won’t be any flood versus wind controversy with this event…:
cut 11 (08) “homeowners policy”
The National Weather Service has confirmed that six tornadoes hit Louisiana on Tuesday damaging hundreds of residences.

If you think the flu bug is making the rounds, you’re right. Doctor Frank Welch with the Louisiana Department of Health says five out of every 100 doctor visits results in the patient diagnosed with the flu. Welch says the peak of a flu season can last two months, so it’s not too late to protect yourself…
cut 8 (10) “…fired up”
Welch says the H-3-N-2 is strain that’s making many very sick.

Here’s a good sign for the state’s movie industry. Marvel is shooting a TV series in New Orleans. Louisiana Entertainment Executive Director Chris Stelly says television productions last longer and employ more people than movies and there’s the potential a series can be picked up year after year…
cut 5 (07) “…the state”
Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger will air on the Freeform channel.

A Baton Rouge contractor has been arrested on numerous charges after he allegedly defrauded over dozen homeowners who flooded in August. Ascension Parish Sheriff Jeff Wiley says it’s disgusting someone would take advantage of people who lost everything…
cut 13 (08) “…of greed”
39-year-old Matthew Morris’ bond has been set at a half-a-million dollars.

Early estimates from the state department of homeland security find that about 700 structures suffered severe damage from Tuesday’s tornadoes. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon advises victims not to hesitate to file a claim. He says some policyholders worry that their premiums would go up or they would be non-renewed by their insurer..:
Cut 9 (09) “that category”
He encourages residents to document their loss with pictures of the damage.

State health officials say we have reached the peak of the influenza season as every five out of 100 doctor visits are because patients have the flu. Doctor Frank Welch with the Louisiana Department of Health says they are also seeing other illnesses that first started as the flu…
cut 7 (10) “….pneumonia”
Welch says the H-3-N-2 strain is making people very sick.

Ascension Parish Sheriff deputies have arrested a Baton Rouge business owner for allegedly defrauding over a dozen homeowners who were victims of the August flood. Sheriff Jeff Wiley says any other contractors who are doing the same thing need to take heed…
cut 14 (07) “…to operate”
Wiley says 39-year-old Matthew Morris faces several charges.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said today that Wednesday’s deadly explosion at Packaging Corporation America in Beauregard Parish occurred as contractors were welding near a tank during a facility shutdown. State Police Sergeant James Anderson says they have an idea what was inside that tank…
cut 16 (09) “….this time”
Three people were killed and one person remains hospitalized. The investigation is continuing.

Cleanup continues in the Crescent City where an EF 3 twister damaged over 900 homes in New Orleans East. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says temporary repairs should be made, because policy holders have a legal obligation to minimize their damage…
cut 10 (11) “…further damage”
Donelon also encourages tornado victims to document their loss with pictures.

Flu season in Louisiana is in full swing. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon advises tornado victims not to wait to file a claim. He says while it’s important for consumers to know what their coverage is, there won’t be any flood versus wind controversy with this event…:
cut 11 (08) “homeowners policy”
Donelon says residents should not begin permanent repairs until an inspector has come to assess the damage.

A contractor in Ascension Parish has been arrested amid allegations he defrauded more than dozen homeowners who flooded in August. That’s according to Sheriff Jeff Wiley who says the suspect, 39-year-old Matthew Morris, is the owner of Complete Construction Contractors. He says they would complicate agreements to rack up thousands in claims:
cut 12 (08) “price gouging”
Morris faces a number of charges. Wiley expects there are more victims out there.

Filming is underway in Louisiana for a new TV series from Marvel. Louisiana Entertainment Executive Director Chris Stelly says it’s based on a comic book called Cloak & Dagger. He hopes this encourages more production crews to choose Hollywood South…:
cut 4 (07) “to have it”
Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger will air on Freeform after production is completed.

The flu season in Louisiana is ramping up as we’ve surpassed other states with the number of cases. Dr. Frank Welch with LDH says five out of 100 visits to the doctor are for flu like symptoms, and a nasty strain is going around this year…:
Cut 6 (11) “flu season”
He says this bad flu season will likely last from six to eight weeks.

The names of the three victims killed in Wednesday’s explosion at a packaging plant near DeRidder have been released. 32-year-old William Rolls, 40-year-old Sedrick Stallworth and 40-year-old Jody Goch were working at the plant when two tanks burst open. State Police Sergeant James Anderson says they do have a preliminary cause…:
Cut 15 (10) “ensued”
Seven other workers were injured, but only one is still in the hospital.

Marvel has selected Louisiana as their filming location for a new TV series to air on the Freeform network. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The National Weather Service confirmed five tornado touchdowns during Tuesday’s severe weather. An EF-2 touched down in Killian where two people were injured and a damage path of about one mile. A tornado track in Donaldsonville in Ascension Parish was found and moved east 6 miles into St. James Parish. In eastern New Orleans, there were reports of an E-F 3 tornado that left 25 injured.

Today the governor is expected to announce his tax reform proposals that legislators will consider during the regular session in April. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 25 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Attorney General Jeff Landry announces the arrest of two women who allegedly received flood disaster relief money from FEMA that they did not qualify for. He says 37-year old Kimberly Cage got almost $30,000 from FEMA for home repairs on a property she didn’t own. 32-year-old Munoz Licona is accused of receiving disaster aid for a home where she didn’t live.

Filming is underway in Louisiana for a new TV series from Marvel. Louisiana Entertainment Executive Director Chris Stelly says they’re very excited to have the Marvel brand in Louisiana. He says the new show is a spin off from a Marvel classic, The Spectacular Spider-Man…:
Cut 3 (11) “their own thing”
He says they’ll be filming in New Orleans and likely in other areas of the state as well.

As many residents are picking up the pieces after tornadoes ravaged south Louisiana, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon advises victims not to hesitate to file a claim. He says some policyholders worry that their premiums would go up or they would be non-renewed by their insurer..:
Cut 9 (09) “that category”
He encourages residents to document their loss with pictures of the damage.

Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to unveil his tax reform plan today when he meets with the Committee of 100 in Washington, D.C. President of the Council for a Better Louisiana, Barry Erwin, says comprehensive tax reform is needed because many of the tax hikes approved last year will expire next year…:
Cut 7 (07) “a decade now”‘
Tax changes could be made during the regular session, which is set to begin in April.

The governor is also in Washington for the D-C Mardi Gras festivities. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the parties are a lot of fun, but it’s also a chance for Louisiana to sell the state to corporate leaders in business meetings during the day….
cut 11 (08) “….DC”
Pinsonat says Saturday’s Ball is one of the biggest social events of the year in D-C.

State judge Mike Erwin in Baton Rouge has been banned from a popular eatery in the Capital City called Sammy’s Grill, because he allegedly used a racial slur during a dispute over a chair at the bar. Legal analyst Tim Meche anticipates the Louisiana Judiciary Commission will investigate. He says in 2004 a judge in Houma was suspended for a year for wearing a blackface costume at Halloween…
cut 14 (12) “…being suspended”
Erwin’s staff has issued a no comment regarding the situation.

Cleco’s chief executive officer Darren Olagues, who was arrested in December for domestic abuse strangulation in an incident involving his wife, has resigned. The charges against Olagues were dropped at the request of his wife last month. Bill Fontento will serve as interim CEO for the Pineville-based utility company.