The Governor’s Office says Representative Lance Harris’ budget cutting plan would close hospitals, the release of inmates, and a historic cut to public schools. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The state wildlife agent who was shot five times, is scheduled to be released from a Shreveport hospital Thursday. LDWF Spokesperson Adam Einck says 25-year-old Tyler Wheeler is expected to make a full recovery…
CUT 7 (09) “so far”
Two Monroe residents remain in jail on charges related to Wheeler’s shooting.

Walker Police are searching for answers after a female body was found under an I-12 bridge Wednesday. Captain John Sharp says Livingston Parish drainage inspectors made the gruesome discovery…:
Cut 15 (05) “white female”
He says she appears to have been there for a week and Sharp says that’s making even identification difficult.

More than $1.5 million dollars has been approved by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in grants awards for universities to advance the statewide shift to full-year residencies for all aspiring teachers. Department of Education Assistant Superintendent of Talent, Hannah Dietsch (HAHN-ah), says $1 million of the investment will go to institutions that will offer the programs..:
cut 4 (09) “program design”
She says this is part of a broader effort to strengthen and elevate the teaching profession.

The Governor’s Office says a Republican lawmaker’s plan to close a $304 million dollar deficit would cripple public-private-hospitals, lead to the release of 45-hundred inmates and make a historic cut to public schools. Communications Director Richard Carbo says of Alexandria Representative Lance Harris’ proposal…:
Cut 10 (10) “would be impacted”
But Harris says the Department of Health’s spending is getting out of control and the governor can make cuts to that agency without the legislature getting involved…:
Cut 13 (07) “last year”
Governor Edwards will unveil his plan for closing the state’s budget hole to lawmakers tomorrow.

Walker Police are working to identify a female body that was found under an I-12 bridge. Captain John Sharp says at this point they have a lot of unanswered questions…:
Cut 16 (08) “her death”
He says they are treating the investigation as a homicide.

Louisiana’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves more than $1.5 million in funding for teaching residencies. Department of Education Assistant Superintendent of Talent, Hannah Dietsch (HAHN-ah), this will, in part, provide $2,000 stipends to 233 future teachers.
Cut 5 (07) “the classroom”
The money comes from existing state and federal funds.

State wildlife agent Tyler Wheeler of Monroe, who was shot five times during a traffic stop last month, will be released from a hospital tomorrow. Emelie Gunn has more……
voicer 1 (26) “….Gunn”

The state’s flu bug expert, Doctor Frank Welch, says flu cases are still relatively low. But Welch advises residents to continue to take proper precuations to prevent the spread of influenza…
cut 8 (11) “….that properly”
Welch says 4 out of every 100 doctor visits in the state is for the flu.

The Louisiana Department of Insurance announces they recovered $7.6 million for policy holders last year as a result of efforts by their consumer affairs division who work to resolve consumer complaints. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says it’s a significant increase over the previous year…:
Cut 9 (10) “the past year”
Policyholders can file complaints online at the state insurance department’s website.

Doctors in Shreveport were able to remove a massive facial tumor from a three-year-old girl’s face. Doctor G-E Gahli, chairs the Department of oral and facial surgery at LSU Health Shreveport, and says the little girl from Brazil was on her way to becoming malnoursihed because of the tumor…
cut 14 (09) “over five pounds”
Gali says the child will require follow up surgeries, but at least now she has full use of her tongue.

President Donald Trump has said he wants to conduct a major investigation into voter fraud, but Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler says in the bayou state there were no cases of irrergularities or allegations of fraud during the 2016 Presidential election cycle. Trump believes there are those who are registered in more than one state and in some cases dead people are registered to vote.

Doctors in Shreveport have removed a very large, rare tumor from the face of a three-year-old girl from Brazil. Doctor G.E Gali is the chair of the Department of oral and facial surgery at LSU Shreveport and he says it was very aggressive benign tumor…
cut 13 (09) “…her entire jaw”
Before the surgery, her jaw stretched down to the middle of her chest.

The American Lung Association believes the state has a lot of work to do when it comes to tobacco prevention. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The consumer affairs division inside the Louisiana Department of Insurance was able to recover 7-point-six million dollars for policy holders by settling disputes with providers. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says this an increase from last year and credits changes within the department…
cut 10 (12) “..additional recovery”
Policyholders can call the department of insurance to file complaints.

The American Lung Association says the state is failing to reduce tobacco use in Louisiana. Regional Policy Director Ashley Lyerly says the state is not spending enough on tobacco prevention and could do so by raising tobacco taxes, plus that will reduce the number of smokers…
cut 4 (06) “…among youth”
It’s estimated 22-percent of Louisiana adults are smokers.

Louisiana has issued a standing order to make naloxone available without a prescription. Naloxone is an antidote that reverses an opioid overdose. Chief Medical Officer for Louisiana Medicaid, Dr. SreyRam Kuy, (Sray-rum- Kuh-ee) says the standing order is a way to reduce unnecessary deaths…

Cut 15 (10) “deep south”

The state department of insurance says it has recovered seven-point-six million dollars through it’s consumer affairs division by settling policyholder complaints. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says they’ll do whatever it takes to ensure Louisianians are treated fairly, including yanking a license or taking punitive action against an insurance provider…

cut 11 (09) “…insurance company”
Donelon says it’s his office’s responsibility to make sure insurance companies fulfill the promises they make to policyholders.

Louisiana isn’t seeing as many flu cases as we usually do this time of year, but it’s only a matter of time. That’s according to Dr. Frank Welch with the Department of Health.

Cut 6 (11) “slow season”

The story about a 3-year-old Brazilian girl who had a large, rare tumor removed from her face by doctors in Shreveport is making national headlines. Michelle Southern reports…:
Voicer 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The state’s flu bug expert, Doctor Frank Welch, says flu cases are still relatively low for this time of the year. But Welch advises residents to continue to take proper precuations to prevent the spread of influenza…
cut 8 (11) “….that properly”

The American Lung Association’s annual State of Tobacco Control gives the Bayou State F grades for access to cessation and prevention programs and for the amount of taxes placed on tobacco products. Regional Policy Director Ashley Lyerly says they also want to see the state raise the minimum age for the sale of tobacco products…
cut 5 (10) “…of F”
Latest statistics show 22-percent of Louisiana adults smoke.

Louisiana has issued a standing order that makes Naloxone, which is an antidote that reverses an opiod overdose, available at pharmacies without a prescripition. Chief Medical Officer for Louisiana Medicaid, Dr SreyRam Kuy (Sray-rum Kuh-ee) says no longer is a medical professional needed…
cut 16 (07) “….police officer”
The governor says narcotic overdose deaths surpassed homicide deaths in both East Baton Rouge and Orleans parishes by mid-year 2016.

With 22-percent of Louisiana adults currently smoking, the American Lung Association believes the state has a lot of work to do when it comes to tobacco prevention. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (25) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

President Donald Trump says he’s asking for a major investigation into voter fraud; specifically probes into whether people are registered in two states, illegal or dead. The Louisiana Office of the Secretary of State says there were no widespread irregularities here or fraud during the 2016 Presidential Election Cycle; as there are several layers of legal protection to prevent any such thing. The Trump Administration believes illegal ballots cost him the popular vote.

The Louisiana Department of Insurance announces they recovered $7.6 million for policy holders last year as a result of efforts by their consumer affairs division who work to resolve consumer complaints. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says that money is in addition to what companies offered to pay customers, and it’s a significant increase over the previous year…:
Cut 9 (10) “the past year”
Policyholders can file complaints online at ldi.la.gov/fileacomplaint.

The flu season in Louisiana has been slow thus far, but Department of Health Dr. Frank Welch says that will likely change when it gets colder again this weekend…:
CUT 7 (12) “flu season”
Welch advises everyone to get their flu shots to avoid getting the flu and to avoid spreading it to others.

The story about a 3-year-old Brazilian girl who had a large, rare tumor removed from her face by doctors in Shreveport is making national headlines. It all started when Dr. Celso Palmieri at LSU Health Shreveport was reading an online publication from his home country. He says he ran across a Brazlian article about little Melyssa Delgado Braga
CUT 12 (09) “could help Melyssa”
Dr. Palmieri says several organizations and doctors agreed to help the family get here. On December 20th, they removed the 5 pound tumor from Melyssa’s face and she has regained full use of her tongue.

Republican state Representative Franklin Foil says he will try to bring a bill in the upcoming session to raise the TOPS GPA requirement to rein in costs. He says this proposal would make the program more of a merit-based scholarship, like it was intended to be…:
cut 14 (06) “college education”

The American Lung Association’s annual State of Tobacco Control report finds Louisiana is failing in efforts to reduce tobacco use.Regional Policy Director Ashley Lyerly (Liar-lee) says the report assigned F letter grades in the areas like tobacco taxes and access to cessation programs…:
Cut 3 (10) “tobacco use”
An estimated 22-percent of Louisiana adults smoke.

At the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis was asked about the reports that they’ve been looking to trade coach Sean Payton…:
cut 30 (15) “…public domain”

Lawmakers are once again proposing more changes to the TOPS scholarship program as budget problems continue to plague the state. State Representative Franklin Foil says the GPA requirement is currently a 2.5, but he says it should be increased to a 3.0 over the next three years…:
Cut 13 (10) “in the state”
Foil says all options need to be considered, so lawmakers can keep TOPS intact for the future.

President Donald Trump tweeted this morning that he’s ordered a major investigation into voter fraud, but state officials insist there is no evidence that supports claims of scams. Mr. Trump says the probe will involve registered voters who are illegal or who have been dead. The Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office says they participate in one of the most robust programs aimed at keeping registration records clean.

Louisiana isn’t seeing as many flu cases as we usually do this time of year, but it’s only a matter of time. That’s according to Frank Welch with the Department of Health.
Cut 6 (11) “slow season”
He says about 4 out of every 100 doctor visits are for the flu right now, but as the weather cools down, like this weekend, you’ll see that number rise.

President Donald Trump has signed two orders that move forward with construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines, so what does that mean for Louisiana? Acting President of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association Gifford Briggs says there is a renewed optimism…:
Cut 10 (06) “that commitment”
He says this also creates more hope of the construction of the Bayou Bridge Pipeline.

With budget problems still looming, state lawmakers are once again looking at possible changes to TOPS. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Baton Rouge Advocate reports that the Edwards administration will likely not increase aid to public schools when they present a budget to lawmakers for next fiscal year. But the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education would like to see a 35-million dollar increase in funding for K-12 schools. Funding for public schools has been relatively stagnant since 2009.

Louisiana Oil and Gas Association Acting President Gifford Briggs says President Donald Trump’s executive order giving the go-ahead to build two major pipeline projects is a huge step towards energy security. Briggs is also pleased that Mr. Trump plans to reduce 75% of regulations on the industry..:
CUT 11 (07) “lower cost”
He says this would mean jobs, economic security and growth.

The Louisiana Family Forum is once again searching for the longest married couple in the state. President Gene Mills says for th epast two years, Lawrence and Varrie Player of Benton, have received the honor as they’ve been married for 82 years…
cut 5 (08) “…with that”
If you know someone that’s been married for 70-plus years contact the Louisiana Family forum at la-family-forum-dot-org.