A Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot in the line of duty. It happened along a busy road around 12:20 this afternoon. J-P-S-O spokesperson, Colonel John Fortunato, says the deputy, 50-year-old David Michel, approached a suspicious pedestrian and a struggle ensued. Authorities say the suspect pulled the gun from his waistband and shot the deputy several times. The suspect is in custody.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore is not sure yet if he’ll prosecute a Baton Rouge mother who was arrested after allegedly beating her children for breaking into someone’s home. Police say 30-year-old Schaquana Spears was charged with two counts of child cruelty for whipping her three children with an electrical cord. Moore understands parents need to discipline their children.

CUT 3 (11)  “been pretty”

People from all over the nation have taken to social media in support of Spears’ actions.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a bill into law that will regulate drone use in Louisiana. Baton Rouge Sen. Dan Claitor authored the measure and says under his bill, you could be charged with criminal trespassing if you use a drone to peep on your neighbors.

CUT 6 (10) “that’s prohibited”

Claitor says there are some exceptions included in his bill.

The state Department of Transportation cancels plans to rehabilitate the Jimmy Davis Bridge over the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier and instead they decide to build a new four-lane bridge. DOTD spokesperson Cindy Dorfner says they aren’t sure at this point how much the new bridge will cost or when it will be complete, but the old bridge will remain open during the construction. She says they have to get the design process started first.

cut 10 (07)  “the bridge”

Dorfner says this new bridge will mean less congestion and an easier drive for commuters.

K-through-12 public schools will see a cut in state funding as a result of a spending plan approved by the Senate finance committee. The head of the Louisiana School Board Association, Scott Richard (Ree-shard), says if schools receive fewer state dollars, it will jeopardize the successes that have taken place in public education….
cut 14 (07) “…reading scores”
But Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns supports the idea that public colleges shouldn’t be cut any further…
cut 16 (06) “…young people”
So on an 8-2 vote, the Senate Finance Committee decided not to give public colleges a reduction in state dollars, instead K-12 public schools would be put on the chopping block. This spending proposal still has to be approved by the full Senate and House.

There’s uncertainty involving next fiscal year’s budget as the second special session ends today. Lawmakers have approved legislation that raises tax revenues by $258 million. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says there could be one more attempt to raise even more revenue, as the Edwards administration is pushing legislators to approve a bill that would reduce a tax break many upper income earners enjoy.
cut 28 (07) “…governor wants”
Pinsonat says it’s unlikely the House will go along with the attempt to reduce the excess itemize deduction that can be claimed on state income taxes. He says the governor’s level of success in this second special session will come down to this bill.
cut 29 (10) “on it”

A Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot in the line of duty today. It happened along a busy road around 12:20 this afternoon. J-P-S-O spokesperson, Colonel John Fortunato, says the deputy, 51-year-old David Michel, approached a suspicious pedestrian and a struggle ensued. Authorities say the suspect pulled the gun from his waisteband and shot the deputy several times. The suspect is in custody.

Instead of repairing the Jimmy Davis Bridge over the River River in Shreveport-Bossier, DOTD says they’ve decided to build a new four-lane bridge. Spokeswoman Cindy Dorfner says a new bridge will improve congestion…
CUT 9 (12) “and forth”
She says they aren’t sure how much a new bridge will cost or when construction will begin.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says he has yet to decide if he’ll prosecute a Baton Rouge mother who has been charged with child cruelty for allegedly hitting her children with an electric cord, because they broke into someone’s home. Moore says he’s still waiting to get all the facts in the case…
cut 5 (09) “…is it not”
Moore says the woman does not have a criminal history.

The special session ends tomorrow night at midnight and lawmakers are still trying to figure out how much state agencies will get based on the revenue that has been raised over the last couple of weeks. The Senate Finance Committee has decided not to give public colleges a reduction in state dollars, K-12 public schools are on the chopping block. Shreveport Senator Gregory Tarver says univerisities have been cut enough…
cut 15 (09) “…other schools”
This spending proposal still needs the approval of the House and Senate.

A Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputy was killed in the line of duty after encountering a suspicious pedestrian on Manhatten Boulevard. An official says the deputy was shot multiple times and died less than a hour later. The deputy has been identified as David Michel and authorities say the suspect is in custody.

The Baton Rouge mother who was arrested after allegedly beating her sons for robbing a neighbors house might not have to stand trial, according to District Attorney Hillar Moore. Don Molino has more on that story….
voicer 1 (24) “…I’m Don Molino”

K-through-12 public schools will see a cut in state funding as a result of a spending plan approved by the Senate finance committee. The head of the Louisiana School Board Association, Scott Richard (Ree-shard), says if schools receive fewer state dollars, it will jeopardize the successes that have taken place in public education….
cut 14 (07) “….reading scores”
But on an 8-2 vote, the Senate Finance Committee decided to not to give public colleges a reduction in state dollars, instead K-12 public schools is on the chopping block.

The state department of transportation has cancelled plans to rehab the Jimmie Davis Bridge, instead the state will work towards building a new four-lane bridge over the Red River that connects Shreveport and Bossier City. DOTD spokesperson Cindy Dorfner….
cut 11 (11) “…four lane bridge”
How much it will cost and when construction will start are unknowns.

The senate finance committee has approved a spending plan that protects public colleges from further budget cuts, but K-12 public schools would see less funding next fiscal year. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns supports this idea…
cut 16 (06) “…young people”
The proposal still needs the approval of the full senate and house.

The rehabilitation of the Jimmy Davis Bridge in Shreveport-Bossier has been cancelled and the state department of transportation says they’ll build a new four-lane bridge instead…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern”
One of the two deputy city marhals charged in last year’s fatal shooting of a six-year Autistic boy in Marksville is seeking a change of venue for his upcoming trial. Attorney Christopher LaCour says he wants to give Derrick Stafford the best defense he can and that won’t happen if the case is heard in Avoyelles Parish…
cut 13 (11) “…fair trial”
Stafford and fellow officer Norris Greenhouse face trial later this year.
Governor Edwards has signed into law legislation that says if you fly a drone over someone’s property to take a peep at what they are doing, you could be charged with trespassing. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor has filed several drone regulation bills, but he doesn’t expect to file any more legislation on this issue…
cut 8 (09) “…to speak”

(Please note update to JPSO story.)

The story about the Baton Rouge mother who allegedly beat her children for breaking into a house, then was arrested, is receiving outrage from across the country. BRPD says 30-year-old Schaquana Spears was charged with two counts of child cruelty. It’s now in the hands of DA Hillar Moore, who is not sure if he’s going to prosecute…:
CUT 4 (11) “criminality there”
Authorities say the 10, 12, and 13-year-olds broke into a neighbor’s house and stole a hover board, electronics, and socks, and mom wasn’t happy about it.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office is reporting an officer has been shot and killed on the Westbank. The cop was reportedly shot during a pedestrian stop. Police said they had two people detained and that one of the individuals was described as the suspected shooter. K9 and helicopter had to be called in for the manhunt. We’ll have more on this as it develops.

The lawyer of a Marksville City Marshall accused of fatally shooting a 6-year-old boy has filed a motion to move the trial out of Avoyelles Parish. 31-year-old Derrick Stafford’s attorney, Christopher LaCour, says with all the media coverage he doesn’t believe Stafford can get a fair trial in this parish…:
cut 12 (09) “is corrupt”
Stafford and Greenhouse are set to go to trial this fall.

Instead of repairing the Jimmy Davis Bridge over the River River in Shreveport-Bossier, DOTD says they’ve decided just to build a brand new bridge. Spokeswoman Cindy Dorfner says this will mean less congestion and an easier drive for commuters…:
CUT 9 (12) “and forth”
She says they aren’t sure at this point how much the new bridge will cost or when it will be complete.

The Baton Rouge mother who was arrested after allegedly beating her sons for robbing a neighbor’s house might not have to stand trial, according to District Attorney Hillar Moore. Don Molino has more…:
CUT 1 (24) “I’m Don Molino”

Under a pair of bills signed by Governor John Bel Edwards that go into law immediately, flying a drone to spy on or harass people is prohibited. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says there are some exceptions…:
CUT 7 (08) “an exception”
He adds that if you fly a drone into your neighbors yard by mistake, that is not a crime.

The state Department of Transportation cancels plans to rehabilitate the Jimmy Davis Bridge over the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier. DOTD spokeswoman Cindy Dorfner says they instead decided to build a new four-lane bridge. She says the old bridge will remain open during construction, and right now they are getting the design process underway…:
CUT 10 (07) “the bridge”
She says this new bridge will mean less congestion and an easier drive for commuters.

A Baton Rouge woman has been placed under arrest by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office for allegedly pretending to be a cop and taking someone into custody with toy handcuffs at a casino. Deputies learned 23-year-old Georgetta Augillard didn’t work for any law enforcement agency and she was booked with false imprisonment and fraudulent portrayal of a cop.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed into law two bills that will regulate drone use in Louisiana. Baton Rouge Sen. Dan Claitor authored one of the measures. He says under his bill, you could be charged with criminal trespassing if you use a drone to peep on your neighbors…:
CUT 6 (10) “that’s prohibited”
The law goes into effect immediately.

East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore is not sure yet if he’ll prosecute a Baton Rouge mother who was arrested amid charges she beat her kids for breaking into someone’s home. Police say 30-year-old Schaquana Spears was charged with two counts of child cruelty for whipping her three children with an electrical cord. Moore understands parents need to discipline their children:
CUT 3 (11) “been pretty”
He says the degree of physical discipline will be reviewed.

4th Congressional District candidate and former Opelousas lawmaker Elbert Guillory says he should be chosen to head to D.C. because he has the coconuts to handle Congress. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the interesting political commercial is an attention grabbing tactic to build name recognition outside of Acadiana…:
CUT 1 (10) “big way”
Guillory said in the YouTube ad that, in Louisiana, when someone has courage to stand up to others, we say that she or he has coconuts.

The state gives away 1.6 billion dollars in local tax revenue for the industrial exemption program, which benefits large manufacturers. That’s according to Together Louisiana and spokesperson Broderick Bagert says school districts, parishes and other local entities are missing out on these dollars…:
cut 11 (03) “tax money”
But others say this exemption draws big companies to Louisiana.

Two days are left in the legislative session and the Senate is expected to try and pass legislation that raises more revenue to cover a 600-million dollar shortfall. But Jeremy Alford, publisher of la-politics-dot-com, says House leaders say they’ve reached their saturation point on passing revenue generating bills…
cut 14 (11) “…more revenue”
So far lawmakers have agreed to raise 284-million dollars in this session.

Attorney General Jeff Landry announces 57 individuals have been arrested as part of Operation Broken Heart, which is a statewide initative that involved law enforcement to reduce internet crimes against children. LaFourche Parish Sheriff Craig Weber says this needs to be a priority, because victims of internet crime tend to become unlawful individuals later in life…
cut 6 (09) “…children”

Former opelousas state senator and now candidate in the fourth district congressional race, Elbert Guillory, has an unique add on YouTube. Guillory is shown holding a bag of cocunets and he says there are not enough politicians in Washington D-C to do the right thing…
cut 9 (12) “….our homeland”
Last year, in his campaign for Lt. Governor Guillory had an ad that featured the “N-word” several times.

A group called Together Louisiana says local governments are missing out on one-point-six billion dollars a year in revenue as a result of the industrial tax exemption program. But a tax expert with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Jim Patterson, says without this exemption many businesses might not come or stay in Louisiana…
cut 13 (07) “…our state”
Together Louisiana says the governor has the power to ask local governments if they want tax exempted.

Former opelousas state senator and now candidate in the fourth district congressional race, Elbert Guillory, has an unique add on YouTube. Guillory is shown holding a bag of cocunets and he says there are not enough politicians in Washington D-C who do the right thing…
cut 9 (12) “….our homeland”
Last year, in his campaign for Lt. Governor Guillory had an ad that featured the “N-word” several times.

Lawmakers still haven’t raised enough revenue in the special session that ends tomorrow to fill the budget deficit for next fiscal year. Governor John Bel Edwards has asked for $600 million dollars in additional funding, but Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says the hole is probably bigger than that…:
CUT 16 (08) “being down”
The Senate says they are going to try once again to bring back a bill regarding personal income taxes that the House as already rejected, but leaders in the lower chamber say they don’t see the votes changing.

Beginning today, cops in New Orleans are changing the way they deal with people who possess pot, but State Police says troopers are not on board. NOPD says officers have been instructed to issue a citation similar to a traffic ticket to people caught with a small amount of marijuana. But State Police says they are responsible for enforcing Louisiana’s laws and they want to remain consistent from New Orleans to Shreveport.

Attorney General Jeff Landry and law enforcement officers are partnering to stop the production and distribution of child pornography. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A statewide network of civic organizations says the state grants billions of dollars in local tax revenue to benefit large manufacturers, when that money would be better served going to things like schools a police. Together Louisiana spokesman Broderick Bagert says they are calling on the governor to change the program, which he is allowed to do under the constitution…:
CUT 12 (08) “on them”
But others say this exemption is given out all over the country and without it Louisiana stands to lose businesses to other states.