Under the current budget proposal for next fiscal year, the LSU Health Science Centers in Shreveport and New Orleans would receive a combined 50-million dollars in cuts to state funding. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Two women in Jefferson Parish died in a crash as they were fleeing the scene of a hit and run, according to deputies. They say it happened in Metairie off the I-10 Service Road and the two women were speeding to try to get away from the initial accident in a Mustang, but then crashed, overturned and skid into a utility pole. But the driver and passenger died at the scene.

A woman who was the on-duty nurse when a patient at a Veterans Home in St. Charles Parish died, is facing charges for allegedly trying to cover up negligence. Inspector General Stephen Street says a resident fell and 58-year-old Cheryl Poirrier failed to keep checking on him, as per policy. He says she then lied about what happened and could go to jail for it…:
CUT 4 (06) “public records”
He says our Veterans deserves are highest level of care and this criminal act is going to be taken very seriously.

In these tough budget times, some state senators are concerned about growing Louisiana’s film tax credit program. Lawmakers are reviewing the budget for next fiscal year which currently contains a $600 million dollar hole, and proposals to cut healthcare and education are on the table. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau thinks the movie incentives don’t have a tangible economic impact:
CUT 12 (07) “investment”
But others who defend the program says the movie making business does bring money to the state especially at the local level.

The spending plan for next fiscal year is moving through the legislature with a proposed $35 million cut to the LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport and about a $15 million cut to the center in New Orleans. Chancellor of the New Orleans center, Larry Hollier (OAL-yay) says this will impact many of their programs..:
CUT 6 (11) “neuroscience center program”
The budget proposal for next fiscal year has been approved by the House and is being debated in the Senate Finance Committee.

Former Lt. Governor Bobby Freeman has passed away at the age of 82. The St. Martinville native served as Lt. Governor from 1980-88, and Edwin Edwards was the governor during Freeman’s second term…”
CUT 9 (10) “a problem”
Freeman’s family says he died this morning after suffering an aneurysm last week.

A former Department of Veterans Affairs nurse could spend time behind bars after a patient at a St. Charles veterans home died under her care. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A motorcyclist in Calcasieu Parish died in a Moss Bluff crash. Deputies say 46-year-old Johnny Coe ran off the road for unknown reasons, crashed and was ejected from his bike. Coe was wearing a helmet, but sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A former nurse with the Department of Veterans Affairs is facing jail time after a patient died under her care. Inspector General Stephen Street says 58-year-old Cheryl Poirrier (pour-e-a) was on-duty the night a resident fell at a Veterans Home in St Charles Parish. He says after a fall, it’s policy to check the patient’s neurological signs for the next 72 hours…:
CUT 3 (12) “the checks”
She is charged with one count of malfeasance in office and four counts of filing false public records.

State Senators and leaders from the Edwards Administration have begun discussions on the more than $26 billion dollar spending plan for next fiscal year. House Bill 1 was approved Friday in the lower chamber, and lawmakers are still expected to make more changes to the proposed budget. The state is facing a $600 million dollar shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1st.

A man who was not buckled up died in a single vehicle crash this morning in Calcasieu Parish. State Police say 33-year-old Quincey Darnell Trail of Lake Charles traveled off the road into a ditch, struck a culvert and overturned several times. Trail was pronounced dead at the scene by the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office.

Today is the deadline for taxpayers to file state tax returns. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Frank Selas, the former Monroe TV personality known as Mr. Wonder, entered a plea of “not guilty” to 13 counts of child abuse from an alleged incident that occurred on a 1979 camping trip in Rapides Parish. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says this will be a difficult case for the D-A’s office to prosecute…
cut 15 (12) “…to convict”
Selas’ attorney is Mike Small. Meche calls Small a legend of Louisiana trial courtrooms.

The state’s proposed spending plan for next fiscal year is being discussed in the Senate Finance Committee, after receiving approval by the House. Leaders of the LSU Medical School in Shreveport and New Orleans are concerned about a proposed 35-million dollar cut to their facility, which doctors say will lead to cuts to medical programs.

Legislation requiring a minimum of three years in prison if you commit a felony with a gun that results in a fatality is nearing final legislative passage. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern’

It’s National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Amanda Pumilia, with the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, says owners should take steps to prevent their dogs from biting people and there are things citizens who do not have dogs can do to avoid being bitten…
cut 11 (05) “….their dog”‘

Today is the final day for you to file you state tax return for 2015. Louisiana Department of Revenue spokeswoman Kizzy Payton those in the 36 declared disaster areas affected by March flooding can file for a special extension, but it’s not automatically granted…:
CUT 6 (09) “of revenue”
Payton says they’ve already issued over one million refunds this year.

This week is National Dog Bite Prevention week, and the Louisiana SPCA is offering tips on ways you can prevent getting bitten, and ways to make sure your dog doesn’t snap at someone else. Spokeswoman Amanda Pumilia says when a dog bites someone, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that they are mean, they could just be scared…:
cut 12 (07) “compromising situation”
State Farm says Baton Rouge ranked 27th in the nation for dog bites and New Orleans number 30.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office has identified the woman they say drowned in the Amite River while tubing Sunday afternoon as 32-year-old Kimberly Gillien of Franklin, La. They say deputies were dispatched to the upper Amite River and were working near Central. Foul play is not suspected.

After 10 and a half months in jail for manslaughter in the death of 15-year-old Austin Rivault, Seth Fontenot of Lafayette is back at home. Many people feel the sentence was far too lenient. So in response, Lafayette Sen. Page Cortez sponsored a measure that would take away some of the judges discretion in manslaughter cases, similar to first and second degree murder convictions:
CUT 8 (09) “a fatality”
The measure, dubbed The Austin Rivault Act, passed out of the House Criminal Justice committee on a 7-6 vote.

Frank Selas III, a 76 year old former Monroe TV personality, will be arraigned today in Rapides Parish on alleged child sex abuse accusations from 1979. Halen Doughty previews the case…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Governor John Bel Edwards has proclaimed this week Hurricane Preparedness week, urging Louisiana residents to make sure they have a plan in place should a storm threaten the state. A list of hurricane supplies, evacuation information and other helpful information can be found on the getagameplan.org website. The 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins June 1st.

Seth Fontenot of Lafayette, the man convicted of manslaughter in the 2013 death of 15-year-old Austin Rivault, is back at home after 10 and half months in prison. Rivault’s parents went to Lafayette Senator Page Cortez asking him to sponsor legislation that would put someone behind bars at least three years if they commit a felony with a weapon that results in a fatality. He says based on what happened in their son’s case, the Rivaults hope to see a change in the law…:
Cut 9 (09) “this again”
The Senate approved measure is awaiting debate on the House floor.

It’s Tax Day in Louisiana. The state Department of Revenue is reminding tax payers that you have until midnight to file or pay. Spokeswoman Kizzy Payton says taxpayers in the 36 regions of the state that were declared a Federal Disaster Area after the March flooding, are eligible for a special extension:
Cut 5 (10) “July 15″
Payton says they’ve already issued over one million refunds this year.

If you haven’t filed or paid your state taxes yet for 2015, today is the last day. Kizzy Payton with the Louisiana Department of Revenue says it’s important for taxpayers to settle up today no matter what. She says you can request an extension to avoid any penalties..:
cut 4 (10) “be made”
Payton says to file online or request an extension visit revenue-dot-louisiana-dot-gov.

The US Senate has begun work on their proposed changes to the spending plan for next fiscal year as House Bill 1 was sent over from the lower chamber on Friday. Lawmakers are dealing with a $600 million dollar shortfall for next fiscal year and are expected to pass a budget proposal before a planned special session on taxes begins in June.

The US Coast Guard says, after 20 hours, they’ve decided to suspend the search for the missing cruise ship passenger in the Gulf of Mexico.

The former Monroe children’s TV personality Mr. Wonder will be arraigned today on accusations he sexually abused children almost 40 years ago during a camping trip. 76-year-old Frank John Selas III faces 13 counts in Rapides Parish. Legal analyst Tim Meche says with a case this old, there could be witness issues and also no forensic evidence…:
Cut 13 (09) “charged with”
The sheriff’s office has said investigators identified seven alleged victims.

This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Amanda Pumilia, with the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, says there are ways owners can prevent their dogs from biting people when they’re out and about…:
Cut 10 (07) “socialized”
State Farm reported paying $1.5 million for dog-related injury claims in Louisiana last year.

Today is the deadline for taxpayers to file state tax returns. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A 6-year-old boy accidentally shot and wounded his sister in Baton Rouge, and police say they are now searching for the person who owned the gun. They say the girl was shot in the face and her mother rushed her to the hospital where a successful surgery was conducted. According to BRPD, the person who owned the weapon fled the scene after the shooting, and remains at large.

Lafayette Sen. Page Cortez sponsors legislation that says if you commit a felony with a gun that results in a fatality, you should at least spend 3 years in prison. Seth Fontenot of Lafayette is a free man after spending 10 months behind bars for the shooting death of 15-year-old Austin Rivault (Ree-Voe). Cortez’s proposal would mandate certain manslaughter cases have longer sentences…:
CUT 7 (10) “discretion”
The Senate approved measure, dubbed The Austin Rivault Act, passed out of the House Criminal Justice committee on a 7-6 vote.

The woman who died while Tiki Tubing on the Amite River over the weekend has been identified as 32-year-old Kimberly Gillien of Franklin, according to the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Funding for the state’s safety net hospitals remained in tact after the House approved next year’s budget bill and sent it over to the Senate. A $72 million dollar cut to TOPS was made in order to give money to the hospitals for the poor. Bogalusa Representative Malinda White argued against an amendment seeking to put money back to TOPS..:
cut 14 (10) “go home”
More changes are expected to be made to House Bill 1 in the Senate.

GOP lawmakers sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Landry to get his opinion on the executive order signed by Governor John Bel Edwards in April banning discrimination in state government based on sexual orientation and gender identity. 32 Republican House members say the order is troubling and may be against the constitution. They also asked Landry about the federal governments order that schools must allow students to use a bathroom based on their gender identity.

It’s a big graduation weekend and one teen in Ringgold got two diplomas yesterday, one for high school and one from Bossier Parish Community College. So what’s next for 17 year old Azariya McClendon? She says her academic aspirations won’t slow down from here…:
CUT 3 (12) “OBGYN”

Governor John Bel Edwards is at this hour delivering the keynote address at the Southeastern Louisiana University commencement ceremony in Hammond.

After almost 40 years after he was accused of raping young boys, Frank Selas III, aka Mr. Wonder, will be arraigned on Monday. He is being prosecuted by the Rapides District Attorney’s Office and his defense team includes Mike Small, who has made a career of representing what he calls the “underdog.” Selas faces 13 counts including two counts of aggravated rape.

The nearly $26 billion dollar spending bill for next fiscal year is now headed to the Senate for consideration after nearly 14 hours of debate in the lower chamber. It includes a $72 million dollar cut to tops in order to give money to the state’s hospitals that serve the poor and uninsured.

Conservatives are not happy about the US Department of Education’s letter to schools indicating they must allow transgender students to use bathrooms based on their gender identity. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham says we should be protecting our children…:
CUT 7 (05) “granddaughters”

But Matthew Patterson with Equality Louisiana says people who make statements like that don’t understand the gravity of this action…:

CUT 9 (05) “are about”

Patterson says policies like these are meant to protect the most vulnerable part of our population. Abraham says the state should make the decision regarding transgender bathrooms, not the federal government.

Four people have been arrested by the Gonzales Police Department in connection with a fight that occurred at the East Ascension High School graduation. The fight involved women in the football stands during the ceremony Wednesday, and a now viral video of the incident circled quickly on social media. Destiney Thompson and Delencia Williams, both 17, 18-year-old Rodneisha Patterson and 22-year-old Travonshay Mills were booked on charges including simple battery, disturbing the peace, and disorderly conduct.

Another Union Parish Detention Center inmate is arrested in connection with the rape of a 17 year old female at the center, who was being held as she was high on methamphetamine. Cops say 27-year-old Darandall Boyette left his cell without permission and went to the cell where the teen was being held and raped, allegedly by Demarcus Peyton. Boyette said he also intended to have sex with the female, but decided to leave. Boyette faces an escape charge. Peyton is charged with third degree rape. State Police is investigating.