Louisiana saw a 36% increase in international travel to the state, according to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. Halen Doughy has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

It’s back to school time and parents can enjoy a break on state sales taxes tomorrow and Saturday. It’s down to three percent for the sales tax holiday. Department of Revenue Spokesperson Byron Henderson says some purchases aren’t eligible…:
CUT 5 (09) “rentals”

Louisiana’s FastStart workforce training program has been ranked the best in the nation for the seventh year in a row by the corporate site selection website, Business Facilities. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says what really drives the program’s success is the workforce in Louisiana…:
cut 11 (10) “work space”

Attorney Lance Unglesby says Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa did not bribe Gonzales city council candidate, Wayne Lawson, in an effort to get him out of the race. Ascension Parish District Attorney Ricky Babin decided to open the investigation after audio was released of a private conversation between Lawson and Matassa. Babin says his office is working with the Attorney General’s office to put the facts together…:
Cut 9 (09) “the originals”

This weekend is the state’s annual sales tax holiday, dropping state sales taxes from 5 to 3  cents on Friday and Saturday…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser announces that international travel to Louisiana has increased 36% over the past year. He says that puts Louisiana second only to Michigan for annual growth. He says international tourism has huge benefits for the state…:
cut 14 (08) “one city”

The workforce training program in Louisiana, FastStart, is ranked the best in the nation for the 7th year in a row by the corporate site selection website, Business Facilities. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the program draws companies to Louisiana and then finds them qualified workers to fill positions once the facilities open…:
cut 12 (10) “company needs”
FastStart has helped over 150 companies in Louisiana and provided training for more than 23-thousand employees in the past 8 years.

Attorney Lance Unglesby says Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa did not bribe Gonzales city council candidate, Wayne Lawson, in an effort to get him out of the race. Unglesby says Matassa was actually offering Lawson a loan to get him out of financial trouble…:
CUT 7 (10) “his sister”
Allegations surfaced earlier this week when an audio recording was released that purportedly has Matassa and a business partner offering Lawson 12-hundred dollars. .

This Friday and Saturday is the state’s annual sales tax holiday where shoppers will only have to pay 3-percent sales tax on purchases. Department of Revenue Spokesperson Byron Henderson says the exemption applies to the first 25-hundred dollars of the purchase price of each eligible item, not the entire transaction…:
cut 4 (11) “exemption”
With school starting, Henderson says this is a great weekend for parents to do their back to school shopping.

A man in Baton Rouge is facing charges amid allegations he ordered his pit bulls to attack workers who came to his home to cut electricity because he’d not paid his bill. It’s reported that 47-year-old Michael Barcia then instructed the dogs to attack two responding sheriff’s deputies. He faces charges of aggravated assault and public intimidation.

Attorney Lance Unglesby denies allegations that Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa bribed Gonzales city council candidate, Wayne Lawson, to drop out of the race. Jeff Palermo has more on the case…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Department of Transportation announces they will soon begin the process of widening Interstate 10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson believes widening the road to three lanes in both directions will alleviate congestion…:
CUT 6 (10) “travel through”
Wilson says this federal grant frees up state dollars to be used for other highway improvements.

The mother of a five-year-old boy who was fatally shot in the head by his nine-year-old brother has been charged with child desertion. Colonel John Fortunado says 29-year-old Generra Brown was caring for a neighbor across the street, when the two boys were playing in a closet and came across a handgun…
cut 4 (07) “…younger child”
The five-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Louisiana has received $400-thousand from the Centers for Disease Control to fight the Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch with the Department of Health says it will be used to educate both OBGYNs and at-risk pregnant women about the virus, and help them learn about what medical action needs to be taken if a woman gets Zika…:
cut 12 (08) “on it”

Today marks the four-year anniversary of the Bayou Corne Sinkhole. Assumption Parish Emergency Preparedness Director John Boudreaux says it all started with strange bubbles of water coming up from beneath the surface to a massive sinkhole that forced numerous residents to move elsewhere….
cut 11 (10) “….and unknowns”
Boudreaux says about 15 individuals still live in the area.

Louisiana has received $400-thousand from the Centers for Disease Control to fight Zika. Dr. Frank Welch with the Department of Health says there have been 17 Zika cases in Louisiana, and all of them have been travel related. But he says there is a possibility for local transmission in Louisiana because the mosquito that carries the virus is active here.

Cut 14 (08) “the state”

A 5-year-old has died after his 9-year-old brother accidentally shot him while they were home alone. Col. John Fortunato with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says police received a call from the children’s mother, 29-year-old Generra Brown, and when first responders arrived at the scene, they made a horrific discovery.

Cut 3 (09) “the face”

Fortunato says Brown has been booked on one count of child desertion.

Today marks the 4 year anniversary of the Assumption Parish sinkhole in Bayou Corne. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Human remains found in the Grand Canyon are believed to be those of a Louisiana woman who’s been missing since April. Rangers located the remains near the South Rim and believe the body is that of 22-year-old Diana Zacarias of Natchitoches. Officials say she arrived at the canyon the day before she was reported missing, but the National Park Service was unable to locate her after several days of searching.

The Department of Transportation has received a $60 million federal FASTLANE grant to widen and repave Interstate 10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says there are a lot of transportation improvements needed in Louisiana, btut this project best fits the criteria for this grant.

Cut 7 (08) “in Louisiana”

Construction is expected to begin in January.

The Centers for Disease Control has given Louisiana $400-thousand to fight Zika. Dr. Frank Welch with the Department of Health says pregnant women need to take extra precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. He says that means removing standing water from their yards and watching out for mosquitoes when they are outside.

Cut 13 (08) “long pants”

A 9-year-old boy accidentally shot his little brother in the face while playing with a handgun. Col. John Fortunato with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says the boys’ mother, 29-year-old Generra Brown, was not home at the time of the shooting.

Cut 5 (07) “elderly neighbor”

Fortunato says no charges have been filed at this time.

Police say a Thibodaux woman has been arrested after stealing over $6-thousand from her employer to pay for braces. Thibodaux police spokesperson David Melancon says 20-year-old Travaunta Bentley was booked for felony theft and released on a $3,500 bond. He says this criminal act was a slap in the face to everyone who works hard to pay for their education.

Cut 16 (07) “in life”

There’s good news for travelers who regularly take I-10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says they will soon begin the process of widening the interstate, and construction should begin in January. He says both lanes will remain open during roadwork…:
CUT 8 (10) “with construction”
Wilson says a $60 million federal grant will pay for the repaving and widening of I-10.

A 5 year old child has died in Jefferson Parish after he was accidentally shot in the face by his 9 year old brother. Col. John Fortunato says the two boys were playing in a closet when they came across a handgun…:
CUT 4 (07) “younger child”
He says the mother was with a neighbor at the time. No arrests have been made at this time.

Today marks the 4 year anniversary of the Assumption Parish sinkhole in Bayou Corne. John Boudreaux is the Emergency Preparedness Director at Assumption Parish. He says this is one of those situations that you never think could happen to you, but a reminder about why it’s so important to always been prepared for anything…:
cut 10 (10) “emergency response”
He says most of the people have moved on, but about 15 residents remain in the area.

An employee has been arrested in Thibodaux for allegedly stealing money from her register at work in order to pay for braces and her education. Thibodaux Police spokesperson David Melancon says 20-year-old Tralvaunta Bentley pocketed a lot of money in just over two weeks…:
cut 15 (07) “her till”
Bentley was charged with felony theft and released on a $3500 bond.

Construction will soon begin on I-10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Louisiana has received $400-thousand from the Centers for Disease Control to fight the Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch with the Department of Health says it will be used to educate both OBGYNs and at-risk pregnant women about the virus, and help them learn about what medical action needs to be taken if a woman gets Zika…:
cut 12 (08) “on it”

Today marks the 4 year anniversary of the Assumption Parish sinkhole in Bayou Corne, and leaders say many residents have moved on — but there are some who don’t want to let go. John Boudreaux is the Emergency Preparedness Director at Assumption Parish. He says this has been an unprecedented event…:

CUT 9 (07) “of the area”
Boudreaux says most residents are pleased with their settlements from Texas Brine and have established their lives elsewhere, but there are still about 15 who remain in the area.

The National NAACP President submitted to Attorney General Loretta Lynch a list of recommendations for action to address issues between police/community relations. The focus is on re-entry and law enforcement training programs.

The Department of Transportation announces they will soon begin the process of widening Interstate 10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson believes widening the road to three lanes in both directions will alleviate congestion…:
CUT 6 (10) “travel through”
Wilson says a $60 million federal FASTLANE grant will pay for the repaving and widening of I-10.

A 5-year-old has died after being shot accidentally by his 9-year-old brother. Col. John Fortunato with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says police received a call from the children’s mother, 29-year-old Generra Brown, and when first responders arrived at the scene they made a horrific discovery…:
CUT 3 (09) “the face”
Fortunato says no charges have been filed at this time, and the investigation is ongoing.

It’s back to school time and as many parents put their kids school supply list together and start loading up on uniforms, the the Louisiana Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers that many of those expenses are tax deductible. The sales tax holiday will also be held Friday and Saturday which gives consumers a break on state sales taxes for most purchases made.

A Louisiana man is fighting to receive survivor benefits after his husband died. Marjorie Esman with the ACLU of Louisiana says William Conley passed away in February of 2015, and his husband Gerald Beem has been trying to get social security benefits ever since….:
cut 11 (07) “in Louisiana”
The ACLU is taking legal action, but the Louisiana Family Forum doesn’t seem them winning this case because gay marriages were not recognized in Louisiana at the time of Conley’s death.

With school set to begin very soon, the Louisiana Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers that many back-to-school expenses are tax deductible. Also, all consumers will get a break on state sales taxes for most purchases made on Friday and Saturday.

A Louisiana law requiring eyebrow threaders to get an esthetician’s license is raising eyebrows and a lawsuit from the Institute of Justice. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

A 37-year-old Lafayette woman is dead and her 33-year-old boyfriend has been charged with first-degree murder in her death. Lafayette Police Corporal Paul Mouton says the victim, Sheree Williams, had a protective order against Jonathan Aubrey, but that unfortunately didn’t stop this brutal crime…
cut 10 (09) “….tough loss”
The coroner has determined Williams was strangeled to death.

Shreveport police are trying to determine who broke into and vandalized the office of state representative Barbara Norton. The Democratic lawmaker says several rooms are in disarray and writing that’s difficult to read was left on the door. Norton says her office will be closed until Monday…
cut 16 (09) “….in danger” (2x)
Norton’s office was also broken into last September.