A pro-voucher group, the Louisiana Federation for Children, releases an ad today that features parents accusing Governor John Bel Edwards of breaking campaign promises by cutting the Louisiana Scholarship Program. LFC President Ann Duplessis says fewer children will receive vouchers to attend private or parochial schools.

cut 12 (08) “children’s future”

The governor has responded by saying the L-F-C’s accusations are blatantly false.

Metairie Senator Danny Martiny proposed a bill to ensure that underage criminals with life sentences become eligible for parole after 35 years. But Nathan Allbritton doesn’t think they should ever get parole because his wife and son were murdered by a juvenile. Allbritton says it’s important that these criminals realize that actions have consequences.

cut 23 (09) “of em”

A Senate committee has approved legislation that deals with police body camera footage and how much of it can be made available to the public. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says there needs to be some privacy safeguards but…

cut 15 (11) “…real transparency”
The legislation requires a court order for video that might violate a “reasonable expectation of privacy.”

Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor proposed a bill that prevents people from using drones for stalking, voyeurism, and other crimes. Claitor has proposed similar legislation before, but lawmakers were more hesitant because drones were not as popular a few years ago. He says technology is advancing, and regulation of drones is needed to keep up with the times.

CUT 4 (07)  “your house”

The measure is scheduled to be heard in a Senate committee.

Parents of voucher students are voicing their concerns about cuts to Louisiana’s voucher program in an ad paid for by the Louisiana Federation for Children. LFC President Ann Duplessis says the cuts were made to save money, but it will actually increase costs for local school districts….

cut 14 (08)  “impacted”

The governor has responded by saying every student who currently receives a scholarship will continue to get one.

The Houston-based Union Tank Car Company said it expects to lay off about 224 employees at its Alexandria facility because of market conditions. Jim Clinton, CEO of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, says UTLX is a strong company that shouldn’t have a problem adding staff once the economy rebounds…:

cut 10 (08) “workforce again”

Legislators are looking at proposals to prevent individuals from using drones to commit crimes, like stalking and voyeurism. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Don Molino”

An Amite man has been arrested following a fatal hit and run that took the life of bicyclist Anand Asi of Hammond. 32-year-old Brandon Fowler struck Asi with his truck while Asi was riding on LA 443 early this morning. Fowler has been charged with felony hit and run and illegal passing of a bicycle.

A pro-voucher group is attacking John Bel Edwards in a new TV ad as they are criticizing the first year governor for cutting six million dollars from the state’s voucher program. Louisiana Federation for Children president Ann Duplessiss says 71-hundred students receive vouchers, but not all of them will get one next year, if the governor has his way….
cut 13 (09) “….school year’
Governor Edwards says the ad is blatantly false.

There’s a handful of bills in this session that attempt to regulate drone use. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor has a couple of measures, one of them will make it illegal to fly a drone over someone’s property without their permission…
cut 5 (08) “…the government”
So far, the drone regulation bills have received very little opposition.

Legislation is moving to the Senate floor that deals with police body camera video. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says it causes a lot of financial strain on police departments to save these body cam videos for three years, which is required by law…
cut 16 (07) “….really comprehend”
The legislation also addresses what video connected to a crime should be available to the public

An Alexandria teen is facing several charges including terrorizing after he allegedy made threats on social media about a potential incident that would occur at Alexanderia Senior High’s prom. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson, Lt. Tommy Carnline…
cut 6 (10) “….of justice”
The prom was Saturday night and the teen is held on a 21-thousand dollar bond.

An ad airs today from the Louisiana Federation for Children, a pro-voucher group that shows parents of voucher students saying Governor Edwards lied to them by cutting the budget for taxpayer funded vouchers. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 2 (26) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

The National Weather Service says it’s possible areas north of Interstate 10 will see a few severe storms tomorrow. There’s the potential for large hail, damaging winds and an isolated tornado from storms that will move through Texas today.

Houston-based Union Tank Car has infomed the Louisiana Workforce Commission that it will lay off about 224 employees in June. CEO of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, Jim Clinton, says they’ll try to assist employees anyway they can….
cut 11 (11) “…possibly do”
Union Tank car says they’ll continue to employ about 350 people.

A Senate committee has approved legislation that deals with police body camera footage and how much of it can be made available to the public. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says there needs to be some privacy safeguards but…
cut 15 (11) “…real transparency”
The legislation requires a court order for video that my violate a “reasonable expectation of privacy.”

A pro-voucher group, the Louisiana Federation for Children, releases an ad today that features parents accusing Governor John Bel Edwards of breaking campaign promises by cutting the state scholarship Program. LFC President Ann Duplessis says fewer children will receive vouchers to attend private or parochial schools based on the governor’s proposed budget…:
cut 12 (08) “children’s future”
The governor has responded by saying the L-F-C’s accusations are blatantly false.

Houston-based Union Tank Car Company (UTLX) said it expects to lay off about 224 employees beginning June 24th at its Alexandria facility. Jim Clinton is the CEO of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. He says they’ve known for some time that this cutback was coming…:
CUT 9 (07) “related commodities”
UTLX said they will continue to employ about 350 people.

A 17-year-old student from Alexandria Senior High is under arrest for allegedly making threats about the school’s prom over social media. Lt. Tommy Carnline says anytime they get wind of a threat like this, they take it very seriously…:
CUT 7 (09) “high school”
17-year-old Adrian Ray is charged with terrorizing, stalking, and obstruction of justice.

Louisiana lawmakers are working to regulate drones. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor has legislation that prevents people from using drones for stalking, voyeurism, and other crimes. He says technology is advancing, and regulation of drones is needed to keep up with the times…”
CUT 4 (07) “your house”
Claitor says you shouldn’t be able to do something with a piece of technology that would wouldn’t do with your physical person.

Lawmakers are considering proposals aimed at regulating drones to prevent people from using them to commit crimes. Don Molino has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

One of the largest employers in central Louisiana announces mass layoffs are coming. Houston-based Union Tank Car Company said it expects to lay off about 224 employees beginning June 24th due to projected business needs.

The National Weather Service in Shreveport says the area could be getting some severe weather from 7am-7pm Wednesday.

A 17-year-old is under arrest for allegedly making threats through social media involving the Alexandria Senior High School prom. Rapides Parish’s Lt. Tommy Carnline says investigators traced a fake account to the suspect, Adrian Ray of Alexandria. They located evidence to support the allegation and charged Ray with terrorizing, stalking, and obstruction of justice….:
CUT 8 (07) “those charges”
He says kids may think making threats over social media is a joke, but it’s a crime that is taken very seriously.

Foul play is suspected in the case of the 16-year-old Kenner girl whose body was found dumped in a drainage ditch in St. Charles Parish. Deputies identify the girl as Jorion White. The investigation is ongoing.

Louisiana lawmakers are working to regulate drones. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor sponsors legislation that would make it illegal to use drones for stalking, voyeurism, and other crimes. He says this is a privacy matter…:
CUT 3 (11) “search warrant”
The legislature wasn’t ready to pass similar bills in the past, but Claitor says technology is advancing, and regulation of drones is needed to keep up with the times.

A 17-year-old from Rapides Parish is under arrest for allegedly using a fake social media profile to make threats involving the Alexandria Senior High School prom. Lt. Tommy Carnline says they were able to trace the account to Adrian Devon Ray who is a student at the school…:
CUT 6 (10) “of justice”

If Governor John Bel Edwards budget proposal is approved by lawmakers, there could be an 11-percent cut in retail food inspectors. Emelie Gunn has more:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Cops are looking for a truck that was involved in a fatal hit and run in Hammond early this morning that claimed the life of a bicyclist. State Police say the suspect vehicle struck the victim who was riding a bike, then fled the scene. The vehicle is being described as a white GMC 2500 pick-up truck. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact authorities.

The number of state food inspectors could be reduced, if lawmakers go along with the governor’s proposed budget that calls for an 11-percent reduction in inspectors. Department of Health and Hospitals spokesperson Bob Johannessen says they’re letting legislators know about the risks associated with cutting 16 sanitarians, plus food retailers welcome the inspections…
cut 6 (09) “….in general”

The statewide average price of gasoline is up to $1.93. That’s according to gas-buddy-dot-com. That’s a nickel increase over the last week and Gas Buddy’s Gregg Laskoski says the price at the pump will likely continue to increase for at least another month….
cut 9 (05) “….or June”
Laskoski says greater demand is helping to drive gas prices up.

Investigators from Iberville Parish are in Humble, Texas today, the hometown of the female found dead by fishermen under the I-10 bridge at Whiskey Bay. Iberville Sheriff Brett Stassi says at this time they have very few leads in 28-year-old Elizebeth Ferrell’s death…
cut 12 (09) “…quick recovery”
Stassi says an autopsy found that Ferrell was strangled to death and she had blunt force trauma to the head.

Houma Police announce the arrest of two men who stole several sacks of crawfish worth 250-dollars from a gas station. Police Chief Dana Coleman says surveillance video spotted 45-year-old Richard Buck and 34-year-old Joshua Robichaux taking the mudbugs.

The Shreveport-Bossier City area is under a slight risk for severe weather today. The severe weather risk spreads across much of Louisiana for tomorrow.

Prices are rising at the pump. The statewide average for a gallon of gas approaches $2 again. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

If you weren’t a fan of wearing bright orange when you went hunting, florescent pink may soon be an alternative in Louisiana. The legislature approved the blaze pink bill and it’s now headed to the desk of Governor John Bel Edwards for his signature. The bill’s author says she brought the measure in hopes that the girly color would encourage more women to explore the outdoors by hunting.

Iberville Parish Sheriff’s investigators are in Texas today where the woman who was found dead under I-10 near Whiskey Bay lived. Sheriff Brett Stassi says the body of 28-year-old Elizabeth Ferrell of Humble was discovered by a fisherman over the weekend, and there are more questions than answers about her death. He says they’ve talked to some of Ferrell’s friends from Humble but she doesn’t have much family…:
cut 11 (10) “to Texas”
Stassi says an autopsy found the cause of death to be asphyxiation by strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.

The full House sacks a bill aimed at putting an end to the public-private school playoff split in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. The lower chamber voted 51-34 against the legislation. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says the legislature shouldn’t get involved in the LHSAA’s matters…:
Cut 13 (11) “the LHSAA”

Gas prices in Louisiana and the nation keep going up. Gregg Laskowski with GasBuddy-dot-com says consumer demand is up 4% compared to this time last year. He says that and other factors are driving up gas prices…:
Cut 8 (09) “going up”
He says the current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $1.92.

State mandated food inspections could decrease if the budget proposal from the Edwards Administration is implemented for next fiscal year, according to the Department of Health and Hospitals. Louisiana is facing a $600 million dollar shortfall for the financial year which begins July first, but DHH spokesman Bob Johannessen says food inspections are vital for health and tourism, and should not be cut…:
CUT 5 (09) “get sick”
He says the cuts would would result in an 11-percent reduction in inspectors.

Iberville Parish investigators head to Texas to find out more about the woman found dead under interstate 10 by Whiskey Bay. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (22) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The hunt is on for a vehicle involved in a fatal hit and run crash this morning in Hammond. State Police are not releasing details about the incident at this time, but are seeking the public’s help in locating a white GMC 2500 truck that was last seen traveling toward US 190 in Tangipahoa Parish.

For the first time, the state is offering an open house public meeting for people who have questions about the I-49 Lafayette connector project. The gathering is slated to take place tomorrow at the Progressive Community Outreach Center in Lafayette between 4-8.