The Louisiana House believes the state legislature should have a say if a work mandate should be in place for food stamp recipients. Currently, the governor is allowed to seek a federal waiver of the work requirements for able-bodied, childless adults to receive food stamps. The bill’s author, Monroe Representative Jay Morris, says he knows jobs are hard to come by, but…
cut 7 (10) “…every day”
After a 56-28 vote, the bill heads to the Senate.

The latest employment figures show the state’s unemployment rate went up slightly to six-point-one percent in the month of March. Louisiana Workforce Commission spokesperson Aaron Caffarel….
cut 15 (10) “….labor force”
Caffareal says the number of people employed in Louisiana grew by eight-thousand last month.

The band director at Westgate High School in New Iberia is facing charges after a mother of a 16-year-old child, alledgedly found him hiding in the girl’s closet. Lt. Colonel Bobby Webre, with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s office, says the juvenile invited Jeremy Conner into the home and it’s unclear how the two met…
cut 4 (08) “…the parish”
Webre says Conner has been communicating with the juvenile since last year, and he admitting to sending her inappropriate texts.

This weekend it’s the Louisiana International Film Festival in Baton Rouge. Kelsey Grammer, who is known for his sitcom television character “Frazier” has a film during this four-day event called “Breaking the Bank.” Grammer says its an indictment on the investment bank system…
cut 11 (07) “….might happen”
For more information go to li-film-fest-dot-org.

A bill to give legislators a say if recipients of food stamps should have to work to receive assistance has been approved by the House. Emelie Gunn has more:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics finds employment in Louisiana rose for a third straight month. Spokesperson with the Louisiana Workforce Commission Aaron Caffarel says this is encouraging news. He says the number of people employed grew by nearly 8-thousand from February to March…:
Cut 13 (07) “ever recorded”

The 4th Annual ever-growing Louisiana International Film Festival is underway in Baton Rouge. LIFF brings a huge variety of movies to the big screen during the 4 day event, including big budget studio films, and regionally focused productions. Kelsey Grammar is making an appearance at the screening of his new film Breaking the Bank, which he says is about an investment bank takeover.:
CUT 10 (09) “like that”
You can get more information about the festival at lifilmfest.org.

A high school band director from Westgate High School in Iberia Parish is arrested following an investigation into why he was found hiding in the closet of a 16-year-old girl. Lt. Col. Bobby Webre with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office says 30-year-old Jeremy Conner of Baton Rouge admitted to sending the teen inappropriate texts. He says there are important lessons to be learned here…:
CUT 5 (07) “their career”
Conner is charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile.

The House approved a bill to allow lawmakers to have a say in whether recipients of food stamps should be required to work to receive federal assistance.
Author of the legislation, Monroe Rep. Jay Morris..:
CUT 9 (10) “that route”
But opponents like Bogalusa Representative Malinda White says Louisiana is losing jobs left and right in the oil and gas industry, and in American there is always a time and a place where people should have a safety net…:
CUT 8 (09) “need it”
The legislation heads to the Senate on a 56-28 vote.

The oil industry does like to see the price of gas go up, which it’s been slowly doing. AAA says the current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $1.89 which is almost a nickle more than the same time last week.

The band director at Westgate High School in New Iberia has been arrested, after he was found hiding in a 16-year-old girl’s closet. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Thibodaux Police Department arrests a woman they say pulled a gun out on a minor and said she was going to shoot him. They say 38-year-old Gail Rhodes claimed she was only trying to scare the teen, but she was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault with a firearm.

The Iberia Parish School system says the employment status of its band director at Westgate High School is very much uncertain at this time after he was found hiding in a 16-year-old girl’s closet. Lt. Col. Bobby Webre with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office says 30-year-old Jeremy Conner of Baton Rouge was alone with the juvenile when her mother came home…:
CUT 3 (07) “her home”
He says the suspect admitted to sending inappropriate text messages to the teen and he’s been charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Governor John Bel Edwards will launch a monthly radio show beginning Tuesday April 19th where listeners have the opportunity to ask the governor questions and express issues they feel are important. The show will air from 2pm-3pm and can be heard on stations across the state on the Louisiana Radio Network. “Ask the Governor” will also stream online at louisianaradionetwork.com.

The state House advances a bill that would let lawmakers have a say in whether recipients of food stamps should be required to work to receive federal assistance. But Bogalusa Representative Malinda White says 16,000 people working in the oil industry have recently lost their jobs and there is no telling when another opportunity will become available to them…:
CUT 6 (09) “to eat”
Monroe Representative Jay Morris says he doesn’t want anyone to starve and he knows jobs are hard to come by in some areas, however…:
CUT 7 (10) “every day”
The measure passed 56-28 and now heads to the Senate.

the US Labor Department says the state’s unemployment rate rose in March to 6.1 percent up from 5.9 percent the prior month. Oil and gas employment fell by 10,000 over the year.

Don’t panic if you just realized today is April 15th, tax day is actually Monday this year. Baton Rouge tax preparer Letti Lowe-Ardoin, with the Louisiana CPA society, says filing federal taxes can be a challenge, but it’s not too late to get some assistance…:
Cut 15 (07) “help you out”
Victims of the recent flooding in the state are eligible for an extension.

A 17-year-old junior at Ponchatoula High School is facing felony charges after he allegedly posted a bomb threat against the school on social media. Ponchatoula High School Principal Daniel Strickland says it’s unfortunate that a teenager in today’s society does things like this without thinking…
cut 12 (10) “….be severe”
Calvin Richardson was taken into custody while sitting at his desk at school.

The Franklin Parish Sheriff’s office is searching for a father and his 10-year-old son who have not been seen since Thursday afternoon. Authorities say 34-year-old Jeremy Harrell and his son, Greyson, apparently left their home on footl. The father is a diabetic, recently had surgery and suffers from anxiety issues. Anyone with information should call the sheriff’s office.

It’s been a great week for those involved in bringing back the whooping crane population in Louisiana. There were two whooping crane hatches for the first time since 1939. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Sara Zimorski says they’ll do a survey of the area near White Lake in southwest Louisiana to look for others….
cut 9 (08) “….first time”
Zimorski says they’ll also keep a close eye on the baby chicks, because they are vulnerable until they are about three months old and can fly.

For the first time since 1939, Louisiana has brand new whooping crane chicks. The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has been working since 2011 to reintroduce the endangered birds to The Bayou State. LDWF biologist, Sara Zimorski, who leads the whooping crane project says its success hinges on whether or not these birds can reproduce in the wild…:
Cut 8 (08) “right direction”
The whooping crane was once abundant here, but the birds had disappeared in Louisiana by 1950.

A high school band director from Westgate High School in Iberia Parish is arrested following an investigation into why he was found hiding in the closet of a 16-year-old girl. The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office charged 30-year-old Jeremy Conner with indecent behavior with a juvenile. Authorities learned Conner had been communicating with the girl since last year and sending her inappropriate sexual text messages.

A 17-year-old student has been arrested after another social media bomb threat was made against Ponchatoula High School. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards says Calvin Richardson is charged with two counts each of falsely stating a bomb is on school grounds and terrorizing, extremely serious felonies…:
CUT 11 (10) “can suffer”
Richardson faces up to 70 years in prison.

Tax Season is coming to a close, as Tax Day is this Monday. That means there are just a few days left to file federal taxes. Baton Rouge tax preparer Letti Lowe-Ardoin, with the Louisiana CPA society, advises people not to rush, because simple mistakes can be made…:
Cut 13 (10) “status”

Federal income tax day is Monday and experts are urging citizens to remain vigilant in these final days and not rush to get your documents in order as you may miss an important detail. Letti Lowe-Ardoin, with the Louisiana CPA society, says itemized deductions are the most commonly overlooked…:
CUT 14 (10) “can take”

Two whooping crane chicks have hatched in Louisiana for the first time since 1939…:
CUT 1 (25) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Family and friends will be saying their final goodbyes to Hokie Gajan today. The beloved Saints color analyst and prominent football player died from cancer this week at the age of 56. John Ed Bradley, sportswriter and former teammate of Gajan’s at LSU, says the running back was an amazing player and great person…:
CUT 4 (08) “everybody else”
Services will be held in Madisonville.

Also today Saints fans are invited to the visitation of former Black and Gold player Will Smith who was shot and killed last Saturday. It will be held at the team’s practice facility in Metairie.

A second man has been arrested in connection with a 4 vehicle crash in Livingston Parish that claimed the lives of a 4-year-old and 6-year-old. Authorities say two vehicles had stopped to remove a trash compactor out of the road, when 26-year-old Jerry Ervin III crashed through orange triangles into all of the occupants of the pulled over cars. The two children died on the scene. Ervin’s charges include two counts of vehicular homicide. The owner of the trash compactor, also suspected of being impaired, was arrested first on the same charges.

Don’t panic if you just realized today is April 15th, tax day is actually Monday this year. Baton Rouge tax preparer Letti Lowe-Ardoin, with the Louisiana CPA society, says filing federal taxes can be a challenge, but it’s not too late to get some assistance…:
Cut 15 (07) “help you out”
Victims of the recent flooding in the state are eligible for an extension.

Another whooping crane chick has joined the family of endangered birds in Louisiana, as two eggs hatch in Jefferson Davis Parish this week. LDWF biologist, Sara Zimorski, leads the whooping crane project — working to reestablish the birds in Louisiana. She says this is a historic hatching…:
CUT 7 (06) “that regard”
She says the two chicks have a long way to go, but biologists are monitoring them closely.

A Ponchatoula High School student has been arrested after posting a bomb threat against the school on social media. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Saints color analyst and former LSU and Saints player Hokie Gajan will be laid to rest today. Gajan died from a rare form of cancer at the age of 56. His former LSU teammate John Ed Bradley says Gajan was reliable on the field, and he never gave up…:
Cut 6 (06) “be there”
The visitation begins at 10 at St. Anselm Catholic Church in Madisonville and the funeral mass begins at 3 p.m.

Tax Day is this Monday, and time is running out to file federal taxes. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards will launch a monthly call-in radio show to air on the Louisiana Radio Network. The show will be broadcast statewide, and listeners will have the opportunity to call in and talk one on one with the governor. The show, called “Ask the Governor,” will air the third week of each month, starting with Tuesday, April 19th. It will be broadcast live online at louisianaradionetwork.com.

A 17-year-old student has been arrested after another bomb threat circulating on social media was made against Ponchatoula High School. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards says the Internet Crimes against Children Division was mobilized to discover who was making the threats…:
Cut 10 (09) “at school”
Richardson was charged with two counts each of felony terrorizing and sending false threats. He’s facing 70 years in prison for the prank.

A man who was hit by a train near the LSU campus overnight is fighting for his life, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department. They say emergency crews responded to the scene at Tigerland around 2:30am, and the victim was taken to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. No other information has been released at this time.

A bill to prevent the removal of confederate monuments did not get out of a House committee today.  Shreveport Representative Sam Jenkins opposes the bill because he says this proposal would not allow local governments to decide what they want to do with their own property.

Cut 11 (11) “for me”

The 7-7 vote was not enough for the bill to pass.

The forecast team at Colorado State University calls for the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane season to be near-average. Research scientist Phil Klotzbach, says the El Nino is dissipating which is why they are predicting a more active season than in 2015, but northern Atlantic Ocean temperatures are still cooler than average…:

cut 14 (09)  “average hurricane season”

The first test burn of explosives is successful at Camp Minden in Webster Parish. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Another baby whooping crane has joined the family of endangered birds in Louisiana, as two eggs have hatched in Jefferson Davis Parish this week. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist, Sara Zimorski, leads the whooping crane project that has been working since 2011 to reestablish the birds in Louisiana. Zimorski says this the first whooping crane hatching in Louisiana in 77 years.