Gas prices are climbing in Louisiana. The average price for a gallon of gas in the state has surpassed $1.80. AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says the transition from winter-grade to summer-grade gas means refineries have to shut down for a while. He says that, coupled with more people out on the road, keeps gas prices higher…:
cut 11 (10) “prices up”
Redman says we should see a decline in gas prices by the time summer arrives.

Disaster Food Stamps are now being issued by the state for flood victims. DCFS Deputy Assistance Secretary Sammy Guillory recommends pre-registering for food assistance if you live in one of the 23 parishes that have been declared a federal disaster. He says the amount you’ll get depends on certain factors…:
Cut 5 (07) “from there”

Louisiana voters are split over whether or not elected officials should compromise, according to a new LSU survey. Doctor Michael Henderson, director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, says 87% of Louisiana Republicans have an unfavorable opinion of the Democratic Party in Louisiana, while 67% of Democrats in Louisiana have a negative opinion of the Republican Party. He says this could be why the two parties are having a hard time compromising…:
Cut 9 (10) “be able to”
He says 55-percent of Democrats would like their representatives to compromise, while 52% of Republicans want their elected officials to stand their ground.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne is urging legislators to do what they can, until the administration plugs in the 750-million dollar deficit into the budget for the budget year that begins July 1st…:
Cut 15 (09) “2016 year”

Would you like to see lawmakers compromise on matters in the session? Or hold their ground? An LSU Public Policy Research Lab survey finds voters are split almost even on the matter. Director Michael Henderson says with a Democratic governor and a Republican legislature, it’s likely state politicians will have a hard time coming to agreements. He says we’re starting to see Washington-style politics here in Louisiana…:
Cut 8 (10) “by the wayside “

Meanwhile Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says it appears state agencies won’t have to resort to their “worst case scenario” plan for budget cuts in the fiscal year that begins July 1st. But he says delivery of services around the state will still be impacted”
Cut 14 (09) “government level”
He says some government agencies are looking at a 30-percent cut in state funding.

The Kenner Police Department says four men who worked for Fed Ex are under arrest accused of stealing electronics in the shipping center. They say 21-year-old Earl Jones, 25-year-old Joshua Davis, 20-year-old Daquan Thomas and 25-year-old Christopher Washington, all from New Orleans, are booked with theft over $1500. It’s estimated the loot stolen was worth over $13,000.

Disaster food assistance for residents impacted by extreme flooding is now being issued by the state. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Jazz Fest organizers are announcing the cubes today with info on stages and times for each performer.

Louisiana has begun issuing disaster food aid to families who have been impacted by flooding. Sammy Guillory, Deputy Assistant Secretary with the Department of Children and Family Services, says approved flood victims that have a last name starting with with E through K, can get their emergency benefit card today. He encourages all flood victims to apply…:
Cut 6 (09) “HELP-U”
The food aid benefit cards are being distributed at 25 sites in parishes impacted by the floods.

You may notice gas prices have started to inch up. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular, according to AAA, is $1.80. Fuel analyst Don Redman says that’s a quarter higher than the prior month. He says those prices could continue to go up for a couple more months, as refineries shut down for annual maintenance…:
Cut 10 (06) “a gallon”

According to a recent LSU poll, Louisiana voters are split on whether or not they want their elected officials to compromise. Jeff Palermo has more..:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging those residents receiving aid due to damage from flooding, to make smart decisions with that money. They say more than $4.3 million dollars in individual assistance has already been passed out, and that’s meant to help flood victims pay for necessities needed to get back on their feet. If survivors use payments on anything else, they may have to repay the funds.

Gas prices are going up in Louisiana as refineries shut down for annual maintenance. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told the House Appropriations Committee that despite the additional one-point-two billion dollars in taxes raised, some government agencies are still looking at a 30-percent cut in state funding for next fiscal year…:
Cut 13 (07) “throughout the year”
Louisiana voters are split over whether or not elected officials should compromise, according to a new LSU survey. Doctor Michael Henderson, director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, says 55-percent of Democrats would like their representatives to compromise, while 52% of Republicans want their elected officials to stand their ground. Henderson says this does not bode well for getting things done in the legislature…:

CUT 7 (09) “have become”

Henderson says with a Democratic governor and a Republican legislature, it’s likely state politicians will have a hard time coming to agreements.

Only 51% of LSU Health New Orleans medical graduate are staying in Louisiana for their residencies. Dr. Steve Nelson, Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans, blames talk of budget cuts for the lower number. But, he says it is positive to see 50% of LSU Health New Orleans graduates are entering primary care in Louisiana.

Cut 11 (08) “the state”

Forty percent of LSU Health Shreveport grads and only 10% of Tulane grads will take residencies in Louisiana.

Two of the three people struck by lightening at a music festival in Lafource parish have been treated and released. The third person, 28-year-old Jaqui Stavis and her black lab, were killed when the bolt of lightening struck the concert goers. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Louisiana is the second most lightening prone state in the country.

Parts of Ouachita parish are still underwater, as the Monroe area received over two feet of rain in the recent flooding event. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says flood victims can receive assistance from various agencies at the disaster recovery centers in Monroe, Bossier City and Slidell. But he reminds residents you don’t have to visit one of these centers to register for financial assistance…
cut 5 (09) “…assistance”

The governor’s top budget advisor told the House Appropriations Committee despite the additional one-point-two billion dollars in taxes raised, some government agencies are looking at a 30-percent cut in state funding. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says painful cuts will need to occur for the fiscal year that starts July 1st…
cut 13 (07) “…throughout the state”
Dardenne says more details will be released later this week.

A senate commitee began an extensive review today of the various tax exemptions, rebates and refunds Louisiana gives to individuals and businesses. Chairman JP Morrell of New Orleans…
cut 30 (09) “…of it”
Louisiana has over 400 different tax breaks, costing the state over 8-billion dollars in revenue.

Louisiana voters are split over whether or not elected officials should compromise, according to a new LSU survey. Doctor Michael Henderson, director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, says 55-percent of Democrats would like their representatives to compromise, while 52% of Republicans want their elected officials to stand their ground. Henderson says this does not bode well for getting things done in the legislature.
CUT 27 (09) “have become”
Henderson says with a Democratic governor and a Republican legislature, it’s likely state politicians will have a hard time coming to agreements. He says we’re starting to see Washington-style politics here in Louisiana.
Cut 8 (10) “by the wayside “

Fewer LSU Health New Orleans medical graduate are taking residencies in Louisiana. Dr. Steve Nelson, Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans, says that drop is due to Louisiana’s budget concerns. He says 70% of Louisiana doctors trained at an LSU facility, so losing those doctors could be detrimental to the state’s healthcare system.

cut 10 (11)  “come back”

Nelson says fortunately 50% of LSU Health New Orleans graduates are entering primary care in Louisiana.

Two more Disaster Recovery Centers opened today, one in Monroe and the other in Slidell. Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness, says the first center opened up last week in Bossier City and Steele says more centers should open soon.

CUT 4 (05)  “working towards now”

Two giraffes at the Baton Rouge Zoo died over the weekend, and workers are heartbroken. Sam Winslow, the zoo’s general curator, says one of the giraffes, a 24-year-old named Hope, was receiving treatment for a chronic illness. He says when severe storms moved in, they were forced to put her into a stall with a male she’s normally not with…:

cut 12 (07) “happened so quick”

Winslow says Hope’s condition worsened and she had to be euthanized.

LSU’s Ben Simmons has told ESPN he is entering his name into the NBA Draft and he’ll hire an agent soon. Simmons will mostly likely be the number one overall pick in June. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says statistically, Simmons had one of the best seasons in college basketball history, but he was not able to lead the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament…

cut 15 (09) ” he would” 

Fewer Louisiana medical school graduates are choosing to stay in the state for their residencies, according to Dr. Steve Nelson, Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans. Jeff Palermo has more…
voicer 2 (30) “….I’m Jeff Palermo”

State lawmakers are still waiting to hear from the Edwards administration about an additional 70-million dollars in cuts to this fiscal year’s budget. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says he’ll be able to provide that information later this week, but he says it appears most agencies will receive painful cuts of about 30-percent.

Two more Disaster Recovery Centers opened today in Louisiana, one in Monroe and the other in Slidell. Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says flood survivors can find personnel from all of the agencies involved in disaster recovery at these centers…:
CUT 3 (06) “assisting people”
He says these centers are open from 8 to 6 Monday through Saturday, and noon to five on Sunday.

The general curator of the Baton Rouge zoo, Sam Winslow, admits they are taking criticism after two of their giraffes died over the weekend. They had to put two giraffes in the same stall as severe weather rolled in on Friday. Winslow says ne of the giraffes was already dealing with a chronic condition that worsened and the one that was sick knocked the other one down resulting in her death.
cut 14 (10) “…like that”
The two giraffes that died were 30 and 24 years old.

Two more disaster recovery centers opened today, one in Slidell and the other in Monroe. Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says flood victims can receive assistance from various agencies at these locations. He says you don’t have to visit one of these centers to register for financial assistance…
cut 5 (09) “…assistance”
Steele says a disaster recovery center was also opened in Bossier Parish last week.

There is still extensive flooding in the Monroe area. Neal Brown, director of the Ouachita Parish Homeland Security, says some neighborhoods will see high water for another few days. He is glad to see volunteers coming together to help flood victims…
cut 8 (11) “…greatly appreciated”

Officials at the Baton Rouge zoo are mourning over the loss of two of their giraffes. The 30 and 24-year-old giraffes were in the same stall when severe weather rolled in and one of the animals knocked the other one down, which caused injuries that led to her death. The zoo’s general curator, Sam Winslow, says they had to euthanize the other girafee because his chronic illness, which they have been treating for a long time, worsened after the event…

cut 13 (06) “…discouraging”

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that basketball star Ben Simmons has played his final game at LSU. Simmons has told ESPN he’s turning pro. Despite failing to lead the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament, he’s expected to be the number one pick. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says it remains to be seen if it was a positive that Simmons even played for the Tigers…
cut 16 (12) “…bad thing”
Simmons averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds and five assists last season.

Only 51% of LSU Health New Orleans medical graduates are staying in Louisiana for their residencies. Dr. Steve Nelson, Dean of the School of Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans, says that’s a significant drop from previous years…:
CUT 9 (09) “62%”
Nelson says the drop in grads staying in the state is due to Louisiana’s budget concerns.

Two giraffes at the Baton Rouge Zoo died over the weekend, and workers are heartbroken. Sam Winslow, the zoo’s general curator, says one of the giraffes, a 24-year-old named Hope, was receiving treatment for a chronic illness Friday. He says then severe storms moved in and they were forced to put another female into a stall with a male she’s normally not with…:
CUT 12 (07) “happened so quick”
He says that female died from her injuries in the fall and staff decided to euthanize Hope Saturday when her condition worsened.

Residents in Ouachita Parish are still dealing with high water in many areas. Neal Brown, Director of Ouachita Parish Homeland Security, says his biggest concern is the high water putting pressure on levees around neighborhoods that were not meant to hold that much water for so long. He says when the water does start to drain, it could be bad for nearby parishes…:
CUT 7 (07) “hit them”
Those in Louisiana who flooded are asked to report their damage online at emergency-dot-la-dot-gov.

LSU’s Ben Simmons tells ESPN he is entering his name into the NBA Draft. Simmons will most likely be the number one overall pick in June. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says statistically, Simmons had one of the best seasons in college basketball history, but he was not able to lead the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament…:
cut 15 (09) ” he would”
Simmons said he plans to hire an agent soon.