The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is trying to get a handle on the amount of flood damage. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Department of Transportation says its preparing for the closure of I-10 this morning at the Sabine River near the Texas State line due to flooding. A flood warning is in place through the region. Meanwhile in southeast Louisiana, state police say I-10 and I-59 in Slidell will remain open at this time. They continue to monitor the Pearl River.

Governor John Bel Edwards said at the start of the regular session Monday that another special session could be needed to address next fiscal year’s $800 million dollar shortfall. Edwards says he’s still disappointed with how the last special session ended…:
cut 4 (09) “of Louisiana”
Alexandria Representative Lance Harris, Head of the Republican Legislative Delegation, says it will take long-term reforms to solve the state’s fiscal crisis…:
Cut 6 (09) “those reforms”
The budget for next fiscal year must be balanced by July 1st.

One of the pro-life bills that’s been proposed for the regular session would require women to wait 72 hours before getting an abortion. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says this is already a law in several other states…:
CUT 9 (07) “want to”

Lawmakers just came out of a special session, and Governor John Bel Edwards is already saying they might need another, as the state is still facing a huge budget shortfall. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says the total number of homes damaged by flood waters in Louisiana has climbed to over 6-thousand. He says so far 7 parishes have been approved for federal assistance…:
cut 11 (07) “assessment process”
Several parishes remain under a flood warning today.

A levee at Bayou Darrow in Grant Parish has been breached due to extreme flooding after massive amounts of rainfall. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says things will get worse before they get better. He says the community of Georgetown is virtually an island…:
Cut 14 (10) “need it”

State officials are urging those with flood damage to go ahead and fill out the form for federal aid, even if your parish has not yet been declared a disaster area. You can fill out the FEMA form at emergency-dot-la-dot-gov. The state Department of Children and Family services is also encouraging those who have experienced loss to pre-register for benefits under the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Governor John Bel Edwards spoke in front of lawmakers today as the regular legislative session is now underway. Edwards told legislators he’s moving is moving forward with the expansion of the Medicaid program…
cut 14 (07) “…health outcomes”
The governor says he would also like lawmakers to raise minimum wage to eight dollars starting next year and he’s would to see fewer students receive taxpayer funded vouchers.

The Louisiana National Guard says they’ve rescued over 42-hundred citizens and 350 pets as they assist in flood fighting efforts in 33 parishes. Guard spokesperson Colonel Pete Schneider says they’ve been working around the clock since March 9th on a variety of operations…:
CUT 11 (08) “and cots”
The state says 61-hundred homes have been damaged by the flooding.

Extreme flooding has caused a levee breach at Bayou Darrow in Grant Parish. Emelie Gunn has more…
Cut 3 (24) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Jerry Amato, co-owner and chef at the iconic Mother’s restaurant in New Orleans, has died at the age of 65. Louisiana Restaurant Association president Stan Harris says diners love the quality and price of the made from scratch food at Mother’s, which contributes to creating this widespread demand…:
CUT 8 (08) “cold beverage”
Amato died of cancer.

Governor John Bel Edwards laid out his proposals that he would like lawmakers to address as the regular legislative session began today. The governor provided a couple of proposals to address poverty, one of them calls for an increase in the state’s minimum wage…
cut 15 (10) “…fair shot”
The governor proposes increasing the state’s minimum wage to eight dollars an hour in 2017 and raise it another 50-cents in 2018.

When it comes to education, the Democratic governor would like legislators to limit the number of taxpayer funded vouchers that the state hands out to low-income students…
cut 16 (10) “…not failing”
Edwards finished his speech by asking lawmakers to work in a bipartisan manner.

Over 12-hundred bills have been filed for the regular session and many would would affect Louisianans daily lives if approved. Halen Doughty reports…
voicer 5 (30) “….I’m Halen Doughty”

A bill to be discussed would increase the mandatory waiting period to receive an abortion from 24 to 72 hours. Author of the legislation, Republican West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffmann, says the extension would give a woman the opportunity to think through the process…
cut 8 (10) “….or not”

Governor John Bel Edwards spoke to lawmakers today as the regular legislative session is underway. Emelie gunn has more…
voicer 2 (30) “….reporting”

In southeast Louisiana the Pearl River is expected to crest at 21 feet today, which is the highest the river has been since 1983. St. Tammany parish President Pat Brister says they are telling residents in the area to prepare for possible flooding…..
cut 5 (05) “…their homes”

The Louisiana National Guard has nearly 12-hundred Guardsmen responding to major flooding throughout the state. Halen Doughty has the story…
voicer 1 (29) “. I’m Halen Doughty”

In southwest Louisiana, the Sabine River is rising. Calcacasieu Parish Emergency Preparedness Director Dick Gremillion says the river is expected to crest tomorrow at 36 feet, which is well past its historic high…
cut 13 (04) “…this point”
Gremillion says they are asking hundreds of residents to evacuate.

Governor John Bel Edwards spoke in front of lawmakers today as the regular legislative session is now underway. Edwards is moving forward with the expansion of Medicaid, proposing a higher minimum wage, and reforming public education. He wants to make sure the working poor have affordable access to healthcare and the state will save 100 million dollars within the first year with the expansion.

cut 14 (07)  “health outcomes”

President Barack Obama declared seven parishes in Louisiana as a federal disaster area. The President’s action makes federal funding available to those affected in Bossier, Claiborne, Grant, Morehouse, Richland and Webster Parish. National Weather Service Forecaster C.S. Ross says we’ll get a better idea of the damage in a few days.

CUT 3 (10)  “the week”

Ross says this kind of immense flooding seems to happen every 25 to 30 years in northern Louisiana.

The chef and co-owner of the New Orleans restaurant Mother’s, Jerry Amato, has passed away at 65 due to complications from cancer. Louisiana Restaurant Association president Stan Harris says Mother’s is one of the most iconic Louisiana restaurants. He says many know them for their homemade biscuits, delicious gumbo and jambalaya, and unique sandwiches…:

CUT 9 (09) “name of the sandwich”

The Pearl River in southeast Louisiana is expected to crest at 21 feet today, the highest the river has been since the 1980s. St. Tammany parish President Pat Brister says the shelters in the western part of the parish are closed. She says they have yet to receive any requests for shelter on the eastern side yet, but are prepared if those calls do come, up to five-thousand homes could be impacted.

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She says they are getting information out to residents in the area so they can prepare for potential flooding.

Governor John Bel Edwards outlined some of his priorities to lawmakers of both the House and Senate as the 2016 regular legislative session got underway today. He says he’d like to see a moderate increase to the state’s current minimum wage of $7.25, because that amount is not a living wage in 2016…:
CUT 2 (14) “and 18”
Edwards also wants equal pay for women, 17 year olds included in juvenile justice system and restoration of the Transportation Trust Fund. He also said he wants to establish passenger rail along I-10 and I-20.

At the start of the speech, Edwards spoke of the devastating and ongoing historic flooding throughout every corner of the state. The president has declared disaster areas in 7 parishes in north Louisiana, and Edwards says they are working to add more parishes.

The Louisiana National Guard says they’ve rescued over 42-hundred citizens and 350 pets as they assist in flood fighting efforts in 33 parishes. Guard spokesperson Colonel Pete Schneider says they’ve been working around the clock since March 9th on a variety of operations…:
CUT 11 (08) “and cots”
Many rivers keep rising today and C.S. Ross, a National Weather Service forecaster, says even when the water finally recedes, there will still be major issues…:
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Jerry Amato, co-owner and chef at the iconic Mother’s restaurant in New Orleans, has died at the age of 65. Louisiana Restaurant Association president Stan Harris says diners love the quality and price of the made from scratch food at Mother’s, which contributes to creating this widespread demand…:
CUT 8 (03) “cold beverage”
Amato died of cancer.

Today is the first day of the 2016 regular legislative session, and after convening today, Governor John Bel Edwards spoke to lawmakers in a joint session. The state is facing an $800 million dollar deficit for next fiscal year, and Edwards says lawmakers are required to deliver a balanced budget…:
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He says for that reason, he can’t give final numbers about what cuts were made and what revenue was raised in the special session. Tax measures can not be taken up in the regular session.

Calcasieu Parish Emergency Preparedness director Dick Gremillion says an area about 30 miles along the Sabine River, which is home to roughly 24-hundred residents, could experience major flooding. He says the National Guard is trying to get people to leave…:
CUT 12 (03) “right now”

In southeast Louisiana, the Pearl River is expected to crest at 21 feet today, which is the highest the river has been since the 1980s. St. Tammany parish President Pat Brister says they are getting information out to people in the area so residents can prepare for possible flooding…:
CUT 5 (05) “their homes”

The Louisiana National Guard has nearly 12-hundred Guardsmen in 33 parishes responding to major flooding throughout the state. Halen Doughty has the story:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The state Department of Transportation says I-59 and I-10 in South Louisiana and Mississippi may close today due to flooding.

The Louisiana National Guard says they’ve rescued over 42-hundred citizens and 350 pets as they assist in flood fighting efforts in 33 parishes. Guard spokesperson Colonel Pete Schneider says this is the biggest response to a flooding event the Guard has ever seen in Louisiana. He says their machinery has been a vital resource…:
cut 10 (11) “in the past”
7 parishes in north Louisiana have been declared federal disaster areas by the president.

The 2016 regular Louisiana legislative session is underway. There are over 1200 bills filed that lawmakers will debate over the next three and a half months, but they can’t deal with taxes. Lawmakers are still facing an $800 million dollar budget deficit for next fiscal year, and many believe another special session will follow the regular session. Governor John Bel Edwards is addressing legislators in a joint session at 1pm.

The co-owner and chef of the very popular New Orleans restaurant Mother’s, Jerry Amato, has passed away at the age of 65 from complications due to cancer. Amato was named the Louisiana Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year in 2003. Association president Stan Harris says Mother’s is one of the most iconic restaurants in Louisiana…:
CUT 7 (08) “their food”
Amato and his brother are credited with turning Mother’s into one of the best known dining destinations in New Orleans.

The state Department of Transportation says I-59 and I-10 in South Louisiana and Mississippi may close today due to flooding. Motorists can get information on all state road closures at 511la.org.

Budget matters will dominate the regular session which begins today, but there a lot of other bills are on the table. Jeff Palermo has a preview…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Tax measures can not be taken up in the regular session. In the face of an $800 million dollar shortfall that still remains for next fiscal year, Senate President John Alario says he hopes this is a learning experience for legislators who were unwilling to raise more revenue during the special session:
cut 1 (07) “this one”

Seven parishes in Louisiana have been declared federal disaster areas by President Barack Obama. This means federal funding is available to those affect by flooding in Bossier, Claiborne, Grant, Morehouse, Richland and Webster Parish. C.S. Ross, with the National Weather Service, says we’ll start to get a better idea of the damage in the coming days…:
CUT 3 (10) “the week”
In southeast Louisiana, the Pearl River is expected to crest at 21 feet today, which is the highest the river has been since the 1980s.

The co-owner and chef at the very popular New Orleans restaurant Mother’s, Jerry Amato, has passed away at the age of 65 from complications due to cancer. Amato and his brother purchased the Mother’s in 1986 and helped preserve the 76-year-old Louisiana themed restaurant. Amato was named the Louisiana Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year in 2003, and is credited with turning Mother’s into a well-known dining destination.