Governor John Bel Edwards says the special legislative session aimed at solving a 940-million dollar budget deficit this fiscal year is heading in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go. House republicans are hesitant to raise taxes to fill the budget hole, but Edwards there’s been no evidence they can reduce the deficit without raising revenues

CUT 9 (10) “that is not happening”  

The special session ends March ninth.

The Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance has launched a campaign to build support for a new I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River. George Swift, president and CEO of the alliance, says the “In for 10” campaign is important because the bridge is dangerous for motorists…

cut 12 (06) “pull over”

The bridge was built in 1952, and the National Bridge Inventory deemed it “basically intolerable” in 2009.

Former Monroe TV personality “Mr. Wonder” has been indicted on sexual assault charges. Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Brian Mosley says a grand jury indicted 76-year-old Frank Selas on a long list of charges.

CUT 3 (11)  “a juvenile”

Selas is currently in a San Diego jail. He’s been living in California since 1985.

State Police arrest a second officer assigned to the US Drug Enforcement Administration task force suspected of stealing and selling drugs seized in raids. Karl Newman, a deputy with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, was booked on counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and abuse of office.  State police spokesperson, Maj. Doug Cain, says the arrest was made after authorities received a tip.

CUT 6 (07) “the north shore”

Newman is being held without bail in the St. Tammany Parish Jail.

Governor John Bel Edwards remains hopeful lawmakers can agree on a plan to fix the state’s 900-million dollar deficit. Jeff Palermo has the story…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Storm Prediction Center says Tuesday’s tornado outbreak in Louisiana is one for the record books. The center has been able to confirm that 13 twisters hit that day, making it the most ever in Louisiana for a day in February. The strongest tornado killed two people at a RV park in St. James Parish.

State Police arrests a second officer assigned to a US Drug Enforcement Administration task force. State police spokesperson, Maj. Doug Cain says Karl Newman , a longtime deputy with the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s office, is suspected of stealing and selling drugs seized in raids. …:
CUT 6 (07) “the north shore”

Frank Selas, better known as former Monroe TV personality “Mr. Wonder,” has been indicted on allegations he sexually abused children decades ago. The alleged crimes took place on a camping trip when Selas was a Cub Scouts leader. Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Brian Mosley says Selas will be brought back to Louisiana to face the charges.
CUT 5 (11) “Rapides parish”

The big news of the week in the special session is the House approving an additional penny to the state’s four-cent sales tax. The House added language to the bill that calls for the extra penny to be removed after 18 months. But Governor John Bel Edwards said today that’s not realistic as the penny needs to stay on the books, until long-term budget reforms are in place…
cut 10 (09) “…spoke of”
The governor is also disappointed at the pace the House has been voting on tax proposals, but he’s optimistic there’s enough time for the Senate to act…
cut 11 (09) “…be modified”
The special session called to address a 940-million dollar shortfall must be completed by March ninth.

The Council for a Better Louisiana is raising concerns about a House bill that gives the department of education a 44-million dollar mid-year cut in state funding. CABL President Barry Erwin says this would take away 85-percent of the D-O-E’s remaining cash on hand for the current fiscal year…
cut 15 (10) “….they’re going”
The legislation is heading to the Senate. Governor Edwards is expected to ask the Senate to restore funding to the department of education.

Because of a ruling by the Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals, Louisiana can now enforce a law passed in 2014. The measure requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at hospitals. It leaves just two clinics, one in Shreveport and the other in New Orleans, available for women seeking abortions. The pro choice group, Center for Reproductive Rights, plans to ask the US Supreme Court to issue a stay on the 2014 law.

Governor Edwards says the special session is heading in the right direction, but there’s a long way to go. Republicans are hesitant to raise taxes, but Edwards there’s no evidence they can close the deficit without raising revenues.
CUT 9 (10) “that is not happening”

The council for a better louisiana is concerned about the House approving a 44-million dollar cut to the Department of Education.
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Former Monroe TV personality “Mr. Wonder” has been indicted on sexual assault charges. Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Brian Mosley says a grand jury indicted 76-year-old Frank Selas on a varitey of charges
CUT 3 (11) “a juvenile”

Mosley says they’re working to bring Selas back to Louisiana from California.

The Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance has launched a campaign to build support for a new I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River. President and CEO of the alliance George Swift says the “In for 10” campaign needed because the bridge is dangerous for drivers…
cut 12 (06) “pull over”

The National Bridge Inventory deemed it “basically intolerable” in 2009.

Governor John Bel Edwards remains hopeful lawmakers can agree on a plan to fix the state’s 900-million dollar deficit. Jeff Palermo has the story…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Former Monroe TV personality “Mr. Wonder” has been indicted on sexual assault charges. Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Brian Mosley says 76-year-old Frank Selas was indicted on a long list of charges and the extradition process for him to come back to Louisiana from San Diego has begun…
CUT 4 (05) “warrant”

State Police arrested a second officer assigned to the US Drug Enforcement Administration task force suspected of stealing and selling drugs seized in raids. Karl Newman, a deputy with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and abuse of office. State police spokesperson, Maj. Doug Cain says the investigation is ongoing.
CUT 7 (10) “law enforcement agency”

The Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance has started a campaign to build support for a new I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River. George Swift, president and CEO of the alliance, says the “In for 10” campaign is necessary because the bridge is too dangerous for motorists and the community can’t wait any longer for a new bridge.
cut 13 (08) “and region”

The bridge was built in 1952.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the special legislative session aimed at solving a 940-million dollar budget deficit this fiscal year is heading in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go. Edwards is disappointed the House didn’t move the tax bills sooner, but is optimistic there’s enough time for the Senate to act…

Cut 11 (09) “be modified”

The special session ends March ninth.

The 13 tornadoes that hit Louisiana on Tuesday set a record for the most in a day in February, according to officials at the Storm Prediction Center. The record more than doubled the old record from 2008, which was 6. The most powerful twister hit a mobile home park in Convent, where 2 people were killed and 30 were injured. The weather service upgraded the ranking of the Sugar Hill RV Park tornado to EF-3 with winds up to 140 miles per hour.

The “In for 10” campaign to build support for a new I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River has been launched by the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. George Swift, president and CEO of the alliance, says the bridge endures heavy traffic every day, and that traffic will only get worse as more industrial projects move to the area in the next few years.

cut 14 (10)  “and safer”

It will take millions of dollars from the federal government to replace the bridge.

State Police arrested a second officer assigned to the US Drug Enforcement Administration task force suspected of stealing and selling drugs seized in raids. Karl Newman, a deputy with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, was booked on counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and abuse of office.  State police spokesperson, Maj. Doug Cain, says investigators will get to the bottom of the allegations.

CUT 8 (06) “their officers”

The House has passed legislation to the Senate that’s a combination of budget cuts and tax increases, including a one-cent increase on the state’s 4-cent sales tax. But The House believes the additional penny should be removed after 18-months, but Governor John Bel Edwards wants the penny to stay on the books, until long-term budget reforms are in place

cut 10 (09)  “spoke of”

One of the items in the supplemental spending bill that the full House approved includes a mid-year cut to the state Department of Education which amounts to $52 million dollars, according to the Council for a better Louisiana. CABL President Barry Erwin says this would also take away payments for mandated student testing for the current school year. He says some deals were made and essentially the House just wanted to make a statement that they wanted to cut the budget further…:

cut 16 (09)  “I suppose”

The Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance has launched a campaign to build support for a new I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River. George Swift, president and CEO of the alliance, says the “In for 10” campaign is important because the bridge is dangerous for motorists…

cut 12 (06) “pull over”

The bridge was built in 1952, and the National Bridge Inventory deemed it “basically intolerable” in 2009.

Frank Selas, better known as former Monroe TV personality “Mr. Wonder,” has been indicted on sexual assault charges. Investigators have identified 7 alleged victims as a result of a 1979 investigation, according to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office. The alleged crimes took place on a camping trip when Selas was a Cub Scouts leader. Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Brian Mosley says Selas will be brought back to Louisiana to face the charges.

CUT 5 (11)  “Rapides parish”

Governor John Bel Edwards says the special legislative session aimed at solving a 940-million dollar budget deficit this fiscal year is heading in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go. House republicans are hesitant to raise taxes to fill the budget hole, but Edwards says there’s been no evidence they can reduce the deficit without raising revenues..:
CUT 9 (10) “that is not happening”
Edwards says an 18 month sunset on the one-cent sales tax increase is not realistic.

State Police arrests a second officer assigned to the US Drug Enforcement Administration task force suspected of stealing and selling drugs seized in raids. Karl Newman, a deputy with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, was booked on counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and abuse of office. State police spokesperson, Maj. Doug Cain…:
CUT 6 (07) “the north shore”
Cain says this investigation is very much not over.

One of the items in the supplemental spending bill that the full House approved this week includes a mid-year cut to the state Department of Education which amounts to $52 million dollars, according to the Council for a better Louisiana. CABL President Barry Erwin says this would take away 85% of the DOE’s remaining cash on hand for the current fiscal year…:
CUT 15 (10) “where they’re going”
He says hopefully the Senate can recognize how short sighted these proposed cuts to education are and will fix it.

Thursday on the Jim Engster Show, Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell of North Louisiana announces he’s making preparations to run for the US Senate.

Lawmakers are back to work today after a day the House approved the one cent sales tax increase and sent it over to the Senate. Governor John Bel Edwards said to reporters today that the provision added in the lower chamber that the clean penny only be added for 18 months is not realistic, and he wants it to last longer. Louisiana is dealing with a current year $940 million dollar shortfall.

The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Louisiana’s admitting privilege law for abortion doctors can be enforced, and the Center for Reproductive Rights plans to take it to the high court.
Cut 2 (25) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Former Monroe TV personality “Mr. Wonder” has been indicted on sexual assault charges. Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Brian Mosley says a grand jury indicted 76-year-old Frank Selas on a long list of charges in connection to accusations he sexually assaulted children during a camping trip in the 70s..:
CUT 3 (11) “a juvenile”
He says the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office will travel to California were Selas is currently jailed and bring him back to face the charges.

Harrison Lee Riley Junior, the man accused of killing two people in Sunset and injuring two others, has pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder. The St. Landry Parish DA’s office allowed Riley Jr to enter the plea in exchange for two mandatory life sentences for the murder charges and 50 years each on the attempted murder charges.

The Louisiana House has sent over to the Senate a bill that would increase the state’s four-cent sales tax by an additional penny. But the House took no action on Thursday regarding bills that would raise cigarette and alcohol taxes. Jeremy Alford is the publisher of la-politics-dot-com…cut 11 (06) “…coming days”

The House is working today and there are reports the lower chamber will vote on bills to increase sin taxes.

The Center for Reproductive Rights plans to appeal to the US Supreme Court a ruling by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals that allows Louisiana to enforce a law that requires abortion doctors to have admitting priviledges at nearby hospitals. David Brown is an attorney with the pro-choice rights group..
cut 9 (11) “….it down”
Brown says as a result of this law, there’s only two abortion doctors in the state that can perform abortions.

Early voting for the March 5th Louisiana Presidential Primary ends tomorrow and Secretary of State Tom Schedler says there’s already been more early votes casted this early voting period, compared to four years ago…
cut 15 (09) “…very vigorous”
Schedler says he does not have a break down on how many registered repulican and democratic voters early voted.

The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation has submitted a bid to the Southeastern Conference to bring the SEC Baseball Tournament to Zephyr Field in Metairie. The Foundation’s CEO and president, Jay Cicero, says believes it would be great to have the annual 12-team tournament in southeast Louisiana…
cut 6 (10) “…VIP services”
It’s been reported the SEC will decide in late May or early June where to hold the SEC baseball tournament from 2017 to 2021.