A manpower report published in Forbes Magazine says New Orleans and Baton Rouge rank 1-2 when it comes to toughest cities to find a job this summer. LSU Economist Loren Scott there is some truth to the report that construction of large scale construction projects between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is slowing down due to the energy market. But he says right in the middle is St. James Parish, where there are a large number of huge potential projects that are in the design and financing stages…:
cut 14 (11) “…New Orleans area”

At the state capitol, time is ticking on lawmakers to give final approval on tax changes designed to raise revenue to avoid major cuts to state services. At this point the state doesn’t have enough money to fully fund TOPS and there’s disagreement at what level the program should be funded.

The governor has formed a task force that will provide the legislature with recommendations on how to reduce the state’s incarceration rate, which is said to be the highest in the world. Louisiana’s Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says they lack needed resources at the local level that can provide an alternative to housing an offender in jail…
cut 4 (09) “…that access”
LeBlanc says providing released inmates with health care can also help reduce the recidivism rate.

Here’s a bizarre story out of Caddo Parish, sheriff’s office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says they arrested a Shreveport man for trespassing after he climbed up a historic monument outside of the courthouse during the middle of the night and the statue’s arm fell off in the process…
cut 16 (06) “…with trespassing”
Twenty-seven-year-old Tromell Conerlious’ bond was set at 500-dollars.

Manpower says based on its survey of metropolitan areas, New Orleans and Baton Rouge are the two worst in the country to find a job this summer. LSU Economist Doctor Loren Scott says the summer is a slow time for New Orleans tourism industry…
cut 13 (07) “…heat is brutal”
Scott says the job outlook is actually much worse in Houma and Lafayette, because of the downturn in the oil and gas industry.

A new report released by the Annie E Casey Foundation finds Louisiana ranks 48th for child well-being. Teresa Falgoust, with the Agenda for Children, says the state ranks so low because of the number of kids who live in poverty, but the report highlights some positives. Falgoust says Louisiana ranks seventh in pre-school attendance and literacy has improved…
cut 8 (09) “…71-percent”
The governor has formed a Justice Reinvestment Task Force that aims to safely reduce the incarceration rate and the cost of housing inmates. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

Shreveport police are calling the death of an 81-year-old man a homicide. Authorities say William Hines was found dead inside his home on Monday afternoon. An exact cause of death is not known, but investigators have enough information to determine Hines was murdered as there was a stab wound to his upper body.

Louisiana ranks 48th in overall child well-being according to the Annie E Casey Foundation. Teresa Falgoust, with Agenda for Children, says unfortunately the number of children living in high-poverty neighborhoods is on the rise in Louisiana and more children are also living in families burdened by high housing costs…
cut 7 (06) “…on housing”
Falgoust says the state is making progress in some areas as they have more children than ever who have health insurance.

A recent study released by ManpowerGroup finds New Orleans has the lowest job prospects out of all metropolitan areas in the country for the next three months. Baton Rouge is ranked second But LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says there are other areas of the state suffering more…
cut 12 (10) “…there”
Scott believes New Orleans is ranked low, because tourism drops off in the summer.

The governor has signed a bill into law that raised the age threshold for victims of sex trafficking from 18 to 21. Before this law, victims between 18 to 21 could have been arrested for prostitution. Executive Director of Project 41 in West Monroe, Lindsey Nadler, says they are thrilled about the new law, because jail is not what these victims need…
cut 10 (08) “….here locally”

A Shreveport man has been arrested after he broke a historic monument while trying to climb on top of it. Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Cindy Chadwick, says surveillance footage shows 27-year-old Tromell Cornelious playing a trumpet and walking around in front of the Caddo parish courthouse after midnight on June 10….
cut 15 (11) “…arm off”
Chadwick says Cornelious was charged with trespassing.

Louisiana ranks near the bottom, coming in at 48th in the country when it comes to child well-being according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Emelie Gunn has more…:

CUT 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A task force has been formed by the governor to come up with ways to improve Louisiana’s incarceration rate. Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says one idea the Justice Reinvestment Task Force has is to make sure released inmates have access to healthcare, which the expanded Medicaid Program should help…:
CUT 5 (07) “big issue”
Louisiana incarcerates more residents per capita than anywhere else in the world.

The governor has signed a bill into law that raised the age threshold for victims of sex trafficking from 18 to 21. Before this law, victims ages 18 to 21 could have been arrested for prostitution. The Polaris Project reports almost 350 cases of sex trafficking reported in Louisiana since 2012. Executive Director of Project 41, Lindsey Nadler says there are likely even more cases than that…:
CUT 9 (07) “as criminals”
Under the new law, denying knowing the victims’ age cannot be used as a legal defense.

The Shreveport Police Department is looking for answers in the murder of an 81 year old man who was located apparently stabbed to death in his home. Authorities say family members located the body of William Hines, and a recently returned autopsy revealed this was likely homicide. There are a number of details related to the death that remain unclear at this time, but detectives say authorities are hopeful their continued efforts and help from the public will lead to the arrest of those responsible.

A Justice Reinvestment Task Force has been established that will develop ways Louisiana can safely lower its prison population and reduce the cost of housing inmates. Corrections Secretary James LeBlanc says Louisiana incarcerates more residents per capita than anywhere else in the world and hopefully this task force can come up with solutions that the legislature will approve in 2017…:
CUT 3 (07) “some sense”
LeBlanc says the recommendations will be a combination of legislation, policy, and budget reforms.

Toledo Bend on the Sabine River is the number one bass fishery in the country for the second straight year as dubbed by Bassmaster. The publications’ Editor James Hall says this is huge for tourism and he expects it to get even better:
CUT 1 (09) “go back”
Caddo Lake ranked number 7 in Bassmaster’s Central Division of top 25 best fisheries.

Louisiana ranks 48th worst in the country for kids, according to the Annie E Casey Foundation’s 2016 Kids Count Data Book. Teresa Falgoust with the Agenda for Children says the number of kids in poverty in here is higher than in most other states, and that drives a lot of other indicators of child well-being:
CUT 6 (09) “factor here”
But she says the bright spot of the report is that Louisiana children rank 7th in preschool attendance and literacy has improved.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office says two people are under arrest on murder charges in connection with the overdose death of a man in Destrehan. They say Richard Keller died in March, and the two people he was with at the time were booked on drug charges. A coroners report indicated Keller died of heroin overdose which is why Jaime Hymel and Roderick Hackett were booked for second degree murder.

The Senate plans to unveil its plane today on how they would like to see the TOPS program funded. The House approved only funding the scholarship program at 70%, despite opposition from lawmakers like Bogalusa Representative Malinda White. She feels hospitals for the poor should have priority over TOPS…:
CUT 6 (11) “to college”
If TOPS is funded at 70%, students would be responsible for paying the remainder of their tuition.

Deputies in Lafayette are investigating two bodies that were both located in burned out vehicles separate from each other over night. They say one was found in Carenco around 1:15am, and the other at 3:30am in Scott. Authorities say at this time the bodies have not been identified and it is unknown if the two incidents are connected. Detectives are still working the scenes and the case is ongoing.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical is looking for volunteers ages 50 to 85 to participate in a research that aims to slow memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (25) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

It’s lightning awareness week and State Farm says Louisiana is third in the nation for for lightning claims. Spokesman Roszell Gadson says people should take precautions when a bad storm with lots of lightning rolls in…:
CUT 6 (10) “lower ground”
He says lightning is most frequent during June, July, and August.

We’re in the final days of the second special session and lawmakers are still arguing over TOPS funding. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (30) “….I’m Halen Doughty”

We’ll get an idea on how much the Senate would like to fund TOPS, as the Senate finance committee unveils the upper chamber’s plan today.

The investigation continues into the death of twin three-year-old who died in a hot pickup truck in Bossier City over the weekend. Police spokesperson Mark Natale says they are trying to determine if criminal charges are warranted.

For the second straight year in a row, Toledo Bend in Sabine and DeSoto parishes, has been named the top fishing destination in America by Bassmaster Magazine. Bassmaster editor James Hall says there were over 130 10-pound bass catches at Toledo Bend this year….
cut 8 (11) “…is fantastic”

LSU’s Penninington Biomedical Research Lab is looking for older adults, who have not been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, to participate in a study that they hope will lead to the prevention of the disease. Director of the Pennington’s Institute for Dementia Research, Doctor Jeffrey Keller, says the study is critical because in the year 205o, they expect 15-million people will have Alzheimer’s…
cut 15 (10) “…disease”
For more information go to Pennington’s website.

TOPS funding is still top of mind at the state capitol with three days left in the special session. A House approved measure that funds the program at 70% will be heard next in the Senate. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says he would like to see TOPS funded at least at 80-percent…:
Cut 13 (10) “a promise”
Others feel services like healthcare for the poor should have priority over TOPS.

Anyone who has a loved one who suffers from the incurable disease Alzheimer’s knows how hard the heartbreaking condition is to understand. LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is conducting a study on ways to slow the memory loss, and they are looking for volunteers. Director of Dementia Research Dr. Jeffery Keller says the treatment they’re studying is promising…:
cut 16 (08) “disease”
He says they are looking for people aged 50-85 to participate in the study.

Louisiana anglers rejoice as Toledo Bend has been ranked the number one bass fishery in the country for the second straight year by Bassmaster. Magazine Editor James Hall says there were over 130 10-pound bass catches at Toledo Bend this year…:
Cut 8 (11) “is fantastic”
He says tourism in the area increased 23-percent last year when Toledo Bend ranked 1, and he expects it to go even higher now.

Autopsies confirm that the 3 year old Bossier City twins who died in a vehicle outside their lost their life due to heat-related issues. Oliver and Aria Orr were found unresponsive and its believed the toddlers could have been in the hot pickup truck more than two hours. Bossier Police say no charges have been filed at this time. The Orrs’ twins father is a deputy with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The second special session of the year ends at midnight Thursday, and lawmakers are still squabbling over TOPS funding. The House approved a bill that would fund the program at 70%. But Bogalusa Representative Malinda White believes safety net hospitals should have priority over TOPS…:
CUT 11 (09) “or death”
But other legislators do not want to take anymore money away from TOPS. The Senate will hear the measure next.

The storms in Louisiana this year have been loaded with astounding lightning, and State Farm says the state ranks third for claims related to damage caused by the bolts. Spokesman Roszell Gadson if you have an expensive device or appliance, you should plug it into a surge protector…:
Cut 5 (08) “thousands of dollars”
He says lightning is most frequent during June, July, and August.

Toledo Bend on the Texas-Louisiana border came in as the number one fishing destination in the country for the second straight year. Emelie Gunn has more:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

State Police say an arrest has been made in the case of a fatal hit and run crash that claimed the life of a pedestrian in Terrebonne Parish. They say 52-year-old Darrell Barlow of Chauvin was booked with vehicular homicide, felony hit and run, improper lane usage and obstruction of justice. 22-year-old William Boyne was walking along a roadway last Friday when he was run over by Barlow’s truck, according to investigators.

We’re in the final days of the second special session of the year, and lawmakers are still arguing over TOPS funding. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Louisiana ranks third in the country for lightning claims, according to State Farm. Spokesman Roszell Gadson says across the state in 2015, they paid out over $6 million on almost 14-hundred lightning claims, averaging $46-hundred each…:
cut 4 (07) “related losses”
Gadson says this week is Lightning Safety Awareness Week.

Toledo Bend on the Sabine River is the number one bass fishery in the country for the second straight year as dubbed by Bassmaster. The publications’ Editor James Hall says you don’t have to be a professional to reel in a great catch there between the Texas and Louisiana line…:
CUT 7 (10) “bass fishing”
He says the 185-thousand acre reservoir in Sabine and DeSoto Parishes has better catch rates in quality and quantity than any other fishery in the U.S.

A former deputy with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office accused of having sex with a 14-year-old runaway has bonded out of jail on $125,000. Cops say William Lanoux met the girl on social media, then met up in person to have sex while he was on the job. It’s reported the encounter occurred in the back of the suspect’s patrol unit. Authorities say the juvenile was reported missing by her family. Lanoux is charged with first degree rape and malfeasance in office.