President Barack Obama visited the Capitol City today and spoke to a crowd at McKinley High. Before he began taking questions from the audience, he expressed his fondness for the Bayou State…:
CUT 8 (08) “in Louisiana”
This is the President’s 10th visit to Louisiana. Mr. Obama talked of visiting New Orleans during commemorations of the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

A former Louisiana teacher accused in a 2014 sex scandal involving an underage student has entered a plea of not guilty through her lawyer in Jefferson Parish. 33-year-old Shelley Dufresne, who taught at Destrehan High, faces two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Also accused, 25-year-old Rachel Respess, pleaded not guilty earlier to a charge of failure to report Dufresne’s crime. Dufresne was also charged in St. Charles Parish and has agreed to a plea deal to avoid having to register as a sex offender.

A rare hurricane has formed in the Atlantic Ocean in January for the first time since 1938. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Hurricane Alex is the second hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin during this month. Keim says Alex is scheduled to make landfall late tonight around the Azores…:
cut 14 (09) “colder water”
He says Alex is only the fourth named storm to form in the month of January in the Atlantic and the second hurricane to form in this month in this ocean since record keeping began in 1851.

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson, of West Monroe, has announced he’s supporting Republican Ted Cruz for President. GOP candidates will face off tonight in a debate broadcast on the Fox Business Network. In an endorsement video, Robertson says Cruz fits the bill…:
cut 10 (09) “or never”
The 9th season of Duck Dynasty premiered last night.

Even though he thanked New Orleans at the end, President Barack Obama was actually in Baton Rouge today for a Town Hall Style meeting. He took some questions and even gave a shutout to LSU basketball star Ben Simmons. Mr. Obama says the Big Easy is a great example of how America is able to overcome adversity…:
CUT 7 (09) “pulled together”
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Governor John Bel Edwards were among those in attendance.

Parks Senator Fred Mills, who has been named chairman of the state Senate Health and Welfare Committee, says the rule writing for the state’s Medicaid expansion will be one of the committee’s top tasks for the year. He says he is a supporter of Medicaid expansion and believes it will be a benefit for the state…:
CUT 4 (07) “indigent care”

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson has been ordered by a Texas judge to give a deposition in the court battle over the family trust. Thus far, Benson has refused to personally participate in any of the proceedings. Legal analyst Tim Meche says this is a significant ruling, considering the family claims Benson is being manipulated by those around him…:
Cut 11 (07) “same room”
A January 21st deposition has been ordered.

Louisiana State Police say they are still very actively searching for a 2-year-old and a 7-year-old who were abducted by a man accused of robbing a bank in Shreveport. They say there is now a warrant out for the arrest of 34-year-old Keith Rogers in connection with the robbery he could have committed with the missing children’s mother who is also accused in the kidnapping. 2-year-old Elijah Wong and 7-year-old Donnie Simmons are believed to be in imminent danger. Rogers and Wong should be considered armed and dangerous.

President Barack Obama held a town hall style meeting today at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson, of West Monroe, has announced he’s supporting Republican Ted Cruz for President in an endorsement video. Robertson says he wants a candidate that is godly, will do the job and enjoys some of his favorite activities…:
CUT 9 (05) “gumbo”
The 9th season of Duck Dynasty premiered last night.

Governor John Bel Edwards is confident the rising Mississippi River will be contained within the state’s levee system. He praised the work of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana National Guard in keeping the flood threat at bay. Edwards says lessons learned during the Great Flood of 2011 are really paying off now…:
cut 14 (09) “this event”
Edwards took an aerial tour of the levee system from Vidalia to Morgan City yesterday.

A rare January hurricane has formed in the Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center calls Hurricane Alex very unusual as it’s the first hurricane to form in January since 1938. Models show Alex is no threat to the US.

President Barack Obama is holding town hall style meeting today at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. The visit is part of the President’s annual tour of towns following his State of the Union Address. Mr. Obama congradulated Governor John Bel Edwards on his decision to expand Medicaid in Louisiana.:
CUT 7 (12) “state’s finances”
This is the president’s 10th visit to Louisiana, and first as Commander in Chief to Baton Rouge.

Lottery officials say a ticket sold in Franklinton matched 5 in last night’s $1.6 billion dollar drawing. The Match 5 prize is worth $1 million dollars. The world record jackpot was hit by three tickets sold in California, Tennessee and Florida. The top prize now goes back down to an estimated $40 million dollars for Saturday.

Parks Senator Fred Mills, a Republican, has been named chairman of the state Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Mills says the committee’s goal is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. He expects the committee will have a very busy 2016…:
CUT 3 (11) “of providers”

After taking an aerial tour of from Vidalia to Morgan City, Governor John Bel Edwards is confident the rising Mississippi River will be contained within the state’s levee system. Edwards made stops in Vidalia, Morgan City, and Krotz Springs Wednesday. He says he’s confident the worst case scenario regarding Mississippi River flooding has been avoided…:
Cut 13 (10) “in 2011”
He praised the work of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana National Guard in keeping the flood threat at bay.

President Barack Obama is speaking at this hour at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond expects the President to address the expansion of Medicaid in Louisiana and the importance of covering working individuals who typically wouldn’t qualify…

cut 8 (10) “tremendously”

The President’s visit is part of his annual trip to various cities after he gives the State of the Union Address.

In Politico Magazine’s latest state rankings, Louisiana ranks dead last. The Bayou State fell one spot from last year’s rankings. Deputy Editor Margaret Slattery says they’re measuring how each state ranks in areas like wealth, health, income equality, and employment to determine which is the best to live in…

cut 6 (08) “better off”

She says Louisiana can use this bottom ranking to try to improve and make positive changes.

The hand written journal of Lafayette theater shooter John Russell Houser has been released. Jeff Palermo reports…

cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Jim Garvey, an attorney from Metairie, has been named the new president of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Garvey was voted to succeed Chas Roemer, who did not run for re-election to the board last year. BESE members also selected Holly Boffy of Lafayette as vice-president and Kira Orange Jones of New Orleans as secretary-treasurer. The newly elected officers will serve one-year terms.

President Barack Obama speaks at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge this morning. The visit is part of the President’s annual trip to various cities after he gives the State of the Union Address. New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says he wasn’t surprised when President Obama chose to visit Louisiana in his final year of office…

cut 9 (09) “those things”

The president will also take part in a Twitter Q&A today beginning at around 11:30AM.

Governor John Bel Edwards is confident the state’s levee system will contain rising Mississippi River waters. He says lessons learned during the Great Flood of 2011 are really paying off now. Edwards says important that we take lessons from this flood event and use them to aid future events…

cut 15 (08) “to do that”

He also praised the work of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana National Guard in keeping the flood threat at bay.

Louisiana is the worst state in the US according to Politico Magazine. Jeff Palermo has more on why we fell to the bottom…

cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

As of January 9th, nearly 194,000 Louisianians have purchased health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. That’s an increase of approximately 7,000 from last year’s total. Consumers needing health insurance through the federal insurance marketplace have until tomorrow to obtain coverage that begins February 1st. Open enrollment ends on January 31st.

President Barack Obama is in Baton Rouge this morning. Emelie Gunn tells us what the Commander in Chief is up to….

cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

There were three jackpot winning tickets sold for last night’s world record $1.6 billion PowerBall lottery. The tickets were sold in California, Tennessee, and Florida. However, there was one Match 5 ticket sold in Louisiana. That million dollar winning ticket was sold in Franklinton. Last night’s PowerBall numbers were 4-8-19-27-34 and the PowerBall number was 10.

According to a report by Politico Magazine, Louisiana is the worst state in the country . The magazine used factors like education, health, crime and employment to compile their list. Deputy Editor Margaret Slattery says Louisiana can use this bottom ranking to try to improve and make positive changes…

cut 5 (08) “the line”

Slattery says Louisiana often ranks low on lists like this.

Authorities have released the hand written journal of Lafayette theater shooter John Russell Houser. In it, Houser references accused South Carolina church shooter Dylann Roof, thanking him for the “wake up call.” UL-Lafayette Criminal Justice instructor Paula Broussard says it’s not unusual for mass murderers to admire and want to copy what a previous mass murderer did…

cut 12 (06) “to do, too”

Houser killed 2 and injured 9 others in the July shooting at Lafayette’s Grand 16 theater before turning his gun on himself.

President Barack Obama is expected to talk about health care, jobs and early childhood education this morning at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge. New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says Obama will address the expansion of Medicaid in Louisiana and the importance of covering working individuals who typically wouldn’t qualify…

cut 8 (10) “tremendously”

This is the 10th time Obama has visited the Bayou State since becoming President.

Louisiana is the worst state in the country according to a report by Politico Magazine. The findings come from factors like education, health, crime, and employment. Deputy Editor Margaret Slattery says Louisiana was second to last in 2015…

cut 4 (10) “as well”

New Hampshire was ranked as the best state by Politico.

Governor John Bel Edwards is confident the rising Mississippi River will be contained within the state’s levee system. He praised the work of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana National Guard in keeping the flood threat at bay. Edwards says lessons learned during the Great Flood of 2011 are really paying off now…

cut 14 (09) “this event”

Edwards took an aerial tour of the levee system from Vidalia to Morgan City yesterday.

Lafayette theater shooter John Russell Houser’s journal has been released. It seems to be a collection of random thoughts and offers few clues on why Houser went on the shooting rampage in July. UL-Lafayette Criminal Justice instructor Paula Broussard says the writings of Houser show that he suffered from some mental issues…

cut 11 (10) “non-functioning”

She says Houser’s journal is similar to what is found in a lot of mass murders’ communications.

President Barack Obama speaks this morning at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge where he is expected to talk about health care, jobs and early childhood education. New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says it’s great that the president is visiting our state and we need to take advantage of this opportunity…

cut 7 (10) “Capital City”

The visit is part of the President’s annual trip to various cities after he gives the State of the Union Address.

After taking an aerial tour from Vidalia to Morgan City, Governor John Bel Edwards is confident the rising Mississippi River will be contained within the state’s levee system. He says he’s confident the worst case scenario regarding Mississippi River flooding has been avoided…

cut 13 (10) “in 2011”

Edwards made stops in Vidalia, Morgan City, and Krotz Springs Wednesday.

The hand written journal of Lafayette theater shooter John Russell Houser has been released. Houser killed 2 and injured 9 others in the July shooting at Lafayette’s Grand 16 theater before turning his gun on himself. UL-Lafayette Criminal Justice instructor Paula Broussard says Houser’s journal is similar to what is found in a lot of mass murders communications…

cut 10 (09) “of society”

The journal seems to be a collection of random thoughts and offers few clues on why Houser went on the shooting rampage in July.

There were three jackpot winning tickets sold for last night’s world record $1.6 billion PowerBall lottery. The tickets were sold in California, Tennessee, and Florida.

The two sides of the Medicaid expansion executive order signed by Governor John Bel Edwards Tuesday are chiming in with their thoughts. Dawn Starns, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says they are disappointed in the governor’s decision. She feels there are bigger problems facing the state that should be handled first…:
CUT 6 (10) “down the road”
But Louisiana AARP says this will make Louisiana a healthier state.

The Lafayette Police Department has released a copy of Lafayette theater shooter John Russell Houser’s hand written journal. The diary was found in Houser’s Motel 6 room where he was staying before the shooting. Houser killed 2 and injured 9 in the July 2015 shooting, before turning the gun on himself.
In the journal, Houser thanks accused South Carolina church shooter Dylann Roof.

Not everyone in Louisiana has Powerball fever despite a record 1.5 billion dollar jackpot. There are some who are not interested in forking over the two dollars buy a ticket. We spoke to some of them. This Louisiana woman says it’s just not worth the potential risk…:
cut 13 (07) “I’m into”

A Denham Springs gas station clerk is under arrest for allegedly selling a dangerous synthetic drug at the store, which caused two high school students to overdose. 36-year-old Essam Farhat faces 228 counts of possession with intent to distribute. Denham Springs Police Det. Glenn Lemoine says undercovers went in and bought the drug and later executed a search warrant
CUT 10 (08) “in the wall”
Lemoine says the drug is a liquid known as “Juicy” and it’s ingested through a vaporizer.