To close a budget deficit for this fiscal year, Governor John Bel Edwards has announced a 70-million dollar reduction in state funds for the state department of health and hospitals. Edwards says 40-million of that is lower than projected Medicaid expenditures and efficiencies his administration put in place when he took office…
cut 7 (11) “…to our people”
Colleges and universities avoided the budget ax for at least the next three months.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff deputies are still trying to determine why 73-year-old John Thomas of Kenner fatally shot a 75-year-old urologist while he was treating a patient near the East Jefferson General Hospital. Authorities say Thomas took his own life at a nearby fast food restaurant. Thomas did not have a prior criminal history.

Because of the flooding, hundreds of Louisiana residents will spend this Easter weekend out of their homes. Mike Steele, with the governor’s office of homeland security and emergency preparedness, says if the water has gone down, you don’t have to wait on a FEMA inspector to begin repairs…
cut 30 (10) “…assessment teams”
Steele also advises people to document and take pictures of damage to their homes.

Louisiana may have to relinquish control of state museums over to local agencies due to money concerns. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says his budget has taken a massive hit amid the fiscal crisis….
Cut 9 (05) “proposed scenario”
Schedler says there’s legislation moving through that would allow local governments to run several musuems like the Germantown Colony Musuem in Minden and the Chennault Musuem in Monroe.

The state department of health and hospitals will receive a 70-million dollar cut in state funding this fiscal year, while higher education is spared. Governor John Bel Edwards says DHH was better positioned to absorb these cuts…
cut 8 (09) “…our citizens”
30 million of the 70-million dollar cut is the result of lower-than projected expenditures with the state’s medicaid program.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler says money problems is making it difficult for his office to operate various state musuems. Schedler says he may turn some of the state museums over to local governments for them to run…
cut 11 (07) “…local community’
He says that includes the Eddie Robinson Museum on Grambling’s campus.

There will be plenty of crawfish boils this Easter weekend. But Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Assocation president David Savoy says the untold story is that the farmers are not making as much money for their catch as they did last year. He says someone has to be making money, because customers are not seeing a break…
cut 5 (11) “…gone down”
Savoy says the middle man is the one making money this year.

Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain is urging those affected by the recent flooding to take precautions to prevent termites during clean-up and remodeling. Strain says flooding can ruin the termite traps around your home…
cut 12 (10) “….barrier out”
Strain also warns flooded structures are prone to infestation by termites.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state’s $70 million dollar budget holef for this fiscal year will be filled within the state Department of Health and Hospitals. Edwards says he could not in good conscious make any more reductions to higher ed…
cut 6 (12) “….in the contry”
But Edwards says more reductions to higher education could come next year as the state is staring at a 750-million dollar shortfall for the fiscal year that starts July 1st.

It’s a big weekend for crawfish. Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association president David Savoy says there’s plenty of mudbugs to go around, but consumers are still paying the same prices for crawfish, even though production costs are down…
cut 4 (10) “…the same”
Savoy says crawfish farmers are also not seeing more money for their catch.

The state may have to give up control of its museums because of budget concerns. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (31) “..Halen Doughty”

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain is concerned about an increase in the termite population in areas that experienced flooding. Strain says once the water is gone, termites that remain tend to come back more prevalent than before…
cut 14 (07) “….to infest”
Strain says if you had a termiticide barrier around your house, flood waters most likely washed it away and the area needs to be retreated.

Governor John Bel Edwards says one state agency will aborsb 70-million dollars worth of cuts for this fiscal year to make up for a budget deficit….
voicer 1 (27) “….I’m Michelle Southern”

Authorities in Jefferson Parish are trying to determine why a 73-year-old man walked into the East Jefferson General Hospital and fatally shot 75-year-old Doctor Elbert Goodier. Authorities say the gunman, John Thomas of Kenner, left the hospital and shot himself at a nearby Wendy’s. Investigators have learned Thomas was a patient of Doctor Goodier.

Crawfish-lovers can expect to find a good batch of mudbugs this Easter weekend. That’s according to David Savoy, president of the Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association, who says they should be able to meet the demand…
cut 3 (03) “…right time”
Savoy says while there’s plenty of mudbugs, the price for consumers is as high as last year, despite lower gas prices.

Budget constraints could result in Secretary of State Tom Schedler turning control of several state museums to local governments. Schedler says he’s already returned a few musuems back to local governments, like the Louisiana State Cotton Museum in Lake Providence. He says tough decisions are coming regarding the rest…
cut 10 (08) “….close some”
Schedler says one of the museums he may have to give up is the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the plan to cut the budget by $70 million by June 30 will be shouldered by DHH, not higher ed. He says colleges have had to endure enough cuts over the last 8 years, and he ouldn’t in good conscience place any more burden on the backs of students. $40 million in the cuts to DHH are from Medicaid efficiencies, and the other $30 million is to the private-public partnership hospitals.

Alto Congressman Ralph Abraham is visiting Cuba next month to establish potential agriculture trade with the island…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Three people were killed in a tragic fire during the overnight hours in Winnsboro, a father and two sons. A mother, a daughter, and another son were also seriously injured. Brant Thompson, with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, says when the firefighters arrived, they found the singlewide trailer fully engulfed in flames.

CUT 3 (10)  “8-year-old-child”

Derrick Boley, his 3-year-old son Kenderrick Boley, and 8-year-old Bryson Scobbee were killed in the fire.

Matthew Flugence of Marrero has entered a guilty plea in the death of a 6-year-old girl who was killed then stuffed into a trashcan in 2013, and he was sentenced to life in prison. Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick Jr. will not pursue the death penalty. Legal analyst Tim Meche says in Louisiana there is no chance of getting out of a life sentence, like there may be in other states.

cut 10 (05)  “in Angola”

Governor John Bel Edwards unveiled the plan to balance this year’s budget, and fill the $70 million dollar hole that must be done by June 30th. Michelle Southern reports…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Edwards said colleges are already covering a $28 million dollar reduction in the spending on the TOPS program, and he didn’t want them to take another hit.

State Treasurer John Kennedy issued a statement in response to the cuts saying that it’s good to see the governor is getting serious about cutting some of the waste in Medicaid, including the fraud.

Louisiana may have to relinquish control of state museums over to local agencies due to money concerns. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says his budget has taken a massive hit amid the fiscal crisis in the state…:
Cut 9 (05) “proposed scenario”
He says he hopes they are able to keep all of the museums in the state open.

A new LSU study finds nearly one in four Louisiana residents believe limited funding and teacher pay are the biggest problems facing public schools. Doctor Michael Henderson, director of LSU’s public policy research lab, finds the results interesting, because the state legislature has focused its attention on other public education issues…
cut 23 (12) “…currently reflecting”
Henderson says the legislature has been more focused on charter schools, voucher programs and Common Core.

Governor John Bel Edwards unveiled the plan to balance this year’s budget, and said the $70 million dollar hole that must be filled by June 30th…:

CUT 23 (05) “$70 million dollars”

Edwards said he couldn’t stomach cutting anything from higher ed. He says DHH will see 40-million dollar efficiencies in Medicaid and a 30-million dollar cut to the private-public partnership hospitals.

Over 12-thousand homes have received flood damage and 26 parishes are available for federal assistance, according to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says begin your cleanup if possible but you still must register your damage with FEMA.

cut 14 (08)  “3362″

Steele says registering lets GOHSEP get a better picture of the state’s total damage.

Three people are dead and three more are severely wounded after a fire broke out in a home in Winnsboro overnight. Brant Thompson, with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, says 29-year-old Victoria Guthrie, a 6-year-old and a 19-month old are being treated for injuries in a local hospital.

Cut 5 (09) “at this time”

Derrick Boley, his 3-year-old son Kenderrick and 8-year-old Bryson Scobbee were killed in the fire.

Matthew Flugence has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the killing of a 6-year-old girl in 2013. Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick Jr will not pursue the death penalty. Legal analyst Tim Meche says prosecuting a death penalty case takes time, and this gives the family immediate closure.

Cut 11 (08) “in America”

Governor John Bel Edwards announced today the detailed plan to cut $70 million dollars from the current budget year that ends June 30th, and DHH is bearing all of them. Edwards said he could not in good conscious make any more reductions to higher ed…:
CUT 1 (12) “in the country”
He says DHH will reduce contracts between public-private hospitals, and cut efficiencies in the Medicaid program.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says so far over 12-thousand homes have received flood damage and 26 parishes are available for federal assistance. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele recovery efforts are still underway and more severe weather is possible Easter Sunday..:
cut 12 (09) “cause problems”

Alto Congressman Ralph Abraham is traveling to Cuba in April to ensure Louisiana becomes a trading partner with the country, once Congress lifts the trade embargo. He expects the embargo with the island to be lifted by 2017. But he understands Cuba still has some significant human rights issues to fix…:
CUT 8 (11) “those changes”
He says we’re on the tip of the spear to be the first state to get our goods to Cuba in a big way.

The American Red Cross has received a 500-thousand dollar donation from International Paper that will go towards flood relief efforts. Red Cross spokesperson Nancy Malone says people who are in position to help, should consider making a donation…
cut 15 (09) “…with them”
I-P has nine facilities in Louisiana, employing two-thousand people.

Alto Congressman Ralph Abraham is visiting Cuba next month to establish potential agriculture trade with the island…:
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The “don’t drink the water” alert in Donaldsonville is expected to stay in place another two or three days, according to the Department of Health and Hospitals. They say Peoples Water Service stopped using chlorine dioxide Wednesday, but the switch to chlorine may not take effect for a couple days. DHH says crews are constantly taking samples to determine whether the water is safe for drinking.

Three people were killed in a tragic fire during the overnight hours in Winnsboro, a father and two sons. Brant Thompson, with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, says investigators are still working to determine exactly what happened…:
CUT 4 (09) “at this time”
The tragic blaze also seriously injured the mother and two other young children.

Matthew Flugence of Marrero will spend his life in prison for stabbing a 6-year-old girl to death in 2013, then shoving her body in a trash can. Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick Jr. will not pursue the death penalty. Legal analyst Tim Meche says in Louisiana there is no chance of getting out of a life sentence, like there may be in other states:
cut 10 (05) “in Angola”
He says the family needs closure, and this decision gives it to them, whereas a death penalty prosecution could take much much longer.

The US could once again be a trade partner with Cuba when Congress lifts the embargo, and Alto Congressman Ralph Abraham is heading down there in April to ensure Louisiana is in the mix. He says we’re on the tip of the spear to be the first state to get our goods to Cuba in a big way. Cuba imports about 80-90 percent of their ag products, Abraham says…:
CUT 7 (10) “Louisiana”
Abraham expects the trade embargo with the island to be lifted by 2017.

GOHSEP says new numbers show an estimated 12,000 homes were damaged in this month’s horrific flooding event. Communications Director Mike Steele advises people to document and take pictures of damage to their homes sooner than later:
Cut 13 (09) “assessment teams”
The site to register is disasterassistance.gov.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Plaquemines Parish until 7pm this evening. A strong line of storms producing gusty winds is moving through southeast Louisiana this afternoon, but forecasters say we should be seeing dry, cool air and sunny skies for good Friday.

Matthew Flugence of Harvey has entered a guilty plea in the death of a 6-year-old girl who was killed then stuffed into a trashcan in 2013. Flugence was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder. Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick Jr. will not pursue the death penalty. Legal analyst Tim Meche says money may be a factor in the DA’s decision…:
CUT 9 (12) “pleasant experience”
He also says the process of prosecuting a death penalty case takes time.