Governor John Bel Edwards released a column today outlining why he feels cuts to higher ed and healthcare are not the answer to the budget woes. But Republican House Appropriations Committee Chairman Cameron Henry says, in the face of the $750 million dollar shortfall, nobody likes cuts but unfortunately they’re necessary…:
CUT 4 (11) “looking at”
He believes legislators will look at cuts first and do what they can to reduce the size of government.

Authorities are taking a look at an Iberia Parish railroad where five people died after getting stuck on the tracks in their vehicle. The Department of Transportation and Development says the study will last a couple of months and they hope determine if additional measures need to be taken at the crossing. Trains have reportedly crashed into vehicles at that spot at least once a year for the last four years.

Three Louisiana cities are in the Top 10 of the best places to live and work as a movie maker in 2016. New Orleans ranks number two, Baton Rouge comes in at number three and Shreveport-Bossier is ranked ninth. Executive Director of Louisiana’s Film Office Chris Stelly says there was concern with recent changes to film tax credit program this industry would go downhill but that’s not the case…:
CUT 9 (10) “for you”

Governor John Bel Edwards says cuts to higher ed and health care are not solutions to the budget crisis. Eric Gill spoke with House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry to see what he thinks…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Eric Gill”

Edwards is traveling for events throughout North Louisiana today to discuss the impact of potential budget cuts on higher ed institutions. His stops include Grambling State, Louisiana Tech and the Monroe Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting.

The plea deal entered by former Saints star Darren Sharper in New Orleans to charges he drugged and raped women, is imploding according to a legal filing this week. Sharper pleaded guilty last year and agreed to a nine-year federal prison sentence in a so called “global deal” to resolve all allegations in multiple states. Legal Analyst Tim Meche is not surprised.
CUT 6 (10) “firmed up”
He says, even though a written ruling has not been issued, the new filing suggests the judge in New Orleans wouldn’t accept the deal.

A Covington man is under arrest on stalking charges for allegedly walking into a business on three separate occasions and committing lewd acts in front of an employee — putting her in fear for her safety, according to Police Chief Tim Lentz. He said Frederick Mayeaux was identified by the victim in a photo lineup and was subsequently charged with misdemeanor stalking.

Governor John Bel Edwards released a column today saying cuts to higher ed and health care are not solutions to the budget crisis, but Republican House Appropriations Committee Chairman Cameron Henry says he’s more interested in where they can make cuts before raising taxes. He believes legislators will look at ways to reduce spending first…:
CUT 3 (06) “than we make”
He believes legislators will exhaust every measure possible to reduce the size of government before raising taxes.

Governor John Bel Edwards announces he’s dropping the lawsuit filed by the Jindal Administration to end Common Core. Edwards says the case, which is pending on appeal before the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, uses money, time and resources that do not benefit students — especially since the process to develop and implement Louisiana’s own education standards is nearing completion. He says his administration will not continue to waste taxpayer money on lawyers and lawsuits.

The state department of revenue says their systems are not impacted by the system outage the Internal Revenue Service is experiencing. The IRS is dealing with a hardware failure which is affecting a number of their federal tax processing systems. LDR says Louisiana taxpayers can continue to prepare and file their state returns as they normally would.

Federal money received as part of a nationwide disaster resiliency competition will be used to move Native Americans living in Isle de Jean (zhan) Charles in Terrebonne Parish to safer ground. Eric Gill reports…
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Eric Gill”

Pro-life groups have concerns about the views new Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Rebekah Gee has on abortion. Louisiana Right to life says Gee was named as a plaintiff in a lawsuit backed by Planned Parenthood that dealt with stores making it easier to access the emergency contraceptive Plan B. Gee says one of the most important job’s she’s ever had was to lead an initiative aimed at combating prematurity because it’s the leading cause of infant mortality…

cut 9 (10) “once they’re born”

Gee says she is personally pro-choice, but when it comes to being the head of DHH, she’s pro-family.

Clinton Police have arrested a middle school teacher after a parent complained she found explicit messages on her child’s phones. 33-year-old Louis Smith Jr, an 8th grade teacher at East Feliciana Middle, is charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile, computer aided solicitation of a minor, and prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and student. Detectives say they are investigating to see if other students are involved.

Louisiana has received federal money to move members of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indian tribe living in Isle de Jean Charles in Terrebonne Parish to safer ground. Only 320 acres of the island remain and experts believe it will be completely submerged in 50 years. Chief Albert Naquin says they’re not sure where their new community will be…

cut 4 (06) “down the road”

The plan is to have residents relocated by 2019.

At the end of national signing day, LSU ended with one of top 5 recruiting classes in the nation according to the experts. The Tigers’ chances of landing the nation’s number one recruiting class took a hit, when LSU lost linebacker Erick Fowler to the Texas Longhorns. But head coach Les Miles will not lose sleep over missing out on a four-star prospect…

cut 14 (07) “coaching them”

Even though LSU missed on Fowler, they still signed a couple of four-star linebackers, Rahssan Thornton and John Ehret’s Michael Divinity.

Governor John Bel Edwards tells public school teachers there are no plans to cut funding, despite the state’s difficult budget challenges. He says the current budget deficit of $750 million dollars is the largest ever inherited by any governor in the history of our state and this is the 8th straight year of shortfall…

cut 12 (10) “difficult place”

Edwards spoke and answered questions from educators and staff at a listening tour sponsored by the Louisiana Association of Educators.

Federal funds will be used to move Native Americans living in Isle de Jean Charles in Terrebonne Parish to higher ground. Experts believe the island will be completely submerged in 50 years. Chief Albert Naquin says the Isle is a quiet, peaceful community. He hopes they can keep some of those qualities in their new home…

cut 6 (07) “too noisy”

Naquin says the state received $48 million from the federal government to relocate the community.

There are concerns among pro-life groups about the views new Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Rebekah Gee has on abortion. Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper says Governor John Bel Edwards named a DHH secretary with stances incompatible with his own pro-life values. But Gee says she is committed to upholding the views of the governor in this role…

cut 8 (09) “and will do so”

The group claims Gee, a gynecologist, is pro-choice and has ties to Planned Parenthood.

Heading into national signing day, LSU was on the verge of landing the number one recruiting class in the nation, but they fell short. However, the Tigers’ class still ranks in the top five based on what the experts say. Coach Les Miles says he was more interested in signing players that can help the Tigers win in the fall…

cut 13 (10) “getting rankings”

According to the experts, Alabama once again wins the national recruiting title.

Pro-life groups are concerned about the views that new Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Rebekah Gee has on abortion. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The two men charged in the kidnapping and murder of a Baton Rouge couple in October are scheduled to go before a grand jury today. 42-year-old Ernesto Alonso and 48-year-old Frank Garcia are each facing two counts of first degree murder and second degree kidnapping. The pair allegedly kidnapped and killed 71-year-old Denis Duplantier and his wife, 70-year-old Suzanne, during a robbery. The grand jury will determine if there is enough evidence to go forward with a trial.

Despite the state’s difficult budget challenges, Governor John Bel Edwards tells teachers there are no plans to cut funding for public schools. But Edwards added that there likely won’t be growth in the funding next fiscal year…

cut 11 (07) “for inflation”

Louisiana currently allocates three-point-seven billion dollars for public schools.

Federal money received as part of a nationwide disaster resiliency competition will be used to move Native Americans living in Isle de Jean Charles in Terrebonne Parish to safer ground. The plan is to have the members of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indian tribe relocated by 2019. Chief Albert Naquin says US Department of Housing and Urban Development officials toured the island earlier this week…

cut 5 (11) “the process”

Only 320 acres of the island remain and experts believe it will be completely submerged in 50 years.

Governor John Bel Edwards tells teachers there are no plans to cut funding for public schools, despite the state’s difficult budget challenges. Louisiana currently allocates three-point-seven billion dollars for public schools and puts it into the minimum foundation program, which distributes money to school districts…:

cut 10 (06) “the MFP”

Edwards spoke and answered questions from educators and staff at a listening tour sponsored by the Louisiana Association of Educators.

Pro-life groups are concerned about the views that new Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Rebekah Gee has on abortion. Louisiana Right to Life claims Gee, a gynecologist, is pro-choice and has ties to Planned Parenthood. Gee says she is personally pro-choice, but when it comes to being the head of DHH, she’s pro-family…

cut 7 (08) “after that”

Gee says she is committed to upholding the views of Governor Edwards as DHH Secretary.

LSU ends up with a top five recruiting class that’s loaded with in-state talent. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A new study by LSU finds 17-year-olds in Louisiana should be tried as juveniles, not adults, after they are arrested. Professor Stephen Phillippi (Philip-ee), with LSU’s Institute for Public Health and Justice, says several states have recently put 17-year-olds back in their juvenile system with good results…:
CUT 4 (07) “a little bit”
The report discovered that 17-year-olds sent to adult prison are more likely to to commit additional crimes when they are released.

LSU did not land the nation’s number one recruiting class, but it’s in the Top five according to 24-7 sports, Scout-dot-com and ESPN. Tiger Rag editor Cody Worshman says the strength of this class is in the secondary as the Tigers signed five talented defensive backs…:
cut 13 (09) “next year”

Clinton Police have reportedly arrested a middle school teacher after a parent complained she found explicit messages on their child’s phones. Louis Smith Jr, an 8th grade teacher at East Feliciana Middle, was charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile, computer aided solicitation of a minor and prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and student. Detectives say they’re currently investigating to see if other students are involved.

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Melville woman and her two sons in connection with the shooting death of 15-year-old Treyvon Edwards. Capt. Clay Higgins says a 12-year-old has been charged with Negligent Homicide and it’s believed he and Edwards were playing with a gun and it went off accidentally killing Edwards…:”
CUT 9 (10) “of justice”
He says the mother, 33-year-old Twanda Louray Washington, is charged with Obstruction of Justice and two counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile.

A new report from LSU’s Institute for Public Health and Justice suggests that Louisiana should try 17-year-olds as juveniles instead of adults after they are arrested. Lead author, Professor Stephen Phillippi (Philip-ee):
CUT 3 (08) “in Louisiana”
The report discovered that 17-year-olds sent to adult prison are more likely to to commit more crimes when they are released.

New York real estate heir Robert Durst pleaded guilty in New Orleans today on a federal weapons charge, in exchange for over 7 years in prison. Durst will eventually be sent to California to face murder charges in the alleged killing of his friend Susan Berman. Legal analyst Chick Foret says Durst didn’t look so good in court today…:
CUT 7 (08) “do that”
Durst was arrested at a hotel on Canal Street in March 2015.

A Melville mother and her two sons have been arrested in connection with the death of a 15-year-old Treyvon Edwards. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

LSU brought it one of the best recuiting classes in the nation today. Tiger Rag editor Cody Worsham says the 2016 class has stregth in the secondary with five talented defensive backs, and quality depth on the defensive line:
CUT 14 (10) “first year”

A report from LSU’s Institute for Public Health and Justice recommends that Louisiana should increase the age for adult imprisonment. Lead author, Professor Stephen Phillippi (Philip-ee), says they discovered that 17-year-olds sent to adult prison are more likely to commit more crimes when they are released. He says other states have saved money by making this change…
CUT 5 (10) “into the adult”

LSU Football Coach Les Miles and his staff brought in one of the greatest recruiting classes in the country. 24-7 sports and scout-dot-com rank it in the top five. Tiger Rag editor Cody Worshman says the strength of this class is in the secondary as the Tigers signed five talented defensive backs…
cut 13 (09) “next year”

New York real estate heir Robert Durst pleads guilty to a weapons charge in New Orleans federal court today. Durst was arrested at a Canal Street hotel in March 2015 when, during a search by the FBI, a .38 caliber revolver was found which is illegal for a convicted felon to possess. Legal analyst Chick Foret says, under a plea bargain, Durst will face 85 months in federal prison…:
CUT 6 (08) “California”

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Melville woman and her two young sons in connection with the shooting death of 15-year-old Treyvon Edwards. Capt. Clay Higgins says a 12-year-old is charged with Negligent Homicide and they believe he and Edwards were playing with a gun and it went off accidentally killing Edwards. Higgins says this was a tragic unfolding of events that went from bad to worse…
Cut 11 (11) “forever”