Governor John Bel Edwards has put out a variety of different proposals to help with the state’s budget deficit, one being increasing the cigarette tax by 22 cents. Consultant with the Invest in a Healthy Louisiana campaign Randy Hayden says his organization doesn’t think that’s enough. He says the campaign suggests raising the cigarette tax another $1.25 per pack…

cut 7 (10) “needs money”

Hayden says we had the third lowest cigarette tax in the country until Louisiana increased the tax 50 cents in 2015.

The Edwards administration has informed higher education leaders that a cut in state funding to public colleges and universities is likely this fiscal year. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says at this point it could be as much as 131 million dollars…

cut 10 (09) “shortfall”

New Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson begins a statewide tour today, meeting with local economic development groups emphasizing small business success in the state. Pierson says Governor John Bel Edwards has made small business growth a priority of his administration. He says it’s important to learn the different economic development needs from each region of the state…

cut 4 (10) “southwest Louisiana”

Pierson will make stops today in Tallulah, Delhi, and Alexandria.

Governor John Bel Edwards administration has informed higher education leaders that a cut in state funding to public colleges and universities is likely this fiscal year. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says at this point it could be as much as 131 million dollars….
cut 10 (09) “…shortfall”
Dardenne says they’re still in the process of reviewing what’s going to be necessary in order to combine cuts with revenue measures in the hopes of softening the cuts. He says this is just the reality of where we are as a state.

If you’re doing some traveling this weekend, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $1.65. That’s six cents cheaper than a week ago.

Not as cold as yesterday, but still chilly today. That’s how your forecast looks for today. Freeze watches have been posted in southeast Louisiana from late tonight through tomorrow morning.

Louisianians are representing in our nation’s capital this week as the 68th annual Washington D.C. Mardi Gras is underway. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says there’s a lot of talk about the budget, but the snow is a major topic…:
Cut 11 (10) “fly out early”
He says for the first time in three years, Louisiana’s governor, John Bel Edwards, is attending.

Do you have a favorite king cake that you swear by? Now there’s a website where you can rate and judge yours against other bakeries. Erica Sweeney is the spokesperson for the site, KingCakeSnob.com. She says you vote on a variety of characteristics of the king cake and the results are updated as each user submits a review…:
CUT 5 (10) “the best looking king cake”

Higher education leaders have been told to start preparing for the possibility of midyear budget cuts, because the state is facing a massive shortfall this fiscal year. The LSU system has been told by the Edwards administration that a cut of 131-million dollars is possible, while the UL system faces 38-million dollars in mid-year cuts.

The 68th D.C Mardi Gras is taking place this weekend in Washington, D.C. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says this year’s event gives political pundits the opportunity to begin handicapping Louisiana’s upcoming US Senate election…
cut 10 (08) “up here”

Officials at Louis Armstrong say 2015 was a record year as 10-point-six million passengers flew out of the New Orleans airport, a nine-percent increase over the previous year.

There’s a new website that seeks to settle the score on who makes the best king cake. Emelie Gunn reports…
cut 1 (29) “…reporting”

LSU football fans are anxious for the start of the 2016 season as the Tigers will have 19 scholarship seniors on the team. Several of them had an opportunity to enter the NFL draft and Coach Les Miles is happy to see them stay…
cut 30 (13) “….of the people”
The season opener is September 3rd against Wisconsin.

Higher education is bracing for mid-year budget cuts as a result of a 750-million dollar budget shortfall the state is facing this fiscal year. For the LSU system, a cut in state funding of a 131-million dollars is possible.

An 82-year-old and an 83-year-old were killed in a head-on crash on LA 25 in Covington last night. State Police says one of the victims, Edith Brown of Mandeville crossed the centerline and slammed into a vehicle driven by Joseph Cyprian of Folsom, killing them both.

A family from Omaha hopes someone will come forward and identify the driver of a vehicle in a hit and run that claimed the life of Josh Woodruff, whose body was dragged through the New Orleans French Quarter early New Year’s Day. Karen Woodruff says her 28-year-old son sent a heartfelt text message before he was killed..
cut 14 (10) “…for 2016”

The 68th DC Mardi Gras takes place this weekend in our nation’s captial and a “Who’s Who” of Louisiana politics are in attendance. Eric Gill has more..
cut 2 (31) “….I’m Eric Gill”

A 60-year-old man from St. Tammany Parish won a one-million dollar Powerball prize. Charles Schwetizer the Second matched all five white ball numbers on the January 13th drawing. That was the day when the grand prize was one-point-five billion dollars. Schweitzer received 700-thousand dollars after federal and state taxes were withheld.

The 68th D.C. Mardi Gras is underway in our nation’s capital, and it’s a snowy one. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford is there, and says Governor John Bel Edwards and other Louisiana politicians are using this opportunity to get a lot of work done…:
CUT 9 (11) “health care policy”
But he says the number 1 topic in D.C. is something Louisianians don’t normally discuss, the snow and flight numbers and departure times.

A man from Zachary is under arrest for allegedly shooting his dog multiple times when the pet wouldn’t cooperate during a bath. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office said the roommate and wife of 51-year-old Brian Keith Blair tried to talk him out of it, but deputies found nin .22 caliber casings and were forced to euthanize the pet at the scene. Blair is booked on animal creulty charges and illegal use of a weapon.

It was another big day on the recruiting front for the Fighting Tigers as five-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence of Neville High School announced he plans to attend LSU. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says the Monroe product is six-foot-three, 309-pounds and looks like a can’t miss prospect…:
cut 7 (12) “rush the quarterback”
Lawrence chose LSU over Ohio State.

Public colleges in Louisiana have been told that they could be facing a $131 million dollar cut across the board in the remaining 5 months of the current fiscal year, without legislative intervention. The Edwards Administration says its making tough choices in filling the state’s $750 million dollar budget shortfall. LSU President F. King Alexander says $65 million would go to LSU.

The family of the man who died on New Years after being run over in New Orleans and dragged through the French Quarter for 6 miles, is desperate to find out who is responsible. Josh Woodruff was hailing an Uber around 3am January 1st when he was struck by a four door black sedan and dragged away, according to investigators. Karen Woodruff is Josh’s mom…:
cut 12 (09) “please” 3x
At this time the vehicle has not been found and no arrests have been made. There is a $10,000 reward.

LSU President F King Alexander says they are expecting another round of cuts, but that Governor John Bel Edwards remains committed to prioritizing higher education. Alexander says, in the face of a $750 million dollar budget shortfall in the current fiscal year, LSU will take a $65 million dollar cut out of the $131 million for higher ed across the board, without legislative intervention.

The subject of who makes the best King cake comes up every Mardi Gras season, and now there’s a platform which allows enthusiasts to review and rate their favorite. Erica Sweeny is the spokesperson for the site, KingCakeSnob.com. She says a fun, healthy rivalry goes on among bakeries, and Louisiana residents swearing by their favorite King Cake…:
CUT 3 (10) “King Cakes”

The good news keeps rolling in for the LSU football team as another major player commits to becoming a Tiger. Five-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence of Neville High School says he plans to attend LSU. He is ranked by ESPN as the nation’s sixth best defensive tackle in the country. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says the LSU coaches have done an excellent job this year of keeping in-state talent in Louisiana…:
CUT 6 (12) “down in Rummel”

The 68th D.C Mardi Gras takes place this weekend in our nation’s capital and a “Who’s Who” of Louisiana politics will be in attendance, weather permitting. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Eric Gill”

LSU President F. King Alexander says the cuts coming to higher ed will be catastrophic. It’s in reaction to a letter from the Edwards Administration indicating $131 million dollars could be taken from Louisiana’s colleges and universities, including $65 million from LSU, if the legislature doesn’t’ come up with other ways to plug the $750 million dollar mid-year deficit.

The family of Josh Woodruff, who was struck and dragged by a hit & run vehicle a suspected 30 minutes on New Years in New Orleans, is pleading for the public to come forward with information on the driver. A $10,000 reward is on the table. Karen Woodruff is Josh’s mom. During a Friday news conference she read a text they got from Josh New Years night…:
CUT 14 (10) “for 2016
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information on this hit and run.

The Shreveport Police Department says a $5,000 reward is now being offered for information in the search for the two endangered boys taken by force by their mother and a man wanted in connection with a pair of bank robberies. They say 2-year-old Elijah Wong and 7-year-old Donnie Simmons are believed to be in imminent danger. They are seeking to apprehend Keith Rogers and the boy’s mother, Antionette Wong. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these four is urged to contact authorities.

Louisianians are representing in our nation’s capital this week as the 68th annual Washington D.C. Mardi Gras is underway. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says there’s a lot of talk about the budget, but the snow is a major topic…:
Cut 11 (10) “fly out early”
He says for the first time in three years, Louisiana’s governor is attending.

The family of the man dragged by a hit & run car for 6 miles in the French Quarter on New Years is pleading for answers. Josh Woodruff’s dad, Mark, says somebody must have seen something…:
CUT 13 (12) “you need help”
There is a $10,000 reward for information.

The good recruiting news keeps rolling in for LSU as they get another major commitment. Five-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence of Neville chose to be a Tiger today, a day after LSU got a commitment from John Curtis offensive lineman Willie Allen. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says the Tigers are now in excellent position to have the number one recruiting class in the nation…:
CUT 8 (10) “lose anybody”
February 3rd is signing day.

Do you have a favorite king cake that you swear by? Now there’s a website where you can rate and judge yours against other bakeries. Erica Sweeney is the spokesperson for the site, KingCakeSnob.com. She says you vote on a variety of characteristics of the king cake and the results are updated as each user submits a review…:
CUT 5 (10) “the best looking king cake”

The 68th D.C Mardi Gras is taking place this weekend in Washington, D.C. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says this year’s event will give political pundits the opportunity to begin handicapping Louisiana’s upcoming US Senate election…

cut 10 (08) “up here”

Alford says speculation as to who will run in the Senate race will ratchet up after D.C Mardi Gras.

The family of the man who died on New Years after being run over in New Orleans and dragged through the French Quarter for 6 miles, is desperate to find out who is responsible. Josh Woodruff was hailing an Uber around 3am January 1st when he was struck by a four door black sedan and dragged away, according to investigators. Karen Woodruff is Josh’s mom…

cut 12 (09) “please” 3x

At this time the vehicle has not been found and no arrests have been made. There is a $10,000 reward.

There’s now a platform for King Cake enthusiasts to review and rate their favorites. KingCakeSnob-dot-com spokesperson Erica Sweeney says users can grade different area king cakes on characteristics such as decoration, freshness, flavor, sweetness, style, and texture. She says you can give an overall rating as well on a scale of 1-5…

cut 4 (06) “in the area”

She says everyone who rates cakes on KingCakeSnob-dot-com is entered to win a semi-weekly drawing for a free king cake.

It’s another big day on the recruiting front for the Fighting Tigers as five-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence of Neville High School announced he plans to attend LSU. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says the Monroe product is six-foot-three, 309-pounds and looks like a can’t miss prospect…

cut 7 (12) “rush the quarterback”

Lawrence chose LSU over Ohio State.

The 68th D.C. Mardi Gras is underway in our nation’s capital. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford is there, and he says, for the first time in three years, Louisiana’s governor is attending. He says Governor John Bel Edwards is using this opportunity to gt a lot of work done…:
CUT 9 (11) “health care policy”

Five-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence of Neville High School announced he plans to attend LSU. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says the LSU coaches have done an excellent job this year of making sure in-state talent stays in Louisiana…:
CUT 6 (12) “down in Rummel”
He says the Tigers are now in excellent position to have the number one recruiting class in the nation.

There’s now a website that seeks to settle the score once and for all, to find out who makes the best king cake. Emelie Gunn reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Public colleges in Louisiana have been told that they could be facing a $131 million dollar cut across the board in the remaining 5 months of the current fiscal year. The Edwards Administration says its making tough choices in filling the state’s $750 million dollar budget shortfall.