A survey out of LSU shows nearly two thirds of Louisiana residents believe the state is heading in the wrong direction. Emelie Gunn has more….
voicer 1 (31) “….I’m Emelie Gunn”

Texas Transportation officials say I-10 heading into Texas will remain closed through the weekend and may not re-open until late Monday afternoon. Flood waters from the Sabine River continue to cover the heavily used interstate. US 190 is one option for Louisiana motorists to get into Texas.

Twenty-three parishes are under a federal disaster declaration and 11 more could be added. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate says they are assessing the damage, but it could take time because some areas are still under water. Fugate encourages flood victims to register for federal aid by going to disaster-assistance-dot-gov or calling 1-800-621-FEMA…
cut 12 (12) “…32,000”
Fugate says they’ll be in Louisiana for as long as it takes.

The flooding is reeking havoc on the corn crop in West Carroll Parish. LSU Ag Center Extension Agent Bruce Garner it doesn’t look like it will get any better because more water is spilling over into the fields from the bayous. He says the damage to the corn varies, even in just one field…:
cut 10 (08) “across the board”
Hundreds of acres have been under water for several days now.

The total number of parishes eligible for federal aid from flood damage is up to 26. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…reporting”

A survey finds 63% of Louisianians believe the state is headed in the wrong direction — the most since the LSU Public Policy research lab began tracking opinions in 2003. Director Dr. Michael Henderson says usually when a new governor takes office, residents are more optimistic.
CUT 6 (07) “received”

The state legislature is working on approving a constitutional amendment that would prevent a convicted felon from holding public office for 15 years after that person finishes their sentence. The state’s highest court removed the former constitutional amendment on this subject, because the language on the ballot was not the same as what the legislature approved in 1998. Norco Representative Gregory Miller says he’ll make sure his legislation doesn’t make that same mistake again…
cut 4 (06) “…the people”
The measure has already passed one House committee and heads to the House floor for more discussion.

I-10 is closed heading into Texas and State Police say motorists could use I-20 as an alternate route. Sgt James Anderson says US 190 is another option and traffic has been flowing well on the highway…:
cut 15 (06) “thus far”
I-10 on the Texas said is expected to remain closed through the weekend.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate says his agency has already doled out two-point-five million dollars in advance payments for flood insurance. Fugate urges residents without flood insurance, to purchase it, even if they are not in a high risk area…
cut 13 (11) “…..lost everything”
Fugate says those who don’t have flood insurance and had damage, could be eligible for grant money or Small Business Administration loans.

An LSU study finds that nearly two-thirds of Louisiana residents believe the state is heading in the wrong direction. Doctor Michael Henderson, with the public policy research lab, says the budget is now become the biggest concern for Louisiana adults…
cut 8 (10) “…important”

Due to flooding from the Sabine River, I-10 at the Louisiana/Texas state line is expected to remain closed until Monday afternoon. Sgt. James Anderson with State Police encourages motorists to plan an alternate route…:
CUT 14 (10) “into Texas”

Flooding in West Carroll Parish is hurting the corn crop. LSU Ag Center Extension Agent Bruce Garner says some fields will survive better than others:
CUT 9 (11) “severe damage”
He says hundreds of acres of of corn has been under water for for or five days.

And a severe thunderstorm watch has been issued until 8 PM for areas north of I-10 to Monroe and just south of Shreveport. The main threats are large hail and damaging wind gusts.

If you’re in one of the 26 parishes that have been declared by the president as disaster areas, officials encourage you to register for federal aid at the website: disaster-assistance-dot-gov. Governor John Bel Edwards says the number of parishes eligible keeps growing…:
CUT 11 (08) “parishes”
Edwards says they are looking at 11 additional parishes to see if they met the threshold for FEMA assistance.

The flooding is reeking havoc on the corn crop in West Carroll Parish. LSU Ag Center Extension Agent Bruce Garner it doesn’t look like it’s getting any better because more water is spilling over into the fields from the bayous. He says the damage to the corn varies, even in just one field…:
cut 10 (08) “across the board”
Edwards says they do not anticipate that any of the rain today is going to make matters worse.

A survey out of LSU shows nearly two thirds of Louisiana residents think the state is heading in the wrong direction. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A proposed constitutional amendment that asks voters if convicted felons should be allowed to run for state or local office for 15 years after completion of their sentence is making its way through the legislative process. Norco Representative Gregory Miller, says his bill is similar to a constitutional provision that was recently thrown out by the state Supreme Court…:
CUT 3 (11) “both houses”

Governor John Bel Edwards says there are now 26 parishes in Louisiana that are declared federal disaster areas, as Allen, Ascension and Calcasieu were added today. He says the meeting with FEMA on the ground today was productive in illustrating just how dire the flooding situation here is…:
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I-10 is closed going into Texas and State Police say motorists should go north onto I-49 in Lafayette, U.S. 165 near Iowa, and U.S. 171 in Lake Charles then west onto U.S. 190 into Texas. Sgt James Anderson says traffic on 190 has been moderate, but it’s flowing well…:
cut 15 (06) “thus far”
Edwards encourages residents to apply for federal assistance online at la.louisiana.gov.

A new poll shows residents of The Bayou State aren’t too happy with the way things are going right now. The Public Policy Research Lab found 63% of respondents felt Louisiana is headed in the wrong direction, and that’s the most since they started taking opinions in 2003. Director Michael Henderson there is also a large increase in the number of people who say the state’s business conditions are worse than a year ago…:
CUT 7 (10) “Louisiana”
He says despite the complaining, 40 percent of those surveyed say they still like living in Louisiana.

Due to flooding from the Sabine River, I-10 at the Louisiana/Texas state line is expected to remain closed until Monday afternoon. Sgt. James Anderson with State Police encourage motorists to plan an alternate route if headed to The Lone Star State…:
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He says you don’t have to travel all the way to I-20 as US 190 into Texas crosses in northern Beauregard Parish and traffic is moving well.

A recent survey finds 63% of Louisianians think the state is headed in the wrong direction — the most since the LSU Public Policy research lab began tracking opinions in 2003. Director Dr. Michael Henderson says usually when a new governor takes office, we start to see residents becoming more optimistic.
CUT 6 (07) “received”

Flooding in West Carroll Parish is hurting the corn crop. LSU Ag Center Extension Agent Bruce Garner says some fields will survive better than others:
CUT 9 (11) “severe damage”

The bill to raise the state’s sales tax by a penny has been signed into law by the governor, and it will take effect April 1. Jeff Palermo has more…”
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Highway officials announce I-10 at the Louisiana-Texas state line will remain closed through Monday because of flood waters. The official detour is I-20. State Police Sergeant James Anderson advises against using LA 27 and LA 82 in Cameron Parish, because those routes are extremely congested.

A new LSU study finds that nearly two thirds of Louisiana residents think the state is heading in the wrong direction. That’s the most on record since the Louisiana Survey began tracking opinions in 2003.

There are many high schools displeased with the direction the LHSAA is heading, because of the public-private split in the postseason. Former Bobby Jindal staffer, Paul Rainwater, has sent out a letter to schools seeking their interest in starting another organization and holding their championship events at LSU….
cut 11 (07) “…out costs’
Rainwater says they need at least 60 schools to commit.

A north Louisiana lawmaker introduces the Pastor Protection Act which will be debated during the regular legislative session. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 2 (31) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

Another bill worth watching in this session is a measure by New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop which requires public schools to develop a plan to help students who are expecting or parenting a child in high school. Bishop says this legislation also seeks to reach out to males, who become fathers at an early age…
cut 6 (05) “…this particular challenge”

The one cent sales tax increase will go into effect April 1st as the bill has officially been signed by the governor. Experts say you might want to purchase big ticket items before then, but for the most part consumers probably won’t even notice the small increase. Gina Rachel, Treasurer for the Society of Louisiana CPAs,
says businesses will likely see the biggest impact…:
CUT 15 (09) “of time”

A New Orleans lawmaker files legislation that seeks to develop a plan to help out students who get pregnant or who parent children while they’re still in school. Senator Wesley Bishop says the ultimate goal is to keep these students from dropping out of school because of the demands of pregnancy and parenting:
CUT 5 (07) “to school”
He says the number one cause of females dropping out of high school is pregnancy.

The Texas Department of Transportation says they expect the closure of I-10 at the state line to remain closed in both directions until 6pm on Monday. The Sabine River has covered the road almost completely in some places. Governor John Bel Edwards will meet with the administrator of FEMA this morning to discuss flooding in Louisiana. Following the meeting, they will both hold a briefing to provide updates to the public.

Some schools in the LHSAA aren’t happy with certain mandates within the organization so they want to form their own called the Louisiana High School Sports Cooperative, or LHSSC. Paul Rainwater would be the Executive Director and he says it will take 60 schools’ commitments to form a new group, which would be open to both public and private schools. He says there is only an initial fee..:
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Rainwater says the LHSSC could be in place for the 2016-2017 school year, if things go smoothly.

Consumers will soon be paying an extra penny of sales tax as the revenue raising bill was signed into law by Governor John Bel Edwards Thursday. But Treasurer for the Society of Louisiana CPAs Gina Rachel says this won’t make much of a dent in your day-to-day shopping bill…:
Cut 14 (06) “additional penny”
Medicine, gas and food for your home are excluded from the “clean” penny which begins April 1st.

A Bossier City lawmaker files a bill that wouldn’t require church leaders to take part in same sex weddings if it goes against their beliefs. Representative Mike Johnson says this legislation is needed to ensure protection from the government…:
Cut 8 (08) “belief”
He says this is aimed to prevent courts and public officials from trampling on the first amendment right of freedom of religion, like they’re seeing around the country.

New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop is co-sponsoring a bill that would create a plan to better assist pregnant high school students. Halen Doughty has more..:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The swelling Red River is now causing problems in Avoyelles Parish in Central Louisiana as some residents are seeing several inches of water creeping up to their homes with more on the way. Grant Parish officials also report that they are facing the worst disaster ever. The historic crest is also flooding Rapides. The Red is set to top out Sunday at 40.5 feet.

The governor has signed into law a bill that raises the state sales tax by a penny beginning April 1. Treasurer for the Society of Louisiana CPAs, Gina Rachel, says people who are planning to buy something big, you should do it before the higher tax takes effect…:
Cut 13 (08) “few dollars”
She says, for the most part, you probably won’t even notice the increase when making day-to-day purchases. Medicine, gas and food for your home are excluded from the “clean” penny.

New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop has filed a bill that will develop a plan to better support students who are expecting or parenting a child while in high school. He says it would establish the Louisiana Expectant and Parenting Students Act…:
cut 4 (11) “to graduate”
SB353 will be heard in the Senate Education Committee.

A north Louisiana lawmaker introduces the Pastor Protection Act which will be debated during the regular legislative session. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Schools in the LHSAA are not satisfied with the current state of affairs in Louisiana, so Paul Rainwater and others are proposing a new option, the Louisiana High School Sports Cooperative. Rainwater says it will take 60 schools’ commitments to form a new organization, and they have extended the offer to schools throughout the state. Rainwater says, at the end of the day, it’s all for the kids…:
cut 12 (04) “all about”