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.

Governor John Bel Edwards wants to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana but he’s facing opposition from a key member of the upper chamber. Columbia Senator Neil Riser, who chairs the Labor Committee, says he will oppose any bill that raises Louisiana’s minimum wage. He says it would do nothing but harm the state’s fragile economy…:
CUT 3 (10) “to 50-percent”

The man responsible for a deadly mass shooting at a Lafayette movie theater left a journal with writings that including thanking the Charleston Church Shooter. John Russell Houser opened fire during a movie in July 2015 where two women died and 9 others were injured. Lafayette Police released the journal today.

Republican Presidential candidate Ted Cruz, who was in Louisiana this week, has receieved the endorsement of Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson. In a video endorsement, Robertson says qualifications for a president include someone who is godly and would kill a duck and put him in a gumbo.

There is strong opposition to Governor John Bel Edwards executive order to expand Medicaid access in Louisiana. Eric Gill reports…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

A 15-year-old student who allegedly called in a bomb threat to Plaquemine High School has been arrested by the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office and booked on two counts of terrorizing. They say a 911 call came in on Tuesday saying a bomb had been placed at the school and classes were cancelled as a precaution. The same thing happened in December and with the help of the FBI, they were able to track the calls to the juvenile who was booked Wednesday.

Pictures of the hotel room and journal of a man who opened fire on a movie theater full of people on July 23rd, 2015 have been released by the Lafayette Police Department. Investigators discovered John Russel Houser’s journal following the murder of two people and injuring of 9 at the Grand 16 Theater in Lafayette. The writings include ramblings praise of the Charleston church shooter.

The chair of the Senate Labor Committee says he’s not going to support any measure that would increase the state’s minimum wage. Governor John Bel Edwards reportedly wants to increase the minimum pay in Louisiana by $1 to $8.25 an hour. But Columbia Senator Neil Riser feels $7.25 an hour gives employees a fair starting point…:
CUT 5 (08) “paying jobs”
Any bill that would raise Louisiana’s minimum wage would likely come through Riser’s committee.

Got Powerball fever? People in Louisiana are buzzing all over today about tonight’s $1.5 billion dollar jackpot, but not everyone. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are less than 1 in 292 million. This Louisiana resident told us he won’t buy a ticket because lots of winners lose control of their money…:
cut 14 (05) “flat broke”
If that’s not you, 9pm is the cutoff to purchase a ticket.

There’s expected opposition to Governor John Bel Edwards decision to expand Medicaid access in Louisiana. But the Louisiana AARP applauds the executive order. State Director Denise Bottcher believes Medicaid expansion will go a long way to make Louisiana a healthier state. She believes this will give residents peace of mind that if they get sick they’ll get the health care they deserve without going bankrupt…:
CUT 9 (09) “to internists”
But others say this is a waste of resources and the state has bigger fish to fry right now.

The Lafayette Police Department has released a copy of Lafayette theater shooter John Russell Houser’s hand written journal. Jeff Palermo reports…
CUT 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to elected Metairie lawyer, Jim Garvey as its new president. There are eight new members on BESE’s 11-member panel. Former BESE President Chas Roemer decided not to seek re-election to the panel.

President Obama is arriving in Baton Rouge tonight and will be met by Governor John Bel Edwards.

Louisiana AARP applauds Governor Edwards executive order to expand Medicaid. State Director Denise Bottcher says this can make a real difference in the lives of thousands of Louisianians…:
CUT 8 (08) “in Louisiana”
But others who oppose the move to expand Medicaid eligibility say there are bigger problems facing the state and the existing program should be repaired before it’s expanded.

A Livingston Parish convenience store owner is booked on drug charges after two high school students overdosed on synthetic vapors they allegedly purchased at his business. Denham Springs Police Det. Glenn Lemoine says the students told investigators they purchased “Juicy” from 36-year-old Essam Farhat’s store where cops found over 200 bottles of the synthetic drug. He says while the students recovered, the chemicals in synthetic marijuana can be dangerously toxic…:
cut 12 (10) “and die”

There is strong opposition to Governor John Bel Edwards executive order to expand Medicaid access in Louisiana. Eric Gill reports…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

Edwards is roaming the state today to get updates on the flooding situations with the Mississippi And Atchafalaya Rivers. Edwards held a Unified Command Group Meeting this morning before making appearances in Vidalia, Krotz Springs and Morgan City. The governor will meet President Barack Obama at the airport in Baton Rouge tonight. The president is speaking at McKinley High in the morning.

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. One woman says it’s just not worth the potential risk…:
cut 13 (07) “I’m into”
You have until 9 tonight to get the $2 ticket.

Edwards wants to raise the minimum wage, but a key member in the Senate says he’ll oppose the measure every step of the way. Columbia Senator Neil Riser, new Senate Labor Committee Chairman, says would hurt job creation and on top of that, Louisiana’s business community cannot support the pay hike…:
CUT 4 (05) “over the state”
The governor reportedly wants to increase the state’s minimum wage to $8.25 an hour, one dollar above the federal minimum that Louisiana currently recognizes.

There are many who oppose Governor John Bel Edwards executive order to expand the Medicaid program in Louisiana. Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany feels it’s irresponsible to take such a step without making changes to the current program. He says we should look to provide health care that is affordable with a focus on quality…:
CUT 7 (06) “of those things”
Louisiana AARP applauds Governor Edwards’ executive order, saying it will go a long way to make us a healthier state.

State Police has issued a Level II Endangered/Missing Child Media Advisory on behalf of the Shreveport Police Department for a 2-year-old and a 7-year-old who are believed to have been taken along with their mother by a violent criminal and are in imminent danger. They are looking for 2-year-old Elijah Wong and 7-year-old Donnie Dawon and their mother, 28-year-old Antonette Wong. They were abducted by force by Keith Rogers who is armed and considered dangerous.

Senate President John Alario announced committee assignments and appointments for the start of the 2016-2020 Louisiana Senate. Ville Platte Senator Eric LaFleur will chair the Senate Finance Committee, Revenue & Fiscal Affairs will be led by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell. Parks Senator Fred Mills will chair Senate Health & Welfare and Senator Page Cortez of Lafayette will oversee Senate Transportation. Senator Blade Morrish will chair Senate Education.

A Denham Springs gas station owner is under arrest for allegedly selling a dangerous synthetic drug, known as Juicy, 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 the students, who had to be hospitalized following the overdoses at Denham Springs High School, told detectives that they had purchased the drug at that Farhat’s gas station…:
Cut 11 (10) “30-40 bucks a bottle”