The clock is ticking on lawmakers who are trying to come up with a funding plan to close huge budget deficits this fiscal year and next. Governor John Bel Edwards says unfortunately tax increases are necessary to stablize the state’s budget and avoid deep cuts to higher ed and health care…
cut 8 (11) “….in our history”
Edwards says he wants to see businesses share in the increased tax burden.

The US Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of Michael Wearry, who was sentenced to death in the killing of a 16-year-old pizza delivery driver whose body was found near Hammond in 1998. The nation’s highest court said prosecutors failed to disclose evidence that could have helped his defense. District Attorney Scott Perrilloux says they plan to re-try Weary…
cut 14 (07) “…we can”

New Orleans native Peyton Manning announced his retirement from the NFL today. Halen Doughty has local reaction…
voicer 2 (30) “…reproting”

Several flash flood watches are already posted, set to go in effect tomorrow as a large weather system is expected to dump several inches of rain in Louisiana. Brandi Hughes, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, says the rains won’t stop until this weekend…
cut 5 (06) “….heavy rain”

Lawmakers have until Wednesday night to close a massive budget shortfall. Jeff Palermo gets an update from the governor…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Saying the state did not disclose evidence that could have helped his case, the Louisiana Supreme Court overturns a 2002 murder conviction of a death row inmate. Michael Wearry was found guilty of the murder of a 16-year-old pizza delivery driver in Baton Rouge in 1998, but the justices Monday said prosecutors should have turned over information casting doubt on the credibility of a person that testified against him.

Louisiana native Peyton Manning tearfully announced today that, after 18 years in the NFL, he’s decided to hang up his cleats. Nelson Stewart, Manning’s high school teammate and current head coach at Isidore Newman, says Manning helped evolve the NFL into the passing league it’s become…:
cut 10 (11) “for so long”
In his retirement speech, Manning said he wants to thank the people of New Orleans and south Louisiana because they support their own team, but they also support their own.

The famous Acadiana Billy’s Boudin & Cracklins establishment in Scott has been ordered by the US Department of Labor to pay back wages to employees who were never paid for overtime, according to officials. They found the food spot used cash payments and duplicate books to avoid having to pay its workers overtime. As a result of the investigation, the enterprise is paying $112,724 in back wages.

The special session called to address the state’s budget crisis must end on Wednesday. Higher cigarette and alcohol taxes have advanced, and there are also measures on the table to raise the state sales tax. Governor John Bel Edwards is hopeful that the House approves legislation today that will call for businesses paying higher taxes…:
CUT 7 (07) “greater extent”
It’s estimated that lawmakers are about 150 to 200 million dollars short of what is needed to fill the budget hole for the fiscal year that ends June 30th.

New Orleans native Peyton Manning is announcing his retirement today after 18 seasons in the NFL and two Super Bowl championships. Nelson Stewart, Manning’s high school teammate and current head coach at Isidore Newman, says Manning’s Super Bowl 50 victory is a fitting way to end his NFL career…:
CUT 9 (05) “Hall of Fame career”
Manning holds over 20 NFL records, including career passing yards and passing touchdowns, most game-winning drives and most comeback wins.

Louisiana is bracing for a wet work week as the national weather service says another storm system is headed this way, expected to arrive tomorrow. Brandi Hughes, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says northwestern Louisiana may see up to 10 inches of rain. She says a low pressure system will push a lot of moisture into the state…:
CUT 4 (04) “as well”
A flash flood watch has been issued for 23 parishes, mostly on the western side of the state. The Storm Prediction Center has placed a portion of south LA under a “marginal risk” for severe weather tomorrow, and slight risk on Wednesday.

The state’s high court has overturned a 2002 conviction of a Louisiana death row inmate accused in the death of a 16-year-old pizza delivery driver near Baton Rouge. They said prosecutors didn’t turn over evidence in the case that would undermine the conviction of Michael Weary.

With the special session set to end Wednesday night, lawmakers are scrambling to come up with a plan to address the state’s large budget deficit. There’s talk about increasing the Louisiana’s four-cent sales tax by as much two-cents, but Governor John Bel Edwards says the tax burden should be spread out, impacting businesses too…:
CUT 6 (10) “as a whole”
Edwards does remain hopeful the House will send over some additional tax bills to the Senate by the end of today.

Expect a wet week in Louisiana as forecasters expect a system to move in that will soak The Bayou State. Brandi Hughes with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says the rain will move in tomorrow afternoon…:
CUT 3 (06) “work week”
A flash flood watch has been issued for 23 parishes, mostly on the western side of the state.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves changes to the Common Core education standards for Louisiana. BESE president Jim Garvey says these new standards in English and math were reviewed and developed by committees that consists of about 100 teachers from around the state. He says they worked hard on creating more clarity about what was expected from educators and students…:
cut 12 (10) “be achieved”
He says the new standards will still uphold high learning expectations that help students move forward to better prepare for college and careers.

A 19-year-old from Natchitoches is under arrest for allegedly shooting his father severa times and killing him. Cops say 19-year-old Marlon Rachal II is charged with second degree murder in the death of 39-year-old Marlon Rachal Sr who suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Police did not release a motive for the shooting.

The state House has approved a bill that will increase the state’s alcohol tax for the first time since 1948. There was an effort to put a three-year expiration on the higher tax, but New Orleans Representative Walt Leger objected to the admendment with Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody…
cut 17 (12) “….that problem”
The measure heads to the Senate where they are are expected to approve the higher alcohol tax, with the extra revenues going towards the state’s massive budget deficit.

Colfax Representative Terry Brown has filed a bill for the regular session that would require Governor Edwards to examine the state’s contracts with the Saints and Pelicans. Brown says hopefully once the governor reviews the agreements, he’ll take away any state subsidies…
cut 6 (09) “….Saints”

Legislation has been filed for the upcoming session that would increase the fines for those caught emailing, texting or looking at social media while driving. Highway safety advocate, Colonel Jim Champagne, is glad the legislature is willing to look at this issue, because this is a dangerous practice that needs to stop….
cut 9 (11) “….become secondary”
The regular session begins a week from today.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved changes to the Common Core education standards. BESE President Jim Garvey says school districts will have more control on what goes on in the classroom…
cut 11 (10) “…the ball”
The governor and the legislature still has to review these changes.

The state House approves a bill that would raise the tax on alcohol and it now heads to the Senate. There are three days left in the special session where lawmakers are charged with addressing the massive budget deficit for this fiscal year and next. Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on the Capitol to raise revenues to fill the budget holes.

The regular session begins March 14th and a pre-filed bill would require Governor John Bel Edwards to review agreements with the Saints and Pelicans and renegotiate if need-be. According to a 2013 Forbes article, Owner Tom Benson will receive 392-million dollars in subsidies through 2025. It’s Colfax Representative Terry Brown’s bill and says Louisiana is tough fiscal times and tough decisions need to be made…:
Cut 5 (09) “state owned”
Brown says this legislation does not require Governor Edwards to renegotiate with the Saints and Pels, but it asks him to consider altering the contracts.

A bill filed by Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb would raise the fine for texting while driving. Halen Doughty has the story…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

State Police Troop I investigated two separate fatal crashes Sunday — one in St. Mary Parish and the other in Evangeline Parish. In the first, they believe 19-year-old Demetrius Bergeron of Ville Platte was driving drunk and without a seat belt when he exited a roadway and crashed. He suffered fatal injuries. In the second crash, 52-year-old Jimmy Barras from Patterson crashed into a tree and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three days to go in the special session and legislators worked through the weekend. Sunday, the House ended up passing a small increase on alcohol to help plug the state’s massive budget deficit. A three-year expiration on the higher tax was proposed as an amendment to the bill, but Dry Creek Representative Dorothy Sue Hill objected to a sunset date. She says it’s been decades since the last time it was raised..:
Cut 18 (11) “cheers”
That amendment did not pass. If the Senate agrees to a higher alcohol tax, it would raise four-million dollars this fiscal year.

Legislation that would raise the fine for texting and driving is on the table for the regular session. Highway safety advocate Jim Champagne says this distracted driving behavior is extremely dangerous…:
CUT 8 (05) “almost un believable”
The proposed fine is $500, up from $175.

Legislation filed for the regular session would require the governor to review the state’s agreements with the Saints and Pelicans. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (32) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton were the winners in their respective parties in the Louisiana Presidential Primary on Saturday. Some ballots including local elections including Monroe where incumbent Mayor Jamie Mayo easily gained a victory in the city’s mayoral election.

New Orleans native quarterback Peyton Manning is expected to announce he’s retiring today after 18 seasons in the NFL.

Colfax Representative Terry Brown has filed legislation for the regular session that would require the governor to look over Louisiana’s agreements with the Saints and Pelicans and allow him to renegotiate the contracts to reduce state subsidies. Brown says if we’re cutting public dollars for developmentally disabled children and roadways, state-funding for professional sports teams should be reduced…:
cut 4 (10) “water districts”
Brown says since 2002 the Saints and Pelicans have received about 369 million dollars from the state.

Today at the Capitol, with three days left in the special session, lawmakers continue to hammer away at the state’s current $900 million dollar budget shortfall, and the next financial year’s $2 billion dollar deficit. The House approved a small increase in the alcohol tax Sunday, and now there’s talk on a measure that would add an extra half penny to the state sales tax beyond the 1 cent increase, But Governor John Bel Edwards says he doesn’t like that idea.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves the Louisiana State Student Standards in English and math, which replaces Common Core in these areas. BESE president Jim Garvey says these new standards still uphold high learning expectations and will help students move forward to better prepare for college and careers….:
Cut 10 (10) “substantial”
State law passed in 2015 provided BESE with the mechanism to develop state standards for English and math.

A 19-year-old from Natcchitoches is in jail for allegedly shooting and killing his 39-year-old father, according to cops. They say Marlon Ray Rachal II is charged with second degree murder.

The National Weather Service says a large storm system could bring heavy bouts of rain to south Louisiana this week. They say some showers and a few thunderstorms are expected to develop Tuesday, but the heaviest rainfall is expected to move into the area Wednesday through Friday. Four to 8 inches of rain is possible according to forecasters.

There are three days left in the special session to address massive budget shortfalls this fiscal year and next. Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on lawmakers to raise revenues to fill the budget holes and he scored a victory last night when the House approved an increase to the state’s alcohol tax. The bill’s author, Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox, urged his colleagues to support the higher tax…:
Cut 16 (09) “alcohol“
Louisiana has not raised taxes on alcohol since 1948.

Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb files a bill for the regular session that would increase the fine for texting while driving. It’s currently $175, but this measure seeks to raise that fine to $500. Highway safety advocate Jim Champagne says police are having a hard time getting a handle on the issue..:
CUT 7 (09) “to address”
The regular session convenes on March 14th.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved the Louisiana State Student Standards, which changes Common Core. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Republican and Democratic parties in Louisiana congratulate the Presidential Primary candidates who pulled out victories in The Bayou State. After the March 5th election day, Donald Trump won 47 of the state’s 64 parishes for the Republicans, and Hillary Clinton picked up 71% of Democratic votes in Louisiana.

UNO poll shows Donald Trump is the favorite to win the state’s Republican primary today. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

A Hahnville teacher has been arrested for allegedly having inappropriate conduct with a student. The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office says the arrest of 30-year-old Jeremy Eusea comes from another similar incident where Eusea was texting a 16-year-old student inappropriate pictures and messages in the 2010-2011 school year. He is facing multiple charges, including Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor and Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile.

Governor John Bel Edwards is demanding that the House of Representatives approve additional revenue generating bills. The House and Senate have agreed to some revenue increases and budget cuts that close this fiscal year’s deficit from 940-million dollars to around 147-million. But the governor says more work needs to be done in the last days of the special session…

CUT 9 (11) “that number”

The House did not approve the bill to increase the alcohol tax.

The major candidates running for the 2016 US Senate seat in Louisiana will appear today at the annual police jury association meeting in Shreveport. Political Analyst Elliot Stonecipher says the biggest issue is how other Republicans in the race can relate to the front runner John Kennedy because the State Treasurer’s anti-tax stance has helped to boost his popularity.

cut 15 (10) “the lead”