Governor-elect John Bel Edwards has a full day in store as he will become the 56th governor of Louisiana at noon…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Shreveport Police say a family argument over the weekend left one man dead. Authorities say 43-year-old Charles Ray Acklen and his father, Charles Wayne Acklen, were involved in a dispute when Charles Ray pulled a gun and threatened to shoot his father. Charles Wayne grabbed the gun, shooting his son in the upper body several times. Charles Ray was pronounced dead at the scene. Charles Wayne was questioned by police, then released. No charges have been filed at this time.

So what can Louisiana residents expect from Democrat John Bel Edwards once he is sworn in as governor? Political analyst Clancy Dubos says most people want to see more state funding for higher education, healthcare and highways. But he says that will be hard to do, as the state’s budget is in bad shape…

cut 15 (10) “tax rates”

He says Edwards plans to call a special session of the legislature to deal with all the fiscal issues in the state.

The boudin king cake is becoming one of the most sought after pastries during carnival season. UL-Lafayette Professor Bob Carriker, who invented the delicacy, says people have started calling it the most Cajun food ever…

cut 8 (11) “together”

Carriker says he’s been contacted by bakeries all over the state and the nation asking permission to use the concept and get some tips.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards will be sworn in as Louisiana’s 56th governor today. Edwards’ communications director, Richard Carbo, says the swearing in will happen right at noon and then Governor Edwards will make his inauguration address on the steps of the Capitol. He says there is a surprise planned for the new governor…

cut 11 (10) “real treat”

Carbo believes Edwards will be optimistic about the days ahead for Louisiana in his inauguration speech.

So what can we expect from Edwards once he takes office? Political analyst Clancy Dubos believes the democratic governor will have a fairly easy time with the Senate, but the challenge will be in the House…

cut 14 (09) “every matter”

He says Edwards plans to immediately expand Medicaid and will call a special legislative session to deal with all the fiscal issues in the state.

The Bonnet Carre Spillway was opened Sunday morning to alleviate the flood threat of the Mississippi River in New Orleans. US Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Ricky Boyett says the Bonnet Carre diverts Mississippi River waters to Lake Pontchartrain and into the Gulf to protect New Orleans. Boyett says, if river levels get too high, the Morganza Spillway protects Baton Rouge in much the same way…

cut 5 (05) “the Atchafalaya”

The Morganza could be opened as early as Thursday.

The boudin king cake is quickly becoming one of the most popular pastries to get your hands on during carnival season. Bob Carriker is a UL-Lafayette professor and he used his food blogging sites, boudinlink.com and kingcaker.com, to introduce his invention to Louisiana. It took off…

cut 7 (08) “it’s incredible”

The boudin king cake uses bread that is savory, stuffed with boudin, topped with Steen’s cane syrup then sprinkled with cracklins.

Today is inauguration day and Governor-elect John Bel Edwards will start out today with his family at St. Joseph’s cathedral in Baton Rouge before the ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Richard Carbo, Edwards’ communication director, says the voice of LSU, Jim Hawthorne, will be the master of ceremonies of the inauguration. ..

cut 10 (11) “have died”

Carbo says the swearing in will happen right at noon.

So what can we expect from Democrat John Bel Edwards once he is sworn in as governor? Political analyst Clancy Dubos says Edwards plans to immediately expand Medicaid and he is going to call a special session to deal with all the fiscal issues in the state.

cut 13 (09) “in place”

Dubos says right after the special session ends, Edwards will jump right into a regular session to deal with issues not regarding the budget.

The US Army Corps of Engineers opened the Bonnet Carre Spillway Sunday morning to alleviate the flood threat of the Mississippi River in New Orleans. Corps spokesman Ricky Boyett says the spillway is an amazing structure…

cut 4 (09) “an entire river”

This is the 11th time the spillway has been opened since its completion in 1931. The Morganza Spillway could be opened as early as Thursday.

For the first time in history the PowerBall jackpot has hit 10 digits. The estimated value for Wednesday night’s jackpot is $1.3 billion.

The biggest lottery jackpot in US history just got bigger. The Powerball prize for tonight’s drawing is now $900 million dollars. You have until 9 tonight get the $2 tickets. UNO Mathematics chair, Dr. Tumulesh (Too-muh-lesh) Solanky (soe-LAWN-key), says the odds of one person winning the jackpot are astronomical. The cash value is 558 million, and Metairie CPA Jennifer Bored says if you happen to hit the big prize, there is no financial incentive if you take the lump sum or the annuity…:
CUT 14 (08) “an attorney”

The US Army Corps of Engineers now say the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish will not open before Wednesday. It’s the second time they’ve delayed due to the new Mississippi River forecast suggesting the triggers that open the gates won’t be met until January 13th. If the pattern continues, the Army Corps says they may not have to open the Morganza at all.

The White House announces that President Barack Obama will make his first trip to Baton Rouge as president on Thursday, January 14th. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

An Ascension Parish man who was linked by DNA to a murder that took place over 25 years ago, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and second-degree kidnapping charges. 50-year-old Kenneth Lavigne of St. Amant admitted Friday to taking a 38-year-old woman from her home in 1990, and sexually assaulting her before killing her. The case remained cold until officials matched DNA from the victim to Lavigne.

President Barack Obama will make his first trip to Baton Rouge as president next week on Thursday, January 14th, two days after his State of the Union address. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s not uncommon for the president to hit the road after the State of the Union…:
CUT 6 (08) “president’s policies”
Hogan believes Mr. Obama will likely praise Democrats for working to get John Bel Edwards elected governor and highlight Edwards’ support of Medicaid expansion.

More people than ever are purchasing Powerball tickets for tonight’s estimated $800 million dollar jackpot — and dreaming about what they’d do with what amounts to a $496 million cash payout. Jennifer Bordes, a CPA in Metairie, reminds players that winnings are still taxed…:
CUT 15 (10) “estate tax”

The US Army Corps of Engineers says the Bonnet Carre spillway will open tomorrow at 10am, and the Morganza gates relieved not before Wednesday. Flooding is imminent on the Mississippi and the Atchafalaya Rivers. Corps spokesperson Rickey Boyett…:
CUT 5 (07) “in this are”
Residents are urged to have a game plan in place.

Tulane has now joined four other state colleges in implementing a hoverboard ban on campus. LSU, Nicholls State, Southeastern and UL-Lafayette have also prohibited the self balancing, 2 wheeled motorized scooters amid reports that they blow up while charging and cause serious injuries to inexperienced owners. SLU spokesperson Rene Abadie says they don’t want hoverboards in dorms…:
CUT 10 (10) “the rider”

Folks are rushing to get their Powerball tickets ahead of tonight’s drawing worth an estimated $800 million dollars. UNO Mathematics chair, Dr. Tumulesh (Too-muh-lesh) Solanky (soe-LAWN-key), says the odds of one person winning the jackpot is about one in 292-million. He reminds players that certain numbers aren’t luckier than others…:
cut 13 (07) “the best”
Ticket sales are cut off at 9pm.

For the second day in a row, the US Army Corps of Engineers have issued a delay in the tentative opening of the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish — they now say it would not happen before Wednesday, January 13th. Spillways are released to alleviate flood threats due to rising water levels on the Mississippi River. New river forecasts suggest that triggers for opening the Morganza gates will be met Wednesday instead of Tuesday. The Bonnet Carre Spillway, which controls the river coming into New Orleans, will open at 10am tomorrow.

An LSU professor was arrested and booked on 98 charges including public payroll fraud, theft, forgery and malfeasance in office for allegedly faking travel vouchers in order to obtain funds. 45-year-old Todd Shupe of Baton Rouge is accused of collecting reimbursements by forging multiple students’ signatures in an amount totalling $16,478. Shupe worked at the Louisiana Forest Products Development Center at the LSU AgCenter. He posted $98,000 bond.

President Barack Obama will be visiting Baton Rouge Thursday for the first time as commander-in-chief. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says the recent election of Democrat John Bel Edwards in the governor’s race could have played a role in the president scheduling a visit to the capital city…:
CUT 7 (09) “in the state”
Edwards will be sworn in as governor at noon on Monday.

President Barack Obama will speak in Baton Rouge on Thursday. Eric Gill has more…
cut 2 (29) “..I’m Eric Gill”

Powerball retailers are busy spitting out tickets in advance of Saturday night’s record 800-million dollar jackpot. If you are lucky enough to win, Metairie CPA Jennifer Bordes says there is no financial incentive if you take the lump sum or payments over several decades…:
cut 14 (08) “…an attorney”
The cash value of the jackpot is 496-million dollars.

We’re now up to five universities across Louisiana that have told students not to bring their hoverboards to campus. It’s because the electric skateboards have been known to burst into flames while charging. Southeastern Louisiana University spokesperson Rene Abadie….
cut 9 (10) “…the campus”
LSU, UL Lafayette, and Nicholls are other univerisities who have banned hoverboards.

Governor Bobby Jindal, along with Governor-elect John Bel Edwards participated in a Unified Command Group meeting to get an update on the imminent flooding of the Mississippi and the Atchafalaya Rivers. US Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Ricky Boyett says the Bonnet Carre spillway will open Sunday at 10am, and the Morganza possibly on Tuesday…
CUT 5 (07) “in this are”
Jindal stressed the need for residents in the Morganza Spillway to have a game plan in place.

The rising Mississippi River has led to the US Army Corps of Engineers to open the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish on Sunday 10 AM. Corps spokesperson Ricky Boyett says this will prevent major flooding in New Orleans…
cut 3 (10) “…in New Orleans”
Boyett says it looks like the Morganza Spillway will also have to be opened, but Tuesday is the earliest that will happen.

President Barack Obama will be in Louisiana on Thursday as he’s planning to speak in Baton Rouge two days after he delivers the State of the Union….
cut 6 (08) “….president’s policies”
That’s LSU political science professor Robert Hogan. A spokesperson for John Bel Edwards says the new governor is hoping to have a face-to-face meeting with the commander in chief.

Bobby Jindal’s two terms as governor ends on Monday as Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is sworn in. U-L-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says one of Jindal’s lasting legacies will be his education reforms…
cut 30 (05) “…evaluating”
But Cross says Jindal leaves office with low approval ratings, because of budget cuts to higher ed and a failed run for President that had him out of the state for much of 2015.

If you win the 800-million dollar Powerball tomorrow, you’ll probably leave the country for awhile for a nice vacation. But what’s your odds of winning this massive prize. UNO Mathematics chair Doctor Tumules (Too-muh-lesh) Solanky (soe-LAWN-key) says its 1 in 292 million. But your odds do improve, if you buy more tickets…
cut 12 (08) “…292 million”
The cash value of the jackpot is 496-million.

Today Governor Bobby Jindal held a Unified Command Group meeting with state leaders and response officials to get updates on the imminent flooding of the Mississippi and the Atchafalaya Rivers. Governor-elect John Bel Edwards, who takes office Monday, was also present. The US Army Corps of Engineers says the Bonnet Carre spillway will open Sunday at 10am, and the Morganza possibly on January 12th…:
CUT 5 (07) “in this are”
Jindal stressed the need for residents to have a game plan in place.

President Barack Obama is visiting Baton Rouge next week and is expected to highlight Louisiana’s new Edwards’ administration plan to expand Medicaid. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan believes President Obama will will use Louisiana as an example to get more states to jump on board…:
CUT 8 (09) “of his administration”
Mr. Obama will be in Baton Rouge on January 14th.

There’s more than $800 million dollars out there in tomorrow night’s Powerball drawing — the largest jackpot in US history. Jennifer Bordes, a CPA in Metairie, issues a word of advice for any winners…:
CUT 15 (10) “estate tax”

The popular hoverboards are banned on the campuses of LSU, UL-Lafayette, Nicholls and Southeastern. The self balancing, 2 wheeled motorized scooter has been blowing up in some cases while charging, and riders have been known to fall off hoverboards and break bones or get concussions. Southeastern Louisiana University spokesperson Rene Abadie says the rule may not be set in stone…:
Cut 11 (05) “certainly”

President Barack Obama will be visiting Baton Rouge next week for the first time as commander-in-chief. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says a visit to Louisiana is a bit of a surprise since we’ve not always been supportive of President Obama’s policies. says the recent election of Democrat John Bel Edwards in the governor’s race could have played a role in the president scheduling a visit to the capital city…:
CUT 7 (09) “in the state”
The president will visit the Capital City Thursday, January 14th.

The Army Corps of Engineers say they will be opening the Bonnet Carre spillway starting 10am Sunday to alleviate flood threats due to the rising Mississippi River. As far as the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish, Corps spokesperson Ricky Boyett says they are closely monitoring the river to see if it reaches the level required to open the flood gates…:
CUT 4 (07) “12th of January”

If you got a hoverboard for Christmas, you’ve probably already found out there’s a bit of a learning curve to figuring out how to ride it. So many injures have been reported from hoverboard incidents that four state universities have banned the devices from campus. Southeastern spokesman Rene Abadie says hoverboard batteries have been known to combust and start fires while charging, so they don’t want them in S-L-U housing units…:
cut 10 (10) “the rider”
Hoverboards are also prohibited at LSU, UL-Lafayette and Nicholls.

Tomorrow night’s already historic jackpot was raised this morning to $800 million dollars. UNO Mathematics chair, Dr. Tumulesh (Too-muh-lesh) Solanky (soe-LAWN-key), says there is no evidence that some numbers are luckier than others…:
CUT 13 (07) “the best”
The odds of one person winning the jackpot is about one in 292-million.