A judge has set the bond for the man accused of firing several shots at a St. Charles Parish Deputy at $1 million dollars. 58-year-old John Paul Devillier of Gulfport is charges with attempted murder of a peace officer, three counts of battery and one count of violently resisting arrest. The victim, Corporal Burt Hazeltine is recovering from three gunshot wounds and authorities say he could be blind in one eye.

Oilfield services giant Schlumberger has announced plans to lay off about 11,000 additional employees due to the reduction in oil prices. LSU Economist Dr Loren Scott says oil companies are dealing with oil prices roughly half of what they were a year ago and they’re asking these service companies for a break in fees they charge…:
CUT 3 (06) “what’s going on”
Scott adds it’s becoming too expensive to drill on land rigs with current oil prices and many of those rigs are being shut down.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office says they have arrested what they believe is the final person associated with the scheme to plant drugs on someone’s vehicle then have them arrested. They say Russell Manual is booked with criminal conspiracy, possession of several drugs and intimidating a witness. Manual is a Knight Oils Tools employee and its CEO and two cops were among those also arrested in the scheme.

The number of Formosan subterranean termites are rising in Louisiana and homeowners should take precautions against them. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office believes 56-year-old John Paul Devillier’s shooting ambush of 36-year-old Cpl. Burt Hazeltine stemmed from Devillier being upset over traffic in a school zone. Sheriff Greg Champagne says Devillier has a violent past including getting fired from a TSA job in 2013 for conduct unbecoming…

cut 16 (08) “aggravated assault”

Devillier will be charged with attempted first degree murder.

Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson plans to amend the controversial religious freedom bill, but critics aren’t backing down. Opponents say the bill will lead to discrimination of gays, lesbians, and transgender individuals. However, Governor Bobby Jindal says he can’t see how someone can make the case that the state should intervene on someone’s personal religious beliefs…

cut 13 (12) “view of marriage”

IBM, which is opening a technology services center in Baton Rouge, has expressed strong opposition to the bill.

The Centers for Disease Control says many women aren’t taking enough time between birth and conception which could lead to problems for both mom and baby. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 1 (30) “reporting”

Oildfield services giant Schlumberger has announced plans to layoff approximately 11,000 additional employees due to the reduction in oil prices. This is on top of the company’s January announcement reducing their workforce by 9,000 employees. It is not known where the job cuts are coming from or how many Louisiana employees will be affected.

A St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s deputy continues to recover today in a hospital after getting shot three times. Scott Carwile has more…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a cafeteria employee at Maplewood Elementary in Sulphur for allegedly hitting a student – her own son. Authorities say 32-year-old Kristy Lynn Miller is charged with cruelty to juveniles. Officers say video surveillance shows Miller striking the child in a violent manner several times. They say Miller informed detectives she hit the 6-year-old because he spilled liquid on the floor and broke a pencil. Miller has been placed on leave.

Although Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says he plans to amend the controversial religious freedom bill, critics are not backing down. Some lawmakers criticized the original bill saying it was so broad in protecting any belief about marriage which could mean many things. But Governor Bobby Jindal says the measure is narrowly focused on making sure the state can not discriminate against businesses for their religious belief in traditional marriage…

cut 12 (11) “for their beliefs”

Opponents of the bill say its intent has always been to discriminate against the LGBT community.

The number of Formosan subterranean termites are rising in Louisiana and homeowners should take precautions against them. LSU AgCenter Entomologist Gregg Henderson says one way you can help prevent an infestation is to change the lighting around your home…

Cut 8 (09) “yellow lights”

May is the beginning of the swarm season for these Formosan termites.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office says it appears the motive behind the shooting ambush of one of their deputies Thursday stemmed from a man upset over traffic. 56-year-old John Paul Devillier, a native of the parish but resident of Gulfport, has been identified as the shooter. Sheriff Greg Champagne says 36-year-old Cpl. Burt Hazeltine was directing buses near a school crossing…

cut 14 (10) “stop traffic for him”

Devillier faces an attempted first degree murder charge.

Even though Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says he plans to amend the controversial religious freedom bill, critics are not backing down. Forum for Equality Director Sarah Jane Brady says the gay and transgender community in Louisiana already doesn’t have protections when it comes to housing and employment at the state level…

cut 10 (11) “behalf of its citizens”

Governor Bobby Jindal says passing a religious freedom bill is one of his priorities for this session.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says many women aren’t taking enough time between birth and conception which could lead to problems for both mom and baby. Louisiana Medicaid Medical Director Dr. Rebekah Gee says most research suggests that at least 18 months are needed between pregnancies…

cut 4 (10) “between pregnancies”

Gee says in Louisiana, the CDC report shows nearly 30% of women don’t wait longer than 18 months before having their next child. She adds that a short time span between pregnancies also impacts the emotional and mental health of the mother.

With lawmakers facing a one-point-six billion dollar budget deficit, Governor Bobby Jindal stands behind his efforts to cut government spending instead of raising taxes. Jindal says it has led to a strong job market and growing economy…
CUT 15 (07) Q: been before”
Jindal has been criticized for following a fiscal policy that’s supported by Grover Norquist and the Americans for Tax Reform.

Jindal made those comments during a wide-ranging discussion with reporters at the state capitol. The governor was also asked about how many out-of-state trips he plans to take during the legislative session. The governor did not give a number….
cut 30 (10) “…consider those individually”
As far as a plan to deal with the state’s budget shortfall, Jindal says those conversations are ongoing.

The state House and Senate did not meet today and they are off tomorrow as well, but that’s not stopping the debate over a so-called religious freedom bill. Governor Jindal says the bill will not lead to discrimation of same sex couples, instead it protects businesses from being punished by the state for for their religious belief in traditional marriage…
cut 12 (11) “….for their belief”
But Forum for Equality director Sarah Jane Brady doesn’t see how this bill by representative Mike Johnson will not lead to discrimation against the L-G-B-T community…
cut 11 (13) “…of all people”
Johnson plans to alter the bill before it gets its first hearing in a House committee.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Department is calling this morning’s shooting of a deputy directing traffic at a school crossing, an ambush. 36-year-old Corporal Burt Hazeltine is in stable, but guarded condition. Captain Pat Yoes says when other deputies arrived, the suspect dropped the gun…:
CUT 7 (05) “university hospital “
The suspect is 56 year old John Paul Devillier who lives in Gulfport, Mississippi. He reportedly got angry at the deputy over being held up in school traffic.

New Orleans Pelicans’ star Anthony Davis went off on the San Antonio Spurs last night with 31 points, leading the Pels to a 108-103 victory, and putting them in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2011. Coach Monty Williams was impressed with A.D…
CUT 4 (09) Q: “free throws”
Game one in the Best-Of-7 series against Golden State tips off Saturay at 2:30 on ABC.
———————–
Governor Jindal is taking some criticism for a fiscal policy based on Americans for Tax Reform, but Jindal says he’s always been opposed to new taxes…
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

There’s been more heavy downpours today, including in Central Louisiana, where there’s street flooding in Alexandria, and more rain expected through Sunday…
cut 12 (08) “…come in”
That’s State Climatologist Barry Keim.

In what is being described as an ambush this morning, a St. Charles Parish deputy was shot multiple times while directing traffic at a school crossing in Paradis. Captain Pat Yoes says 36 year-old Corporal Burt Hazeltine was helping buses make their way off Highway 90…
CUT 6 (07) Q: ‘multiple times’
The suspect is identified as 56 year old John Paul Devillier, who currently resides in Gulfport. Hazeltine, who is stable but guarded condition was shot 3 times; one bullet punctured his lung, and another lodged behind his left eye, which may cause him to lose sight in that eye.

With lawmakers addressing the state’s current budget crisis, Governor Bobby Jindal is still standing firm in cutting government spending instead of raising taxes. Today, the governor pointed to the state’s job market and growing economy…
CUT 14 (04) Q: government spending”
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The National Weather Service has issued Flash Flood Watches across south-central and southeastern Louisiana through Friday night as rains continue to pound Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says over this week, five to seven inches of rain has already fallen over much of South Louisiana…
cut 11 (08) “South Louisiana”
Keim says we should get some relief by Sunday.

The New Orleans Pelicans are in the NBA playoffs for the first time in four years, after last night’s 108-103 win over San Antonio. The Pelicans scored 34-points in the first quarter and head coach Monty Williams says that came as a pleasant surprise…
CUT 3 (07) “bench was great”
The Pels will face Golden State in a first round best-of-seven series beginning Saturday.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s office says a deputy directing traffic at a school crossing in Paradis was shot multiple times in an apparent ambush..:
CUT 1 (22) “reporting”

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office asks for the public’s help in the search for a missing woman whose vehicle was found intentionally set on fire and destroyed. Spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks says 54-year-old Taherah Ghassemi (ta-HAIR-ay ga-SEE-me) was reported missing by her son on Monday…
CUT 9 (04) “she was not”
That investigation is ongoing.
———————-
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watches across south-central and southeastern Louisiana through Friday night as rains continue to pound the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is the potential for up to three inches of rainfall per day through Saturday in South Louisiana…
CUT 12 (08) Q: ‘to come in”
Before that, he says, the biggest risk now is flash flooding and river basin flooding due to over-saturated soil.

With their back against the wall, the New Orleans Pelicans made it into the playoffs last night in a do or die win last night over San Antonio 108-103 last night…
CUT 5 (07) Q: ‘won the game’
That’s Coach Monty Williams, who says they now have to prepare for game one against Golden State.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s office says the deputy who was gunned down in an ambush this morning is in stable but guarded condition. Captain Pat Yoes says 36-year-old Burt Hazeltine was working a school zone crossing when somebody just opened fire at a nearby gas station. He says the shooting appears to be completely unprovoked…:
CUT 8 (04) “off the roadway”
He says motive is unclear at this time but they do have a suspect in custody and are working on getting some answers.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office asks for the public’s help in the search for a missing woman whose vehicle was found intentionally set on fire and destroyed. Spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks says 54-year-old Taherah Ghassemi’s welfare is a big concern and it’s important she’s found as soon as possible…:
CUT 10 (09) “sheriff’s office”

Governor Bobby Jindal has been criticized by some for a fiscal policy based on Grover Norquist and the Americans for Tax Reform. But Jindal says he’s always been a supporter of no new taxes on Louisiana residents…:
CUT 13 (08) “to raising taxes”
Jindal feels it would be a mistake to raise taxes even as the state faces a $1.6 billion dollar budget deficit.

Jindal and Dallas-based Monster Moto announce the company will establish a headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ruston…:
CUT 5 (30) “reporting”

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s deputy who was shot in an apparent ambush this morning has been identified. 36-year-old Corporal Burt Hazeltine was gunned down while directing traffic at a school crossing this morning. Captain Pat Yoes says a passerby drug the deputy behind the police car to safety. He says when other deputies arrived the suspect dropped the gun…:
CUT 7 (05) “university hospital”
The deputy is listed as in stable, but guarded condition. The Sheriff has called a 3pm news conference to release more details on this incident.

The National Weather Service has issued Flash Flood Watches across south-central and southeastern Louisiana through Friday night as rains continue to pound the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says over the past four to five days anywhere between five and seven inches of rain has fallen over most of south Louisiana and there’s more on the way…:
CUT 11 (08) “south Louisiana”

The Pelicans are in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2011 after last night’s 108-103 win over San Antonio. New Orleans will face Golden State in a first round best-of-seven series beginning Saturday. Coach Monty Williams says Anthony Davis’s play down the stretch was key in this big win…:
CUT 4 (09) “free throws”
Davis scored 31 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in the victory.

Motorcycle assembly company Monster Moto announces they will construct a new facility in Ruston that will build go-carts and minibikes. Their corporate offices will also relocate from Dallas to Ruston.