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. Captain Pat Yoes says the victim was helping buses make their way off of Highway 190 around 8:50 Thursday morning when the incident took place…:
CUT 6 (07) “multiple times”
They say a motive is unclear at this time. The deputy is listed in stable but guarded condition at a local hospital.

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 and he hadn’t heard from his mom since Saturday…:
CUT 9 (04) “she had not”
They are very concerned and asking for the public’s help in this case.

Will social media play a large role in the 2016 presidential election? UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross believes it will. Cross thinks social media works better in targeting than just about any other approach…:
cut 11 (07) “using this method”
Senator Marco Rubio’s campaign announcement was shared thousands of times on Facebook.

The Pelicans are in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2011 after last night’s 108-103 win over San Antonio. The Pels will face Golden State in a first round best-of-seven series beginning Saturday. The Pelicans scored 34-points in the first quarter and head coach Monty Williams says that came as a surprise…:
CUT 3 (07) “bench was great”
Games one and two will be played in Oakland before coming to New Orleans for games three and four next Thursday and Saturday.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s office says one of it’s deputies has been shot in an apparent ambush. They say the deputy was directing traffic in a Paradis school zone when he was shot multiple times. There is a suspect in custody. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

BESE unanimously approves a process that will be used to review the state’s controversial Common Core academic standards. President Chas Roemer says the goal is to improve current standards where necessary instead of rewriting them. He says the key to this process is to make sure they have people who actually use Common Core participating…:
CUT 7 (10) “for our state”
The Louisiana Association of Educators say they hope the Standards Committee is made up of experienced and qualified teachers.

Governor Bobby Jindal and Dallas-based Monster Moto announce the company will establish a headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ruston. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office continues to search for a missing woman whose vehicle was found intentionally set on fire and destroyed. They say 54-year-old Taherah Ghassemi was reported missing by her son on Monday and hadn’t heard from his mom since Saturday. Investigators aren’t saying much about what happened over the weekend, but are very concerned and are asking for the public’s help.

As we look ahead to the 2016 presidential election, how big of a roll will social media play? Scott Carwile reports…

cut 3 (29) “reporting”

The Thibodaux Police Department has arrested a man after they found him trying to conceal stolen hubcaps under his shirt. When officers responded to a call about a suspicious person, they found 40-year-old James Myers attempting to hide four hubcaps he had allegedly stolen from decommissioned police cars. During questioning, Myers told officers he was homeless and planned to sell the hubcaps. Myers is charged with felony theft.

BESE unanimously approves a process that will set up a Standards Committee to review the state’s controversial Common Core academic standards. Louisiana Association of Educators President Debbie Meaux says they would like to see a majority of the committee staffed by classroom teachers…

cut 9 (09) “in education”

BESE President Chas Roemer says at least half of the 26-member Standards Committee will be made up of current Louisiana, district and school-based educators.

The non-profit group Oceana has filed a lawsuit against the federal government in an attempt to protect sea turtles from shrimp trawl nets. Oceana Marine Scientist Amanda Keledjian says only 1 percent of the Southeast shrimp trawl fishery’s fleet is monitored for sea turtle by catch in recent years. She says they are named as one of the most wasteful — throwing out almost two-thirds of what they catch and killing tens of thousands of sea turtles every year…

cut 15 (08) “we’re doing this”

The suit alleges that the Endangered Species Act is being violated.

In a unanimous vote, BESE approves a process that will be used to review the state’s controversial Common Core academic standards. Michelle Southern reports…:

cut 2 (31) “reporting”

The Pelicans are playoff bound for the first time since 2011 after last night’s 108-103 win over defending NBA Champion San Antonio. Anthony Davis had another monster performance scoring 31 and pulling down 13 rebounds. The Pelicans begin their first round best-of-seven series against Golden State this Saturday at 2:30. It will be televised on ABC.

UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross believes social media will play a big role in the 2016 presidential election. He says social media is a great way to get out positive feel-good messages, but it’s also effective in spreading negative messages as well. He says you’ll see a combination of both as the presidential race gets going…

cut 12 (08) “bad messages”

Governor Bobby Jindal and Dallas-based Monster Moto, a youth oriented vehicle manufacturer, announce the company will establish a headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ruston. Construction on the facility will begin in June and operations are expected to begin by the end of the year. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says Monster Moto is a company that really fits in the community…

cut 5 (07) “City of Ruston”

Monster Moto’s move will create 287 direct jobs for north Louisiana over the next decade.

Oceana files a lawsuit against the federal government seeking to protect sea turtles from shrimp trawl nets. Oceana Marine Scientist Amanda Keledjian says they want the enforcement and strengthening of the use of turtle excluder devices which she says are 97% effective…

cut 14 (09) “these devices”

The suit alleges that the Endangered Species Act is being violated as 53,000 endangered sea turtles are allowed to be killed every year off the Louisiana coast.

BESE unanimously approves a process that will be used to review the state’s controversial Common Core academic standards. President Chas Roemer says this is not about being pro or anti-Common Core, it’s about finding out what should be expected of children who are learning…

cut 8 (09) “in mathematics”

Roemer says at least half of the 26-member Standards Committee will be made up of current Louisiana, district and school-based educators.

Governor Bobby Jindal and Dallas-based Monster Moto announce the company will establish a headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ruston. The project includes a $4 million investment to build a 100,000 square foot facility at the former site of Ruston’s municipal airport. Mayor Ronny Walker says this is a big deal for Ruston…

cut 4 (07) “to come here”

Monster Moto manufactures minibikes, go-carts, and other youth oriented vehicles.

Will social media play a large role in the 2016 presidential election? UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross believes it will. Cross thinks social media works better in targeting people better than just about any other approach…

cut 11 (07) “using this method”

Senator Marco Rubio’s campaign announcement was shared thousands of times on Facebook.

BESE unanimously approves a process that will be used to review the state’s controversial Common Core academic standards. President Chas Roemer says the goal is to improve current standards where necessary instead of rewriting them. He says the key to this process is to make sure they have people who actually use Common Core participating…

cut 7 (10) “for our state”

Roemer says the public will have the opportunity to review and provide input on every standard, and all related meetings will be open to all.

As we look ahead to the 2016 presidential election, how big of a roll will social media play? Both Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz used Twitter to announce they were running. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says you should expect social media to play a major role…

cut 10 (06) “in the campaign”

He says President Obama showed the importance of social media in his 2008 campaign.

Oceana has filed a lawsuit against the federal government in an attempt to protect sea turtles from shrimp trawl nets. The suit alleges that the Endangered Species Act is being violated as 53,000 endangered sea turtles are allowed to be killed every year in the Southeast Shrimp Trawl Fishery off the Louisiana coast. Oceana Marine Scientist Amanda Keledjian…

cut 13 (11) “throughout the fishery”

A turtle excluder device allows a captured sea turtle to escape when they are caught in a fisherman’s net.

There was a large gathering of over 100 college students gathered on the steps of the state capitol today to rally against proposed budget cuts to public universities. Those students were joined by a handful of lawmakers who support their efforts, like Winnfield Senator Gerald Long, whose district includes Northwestern State and LSU-Alexandria…
CUT 14 (09) Q: “failed you”
Nearly all of the state’s colleges were represented.

A Pro-Common Core organization called Alliance For Better Classrooms used a visual aid to lawmakers today in the form of mythical beast. Pink and white stuffed unicorns were distributed to show lawmakers that fear about Common Core is not reality either. The attention getter was made in the middle of a very hotly contested issue for this session.
—————————
Natchitoches Police say the assistant principal at Frankie Ray Jackson Senior Technical Center is under arrest for allegedly paddling a teacher. Captain Chris Payne says they got the complaint in February that a female teacher at the school had a battery committed upon her…:
CUT 6 (07) “Vogel”
The 64 year-old administrator was arrested on simple battery and released on $303 dollar bond.

A transgender Lake Charles man has filed a federal sex discrimination lawsuit against his former employer. 21-year-old Tristan Broussard alleges he was fired from Tower Loan last year when it was discovered he used to be a woman…
CUT 3 (10) “sex discrimination”
That’s one of Broussard’s attorneys, Amy Whelan (WAY-lan).

Over 100 college students gathered on the steps of the state capitol today to rally against proposed budget cuts to higher education.…
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

Republican Senator David Vitter is holding a gubenatorial campaign fundraising event tonight in New Orleans, and is a very recognizeable name scheduled to show up on stage with him. Florida Governor-a potential presidential candidate-has announced his endorsement of Vitter. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie have also announced their support.
——————————
The ACLU of Louisiana is calling on the candidates for Governor to address the state’s massive incarceration problem. Executive Director Marjorie Esman says the all of the gubernatorial candidates are talking about more about fixing the state’s budget problem, and overlooking a serious crisis…:
CUT 9 (06) “in the world”
She says she’s hopes the subject will be addressed.

A federal sex discrimination lawsuit has been filed by a transgender Lake Charles man against his former employer. Twenty-one-year-old Tristan Broussard alleges he was fired from Tower Loan last year when it was discovered he used to be a woman. Attorney Amy Whelan (WAY-lan), says they are open to settling, and turning this into a positve…
CUT 5 (11) Q: “What they did”
A Tower Loan spokesman says they do not comment on personnel issues or issues involving pending litigation.

Higher ed faces huge budget cuts due to a $1.6 billion budget shortfall for the legislative session, and dozens of students are speaking out at the state capital. Jesse Elliot of LSU-Alexandria says funding for higher education has been on the chopping block for the last eight years and the state must establish stable funding for colleges and universities…
cut 13 (11) “eight years ago”
Another student called it “theft of the future”

Monster Moto, which is a motorcycle assembly company has announced they will be construct a new facility in Ruston, that will build go-carts and minibikes. They also announced the relocation of their corporate offices from Dallas to Ruston, as well.
———————————-
The ACLU is letting their voices be heard about the state’s massive incarceration rate, and how important that is to discuss in the upcoming governor’s race…
CUT 11 (10) Q; ‘not the last”
That’s ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman, who says Louisiana wastes millions in tax dollars paying for inmates who pose little to no threat to our society and believes small offenses would be better addressed by other means.

Natchitoches Police say the assistant principal at Frankie Ray Jackson Senior Technical Center is under arrest for allegedly paddling a teacher. Captain Chris Payne says they got the complaint in February regarding a female teacher at the school, that lead to the arrest of 64-year-old Hugo Vogel of Goldonna. Captain Chris Payne says the are looking for any additional information in the case…
CUT 8 (04) Q: ‘kept confidential”

About 100 college students gathered on the steps of the state capitol today to rally against proposed budget cuts to public universities. nearly all of Louisiana’s colleges were represented and many held up signs that said “No Funding No Future.” David Teagle, with UNO, says these cuts equate to the theft to the future of Louisiana…:
CUT 12 (12) “currently go to”
Higher ed faces huge budget cuts due to a $1.6 billion dollar budget shortfall.

Today is tax day and if you haven’t filed yet officials with the IRS are sending out reminders that you have to at least file electronically by midnight. They say if you need an extension you can get one for 6 months but taxes owed from 2014 are absolutely due today. You can get tips and also FAQs online at IRS.gov.

An assistant principal in Natchitoches Parish is under arrest after accusations surfaced he paddled a teacher on her backside. Captain Chris Payne says they got the complaint in February and after an investigation it was determined that 64-year-old Hugo Vogel of Goldonna had paddled a teacher at Jackson Senior Technical Center…:
CUT 7 (08) “Goldonna, Louisiana”
Vogel was booked for simple battery and was later released on $303 bond.

The ACLU of Louisiana is calling on the candidates for Governor to address the state’s massive incarceration problem. Executive Director Marjorie Esman says we are the world’s incarceration leader, jailing more people per capita than any place on earth. She says this puts us in a terrible position of being the world’s largest incarcerator…:
CUT 10 (10) “huge amount of money”