Parks Senator Fred Mills is sponsoring legislation this session that looks at ways to change the way public school teachers are evaluated. Michelle Southern reports…:

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

State Police say an Opelousas man is dead after a fatal accident in St. Landry Parish. They say 38-year-old Herbert Rideau was driving early Sunday morning when his truck ran off the road, traveled through a lot, and struck an unoccupied 18-wheeler. Rideau was not restrained and was pronounced dead at the scene. Toxicology tests are pending and the investigation is ongoing.

31-year-old Brandon Eirick of Baton Rouge is scheduled to be sentenced today for allegedly shooting up his girlfriend, 31-year old Leah Hutchinson, with a fatal injection of heroin in 2013. Eirick pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in this case. Legal analyst Tim Meche says since cases like this are not unusual, the sentencing judge will be able to use prior judgement to help determine Eirick’s sentence…

cut 6 (05) “guided by that”

Meche says Eirick faces up to 10 years in prison.

A Shreveport lawmaker feels the state legislature should look at not only generating revenue, but also tax incentives in trying to shrink the state’s $1.6 billion budget deficit. The film industry is the recipient of one of the state’s largest tax credits. Democratic Representative Patrick Williams says, while it’s good to have movies being made in Louisiana, lawmakers should consider restructuring this incentive…

cut 9 (06) “support it”

Williams says some of these incentives are not paying dividends back to the state.

State Senator Fred Mills is sponsoring legislation that attempts to change the way public school teachers are evaluated. Currently educator performance is determined by students’ standardized test results. He says this measure would take things back to the way they used to be when it comes to checking out how a teacher is doing…:

cut 14 (07) “set for the student”

Mills says his bill seeks to make a teacher’s job performance more accurately measured.

Sentencing is scheduled today for 31-year-old Brandon Eirick of Baton Rouge, who allegedly shot up his girlfriend, 31-year old Leah Hutchinson, with a fatal injection of heroin in 2013. Eirick was originally charged with second degree murder in this case, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of negligent homicide in October. Meche says this case is clearly a homicide case and not a murder…

cut 5 (03) “present, here”

Meche says Eirick faces up to 10 years in prison on the charge.

Shreveport Democratic Representative Patrick Williams feels the state legislature should look at different options in trying to shrink the state’s tremendous budget deficit. Williams says the state not only needs to generate additional revenue, but lawmakers should also take a look at tax incentives. He says some of these are not paying dividends back to the state…

cut 8 (07) “from them”

He says a hike on cigarette and alcohol taxes can raise funds for the state quickly.

This week is National Work Zone Awareness Week. State Department of Transportation and Development spokesman Rodney Mallett says since 2013 in Louisiana there’s been about 580 people who have lost their lives in work zones…

cut 11 (08) “lose their lives”

Mallett says this is about bringing attention to the fact that safety should be a top priority through road construction areas.

A Shreveport lawmaker feels the state legislature should look at different options in trying to shrink the state’s $1.6 billion budget deficit. Democratic Representative Patrick Williams says it’s clear that the state needs to generate additional revenue. The House Ways and Means Committee member says a hike on cigarette and alcohol taxes is one way the state can raise funds quickly…

cut 7 (04) “point in time”

The representative also feels that lawmakers should take a closer look at tax incentives offered by the state to shrink the budget gap.

Republican State Senator Fred Mills is sponsoring legislation this session that looks at ways to change the way public school teachers are evaluated. Currently educator effectiveness is determined by students’ standardized test results. Mills says his bill seeks to make a teacher’s job performance more accurately measured…

cut 13 (06) “quantitative measurement”

Mills says he is speaking for this bill on behalf of constituents in his area who tell him that the value added assessment model is not a valid measurement tool.

The state Department of Transportation and Development is taking part in National Work Zone Awareness Week which runs through Friday. DOTD spokesman Rodney Mallett says this is about bringing attention to the fact that safety should be a top priority through road construction areas.

cut 10 (11) “rules of the road”

Mallett says since 2013 in Louisiana there’s been about 580 people who have lost their lives in work zones. He says there are so many things inside vehicles these days that it’s more important than ever to put distractions aside when you’re behind the wheel.

Police are investigating the case of a man who walked into the New Orleans airport wielding a machete and slashing at TSA officers while spraying them with bug spray before being shot several times. The Jefferson Parish sheriff’s office say a TSA officer and traveler sustained non-life threatening injuries apparently from pullets fired at the suspect by a sheriff’s deputy. The man, 62-year-old Richard White of Kenner, is in serious condition at a hospital.

It’s been pouring rain in most parts of northwest Louisiana and a flash flood watch remains in effect for the region until at tomorrow afternoon. Michael Berry with the National Weather Service in Slidell says this rain is hitting already saturated ground…:
CUT 5 (07) “through the weekend”
Berry says they’re expecting rainfall amounts of two to four inches, with some areas possibly getting six inches of rain.

The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival poster is getting a lot of attention this year as some are calling it beautiful art and others feel it’s offensive and racist. The painting depicts two black children surrounded by strawberries. Festival spokeswoman Shelley Matherne says art is subjective and interpretive…:
CUT 9 (04) “strawberry industry”
But the Greater NAACP of Tangipahoa Parish says the poster is a reminder of blackface performers and is offensive and distasteful.

A small adjustment was made by the Louisiana Board of Ethics which would let lobbyists spend a little more wining and dining state lawmakers starting July 1. The cap had been $58 dollars on food and drink for a public official per occasion, and the approval next fiscal year was a cap of $60.

Cops say a man walked into the New Orleans Airport last night and slashed at TSA officers with a machete and sprayed them with wasp spray before he was shot several times by a Jefferson Parish Sheriff deputy on duty. They have no idea why 62-year-old Richard White, a cab driver, went on this rage. He underwent surgery last night and his condition is unknown at this time.

The NAACP of Tangipahoa Parish has called a meeting with the mayor and chief of police regarding the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival poster which they feel is offensive and racist. The painting depicts two faceless black children. Festival spokeswoman Shelley Matherne says the artist’s intent was to pay tribute to the annual event and southern heritage…:
CUT 11 (06) “and laughter”
Some on social media say the painting is beautiful. Others say they will boycott the festival unless the poster stops being sold immediately.

According to state officials, Louisiana casinos brought in $224.1 million dollars last month which is 6.8 percent higher than February the year before. Casino Association Executive Director Wade Duty says while the revenues are up, this isn’t an accurate year-to-year comparison because of the mid-December opening of the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles…:
CUT 12 (10) “being reported”
He says the big gains can also be attributed to lower gas prices as more out of state gamblers head in.

Former New Orleans Saints Safety Darren Sharper has cut a deal on charges he drugged and raped women in four states. The Orleans DA office says details of the deal have not been made public. A news release says Sharper is also pleading guilty to charges in three other states and federal charges. There should be more information available Monday.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating a bizarre case in which a man wielding a machete slashed at TSA officers at the New Orleans Airport and also sprayed them with wasp spray before being shot by a deputy on duty at the time. They say 62-year-old Richard White of Kenner, whom they don’t believe was traveling, is at a hospital and his condition is unknown at this time.

There is a flood warning in place until further notice in most areas of northwest Louisiana as the area gets pounded with rain. There is a flash flood watch in effect through 1pm Sunday. Meteorologist Michael Berry weekend showers and thunderstorms will bring a significant amount of rainfall to the area…
CUT 4 (11) “six inch amounts”
He says flooding is entirely possible as the ground was already saturated once it started raining.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office says the body of a man –who is believed to have killed his wife and 12 year-old son nearly a year ago–was been pulled from the Mississippi River Thursday. Eleven months ago, 45 year-old Ronald Green Sr. called someone and said he had killed his wife and son and planned to jump off the Mississippi River Bridge.

The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting death of two horses in Bertrandville. Assumption Parish Sheriff Mike Waguespack says deputies discovered the animals in their stable on the ground, who had been shot multiple times at close range…
cut 7 (09) Q: “shoots them”
He says this is one of the worst cases of animal cruelty he’s ever seen. They are offering a $1500 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for northwest Louisiana through most of the weekend. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

An small adjustment was made by the Louisiana Board of Ethics which would let lobbyists spend a little more wining and dining state lawmakers starting July 1. The cap had been $58 dollars on food and drink for a public official per occasion, and the approval next fiscal year was a cap of $60.

The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office says a $1500 reward is now being offered for information on the case of the shooting deaths of two horses in Bertrandville. Sheriff Mike Waguespack says they were contacted by the owner after he discovered his horses lying on the ground. Waguespack says when officers arrived they found that the two horses had been shot multiple times…:
CUT 6 (08) “gunshot wounds”
The other horse had to be put down. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact authorities.

The 2015 Poncatoula Strawberry Festival Poster is being called racist by some, and beautiful by others. The Tangipahoa NAACP says the painting depicting faceless black children is offensive and they are calling for it to stop being sold immediately. Strawberry Festival spokesperson Shelley Matherne says the depiction is meant to build a bridge between cultures:
CUT 10 (07) “she is everybody”

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for northwest Louisiana through most of the weekend. The watch will remain in effect through Sunday morning. Meteorologist Michael Berry says scattered showers began moving into the area this morning…
CUT 3 (08) “Saturday night”
Berry says the flooding potential will no be helped by current ground conditions that are already soaked.

The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting death of two horses in Bertrandville, as deputies discover two horses in their stable on the ground, who had been shot multiple times at close range…
cut 7 (09) Q: “shoots them”
That’s Assumption Parish Sheriff Mike Waguespack, who says they are offering a $15 hundred dollar reward for information that leads to an arrest.

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The Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival poster is getting a lot of attention this year as some are calling it beautiful art and others feel it’s racist. The painting depicts two faceless black children surrounded by strawberries. Festival spokeswoman Shelley Matherne says art is subjective and interpretive…:
CUT 9 (04) “strawberry industry”
But the Greater NAACP of Tangipahoa Parish says the poster is a reminder of blackface performers and is offensive and distasteful.

Year-to-year numbers from state officials show Louisiana casinos brought in $224.1 million dollars last month which is 6.8 percent higher than February the year before. Casino Association Executive Director Wade Duty says part of the reason for the big gains can be attributed to the lower gas prices…:
CUT 13 (09) Q: ‘increase visits’
Another factor is the opening the new Golden Nugget that just opened in Lake Charles.

The LSU Basketball loss last night in the NCAA Tournament was a tough one for all. The Bayou Bengals blew a 16-point lead and fell 66-65 to North Carolina State. Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey each posted double-doubles, but Mickey was four of nine from the free throw line and missed a lay-up with 22 seconds left that would have given LSU a three-point lead. Martin finished with 16 points in what could be his last game as a Tiger…:
CUT 19 (10) “great shot”
LSU’s leading scorer was Tim Quarterman, who had 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Former New Orleans Saints Safety Darren Sharper has cut a deal on charges he drugged and raped women in four states. The Orleans DA office says details of the deal have not been made public. A news release says Sharper is also pleading guilty to charges in three other states and federal charges. There should be more information available Monday.

Some people are calling the new Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival poster beautiful art, while others feel it’s offensive and racist. The poster shows two faceless black children surrounded by strawberries. The controversy seems to have put the poster in high demand and the Ponchatoula Kiwanis Club had to order more. Festival spokesperson Shelley Matherne says the artist’s intent was to pay tribute to the festival and southern heritage…:
cut 11 (06) “and laughter”
Some on social media are saying they will boycott the festival because of the poster and others are calling for it to stop being sold.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office says the body of a man –who is believed to have killed his wife and 12 year-old son nearly a year ago–was been pulled from the Mississippi River Thursday. Eleven months ago, 45 year-old Ronald Green Sr. called someone and said he had killed his wife and son and planned to jump off the Mississippi River Bridge.
======================
The first day of Spring in northwest Louisiana has rain moving in and staying in place through much of the weekend. With the forecast of two to four inches, the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch in the region because the rain that will be hitting an already saturated ground…
CUT 5 (07) Q: “through the weekend’
That’s Meterologist Michael Berry.

The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting death of two horses in Bertrandville. Sheriff Mike Waguespack says the horses were found by the owner in their stable, and detectives discovered they had been shot multiple times at close range…
CUT 8 (07) Q: “animal cruelty”
Waguespack says they are working on this case with agriculture and livestock investigators to get to the bottom of it. He adds that reward will be offered in this case soon.