The legislative session ends in a week and lawmakers are struggling to send a revenue-neutral budget to Governor Bobby Jindal. Jeff Palermo has more…

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Governor Jindal travels to Caddo and Bossier Parishes today to meet with local officials and survey response efforts due to the rising waters of the Red River. The river is currently over four feet above flood stage and some flooding has impacted the area. The Red River is expected to crest at 35.5 feet Saturday afternoon, possibly into Saturday evening.

In Louisiana Radio Network’s continuing gubernatorial Q&A, we asked the candidates how they would reform the Medicaid program and would they accept federal dollars so more uninsured people can receive coverage? Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says he would work to convince the federal government to change the rules so we can begin considering expanding Medicaid…

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All four major candidates’ responses can be found online at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

Lafayette Police arrested a woman after the discovery of an infant’s body that had been in a box for 14 years in a storage unit. Fifty-seven-year-old Rebecca Landry was booked into Lafayette Parish Jail for the death of the child. Corporal Nicole Benoit says Landry spoke with detectives, but the details of that conversation are private….

cut 11 (08) “murder”

Through their investigation, detectives determined that the infant had been in the box since 2001.

The third Louisiana Radio Network Gubernatorial Question of the Week asked the candidates, “As Governor, how would you reform the Medicaid program? Would you accept federal dollars so more uninsured people can receive coverage?” US Senator David Vitter says the only way he’d consider accepting the federal dollars is if programs were reformed through private coverage or some other model…

cut 14 (11) “receive help”

Louisiana’s gubernatorial primary is October 24th.

With a week left in the 2015 legislative session, there are questions whether the legislature can pass a budget that will NOT be vetoed by Governor Bobby Jindal. Jeremy Alford, with la-politics-dot-com, says if Jindal does veto the budget, we could see an override veto session…

cut 8 (08) “veto override”

He says the legislature is struggling with putting together a spending plan that’s revenue neutral, which the governor has requested.

Lafayette Police arrested a woman for second-degree murder after the discovery of an infant’s body that had been in a storage unit for 14 years . Corporal Nicole Benoit says police were notified after a man who purchased the storage unit discovered the body in a box.

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Fifty-seven-year-old Rebecca Landry was booked into Lafayette Parish Jail for the death of the child.

Tickets to see Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans go on sale this morning at 10am and are expected to go fast. General manager Alan Freeman says they’ll be drawing Garth fans from all over the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and western Florida…

cut 5 (10) “for the city”

You can online buy tickets online at ticketmaster.com

There’s a week left in the 2015 legislative session and there’s great uncertainty over whether the legislature can pass a budget that will NOT be vetoed by Governor Bobby Jindal. Jeremy Alford, with la-politics-dot-com, says the legislature is struggling with putting together a spending plan that’s revenue neutral, which the governor has requested…

cut 7 (06) “modern times”

He says if Jindal does veto the budget, we could see an override veto session.

This is the third Louisiana Radio Network Gubernatorial Question of the Week. We asked, “As Governor, how would you reform the Medicaid program? Would you accept federal dollars so more uninsured people can receive coverage?” Democratic State Representative John Bel Edwards says in Louisiana, Medicaid expansion would benefit 290,000 working poor people…

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The responses of all four major candidates can be found at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

Tickets to the Garth Brooks/Trisha Yearwood shows in New Orleans go on sale this morning at 10am. The couple will be performing in Louisiana for the first time in 18 years on July 10th and 11th at the Smoothie King Center. General manager Alan Freeman says they expect tickets to go fast…

cut 4 (10) “the other cities”

The tickets, including fees, are $74.98 each and will only be sold online at ticketmaster-dot-com.

Dr. Willie Larkin has been selected as the next president of Grambling State University. Larkin received a unanimous vote of the University of Louisiana System Board. Most recently, Larkin served as chief of staff in the Office of the President at Morgan State University in Baltimore.

The senate and now the house has approved legislation that paves way for people who suffer from cancer, glaucoma and a severe form of cerebral palsy to receive medical marijuana legally in Louisiana. The bill passed on a vote of 70-29 in the House. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno…
cut 12 (08) “…and need it”
The bill establishes where medical marijuana will be dispensed and where it will be grown and who will handle the production of the medicine. But Leesville Representative James Armes expressed skeptism…
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Moreno added more amendments to the bill, in an attempt to calm fears that the growing of medicial marijuana in Louisiana could lead to criminal activity. The legislation heads back to the Senate for final approval and then to the governor, who has indicated he’ll sign it.

Officials with the “Hollywood South” movie industry are apprehensive about changes made by the Senate Finance Committee to a bill that reforms the film tax credit program. The committee lowered the cap for film tax credits from $200 million to $180 million. Louisiana film industry consultant, Sherri McConnell, says this causes concern about projects already in the pipeline, as well as the future growth of the industry…:
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She says this is not promising legislation for the film industry on many levels.

There’s a week left in the legislative session and there’s great uncertainty over whether the legislature can pass a budget that will NOT be vetoed by Governor Bobby Jindal. Jeremy Alford, with la-politics-dot-com, says the legislature is struggling with putting together a spending plan that’s revenue neutral, which the governor has requested..
cut 7 (06) “…modern times”
He says if Jindal does veto the budget, we could see an override veto session.

The House votes to legalize the use of non-smoking medical marijuana this afternoon, but not without concerns being expressed from the house floor. But New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says-not to worry- the bill has very tight controls with patient benefits.
cut 14(10) “that option”

About 175 thousand sandbags have been distributed to fight the rising waters of the Red River. Floodwaters are approaching some neighborhoods in Caddo and Bossier Parish and those residents are being encouraged to evacuate…
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That’s Marty Mayeaux, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, who adds there will be flooding downriver as well after Saturday.
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The Louisiana National Guard says an investigation has determined that pilot error was the cause of the Black Hawk Helicopter crash which claimed the lives of four guardsman and 7 Marines in March. Col Pete Schneider says spatial disorientation of both pilots caused them to lose control of the aircraft…:
CUT 3 (10) “off of instruments”

The film tax credit bill revisions made by the Senate Finance Committee is the target of criticism from some “Hollywood South” officials. The committee lowered the cap by 20 million, and gutted the local incentives portion of the bill by Lafayette Representative Joel Robideaux. Louisiana film industry consultant, Sherri McConnell says lawmakers should have a better grasp of the measure’s intent…
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This afternoon, the full House approves legislation that sets up rules and regulations for the dispensing of non-smoking medical marijuana in Louisiana. The bill by State Senator Fred Mills establishes rules about production, distribution, and dispencing the medicine. But Leesville Representative James Armes expressed skeptism…
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Revisions to the film tax credit bill made by the Senate Finance Committee is receiving a lot of concern from local movie officials. The committee lowered the cap from 200 to 180 million, and gutted the portion of the bill by Lafayette Representative Joel Robideaux that provided incentives to build the film industry…
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That’s Louisiana film industry consultant, Sherri McConnell.
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Pilot error is the investigation ruling from the crash of a Black Hawk Helicopter off the coast of Florida in March that killed 11, including 4 from the Louisiana National Guard. Colonel Pete Schneider says the pilots failed to transition from visual to instrument flight in heavy fog…
CUT 5 (07) Q: “can be prevented again”
He says 30 percent of all aviation crashes are due to spatial disorientation.

The Red River is still rising in North Louisiana, and is now expected to crest at 35.5 feet Saturday in Shreveport. That’s five and a half feet above flood stage, and Marty Mayeaux from the National Weather Service says the waters are beginning to affect some areas of Shreveport right now…
CUT 7 (08) Q: “entire area”
About 175 thousand sandbags have been distributed in the area.

The use of medical marijuana has passed the House. The bill by State Senator Fred Mills-carried to the house by Helena Marino-will establish guidelines and criteria for the NON-smoking use of medical marijuana. The vote this afternoon was 70-29, but Livingston Representative Sherman Mack voted against it…
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As of Thursday morning, the Red River reached flood stage in Shreveport. At 33.9 feet, it’s the first time the river was that high in 25 years. Marty Mayeaux with the National Weather Service says the Red will continue to rise in North Louisiana through Saturday, then affect more areas downriver…
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Roughly 175 thousand sandbags have been delivered to the region.
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The Louisiana National Guard says pilot error was the cause of the Black Hawk Helicopter crash which claimed the lives of four guardsman and 7 Marines in March. Michelle Southern reports..:
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A woman from Lafayette is under arrest for 2nd degree murder, after a man discovered a dead baby’s body in a box from a storage unit he purchased. Lafayette Police say fifty-seven year-old Rebecca Landry confessed to the crime, saying the infant died in 2001. Landry is being booked into the Lafayette Parish Jail.

The full House is currently discussing legislation that sets up rules and regulations for the dispensing of medical marijuana in Louisiana. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says under the proposed law, a patient who suffers from glaucoma, cancer or cerebral palsy will have the option of using medicinal marijuana in a pill form…:
CUT 12 (08) “and need it”
Opponents argue that this bill would send the wrong message and is a step towards legalizting pot for recreational use.

The Louisiana National Guard says an investigation has determined the cause of the Black Hawk Helicopter crash which claimed the lives of four guardsman and 7 Marines in March was pilot error. Col Pete Schneider with LANG says the pilots became disoriented when not following proper training procedure of removing night vision goggles. He says an 30% of all aviation accidents are caused by this and an important result of this investigation is to let everyone know what happened.

The rising waters of the Red River are causing some Caddo and Bossier Parish residents to be driven from their homes. Eric Gill reports…:
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Vermilion Parish narcotics agents arrested four people and rescued two babies after discovering a meth lab at an Abbeville home. When arriving at the home of Jody and Kimberly Wooten, authorities noticed a smell they immediately related to methamphetamine production. Agents discovered a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old inside the home and removed them. The Wootens and two others, Sondra Evans and Brittney Adkins, were arrested on drug charges.

Officials with the “Hollywood South” movie industry are apprehensive about changes made by the Senate Finance Committee to a bill that reforms the film tax credit program. The committee lowered the cap for film tax credits from $200 million to $180 million. Louisiana film industry consultant, Sherri McConnell, says this causes concern about projects already in the pipeline, as well as the future growth of the industry…:
CUT 9 (09) “increased production”
She says this is not promising legislation for the film industry on many levels.

State Revenue Secretary Tim Barfield says there’s a greater possibility Governor Jindal will veto the budget, if a tax credit for higher education is NOT approved by the legislature. Barfield says the SAVE tax credit is needed to offset the revenue generating tax bills already approved by the House. The measure failed on a 10-9 vote in the House Ways and Means Committee, but was revived, when it was added to three different bills approved by the Senate Finance Committee.

Legislation that would put spending restrictions on the TOPS scholarship program is headed to Governor Bobby Jindal’s desk. The Governor’s office is not saying whether or not the measure will get the veto pen although they have expressed objection to major changes to the TOPS scholarship program in the past.

The Louisiana National Guard says pilot error was the cause of the fatal Black Hawk helicopter crash off the Florida coast in March. Col Pete Schneider with LANG says the pilots got spatial disorientation which was due to them failing to transition from visual flight procedures to instrument flight as a thick sea of fog rolled into the training area…:
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Four Louisiana National Guardsmen and seven Marines were killed in the crash.

The Louisiana National Guard says an investigation has determined the cause of the Black Hawk Helicopter crash which claimed the lives of four local guardsman and 7 Marines in March was pilot error. Col Pete Schneider with LANG says spatial disorientation of both pilots caused them to lose control of the aircraft…:
CUT 3 (10) “off of instruments”
He says an important part of this investigation is to share what happened so that tragic accidents like this can be prevented in the future.

Grambling State University has narrowed its Presidential search down to two candidates. It will either be Gilbert Rochon, who serves on the President’s Council at UNO, or Willie Larkin, who works as chief of staff for the President of Morgan State University. The final interviews are taking place at this hour and a new president of GSU will be announced this afternoon.

The rising waters of the Red River are causing some Caddo and Bossier Parish residents to be driven from their homes. Floodwaters are approaching some neighborhoods and those residents are being encouraged to evacuate. Marty Mayeaux, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says the river is continuing to swell…:
CUT 6 (07) “Saturday evening”
NWS says this is the first time the river has reached flood stage in Shreveport in 25 years.

A deputy with the Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office is under arrest after being found with a large amount of marijuana in his vehicle. State Police Sgt. James Anderson says investigators searched the truck of 28-year-old Derek Nothnagel of Lake Charles and ended up finding about 18 pounds of marijuana in a duffle bag. He says Nothnagel faces numerous charges…
cut 15 (08) “inspection decal”
Nothnagel was fired from his job as a deputy.