Legislative leaders tell the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry that they’ll push to reform the state’s lawsuit climate in an effort to lower auto insurance rates. The Senate stymied tort reform efforts last year, but Senate President Page Cortez doesn’t expect that to be the case this year
Cut 7 (11) “…on it.”
The legislative session begins on March 9th.

The state legislative auditor recommends that the Louisiana Legislature should implement a water management plan to keep the state’s aquifers from running dry, or falling prey to saltwater intrusion. Audit Manager Gina Brown says water is a valuable resource and the state should not take it for granted…
Cut 13 (10) “…resources.”
Water depletion has increased 63 percent nationwide since 1951, and 579 percent since 59’ for the Gulf Coast region.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for parishes in north Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says an additonal one to three inches of rainfall are possible in a short amount of time this afternoon and into tonight especially in northeast Louisiana…
cut 6 (05) “….top of it”
Once this cold front moves through, we’ll see a big drop in the temperature.

The 2012 disappearance of 15-year-old Keiosha Felix will be featured tonight on the Investigation Discovery Show “In Pursuit with John Walsh,” which airs at 9 PM. Keiosha was last seen at her aunt’s home in the Lafayette Parish town of Duson. Show Producer Michelle Sigona says they’ll have investigators standing by at their hotline and it’s produced results before…
cut 11 (13) “…missing child side”
If you have information on Keiosha’s whereabouts call or text 1-833-3-PURSUE.

New Senate President Page Cortez says the legislature is ready to tackle tort reform in the upcoming legislative session as Republican lawmakers seek to change the legal climate to reduce the number of lawsuits against insurance companies. But trial lawyers have historically been major funders in Louisiana politics and stand to lose work if proposed jury trial limits pass. Cortez says he’s not concerned their cash will derail the effort.
Cut 8 (06) “…wants.”
The session begins on March ninth.

The story of Keiosha Felix, a 15-year-old who vanished in 2012 from Duson, gets the national spotlight tonight on the show “In Pursuit with John Walsh,” which airs on Investigation Discovery. Show producer Michelle Sigona says authorities believe Keiosha is still alive…
Cut 10 (13) “…someone knows something.”
The show airs at 9 PM.

Gulf Coast aquifer usage is up 578 percent from 1951 and the Legislative Auditor is calling for a plan to protect the future of one of Louisiana’s most valuable resources…
Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.

A large fireball lit up the nighttime sky over the ExxonMobil refinery in north Baton Rouge last night. But firefighters say the blaze did not result in any injuries and the fire was contained in the location where it started. ExxonMobil says it’s monitoring air quality at the fence line.

The new Senate President tells the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry he’s optimistic the legislature can pass tort reform legislation this year that supporters say will result in fewer lawsuits against businesses…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A large portion of the state from Monroe down to Lake Charles and all of south Louisiana is under a marginal risk for severe weather today. State Climatologist Barry Keim….
cut 4 (08) “…across the state”
Shreveport and Monroe can see over an inch of rain today.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office releases a report that alerts legislative leaders the state is not doing enough to manage its water resources. Audit Manager Gina Brown says strain on the state’s aquifers is growing, with 49 percent of current usage going to energy production, 25 percent to industry, and 12 percent heading to irrigation.
Cut 14 (07) “…aquifer”
The report urges lawmakers to develop a comprehensive water management plan.

The Investigation Discovery Show “In Pursuit with John Walsh” will feature the 2012 disappearance of Keiosha Felix tonight at nine o’clock. Felix was 15-years-old when she vanished from the Lafayette Parish town of Duson. Producer Michelle Sigona hopes tonight’s show will result in new tips…
cut 12 (09) “…you can offer”
If you have information on Keiosha’s whereabouts call or text 1-833-3-PURSUE.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office has released a report raising concerns about a decline water levels because of drought or over-pumping, which in turn have resulted in low surface water flows, impaired surface water quality and degraded groundwater quality due to saltwater intrusion in some areas. Audit Manager Gina Brown says to save water for future generations, they recommend the adoption of a Texas-style creation of “water regions”…
cut 15 (09) “…plan”
Brown says since 1956, the state has spent at least 5-million dollars on water management strategies and the state still does not have a water management plan.

Water management might be a topic for the upcoming legislative session, but Senate President Page Cortez says TORT reform is shaping up to be the key issue…
cut 9 (11) “…session”
The legislative session begins on March 9th.

A nearly eight-year-old missing child case out of Acadiana gets national attention tonight. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart

Breaux Bridge police have charged 28-year-old Dominique Howard with negligent homicide after her four-month-old child died. A cause of death has not been determined.

Business leaders were eager to hear from the new Legislative leadership about lawsuit reform yesterday at the Louisiana Association of Business and industry’s annual meeting…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

_________________________________________

A child missing since April 2012 gets national attention tonight.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

___________________________________________

Gulf Coast aquifer useage is up 578 percent from 1951 and the Legislative Auditor is calling for a plan to protect the future of one of Louisiana’s most valuable resources…

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle. 

____________________________________________

Wild weather is in the forecast for the state today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a pesky stationary front has been parked across Louisiana for the past couple of days, keeping it cloudy and dreary with the occasional rain.

Cut 4 (08) “…across the state.”

Keim says the Storm Prediction Center puts much of Louisiana under a slight to marginal risk for severe weather.

Cut 5 (07)  “…clearing on Thursday.”

With recent rains across the northern parishes, Keim says it’s a good idea to take the proper precautions ahead of potential flooding.

Cut 6 (05) “…top of it.”

_____________________________

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry hosted Legislative leaders yesterday for a panel all about the state’s legal climate and efforts to pass lawsuit reform aimed at lowering insurance rates.

The Senate stymied TORT reform efforts last year, but Senate President Page Cortez doesn’t expect that to be the case in the upcoming session.

Cut 7 (11) “…on it.”

The 2020 Regular Session begins March 9th.

Trial lawyer groups have historically been major funders in Louisiana politics and stand to lose work if proposed jury trial limits were to pass. Cortez says he’s not concerned their cash will derail the effort.

Cut 8 (06) “…wants.”

TORT reform is shaping up to be the key issue of the session, and Cortez says only one other issue will come close to it’s prominence.

Cut 9 (11) “…session.″

During his speech later in the day, Governor Edwards says he was open to working with the Legislature on TORT reform.

____________________

The story of Keiosha Felix, a 15-year-old who vanished in 2012, gets the national spotlight tonight on the show “In Pursuit with John Walsh,” which airs on Investigation Discovery.  Show producer Michelle Sigona says authorities believe Keiosha may be in Duson, Baton Rouge, or Houston.

Cut 10 (13) “…someone knows something.”

Keiosha disappeared from her aunt’s home in Duson in April 2012.  Sigona has hope the episode can lead to Keiosha’s whereabouts as the program has a history of successfully tracking down fugitives and missing children, including a recent capture.

Cut 11 (13) “…missing child side.”

Sigona says the show has a hotline that viewers can call or text in their tips and they can do so anonymously.

Cut 12 (09) “…you can offer.”

The hotline is based at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  The show airs tonight at 9PM.

_____________________________________

The State Legislative Auditor is asking the Legislature to consider implementing a water management plan to keep the state’s aquifers from running dry, or falling prey to saltwater intrusion in the future.

Audit Manager Gina Brown says water is increasingly becoming a valuable resource in America, and it’s a resource Louisiana currently has plenty of…

Cut 13 (10) “…resources.”

Water depletion has increased 63 percent nationwide since 1951, and 579 percent since 59’ for the Gulf Coast region.

But strain on the state’s aquifers is growing, with 49 percent of current usage going to energy production, 25 percent to industry, and 12 percent heading to irrigation.

Cut 14 (07) “…aquifer”

So to save the state’s water for future generations, one of their recommendations is the adoption of a Texas-style creation of “water regions”.

Cut 15 (09) “plan.”

Texas’s recent effort to buy water from Toledo Bend for 50 years was rebuffed by the Sabine River Authority, due to public concern over a lack of information on how it would impact water levels.

North Louisiana remains under a flash flood watch until six pm tomorrow night and two school systems canceled classes today due to flooding, Morehouse and West Carroll Parish Schools. National Weather Service Meteorologist Nicholas Fenner says northeast Louisiana has already seen a lot of rain

Cut 5 (09)  “…five inches.”

The Ouachita Parish Police Jury has declared a state of emergency as the Monroe area braces for flooded roads and rivers. 

The Army Corps of Engineers announces a plan to spend $85 million this year to deepen the lower Mississippi River to 50 feet.  Port of New Orleans spokesperson Matt Gresham says that allows for several southeast Louisiana ports to accept larger cargo ships built to take advantage of the Panama Canal’s expansion.

Cut 9 (12) “…the Panama Canal.″

State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Lafayette. The deceased has been identified at 40-year old Jeremy Todd Baham of Lafayette. Trooper Thomas Gossen says two officers approached Baham and that’s when things got physical and took a turn.

Cut 4 (12) “…more information.”

The officer involved in the incident received non-life threatening injuries.

LSU football will kick-off the 2022 and 2023 seasons by facing Florida State. The 2022 season opener will take place in the Superdome in New Orleans and the following year the two teams will meet in Orlando. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says the game in New Orleans and Orlando will be played on Sunday of Labor Day weekend at the request of TV…

Cut 15 (10) “…great”

The Army Corps of Engineers announces a plan to spend $85 million this year to deepen the lower Mississippi River to 50 feet.  Port of New Orleans spokesperson Matt Gresham says the initial phase will see work done on the first 30 miles of the river.

Cut 8 (11) “…about Oak Alley.”

The goal is to deepen the river to 50 feet.  Gresham says that allows for several southeast Louisiana ports to accept larger cargo ships built to take advantage of the Panama Canal’s expansion.

North Louisiana remains under a flash flood watch until six pm tomorrow night and two school systems canceled classes today due to flooding, Morehouse and West Carroll Parish Schools. National Weather Service Meteorologist Nicholas Fenner says the rain slacks off a little today, but more heavy rainfall is expected…

Cut 6 (09) “…northeast Louisiana”

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron has hired former Rams head coach Scott Linehan to be the Tigers new passing game coordinator. Linehan has also been a former offensive coordinator in Dallas, Minnesota, Miami, and Detroit. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says most of Coach O’s coaching hires have worked, so we’ll have to wait to see if Linehan can help keep LSU’s offense humming along.
Cut 12 (11) “…to recruit”
LSU football will kick-off the 2022 and 2023 seasons by facing Florida State. The 2022 season opener will take place in the Superdome in New Orleans and the following year the two teams will meet in Orlando. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley expects Seminola fans will be excited to spend Labor Day weekend in New Orleans and they know LSU fans will be there
Cut 14 (09) “…full house.”
Hundley says each school will be given 30-thousand tickets that they can sell to their fans and that number could go up depending on demand.

The Army Corps of Engineers announces a plan to spend $85 million this year to deepen the lower Mississippi River.  The Corps estimates a national economic benefit of $127.5 million annually.  It’s a project that has been pushed for a long time and Port of New Orleans spokesperson Matt Gresham says a study indicated that improvements offer an 80-to-1 cost-to-benefit ratio.

Cut 10 (10) “…than a decade.”

The project is expected to cost nearly $240 million, with the state covering more than $100 million.

State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Lafayette. The deceased has been identified at 40-year old Jeremy Todd Baham of Lafayette. Trooper Thomas Gossen says the shooting happened last night on Kaliste Saloom Road.

Cut 3 (10)  “…(x2) with a weapon” 

LSU football will kick-off the 2022 and 2023 seasons by facing Florida State. The 2022 season opener will take place in the Superdome in New Orleans and the following year the two teams will meet in Orlando. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley says they’ve spent about two years trying to put this game together…

Cut 13 (10) “…neutral sites.”

Hundley says each school will be given 30-thousand tickets that they can sell to their fans and that number could go up depending on demand.

North Louisiana remains under a flash flood watch until six pm tomorrow night. The Ouachita Parish Police Jury has declared a state of emergency as the Monroe area braces for flooded roads and rivers. National Weather Service Meteorologist Nicholas Fenner says there is an elevated risk for flash flooding…

Cut 7 (09) “…same location.”