We’re up to 12 cases in the LSU centered mumps outbreak that was first made public with five cases reported last week. State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch says all students need to receive both doses of the MMR vaccine to protect against further spread, along with the usual health and safety advice.

Cut 9, 10 seconds, season

Mumps feels like a particularly nasty cold, and also involves the visible swelling of the salivary glands.

The statewide average price for a gallon of gasoline is currently at $2.11, down about a nickel from this time last week and 21 cents from last month.  Uncertainty over tensions between the US and Iran earlier this year resulted in an uptick of prices, but AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says the recent drop follows an annual pattern.

Cut 6 (07) “…the whole year.”

Senator Jay Luneau introduces legislation aimed at ending the car insurance “widow tax”. Brooke Thorington spoke with the Alexandria Democrat…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

Teacher unions are upset the Governor’s budget does not contain a line item guaranteeing educators will receive a pay raise for a second consecutive year. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says Edwards campaigned on pushing for further pay raises…

cut 6 (11) “…session”

The Edwards administration says they are proposing an increase in funding for public schools and leaving the decision to each school district to use the money for pay raises.

Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau is introducing a bill that will help that would prevent insurance companies from charging you more for your insurance just because you have a lower credit rating…

Cut 10 (11) “…record.”

Governor Edwards is taking state Treasurer John Schroder to court because he’s refusing to allow his administration to use 25-million dollars in unclaimed property funds to pay for budget expenses. Schroder says unclaimed property isn’t the state’s money…

cut 14 (11) “….don’t have it”

But Edwards says the law is clear, excess revenues in the Unclaimed property fund are to benefit the public.

The northern half of the state is under a flash flood watch until Wednesday night as moisture and upper-level disturbances are expected to interact with a cold front to produce locally heavy rainfall. National Weather Service Shreveport Meteorologist Jason Hansford says several inches of rain will fall over the next few days…

Cut 3 (06)  “…Wednesday evening” 

Governor Edwards’ budget proposal does not call for a teacher pay raise, angering many teachers who say he’s breaking a reelection campaign promise…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

12 jurors from Rapides Parish have sentenced 35-year-old Kyle Joekel to die for killing two St. John the Baptist Parish deputies in a trailer park nearly eight years ago. Jeremy Triche and Brandon Neilsen died in the ambush-like attack. A second defendant, Brian Smith, has yet to face trial as he’s in a mental hospital.

Holden Matthews, the white man accused of torching three African-American St. Landry Parish churches last spring, has a plea-change hearing today in federal court in Lafayette. Matthews originally pleaded not guilty to several federal charges. Legal analyst Tim Meche says during the hearing the judge will make sure Matthews is changing his plea voluntarily…

cut 7 (10) “….is guilty”
Matthews faces several years in prison if convicted.

Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau is introducing a bill that will help Louisianans who are widowed and then see their car insurance rates increase. He wants that practice to end.

Cut 11 (04) “…that.”

He’s also introducing three other bills aimed at lowering car insurance rates. One bill would block insurers from charging someone a higher premium on the basis of their sex alone, once they are older than 25.

The Edwards administration’s attempt to use $25 million in unclaimed property for the state general fund is not sitting well with State Treasurer John Schroder.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart. 

The white male suspect in a series of fires set at African American churches in St. Landry Parish last spring is scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing today in federal court, where he faces hate crime charges. Holden Matthews had pleaded not guilty to charges arising from arson fires that destroyed three churches

The Governor’s July 1^st budget proposal calls for a 99 million dollar increase in education, but does not include a teacher pay raise, angering unions who backed his reelection. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says the budget does not reflect the state’s dire education funding needs.

Cut 5 (12) “…pawns”

Edwards is proposing to increase funding for public schools by 39-millions dollars and says districts can use that money for teacher pay raises.

Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau is introducing a bill that will help Louisianans that are in the military and deployed overseas and don’t renew their car insurance for six months and are charged a premium increase.

Cut 12 (08) “…rates.”

Senator Jay Luneau introduces legislation aimed at ending the car insurance “widow tax”. Brooke Thorington spoke with the Alexandria Democrat…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Prices at the pump continue to decline. According to Triple-A, the statewide average for a regular gallon of gasoline is $2.11. That’s five-cents lower than a week ago and 21-cents lower than a month ago. Analysts say there is a high supply of gasoline, but low demand.

Governor John Bel Edwards has filed a lawsuit against State Treasurer John Schroder for refusing to transfer 25-million dollars from the state’s unclaimed property fund so that it can be used in the budget. It’s a practice that’s been done for years, but Schroder says it needs to stop
cut 15 (08) “…that they want.”
Edwards says that the law is clear, excess revenues in the Unclaimed Property Fund are to benefit the public

Holden Matthews, the suspect accused of setting fire to three different African American churches in St. Landry Parish last Spring is expected to enter a new plea today to federal charges. Matthews has previously told a Lafayette federal judge he’s not guilty. Matthews also faces state charges, but legal analyst Tim Meche says he may never face prosecution from local D-As….
cut 9 (09) “….and a sentence”

State Treasurer John Schroder is facing a lawsuit from Governor Edwards after refusing to turn over an estimated 25-million dollars in unclaimed property money to help fund the governor’s proposed 32-billion dollar budget. Schroder says using unclaimed money in the budget is bad public policy.
Cut 13 (09) “…state general fund.”
Edwards released a statement that the Unclaimed Property Fund hit a balance of more than $78-million, leaving a healthy balance of funds for Schroder to distribute.

Teacher unions are upset the budget does not contain a line item that will guarantee educators will receive a pay raise for a second consecutive year. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says Edwards campaigned on pushing for further teacher pay raises…
cut 6 (11) “…session”
The Edwards administration says they are proposing an increase in funding for public schools and leaving it up to individual school districts to use that money for teacher pay raises.

Holden Matthews, the white man accused of torching three African-American St. Landry Parish churches last spring, has a plea-change hearing today in Lafayette. Matthews originally pleaded not guilty to several federal charges. Legal analyst Tim Meche says during the hearing the judge will make sure Matthews is changing his plea voluntarily…
cut 7 (10) “….is guilty”
Matthews faces several years in prison if convicted.

During the upcoming session, lawmakers will look at ways to reduce auto insurance rates, but one Senator says he’s filed a few bills that he says are common-sense solutions. Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau says one of his bills would prevent insurance companies from charging you more for your insurance just because you have a lower credit rating…
Cut 10 (11) “…record.”
Luneau says he has also has a bill that would insurers from raising rates on people who are widowed

Governor John Bel Edwards budget proposal for next fiscal year calls for 99-million dollars in new funding for education, but none of that money is targeted to give teachers another pay raise. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey…
cut 4 (11) “…to go”
Lawmakers will have the opportunity if they want to, to put a line item measure in the budget for a pay raise.

Meanwhile, Governor Edwards is taking state Treasurer John Schroder to court because he’s refusing to allow the Edwards administration to use 25-million dollars in unclaimed property funds to pay for expenses in the budget. Schorder says unclaimed property isn’t the state’s money…
cut 14 (11) “….don’t have it”
But Edwards says the law is clear, excess revenues in the Unclaimed property fund are to benefit the public.

A change of plea hearing is scheduled today in federal court in Lafayette for Holden Matthews. He’s the white man accused of setting fires to three African American churches in St. Landry Parish last spring. Matthews has previously entered a not guilty plea, but court records indicate plea negotiations have been ongoing. Legal analyst Tim Meche says if the judge accepts a guilty plea to the charges, a sentencing date will be announced and take place two to three months from now…
cut 8 (12) “….do it again”

12 jurors from Rapides Parish have sentenced 35-year-old Kyle Joekel to die for killing two St. John the Baptist Parish deputies in a trailer park nearly eight years ago. Jeremy Triche and Brandon Neilsen died in the ambush-like attack. A second defendant, Brian Smith, has yet to face trial as he’s in a mental hospital.

Governor Edwards’ budget proposal does not call for a teacher pay raise, angering many teachers who say he’s breaking a reelection campaign promise…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

_________________________________________

Senator Jay Luneau introduces legislation aimed at ending the car insurance “widow tax”. Brooke Thorington spoke with the Alexandria Democrat…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

___________________________________________

The Edwards administration’s attempt to use $25 million in unclaimed property for the state general fund is not sitting well with State Treasurer John Schroder.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart. 

____________________________________________

The Governor’s July 1^st budget proposal calls for a 128 million dollar increase in general fund spending, but does not include a teacher pay raise, angering unions who backed his reelection.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says school districts will be given funds they can use to give raises, but Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says it’s not the same…

Cut 4 (11) “…to go”

Louisiana teachers received a 1,000 dollar pay raise in the last session, but still, have average pay below the southern regional average.

The Governor called for a 25 million dollar increase in early childhood education spending and 39 million in increased public school funding. Posey says the budget does not reflect the state’s dire education funding needs.

Cut 5 (12) “…pawns”

The 1,000 dollar raise for teachers and a 500 dollar raise for support personnel last year made up the bulk of the 140 million dollar increase in annual school spending.

Governor Edwards campaigned on pushing for further teacher pay raises, and Posey says failing to follow through in the first session of his new term is concerning…

Cut 6 (11) “…session”

_____________________________

Holden Matthews, the man accused of torching three St. Landry churches last spring, will have a plea-change hearing today in Lafayette. Matthews had originally given a plea of not guilty. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the judge will hold the hearing to make sure that the suspect is changing his plea voluntarily.

Cut 7 (10) “…really is guilty.”

Meche says if the judge accepts the guilty plea, a sentencing date will be set for some time in the next 2 to 3 months.

Cut 8 (12) “…do it again.”

Matthews is also facing state charges, but Meche says Matthews may never go to trial on those based on what happens with the federal charges.

Cut 9 (09) “…and a sentence.”

____________________

TORT reform may suck up a lot of air in the car insurance premium debate at the Capitol but one Senator has a few bills he says are small, common-sense fixes to lower rates.

Alexandria Democrat Jay Luneau’s first bill would prevent insurance companies from charging you more for your insurance just because you have a lower credit rating…

Cut 10 (11) “…record.”

Real Reform Louisiana claims a person with a DWI and a high credit rating pays less for insurance than a person with a clean record but low credit score.

Luneau says most insurers in Louisiana also raise rates on people who are widowed. His second bill would end that practice.

Cut 11 (04) “…that.”

His third bill deals with incidents where Louisianans in the military are deployed overseas, don’t renew their insurance for six months and are hit with a premium increase. Luneau says that’s wrong.

Cut 12 (08) “…rates.”

His fourth bill would block insurers from charging someone a higher premium on the basis of their sex alone, once they are older than 25.

_____________________________________

State Treasurer John Schroder is facing a lawsuit from Governor Edwards after refusing to turn over unclaimed property money so it can be used as part of the state general fund.  Schroder says it is a bad policy that he believes is unlawful.

Cut 13 (09) “…state general fund.”

Edwards released a statement that the Unclaimed Property Fund hit a balance of more than $78-million, leaving a healthy balance of funds for Schroder to distribute funds. But Schroder says the department was short $20 million last fiscal year in paying 82,000 claims because of previous dips into unclaimed property money.

Cut 14 (11) “…don’t have it.”

Schroder recommends putting the $22-to-25 million a year into a savings account, investing it the same way the state invests its trust fund money, and then letting the state spend from the interest.  Schroder says the calculations have been done.

Cut 15 (08) “…that they want.”

Edwards says that the law is clear, excess revenues in the Unclaimed Property Fund are to benefit the public and that the public does not profit by the Treasurer simpily seeking to grow the size of his government bank account.

__________________________________________

LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri has named his starting pitchers for the opening weekend. Cole Henry will start the season opener on Friday against Indiana, Landon Marceaux will start Saturday and AJ Labas will toe the rubber on Sunday. Mainieri on why Marceaux will get the ball on game two…

Cut 16  (19)  …Marceaux second”  

Mainieri says he’ll tinker with his lineup in the field during the nonconfernece, but he’s hoping to see big seasons out of a group of sophomores…

Cut 17  (19) “other guys” 

Marceaux says he’s ready to pitch against another team. He says the vibe around the Tigers during the pre-season has been good

cut 18  (18) ” play baseball”