Governor John Bel Edwards budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year calls for millions of more dollars to be spent on education. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor Edwards is taking State Treasurer John Schroder to court. Schroder has refused to allow the use of 25-million in unclaimed property dollars to help pay for state expenses. Schroder says the money does not belong to the state government, but previous state treasurer John Kennedy sent millions in unclaimed property dollars to the state general fund.

Concerns over lessening demand and uncertainty involving the Wuhan Coronavirus are likely to keep oil prices low. Oil is at 50 dollars a barrel and LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes says that number could continue dropping.
Cut 7 (08) “…increases”
A gallon of gas in Louisiana averages $2.13.
Three men killed in a small plane crash Thursday afternoon have been identified as pilot Robert Gilliam of Minden and passengers Wade Williams and chief executive of St. Amant’s Rehabilitation Services Chris Mudd of the Shreveport-Bossier area. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau knew Mudd and says commuting with small planes was the norm.
Cut 5 (08) “…Jackson to Shreveport.”
Williams, a former Northwestern State defensive end, played football at the university from 2009 to 2012, and was a starter in the last three seasons.  The 29-year-old leaves behind a wife and a two-year-old daughter.

Robert Gilliam of Minden and Wade Williams and Chris Mudd of Shreveport-Bossier have been identified as the three victims of a plane crash in Jackson Parish yesterday. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau knew Mudd and says he was a mental health advocate who pushed for smart spending at the Capitol.

Cut 4 (11) “…state of Louisiana.”

The plane, a single-engine Cessna, crashed in Jackson Parish, was flying to Shreveport from Jackson, Mississippi. 

Concerns over lessening demand and uncertainty involving the Wuhan Coronavirus are likely to keep oil prices low, and volatile for the near future according to the LSU Center for Energy Studies. Executive Director David Dismukes says the phase one trade deal with China was initially good news for the industry…

Cut 6 (09) “…crude prices”

The Edwards administration’s budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins on July 1st calls for a 128-million dollar increase in general fund spending. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the additional dollars will go towards education

Cut 9 (10) “…to education”

The budget does not explicitly carve out a teacher pay raise. Dardenne says that will be left up to the individual school districts. Teachers unions are reportedly shocked and angered by the decision.

Three men killed in a small plane crash Thursday afternoon have been identified as pilot Robert Gilliam of Minden and passengers Wade Williams and Chris Mudd of the Shreveport-Bossier area. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau knew Mudd and describes him as a businessman and an advocate for mental health.
Cut 3 (09)  “…especially for adolescents.” 
Mudd was the chief executive of St. Amant’s Rehabilitation Services company and Williams was an employee.
Natchitoches Police arrest a third suspect tied to a double homicide that took place last week at a home on Short Seventh Street.  Officer John Greely says on Wednesday, investigators were able to locate 22-year-old Jaleel Tousant at an apartment in the 500 block of North Street.
Cut 10 (08) “…surrender to us.”
Three family members accused of harboring Tousant were also arrested.
A Mardi Gras ball at the L’auberge Casino in Lake Charles is thought to be the epicenter of a norovirus outbreak that’s infected dozens…

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle 

Governor Edwards is taking State Treasurer John Kennedy to court. Schroder has refused to allow the use of 25-million in unclaimed property dollars to help pay for state expenses. Schroder says the money does not belong to the state government, but previous state treasurer John Kennedy sent millions in unclaimed property dollars to the state general fund.

The Lake Charles L’Auberge Casino is thought to be ground zero for an outbreak of norovirus that’s infected dozens of people. The origin of the outbreak has reportedly been traced to a Mardi Gras ball held last weekend. State Office of Public Health Doctor Frank Welch…
Cut 13 (11) “…virus.”
Symptoms include vomiting and nausea that typically lasts 24 to 48 hours after being infected. People of all ages can become ill from norvirus as it can easily spread.

An alleged bomb threat found on a school bus in Erath has led to officials evacauating students from Dozier Elementary, Erath Middle and Erath High School. Vermilon Parish Sheriff deputies will have bomb detection dogs go through the schools as a precaution.

The Edwards Administration is going over its proposed budget for next fiscal year at today’s joint budget committee meeting. The proposed spending plan calls for the state to spend an additional 285-million dollars, with additional money going to public schools and early childhood education….
cut 9 (09) ‘….the educational process”
Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the budget also calls for cuts in other areas of state government so that more dollars can go into education.

Plaquemine Democrat Chad Brown will have a big task in front of him in the upcoming session as he’ll chair the House Insurance Committee. Several bills are expected to be filed in an effort to lower auto insurance rates. Brown says some of the bills call for tort reform, others seek to change how rates are calculated…
cut 6 (08) “….be flushed out”
The session begins March 9th.

As the chairman of the House insurance committee, Plaquemine Democrat Chad Brown expects to hear legislation in the upcoming session that looks at whether insurance companies should consider a driver’s credit score when setting rates…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor Edwards is taking State Treasurer John Kennedy to court. Schroder has refused to allow the use of 25-million in unclaimed property dollars to help pay for state expenses. Schroder says the money does not belong to the state government, but previous state treasurer John Kennedy sent millions in unclaimed property dollars to the state general fund.

The Edwards administration unveils a proposed spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the budget proposal contains millions of more dollars for public schools…
cut 8 (07) “….throughout the years”
Dardenne says there will also be more dollars for early education, giving more parents the opportunity to enroll their young child into a pre-K program.

Natchitoches Police says the three suspects wanted in last week’s fatal shootings of 41-year-old Larry Batiste and 35-year-old Hiram Phillips are behind bars. Officer John Greely says 22-year-old Jaleel Tousant was the last suspect taken in as he was found at an apartment. He says three family members were also arrested for harboring Tousant…
cut 12 (10) “….to tolerate that”
17-year-old Daerioen Latchie and 21-year-old Jessie James Petite are also facing first-degree murder charges.

Governor John Bel Edwards will propose a budget to lawmakers today that calls for increased spending on education. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the investment into education is something the governor has pushed for years and now the state is in position to do so…
Cut 7 (12) “…where we are”
Dardenne says the budget will also propose cuts so that more dollars can go towards education.

Authorities have identified the three people killed in yesterday’s small plane crash in Jackson Parish. Robert Gilliam of Minden was the pilot and his passengers were Chris Mudd and Wade Williams, both from Shreveport-Bossier. The single-engine Cessna was heading from Jackson, Mississippi to Shreveport when it crashed north of Chatham.

The state health department says norovirus is to blame for an outbreak of stomach related illnesses in the Lake Charles area. Doctor Frank Welch with the state office of public health says symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea…
cut 14 (08) “….day or two”
Many of the people who got sick attended a Mardi Gras Ball at L’auberge casino in Lake Charles.

Natchitoches Police say the three suspects responsible for last week’s double-homicide on Short Seventh street are behind bars. Officer John Greely credits the public’s help in nabbing 22-year-old Jaleel Tousant
cut 11 (07) “…past couple days’
Greely says three family members who were harboring Tousant were also arrested. 17-year-old Daerieon Latchie and 21-year-old Jessie James Petite were also charged with first-degree murder.

The Edwards administration will release a budget proposal today for the fiscal year that begins in July. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

I-10 Eastbound is closed at the I-49 interchange because of the crash on the Basin Bridge near Henderson. Authorities say the highway will be closed through the morning commute as crews are having to make repairs to the barriers. Police are reporting the crash only produced minor injuries.

We’re about a month away from the start of the 2020 legislative session and auto insurance reform is expected to be a big topic. House Insurance Chairman Chad Brown says legislation has already been filed to prevent insurance providers from setting rates based on credit score or whether a person has been widowed…
cut 5 (10) “…before they died”
The legislative session begins on March 9th.

State health officials are investigating a norovirus outbreak in Lake Charles. Doctor Frank Welch with the state office of public health says upwards to 100 people have been suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, symptoms that last for about 24 to 48 hours and the norovirus spreads easily…
cut 15 (11) “…three days”
Welch says they believe the norovirus outbreak began at a Mardi Gras ball at LAuberge Casino in Lake Charles.

An investigation is underway into yesterday’s fatal plane crash in Jackson Parish that killed three people. The victims have been identified as Chris Mudd and Wade Williams of Shreveport-Bossier, and the pilot was Robert Gilliam of Minden. They took off from Jackson, Mississippi and they were heading to Shreveport when their small Cessna crashed into a logging business north of Chathman.

A Mardi Gras ball at the L’auberge Casino in Lake Charles is thought to be the epicenter of a norovirus outbreak that’s infected dozens…
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle

Plaquemine Democrat Chad Brown will serve as the chairman of the House insurance committee, a committee expected to be very busy during the session with bills aimed at lowering auto insurance rates. Brown expects to tackle insurance companies’ consideration of a driver’s credit.
Cut 4 (13) “…the rate making.”
Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau has filed legislation that would prevent insurance companies from calculating insurance rates based on credit score.

Three suspects tied to a double fatal shooting in Natchitoches last week are now behind bars. Natchitoches Police Officer John Greely says 22-year-old Jaleel Tousant was the final suspect apprehended on Wednesday night…
cut 10 (08) “…to us”
The other two men facing first-degree murder charges are 17-year-old Daerion Latchie and 21-year-old Jessie James Petite.