A state health official says the number of LSU mumps cases is up to 12 and one of the students living on campus has been quarantined. Matt Doyle has the story…
Voicer 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A white man charged with setting fire to three African American churches in St. Landry Parish last spring pleaded guilty today to four federal charges. Federal prosecutors say Holden Matthews will be sentenced May 22nd and faces between 10 to 70 years in prison.

A science teacher at Northwestern Middle School in Zachary is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student. 34-year-old Ellarea Silva is currently on leave after her arrest on Thursday. Zachary Police Chief David McDavid says the relationship appeared to be a summer fling.
Cut 12 (10) “…in the media.”
Silva faces several charges including indecent behavior with a juvenile, carnal knowledge of a juvenile and oral sexual battery.

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 21-cents lower than a month ago. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says there is a high supply of gasoline and low demand, but the price drop might not last much longer…
cut 7 (11) “…even more”

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.