This year’s LEAP Test results are in, and average scores are up one percent over the 2016-2017 school year. BESE plans on addressing a massive gap in performance between the general student population and at-risk populations by identifying those schools with, particularly troubling achievement gaps. Superintendent of Education John White says this will target schools across the state.

Cut 7 (11)  “disadvantaged students.”

A 3 AM traffic stop today in Baton Rouge resulted in gunfire involving a Louisiana State Police trooper. Troop A spokesperson Bryan Lee says the Trooper pulled over the vehicle on Perkins Road when during the course of the traffic stop, a passenger in the vehicle became noncompliant.

cut 9 (03)  “…firing their weapon.”

A 75 year old Boyce resident now has a nice stack of cash after claiming a lottery ticket matching all five numbers with the Powerball’s June 23^rd drawing, $710k after taxes. Even though he didn’t get the correct Powerball number, Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says it’s always an exciting scene when winners show up to claim large prizes at the lottery office, continuing on to say the man already has plans for the money.

Cut 13 (06) “…a new vehicle with it.” 

A Point Coupee Parish man is ordered to pay $10,250 in civil restitution after being found guilty of killing a Louisiana black bear. 30-year-old Robert Kimble of Lettsworth shot and killed the female bear on Yancy Wildlife Management Area in Concordia Parish last November. General Councel of Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Yolanda Martin says why she demanded the restitution.

Cut 15 (08) “a closed season”

Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy say they like the President’s pick for the soon to be vacant seat on the US Supreme Court. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The state has released LEAP test results today and State Superintendent of Education John White says 43-percent of third through 12th graders scored mastery or above in English, but only 33-percent did so in math…..
cut 8 (10) “….in mathematics”

30-year-old Robert Kimble from Pointe Coupee Parish has been ordered to pay over 10-thousand dollars in civil restitution for killing a black bear in Concordia Parish last November. General Counsel with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Yolanda Martin says Kimble admitted to shooting the bear…
cut 16 (08) “…with the agency”

The State Police Bureau of Investigations is looking into this morning’s police shooting in Baton Rouge involving a State Trooper and a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a traffic stop.
cut 11 (07) “…everything took place”
Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says the officer at the scene suffered a minor injury, while the non compliant passenger was sent to a local hospital with a gunshot wound.

12:30 Newscast

Louisiana’s Republicans US Senators are impressed with President Donald Trump’s nomination for the US Supreme Court. DC-based federal appeals court Judge Brett Kavanaugh is widely considered a consistently conservative jurist. Senator John Kennedy says Kavanaugh has a good resume and a positive judicial history, but he’s holding his final judgment until he gets a chance to question the nominee in Congress.

Cut 5  (11) “my job”

A 75-year-old Boyce resident now has a nice stack of cash after claiming a lottery ticket matching all five numbers with the Powerball’s June 23^rd drawing. Even though he didn’t get the correct Powerball number, Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison say it was enough to give the winner, Glenn Feazell, quite the surprise the next morning.

Cut 12 (10)   “…seeing things correctly.”

LEAP Test results for 2017-2018 are in. Jeff Palermo has the results.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo” 

A 3 AM traffic stop today on Perkins Road in Baton Rouge resulted in gunfire involving a Louisiana State Police trooper when a passenger in the vehicle became noncompliant.  The incident is still under investigation.

Here are commodities…

Louisiana’s US Senators seem to be on board with President Donald Trump’s nominee to the US Supreme Court, D-C based federal appellate judge Brett Kavanaugh. Bill Cassidy says Kavanaugh’s track record on past decisions, compares favorably with the newest justice, Neil Gorsuch…
cut 4 (10) “…like most”
Junior Louisiana Senator John Kennedy says Kavanaugh has an impressive resume, but a confirmation hearing needs to happen first before he fully supports the president’s nomation.

State Police say one of their troopers was shot during a traffic stop in Baton Rouge early this morning. The trooper sustained a minor injury and a noncompliant passenger in the vehicle was also shot and hospitalized….
cut 10 (05) “…injuries there”
Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says the search is on for two individuals who fled from the vehicle after gunfire was exchanged.

This year’s LEAP Test results are in, and average scores are up one percent over the 2016-2017 school year. The percentage of students in the 3rd through 8th grade who scored mastery level or above is 34 percent. Only 21 percent of African American students scored mastery level or above, and Superintendent of Education John White says this needs to be a major focus going forward.
cut 6 (07) “…not closing”

The state department of corrections says the savings from the 2017 criminal justice reform laws has doubled previous projections. Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc credits new programs to help nonviolent offenders get out of the system faster if they achieve certain benchmarks….
cut 15 (06) “…rewarded”
The state says the savings from last year fiscal year total 12-million dollars.

President Donald Trump has nominated DC-based federal appeals court Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be the next judge on the US Supreme Court. Kavanaugh is widely considered a conservative with a history of ruling against labor and regulatory agencies such as the EPA. US Senator Bill Cassidy says Kavanaugh has an impressive resume and looks forward to knowing him better….
Cut 3 (10) “as written”

A 3AM traffic stop today in Baton Rouge resulted in gunfire involving a Louisiana State Police trooper. Troop A spokesperson Bryan Lee says the Trooper pulled over the vehicle on Perkins Road, when during the course of the traffic stop, a passenger in the vehicle became non compliant.
cut 9 (03) “…firing their weapon.”
Lee says the trooper sustained minor injuries in the altercation, but the passenger was hit by the gunfire and transported to a local hospital. The search is on for two other individuals who fled from the vehicle.

The governor’s office says the state saved 12-million dollars last fiscal year as a result of the criminal justice reforms approved in 2017. Department of Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says 70% of those savings will be reinvested into programs to reduce recidivism and support victims…
cut 13 (09) “…already done”
PEW Charitable Trusts worked with the state to create the reforms and they previously projected savings of six-million dollars in the first year.

After ranking near the bottom in the country for the number of high school seniors completing financial aid forms for college, the state now leads the nation. Stephanie Markham with the state department of education says its easier for students to find help in filling out the forms….
cut 6 (13) “…12 minutes”

The Edwards administration reports the state saved 12-million dollars, more than double the orginal estimate, from the criminal justice reform measures approved in 2017. Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says it’s not just because there are fewer prisononers…
cut 14 (09) “….into prison”
LeBlanc says the savings will be reinvested into programs aimed at reducing crime and recidivism.

20 children from the ages of three to seven years-old had to be rescued from the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office marine unit after a tour boat they were on, became stuck on a sand bar on the Vermilion River. Lt. John Mowell says they quickly responded after getting a 9-1-1 call and were able to get the kids safely to shore…
cut 9 (13) “…the way they did”

Just three years ago, Louisiana ranked near the bottom for high school seniors who sought financial aid to attend college, now it leads the nation…
Voicer 1 (31) I’m Jeff Palermo“

Results from the LEAP tests public school students took last spring come out today. Education Superintendent John White will discuss the results with reporters at 10:30.

State Police say one of their troopers was shot during a traffic stop in Baton Rouge early this morning. The trooper sustained a minor injury and a noncompliant passenger in the vehicle was also shot and hospitalized.

The governor’s office says the state saved 12-million dollars last fiscal year as a result of the criminal justice reforms approved in 2017. Department of Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says 70% of those savings will be reinvested into programs to reduce recidivism and support victims…
cut 13 (09) “…already done”
PEW Charitable Trusts worked with the state to create the reforms and they previously projected savings of six-million dollars in the first year.

Lafayette Parish Sheriff deputies rescued 20 children between the ages of three and seven years old who were stranded on a boat that got stuck on a sandbar on the Vermilion River. Lt. John Mowell says once their marine unit got the kids off the tour boat, they were able to get the boat unstuck…
cut 8 (08) “….to their headquarters”
No injuries reported.

The state department of education says Louisiana now leads the country when it comes to high school seniors who complete financial aid forms to attend college. L-D-E’s Stephanie Markham says more students than before are having their job training or college tuition paid for….
cut 5 (12) “…before”
Markham says 77-percent of the Louisiana’s Class of 2018 completed FAFSA, which are the forms for federal financial aid.

Louisiana’s Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge is displaying a travel exhibit of editorial cartoons that were published in major metro newspapers in the early 20th-century. Two time Pulitzer Prize winner, Walt Handelsman of the Advocate, will share his artistic experience tomorrow night. Mary Durusau with the Old State Capitol says it’s an honor to have Handelsman speak.
Cut 12 (08) “at 6pm”
Durusau appeared on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.

A new report shows the 2017 criminal justice reforms are saving the state more money than expected…
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

State Police say one of their troopers was shot early this morning in Baton Rouge during a traffic stop. L-S-P says the trooper sustained minor injuries and the driver of the vehicle was also shot and hospitalized.

Senator Bill Cassidy calls Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump’s nomination to the Supreme Court, a solid pick, while Senator John Kennedy says he looks forward to a full and fair vetting process.

After ranking near the bottom in the country for the number of high school seniors completing financial aid forms for college, the state now leads the nation. Stephanie Markham with the state department of education says its easier for students to find help in filling out the forms….
cut 6 (13) “…12 minutes”
BESE approved a policy in 2015 requiring high school graduates to complete a FAFSA form or sign a waiver indicating they don’t plan on attending college.

The Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge has a new exhibit displaying great political cartoons from the first half of the 20th century that were published in major metro newspapers….
cut 11 (11) “…over again”
That’s Mary Durusau from an interview on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.