State and federal officials say it appears the US Army Corps of Engineers will need to open the Morganza Spillway in early June for the third time ever. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says farmers are being alerted to move their livestock and equipment because opening the spillway could flood 25,000 acres of farmland in the Atchafalaya Basin…
Cut 10 (07) “…entire season.”
Opening the Morganza in Pointe Coupee Parish would send Mississippi River water through the Atchafalaya Basin toward Morgan City.

If you are traveling this Memorial Day weekend, you’ll find the average price for a regular gallon of gasoline in the Gulf South at $2.45…
cut 15 (04) “..20-cents more”
That’s AAA’s Don Redman who says they anticipate three-point-nine million Gulf South residents hitting the road this weekend.

Legislation that would gradually reduce the state’s sales tax rate from 4.45 percent to four-percent passes the House and is headed to the Senate. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The House votes 73-21 to phase out the .45 percent sales tax levied in last year’s session to plug a 300 million dollar-budget deficit as some lawmakers cry foul over Louisiana’s budget surplus this year. House Republican Chairman Lance Harris says there was a lot of fear-mongering about fiscal cliffs, only for the state to end up running a 316-million-dollar surplus…

Cut 4 (10) “… reason why.”

But opponents are sounding the alarm, saying the call to cut taxes during a surplus is reminiscent of the Governor Jindal years where a two-billion-dollar surplus prompted the state to slash tax rates, leading to fiscal chaos and budget cuts.

Legislation that would abolish the death penalty was shelved after it was taken up on the House floor amid little enthusiasm for the change from a clear majority of the lower chamber. 

Legislation that would have increased the legal age to purchase cigarettes, dip, and vape products to 21 dies on the House floor amid concerns the bill infringes on individual liberties of adults. Bill author, West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman, argued the bill could save lives…

Cut 9 (09) “…lives”

The proposal was met with stiff opposition from Alexandria Representative, Lance Harris, who grilled Hoffman on why 18-year-olds can buy a house, get a tattoo, or make any number of other crucial life decisions, but not be allowed to smoke.

A bill requiring restaurants to inform customers the country of origin of their  shrimp and crawfish is advancing at the state capitol. Louisiana Restaurant Association lobbyist Eldon Rogillo says they had some concerns, but he’s worked with the bill’s author, LaRose Representative Truck Gisclair

Cut 10 (12) “…some compromise.”

The LSU Baseball team is still alive in the SEC Tournament after an unbelievable finish this afternoon in Hoover, Alabama. The Tigers were working on very little sleep, but figured out a way to beat Auburn 4-3. The tying and winning runs scored in the ninth inning. It all started with a wild pitch that allowed Giovanni DiGiacomo to score and then a throwing error by the Auburn first baseman who went to retrieve the baseball allowed Drew Bianco to come across and score.

LSU lost a heartbreaker earlier in the day in 17 innings to Mississippi State. The game ended at 3:05 in the morning. It goes down as the longest game inning and time wise in LSU history. LSU will play again tomorrow night against the loser of tonight’s game between Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. 

LSU is now 2-and-1 in Hoover and it’s still hard to say whether the Tigers have done enough to lock down a host site in the NCAA Tournament. They got some help when Ole Miss beat Texas A-and-M 1-0 earlier today. 

NOAA predicts a near-normal 2019 hurricane season. US weather officials say that means between 9 to 15 named storms, 4 to 8 hurricanes and 2 to 4 major hurricanes. Lead hurricane season forecaster Gerry Bell says the near-normal hurricane outlook is occurring because of competing climate factors…

Cut 6 (12) “…more activity”

Last year there were 15 named storms, highlighted by two major hurricanes, Florence and Michael.

For only the third time in history, the US Army Corps of Engineers may have to open the Morganza Spillway in early June because of the rising Mississippi River.

The spillway was completed in 1954 and opened for the first time 1973 for 56 days and 55 days in 2011. Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove says just like they did in 2011, a barge will have to be installed in Bayou Chene to prevent backwater flooding in Terrebonne and several other parishes…

Cut 4 (08) “…anything”

Legislation that would have increased the legal age to purchase cigarettes, dip, and vape products to 21 dies on the House floor amid concerns the bill infringes on individual liberties of adults. Bill author, West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman, argued the bill could save lives…

Cut 9 (09) “…lives”

The final vote was 24-55.

A Bossier City man is behind bars after he allegedly offered to fly a child in from Wisconsin for sexual purposes. 49-year-old William Kramer is facing seven counts of indecent behavior with juveniles. State Police Trooper Brent Hardy says more charges are possible because they found evidence that Kramer chatted online with multiple underage children and some of the victims could live in the Shreveport-Bossier City area.

Cut 13 (10) “…make a report”

Legislation that would have increased the legal age to purchase cigarettes, dip, and vape products to 21 dies on the House floor amid concerns the bill infringes on individual liberties of adults.

The bill led to an animated back and forth between Bill author, West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman,  and Alexandria Representative Lance Harris. Hoffman argued we already bar 18-year-olds from purchasing alcohol, but Harris countered, saying only one of those two substances can kill you overnight…

Cut 11 (08)“ overtime”

The final vote was 24-55.

A Bossier City man is behind bars after he allegedly offered to fly a child in from Wisconsin for sexual purposes. State Police Trooper Brent Hardy says L-S-P got involved in the arrest of 49-year-old William Kramer after receiving a call from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office….

cut 12(11)   “…in Louisiana”

For only the third time in history, the US Army Corps of Engineers may have to open the Morganza Spillway in early June because of the rising Mississippi River. That means water will be released into the Atchafalaya Basin raising the concern for flooding in several parishes. Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove

Cut 3 (14) “…and all.”

NOAA predicts a near-normal 2019 hurricane season. US weather officials say that means between 9 to 15 named storms, 4 to 8 hurricanes and 2 to 4 major hurricanes. Lead hurricane season forecaster Gerry Bell says the prediction is made with a 70 percent likelihood…

Cut 7 (06) “…we see.”

The other 30 percent leaves a chance for a stronger or weaker season.

A proposal to raise the legal age to purchase cigarettes, dip, and vape products from 18 to 21 is defeated on the House floor 24-55. Matt Doyle has the story.
cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

The Advocate reports a Facebook post claiming that former governor Kathleen Blanco had passed away is not true. The Advocate’s Tyler Bridges says he took a phone call from the state’s only female governor today and Blanco said reports of her early demise are greatly exaggerated. The 78-year-old is battling an incurable cancer.

Governor John Bel Edwards is discussing river flooding with his Unified Command Group this afternoon. Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove says they have several pumps working around the clock…
cut 5 (11) “….we can”
The Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish might open in June to combat the rising Mississippi River.

NOAA predicts a near-normal hurricane season for 2019 as they estimate the total number of named storms will range from nine to 15, four to eight hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes. Lead hurricane season forecaster Gerry Bell says major hurricanes will not develop until August….
cut 8 (12) “….season”
The U-S was hit by two major storms last year, Michael and Florence.

Federal forecasters are predicting a slighter weaker hurricane season than last year. Connor Ferrill has the story.
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Connor Ferrill”

The LSU baseball team is back at again in the SEC Tournament. Their game against Auburn this afternoon started about nine and a half hours after their previous contest ended. The Tigers lost a 17-inning affair with Mississippi State six to five. The game ended at 3:03 in the morning.

The US Army Corps of Engineers might open the gates on the Morganza Spillway in early June because the Mississippi River continues to rise. It would be the third time that the Morganza has ever been opened and first since 2011. Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove says just like in 2011, a barge will have to be installed in Bayou Chene to prevent backwater flooding in Terrebonne and several other parishes…
Cut 4 (08) “…anything”
Dove says they began preparing for possible flooding in February.

A Bossier City man is under arrest for allegedly engaging in sexual conversations with a minor in Wisconsin. Authorities say 49-year-old William Kramer allegedly offered to pay for the child’s plane ticket to Louisiana for sexual purposes. Louisiana State Police Trooper Brent Hardy says a further investigation revealed Kramer had engaged in sexual conversations online with multiple children….
cut 13 (09) “…a report”