A forgotten gas can appears to be the link that led investigators to the alleged St. Landry Church arsonist. Court documents show the can was left behind at one of the arsons, and was eventually traced by to an Opelousas Walmart, where it was sold to a 21-year-old Holden Matthews, the son of a St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s deputy, just hours before the first fire. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says a motive has not been determined yet, but…
Cut 8 (10) “…church burnings.”
The first church to burn down was the St. Mary Bapstist Church in Port Barre on March 26. Two more churches were torched in early April in Opelousas.
LSU football has received a verbal pledge from four-star cornerback Lorando Johnson from Lancaster High School in Texas. 24-7 sports reports Johnson is rated as the nation’s 11th best corner in the country.
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The Revenue Estimating Conference’s updated revenue forecast gives lawmakers 119 million dollars more for the next fiscal year, roughly enough to pay for a sought after 1,000 dollar teacher pay raise. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says there wouldn’t be much cash left over after the pay hike.
Cut 11 (10) “…today.”
73 percent of Louisianans support Governor Edwards’ Medicaid expansion according to the fourth installment of the 2019 Louisiana Survey, but 55 percent of respondents said they were “unsure” whether the state had expanded Medicaid, with only 35 percent correctly saying that it had. Manship School Dean Martin Johnson.
Cut 14 (07) “…we do”
The expansion’s popularity has risen four percent in the three years since the survey began tracking it’s approval rating.

According to court documents an Opelousas man arrested for burning down three historical black churches was caught after a gas can that was left at the scene of one of the arsons was traced backed to a sale at a Opelousas Walmart, and a debit card belonging to 21-year-old Holden Matthews. Governor John Bel Edwards congratulates law enforcement for their swift work on the case.
Cut 6 (12) “…evil acts”
The time stamp on the gas can receipt was less than 3 hours before the first church fire was reported.
Walmart is investing an estimated $73 million into remodeling 15 stores in Louisiana. Walmart spokesperson Anne Hatfield says among the innovations, Walmart is adding autonomous shelf scanning to help with inventory, grocery pickup and delivery, and Walmart Pickup Towers.
Cut 4 (08) “…on walmart.com.”
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The Revenue Estimating Conference’s updated revenue forecast gives lawmakers 110 million dollars extra to spend for this fiscal year, and 119 million dollars more for the next fiscal year. The legislature can now go about crafting a budget, knowing exactly how much money they can spend, something they couldn’t do previously. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says he’s disappointed the final numbers came out lower than expected, but it’s better than nothing.
Cut 10 (09) “…forecast.”
73 percent of Louisianans support Governor Edwards’ Medicaid expansion according to the fourth installment of the 2019 Louisiana Survey. Manship School Dean Martin Johnson says GOP support begins to collapse when the cost of the program is mentioned, something gubernatorial candidates are sure to notice…
Cut 13 (12) “…counting on”

21-year-old Holden Matthews of Opelousas has been arrested in the fires that destroyed three black Louisiana churches over a 10-day span. The first church to burn down was the St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre on March 26. Two more churches were torched in early April in Opelousas. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning credits solid law enforcement work for making an arrest…
cut 7 (08) “….is a suspect”
Matthews is a son of a St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s deputy.

A study from the Spectrum Gaming Group says two Bossier City riverboat casinos should move and recommended that Boomtown should re-locate to the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain and Diamond Jacks should find a spot in northeast Louisiana. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones…
cut 15 (09) “…like that”

Nearly three quarters of Louisianans approve of Governor Edwards’ Medicaid expansion according to the latest edition of the 2019 Louisiana Survey. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Walmart says they will spend 73-million dollars this year remodeling 15 of their stores in Louisiana. Company spokesperson Anne Hatfield says grocery store pick up will also be expanded…
cut 5 (07) “…customers love it”
Stores in Minden, Natchitoches and Leesville are among that will be remodeled.

The Revenue Estimating Conference’s updated revenue forecast gives lawmakers 110 million dollars extra to spend for this fiscal year, and 119 million dollars more for the next fiscal year. The upgraded forecast had been blocked by Speaker Taylor Barras for months, citing concerns about accuracy. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says it was unnecessary.

Cut 9 (09) “…modified”

73 percent of Louisianans support Governor Edwards’ Medicaid expansion according to the fourth installment of the 2019 Louisiana Survey. Manship School Dean Martin Johnson says before you preface the question with any background information about costs, the policy has bipartisan backing.

Cut 12 (07) “…expansion”

The son of a St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s deputy has been accused of burning down three historically black churches in the Opelousas area. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

An Opelousas man has been arrested for burning down three historical black churches in St. Landry Parish. 21-year-old Holden Matthews is facing three counts of simple arson of a religious building. Governor John Bel Edwards was on hand to congratulate law enforcement for getting Matthews behind bars

Cut 6 (12) “…evil acts”

Matthews is a son of a St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s deputy and had no prior arrests or history of violence. Browning says an exact motive has not been determined, but the suspect may have been influenced by black metal

Cut 8 (10) “…church burnings.” 

The first church to burn down was the St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre on March 26. Two more churches were torched in early April in Opelousas

Walmart is investing an estimated $73 million into remodeling 15 stores in Louisiana.  Four of those stores are in the New Orleans area and two in the Baton Rouge area.  Walmart spokesperson Anne Hatfield says the goal of the investment in technology innovations is to help save customers’ time and money.

Cut 3 (07) “…serve our customers.”

Stores in Shreveport, Natchitoches, Minden, Leesville, Winnsboro, Thibodaux and Mansura are also being upgraded.

LSU F King Alexander says despite moving to a holistic admissions process, this year’s freshman class equaled the 2017 freshman class GPA and earned more credits in the first semester than the two previous incoming classes. Alexander says they are even seeing an improvement in fall to spring retention levels…
cut 12 (07) “…90-percent”

Governor Edwards announces a suspect has been arrested in the St. Landry Parish church fires that destroyed three historically black churches over a ten-day span. Twenty-one-year-old Holden Matthews of Opelousas was booked into the St. Landry parish jail on three counts of simple arson of a religious building. An exact motive has not been established.

Gubernatorial candidate Congressman Ralph Abraham announces over 100 endorsements from local elected officials in 36 parishes. Matt Doyle spoke to the two state reps on the list…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

A study recommends two riverboat casinos in Bossier City should relocate, because the gaming business has declined in northwest Louisiana. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says the Shreveport-Bossier market has been hurt, because Oklahoma tribal casinos are doing a better job in luring visitors from the Dallas-Fort Worth area…
Cut 14 (09) “…about to expand.”
The study recommended that Boomtown Bossier City should move to the northshore of Lake Ponchartrain while Diamond Jacks should relocate to northeast Louisiana, but such an effort would take years to complete.

LSU says it’s new admissions model, which takes into account a student’s background and not just G-P-A and test scores, is showing impressive results. System president F King Alexander says the 2018 freshman class earned more credits than the previous two incoming classes and equaled the 2017 freshman class G-P-A. Alexander says shifting to holistic admissions puts LSU in line with 48 of the nation’s top 50 schools…
cut 11 (11) “…senior year”

A press conference will begin shortly in Opelousas where authorities are expected to announce an arrest in the investigation into fires that destroyed three historically black churches in St. Landry Parish during a ten-day period. Media reports says the suspect is 21-year-old Holden Matthews. He’s the son of a St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s deputy.

A study recommends that two riverboat casinos in Bossier City should re-locate out of northwest Louisiana…
voicer 3 (32) “….I’m Kevin Barnhart”

LSU F King Alexander says despite moving to a holistic admissions process, this year’s freshman class equaled the 2017 freshman class GPA and earned more credits in the first semester than the two previous incoming classes. Alexander says they are even seeing an improvement in fall to spring retention levels…
cut 12 (07) “…90-percent”
Instead of just focusing on grade point average and test scores, LSU now looks into more of a student’s background during the admission process.

It’s Work Zone Awareness Week and this year’s theme is “Work Zone Safety, drive like you work here. Which means a work zone is essentially the office space for those individuals working on the roadways. State Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says before you take a trip, check out 5-1-1-L-A-dot-org to find construction zones on your route…
cut 9 (10) “….ahead of time”

CBS News reports it was the father, a St. Landry Deputy Sheriff who turned in his son, the suspect in the recent burning of three churches in St. Landry Parish. A Lafayette TV station sites sources that the suspect is 21-year old Holden Matthews. The State Fire Marshal will hold a press conference at 10am. The three historically black churches burnt to the ground within 10 days of each other.

LSU President F. King Alexander is touting the performance of the 2018 freshman class, a portion of whom were admitted under the new “holistic admissions” policy where some applicants are admitted despite not meeting the GPA or ACT requirements.

Alexander says it has not sacrificed performance or achievement.

Cut 10 (09) “…we’ve had”

The average GPA was the same as 2017, at 2.8.

A study prepared for the Louisiana Department of Economic Development recommends that two riverboat casinos in Bossier City relocate due to a loss of revenue and taxes. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says he anticipates if they do relocate, they will likely take advantage of the recently passed law that gives gaming establishments the ability to be built on dry land. The move of one casino to North Louisiana would likely be political.

Cut 15 (10) “…something like that.”

The Louisiana Department of Transportation is observing Work Zone Awareness Week, to encourage motorist to slow down and pay attention in work zones. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says in 2017 eleven workers were killed in Louisiana. Mallett adds in most cases, the deaths were preventable.

Cut 8 (09) “…be very dangerous.”

An arrest has been made in connection with the three recent fires of historically black churches in St. Landry’s Parish. A Lafayette TV station sites sources that the suspect is 21-year old Holden Matthews the son of a St Landry Deputy Sherriff. The State Fire Marshall will hold a press conference at 10am and Governor Edwards is scheduled to attend.

LSU says the 2018 freshman class’s record setting performance levels are proof that the decision to allow more students into the school that did not meet GPA and ACT requirements was justified. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

A study prepared for the Louisiana Department of Economic Development recommends that two riverboat casinos in Bossier City relocate due to a loss of revenue and taxes. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says with increased competition from Oklahoma, the findings are not surprising.

Cut 13 (10) “…nearly a quarter.”

The study recommended that Boomtown Bossier City move to the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain while Diamond Jacks should relocate to northeast Louisiana.

Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham is touting over 100 endorsements from elected officials in 26 parishes in his run for Governor.

Covington Representative Paul Hollis says he’s especially impressed by Abraham’s background.

Cut 5 (08) “…Louisianian.”

Abraham is one of two Republicans, the other being Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone, hoping to eliminate the Gulf Coast’s only Democratic governor.