Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is looking into giving the French Quarter State Park designation as a way to help clean up the area and reduce crime….
cut 5 (09) “…really changed”
Nungesser says if the French Quarter is considered a state park, it would allow lawmakers to allocate more funding. As of right now it’s just an idea and nothing has been set in stone.

In 15 months, qualifying will be underway for the 2019 Governor’s race. Pollster John Couvillon says the big challenge for Governor Edwards as he seeks re-election is that there are 41,600 fewer Democrats registered to vote now, compared to when he was elected…
cut 12 (08) “…two and a half years”
Republican Senator John Kennedy and GOP Congressman Ralph Abraham are potential challengers to Edwards.

Could thousands of Medicaid patients be kicked out of nursing homes after July 1st, because of state budget problems. That possibility will be presented to them in a letter from the state that will go out on Thursday. The letter will also provide those patients with options, but Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says…
cut 15 (09) “…up homeless”
One solution to the problem is to raise revenue in a special session in order stave off deep health care cuts.

State Treasurer John Schroder says 78.5 million dollars has been dumped into the state’s unclaimed property fund this fiscal year and that money belongs to some 100-thousand residents…
cut 9 (09) “…government takes”
Schroder is making a renewed push for residents to check the state’s Unclaimed Property website.

Some 37-thousand letters will be going out to Mediciad recipients in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities that they could be losing their state funding, if the legislature is unable to come up with money byu June 30th to fund health care programs. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says…
cut 14 (09) “….live here”
The governor’s office will provide more information tomorrow.

State Treasurer John Schroder is making a renewed push to return unclaimed property to Louisiana residents. The Treasury has deposited over 78-million dollars in new Unclaimed Property collections this fiscal year and Louisiana ranks 32nd for Unclaimed Property returns….
cut 8 (06) “…give out”
Schroder says his office is ramping up technology and outreach efforts to drive more people to the Unclaimed Property website.

In 15 months, qualifying will be underway for the 2019 Governor’s Race. Two members of Louisiana’s Republican Congressional Delegation are considering a run for the governor’s mansion, Senator John Kennedy and U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham from Richland Parish. Pollster John Couvillon says Abraham’s biggest weakness is that he’s from north Louisiana….
cut 11 (11) “…not enough”
Couvillion says the big challenge for Governor John Bel Edwards is that there are 46,000 fewer Democratic registered voters, compared to when he was elected.

The Lt. Governor has an idea for cleaning up the streets, and crime in the French Quarter: designate the area a state park. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

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State Treasurer John Schroder is trying do more to get unclaimed property back in the hands of the rightful owners. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

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37,000 eviction notices will be sent this week to Louisiana medicaid recipients in nursing homes, because of potential budget cuts. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser has an interesting idea to fix up the French Quarter: turn it into a state park. Under the plan, the Vieux Carre would be designated state park land, which would allow lawmakers to allocate additional resources to clean its streets, and increase security. Nungesser says if the idea pans out, it could have a lot perks.

Cut 4  (10) “its safer” 

Nungesser says the escalating crime problem in New Orleans is dampening enthusiasm for visiting one of Louisiana’s most iconic landmarks, and it’s a problem that goes back decades.

Cut 5  (09)  “tourism numbers”

The Lt. Governor says he is still bouncing the idea around, and nothing is set in stone, but its the kind of creative thinking the state could use.

Cut 6 (11) “Louisiana better”

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78.5 million dollars in unclaimed property has been deposited to its rightful owners this year by the Louisiana Treasury Department. The success is the result of the department’s effort to upload 100,000 new names to the database that finds the heirs to property and other assets held by the state. Treasurer John Schroder says the big publicity push is paying dividends.

Cut 7 (12)  “recently done”

Louisiana ranks 32^nd in the nation for unclaimed property returns. Schroder hopes next year they can rank higher.

Cut 8 (06)  “give out”

Ultimately, Schroder says they have a civic duty to get as much of the money back to citizens as possible.

Cut 9 (09)  “government takes”

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We are 15 months away from qualifying for the 2019 Louisiana Governor’s race. Speculation is that Republican U.S. Senator John Kennedy will challenge Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards. Pollster John Couvillon says Kennedy was elected as a Senator in 2016 and Edwards re-election campaign will likely attack the Republican from St. Tammany Parish about running for another statewide office

Cut 10 (12) “loves him”

Another potential candidate is Republican U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham from Richland Parish. Couvillon says Abraham’s biggest weakness is that he’s from north Louisiana….

Cut 11 (11) “not enough”

Couvillon says the big challenge for Governor Edwards is that there are 41,600 fewer Democrats registered to vote now compared to when he was elected….

Cut 12 (08) “two and a half years”

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The Louisiana Department of Health will begin mailing eviction notices to 37,000 mostly elderly residents of nursing homes who may lose Medicaid coverage under a House passed budget. The House backed spending plan slashes hundreds of millions in healthcare spending. LDH Deputy Secretary Michelle Alletto says anyone who receives the letter needs to act fast and apply for other programs.

Cut 13 (11)  “do so” 

But Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the letters are likely to create a panic.

The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony today from disability advocates who are raising the alarm over the House passed budget that would place deep cuts in healthcare starting July 1st, including the slashing of programs for the disabled. Ville Platte Senator Eric LaFluer says the cuts would eliminate services for over 45 thousand developmentally disabled patients.

Cut 3 (11) “81 percent”

Emotional testimony was presented on behalf of the disabled, this man said it was a life or death situation.

Cut 5  (08) “I survive”

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to approve a budget later this week, but approving additional funding will have to wait until a special session.

The Louisiana Department of Health will begin mailing eviction notices to 37,000 mostly elderly residents of nursing homes who may lose Medicaid coverage under a House passed budget. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the letters are likely to create a panic.

Cut 14 (09) “live here”

Louisiana is now on a six year run of record breaking tourism numbers as the state saw 500,000 more visitors in 2017 than it saw in 2016, for a total of 46.7 million visitors. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says a lot of these great results come down to a big push to bring in more folks from outside the U-S…

Cut 10 (09) “more money”

Tourism also brought in 1.8 billion dollars in local and state tax revenue in 2017, a 4.5 percent increase over 2016.

Those who rely on state health services went before the Senate Finance Committee today to tell their story on how proposed cuts to health care will impact their way of life. Amy Duplechain of Lafayette receives assistance from the Long Term Care Special Income Level program…
cut 6 (13) “…lose services”
Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur says an estimated 45-thousand people with disabilities are slated to lose services under the House budget proposal.

A one-month-old and an eight-year-old from Houston were killed in a two-vehicle crash on I-10 in Ascension Parish last night. State Trooper Bryan Lee says 47-year-old Stephen Daigle of Gonzales has been chared with negligent homicide and the children in the other car were not buckled up…
cut 9 (08) “…upgraded”
Lee says eyewitnesses report Daigle drove recklessly moments before the crash.

Starting today, chain restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters and vending machines are required to display calories counts for the food they sell. Many fast food chains began displaying the caloric information years ago, but LSU Health Sciences Center Doctor Henry Nuss says the jury is out on whether it will have an impact on dietary patterns….
cut 15 (12) “….choices”

For a sixth consecutive year, Louisiana has broken a record for the number of tourists. Just over 47-million people visited the state last year, an increase of nearly 500-thousand from the year before. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says direct international flights connecting New Orleans to London and Germany helped boost international visitors and now the goal is to get more tourists from Asia….
cut 12 (09) “….and clyde”

Louisiana is now on a six year run of record breaking tourism numbers as the state saw 500,000 more visitors in 2017 than it saw in 2016, for a total of 46.7 million visitors. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says the fact that Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans now offers direct flights into London and Germany is huge for tourism.

Cut 11 (10) “the state”

Starting today business with over 20 locations that sell food, including groceries and movie theaters, must display calorie counts. Along with calorie counts, business will be required to provide detailed nutritional information about their food products as well, Assistant Professor at the LSU Health Sciences New Orleans Center Dr. Henry Nuss says that’s a big help for people on strict diets.

Cut 14 (11)  “follow”

Dramatic testimony in Senate Finance today as disability advocates spoke out against a proposed budget that would slash healthcare services. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

And a Shreveport officer has been placed on paid leave after a profanity laced video emerged of Gary Thomas screaming at a male after responding to a noise complaint.

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Thomas was arrested in 2017 for domestic violence against his wife, which led to his firing. He was later reinstated by the municipal fire and police civil service board.

For a sixth consecutive year, Louisiana has broken a record for the number of tourists. Just over 47-million people visited the state last year, an increase of nearly 500-thousand from the year before. Lieutenenant Governor Billy Nungesser says direct international flights connecting New Orleans to London and Germany helped boost international visitors and now the goal is to get more tourists from Asia….
cut 12 (09) “….and clyde”

A one-month-old and eight-year-old child from Houston were killed in a fatal wreck last night on I-10 in Ascension Parish. State Police Trooper Bryan Lee says investigators believe 47-year-old Stephen Daigle of Gonzales caused the fatal wreck…
cut 7 (10) “….Philson’s vehicle”
Daigle is facing numerous charges including negligent homicide.

Lafayette Police announce the arrest of four juveniles on charges of terrorizing and Disturbing the Peace for an alleged “Flash Mob” style disturbance. Authorities say these individuals caused a large crowd of festival goers to suddenly run in fear from the downtown area on April 28th. Police credit additional crime cameras for helping them identify the juveniles involved.

Calorie counts are now on display at all businesses with over 20 locations that sell food. Don Molino has the story.
Cut 2 (30) I’m Don Molino”