There have been three announcements of job losses for the city of Zachary in East Baton Rouge over the last week. Thompson Pipe Group will close its manufacturing plant, which will affect 120 employees. Georgia Pacific is laying off 650 workers at its Port Hudson paper mill and BASF will close a chemical plant in Zachary that employs 54. Governor Edwards says the state can help impacted workers
Cut 6 (10) “…to work.”

Federal regulators have ordered Entergy to pay back customers in Louisiana and other states 135 million dollars for over charges. Spokesperson Lee Sabatini says that means the average customer will see a few bucks knocked off their January, February, and March bill.  The refund is related to a suit that was filed by the Louisiana Public Service Commission in 2009, challenging a business deal made by Entergy Arkansas from 2000-2009.

Cut 11 (11) “…agreement”

A steel-covered walkway is being installed at the entrance of the state capitol to protect visitors from falling pieces of mortar from the 86-year-old building. Division of administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says the structural integrity of the capitol is good, unfortunately small pieces of the mortar are flaking off
Cut 12 (10)   “…again.”

According to Department of Children and Family Services, the 337,000 families that are receiving February benefits from the food stamps programs should have received them by now.  They arrived early due to the government shutdown. DCFS Deputy Assistant Secretary Sammy Guillory says it’s important for recipients to realize, these are not extra benefits.
Cut 15 (10) “…benefits in March.”

Entergy Louisiana’s one-million customers will receive a small refund credit on their January, February, and March bills.
Cut 9 (08) “of months″
That’s Entergy spokesperson Lee Sabatini, who says these refunds partially resolve an issue over how Entergy Arkansas accounted for power sales made more than 10 years ago.

Louisiana has distributed Febrary food stamps to 337-thousand households. The early issuance is due to the partial federal government shutdown and the department of children and family services is advising food stamp recipients to budget accordingly, because these are not extra benefits. Assistant Deputy Secretary Sammy Guillory says if you recently applied for food stamps, your application is still being processed…
cut 16 (08) “…into February”

An Alexandria Police office went through a scary moment while trying to issue a citation to a 51-year-old bicyclist. Corporal Wade Bourgeois says Vernon Holden became violent with the officer and took his TASER…
cut 4 (08) “….the officer”
Bourgeois says Holden also got a hold of the officer’s gun and put it to his head. He says after making threats, Holden fled and apprehended behind a shed. He faces numerous charges and the officer is okay.

The city of Zachary has been hit with three different companies in the last week announcing lay-offs at their facilities, meaning hundreds in East Baton Rouge will soon be out of a job. Governor John Bel Edwards says the state’s economy is strong and if you’ve been laid off, there are options…
cut 8 (10) “….that done”
IBM is hosting a career fair in Lafayette on Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM at South Louisiana Community College.

Federal regulators have ordered Entergy to pay back customers in Louisiana and other states 135 million dollars for over charges. Spokesperson Lee Sabatini says tens of millions of dollars from that settlement are on their way to the Bayou State in the form of refunds.

Cut 10 (08) “…as well”

That average customer who uses 1,300 kilowatt hours a month will see about five bucks taken off their bill in the form of a fuel credit.

There have been three announcements of job losses for the city of Zachary in East Baton Rouge over the last week. Thompson Pipe Group will close its manufacturing plant, which will affect 120 employees. Georgia Pacific is laying off 650 workers at its Port Hudson paper mill and BASF will close a chemical plant in Zachary that employs 54. Governor Edwards says other Baton Rouge area employers are looking for workers…

Cut 7 (14) “…open there.”

Louisiana has completed the process of issuing February food stamps a couple of weeks early. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A steel-covered walkway is being installed at the entrance of the state capitol to protect visitors from falling pieces of mortar from the 86-year-old building. Division of administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says  the state legislature will have to appropriate the 40 to 60-million dollars to repair the falling mortar, and in the meantime…

Cut 13 (07) “…like that.”

Louisiana and New Orleans Entergy customers will see a few bucks knocked off their bills for the next few months…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A pedestrian is dead following a hit & run in St. Landry Parish. Shortly before 10PM last night, state police were notified of the crash that claimed the life of 51-year-old David Sonnier of Arnaudville.  It appears Sonnier was walking on or near LA 182 when he was struck by two vehicles, with both fleeing the scene. Troopers say it is unknown if impairment played a role at this time, but toxicology tests are pending.

A steel-covered walkway is being installed at the entrance of the state capitol to protect visitors from falling pieces of mortar from the 86-year-old building. Division of administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says the structural integrity of the capitol is good, unfortunately small pieces of the mortar are flaking off
Cut 12 (10)   “…again.”
According to Department of Children and Family Services, the 337,000 families that are receiving February benefits from the food stamps programs should have received them by now.  They arrived early due to the government shutdown. DCFS Deputy Assistant Secretary Sammy Guillory says it’s important for recipients to realize, these are not extra benefits.
Cut 15 (10) “…benefits in March.”

Guillory says new applications are being processed as usual in accordance with the agency’s normal standard until they are told otherwise.

State representative Katrina Jackson, a democrat from Monroe, will speak tomorrow at the National March for Life Rally in Washington D.C. Jackson authored a 2014 law that required abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a local hospital to operate. Jackson says their aim is the eventual reversal of the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion.
Cut 14 (10) “…women’s health.”
Thousands are expected to be in attendance for the 46th annual march.

The city of Zachary has been hit with three different companies in the last week announcing lay-offs at their facilities, meaning hundreds in East Baton Rouge will soon be out of a job. Governor John Bel Edwards says the state’s economy is strong and if you’ve been laid off, there are options…
cut 8 (10) “….that done”

A 51-year-old bicyclist allegedly assaulted an Alexandria Police officer with the officer’s own TASER, then held a gun to that officer’s head after being stopped for a traffic violation. Corporal Wade Bourgeois says the violent confrontation began when the officer tried to issue a routine citation…
Cut 3 (12) “…confrontation.”
Bourgeois says after making threats against the officer, Vernon Holden fled and was later apprehended behind a shed.

A military jury has convicted Barksdale Air Force airman Isaiah Edwards in the fatal stabbing of his roommate during a deployment to Guam last year. Edwards will be sentenced this afternoon and faces a life sentence. Edwards tried to claim he killed 20-year-old Bradley Hale in self defense.

There have been three announcements of job losses for the city of Zachary in East Baton Rouge over the last week. Thompson Pipe Group will close its manufacturing plant, which will affect 120 employees. Georgia Pacific is laying off 650 workers at its Port Hudson paper mill and BASF will close a chemical plant in Zachary that employs 54. Governor Edwards says the state can help impacted workers

Cut 6 (10) “…to work.”

IBM is hosting a career fair in Lafayette from 9 AM to 2 PM at South Louisiana Community College.

The coveted one-day tickets to see the Rolling Stones on May 2nd at Jazzfest in New Orleans have fans lined up down the street from the Superdome ticket office. Festival produce Quint Davis says that box office could be open past it’s normal closing time to accommodate.

Cut 9 (11) “…past five o’clock.″

Tickets are $185 plus fees.

Monroe Democratic Representative Katrina Jackson will speak tomorrow at the National March for Life Rally in Washington D.C. Jackson authored a 2014 law that required abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a local hospital to operate. She’s joined in the Capital by 2,000 Louisiana highschool students from a range of different youth and church groups across the state. Jackson says she’ll be discussing the march, and her advocacy on pro-life issues this morning.

Cut 15 (11) “…young adults”

Alexandria Police have arrested a man, and slapped him with a slew of charges after he alleged disarmed an officer after being stopped for a traffic violation and then held a gun to that officers held while threatening to shoot them. Vernon Holden was allegedly violating traffic laws while on a bike, and was pulled over by police. Authorities say he resisted being tased, and then used that taser against the officer before drawing his weapon. After the altercation, Holden fled, and was later apprehended.

Governor Edwards, on Ask the Governor, says nearly 6,000 federal workers in the Bayou State are suffering without paychecks as the longest government shutdown in history drags on. He says its taking a toll on several different departments, even the Coast Guard at the Belle Chase Naval Air Station, and  he’s concerned that prolonging the shutdown could present safety risks to the public, as more and more vital programs close, or become understaffed.

Cut 12 (10) “…so forth.”

Monroe Democratic Representative Katrina Jackson will speak tomorrow at the National March for Life Rally in Washington D.C. Jackson admitted abortion is settled law, but highlighted legislative attempts, including her passage of the Unsafe Abortion Protection Act as reminders that through enough advocacy, opinions on president can change.

Cut 16 (09)  “…that area”

Jackson authored a 2014 law that required abortion clinics to have admitting privileges.

Rooting the Saints on in the Superdome will cost Who Dats a pretty penny. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Connor Ferrill.”

Alexandria Police have arrested a man, and slapped him with a slew of charges after he alleged disarmed an officer after being stopped for a traffic violation and then held a gun to that officers held while threatening to shoot them. Vernon Holden was allegedly violating traffic laws while on a bike, and was pulled over by police. Authorities say he resisted being tased, and then used that taser against the officer before drawing his weapon. After the altercation, Holden fled, and was later apprehended.

A democratic state lawmaker from Monroe is set to speak in front of the tens of thousands who will attend the 46th annual March for Life in DC. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Today in Marksville, it’s the funeral for 10-year-old Brieanna Layne Descant. She was one of the five children killed in the fiery crash on a Florida highway as a church van was on its way to Disney World. Family members say Brieanna loved to sing and was always full of life.

Starting at 10 AM at the Mercedes Benz Superdome Box office, concert goers can purchase Rolling Stones tickets for their show on May 2nd during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest. Festival producer Quint Davis…
cut 8 (12) “….to the public”
Fans started lining up for their chance to buy tickets last night.

If you are looking for tickets to Sunday’s NFC Championship game, StubHub has seats ranging as cheap as 280 dollars to 24-hundred dollars in the bunker clubs. StubHub’s Akzhay Khanna says they are also seeing activity from Louisiana customers buying tickets for the Super Bowl in Atlanta…
cut 5 (09) “…make it through”
The Saints are a 3.5 point favorite beat the Rams on Sunday.