After five days of stalled negotiations, lawmakers are optimistic legislation will begin moving forward when legislatorsr convene Sunday afternoon. Lake Charles Republican Representative Steven Dwight’s bill to extend a portion of the expiring one penny sales tax will be heard, and he’s optimistic about its chances…
Cut 5 (10) “floor monday.”
But Vice-chair of the legislative Black Caucus Ted James of Baton Rouge says a plan to solve the fiscal cliff could still be a ways off, with Democrats balking at allowing the state to maintain special sales tax exemptions for certain industries.
Cut 8 (08) “for us”
Louisiana faces a budget deficit of nearly one billion dollars on July 1st when temporary sales taxes expire.

Officials are investigating a shooting that injured two people on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond early Friday morning. University spokesperson Tonya Lowentritt says the shooting stemmed from a fight involving students and others who do not attend the school…
cut 3 (13) “…life threatening”
No arrests have been made.

Roger Villere’s 14-year run as the state’s Republican Party Chairman ends Saturday when a new leader is elected. When Villere took over as GOP Chairman, the only Republican statewide official was the late Secretary of State Fox McKeithen. Now it has completely flipped the other way. Villere says there’s also been an increase in registered Republican voters…
Cut 10 (08) “than double.”

The special session is coming back to life, as lawmakers will convene Sunday to hear a series of tax and Medicaid proposals. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Two people were injured by gunfire on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond eary this morning. Officials say the shooting happened around 3 AM near the Assembly Hall. The two people shot are said to be suffering from non-life threatening injuries. No suspects are in custody.

Louisiana Republican Party chairman Roger Villere relinquishes his role on Saturday after serving for 14-years. It’s believed he’s the longest serving chairman of a state party in the country. Villere says during that time, the political demographics have changed, as the GOP is the dominant party for statewide offices…
Cut 9 (11) “that scenario”
A new party chairman will be elected on Saturday when Republicans gather for their quarterly meeting at the old State Capitol.

A flash flood watch is in effect through Saturday afternoon for four parishes in northwest Louisiana, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne and Webster. The National Weather Service expects storms will repeatedly move over the area dumping moderate to heavy rainfall.

Southeastern Louisiana University says two individuals suffered non-life threatening injuries from an overnight shooting that occured on North campus. Authorities say several individuals were involved when gunshots were fired and the incident remains under investigation. University officials say there is no threat to the campus community at this time.

A New Orleans area lawmaker says it’s time to revisit a bill to allow school educators to have guns on campus. Kelley Ray has the details…
voicer 1 (31) “…I’m Kelley Ray”

It’s day five of the legislative special session and there’s no activity at the State Capitol. That’s disappointing for Stonewall Representative Lawrence Bagley who sits on the House Health and Welfare committee and is ready to vote on something…
cut 13 (11) “…of it”
But there are signs of progress on a compromise to solve a looming one-billion dollar budget deficit. Lake Charles Representative Stephen Dwight says the House will re-convene on Sunday and he expects legislation dealing with Medicaid reform, reducing federal excess itemized tax deductions and his sales tax proposal will start moving through the legislative process…
cut 6 (10) “….democrats needed”
The special session must end on March 7th.

(shooting)

Officials are investigating a shooting on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond this morning.  Spokesperson Tonya Lowentritt says early reports indicate the fight involved students and others who don’t attend S-E-L-U…

Cut 3 (:13) Life threatening

Officials say several still unidentified individuals were near the assembly hall when the shooting occurred.  Lowentritt says police are following up on leads…

Cut 4  (07) “under investigation.” 

Governor Edwards has made a statement saying “the state is ready to mobilize every available resource…to assist them in this investigation.” The campus is open as normal today.

Medicaid reform legislation has stalled at the special session. Matt Doyle covers the heated discussion between House Health and Welfare committee members.

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

There are some big Louisiana Lottery winners that haven’t claimed their prizes, which are in some cases at least 50-thousand-dollars.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says they are seeking a winner who matched

four of the five white ball numbers on September 2^nd.  Their ticket is about to expire…

Cut 7 (09)  “March 1st”

Chalmette Representative Raymond Garafalo will reintroduce a bill in the regular session that would allow school educators to carry weapons on campus if they have proper training.  Garafalo first suggested the idea in 2014, but it was defeated by House Criminal Justice committee.  In the wake of recent threats and attacks, Garafalo says allowing guns in the classroom may prevent future mass school shootings…

Garafalo says faculty who choose to voluntarily carry, would be trained appropriately while law enforcement officers would be notified as to who has a weapon and which teachers don’t…

Garafalo says this legislation will be a step in the right direction since the only sure way to stop the violence is to take all guns away…

Cut 6 (08)  “them away.”

There are some big Louisiana Lottery winners that haven’t claimed their prizes, which are in some cases at least 50-thousand-dollars.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says they are seeking a winner who matched four of the five white ball numbers on September 2^nd.  Their ticket is about to expire…

So what happens to the unclaimed lottery winnings?  Chopin says there are roughly between nine and 11-million-dollars in unclaimed money annually that can be won again…

Chopin’s advice is to sign the back of your tickets, then you can check for the winning numbers on the lottery tv show at 9:59pm on the nights they air.  The Lottery also has other means of getting the word out on winning numbers…

Cut 9 (12)  “as well.” (2X)

Gunfire this morning on the campus of Southeastern. University police have confirmed an incident overnight on North Campus involving several individuals. No word if those involved were students. Two individuals were shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries according to a statement from police. There is no present threat at the hammond university and the investigation is continuing.

Medicaid reform legislation was pulled from consideration in the House Health and Welfare Committee before it could be voted on, maintaining the special session’s current run of inaction. The bill would have implemented work requirements for Medicaid recipients. Opelousas Democrat Dustin Miller says the bill was mean spirited and wasteful.

Miller says the proposal was similar to Kentucky’s Medicaid reform that is currently estimated to cost that state roughly 300 million dollars to implement.

But West Monroe Republican Frank Hoffman says the bill would inspire unemployed Medicaid recipients to get a job and provide for themselves.

Cut 11 (11) “of Medicaid.”

Hoffman says the Medicaid program is burdened by a noticeable amount of unemployed people who lack the motivation to work, but Miller says the numbers don’t back that up.

Cut 12 (12) “ten percent.”

Miller says the bill would have endangered the lives of people too sick to work, but Hoffman says the legislation provides protections for those who qualify.

Gunfire this morning on the campus of Southeastern. University police have confirmed an incident overnight on North Campus involving several individuals. No word if those involved were students. Two individuals were shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries according to a statement from police. There is no present threat at the university and the investigation is continuing.

Chalmette Representative Raymond Garafalo will reintroduce a bill in the regular session that would allow school educators to carry weapons on campus.  Garafalo says faculty who choose to voluntarily carry, would be trained appropriately while law enforcement officers would be notified as to who has a weapon and which teachers don’t…

Cut 5  (10)  “of incidents.”

Over the last few days, there have been numerous juveniles and in some cases young adults arrested in Louisiana for making false and some real threats to commit school violence.  Even though some of the teens have been charged with causing terror, legal analyst Tim Meche says

In some cases serving time in a juvenile center is the best option for teens who are trying to cause panic in their community.  Meche says just slapping a fine on these teens for their delinquent behavior doesn’t work…

Cut 16 (11) “on that.”

Medicaid reform legislation was pulled from consideration in the House Health and Welfare Committee before it could be voted on, maintaining the special session’s current run of inaction.

only two significant pieces of legislation have escaped committee… Louisiana Checkbook, and a spending cap. Stonewall Representative Lawrence Bagley, who travels over 200 miles to attend the session, says he just wants to chance to do his job.

Cut 13 (11)  “of it.”

A Representative says it’s time to revisit a bill to allow school educators have guns on campus.  Kelley Ray has the details….

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

Medicaid reform legislation was pulled from consideration in the House Health and Welfare Committee before it could be voted on, maintaining the special session’s current run of inaction. The bill would have implemented work requirements for Medicaid recipients. Opelousas Democrat Dustin Miller says the bill was mean spirited and wasteful.

Cut 10 (09) “help them”

Over the last few days, there have been numerous juveniles and in some cases young adults arrested in Louisiana for making false and some real threats to commit school violence.  Even though some of the teens have been charged with causing terror, legal analyst Tim Meche says a juvenile face’s more legal issues, depending on if a threat was followed through…

Cut 15 (10) “including jail.”

There are some big Louisiana Lottery winners that haven’t claimed their prizes, which are in some cases at least 50-thousand-dollars.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says they are seeking a winner who matched four of the five white ball numbers on September 2^nd.

So what happens to the unclaimed lottery winnings?  Chopin says there are roughly between nine and 11-million-dollars in unclaimed money annually that can be won again…

Cut 8 (09) “one free.”

Medicaid reform legislation has stalled at the special session. Matt Doyle covers the heated discussion between House Health and Welfare committee members.

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

There are some big Louisiana Lottery winners that haven’t claimed their prizes, which are in some cases at least 50-thousand-dollars.  Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says they are seeking a winner who matched four of the five white ball numbers on September 2^nd.  Their ticket is about to expire…

Cut 7 (09)  “March 1st”

Chalmette Representative Raymond Garafalo will reintroduce a bill in the regular session that would allow school educators to carry weapons on campus if they have proper training.  Garafalo first suggested the idea in 2014, but it was shot down by House Criminal Justice committee.  In the wake of recent threats and attacks, Garafalo says allowing guns in the classroom may prevent future mass school shootings…

Cut 4  (11) “have now.” 

Over the last few days, there have been numerous juveniles and in some cases young adults arrested in Louisiana for making false and some real threats to commit school violence.  Even though some of the teens have been charged with causing terror, legal analyst Tim Meche says most of these threat cases, the punishment is not that severe…

Cut 14 (12) “undergo counseling.”