Louisiana’s delegation votes along party lines for the House tax reform bill that was approved today. Jeff Palermo has more…
Voicer 1 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Louisiana National Guard says over 300 of their soldiders and airmen have returned from a deployment to Puerto Rico to help the island nation recover from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The Guard says the soliders cleared roads and helped electric companies restore power.

Houma native Jay Clune has been named as the next president of Nicholls State. Clune graduated from Nicholls and will begin serving as the leader of the Thibodaux school after the new year. Clune says he’s ready to take ideas on how to make Nicholls an even better university…
cut 8 (11) “…and staff”

And later today in Natchitoches a dedication ceremony will take place for the city’s newly renovated riverfront that cost four million dollars. Mayor Lee Posey says the riverbank was torn up until about a mongh ago with the renovations. He says once sod was put down, everything started to come together…
cut 12 (11) “…it better”
This Saturday begins the 91st Christmas Festival of Lights.

Louisiana’s delegation votes along party lines for the House tax reform bill that was approved today. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Natchitoches dedicates its newly renovated Beauport Riverfront tonight on the heels of the 91^st Christmas Festival of Lights. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________________

The U.S. House approved the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Republicans say will lower tax rates at all income levels and lower the corporate tax rate. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise says this legislation will also make it easier for everyday Americans to do their own taxes.

Cut 3 (11) “so complicated”

The Senate still must vote on its own version of a tax reform plan and if that passes then the differences will be settled in a conference committee. Scalise says the House bill gives every income level a tax break. He says they have also doubled the standard deduction, which will be a big win for struggling families, as well as….

Cut 4  (11) “in taxes” 

Middle class families in Louisiana are predicted to see a raise in after-tax income of $1,857, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. New Orleans Democrat Cedric Richmond voted against it, because he says it will hurt undeserved communities. But Scalise says this bill will get our economy moving again and create jobs.

Cut 5  (11)  “so long”

________________________________________________________

Nicholls State has named Jay Clune as the university’s 6^th president.  Clune is currently the interim graduate dean for the University of West Florida. The Houma native is a Nicholls graduate and he will take over after the first of 2018. Clune says he wants students coming to Nicholls to learn in a modern environment…

Cut 6 (07)  “some programs.”

For the past nine years, legislators have cut higher education budgets, trimed some 150-million-dollars over that period of time – 39-million-dollars for just Nicholls.  Clune says he knows of other ways to raise money…

Cut 7 (09) “instructional costs.”

Clune says he knows there are issues at the school, but wants to tackle them head on…

Cut 8 (12) “and staff.”

_________________________________________________________

Baton Rouge Police have arrested a man in the 2014 killing of West St. John High School coach Juan Joseph. Sgt. Don Coppola says they had originally booked another man for the murder, but those charges were later dropped after the DA’s office said the shooter was misidentified. Coppola says now Jamarcus Goodman is charged with second degree murder…:

Cut 9 (05)  “through DNA”

The murder happened on November 16th, 2014.  Coppola says they believe Goodman was a passenger in a vehicle that had intentionally fired a weapon which struck and killed Joseph. He says investigators had been on the case exactly three years before they caught up with Goodman.

Cut 10 (09) “to this crime”

________________________________________________________

Natchitoches unveils its newly renovated rue Beauport Riverfront tonight, which cost four million dollars. Mayor Lee Posey says they’ve added a new festival stage, amphitheater seating and a new Santa Claus house. He says restrooms and handicap ramps have also been added along the Cane River.

Cut 11 (10) “weekend”

The dedication comes as the 91^st Christmas Festival of Lights is set to begin this Saturday in downtown Natchitoches with the official lighting ceremony starting at 6:30 p.m. Posey says the riverbank was torn up until about a month ago with the renovations. He says once sod was laid down, everything started to come together.

Cut 12 (11) “it better”

Posey says the Festival of Lights takes place throughout seven weekends. He says tonight’s dedication is free to the public.

Cut 13 (11)  “huge day”

____________________________________________________

Officials say a fire claimed the lives of a girl and her grandfather in Livingston Parish late last night. Fire Chief Joe Koczrowski (Cuz-Rou-Ski) says two others were found alive outside of the mobile home when firefighters arrived, but the other two were already dead.

Cut 14 (06) “who’s deceased” (2x)

The residence did not have working smoke alarms. Koczrowski says a 53-year-old grandmother and her 13-year-old granddaughter suffered severe, but not life threatening injuries. He says they are still trying to determine the cause…:

Cut 15 (07) “purely accidental”

The U.S. House approved the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Republicans say will lower tax rates at all income levels and lower the corporate tax rate. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise says this legislation will also make it easier for people to do their own taxes..:
Cut 3 (11) “so complicated”
The Senate still must vote on its own version of a tax reform plan and if that passes then it must be settled in a conference committee.

Officials say a fire claimed the lives of a girl and her grandfather in Livingston Parish late last night night. Fire Chief Joe Koczrowski (Cuz-Rou-Ski) two others were found alive outside of the mobile home when firefighters arrived, but the other two were already dead.
CUT 14 (06) “who’s deceased” (2x)
He says a 53-year-old grandmother and her 13-year-old granddaughter suffered severe, but not life threatening injuries.

Natchitoches dedicates its newly renovated Beauport Riverfront tonight on the heels of the 91st Christmas Festival of Lights. Emelie Gunn has more:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A grand jury today issued a first degree murder indictment of Darren Bridges who is charged with murdering New Orleans Police Officer Marcus McNeil on October 13. It’s being reported that District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro says his office is pursuing the death penalty for Bridges.

Officials say a fire claimed the lives of a girl and her grandfather in Livingston Parish late last night night. They said two others were found alive outside of the residence when firefighters arrived, but the other two were already dead. The survivors are reportedly in critical condition. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Baton Rouge Police have arrested a man in the 2014 killing of West St. John High School coach Juan Joseph. Sgt. Don Coppola says they believe Jamarcus Goodman was a passenger in a vehicle that had intentionally fired a weapon which striking and killing Joseph. He says investigators had been on the case exactly three years before they caught up with Goodman…:
Cut 10 (09) “to this crime”
Another man was originally booked with the crime, but charges later dropped. Goodman is charged with second degree murder.

Natchitoches unveils its newly renovated rue Beauport Riverfront tonight. The riverfront has undergone a four million dollar restoration. Mayor Lee Posey says they’ve added a new festival stage, amphitheater seating and a new Santa Claus house…:
Cut 11 (10) “weekend”
He says restrooms and handicap ramps have also been added along the Cane River.

The steady increase in gas prices is continuing. AAA says there is still strong fall demand for gasoline and it’s chipping away at inventory. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is now $2.34, up almost 10 cents over the past month.

A Florida educator with ties to south Louisiana has been named to be the next president of Nicholls State University. Jay Clune, a Houma native, is a Nicholls alum and says he wants students coming to the Thibodaux school to learn in a modern environment…:
Cut 6 (07) “some programs”
Clune becomes the sixth Nicholls State president.

Baton Rouge Police have arrested a man in the 2014 killing of West St. John High School coach Juan Joseph. Sgt. Don Coppola says they had originally booked another man for the murder, but those charges were later dropped after the DA’s office said the shooter was misidentified. Coppola says now Jamarcus Goodman is charged with second degree murder…:
CUT 9 (05) “through DNA”
Copolla says Goodman was living in Texas and had faced other charges there, but is now back in East Baton Rouge Parish jail.

Today is the Great American Smokeout, the day tobacco users are encouraged to quit smoking, chewing tobacco or using other tobacco related products. Lance Barbour with the American Cancer Society says Louisiana ranks among the highest in the number of smokers and smoking related illness…:
Cut 13 (12) “tobacco use”
Barbour says research shows that those who quit smoking will experience health benefits.

Governor Edwards and Ag Commissioner Mike Strain continue their listening tour with farmers today in Ferriday and Slaughter. Edwards says he’s learning farmers have many challenges that go way beyond whether there’s enough rain to grow their crops…:
Cut 12 (11) “as well”

There is a new North Louisiana Crime Lab operating in Shreveport, serving 29 north Louisiana parishes. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says the planning for the North Louisiana Forensic Sciences started over 12 years ago with construction beginning in 2013 at a cost of

26-million-dollars. Prator says the new lab will also partner with the LSU Medical School in Shreveport.

Cut 8 (10) “Louisiana community.”

As we’ve seen an excess number of wrecks this week. The state Department of Transportation reports there were 2,423 crashes on Interstate 10 between Exit 100 in Lafayette and the Baton Rouge Mississippi River Bridge from January 1^st of 2014 to the end of 2016. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson….

Cut 4  (11) “pay attention”

Today is the Great American Smokeout, the day tobacco users are encouraged to quit smoking, chewing tobacco or using other tobacco related products.  The latest parish to ban public smoking is East Baton Rouge.  Lance Barbour with the American Cancer Society they will recognize that with a press conference today…

Cut 14 (12) “their face.”

Governor Edwards and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain continue their listening tour with farmers today with stops in Ferriday and Slaughter.  Edwards says soybean farmers are asking for funding so the Red River can be dredged in northwest Louisiana to help with shipping costs.

Cut 11 (11) “and Bossier”

As we’ve seen an excess number of wrecks this week between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, the state Department of Transportation reports there were 2,423 crashes on that stretch of I-10 from 2014 through 2016. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says one thing that has helped is cable barriers:
Cut 6 (11) “we can”
He says of all those crashes, 19 were fatal and 20 people died mostly due to tailgating and distractions.

Today is the Great American Smokeout, a day every year that tobacco users are encouraged to quit. Lance Barbour with the American Cancer Society says they offer tips on their website on how to drop the habit…:
Cut 15 (08) “smoke free”
He says 22% of adults smoke in Louisiana, and 1/3 of cancers here are the direct result of tobacco use.

The steady increase in gas prices is continuing. AAA says there is still strong fall demand for gasoline and it’s chipping away at inventory. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is now $2.34, up almost 10 cents over the past month.

Governor Edwards and Ag Commissioner Mike Strain continue their listening tour with farmers today in Ferriday and Slaughter. The tour started earlier this week in Mooringsport and Bastrop as a way to hear about concerns within the agriculture industry. Edwards says producers are worried that state budget cuts impact ag research at LSU and Southern.:
Cut 10 (05) “those operations”
The tour will end tomorrow with stops in Ville Platte and Arnaudville.

According to the Associated Press, Governor Edwards recent trip to Puerto Rico to discuss ongoing hurricane recovery cost taxpayers 51-hundred dollars. Much of the cost went towards security detail.

Louisianians are being encouraged to quit smoking during the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout today…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A man’s 2011 road-rage related vehicular homicide conviction over the crash that killed five people on I-10 in Baton Rouge, was reduced by an appeals court to negligent homicide. The three-judge panel said there was nothing that pointed to David Leger’s intoxication as a contributing factor in the crash. DA Hillar Moore says his office will appeal.

There have been many wrecks recently between Lafayette and Baton Rouge on I-10, and DOTD says there were over 2400 from 2014 through 2016. Secretary Shawn Wilson says the majority are caused by tailgating or distractions:
Cut 5 (11) “their life”
He says 55-percent of these crashes happened when a car rear-ended another, and 22-percent when a vehicle runs off the interstate.

Law enforcement in the top half of the state has a new crime fighting tool: the North Louisiana Forensic Sciences Center in Shreveport. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says the ability to conduct DNA tests in the new facility will save time and money in investigations…:
Cut 9 (07) “less expensive”
The lab will serve 29 parishes.

Between 2014 and 2016, there were over 2,000 crashes on I-10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Emelie Gunn reports…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Just yesterday in Baton Rouge, an 18-wheeler was exiting the Mississippi River Bridge when it stopped quickly, and cases of beer spilled all over the road.

The New Orleans Police Department has launched a new online crime reporting tool called NOPD Online. The system will enable citizens to file non-emergency police reports quickly and easily over the internet. Visit nola.gov/nopdonline for details.

Governor Edwards and Ag Commissioner Mike Strain continue their listening tour with farmers today in Ferriday and Slaughter. Edwards says he’s learning farmers have many challenges that go way beyond whether there’s enough rain to grow their crops…:
Cut 12 (11) “as well”
The tour started earlier this week as the two elected officials held meetings in Mooringsport and Bastrop to hear about concerns within the agriculture industry.

There is a new Crime Lab operating in Shreveport, serving 29 north Louisiana Parishes. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says the state of the art 86-thousand-square foot North Louisiana Forensic Sciences Center should help them solve D-N-A cases much faster…:
Cut 7 (08) “crime fighting”
Construction began in 2013.