A recent escape from Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe marks at least the fifth of the year for the juvenile detention facility. Kevin Barnhart has the details on the issues with the facility.
Cut 1 (29) I’m Kevin Barnhart“

We have our first hurricane of the 2018 season. Hurricane Beryl is way out in the Atlantic Ocean. Robbie Berg with the National Hurricane Center says it’s not unusual to see a hurricane form this early in the season…
cut 8 (07) “….every year”
Beryl has a chance to become a Category Two storm, but not a threat to the Gulf of Mexico at this time.

The man who performed the first heart transplant in the Gulf South has passed away in New Orleans. Doctor John Ochsner conducted over 12-thousand surgeries during a 57 year career. He passed away at the age of 91. President of the Ochsner Health System, Warner Thomas, calls Doctor Ochnser an icon in the industry
cut 9 (10) “…as well”
Doctor Ochsner’s father, Alton Ochsner, helped found the Ochsner health care system.

State Police are looking for an S-U-V that fatally struck 42-year-old Sandra Royer of Slidell. Troopers say at around 9:30 last night on Brownswitch Road, Royer was riding her bike and wearing an orange safety vest, when she was struck from behind by a dark colored S-U-V. Senior Trooper Dustin Dwight says it’s important drivers give cyclists a three-foot gap when passing them and he has this advice for cyclists…
cut 5 (07) “…off the roadway”

A hit and run last night has left at 42-year-old Slidell woman dead.  LSP are asking for the public’s help as they are currently looking for a truck in the Slidell/Pearl River area.  Senior Trooper Dustin Dwight says to be on the lookout for possible damage to the front end and the passenger side of the vehicle.

Cut 3 (10) “…of the crash.”

One-point-four billion dollars is coming to Louisiana to pay for flood mitigation projects. 343-million dollars will fully fund the Comite River Diversion Canal, a major flood protection project for East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes. US Representative Garret Graves says receiving this money allows the state to focus on other issues…

cut 10 (12) “….in our region”

There’s also 760-million dollars for a flood protection project in the River Parishes.

A man sentenced earlier this year to five years in prison for driving drunk into a crowd of Mardi Gras parade goers is set to be released from prison later this month as a result of the criminal reform legislation passed last year. Twenty-six-year-old Neilson Rizzuto injured 32 people at the Endymion parade in 2017 and pleaded guilty to 11 felony counts. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino on why Rizzuto is not serving more time with all of the sentences being served consecutively….

cut 16 (11) “….case was”

Rizzuoto’s expected release date is July 20.

Here’s a peak at your commodities.

The Louisiana Revenue Department is estimating that they’ll be ready to start collecting sales taxes on all items purchased online by the start of next year. A recent Supreme Court decision has paved the way for collection of sales taxes from stores without a physical presence in states they ship too. Many major online sellers, such as Amazon, already collect state sales tax for online purchases, but Secretary Kimberly Robinson says  right now they’re not getting 100 percent compliance form many of the smaller online outlets.

Cut 13 (11)  “sales tax.” 

An 81-year-old West Monroe man is in jail after an alleged dispute involving his nephew resulted in the accidental shooting death of the nephew’s dog. Police say Doyle Quimby shut off the power to his nephew’s camper that was on the property. After the power went out, that nephew allegedly tried to break in and turn it back on, leading to Quimby firing what he called “warning shots” that flew through a wall and hit the canine. Quimby has been charged with aggravated assault.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has appropriated one-point-four billion dollars to Louisiana for flood and hurricane protection projects. 343-million dollars of that money will go towards completing the long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal in East Baton Rouge Parish, which can rapidly drain floodwaters. This funding also frees some slack for the ‘Comite Plus’ project which has nearly 2 billion dollars in federal funding which provides drainage improvements throughout the Comite, Amite, and Manchac River. Baton Rouge US Representative Garret Graves says the holistic upgrades should help bring parishes together.

Cut 9 (09)  “…one area to another.”

A recent escape from Swanson Center for Youth marks at least the fifth of the year for the juvenile detention facility.  While attention can be turned to staffing issues, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice, Dr. James Bueche says budget constraints are leading to a staffing crisis that’s partially responsible for the break outs.

Cut 5  (13)  “…able to retain”

The US Army Corps of Engineers has appropriated one-point-four billion dollars to Louisiana for flood and hurricane protection projects. 343-million dollars of that money will go towards completing the long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal in East Baton Rouge Parish, which can rapidly drain floodwaters.

Cut 7 (12)  “…the capital region.”

Despite being given a five year sentence, one of those years suspended, for injuring 32 people when he drunkenly plowing his truck into a crowd at a New Orleans Mardi Gras, 26 year old Neilson Rizzuto who was sentenced in January will be free later this month.  With the 2017 prison reform law allowing the release of well-behaved inmates after serving 35% of their sentence for non-violent offenses, Rizzuto is reaping the benefits of less time in the clink.  Law professor at Loyola University New Orleans, Dane Ciolino:

Cut 14 (08) “…time served in jail.”

Louisiana state and local governments could see a nice influx of revenue when the revenue department starts collecting sales tax from all online retailers starting next year. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A Shreveport woman was arrested and charged with Felony Theft after lifting 4,544 dollars from the Wal-Mart that she worked at. Police say Kayla Baker was caught on video removing the cash from cash registers on multiple occasions. Baker has been booked into the Caddo Correctional Center

The Louisiana Department of Revenue believes they will be able to collect sales taxes on all online purchases starting in January. L-D-R Secretary Kimberly Robinson says its not a simple process. There are widely different tax rates from parish to parish. Robinson says they’re working on software that will make it easy for retailers to make sure they’re charging the right local rate.
Cut 12 (10) “come up.”

Louisiana will receive one-point-four billion dollars in federal money for several different flood and hurricane protection projects. Senator Bill Cassidy says 760-million dollars will go to an 18-mile hurricane levee project in St John the Baptist Parish….
cut 8 (10) “…those river parishes”
This allocation will also fully fund the Comite River Diversion Canal, which will reduce flood damage for homes in East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Ascension Parishes.

A recent escape from Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe marks at least the fifth of the year for the juvenile detention facility. Kevin Barnhart has the details on the issues with the facility.
Cut 1 (29) I’m Kevin Barnhart“

State Police are looking for an S-U-V that fatally struck 42-year-old Sandra Royer of Slidell. Troopers say at around 9:30 last night on Brownswitch Road, Royer was riding a Huffy mountain style bicycle and wearing an orange safety vest and was struck from behind by a dark colored S-U-V. Royer was pronounced dead at local hospital.

The long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal in East Baton Rouge Parish is now fully funded. Connor Ferrill has more on the money the state will receive for flood mitigation projects…
Voicer 2 (30) ”I’m Connor Ferrill”

The first hurricane of the season has formed. Hurricane Beryle is way out in the Atlantic and forecasters say it’s not a threat to the Gulf of Mexico. Expect a hot and humid day today and rain chances are high for this weekend.

The state office of Juvenile Justice says changes have been made to the perimeter at the Swanson Center for the Youth in Monroe to prevent another escape attempt. There have been at least five of them this year. Deputy Secretary for the O-J-J, Doctor James Bueche…
cut 6 (12) “….difficult to do’

The criminal justice reform legislation approved in 2017 means Neilson Rizzuto could be released from prison later this month. He’s the drunk driver that plowed into a crowd at a 2017 New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade and injured 32 people. He was sentenced to five years in prison in January, but Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says new sentencing laws allow the release of well-behaved, non-violent inmates after 35-percent of their sentence is served….
cut 15 (10) “…cost of incarceration”

Louisiana could see an influx of money soon as the state revenue department plans to start collecting sales taxes from all online retailers starting next year..
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

US tarriffs totaling 34-billion dollars on Chinese goods went into effect at midnight, which provoked China to retalitate and place 34-billion dollars on US exports. Data from Louisiana Economic Development says Louisiana exports seven-point-nine billion dollars worth of products to China.

A recent escape from Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe marks at least the fifth of the year for the juvenile detention facility. While attention can be turned to staffing issues, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice, Dr. James Bueche, says the dated facility is partially to blame.
Cut 4 (09) “…in that function”
Bueche says they are making a series of security enhancements to Swanson’s perimeter.

One-point-four billion dollars is coming to Louisiana to pay for flood mitigation projects. 343-million dollars will fully fund the Comite River Diversion Canal, a major flood protection project for East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes. US Representative Garret Graves says receiving this money allows the state to focus on other issues…
cut 10 (12) “….in our region”
There’s also 760-million dollars for a flood protection project in the River Parishes.

Louisiana will receive one-point-four billion dollars in federal money for flood and hurricane protection projects. Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves says there’s 343-million dollars for the long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal in East Baton Rouge….
cut 9 (08) “….three to four years”
The state is also getting 760-million dollars to build an 18-mile levee in St. John the Baptist Parish to hold back water from Lake Pontchartrain.

The state Revenue Department plans on collecting sales taxes on all item purchases online by the start of next year. A recent US Supreme Court decision paved the way for collection of sales taxes from stores without a physical presence in states they ship too. LDR Secretary Kimberly Robinson on how much the state may collect….
cut 11 (10) “…estimate is”

A man sentenced earlier this year to five years in prison for driving drunk into a crowd of Mardi Gras parade goers is set to be released from prison later this month as a result of the criminal reform legislation passed last year. Twenty-six-year-old Neilson Rizzuto injured 32 people at the Endymion parade in 2017 and pleaded guilty to 11 felony counts. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino on why Rizzuto is not serving more time with all of the sentences being served consecutively….
cut 16 (11) “….case was”
Rizzuoto’s expected release date is July 20.

A recent escape from Swanson Center for Youth marks at least the fifth of the year for the juvenile detention facility.  Kevin Barnhart has the details on the issues with the facility.

Cut 1 (31)  I’m Kevin Barnhart“

_____________________________________________

The Comite River Diversion Canal has been fully funded in East Baton Rouge Parish. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 2 (33) ”I’m Connor Ferrill” 

_____________________________________________

Louisiana state and local governments could see a nice influx of revenue when the revenue department starts collecting sales tax from all online retailers starting next year. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

_____________________________________________

A recent escape from Swanson Center for Youth marks at least the fifth of the year for the juvenile detention facility.  While attention can be turned to staffing issues, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice, Dr. James Bueche says dated facility installments such as doors and fences are partially to blame.

Cut 4  (09) “…in that function”

Bueche does say staffing is a big portion of the problem in dealing with the offenders and the agency continues to pursue additional funding.

Cut 5  (13)  “…able to retain”

While the agency hopes the most recent jailbreak is the last, Bueche says it is hard to guarantee that it will be.

Cut 6 (12) “…difficult to do.”

_____________________________________________

The US Army Corps of Engineers has appropriated one-point-four billion dollars to Louisiana for flood and hurricane protection projects. 343-million dollars of that money will go towards completing the long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal in East Baton Rouge Parish, which can rapidly drain floodwaters.

Cut 7 (12)  “…the capital region.”

Now that the funding is in place, officials say the Comite River Diversion Canal can be completed in the next three to four years. Cassidy says the federal appropriation also contains 760 million dollars for Hurricane protection projects to come alongside River Parishes.

Cut 8 (10)  “..those river parishes.”

This funding also frees some slack for the ‘Comite Plus’ project which has nearly 2 billion dollars in federal funding which provides drainage improvements throughout the Comite, Amite, and Manchac River. Baton Rouge Representative Garret Graves says the holistic upgrades should help bring parishes together.

Cut 9 (09)  “…one area to another.”

With nearly 3 billion dollars in federal funding for priority flood and hurricane protection projects Graves says it allows the state to focus on other issues.

Cut 10 (12)   “…in our region.”

_____________________________________________

The Louisiana Revenue Department is estimating that they’ll be ready to start collecting sales taxes on all items purchased online by the start of next year. A recent Supreme Court decision has paved the way for collection of sales taxes from stores without a physical presence in states they ship too. Secretary Kimberly Robinson says a recent report says that’ll be a good chuck of change in state coffers.

Cut 11 (10) “estimate is.”

But it won’t be a simple process. Louisiana, the state with the highest combined local and state sales taxes, can have widely different tax rates from parish to parish. Robinson says they’re working on software that will make it easy for retailers to make sure they’re charging you the right local rate.

Cut 12 (10) “come up.”

Many major online sellers, such as Amazon, already collect state sales tax for online purchases, but Robinson says right now they’re not getting 100 percent compliance form many of the smaller online outlets.

Cut 13 (11)  “sales tax.” 

__________________________________

Despite being given a five year sentence for injuring 32 people when he drunkenly plowing his truck into a crowd at a New Orleans Mardi Gras, 26 year old Neilson Rizzuto who was sentenced in January will be free later this month.  With the 2017 prison reform law allowing the release of well-behaved inmates after serving 35% of their sentence for non-violent offenses, Rizzudo is reaping the benefits of less time in the clink.  Law professor at Loyola University New Orleans, Dane Ciolino, explains why this case is considered a non-violent crime.

Suspected members of the famed Felony Lane Gang were arrested with a treasure trove of illicit goods, including credit cards, Social Security cards, and pot. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

It’s been three months since the disappearance of a 4 year old in Claiborne Parish.  Rondriez “Junior” Phillips vanished on April 5^th, and the search still continues with a ten thousand dollar reward offered by the FBI for information that helps find him.  Sheriff Ken Bailey.

Cut 7 (05)  “…can get into.”

A 40-year-old man is under arrest after his 15-year-old son escaped captivity from a home in Sulphur where authorities say he was torturing the young man. Thomas Winniger and his girlfriend 34-year-old Desirae Tomcannin have been charged with 2^nd degree cruelty to a juvenile and false imprisonment. Calcasieu Parish Sherriff Tony Mancuso says the teenager made his escape to a neighbor’s house, where a 911 call was placed, by outsmarting his captors.

Cut 14 (12)  took off.”

An Arnaudville teen has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and attempted first-degree murder following an early Wednesday morning police pursuit.  St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Major Ginny Higgins says it appears that the suspect intentionally aimed his vehicle at deputies when the crash occurred, injuring the officers involved.

Cut 11 (10) “…for their injuries.”