Those fighting to save Louisiana’s coast are applauding the commitment made by the Trump administration to speed up the permitting process of the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diverson project. Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana spokesperson Jimmy Frederick says the 1.3 billion dollar project will rebuild the wetlands by returning sediment, fresh water, and nutrients from the Mississippi River to build and maintain land in Louisiana’s Barataria Basin…
Cut 13 (09) “sea level-rise”

Three hunters…two adults and a child…from West Feliciana Parish are dead after the pontoon boat they were on capsized near the Buffalo River area in Wilkinson County. The pontoon boat was being utilized as a duck blind. One of the deceased has been identified, Madaline Hemba, who worked for the city of Zachary.

UL-Lafayette has been named as a top 25 college in the nation where students are eager to attend. Michelle Southern reports…:
voicer 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Recently, retail giant Walmart raised its lowest hourly rate from 9 to 11 dollars and authorized bonuses of up to one-thousand dollars. Zachary Walmart Manager Cornelius Lombard says employees at his store are appreciative…
cut 5 (11) “…continued success”

GOP lawmakers say they are still waiting on specifics from the Edwards Administration on what to do about the fiscal cliff. But Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says it’s time for the legislature to “put up or shut up” and present a proposal of their own…:
Cut 16 (13) “billion dollars”
Republicans want to see more cuts in state spending rather than tax changes.

Walmart announces they’ll be implementing pay increases this year, with bottom salaries going from nine to 11 dollars, and will authorize up to a thousand dollars in bonuses for some employees. But Making Change at Walmart Director of Communication Amy Ritter says Walmart can do better as many workers will still be below the poverty line…:
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The Trump administration agrees to speed up the permitting process for a vital coastal restoration project. Jeff Palermo on what this means:
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The Louisiana Department of Revenue began accepting 2017 state individual income tax returns today. Taxpayers can begin filing their state income tax returns electronically through Louisiana File Online at revenue.louisiana.gov. State individual income tax returns are due May 15, 2018.

It doesn’t seem like lawmakers and the governor are any closer to negotiating a budget agreement, even after the worst-case-scenario plan was unveiled a week ago. The governor is proposing a reduction in tax breaks for businesses, but House Republican Caucus Chairman Lance Harris of Alexandria says the GOP wants to see more cuts in state spending…:
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A $1 billion budget gap looms on July 1.

The Trump administration says they will speed up the approval of a key coastal restoration project. Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana spokesperson Jimmy Frederick says they hope they can now break ground for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion by 2020….:
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The agreement would reduce the permitting process from five years to two.

Several large corporations have announced they’ll be implementing pay increases this year, and one retail giant is joining in…:
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The Lost Bayou Ramblers of Lafayette took home their first Grammy Award on Sunday for their album “Kalenda,” which won the band a gramophone for Best Regional Roots Music Album. It was the second time the Louisiana Cajun band was nominated for a Grammy. The group had just announced earlier last week that they would be taking a break from writing and performing for a while.

It doesn’t seem like lawmakers and the governor are any closer to negotiating a budget agreement, even after the worst-case-scenario plan was unveiled a week ago. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the Governor is ready to move forward to address a $1 billion budget gap that looms on July 1, but Republican legislators have yet to present a plan:
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The GOP feels the governor isn’t interested in negotiating, but instead trying to push passing replacement taxes only.

The Internal Revenue Service says the nation’s tax filing season begins today. The deadline will be April 17th this year, because April 15 falls on a Sunday and Emancipation Day which D.C. will observe that Monday.  The Louisiana Department of Revenue will also begin accepting returns today.

The Trump administration says they will speed up the approval of a key coastal restoration project. The agreement would reduce the permitting process for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion from five years to two. Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana spokesperson Jimmy Frederick…:
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The state intends to pay for much of the project using funds it received from BP after the 2010 oil spill.

UL-Lafayette has been named one of the Top 25 in U.S. News and World Report’s list of, “Universities and Colleges Where Students are Eager to Enroll.” Dr. DeWayne Bowie, vice president for Enrollment Management, says the ranking is a testament, not only to academic offerings..:
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UL-Lafayette was the only school in Louisiana named to the list.

House Republican Caucus Chairman Lance Harris of Alexandria is still waiting on specifics from the Edwards administration on what to do about the fiscal cliff. The governor would like to call lawmakers into a special session, so changes can be made to our tax code to address a billion dollar shortfall. But Harris says he and his party are still in the dark…:
Cut 14 (12) “of today”
The Administration says it’s time for the legislature to “put up or shut up” and present their own proposal on where cuts should be made.

Two adults and one child were found dead after four Louisianans were reported missing Sunday morning when hunting in Woodville, Mississippi. Search and recovery efforts found the bodies of a man, his sister-in-law, her child, and a dog that are believed to have gotten trapped under a boat that capsized.

Several of the nation’s largest corporations announced they are giving employees a bonus as a result of federal tax reform. Walmart announced they are increasing bottom salaries from nine dollars to 11 dollars, and authorizing up to a thousand dollars in bonuses for employees. Zachary Walmart manager Cornelius Lombard…:
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But the announcement drew strong criticism Wednesday from Making Change at Walmart. Spokeswoman Amy Ritter says the thousand dollar bonus headline was fairly misleading…:
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Making Change highlighted that this comes as Walmart also closed 63 Sam’s Club stores and an estimated 10,000 workers lost their jobs.

Waterways in multiple parishes closed this morning after a weekend of heavy rains pounded much of southeast Louisiana. They are Ascension, Livingston, and Tangipahoa.

A jury finds Ronald Gasser guilty of manslaughter for fatally shooting former NFL player Joe McKnight in 2016. Gasser never denied shooting McKnight in Jefferson Parish, but said it was in self defense during a heated road rage incident. JPSO did not arrest Gasser immediately, and Prosecutor Seth Shute praises the diligence of the investigation…:
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Gasser faces up to 40 years in prison.

Rough News for the New Orleans Pelicans. Even after a thrilling victory over the Rockets last night, All-Star Demarcus Cousins went down and ESPN reports is out for the season with a torn Achilles. Pels Coach Alvin Gentry was visibly shaken after the game when talking about Cousins’ injury…:
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Cousins was averaging 25.4 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

A federal judge in Shreveport rules against an effort to stop the removal of a Confederate monument outside of the Caddo Parish Courthouse…:
Cut 2 (23) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Millions of dollars in repairs are now complete on the St. Joseph water system in Tensas Parish and clean water is on the way. State health officer, Doctor Jimmy Guidry, says there are several aging water systems needing repair, but the state can’t afford to bail every small town out…
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St. Joe’s rehabilitated water system is expected to be in full operation next month.

Louisiana is getting a good soaking today, and most of the bottom half of the state is under a Flash Flood Watch through this afternoon. The National Weather Service says 2-4 inches of rain is expected to fall throughout the day with locally higher amounts possible. Forecasters say lingering clouds, breezy and seasonably cool weather is anticipated for tomorrow, with cool sunshine on the way for early next week.

An estimated ten-thousand pro-life supporters are expected to march today in the Louisiana Life March North in Bossier/Shreveport…:
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The man who shot and killed former NFL player Joe McKnight in a 2016 Jefferson Parish road-rage incident has been found guilty of manslaughter. Prosecutor Shannon Swaim says the family is happy with the verdict…:
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The defense argued that Gasser shot McKnight in self-defense, but Swaim says ultimately it was physical evidence that ended up showing Gasser lied about McKnight lunging towards him. He faces up to 40 years in jail.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office says a man is under arrest on second degree murder charges for allegedly selling someone synthetic marijuana lead to that person’s death. They say it was a long investigation that began last summer after 25-year-old Brandon Balentine was found dead in Benton, and a friend admitted the two smoked synthetic weed. 24-year-old Treyvon Johnson, the suspected dealer, is facing a $637,000 bond.

Eight strip clubs on Bourbon Street have had their alcohol licenses pulled by the ATC and NOPD after investigators say they found multiple instances of prostitution, lewd acts and in some cases illegal drug activity.

Ronald Gasser, the man who shot and killed former NFL player Joe McKnight in a Jefferson Parish 2016 road rage incident, has been found guilty of manslaughter. Assistant District Attorney Seth Shute said they are very pleased with the verdict and felt that a similar 2006 road-rage incident in which Gasser was involved helped prove their case…:
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Gasser faces up to 40 years in prison and will be sentenced in March.

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for South Louisiana through this evening. The National Weather Service says rain could fall at a rate of 1 to two inches per hour at times today, which could cause flash flooding in low lying areas and along streams and bayous.

New Orleans Pelicans star Demarcus Cousins went down after a thrilling win over the Rockets last night in the Smoothie King Center. He reportedly tore an Achilles and will be out for the season.

The Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office says a suspect wanted for allegedly holding a woman hostage for two days was shot by deputies when he came out of his home armed with a rifle. They say 41-year-old Steve Hulion is reportedly in critical condition. Two deputies have been placed on paid leave pending an investigation by State Police.

It’s been a year of repairs, replacement and testing for the St. Joseph water system, but it appears it is about ready for public use again. A public health emergency was declared in late 2016 after high amounts of lead was discovered. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says there has been a complete overhaul since then…
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It cost 9.5 million dollars to repair the St. Joseph system.