State wildlife agent Tyler Wheeler of Monroe, who was shot five times during a traffic stop last month, will be released from a Shreveport hospital today. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Governor’s Office says Representative Lance Harris’ budget cutting plan would close hospitals, the release of inmates, and a historic cut to public schools. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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President Donald Trump says he wants to conduct a major investigation into voter fraud, but Secretary of State Tom Schedler says that’s not necessary in Louisiana. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Louisiana’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves more than $1.5 million in funding for teaching residencies. Department of Education Assistant Superintendent of Talent, Hannah Dietsch (HAHN-ah), says beginning in 2018 teacher candidates will be required to complete one year residencies, similar to doctors. She says $1 million of the investment will go to Louisiana universities that will offer the programs.

cut 4  (09) “program design”

Dietsch says the nearly $600-thousand in additional funds will go towards stipends for program participants. She says part of the funds will provide $2,000 stipends to 233 teaching residents.

Cut 5  (07)  “the classroom”

The money comes from existing state and federal funds. Dietsch says teaching mentors in 18 partnering school systems will also get a check. She says 288 mentor teachers hosting the yearlong residencies will each receive a $1,000 stipend as well.

Cut 6 (08) “preparation programs”

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The state wildlife agent who was shot five times, is scheduled to be released from a Shreveport hospital Thursday. 25-year-old Tyler Wheeler of Monroe was shot in the temple, jaw, shoulder, arm and back while questioning a motorist last month in Morehouse Parish. LDWF Spokesperson Adam Einck says Wheeler is expected to make a full recovery.

CUT 7 (09)  “so far”‘

Wheeler’s father, Darren, says doctors are pleased with Tyler’s motor skills, memory and overall condition. Einck says once discharged, Tyler Wheeler will go to a rehab facility in Mississippi.

Cut 8 (07) “go home”

Two Monroe residents remain in jail on charges of attempted first degree murder of a police officer and accessory after the fact in relation to Wheeler’s shooting. Einck says doctors have been calling Wheeler the miracle patient for his speedy recovery.

Cut 9 (06)  “behind him”

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The Governor’s Office says a Republican lawmaker’s plan to close a $304 million dollar deficit would cripple public-private-hospitals, lead to the release of 45-hundred inmates and make a historic cut to public schools.  Communications Director Richard Carbo says Lance Harris of Alexandria’s proposal would devastate state agencies.

Cut 10 (10) “would be impacted”

Harris released his proposal last week as an example of how the state can close a large midyear deficit without tapping tap into the rainy day fund. But Carbo says it is imperative rainy day dollars are used to ease some of the pain of the cuts.

cut 11 (09) “of Louisiana”

Harris has also said the governor can make the necessary cuts without the need of a special session. But Carbo says without a special session, spending cuts will be focused primarily on health care, higher education and the Department of Corrections.

cut 12 (11) “special session”

But Harris stands by his suggestions. He says LDH’s budget has grown nearly 24% in just one year. He says the Department of Health’s spending is getting out of control and the governor can make cuts to that agency without the legislature getting involved.

Cut 13 (07) “last year”

Harris believes the budget can be cut without cutting waivers for the developmentally disabled or reducing funding for hospitals.

cut 14 (11) “that need it”

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Walker Police are working to identify a female body that was found under an I-12 bridge. Captain John Sharp says employees of Gravity Draining District Five of Livingston Parish were working to clear debris under the bridge when they made the gruesome discovery.

Cut 15 (05) “white female”

Sharp says the woman appears to have been dead for at least a week. He says at this point they have a lot of unanswered questions.

Cut 16 (08) “her death”

The Livingston Parish Coroner will schedule and conduct an autopsy to determine a cause of death. Sharp says given the circumstances, they are treating the investigation as a homicide. He says their priority is trying to identify who the woman is because it’s likely someone is looking for her.

Cut 17 (12)   “quickly”

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Louisiana Tech begins a difficult road trip tonight in Birmingham as they visit the UAB Blazers, the defending regular season champs in Conference USA. The Bulldogs bring a season-high four-game winning streak into tonight’s contest and Head Coach Eric Konkol credits tough defense for his team’s recent winning ways

Cut 18 (14) “as well”

The Bulldogs are led by Erik McCree, who is averaging 17 points a game. Konkol says the senior from Orlando is doing a little bit of everything for the Dunkin Dogs…

Cut 19 (15)   “on the court”

Tech enters the game 6-1 in CUSA and in second place in the league standings. UAB is 5-2 and Konkol says handling the Blazers pressure will be a key…

cut 20 (20)   “good shape”

With 22-percent of Louisiana adults currently smoking, the American Lung Association believes the state has a lot of work to do when it comes to tobacco prevention. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (25) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The story about a 3-year-old Brazilian girl who had a large, rare tumor removed from her face by doctors in Shreveport is making national headlines. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The American Lung Association’s annual State of Tobacco Control report finds Louisiana is failing in efforts to reduce tobacco use. An estimated 22-percent of Louisiana adults smoke. Regional Policy Director Ashley Lyerly (Liar-lee) says the report assigned F letter grades in the areas like tobacco taxes and access to cessation programs.

Cut 3 (10) “tobacco use”

The report gave another F to the state when it comes to funding for prevention programs. Lyerly says Louisiana should be spending about 60 million dollars on tobacco prevention each year but total funding for this fiscal year is only 8 million dollars. She says the state also received an F grade when it comes to tobacco taxes, even though it recently increased to $1.08.

cut 4  (10) “grade F”

Louisiana received a B grade for the strength of smoke-free workplace laws. But Lyerly says they recommend the state increase the minimum age for the sale of tobacco products.

Cut 5  (10)  “of F”

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Louisiana isn’t seeing as many flu cases as we usually do this time of year. That’s according to the state’s flu bug expert, Dr. Frank Welch, who says right now, 4 out of every 100 doctor visits in the state is for the flu. He says there’s several reasons we’re seeing a slower flu season this year.

Cut 6 (11) “slow season”

Welch says while the Deep South has seen few cases, other states are seeing an uptick. But he says we aren’t out of the woods yet. He anticipates cases will pick up, once the weather gets colder, which will happen this weekend.

CUT 7 (12)  “flu season” 

Welch advises everyone to get their flu shots to avoid getting the flu and to avoid spreading it to others. He says there are plenty of ways for people to stay well this flu season.

Cut 8 (11) “that properly”

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The Louisiana Department of Insurance announces they recovered $7.6 million for policy holders last year as a result of efforts by their consumer affairs division who work to resolve consumer complaints. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says that money is in addition to what companies offered to pay customers, and it’s a significant increase over the previous year.

Cut 9 (10)  “the past year”

Donelon credits the increase in recovered funds for consumers to a reorganizing within the insurance department two years ago. He says they moved all of the people who handle consumer complaints into the same section, as opposed to dividing them up between health, life and annuities, property, etc.

Cut 10 (12) “additional recovery”

Donelon says it’s the state’s responsibility to make sure insurance companies fulfill the promises they make to their policyholders. He says they’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that Louisiana customers are treated fairly, including yanking a license or taking punitive action against an insurance provider.

cut 11 (09) “insurance company”

Policyholders can file complaints at 1-800-259-5300 or online at ldi.la.gov/fileacomplaint.

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The story about a 3-year-old Brazilian girl who had a large, rare tumor removed from her face by doctors in Shreveport is making national headlines. It all started when Dr. Celso Palmieri at LSU Health Shreveport was reading an online publication from his home country. He says he ran across a Brazlian article about little Melyssa Delgado Braga

cut 12 (09) “could help Melyssa”

Palmieri says he found the family on Facebook after only an hour of searching and was able to contact them. Dr. G.E. Ghali is the chair of the Department of oral and facial surgery at the hospital. He diagnosed Melyssa with a benign tumor that is locally very aggressive…:

Cut 13 (09) “her entire jaw“

They say several organizations, doctors and the community came together to help the family get here. While Melyssa will still require some follow up surgeries as she gets older, doctors say she now has full use of her tongue unlike before. Dr. Ghali says she had been well on her way to becoming a malnourished child because of the tumor…:

cut 14 (09) “over five pounds”

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Louisiana has issued a standing order to make naloxone available without a prescription. Naloxone is an antidote that reverses an opioid overdose. Chief Medical Officer for Louisiana Medicaid, Dr. SreyRam Kuy, (Sray-rum- Kuh-ee) says the standing order is a way to reduce unnecessary deaths…

Cut 15 (10) “deep south”

Kuy says the naloxone drug can be injected into muscle or administered through the nose. She says the best part about receiving the drug over the counter is that anyone can administer the drug to someone suffering from an overdose, not just a medical practitioner.

Cut 16  (07)  “police officer”

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