Voters do not want to see their taxes go up, according to a survey from Southern Media and Opinion Research. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A Louisiana State Police trooper and two local police officers are recovering today after they were injured in a shooting with a man who barricaded himself inside a home in the Avoyelles Parish town of Moreauville. The injuries are considered non-life-threatening. Brandon Carpenter allegedly shot the officers after a high-speed chase. He’s now in custody.

A report by the personal finance website, Wallethub, finds Louisiana as the second worst state for working moms. Analyst Jill Gonzales says states at the top of the list have high unemployment. She says another factor against Louisiana is females have a longer workweek than other states….
cut 12 (08) “….the country”

A deployment ceremony takes place Saturday at Pineville High School for Louisiana National Guard’s 1086th Transportation Company. Colonel Ed Bush says Governor Edwards will be on hand as over 160 soliders will leave their families and loved ones for a one-year deployment to Kuwait…
cut 9 (07) “…the years”

A state trooper and two police officers have reportedly been shot in a standoff in Avoyelles Parish. The cops were reportedly trying to negotiate with a man barricaded behind a window when the man shot them. The trooper sustained nonlife threatening injuries, one officer was shot in the lip with a BB gun, and the condition of the other officer is unknown.

Former Sons of Guns star Will Hayden will spend life behind bars for raping young girls. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A convicted murderer has confessed to another murder. St. Landry Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says 23-year-old Phillip LaFleur was incarcerated in LaSalle Parish on a murder charge when he passed a note to the guards saying he wanted to speak with detectives about his great uncle Dale LaFleur, who has been missing since 2011.

Cut 11 (07) “the river”

The University of Louisiana System President announces a contest for one student to receive a $500 scholarship by coming up with his 10-thousandth tweet. Dr. Jim Henderson says he thought this would be a good way to get students involved. He says the process of selecting the tweet is a very rigorous process.

Cut 6 (10) “we serve”

The winner will be announced on Twitter.

Voters do not want to see their taxes go up, according to a survey from Southern Media and Opinion Research. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

A study from the personal finance website, WalletHub, finds Louisiana is the 2^ndworst state for working moms. Michelle Southern has more….

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

The budget isn’t fixed, but you could braid hair without a license if a measure passed by the House wins approval in the Senate. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

__________________________________

Raising taxes is not popular among voters, according to a survey from Southern Media and Opinion Research. Lawmakers have proposed increasing taxes on everything from a pack of cigarettes to a gallon of gasoline to close a looming budget hole. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says two-thirds of voters say they do not want their legislator to raise the state’s gas tax.

Cut 4  (12) “17 percent”

In this fiscal session, lawmakers had to resolve a $440 million budget shortfall for the next fiscal year, and deal with an imminent $1.3 billion fiscal cliff in 2018. Pinsonat says according to his survey, the public thinks the state has more than enough money.

Cut 5  (11)  “enough revenue”

Pinsonat says while voters don’t want to see their own taxes go up, they also oppose an increase in business taxes. The survey finds 18 percent of respondents believe taxes on business are absorbed by profits, but 67 percent say the tax is passed on to the customers.

Cut 6 (11) “much difference”

______________________________________

Over 160 soldiers in the Louisiana National Guard’s 1086^th Transportation Company are heading to Fort Hood, Texas for training before being deployed to Kuwait. Col. Ed Bush says a deployment ceremony will be held for the Bunkie-based unit in Pineville on Saturday. He says during their one year deployment, the soldiers will provide logistic transportation support.

Cut 7 (08)  “as well”

The 1086^th deployed in support of Operations Desert Storm in 1991, Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and Enduring Freedom in Kuwait in 2011. Bush says these soldiers have participated in several state responses, like last year’s historic floods.

Cut 8 (07) “of emergencies” 

Bush encourages everyone to get out to support the 1086^th Company at their deployment ceremony this Saturday at 4 p.m. He says Governor John Bel Edwards will be a guest speaker to send these brave men and women off.

Cut 9 (07)  “the years”

_________________________________________________________

A report by the personal finance website, WalletHub, finds Louisiana is the second worst state for working moms. Analyst Jill Gonzales says they measured the quality of child care and professional opportunities, which really brought Louisiana down. She says although the costs of day-care is relatively low…

Cut 10 (10) “pay for”

Gonzales says the gender pay gap is fairly large in Louisiana, ranking 44^th, as women make about 76 cents to every dollar a man makes. She also says the female unemployment rate is about 6-percent, really bringing Louisiana down.

Cut 11 (09) “the country”

Gonzales says the states at the top of this list are combating unemployment and making sure there are good opportunities for working moms. She says another factor against Louisiana is females have a longer workweek than other states.

Cut 12 (08) “the country”

____________________________________________________________

Amid debates on the budget, taxes, and education, lawmakers in the House spent over half an hour debating licensing for hair braiding. A measure by Carencro Representative Julie Emerson waives the licensing requirement to braid hair. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says it’s ridiculous that the state would regulate something like braiding hair.

Cut 13 (09) “to braid hair”

Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says he can’t see why the state would charge someone fees to get a permit to braid someone’s hair. He told Emerson he’s baffled by the fact that it was regulated in the first place.

Cut 14 (11) “received any”

Monroe Representative Jay Morris asked Emerson if a proposed amendment to the bill would require him to get a license to cut his own hair.

Cut 15 (11) “of legislation”

The measure was approved on an 81-12 vote.

Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating has slipped nine percentage points to 54-percent, according to a new Southern Media and Opinion Research poll. The poll also found an increase in the percentage of voters who are concerned about the state’s future. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says 52-percent say it’s heading in the wrong direction.

Cut 15 (11) “more revenue”

The full House approves a constitutional amendment that would allow voters decide if convicted felons should have to wait 8 years after they serve their sentence to run for elected office. Norco Representative Gregory Miller says Louisianans already have a hard time trusting elected officials.

Cut 10 (10) “good bill”

It would be easier for voters to recall an elected official under a House approved bill now headed to the Senate. The measure would reduce the number of signatures required for a recall petition. Covington Representative Paul Hollis says Louisiana has the highest threshold necessary to effect a recall election.

Cut 4 (08) “in a district”
The bill passed a 70-27 vote.

Today lawmakers spent over half an hour debating licensing for hair braiding. A measure by Carencro Representative Julie Emerson waives the licensing requirement. Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater told Emerson he’s baffled that it was regulated in the first place.

Cut 24 (11) “received any”

The measure was approved on an 81-12 vote

A Southern Media and Opinion Research Poll finds Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating has dropped nine percentage points since September of 2016. It now stands at 54-percent. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says the public is sick and tired of the governor and legislature not coming to an agreement on how to fix the state’s budget woes.
Cut 13 (09) “they’re saying”
He says African American residents continue to give Edwards’ a positive rating, while only 44-percent of white voters feel that way about the governor.

In a Baton Rouge courtroom today, former “Sons of Guns” reality television star Will Hayden was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 40 years for raping two young girls. The victims were about 12 years at the time of the sex acts. Hayden also faces charges in Livingston Parish.

The full house has approved a bill that would make it easier for voters to recall an elected official. Current law requires signatures from one-third of the registered voters in large districts and 40-percent of voters in small jurisdictions. Covington Representative Paul Hollis says that isn’t feasible in 180 days….
cut 5 (08) “…or greater”
The measure heading to the Senate reduces the number of signatures required.

A measure approved by the House would give voters the chance to decide if they want to prevent a convicted felon from running for office until 8 years after they serve their sentence. Norco Representative Gregory Miller is the author of the constitutional amendment…:
Cut 9 (10) “of trust”
The legislation now moves to the Senate and if it clears the upper chamber, it will need voter approval.

Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating has slipped nine percentage points to 54-percent according to a new Southern Media and Opinion Research poll. The statewide poll also found an increase in the percentage of respondents who are concerned about the state’s future. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says 52-percent say it’s heading in the wrong direction…..
cut 15 (11) “…more revenue”
The full House has approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow voters decide this fall, whether convicted felons should be banned from running for elected office until eight years after they served their sentence. Norco Representative Gregory Miller says Louisianians already have a hard time trusting elected officials…
cut 10 (10) “….good bill”

A bill heading to the Senate would make it easier for Louisiana voters to recall elected officials. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

University of Louisiana System President Doctor Jim Henderson is coming up on his 10-thousandth tweet and he’ll provide a 500-dollar scholarship to a U-L school for the student that comes up with what he should say with his 10-thousandth tweet…
cut 7 (08) “…tweet”
Tweet at Doctor Henderson with the hashtag J-H-10-K to enter the contest.

A new poll shows Governor John Bel Edwards popularity is slipping. Southern Media and Opinion Research had his approval rating at 63-percent last September. A survey conducted earlier this month puts his approval rating at 54-percent. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says African American residents give Edwards’ a very positive rating, while only 44-percent of white voters feel that way about the governor…
cut 14 (09) “….popularity”

St. Landry Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says they’ve solved a six-year-old cold case thanks to the suspected killer coming forward with information. Guidroz says 23-year-old Phillip Lafleur, who is incarcerated in LaSalle Pairsh on a murder charge, has confessed to killing his great uncle Dale LaFleur over money and he dumped his body in the Atchafalaya River…
cut 12 (10) “…in the water now”
Former Sons of Guns star Will Hayden will spend life behind bars for raping young girls. Michelle Southern reports…:
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Jefferson Davis statue in New Orleans was taken down. This is the second Confederate era monument of four slated for removal by the city. Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a news release that putting the Confederacy on a pedestal in prominent public places is a bad prescription for our future.