The Healthcare bill approved by the U.S. House still has a long way to go in the legislative process. In its current posture, the measure would freeze enrollment for Medicaid expansion, and people would be taken out of the program over time. US Senator Bill Cassidy says Medicaid expansion is expensive for the states.

Cut 9 (09) “a year”

Supporters of the plan say employers will be able to offer more affordable insurance once better plans are available.

A proposed 147-thousand cut to the Department of Veterans Affairs could lead to the closure of cemeteries in Leesville and Rayville. That’s according to Undersecretary Homer Rogers, who says taking this money away is disrespectful to our soldiers.

Cut 6 (08) “the line”

A Zachary man has been arrested after making threats against law enforcement on Facebook. State Trooper Bryan Lee says this is something police take very seriously.

Cut 4 (10) “the community”
The post by Thallemus Thomas said in part, “we will find the cops and execute them if we can’t find them we will kill one of there family members.”

A Sulphur man is behind bars after threatening a driver on I-10 with a handgun. Louisiana State Police Sgt. James Anderson says 24-year-old Matthew Savoie brandished his weapon at another motorist while driving down I-10 in Jefferson Davis Parish.

Cut 11 (09) “inside the vehicle”

Savoie is charged with aggravated assault with a firearm.

The budget plan approved by the House could lead to the closure of state-funded veteran cemeteries in Leesville and Rayville. That’s according to Department of Veterans Affairs Undersecretary Homer Rogers, who says the proposed 147-thousand dollar cut in state funding means they will not be able to bury anymore veterans at these cemeteries.

Cut 5 (09) “already interned”

Rogers says over 340-thousand veterans currently live in Louisiana.

A Sulphur man is behind bars after police say he waived his gun at a driver on I-10. State Police Sgt. James Anderson says 24-year-old Matthew Savoie will face a hefty penalty if convicted.

Cut 13 (10) “dollar fine”

Four people were arrested after a woman chased down her stolen car with the help of Baton Rouge police. Authorities say the victim was driving another car when she saw her stolen vehicle on I-10. She then called police to inform them four people were in the vehicle, and after a chase, all four suspects were arrested.

The second weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is underway. Michelle Southern reports fest goers are soaking up the music and beautiful weather….

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The full House passed a budget plan that the governor and Democrats do not like because it funds the Department of Health at 237 million dollars less than John Bel Edwards proposed. Franklin Representative Sam Jones questioned Chairman Cameron Henry for not knowing where the cuts to LDH would be.

Cut 14 (09) “the impact”
The Department of Veterans Affairs would also take a hit under the budget proposal, and Undersecretary Homer Rogers says it could lead to the closure of two veteran’s cemeteries. He says the cemeteries in Leesville and Rayville are miniature Arlington National Cemeteries and require a lot of upkeep.

Cut 7 (08) “our veterans”

Rogers hopes the Senate will restore the funding when they take up the budget in the coming weeks.

The healthcare bill approved by the US House still has a long way to go before winning final passage. US Senator Bill Cassidy says there will likely be changes made to the bill before it gets through the Upper Chamber.

Cut 8 (07) “process works”

The bill now heads to the US Senate for approval.

A Zachary man has been arrested after making threats against law enforcement on Facebook. State Trooper Bryan Lee says State Police was informed about the post made by 38-year-old Thallemus Thomas.

Cut 3 (11) “under arrest”

The post referenced the DOJ’s decision not to charge the officers involved in the Alton Sterling case, saying “It’s time Baton Rouge u didn’t learn from the police killing.”

The House approved budget plan could lead to the closure of two veteran cemeteries in Leesville and Rayville. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Louisiana students account for most of the Spring Break arrests in Okaloosa County, Florida. Police say of the 508 arrests, 34 were LSU students, and 23 were UL-Lafayette students. Seven students from St. Paul’s School in Covington were also arrested. Most of the arrests were reportedly for underage drinking.

The healthcare bill approved by the US House still has a long way to go. The measure may not look exactly the same by the time it leaves the Senate, but US Senator Bill Cassidy says there likely are some key elements lawmakers can support.

Cut 10 (11) “get behind”

The health plan now heads to the US Senate for approval.

A Sulphur man has been arrested for threatening a driver with his gun. State Police Sgt. James Anderson says 24-year-old Matthew Savoie was driving in the left lane when another vehicle approached, and the two exchanged words as the other driver passed.

Cut (11) “morning’s incident”

Savoie is charges with aggravated assault with a firearm.

The budget plan approved by the House could cut 147-thousand dollars from the department of veteran’s affairs leading to the closure of two cemeteries in Leesville and Rayville. Department undersecretary Homer Rogers says over 340-thousand veterans currently live in Louisiana. He says taking this money away is disrespectful to our soldiers.
Cut 6 (08) “the line”

The Healthcare bill approved by the U.S. House still has a long way to go in the legislative process and the next step is to get approval from the Senate. In its current posture, the measure would freeze enrollment for Medicaid expansion, and people would be taken out of the program over time. But Senator Bill Cassidy says Medicaid expansion is expensive for the states.
Cut 9 (09) “a year”

Supporters of the plan say employers will be able to offer these people affordable insurance once better plans are available.

The second weekend of the New Orleans Jazz Fest  is underway. Michelle Southern reports fest goers are soaking up the music and beautiful weather….:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A 51-year-old woman has been found guilty of stealing over 4 million dollars from an oil field company in Sulphur, while she was employed there. Elizabeth Istre was a former bookkeeper at the business and wrote herself mover than 800 checks since she began working at the company since 2004. She was found guilty of three counts of wire fraud.

The budget plan approved by the House could lead to the closure of state-funded veteran cemeteries in Leesville and Rayville. That’s according to the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Undersecretary Homer Rogers who says the proposed 147-thousand dollar cut in state funding means they will not be able to bury veterans at these cemeteries going forward…:
Cut 5 (09) “already interned”
Rogers hopes the Senate will restore the funding when they take up the budget in the coming weeks.

There was a small protest outside of Baton Rouge Police headquarters last night in response to the decision of the DOJ not to press charges against the cops in the Alton Sterling fatal shooting…:
CUT 26 (05) “no peace”
A few police officers were also there to make sure people stayed safe and followed the laws. Baton Rouge Police are hoping things remain peaceful heading into the weekend.

A Sulphur man is behind bars after threatening a driver on I-10 with a handgun. -Louisiana State Police Sgt. James Anderson says 24-year-old Matthew Savoie brandished his weapon at another motorist while driving down I-10 near Welsh…:
Cut 11 (09) “inside the vehicle”
He is booked with aggravated assault with a firearm and faces up to 10 years in prison.

The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival gets underway today — a celebration that draws nearly 30,000 people every year. Publicity Director Angelique Bernard says, in addition to a carnival, music and dancing, the food vendors prepare mudbugs anyway you can imagine…:
Cut 25 (09) “crawfish poboy”
Find out more at bbcrawfest.com.

The House approved budget plan could lead to the closure of two veteran cemeteries in Leesville and Rayville. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The healthcare bill approved by the US House still has a long way to go in the legislative process as it heads to Upper Chamber. Senator Bill Cassidy:
Cut 8 (07) “process works”
He believes that even though some things may change, key elements of the Healthcare Bill have support.

A Zachary man has been arrested after making threats against law enforcement on Facebook. The post referenced the DOJ’s decision not to bring forth charges against the officers involved in the Alton Sterling case, saying “It’s time Baton Rouge u didn’t learn from the police killing.” State Trooper Bryan Lee says this is something police take very seriously…:
Cut 4 (10) “the community”
The post said in part, “we will find the cops and execute them if we can’t find them we will kill one of there family members and start ambushing police officers n Baton Rouge.” Thomas is charged with terrorizing. He is being held in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a $250,000 bond.

A bill to require businesses to guarantee equal pay has passed out of the Senate Labor committee despite opposition from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. LABI small business director Renee Amar says they have a problem the legislation fails to allow for salary differences given market changes…
cut 9 (05) “…defend themselves”
The measure is heading to the Senate floor. The senate approved an equal pay bill last year, but the proposal died in the House.

A Zachary man has been arrested after making threats against law enforcement on Facebook. The post referenced the DOJ’s decision not to bring forth charges against the officers involved in the Alton Sterling case, saying “It’s time Baton Rouge u didn’t learn from the police killing.” State Trooper Bryan Lee says State Police was informed about the post made by 38-year-old Thallemus Thomas.
Cut 3 (11) “under arrest”
Thomas is charged with terrorizing.

The full house has sent a 28-billion dollar spending plan for the next fiscal year to the Senate. The governor and democrats are not happy with it, because it appropriates 235-million dollars less than what the state treasury is expected to receive, which could mean deep cuts for the department of health. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says it will be up to agency heads to determine where the cuts would occur.
cut 15 (11) “…to you”
The House budget plan was approved on a vote of 63-to-40. It also fully funds TOPS and it will go before the Senate, where more changes are expected to be made.

Louisiana’s Congressional delegation voted along party lines for the American Health Care Act, which passed the house on a vote of 217-213. The state’s Republican U-S Representatives voted for the measure that would replace the Affordable Care Act. Democrat Cedric Richmond says the bill make its easier for insurance companies to deny basic coverage.