Governor John Bel Edwards is urging Congress to keep Medicaid expansion intact as the debate intensifies on Capitol Hill over replacing President Obama’s health care law. The governor’s communication director, Richard Carbo, says their biggest concern is that thousands of Louisiana residents who were recently insured through Medicaid will lose their coverage…
cut 14 (11) “…healthcare”

The state health department says there’s been at least six students on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge diagnosed with the mumps. Doctor Frank Welch, with L-D-H, says they’ve alerted other universities, schools and doctors to look out for symptoms…
cut 8 (10) “…health center”
Welch says the disease is spread through salivia, so covery your mouth while coughing or sneezing and avoid sharing utensils.

Energy producing areas of the state continue to see large decline in employment. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The state Legislative Auditor’s Office launches its own investigation into the travel spending of State Police. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says the goal is to uncover the truth…:
cut 4 (09) “actually transpired”
We’ve learned that four troopers to a questionable side trips to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.

Governor John Bel Edwards has sent a letter to federal leaders urging them to keep Medicaid expansion. Spokesperson for the Governor’s Office, Richard Carbo, says in addition to saving lives, the expansion has been good for the state’s economy and budget.

Cut 15 (09) “hear that”

In the letter, Edwards says changes can be made without harming people who now have healthcare.

The Legislative Auditor is the latest to launch an investigation into the travel spending of Louisiana State Police, joining ongoing inquiries by LSP and the Governor’s Office after four troopers made taxpayer funded side trips in route to a training conference. Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson is still at the helm of LSP, despite rumors he would step down.

Cut 6 (10) “State Police”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission finds Louisiana’s unemployment rate has stayed mostly stagnant over the last year, except in Baton Rouge. After losing 13-hundred jobs in the past year, Baton Rouge gained 41-hundred over the last month. LSU economist Loren Scott says the Capitol City has a number of projects underway.

Cut 12 (09) “growth path”

Lake Charles, Monroe, and New Orleans also saw job growth over the last year.

A mumps outbreak in Arkansas is making its way to Louisiana, Dr. Frank Welch with the Department of Health says the majority of cases have been on LSU campus, but they’re also educating young children about the disease.

Cut 9 (11) “good hygiene”

Welch encourages everyone to get two doses of the mumps vaccine.

Governor John Bel Edwards has sent a letter to congressional leaders urging the protection of Medicaid expansion. The governor’s communications director Richard Carbo says as the debate is underway in the nation’s capital to repeal and replace Obamacare, Edwards is standing behind the program he signed into law on his first day in office…:
Cut 13 (10) “number one”
He says the governor knows expansion isn’t perfect, but changes should be made that don’t harm people who have already benefited with coverage.

Job growth in Louisiana remains slow and, in some cases, does not exist. Bureau of Labor and Statistics finds Louisiana’s unemployment rate is just under 6-percent. But LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says Lake Charles has seen a boom…:
CUT 11 (10) “96 billion”
But due to a struggling oil and gas industry, Houma lost 6,000 jobs over the year, and Lafayette lost 9,000.

Louisiana is now seeing a cluster of mumps cases with students at LSU. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

UNO will play in its first Division one NCAA Tournament game tonight since 1996 when they face Mount St. Mary’s in a First four matchup in Dayton, Ohio. Head Coach Mark Slessinger says it’s been a crazy last couple of days:
Cut 16 (09) “with you”
Tonight’s game will tip-off at 5:30 on Tru-TV.

Energy producing areas of the state continue to see large decline in employment. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The state says at least six cases of the mumps have been confirmed on the LSU campus, and given the large outbreak in Arkansas, it’s important to know the signs…:
CUT 7 (10) “kill people”
That’s State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch.

The state Legislative Auditor’s Office launches an investigation into the travel spending of Louisiana State Police. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says the goal of the investigation is to uncover the truth…:
cut 4 (09) “actually transpired”
LSP is being investigated for alleged illegal campaign contributions and possible personal vacations clocked as business time. Col Mike Edmonson says they are looking forward to finding out the truth as well and making policy changes accordingly.

UNO will play in its first NCAA Tournament game in 21 years when they face Mount St. Mary’s tonight for a 5:30 tip-off on Tru-TV.

The state Legislative Auditor’s Office launches an investigation into the travel spending of Louisiana State Police. The inquiry comes amid an ongoing investigations into the agency by the Governor’s Office. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera hopes this probe will lead to policy changes in the department…:
Cut 3 (09) “in the future”
LSP is conducting their own internal investigation into the side trips and possible overtime pay. State Police Col. Mike Edmonson hopes the findings of all these probes can be turned into new policy and accountability practices…:
Cut 5 (09) “welcome that”
Rumors are going around that Edmonson is being asked to step down but he says he has no plans to do so.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics finds Louisiana’s unemployment rate has seen little change overall in the past year, but manufacturing and the oil and gas industry continue to see big losses. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says Houma lost 6,000 jobs over the year, and Lafayette lost 9,000…:
CUT 10 (11) “too low”
Louisiana’s unemployment rate is just under 6-percent statewide.

The Louisiana Office of Tourism is promoting the Bayou State to travelers from Germany, as Condor Airlines prepares to offer direct flights to New Orleans this summer. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says this means even more people from out of the country will be making trips here…:
CUT 25 (08) “international travel”
Nungesser says while in Louisiana, German visitors stay about 7 days and spend an average of $400 per day.

State Police Col Mike Edmonson is the subject of plenty of controversy, but the Governor’s office says it’s only a rumor that the superintendent has been asked to step down. President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, Rafael Goyeneche, says it’s not looking good for LSP…:
Cut 13 (10) “the superintendent”

Car insurance rates are on the rise again and one big culprit is the smartphone. That’s according to state Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, who says drivers are distracted by their phones and it’s leading to more accidents…:
Cut 4 (10) “while driving”
The National Highway Safety Administration finds distracted driving is the cause for 20-percent of crashes in the state.

Day two of jury selection is underway in the murder trial of Derek Stafford. He’s the law enforcement officer from Marksville accues of killing a six-year-old autistic boy during a traffic stop in November of 2015. So far six tentative jurors have been selected and attorneys have to agree on eight more.

With help from the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency, a pregnant mother from Haughton is donating her terminal baby’s tissue for research. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Motorists in Louisiana won’t like this but it’s also not much of a surprise that car insurance rates keep going up here. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says you can blame low gas prices meaning more people on the road, and the increase in the number of folks on their phone. He also says cars are nicer which also means higher rates
CUT 5 (10) “and replace”
he National Highway Safety Administration finds distracted driving is the cause for 20-percent of crashes in the state.

The Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency says a pregnant mother from Haughton is donating her terminal baby’s tissue for research. Kirsten Heintz with LOPA says this type of selfless act by Brittney Walls can bring a sense of fulfillment for mothers who will inevitably lose their child…:
Cut 8 (10) “their pregnancies”
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is getting ready for the new nonstop between New Orleans and Germany coming this summer. He hopes these new tourists will take advantage of all there is to do in Louisiana.
CUT 11 (11) “all around Louisiana”

UNO represents Louisiana in the NCAA Tournament tonight as they face Mount St. Mary’s in a First Four contest in Dayton, Ohio. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Col Mike Edmonson is coming under fire amid accusations some troopers took personal trips on tax payers dime and that illegal campaign contributions may have taken place, but the governor’s office says they have not asked the superintendent to resign. President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, Rafael Goyeneche, says Edmonson’s behavior has been questioned in the past…:
Cut 15 (09) “underneath him”
He says all this doesn’t look good for LSP.

Louisiana car insurance rates keeping rising and Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says one reason could be the cheap cost of gas. He says that means more vehicles are on the road…:
CUT 6 (11) “increases”
He says more wrecks means higher insurance and motorists are crashing at higher rates because they are on their phone.

A Haughton woman with a fatal pregnancy is making a selfless contribution to science with the help of the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency. Kirsten Heintz with LOPA says at 18 weeks pregnant, Brittney Walls found out her baby suffers from a fatal disease, and the mom decided to carry then donate her baby’s neonatal tissue for research…:
Cut 7 (09) “Type I diabetes”
She says this donation can bring a sense of fulfillment for mothers who will inevitably lose their child.

A former high school teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with one of her female students has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty. 27-year-old Kimberly Naquin, who taught at Destrehan High, is convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and prohibited sexual contact between a teacher and student and received a suspended five-year prison sentence. She’ll have to register as a sex offender.