Newly released inmates are getting access to healthcare thanks to a partnership between the Louisiana Department of Health and the Department of Corrections. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards says reducing minimum mandatory sentences for some nonviolent offense will be part of his criminal justice reform package in the regular session. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana native Paul Rainwater is a finalist to become the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Department of Corrections and the Louisiana Department of Health are teaming up to get health coverage for newly released inmates. DOC Medical Director Dr. Raman Singh says they are helping incarcerated inmates enroll in Medicaid so that once they are released, they can continue to receive the care they need.

Cut 4  (10) “disorder issues”

Singh says DOC is all about reentry and making sure released offenders succeed in their communities. He says this is good for the taxpayers as well because reducing the recidivism rate keeps inmates out of jails. He says this new program will also give offenders access to primary care physicians, instead of emergency rooms.

Cut 5  (11)  “cost efficient care”

Singh says the first phase of the program is being implemented in 7 DOC state facilities, with 230 offenders already linked to a health plan. He says from there the fully electronic system will be put in place at the local prisons, and eventually in the entire department.

Cut 6 (10) “electronically”

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Governor John Bel Edwards plans to present a criminal justice reform plan to lawmakers that looks at reducing minimum sentences for some nonviolent offenses. Edwards says the state is looking at proven strategies that have worked to reduce the prison population in other southern conservative states.

Cut 7 (08)  “offenses”

Edwards says we have to find a way to lower the state’s incarceration rate, because Louisiana spends $600 million a year on the Department of Corrections, which is a costly number during these tough budget times. He admits many district attorneys oppose reducing minimum sentences.

Cut 8 (07) “overall approach”

Edwards says the package he will present ahead of the regular session in April will be based on the recommendations made by his Criminal Justice Reform Task Force. He says the reforms will reduce state spending, incarcerate fewer people, and have a lower crime rate and less recidivism without jeopardizing public safety.

Cut 9 (09)  “a gamble”

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Sources say Louisiana native Paul Rainwater is one of two candidates to become the next director of the Federal Disaster Management Agency. Rainwater has an extensive background when it comes to disaster recovery from his time as a city administrator in Lake Charles to when he was former Governor Bobby Jindal’s Chief of Staff. U.S Senator John Kennedy says Rainwater would be a great choice.

Cut 10 (11) “any better”

The other candidate is reportedly Mark Merritt, a private consultant from Atlanta. Kennedy says there are still several other positions that have to go through the confirmation process before they get to FEMA. He says this includes the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch…

Cut 11 (11) “him fishing”

A final decision on who Trump will nominate to direct FEMA may not be made until April or May but Kennedy says until then…

Cut 12 (09) “for Louisiana”

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A Baton Rouge man convicted of killing his 5-year-old son will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Last month 38-year-old Vernell Day, Jr. was found guilty of second degree murder for beating his son Jay’v’une Bergin to death in 2014. District Attorney Hillar Moore says with that conviction, there was only one way the sentencing could go.

Cut 13 (10) “life imprisonment”

Police say Bergin was taken to the hospital in August of 2014 after suffering multiple blows, and the child died two days later. Moore says this man belongs behind bars. He says this is exactly what the life sentence is made for.

Cut 14 (09) “different positions”

Day’s attorneys said in court that he had no intention of hurting his son and that his daughter was in his custody for years without being hurt. But Moore says with a 50-percent survival rate for his children, Day doesn’t deserve a pat on the back.

Cut 15 (08) “him on that”

Louisiana’s Republican delegation approves of President Donald Trump’s message to Congress last night but Democrats are still skeptical. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Louisiana HBCU leaders are pleased with the president’s commitment to making historically black institutions a priority. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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An escaped work release inmate is once again behind bars after a high speed chase in Webster Parish that ended with a vehicle going airborne. Webster Sheriff Gary Sexton says deputies pulled over a vehicle for speeding down Highway 371. He says after the driver stepped out of the truck, 18-year-old Kevonte Austin took off, and deputies set up a roadblock to catch him.

Cut 3 (12) “sitting in the car”

A video of the crash shows the truck veering into the ditch to avoid the roadblock before flying over 10 feet in the air over a fence and into the parking lot of Nicky’s Restaurant, where the unsuspecting woman was sitting in her vehicle. Sexton even after crashing the vehicle, Austin wasn’t giving up without a fight.

cut 4  (11) “to the ground”

The suspect was reportedly travelling 115 miles per hour when he came upon the roadblock.  Sexton says given how recklessly the suspect was driving, it’s a miracle no one was hurt, especially the woman who was in her car when the truck landed on top of it.

Cut 5  (09)  “this today”

Sexton says Austin has been booked on charges of attempted first degree murder of a police officer for trying to run over a deputy, attempted auto theft, and numerous traffic offenses.

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Louisiana’s Republican delegation believes President Donald Trump sent the right message in last night’s address in front of Congress. Mr. Trump laid out his plans to overhaul the nation’s healthcare system, increase military spending and create jobs. Congressman Ralph Abraham of Richland Parish says the President’s speech should ease the minds of many skeptics.

Cut 6 (10) “picture”

Early national polls indicate that a majority of viewers approved of the speech and more optimistic about the future of the country. But executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party Stephen Handwerk remains a non-believer that President Trump will truly make America great again…

CUT 7 (11)  “that bar”

Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garrett Graves says Trump’s address to Congress was the best he’s ever given. He says this speech was a homerun for Trump and it was very patriotic…

Cut 8 (09) “America first”

Handwerk says he remains unconvinced that the Republicans in Washington will be able to install a better health care system that’s currently in place. He says while the president spoke with a measured tone last night, actions speak louder than words.

Cut 9 (10)  “last night”

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A man is dead following an officer involved shooting in Houma on Tuesday night. State Trooper Jesse Lagrange says the Houma Police Department was involved in an incident with a barricaded subject when the shooting occurred.

Cut 10 (07) “the shooting”

Lagrange says they are not releasing the any details about the deceased man at this time. As LSP’s investigation into the shooting is ongoing, he says they are also not releasing any details about what may have led to the incident.

cut 11 (09) “becomes available”

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Two Sulphur residents are dead after a fire broke out in their home early this morning. Sulphur Fire Chief Dan Selph says the fire was called in by a neighbor and a witness who saw it from the interstate. He says when crews arrived it was evident that entering the home was not an option. He says it was a full blown defensive attack.

cut 12 (11) “later confirmed”

Selph says the victims were located in a part of the home that did not sustain as much fire damage as the rest of the house. He says the official cause of death for the 58-year-old woman and the 68-year-old man will be confirmed by the coroner. He says it was a tough decision to make on scene not to get aggressive and enter the burning home.

Cut 13 (10) “to go inside” 

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Grambling President Rick Gallot is back from his trip to Washington where he met with President Donald Trump on the administration’s commitment to making historically black colleges and universities a priority. Gallot says, from a funding standpoint, it makes a huge difference when the White House has promised to be involved…:

cut 14 (09) “we’re encouraged”

HBCU Presidents are calling for $25 billion dollars for infrastructure, college readiness, financial aid and other priorities. Gallot says they’re hoping Congress will will bolster Mr. Trump’s action…:

Cut 15 (09) “be welcome”

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is under fire for making a controversial statement that HBCUs are pioneers in school choice, when in fact many were established because they were the only option for black students. Gallot says he understands DeVos is committed to school choice, but perhaps her comments were misguided…:

Cut 16  (09)  “white schools”