Lawmakers are split on whether or not to tap into the state’s rainy day fund to close a $304 million budget gap. Lake Charles Representative Mark Abraham sits on the Appropriations Committee and says he’s still not sure if that’s the way to go.

Cut 3 (12) “rainy day fund”

The Edwards Administration will unveil its budget plan on Friday.

Former-Angola Warden Burl Cain defends himself amid allegations he misused public funds. A legislative audit says taxpayers footed the $27-thousand bill for appliances and TVs at Cain’s home on prison grounds. But he says he also spent his own money on the public home.

Cut 15 (09) “my pocket”

Cain made the comments during an interview with Talk 107.3 in Baton Rouge.

New Orleans officials proposed a plan to reduce crime on Bourbon Street, including requiring bars to close their doors at 3 a.m. but crime analyst Jeff Asher says last year only 20-percent of shootings in that area occurred between 3 and 7 a.m.

Cut 7 (11) “of crime”

Asher says improving police response time would be a better way to reduce crime.

The state Fire Marshal’s Office says a Covington man is dead after he set his house on fire during a dispute with his father. Deputy Chief Brant Thompson says Brandon Kellum’s father, Jamie Kellum, has burns to 85% of his body.

Cut 11 (10) “his body”

Thompson says alcohol is believed to be a factor.

The Louisiana Family Forum is once again searching for the state’s longest married couple as Valentine’s Day is approaching. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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President Trump has signed two orders moving forward with construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines. Jeff Palermo has more on what this means for Louisiana….

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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With budget problems still looming, state lawmakers are once again looking at possible changes to TOPS. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and the Louisiana Family Forum is once again searching for the state’s longest married couple to share their love story. President Gene Mills urges anyone who knows a couple married for longer than 70 years to contact their office….

cut 4  (07) “unique way”

The Top 10 Longest Married Couples will be honored by receiving official recognition and will be entered into the Louisiana Family Forum’s “Marriage Hall of Fame.” Mills says for the past two years, Lawrence and Varrie Player of Benton, have received the honor as the state’s longest known married couple, at 82 years together.

Cut 5  (10)  “with that”

Mills says they honor these couples, who have shown that marriage can last a lifetime,  during the week leading up to Valentine’s Day. He says entries for couples married over 70 years must be submitted says to the Louisiana Family Forum at (800) 606-6470 by February 5th.

Cut 6 (06) “family member”

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Congressman Mike Johnson of Louisiana’s 4^th Congressional District has been appointed to two subcommittees of the House Judiciary Committee. The first is the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. Johnson says this will be a high priority area under the new administration. He says President Trump has reaffirmed his commitment to building a wall along the southern border.

CUT 7 (07)  “border security”‘

Johnson says they aren’t sure what the plan to secure the borders will look like just yet. He says lawmakers are tossing ideas around, and they plan to consult with experts to see which ideas might work best.

Cut 8 (11) “illegal crossing”

Johnson has also been appointed to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. He says continuing the fight against ISIS and other terrorist groups will be a key item on the committee’s agenda, especially as threats persist both at home and abroad.

Cut 9 (10)  “recognize that”

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President Donald Trump has signed two orders that moves forward with construction on the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines, so what does that mean for Louisiana? Acting President of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association Gifford Briggs says this creates more hope of the construction of the Bayou Bridge Pipeline. But he says looking at a bigger picture, there is a renewed optimism within the industry under a Trump presidency…

Cut 10 (06) “that commitment”

The Keystone XL Pipeline would run from Canada to Texas and the Dakota Access Pipeline could span from North Dakota to Illinois. Briggs says Trump has made comments about reducing 75-percent of regulations on the oil and gas industry. He says this would open up a lot of opportunities for investment.

cut 11 (07) “lower cost”

Many people are concerned about the safety of using pipelines compared to other methods of transporting oil. But Briggs says everything they do is done in a manner that’s environmentally safe and responsible. He says right now we’re struggling with aging infrastructure…

cut 12 (09) “other systems”

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Lawmakers are once again proposing more changes to the TOPS scholarship program as budget problems continue to plague the state. State representative Franklin Foil says raising the requirements for TOPS could make the program more affordable. The GPA requirement is currently a 2.5, but he says it should be increased to a 3.0 over the next three years.

Cut 13 (10) “in the state”

The Baton Rouge Republican plans to file a bill for the regular legislative session to raise the GPA requirement for TOPS students. Foil says all options need to be considered, so lawmakers can keep the program intact for the future. He says his proposal would make the program more of a merit-based scholarship, like it was intended to be.

cut 14 (06) “college education”

Last year the state failed to fully fund the popular scholarship program and TOPS students at most public schools are paying a majority of their tuition this semester. Foil says raising the GPA will encourage high school students to perform better and make the program more cost effective for the state.

Cut 15 (10) “good grades”

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There’s a week to go before national signing day and the LSU Tigers are on the verge of signing a top five class. Rivals and 24–7 sports currently have Ed Orgeron’s first recruiting class ranked as the nation’s seventh best. But Shea Dixon with Geaux 24-7 says that ranking can go up, if LSU signs a few talented linebackers

Cut 16 (16) “down the stretch”

Dixon says linebacker is a piroirty for the Tigers coaching staff, because LSU has 20 commitments and only one of them is a linebacker, Patrick Queen from Livonia High School. He says LSU is also looking to sign a defensive lineman from northeast Louisiana…

Cut 17 (12)   “and Alabama”

Dixon says they will have to wait until national signing day on February first on five or six guys who could decide to play at LSU. He says with a week to go before signing day, this looks like a very good class for the Tigers new head coach…

Cut 18 (17) “top five”

The governor’s office will propose a 304-million dollar budget deficit reduction plan to legislators this week. Jeff Palermo spoke with two republican lawmakers about the state’s budget troubles…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The LDWF agent who was shot during a traffic stop in Morehouse Parish is making progress in his recovery. That’s according to a Facebook post from the Louisiana Wildlife Agents Association, which shows a picture of 25-year-old Tyler Wheeler sitting up in his hospital bed. Two Monroe residents are behind bars in connection with the shooting.

Former-Angola Warden Burl Cain responds to allegations by the legislative auditor’s office that he asked prison employees to work on his private home while on the clock. Cain told Talk 107.3 in Baton Rouge that some people did volunteer to help, not but while they were working.

Cut 14 (10) “took leave”

The audit alleges three employees worked on Cain’s home while getting paid by the state.

New Orleans officials propose a plan to combat crime on Bourbon Street, including establishing a new mobile booking unit for NOPD to use during big events. But crime analyst Jeff Asher says the unit would only be effective in one area during certain times.

Cut 8 (12) “citywide problem”

Asher says the best way to reduce crime is to increase the police force.

Former Angola Warden Burl Cain has responded to claims in a state legislative auditor’s report that said he may have illegally used public funds for personal reasons. One of the accusations is that prison workers performed work on his private home, while getting paid by the state. Cain says it’s not his job to fill out their time sheets properly….
cut 13 (09) “…your work day”
Cain’s comments were made during a live interview on Talk 107.3 in Baton Rouge. Legislative auditor Daryl Purpera says he’s forwarded his findings to local and federal prosecutors.

The state’s unemployment rate is at 6-point-1 percent. That’s based on a data from the federal Bureal of Labor statistics who compiled job numbers for December. Another report shows Louisiana added 26-hundred private-sector jobs in December as total employment in the education and health care services has hit an all-time high.

Legislators will find out on Friday the Edwards administration proposal to eliminate a 304-million dollar midyear deficit. It’s expected that the governor will call for a special session and Lake Charles Representative Mark Abraham says he’s fine with that…
cut 4 (08) “…those cuts”
Abraham says he’s still not sure if it’s a good idea to use rainy day money to help close the gap.

A family fight apparently prompted a 28-year-old Covington-area man to douse a home with gasoline which started a fire that killed him and critically injured his father. State Fire Marshal’s Office Deputy Chief Brant Thompson says Brandon Kellum’s brother heard a physical fight break out inside the house…:
cut 12 (11) “into flames”
Brandon Kellum died. The father has burns over 85% of his body.

New Orleans officials propose a plan to reduce crime in the French Quarter, but will it work? Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Edwards administration will present a plan on Friday on how it proposes to close a 304-million dollar budget deficit. Oil City Representative Jim Morris does not agree with the governor’s idea of dipping into the rainy day fund…
cut 5 (09) “…that’s going to work”

Former Angola warden appeared on a Baton Rouge radio station today refuting an allegation made in a government audit that taxpayers picked up the tab for more than 27-thousand dollars in appliances and flat screens at his residence on prison grounds. Cain says what the report doesn’t show is how much personal money he spent on the public house…
cut 15 (09) “…out of my pocket”
The audit has been given to state and federal prosecutors.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says 28-year-old James Brandon Kellum of Covington man is dead, after he lit his home on fire during a family fight. Deputy Chief Brant Thompson says the man’s father, twin brother and step mother, went out drinking and when they returned home, things got physical.
cut 10 (10) “…the home”
Thompson says 55-year-old Jamie Kellum is in grave condition with burns to over 85-percent of his body, while Michael Kellum received burns to 15-percent of his body.

Former-Angola Warden Burl Cain defends himself amid allegations he used prison labor for work at his private residence. A legislative audit found at least three employees worked on Cain’s home while on the clock. Cain told Talk 107.3 in Baton Rouge that at times, employees would volunteer to help, but not while working.

Cut 14 (10) “took leave”

Lawmakers are struggling to come up with a plan for filling a $304 million budget hole without raising taxes. One option would be to broaden the base of the clean penny that was added to the sales tax last year, but Oil City Representative Jim Morris doesn’t want to put a bigger burden on taxpayers.

Cut 6 (12) “to consider it”

New Orleans officials plan to install more than 200 cameras around the city to try and reduce crime. But crime analyst Jeff Asher is skeptical. He says while the cameras might be effective, it will depend on NOPD’s ability to respond quickly.

Cut 9 (11) “about it”

Asher says the best way to reduce crime in the Crescent City is more uniformed officers.

A Covington man is dead after he lit his home on fire during a drunken dispute with his father. That’s according to Deputy Chief Brant Thompson with the state Fire Marshal’s Office, who says Brandon Kellum’s father, Jamie, has burns to 85% of his body.

Cut 11 (10) “his body”

Thompson says toxicology results are pending.

The governor’s office will propose a 304-million dollar budget deficit reduction plan to legislators this week. Jeff Palermo spoke with two republican lawmakers about the state’s budget troubles…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A local Domino’s franchisee says a reward of up to $25,000 is being offered in the death of one of its pizza delivery drivers last night in New Orleans. NOPD says 49-year old Michael County, who had four children and three stepchildren, had just made a delivery when he was gunned down.

Former Angola Warden Burl Cain has responded to claims in a state legislative auditors report that say he may have illegally used public funds for personal reasons. Cain asserts prison workers who did renovations to his private home may not have filled out their time sheets properly…:
Cut 13 (09) “after your work day“
Cain’s comments were made during a live interview on Talk 107.3 in Baton Rouge.

A family fight apparently prompted a 28-year-old Covington-area man to douse the residence with gasoline which started a fire that killed him and critically injured his father. State Fire Marshal’s Office Deputy Chief Brant Thompson says Brandon Kellum’s brother heard a physical fight break out inside the house…:
cut 12 (11) “into flames”
Brandon Kellum died. The father has burns over 85% of his body.