Three Washington Parish residents have been arrested in a robbery, kidnapping, and rape conspiracy. Halen Doughty reports….

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Lawmakers will look at several proposed changes to the state’s tax code next year. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

President-elect Donald Trump is officially the next President of the United States, as Mr. Trump received 301 electoral votes. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

_____________________________________________

Thirteen parishes in north and central Louisiana have been declared a natural disaster area by the US Department of Agriculture because of drought conditions during 2016. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says crops were damaged because of the drought, and this declaration could help farmers recover.

cut 4  (07) “service agency”

Several weeks of drought conditions followed the two historic floods Louisiana endured this year. Strain says these farmers have 8 months from the date of the declaration to apply for assistance.

Cut 5  (06)  “of November”

Strain says more information is available in each affected parish.

Cut 6 (06) “agency office”

____________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards has said tax reform will be a major item on his 2017 legislative agenda. Louisiana Department of Revenue Secretary, Kimberly Lewis Robinson, sat on a state Tax Task Force that has provided recommendations to provide a fair, simple and stable tax code. She says to simplify the system, the recommend the elimination of some tax exemptions and deductions.

CUT 7 (13)  “that clean penny”

Robinson says in order to be competitive, Louisiana needs a 4-percent sales tax, rather than a 5-percent rate, which lawmakers approved earlier this year. She says currently the largest percentage of the budget comes from sales tax collections, which isn’t fair to consumers or businesses.

Cut 8 (08) “percent rate”

Robinson says for a fair tax system, we have to ensure that everyone is paying their fair share of taxes. She says that means applying sales taxes to all kinds of retailers.

Cut 9 (11)  “pay sales tax”

________________________________________

Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest of three people involved in armed robbery, kidnapping, and rape. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says a woman in her early 50s and her husband were targeted for the heinous crime because of their large gun collection. He says the woman was home alone when 17-year-old Deonta Miller of Franklinton knocked on the door, posing as a package delivery person.

Cut 10 (09) “for weapons”

Haley says Miller then loaded up the weapons in the woman’s vehicle and kidnapped her. He says they drove to a remote part of Washington Parish, where Miller pulled off onto a hunting club road.

cut 11 (10) “the mud”

Haley says Miller fled into the woods on foot, and the victim ran in the opposite direction. He says after Miller apprehended in the woods, and they learned that 48-year-old Robert Lester was the mastermind of the crime. He says Lester followed Miller after the burglary.

cut 12 (12) “the weapons”

Haley says Miller’s niece, 18-year-old Victoria Lester, was charged with accessory after the fact. He says Miller was charged with two counts of aggravated rape, aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping, and carjacking. Haley says Lester faces charges of principle to aggravated kidnapping, principle to carjacking, and principle to aggravated burglary.

________________________________________

Not surprisingly, all 8 of Louisiana’s electors cast their votes for President-elect Donald Trump. Chairman of the Republican Party in Louisiana, Roger Villere, says they were not expecting any surprises, and they got what they expected.

Cut 13 (10) “and Pence”

Villere says several electors received tens of thousands of emails, letters, and phone calls asking them not to vote for Trump. He says even if some of Louisiana’s electors had changed their votes, there’s no way Mr. Trump wouldn’t have won.

cut 14 (09) “than that”

Mr. Trump got 301 electoral votes. Villere says although electors sign an affidavit when they are selected saying they will vote for the nominee, they would not have faced consequences had they voted against Mr. Trump.

Cut 15 (10) “for that”

_________________________________________________

NFL analyst Mike Detillier believes Sean Payton will be the head coach of the Saints in 2017, despite a report that said the New Orleans franchise is interested in trading the Super Bowl winning head coach. Two teams already have vacancies and Detillier says the opening in Los Angeles might intrigue Payton, but not enough to force a trade

Cut 16 (18) “in 2017″

Many Saints are getting frustrating with the team as they are headed for the their third consecutive losing season and might like a change at the top. But Detillier says be careful for what you root for…

Cut 17 (18)    “deal Payton off”

Last March, Payton agreed to a five-year contract extension that’s worth 45-million dollars. At the time, Payton said he wants to be the Saints Head Coach for as long as the organization wants him. Detillier believes the report that New Orleans might be willing to listen to trade offers for Payton is an agent generated story….

Cut 18 (12) “four times now”

All of Louisiana’s 8 electors selected Donald Trump for president, and Mike Pence for vice president. Lloyd Harsch spoke following the vote and told reporters he’d received over 90,000 emails and several hundred letters from people urging him not to vote for Mr. Trump. He says he considered every candidate and all of their options…:
CUT 12 (09) “to change my vote”
The vote took place in the Senate chambers at the State Capitol. There were a few outside, urging the electors not to vote for Trump, because they are concerned about the country’s future…
cut 15 (08) “…anymore war”
Trump did receive the necessary 270 votes from the electoral college. The vote will be officially read when Congress convenes next month.

Following the declaration of a public health emergency in St. Joseph, Governor John Bel Edwards visited the Tensas Parish town today. Michelle Southern has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

It’s a cold night in Louisiana, but warmer weather is on the way….
cut 5 (07) “….on Wednesday”
That’s Matt Hemingway with the National Weather Service, who says expect another cold start to the day tomorrow with low temperatures ranging from the mid 20s to the low 30s.

All of Louisiana’s 8 electors selected Donald Trump for president, and Mike Pence for vice president. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced settlements totaling 13-million dollars in lawsuits that were filed against the city for deadly police shootings that took place after Hurricane Katrina and a fatal beating that took place before the 2005 storm. At a news conference, the mayor also apologized to the victims’ families.

Governor John Bel Edwards traveled to St. Joseph today, after a public health emergency was declared in the small Tensas Parish town. Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor’s Office, Julie Baxter Payer, says high levels of lead and copper were found in two water samples in St. Joe…:
Cut 6 (10) “drinking water”
The state has brought bottled water into the community and announced plans for extensive testing of the public drinking water system.

An illegal immigrant from El Salvador, who was wanted for murder in the Latin American country. was taken into custody by a St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Deputy. Captain Daniel Seuzeneau says the process sending of sending 36-year-old Juan Sanchez-Roldan back to his native country started with a traffic stop…
cut 11 (08) “…under his belt”
Seuzeneau says Sanchez-Roldan was living in Baton Rouge and was in St. Tammany for construction work.

Louisiana’s eight electoral voters all cast their ballot for President-elect Donald Trump today, despite continuing opposition to his presidency. Matt McCann was one of several protesting the election of Mr. Trump. He says the billionaire teaches ignorance and hate…
cut 14 (09) “…human being”
Elector Lloyd Harsch says he received 90-thousand emails asking him not to vote for Trump, but at the end of the day, he saw no reason why to vote for someone else….
cut 13 (07) “….vice president”

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu announces that the city has reached settlements totaling 13-million dollars with the families of those involved in fatal police shootings and a fatal police beating that took place right around the time of Hurricane Katrina. The settlements are with 17 pantiffs.

It’s been a cold day across Louisiana today. Matt Hemingway with the National Weather Service says temperatures have been in the 40s all day…
cut 3 (11) “…cold temperatures”
Hemingway says expect another cold start to the day tomorrow with low temperatures ranging from the mid 20s to the low 30s.

Governor John Bel Edwards is in Tensas Parish visiting with residents of St. Joseph after a public health emergency was issued after lead and copper was found during testing of the towns drinking water. Julie Baxter Payer, with the governor’s office, says they are doing what they can to get clean water to the town’s residents…
cut 8 (07) “….that process”
Payer says construction has started on repairing the town’s drinking water delivery system.

Louisiana’s eight presidential electoral voters cast their ballots for Republican Donald Trump to be the next president of the United States. The vote took place in the Senate chambers at the State Capitol. There were a few outside, urging the electors not to vote for Trump, because they are concerned about the country’s future….
cut 15 (08) “…anymore war”
One of the electors, Lloyd Harsch, says he received 90-thousand emails, mostly from out-of-state residents, asking him not to vote for Trump, but he decided to go with the will of Louisiana voters, who overwhelmingly voted for Trump….
cut 13 (07) “…vice president”
Trump received 58-percent of the vote in Louisiana. The electors were selected by Republican Party.

Following the declaration of a public health emergency in St. Joseph, Governor John Bel Edwards visits the Tensas Parish town today. Michelle Southern has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

David Vitter has just two weeks left in office as a U.S Senator. He says representing and serving the people of Louisiana has been the greatest honor of his professional life. He says he’s most proud of his work in the post-hurricanes Katrina/Rita recovery…:
CUT 27 (11) “flood protection”

All of Louisiana’s 8 electors selected Donald Trump for president, and Mike Pence for vice president. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

It’s a cold afternoon across Louisiana, but warmer weather is on the way….
cut 5 (07) “….on Wednesday”
That’s Matt Hemingway with the National Weather Service, who says expect another cold start to the day tomorrow with low temperatures ranging the from the mid 20s to the low 30s.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office is helping to send an illegal immigrant back to El Salvador who is wanted for murder. Captain Daniel Seuzeneau says a deputy came into contact with 36-year-old Juan Sanchez-Roldan during a traffic stop in Covington and the homicide warrant from El Salvado was discovered…
cut 10 (10) :,,,,federal authorities”
Seuzeneau says Sanchez-Roldan lived in Baton Rouge and worked in St. Tammany.

Could we see another special session in the near future to address the state’s fiscal problems? Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says another session to raise revenues would not be popular. Pinsonat says many voters believe state spending is already too high, which was evident when Senator-elect John Kennedy won by a landslide earlier this month…
cut 24 (12) “….state government”
La-politics-dot-com reports a source within the Edwards administration says a special session is a possibility.

All of Louisiana’s 8 electors selected Donald Trump for president, and
Mike Pence for vice president. Lloyd Harsch spoke following the vote and
told reporters he’d received over 90,000 emails and several hundred
letters from people urging him not to vote for Mr. Trump. He says he
considered every candidate and all of their options…:
CUT 12 (09) “to change my vote”
Matt McCann was there today protesting the election of Mr. Trump. He
says the president-election teaches ignorance and hate…:
CUT 14 (09) “human being”
The vote was taken today at the state Capitol’s Senate Chambers. Now they will be sent to Washington where they will be read to the new Congress that convenes in January.

It’s a bitterly cold day in Louisiana as most of us woke up to
temperatures in the 30s. Matt Hemmingway with the National Weather
Service in Shreveport says you should break out the winter wear tomorrow
as well…:
cut 4 (10) “24 hours”
Hemmingway says things will start to warm up once we get into the middle
of the week.

Governor John Bel Edwards is traveling to the Tensas Parish town of St.
Joseph today where he’s declared a public health emergency because
elevated levels of lead were found in two water samples. Deputy Chief of
Staff for the Governor’s Office, Julie Baxter Payer, says there’s a lot
of construction that needs to be done on St. Joe’s water system…:
CUT 7 (10) “treatment plant”
The Governor’s Office is providing three liters of water a day to each
of the roughly 500 residents of St. Joe.

All 8 Louisiana presidential electors vote for Donald Trump for president, and Mike Pence for vice president. Scott Wilfong was elected Secretary when he took the votes today in the Senate Chambers of the state Capitol…:
CUT 1 (10) “of New York”
The Electors then certified their votes and adjourned the meeting.

Governor John Bel Edwards is meeting with residents of St. Joseph today, after a public health emergency was declared in the small Tensas Parish town. Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor’s Office, Julie Baxter Payer, says high levels of lead and copper were found in two water samples in St. Joe…:
Cut 6 (10) “drinking water”
Residents of St. Joe have been dealing with dirty water flowing from their faucets for nearly a decade.

A man from El Salvador who admitted to being an illegal alien has been detained by federal authorities in Covington after a St. Tammany Parish deputy discovered an outstanding warrant on him out of Central America. Captain Daniel Seuzeneau says 36-year-old Juan Sanchez-Roldan was pulled over on Highway 190…:
Cut 9 (10) “out of El Salvador”
Seuzeneau says during detainment, Sanchez-Roldan admitted he’d been in the United States for over 10 years illegally, was living in Baton Rouge and working in St. Tammany.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette has made it official that he’ll enter the NFL Draft as he signs with an agency. It’s the same one founded by rapper Jay Z.