There’s a lot of tornado damage across southeast Louisiana. Michelle Southern has the latest….
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

Entergy New Orleans reports 10-thousand people are without power in the metro area as a result of downed power lines. And Governor John Bel Edwards has issued a state of emergency. A tornado watch remains in effect until 5:00 for southeast Louisiana. The watch box includes, Bogalusa, Slidell, New Orleans and Houma.

One of the state’s largest teacher unions opposes the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as U-S Secretary of Education. Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says DeVos’ longtime support of vouchers is a concern to them….
cut 13 (11) “…public schools”
But President of the Louisiana Federation for Children, Ann Duplessis, says DeVos wants to provide the right opportunities for our children. Duplessis says groups who oppose the appointment are entrenched in special interests…
cut 12 (12) “…special interests”
Both of Lousiana’s US Senators voted to confirm DeVos.

Officials say at least seven homes have been damaged in Livingston Parish, as a result of a severe storm with tornadoes ripping through the south. Mark Harrell, director of the Livingston Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says the police chief in Killian witnessed two twisters with his own eyes…:
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Another tornado touched down in New Orleans East causing widespread damage. Entergy reports nearly 15,000 people are without power right now as a result of the storms, the bulk of those being in Orleans Parish. Mayor Mitch Landrieu…:
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There were also tornadoes reported in Donaldsonville and Ponchatoula. The Red Cross has moved in to help affected communities.

Lawmakers are weighing in with their thoughts on the governor’s budget proposal to close the mid-year gap. The special session to address the $304 million dollar shortfall takes place next week. The governor wants to use $119 million dollars from the Rainy Day Fund, and Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says he’s not opposed to that if it prevents cuts that will really hit home with residents…:
Cut 5 (08) “can do that”
The House will begin discussions on what cuts will be made beginning Monday, and then they’ll send their plan to the Senate.

The Louisiana Department of Education will host a public meeting tonight in Shreveport to discuss recommendations for the Caddo Parish School Board to improve long-struggling schools in the city. State Superintendent John White encourages the public to attend…:
cut 12 (09) “communities first”
The meeting takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Peaceful Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Shreveport.

There have been at least 3 tornadoes that have touched down in southeast Louisiana as a strong storm system continues to rip through the Deep South. Officials in Livingston Parish say two twisters touched down in Killian today, damaging homes and injuring two people. Mark Harrell, director of the Livingston Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness, says they know of 5 residences impacted…:
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He says two people in a home that was hit sustained minor injuries.

Forecasters say another tornado hit Donaldsonville, and this man describes what he saw in New Orleans East…:
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Tornado watches remain in place through 2pm for 25 parishes.

Lawmakers are looking at proposed budget cuts ahead of next week’s deficit eliminating special session. Halen Doughty has more…:
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Superstar actress Annette Bening has been cast to play former Governor Kathleen Blanco in the next American Crime Story which will be about Hurricane Katrina. Producers say the next installment of the Emmy award winning franchise will air in 2018.

Lawmakers are looking over the Governor’s proposal to eliminate a $304 million midyear deficit, ahead of next week’s special session to debate the plan. Statewide elected officials would see budget reductions, but higher education would be spared. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says it’s important no stone is left unturned when it comes to spending reductions, but he doesn’t want students to be impacted again…:
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The governor’s plan also includes using $119 million in the rainy day fund to minimize cuts to state agencies.

Tornado watches and warnings have been issued along southeastern Louisiana all morning. 25 Parishes remain under a tornado watch until 2pm this afternoon, as a storm capable of producing twisters moves quickly through the area.

FEMA has released new recovery numbers on flood relief and indicates that about $4.7 billion dollars in disaster assistance has moved through the state following the devastating August event.

State Senator JP Morrell is again bringing equal pay legislation before lawmakers for the upcoming session. Jeff Palermo reports..:
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State Superintendent of Education John White travels to Caddo Parish to host a public meeting tonight to discuss recommendations on improving struggling schools in Shreveport. White says 15 out of 66 schools in the parish have “F” letter grades and 22 have “Ds”…:
Cut 10 (09) “about this”

Governor John Bel Edwards has released his plan for closing the state’s $304 million budget deficit for this fiscal year. The plan includes using $119 million in the rainy day fund, as well as cuts to the budgets of statewide elected officials. Under the governor’s proposal, the Department of Health would take the biggest hit with a $128 million budget reduction. The plan will be debated by lawmakers in a special session that begins next week, ahead of the regular session in April.

A topic for debate in the regular session will be equal pay, as New Orleans Senator JP Morell is once again bringing his bill before the legislature. He says Louisiana women make less than 70 cents per dollar that a man makes, and this measure is about getting people paid what they are owed.

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Morell expects groups that support pay secrecy will oppose the bill.

LSU Student Government believes the Board of Regents’ proposed changes to the TOPS scholarship program could push students out of the state. Proposals include raising the requirements and making students take more classes each year. President Zach Faircloth says Louisiana should be doing all it can to make sure out best students stay in the state.

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The Board of Regents will make their final recommendation later this month.

State Education Superintendent John White is hosting a public meeting in Caddo Parish tonight to discuss improving struggling schools in Shreveport. White says a plan for dealing with these schools will be presented to BESE next month, and they want to get the public’s input.

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White says 15 out of 66 schools in the parish have “F” letter grades.

A tornado watch is in effect for 37 parishes spanning central to southeast Louisiana until 2 this afternoon. The National Weather Service says conditions are favorable for the development of thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes.

A New Orleans lawmaker is going to try out equal pay legislation once again for the upcoming session. Last year, Senator JP Morrell heavily amended the measure which cleared the upper chamber but died in the House. He says the 2017 bill is exactly the way it left the Senate and includes language that covers both men and women in equal pay…:
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Senate Bill 2 would also give an employer 60 days to either refute an unequal pay allegation or to start paying the employee fairly.

Today Governor John Bel Edwards will deliver remarks at the Louisiana Municipal Association in Baton Rouge, then later before the state Rice Council in Jennings.

Governor Edwards has revealed his plans to present to lawmakers next week during the special session on dealing with a $304 million dollar midyear shortfall. Spokesman Richard Carbo says the proposal includes using the Rainy Day Fund…;
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The plan also includes cuts, the largest to the Department of Health.

The Louisiana Department of Education will host a public meeting tonight in Shreveport to discuss recommendations for the Caddo Parish School Board to improve long-struggling schools in the city. State Superintendent John White encourages the public to attend…:

cut 12 (09) “communities first”
He says a plan dealing with the future of these schools will be presented to BESE next month. The meeting takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Peaceful Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Shreveport. 

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for all of southeast Louisiana, and areas in the central and southern most parishes of the state until 2pm this afternoon. Severe thunderstorms were reported by forecasters in Pointe Coupee, northwestern East Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge Parishes capable of producing twisters. They are urging area residents to be vigilant and monitor local news for weather updates.

Governor John Bel Edwards is proposing lawmakers use the Rainy Day Fund and make cuts to areas including the Department of Health to close the $304 million dollar shortfall. The Governor’s spokesperson, Richard Carbo, says LDH would sustain the largest budget reduction at $128 million, but not in vital services and hospitals that care for the poor:
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The governor’s deficit elimination plan will be debated in a special session that begins next week.

LSU Student Government believes the Board of Regents’ proposed changes to the TOPS program will force students out of the state for college. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

State Superintendent of Education John White travels to Caddo Parish to host a public meeting tonight to discuss recommendations on improving struggling schools in Shreveport. White says 15 out of 66 schools in the parish have “F” letter grades and 22 have “Ds”…:
Cut 10 (09) “about this”

The governor has released his plan to close the state’s $304-million deficit..:
Cut 3 (32) “I’m Halen Doughty”

State Senator JP Morrell is again bringing equal pay legislation before lawmakers for the upcoming session. He says one of the changes to this measure is that employers would be given a chance to correct a pay inequality…:
cut 4 (10) “remediate the pay”
The Democrat from New Orleans authored a similar bill last year that failed.

Superstar actress Annette Bening has been cast to play former Governor Kathleen Blanco in the next American Crime Story which will be about Hurricane Katrina. Producers say the next installment of the Emmy award winning franchise will air in 2018.

Members of LSU’s Student Government are raising eyebrows about proposed changes to the TOPS scholarship program by the Board of Regents. One of the ideas is that freshman on TOPS should only have 80-percent of their tuition paid for by the state, while sophomores 90-percent, and juniors and seniors 100-percent. President Zack Faircloth says these matters are non-progressive and will push students to other states..:
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The Board of Regents will make a final recommendation later this month.

The state will now let you file your state income taxes for free using the Department of Revenue’s online system. That system was supposed to launch in January, but was delayed until Monday, February 6.