The personal finance website Wallet Hub has published a report on race relations which indicates Louisiana is among the top 10 for making the most progress. Spokesperson Jill Gonzales says the report measured the gaps between blacks and whites in 16 key areas that put the state at number 10…:
CUT 6 (08) “the most progress”
She says Louisiana is still struggling in areas of white/black business ownership, and average income.

State Police are looking for a vehicle that hit a trooper’s patrol car and injured the officer. Trooper Bryan Lee says the suspect sped off immediately after the wreck on Old Hammond Highway in East Baton Rouge Parish…
cut 13 (05) “….that vehicle’
The trooper suffered only minor injuries, but the search continues for a red or maroon Chevrolet HHR or Chrysler P-T Cruiser.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office says a homeowner fatally shot a man last night around midnight who was allegedly acting erratically in the front yard of his Slidell home. Deputies say the homeowner stayed on the scene and cooperating with the investigation. No arrests have been made and Sheriff Randy Smith is expected to give an update tomorrow.

A recent poll commissioned by Restore the Mississippi River Delta finds over half of Louisianans surveyed believe coastal land loss is at a crisis, while 96-percent said it needs attention. Jimmy Frederick with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana says saving the coast isn’t just about protecting coastal cities. He says it’s important for the entire state…:
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Frederick says 2017 is a critical year for the coast as lawmakers will be asked to approve a revised coastal master plan.

On this Martin Luther King Junior Day, the personal-finance website Wallet Hub issues a report that finds Louisiana ranks 10th among states making the most progress on race relations. Jeff Palermo has more…

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State Police are searching for a driver who pulled a hit and run on a Trooper yesterday on Old Hammond Hwy in Baton Rouge. Trooper Bryan Lee urges anyone with information to contact authorities.

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A survey by Applied Technology Research Corporation shows half of Louisiana voters believe coastal land loss is a crisis, and 62-percent are in favor of the state’s Coastal Restoration Master Plan. Jimmy Frederick with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana says this survey shows Louisiana residents want major coastal projects completed.

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The state’s coastal Master plan would cost 50-billion dollars.

AT&T Louisiana has donated $150-thousand to the Louisiana Jobs for America’s Graduates program, which helps young people who face difficult challenges earn a high school diploma, complete college, and find employment. Governor John Bel Edwards says this program is critically important to our state.

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The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating a fatal shooting by a homeowner who says they shot a man who was acting erratically in the front yard of their home. No arrests have been made at this time, but detectives are still gathering evidence. Sheriff Randy Smith is expected to have more to say tomorrow.

A poll of 500 likely Louisiana voters finds that 56-percent of them believe coastal land loss is at a crisis. Jeff Palermo has the story…
voicer 1 (27) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana’s Jobs for America’s Graduates program has received a 150-thousand dollar donation. JAG helps young people who face difficult challenges earn a high school diploma and receive a college education and empoyement. Governor John Bel Edwads says Louisiana is the largest JAG affiliate in the nation, with 115 sites…
cut 10 (10) “..graduation rate’
Last year, the program had a 76-percent job placement rate.

State Police are searching for a driver who hit and injured a trooper when his patrol car was stopped at a Baton Rouge intersection. Trooper Bryan Lee says the collision happened at about 3 p.m. yesterday when traffic was stopped on Old Hammond Hwy and the suspect immediately fled the scene.
cut 12 (10) “…from behind”
Trooper only suffered minor injuries.

Today is Martin Luther King Jr Day, and Wallet Hub has issued a report on race relations which indicates Louisiana is among the top 10 for making the most progress. We’re among a handful of other southern states in WalletHub’s rankings of racial progress, and spokeswoman Jill Gonzales says there is a bit of the “nowhere to go but up” factor at play…:
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She says Louisiana’s biggest improvement areas over time were health care, education and civil engagement.

A homeowner in Slidell shot and killed a man early Monday morning, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. They say deputies were called to a disturbance where the resident told investigators that he confronted a subject who was acting erratically in the front yard of his residence; so he fatally shot the man. No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.

A recent poll commissioned by Restore the Mississippi River Delta finds over half of Louisianans polled believe coastal land loss is at a crisis. Jimmy Frederick with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana says this shows the topic is important to residents here…:
cut 4 (06) “the future”
He says that’s why a master plan on coastal restoration is being proposed to the legislature for approval this year.

A special session could kick off as early as next month so that lawmakers can decide how to deal with the state’s $313 million dollar budget shortfall. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the legislature raised nearly $2 billion in taxes last year, but it just wasn’t enough to balance the budget…:
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Dardenne says they plan to use money from the rainy day fund to close some of the gap, but that still leaves about another 200 million dollars in possible cuts.

Louisiana is 10th best in the nation for race relation improvements. According to a new survey by WalletHub, the state made the most progress in healthcare, education and civic engagement. WalletHub spokesperson Jill Gonzales says even though there was a lot of growth shown here on racial matters, there are still areas that are struggling…:
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She says there is also a large imbalance of workplace participation among blacks and whites in Louisiana.

A Houma high-school that was for black students only during segregation will reopen next month as a museum celebrating African-American history in St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes. Dedication will be held on February 4th for the schoolhouse that was once called The Academy.

A recent poll commissioned by Restore the Mississippi River Delta finds over half of Louisianans surveyed believe coastal land loss is at a crisis, while 96-percent said it needs attention. Jimmy Frederick with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana says saving the coast isn’t just about protecting coastal cities. He says it’s important for the entire state…:
Cut 3 (09) “other things”
He says that’s why a master plan on coastal restoration is being proposed to the legislature for approval this year.

Pro Football Focus has released its top 10 Heisman Trophy candidates to watch out for in 2017, and it includes running back Derrius Guice. Guice carried the ball 183 times for 1387 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2016. He also caught nine passes for 106 yards and a touchdown.

State lawmakers are gearing up for another special session. The Revenue Estimating Conference said Louisiana has a $313 million dollar hole in the budget. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne…:
cut 13 (12) “right now”
The special session could begin next month.

Today is Martin Luther King Jr Day, and Wallet Hub has issued a report on race relations which indicates Louisiana is among the top 10 for making the most progress. Spokesperson Jill Gonzales says the report measured the gaps between blacks and whites in 16 key indicators that put the state right at number 10…:
CUT 6 (08) “the most progress”
She says Louisiana is still struggling in areas of white/black business ownership, and average income.

State Rep. Jack Montoucet of Crowley takes over as Louisiana’s new Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary. Emelie Gunn has more.:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

State Police are looking for the driver involved in a three vehicle hit and run in Baton Rouge that injured a Trooper who was in his patrol car. They say Sunday afternoon an unknown vehicle rear-ended a fully marked LSP unit and another truck, then fled the scene. The Trooper sustained minor injuries. Investigators believe that the suspect vehicle is a red/maroon Chrysler PT Cruiser or Chevrolet HHR.

State lawmakers are once again getting ready to enter a special session because the state is facing a $313 million budget deficit. Halen Doughty reports…
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

It’s is Martin Luther King Junior day. So state and local government offices are closed today. There are several M-L-K day celebrations taking place and officials urge residents to do volunteer work in honor of the civil rights leader, who would be 88 years-old today.

State Representative Jack Montoucet begins his role today as the state’s new Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary. Montoucet has been the owner of an alligator farm in Acadiana for 30 years. Montoucet says alligators were on the endangered species list years ago but through the work of LDWF, the population has grown substantially. He looks forward to expanding other similar programs…
cut 5 (10) “…other aspects”

According to guidelines recently established, parents of children up to age 5 should limit their child’s screen time to one hour per tday. Ochsner Health Center Zachary Pediatrician, Doctory Myrian Ortiz, says while it is esseential to limit a child’s media time, technology isn’t entireley bad either…
cut 9 (09) “….the internet”

Louisiana is facing yet another mid-year budget shortfall, this time $313 million dollars. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says they’ll have to look at cuts or revenue raising measures in a special session; and the picture of what could happen is grim..:
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A special session could happen next month.

Crowley Representative Jack Montoucet begins his duties today as the new Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. He says there are plans for how to deal with the controversial spending under former Secretary Robert Barham revealed in an audit…:
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He also says he plans to resolve issues with recreational fishermen over red snapper management; where former Secretary Charlie Melancon crashed.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released new guidelines on kids’ media use. They say children 2-5 years shouldn’t be on TV, computers or tablets more than one hour per day. Ochsner Health Center Zachary Pediatrician Dr. Myriam Ortiz says parents of kids who are older than 6 should keep the media restrictions steady…:
Cut 8 (10) “type of media”
She says children younger than 18 months shouldn’t be exposed to digital media at all.

Three museums in Shreveport that were slated to be closed at the end of last year will still be around a few more weeks. State funding for the sites was supposed to be cut off December 31st due to budget constraints, but they’ve been grated approval to stay open through February. They are the Spring Street Museum; the Shreveport Water Works museum; and the Shreveport Railroad Museum.