Governor John Bel Edwards unveiled the plan to balance this year’s budget, and fill the $70 million dollar hole that must be done by June 30th. Michelle Southern reports…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Edwards said colleges are already covering a $28 million dollar reduction in the spending on the TOPS program, and he didn’t want them to take another hit.

State Treasurer John Kennedy issued a statement in response to the cuts saying that it’s good to see the governor is getting serious about cutting some of the waste in Medicaid, including the fraud.

Louisiana may have to relinquish control of state museums over to local agencies due to money concerns. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says his budget has taken a massive hit amid the fiscal crisis in the state…:
Cut 9 (05) “proposed scenario”
He says he hopes they are able to keep all of the museums in the state open.

A new LSU study finds nearly one in four Louisiana residents believe limited funding and teacher pay are the biggest problems facing public schools. Doctor Michael Henderson, director of LSU’s public policy research lab, finds the results interesting, because the state legislature has focused its attention on other public education issues…
cut 23 (12) “…currently reflecting”
Henderson says the legislature has been more focused on charter schools, voucher programs and Common Core.

Governor John Bel Edwards unveiled the plan to balance this year’s budget, and said the $70 million dollar hole that must be filled by June 30th…:

CUT 23 (05) “$70 million dollars”

Edwards said he couldn’t stomach cutting anything from higher ed. He says DHH will see 40-million dollar efficiencies in Medicaid and a 30-million dollar cut to the private-public partnership hospitals.

Over 12-thousand homes have received flood damage and 26 parishes are available for federal assistance, according to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says begin your cleanup if possible but you still must register your damage with FEMA.

cut 14 (08)  “3362″

Steele says registering lets GOHSEP get a better picture of the state’s total damage.

Three people are dead and three more are severely wounded after a fire broke out in a home in Winnsboro overnight. Brant Thompson, with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, says 29-year-old Victoria Guthrie, a 6-year-old and a 19-month old are being treated for injuries in a local hospital.

Cut 5 (09) “at this time”

Derrick Boley, his 3-year-old son Kenderrick and 8-year-old Bryson Scobbee were killed in the fire.

Matthew Flugence has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the killing of a 6-year-old girl in 2013. Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick Jr will not pursue the death penalty. Legal analyst Tim Meche says prosecuting a death penalty case takes time, and this gives the family immediate closure.

Cut 11 (08) “in America”

Governor John Bel Edwards announced today the detailed plan to cut $70 million dollars from the current budget year that ends June 30th, and DHH is bearing all of them. Edwards said he could not in good conscious make any more reductions to higher ed…:
CUT 1 (12) “in the country”
He says DHH will reduce contracts between public-private hospitals, and cut efficiencies in the Medicaid program.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says so far over 12-thousand homes have received flood damage and 26 parishes are available for federal assistance. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele recovery efforts are still underway and more severe weather is possible Easter Sunday..:
cut 12 (09) “cause problems”

Alto Congressman Ralph Abraham is traveling to Cuba in April to ensure Louisiana becomes a trading partner with the country, once Congress lifts the trade embargo. He expects the embargo with the island to be lifted by 2017. But he understands Cuba still has some significant human rights issues to fix…:
CUT 8 (11) “those changes”
He says we’re on the tip of the spear to be the first state to get our goods to Cuba in a big way.

The American Red Cross has received a 500-thousand dollar donation from International Paper that will go towards flood relief efforts. Red Cross spokesperson Nancy Malone says people who are in position to help, should consider making a donation…
cut 15 (09) “…with them”
I-P has nine facilities in Louisiana, employing two-thousand people.

Alto Congressman Ralph Abraham is visiting Cuba next month to establish potential agriculture trade with the island…:
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The “don’t drink the water” alert in Donaldsonville is expected to stay in place another two or three days, according to the Department of Health and Hospitals. They say Peoples Water Service stopped using chlorine dioxide Wednesday, but the switch to chlorine may not take effect for a couple days. DHH says crews are constantly taking samples to determine whether the water is safe for drinking.

Three people were killed in a tragic fire during the overnight hours in Winnsboro, a father and two sons. Brant Thompson, with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, says investigators are still working to determine exactly what happened…:
CUT 4 (09) “at this time”
The tragic blaze also seriously injured the mother and two other young children.

Matthew Flugence of Marrero will spend his life in prison for stabbing a 6-year-old girl to death in 2013, then shoving her body in a trash can. Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick Jr. will not pursue the death penalty. Legal analyst Tim Meche says in Louisiana there is no chance of getting out of a life sentence, like there may be in other states:
cut 10 (05) “in Angola”
He says the family needs closure, and this decision gives it to them, whereas a death penalty prosecution could take much much longer.

The US could once again be a trade partner with Cuba when Congress lifts the embargo, and Alto Congressman Ralph Abraham is heading down there in April to ensure Louisiana is in the mix. He says we’re on the tip of the spear to be the first state to get our goods to Cuba in a big way. Cuba imports about 80-90 percent of their ag products, Abraham says…:
CUT 7 (10) “Louisiana”
Abraham expects the trade embargo with the island to be lifted by 2017.

GOHSEP says new numbers show an estimated 12,000 homes were damaged in this month’s horrific flooding event. Communications Director Mike Steele advises people to document and take pictures of damage to their homes sooner than later:
Cut 13 (09) “assessment teams”
The site to register is disasterassistance.gov.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for Plaquemines Parish until 7pm this evening. A strong line of storms producing gusty winds is moving through southeast Louisiana this afternoon, but forecasters say we should be seeing dry, cool air and sunny skies for good Friday.

Matthew Flugence of Harvey has entered a guilty plea in the death of a 6-year-old girl who was killed then stuffed into a trashcan in 2013. Flugence was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder. Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick Jr. will not pursue the death penalty. Legal analyst Tim Meche says money may be a factor in the DA’s decision…:
CUT 9 (12) “pleasant experience”
He also says the process of prosecuting a death penalty case takes time.

Alto Congressman Ralph Abraham is traveling to Cuba in April to ensure Louisiana becomes a trading partner with the country, once Congress lifts the embargo. Abraham says he’ll speak with Cuban officials to determine potential delivery and distribution. He says currently, the island receives imports from Asian countries, but the Port of New Orleans is only 36 hours away so a partnership makes sense….:
CUT 6 (06) “right there”
Abraham expects the trade embargo with Cuba to be lifted by 2017.

Governor John Bel Edwards is slated to speak this afternoon at 3 to give details of the estimated $70 million dollars in cuts that have to be made in this fiscal year that ends June 30th. It’s expected that higher ed and health care services will bear the brunt of the reductions. Lawmakers raised several taxes in the special session, but not enough to fill the gap so now the Edwards’ Administration is tasked with making cuts.

Three people were killed and three more were seriously injured in a fire in Winnsboro during the overnight hours. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Louisiana statewide average gas price for a gallon of regular jumped 3 cents from the previous day, according to AAA. The price at the pump is now $1.85.

Three people were killed in a tragic fire during the overnight hours in Winnsboro, a father and two sons. A mother, a daughter, and another son were also seriously injured. Brant Thompson, with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, says when the firefighters arrived, they found the single wide trailer fully engulfed in flames…:
CUT 3 (10) “8-year-old-child”
The father is identified as Derrick Boley, and the two young sons are Kenderrick Boley and Bryson Scobbee. The 29 year old mother, a 6 year old and 19 month old were those injured in the tragedy.

New numbers from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness show more than 12,000 homes received some type of flood damage from this month’s catastrophic event. FEMA is still operating several Disaster Recover Centers throughout the state, and more locations are expected to be added.

A must-have for Louisiana Easter baskets is a candy that’s been around over 160 years and is manufactured in Ponchatoula — Elmer’s Chocolate’s. CEO Rob Nelson says says Emler’s is getting ready for a big company expansion, but they will always be, first and foremost, all about the candy…:
cut 12 (08) “our hands”
He says the company produces about 12 million Gold Brick Eggs each year.

International Paper has made a $500-thousand donation to the Red Cross for flood relief…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”