Senate President John Alario says lawmakers are still evaluating the governor’s proposals for fixing Louisiana’s massive budget shortfall. An increase to the state’s sales tax is one suggestion that’s been put forward by Governor John Bel Edwards. Alario appreciates that the governor has given lawmakers some options…

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Alario says it’s wait and see to determine if there is enough support for the governor’s proposed tax hikes.

Rain and the possibility of severe weather is expected today across Louisiana as a cold front moves across the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the threat of severe weather is statewide. He says there’s probably no area that’s of any greater risk than any other…

cut 10 (06) “and tornadoes”

This cold front will also bring the possibility of snow in north Louisiana late tonight.

A bill filed for the upcoming regular session would prohibit the use of drones from conducting surveillance of correctional facilities and public and private schools. Lake Charles Representative Stephen Dwight proposed the legislation after the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff requested a law to stop the use of drones from flying over his jail…

cut 7 (10) “the children”

Dwight says the Sheriff wants to ensure inmates cannot plot with friends or family on the outside to escape or smuggle in contraband. He doesn’t anticipate any push back with this legislation.

A proposed law will prohibit drones from flying over jails and public and private schools. Emelie Gunn has more on the legislation….

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 Rain and the possibility of severe weather is expected today across Louisiana as a cold front moves across the state. Jeff Palermo reports…

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An app developed in Lake Charles that provides delivery from local restaurants to customers is starting to launch in new areas throughout the state. Michelle Southern reports…:

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 Senate President John Alario says lawmakers are still evaluating the governor’s proposals for fixing Louisiana’s massive budget shortfall. An increase to the state’s sales is one suggestion that’s been put forward by John Bel Edwards. Alario appreciates that the governor has given lawmakers some options…

cut 4  (09)  “to take”

 Alario says it’s wait and see to determine if there is enough support of the governor’s proposed tax hikes, which will take a 2/3 vote. He says lawmakers must do their due diligence to see exactly where the state stands.

Cut 5  (06)  “financial footing ”

 Alario says it’s refreshing that Governor Edwards is giving legislators the chance to come forward with better ideas to solve the budget problems.  He says lawmakers have an obligation to keep taxes as low as possible for taxpayers.

Cut 6 (09)  “or faction” 

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 A bill filed for the upcoming regular session would prohibit the use of drones from conducting surveillance of correctional facilities and public and private schools. Lake Charles Representative Stephen Dwight proposed the legislation after the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff requested a law to stop the use of drones from flying over his jail.

CUT 7 (10)  “the children”

 Dwight says the Sheriff wants to ensure inmates cannot plot with friends or family on the outside to escape or smuggle in contraband. He says under this law the penalties would be….

Cut 8  (08)  “offense”

Dwight says he doesn’t anticipate any push back with this legislation but is open to critiques and additions. He says drones are so common now that they just want to protect the people of Louisiana.

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Rain and the possibility of severe weather is expected today across Louisiana as a cold front moves across the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the threat of severe weather is statewide. He says there’s probably no area that’s of any greater risk than any other…

Cut 10 (06) “and tornadoes” 

Keim says the risk of damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes will persist throughout the day as the front moves across the state. He says this is typical winter weather for Louisiana. Keim says we will get some rain, but you shouldn’t expect a gullywasher…

cut 11 (04) “and-a-half”

He says the front should move out of the state by Friday. Keim says the front will leave us with a nice weekend ahead, but it will be chilly…  (Up to a 100% chance of snow is expected late tonight in north Lousiana.”

Cut 12 (10) “and plants”

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An app developed in Lake Charles that provides delivery from local restaurants to customers is starting to launch in new areas throughout the state. It’s called, “Waitr” (with no E), and for a $5 delivery fee, you can order what you want from participating restaurants who normally don’t bring food to your door. Chris Meaux is the CEO and founder of the app…:

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Waitr is available in Lake Charles, Lafayette and Baton Rouge, and Meaux says they hope to be on board in New Orleans, Alexandria, Shreveport and Monroe before the end of the year. It’s also available in the Houston market. Meaux says their company does all of the deliveries for the restaurants on their platform…:

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Meaux says since they launched last year in southwest Louisiana, tens of thousands of people have downloaded the app and almost all reviews are positive. He says you order and pay through the app, and you can also tip the driver through the app. Meaux says one of the most popular features is “group order” where several people can get in on a delivery or carryout..:

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The late West Monroe Football Coach Don Shows highlights the seven-member class that’s been elected into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame. Shows is fourth on Louisiana’s all-time wins list and won eight state titles. West Monroe Representative and the former voice of the Rebels, Frank Hoffman says Shows built West Monroe into a football powerhouse

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Shows also coached at Pineville and Jonesboro-Hodge. At West Monroe, Shows also helped develop Andrew Whitworth and Bradie James into NFL players, but Hoffman says the legendary coach didn’t need a lot of talented kids to win..

Cut 17 (16) “what it became”

Also in the Class of 2016 is former LSU star and Major Leaguer Todd Walker, who was a star baseball player at Airline High School in Bossier City. Walker was the Class 4A MVP in 1991 as he hit .525 with six home runs. Walker says it’s quite an honor to get in the High School Hall of Fame

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Walker is also a member of the LSU Hall of Fame, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and College Baseball Hall of Fame. The former infielder in the majors says he’ll never forget his senior season at Airline High School, when they lost just one game…

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(Former Parkview Baptist Coach Kenny Guillot, Former St. Joseph’s volleyball coach Brenda LeBlanc, former Southwood girls basketball coach Steve McDowell, former Parkview baseball coach ML Woodruff and journalist Ron Brocato are also members of the 2016 class.)

Governor John Bel Edwards has offered several options to the state legislature to address the state’s budget crisis. House Majority Leader, Republican Lance Harris of Alexandria, says Republicans will work on their own plan to deal with the fiscal mess in the coming weeks. He says with regards to raising the sales tax by a cent, everything needs to be on the table and it’s too early to form an opinion on the issue…:
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Harris says he appreciates the governor being so candid about the budget numbers.

A 16-year-old boy walking along train tracks in Slidell Wednesday morning apparently didn’t hear an oncoming train that struck and killed him because he was wearing headphones. Slidell police say James Pulsifer was hit by a Norfolk freight train, and the conductor tried to stop and sounded the horn, to no avail.

The current, sharp drop in the price of oil is having an adverse effect on the state’s budget. The price of crude closed at $26.55 a barrel Wednesday, the lowest level since 2003. Louisiana Budget Project Director Jan Moeller says diminishing mineral revenues are doing a real number on the budget…:
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A New Orleans woman has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of her 3-year-old grandson, according to cops. 43-year-old Deonca Kennedy first told NOPD that the gun was under her pillow and went off hitting the child in the chest. She then refused to cooperate. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says cops should’ve done more testing before arresting this traumatized woman.
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Kennedy has been charged with negligent homicide and second degree cruelty to a juvenile.

Governor John Bel Edwards has offered options to the legislature to address the state’s budget crisis. Eric Gill has a look at what Republicans think about it…:
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The second former Marksville officer accused in the death of a 6-year-old boy and injuring of his father, is reportedly expected to bond out of prison by week’s end. Apparently the family of 32-year-old Derrick Stafford put up the $1 million dollar property bond, but a paperwork issue is holding things up. Stafford and Norris Greenhouse Jr, who has already bonded out, are accused of shooting and killing 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis.

Some legal experts feel New Orleans Police were too quick to arrest the grandmother whose gun allegedly went off from under her pillow and killed her 3-year-old grandson during the night. NOPD says 43-year-old Deonca Kennedy did not cooperate with investigators and was charged with negligent homicide and second degree cruelty to a juvenile. Legal analyst Tim Meche says, in New Orleans, having a loaded gun in your home is not uncommon…:
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The investigation is ongoing.

How much pressure is on the state legislature to go along with Governor John Bel Edwards budget proposals which include raising taxes? Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says lawmakers will look to their folks back home to see how they feel about the options…:
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The question about Governor John Bel Edwards budget fix proposals is whether or not the legislature will get on board. In the face of a current $750 million dollar shortfall, Edwards laid out options including raising sales taxes by a penny. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Edwards is tasked with convincing voters across Louisiana that we need this much revenue…:
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Pinsonat says former Governor Bobby Jindal was heavily criticized for leaving office with such a big deficit by moving money around, but one thing he didn’t do was raise taxes.

A man continues to recover from a bullet wound after he accidentally shot himself while he was raking leaves. The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office says they responded and located 52-year-old Ricky Bolton of Mora suffering from a gunshot wound to his thigh. He told deputies that while he was raking leaves, a .22 Magnum revolver in his pocket discharged and hit him in the upper thigh. He was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The New Orleans Police Department arrests the grandmother of a 3-year-old who was killed after a gun discharged from under a pillow while he was sleeping. 43-year-old Deonca Kennedy, who didn’t cooperate with police, is charged with negligent homicide and second degree cruelty to a juvenile. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says a variety of tests will be conducted to find out how the gun was fired:
cut 10 (09) “the gun”
The investigation is ongoing.

The late West Monroe football coach Don Shows along with baseball star Todd Walker highlight the seven member class that will be inducted in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame this year. Shows is fourth on Louisiana’s all-time wins list and won eight state titles at West Monroe. Walker was a three-sport star at Airline High School, but baseball was is his main sport and ended up playing 12 years in the Big Leagues.

Governor John Bel Edwards proposes raising taxes to the state legislature as one of several options to address the state’s budget crisis. House Majority Leader, Republican Lance Harris of Alexandria, believes all lawmakers and the Edwards administration are committed to repairing the deficit problem. He says it’s still early in the process and a lot is up in the air, right now…:
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He says House Republicans will work on their own plan to deal with the fiscal mess in the coming weeks.

Edwards met with education leaders today from around Louisiana to discuss how the budget matters would impact colleges and universities. The administration says they are looking to get input from higher ed leaders about the changes he’s proposed and future steps which could help soften a potentially devastating blow from more midyear cuts.

A New Orleans woman has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of her 3-year-old grandchild. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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This is not good news for our state. The price of US oil today closed at $26.55 a barrel, down 6.7% and the biggest single day loss since September. Louisiana Budget Project Director Jan Moeller says the massive drop in oil prices is a very serious problem across the board in Louisiana…:
CUT 8 (09) “stay afloat”