A pro-voucher group, the Louisiana Federation for Children, releases an ad today that features parents accusing Governor John Bel Edwards of breaking campaign promises by cutting the state scholarship Program. LFC President Ann Duplessis says fewer children will receive vouchers to attend private or parochial schools based on the governor’s proposed budget…:
cut 12 (08) “children’s future”
The governor has responded by saying the L-F-C’s accusations are blatantly false.

Houston-based Union Tank Car Company (UTLX) said it expects to lay off about 224 employees beginning June 24th at its Alexandria facility. Jim Clinton is the CEO of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. He says they’ve known for some time that this cutback was coming…:
CUT 9 (07) “related commodities”
UTLX said they will continue to employ about 350 people.

A 17-year-old student from Alexandria Senior High is under arrest for allegedly making threats about the school’s prom over social media. Lt. Tommy Carnline says anytime they get wind of a threat like this, they take it very seriously…:
CUT 7 (09) “high school”
17-year-old Adrian Ray is charged with terrorizing, stalking, and obstruction of justice.

Louisiana lawmakers are working to regulate drones. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor has legislation that prevents people from using drones for stalking, voyeurism, and other crimes. He says technology is advancing, and regulation of drones is needed to keep up with the times…”
CUT 4 (07) “your house”
Claitor says you shouldn’t be able to do something with a piece of technology that would wouldn’t do with your physical person.

Lawmakers are considering proposals aimed at regulating drones to prevent people from using them to commit crimes. Don Molino has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

One of the largest employers in central Louisiana announces mass layoffs are coming. Houston-based Union Tank Car Company said it expects to lay off about 224 employees beginning June 24th due to projected business needs.

The National Weather Service in Shreveport says the area could be getting some severe weather from 7am-7pm Wednesday.

A 17-year-old is under arrest for allegedly making threats through social media involving the Alexandria Senior High School prom. Rapides Parish’s Lt. Tommy Carnline says investigators traced a fake account to the suspect, Adrian Ray of Alexandria. They located evidence to support the allegation and charged Ray with terrorizing, stalking, and obstruction of justice….:
CUT 8 (07) “those charges”
He says kids may think making threats over social media is a joke, but it’s a crime that is taken very seriously.

Foul play is suspected in the case of the 16-year-old Kenner girl whose body was found dumped in a drainage ditch in St. Charles Parish. Deputies identify the girl as Jorion White. The investigation is ongoing.

Louisiana lawmakers are working to regulate drones. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor sponsors legislation that would make it illegal to use drones for stalking, voyeurism, and other crimes. He says this is a privacy matter…:
CUT 3 (11) “search warrant”
The legislature wasn’t ready to pass similar bills in the past, but Claitor says technology is advancing, and regulation of drones is needed to keep up with the times.

A 17-year-old from Rapides Parish is under arrest for allegedly using a fake social media profile to make threats involving the Alexandria Senior High School prom. Lt. Tommy Carnline says they were able to trace the account to Adrian Devon Ray who is a student at the school…:
CUT 6 (10) “of justice”

If Governor John Bel Edwards budget proposal is approved by lawmakers, there could be an 11-percent cut in retail food inspectors. Emelie Gunn has more:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Cops are looking for a truck that was involved in a fatal hit and run in Hammond early this morning that claimed the life of a bicyclist. State Police say the suspect vehicle struck the victim who was riding a bike, then fled the scene. The vehicle is being described as a white GMC 2500 pick-up truck. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact authorities.

The number of state food inspectors could be reduced, if lawmakers go along with the governor’s proposed budget that calls for an 11-percent reduction in inspectors. Department of Health and Hospitals spokesperson Bob Johannessen says they’re letting legislators know about the risks associated with cutting 16 sanitarians, plus food retailers welcome the inspections…
cut 6 (09) “….in general”

The statewide average price of gasoline is up to $1.93. That’s according to gas-buddy-dot-com. That’s a nickel increase over the last week and Gas Buddy’s Gregg Laskoski says the price at the pump will likely continue to increase for at least another month….
cut 9 (05) “….or June”
Laskoski says greater demand is helping to drive gas prices up.

Investigators from Iberville Parish are in Humble, Texas today, the hometown of the female found dead by fishermen under the I-10 bridge at Whiskey Bay. Iberville Sheriff Brett Stassi says at this time they have very few leads in 28-year-old Elizebeth Ferrell’s death…
cut 12 (09) “…quick recovery”
Stassi says an autopsy found that Ferrell was strangled to death and she had blunt force trauma to the head.

Houma Police announce the arrest of two men who stole several sacks of crawfish worth 250-dollars from a gas station. Police Chief Dana Coleman says surveillance video spotted 45-year-old Richard Buck and 34-year-old Joshua Robichaux taking the mudbugs.

The Shreveport-Bossier City area is under a slight risk for severe weather today. The severe weather risk spreads across much of Louisiana for tomorrow.

Prices are rising at the pump. The statewide average for a gallon of gas approaches $2 again. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

If you weren’t a fan of wearing bright orange when you went hunting, florescent pink may soon be an alternative in Louisiana. The legislature approved the blaze pink bill and it’s now headed to the desk of Governor John Bel Edwards for his signature. The bill’s author says she brought the measure in hopes that the girly color would encourage more women to explore the outdoors by hunting.

Iberville Parish Sheriff’s investigators are in Texas today where the woman who was found dead under I-10 near Whiskey Bay lived. Sheriff Brett Stassi says the body of 28-year-old Elizabeth Ferrell of Humble was discovered by a fisherman over the weekend, and there are more questions than answers about her death. He says they’ve talked to some of Ferrell’s friends from Humble but she doesn’t have much family…:
cut 11 (10) “to Texas”
Stassi says an autopsy found the cause of death to be asphyxiation by strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.

The full House sacks a bill aimed at putting an end to the public-private school playoff split in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. The lower chamber voted 51-34 against the legislation. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says the legislature shouldn’t get involved in the LHSAA’s matters…:
Cut 13 (11) “the LHSAA”

Gas prices in Louisiana and the nation keep going up. Gregg Laskowski with GasBuddy-dot-com says consumer demand is up 4% compared to this time last year. He says that and other factors are driving up gas prices…:
Cut 8 (09) “going up”
He says the current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $1.92.

State mandated food inspections could decrease if the budget proposal from the Edwards Administration is implemented for next fiscal year, according to the Department of Health and Hospitals. Louisiana is facing a $600 million dollar shortfall for the financial year which begins July first, but DHH spokesman Bob Johannessen says food inspections are vital for health and tourism, and should not be cut…:
CUT 5 (09) “get sick”
He says the cuts would would result in an 11-percent reduction in inspectors.

Iberville Parish investigators head to Texas to find out more about the woman found dead under interstate 10 by Whiskey Bay. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (22) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The hunt is on for a vehicle involved in a fatal hit and run crash this morning in Hammond. State Police are not releasing details about the incident at this time, but are seeking the public’s help in locating a white GMC 2500 truck that was last seen traveling toward US 190 in Tangipahoa Parish.

For the first time, the state is offering an open house public meeting for people who have questions about the I-49 Lafayette connector project. The gathering is slated to take place tomorrow at the Progressive Community Outreach Center in Lafayette between 4-8.

If Governor John Bel Edwards budget proposal is approved by lawmakers, there could be an 11-percent cut in retail food inspectors. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Authorities are searching for answers in the case of the teenager from Kenner whose body was found dumped in St. Charles Parish. The Sheriff’s Office says foul play is suspected. The victim is identified as 16-year-old Jorian White, and she was last seen in her home on Friday.

The state House has decided not to get involved in the LHSAA’s controversial public/private playoff split for high school sports. The lower chamber voted a lopsided 51-34 against the measure. Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval says LHSAA principals are meeting on June 8 to discuss the split, and lawmakers should give them the chance to make things right…:
Cut 14 (05) “passing laws”
The bill’s author, River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot, felt the split was discriminatory.

Former NFL player Nathan Black made a post on Facebook indicating he was robbed and shot at a town home in Baton Rouge early Monday morning. Black, who is a native of Monroe, played for the Carolina Panthers in 2002. No word on suspect or motive.

A report released Monday shows Louisiana is the least prepared state in the nation to handle a major health emergency or disaster. The National Health Security Preparedness Index says The Bayou State hasn’t kept up with the rest of the nation when it comes to being prepared to respond to health emergencies.

Prices at the pump continue to rise. Gregg Laskowski with GasBuddy-dot-com says the national average for a gallon of gas is up three-cents since last week. He says Louisiana is seeing similar price increases, as the statewide average is nearing two-dollars for a gallon of regular gasoline…:
CUT 7 (10) “nationwide”
But he says Louisiana’s statewide average is 36 cents lower than it was at the same time last year.

Investigators from Iberville Parish are in Humble, Texas today to find out more information about the woman who was found dead under I-10 near Whiskey Bay. Sheriff Brett Stassi says the body of 28-year-old Elizabeth Ferrell of Humble was discovered by a fisherman over the weekend…:
Cut 10 (06) “from Texas”

There is the chance of an 11 percent reduction in retail food inspectors if lawmakers approve of the governor’s proposed budget for next fiscal year. Department of Health and Hospital spokesperson Bob Johannessen says this means they would not be able to check out as many grocery stores and restaurants as they are now….:

cut 4 (09) “the state”
He says this could impact people’s health and hurt tourism in Louisiana because we’re known for our great food.

A state Senate panel advanced a measure known as the Raise the Age bill on Monday. Louisiana is currently one of nine states that charges a 17-year-old as an adult, but this proposal, approved unanimously in the upper chamber committee room, raises the age to 18. The bill now goes to the full Senate for approval.