A new report from Pew Charitable Trusts shows Louisiana has the lowest percentage in the nation of women participating in the state legislature. The report shows that only 12-percent of Louisiana legislators in 2015 were women. UNO Political Science Professor Christine Day says this is not a surprise as the bottom 10 of this list are generally Republican, conservative states…:
CUT 3 (06) “liberal states”
She points out that Louisiana has had a woman in the US Senate, Mary Landrieu, and a woman governor, Kathleen Blanco.

Millions of dollars from Louisiana’s “rainy day” fund will go towards re-balancing this year’s budget. State lawmakers voted on the appropriation with an overwhelming majority, agreeing to take $28.2 million from the budget stabilization fund. Without the approval from legislators, Jindal’s administration warned funds for higher education could have been cut.

The percentage of alumni who give to LSU on a regular basis is “dead last” in the Southeastern Football Conference. That’s according to LSU Foundation Head Stephen Moret. He said on the Jim Engster Show that only 6 percent of LSU’s graduates donate money to the university…:
CUT 9 (09) “objective”
He says the average donation for all SEC school’s is around 14 percent.

A group called the Monumental Task Committee says they have collected over 31-thousand signatures from people who oppose the removal of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans. The organization says they want their voices heard before the city council holds a special committee meeting tomorrow that will discuss the removal of the structures. MTC supports the instillation of interpretive plaques to help gain a better understanding of the original and current context of these monuments.

Two national studies show Louisiana ranks last in the country for volunteering. Emelie Gunn finds out how accurate these reports are…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Part of the Jindal Administration’s plan to plug money into this year’s $487 million dollar budget deficit is to use more than $28 million in Louisiana’s rainy day fund, and lawmakers voted in favor today. Analysts say this plan leaves Governor-elect John Bel Edwards with major budget problems when he takes office in a little over a month.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office says five middle school girls and one of their fathers are under arrest following a fight at T.O. Rusheon Middle School. They say the students were charged with disturbing the peace by fighting, and 42-year-old Lemale James of Shreveport was charged with battery of a school official. Cops say the father allegedly threw the assistant principal to the ground as he tried to stop more violence.

Louisiana does a poor job in efforts to prevent people from smoking according to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. Spokesman John Schachter (Shack-Ter) Louisiana will collect nearly $398 million dollars this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will only spend about 2% of that on prevention programs. He says their report also found that tobacco claims 7200 lives in Louisiana and costs the state $1.9 billion in health care bills annually…:
Cut 12 (11) “of the state”

The Justice Department announces there’s insufficient evidence to pursue criminal civil rights charges against any official with the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office in connection with the fatal shooting of Victor White…

cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Lafayette Police say a woman is hospitalized after being shot during a home invasion. The unidentified 24-year-old victim informed authorities that three men, armed with guns, forced their way into her home Tuesday night. One of those men shot the woman in the chest. All three intruders then fled the home. At last report, the victim was listed in serious but stable condition.

Over 31-thousand signatures from people who oppose the removal of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans have been colleted by the Monumental Task Committee. President Pierre McGraw says they have received credible reports that Mayor Mitch Landrieu has contracted the removal of the monuments without opening it up to public bid…

cut 9 (08) “store them”

He says there is concern regarding the qualifications of those removing the monuments and if they would be stored safely.

According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids’ annual report card on how states are doing with efforts in keeping young people from smoking, Louisiana gets a failing grade. Spokesman John Schachter says the smoking industry spends $31 to promote their product for every $1 Louisiana uses on tobacco cessation and prevention programs…

cut 11 (06) “especially kids”

The US Justice Department will not seek federal criminal civil rights charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Victor White. White’s family has questioned how the 22-year-old man shot himself in March of 2014, while handcuffed in the back of an Iberia Parish Sheriff’s deputy patrol vehicle. Legal analyst Tim Meche says there aren’t many options for the White family, if they believe justice still has not been served…

cut 15 (08) “for free”

US Attorney Stephanie Finley says gunshot residue was found on both of Mr. White’s hands which supports a self-inflicted shooting.

Louisiana ranks as the worst state in the country when it comes to volunteering, according to studies from WalletHub and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Executive Director of Volunteer Louisiana Judd Jeansonne doesn’t agree and is convinced that most Louisiana residents are charitable when it comes to their time…

cut 6 (10) “we are”

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office says an HIV-positive man who bit three officers has been charged with intentional exposure to AIDS. They say when two officers attempted to serve a warrant on 25-year-old Justin Freeman last month, he began fighting them and bit them during the scuffle. Freeman also bit a correctional officer while being booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center Monday. Freeman also faces two charges of second degree battery.

The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids issued its annual report card on how states are doing with efforts in keeping young people from smoking, and Louisiana gets a failing grade. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The US Department of Justice will not seek federal criminal civil rights charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Victor White. The Iberia Parish Coroner ruled White’s death a suicide. US Attorney Stephanie Finley says gunshot residue was found on both of Mr. White’s hands and Legal analyst Tim Meche says its that kind of evidence that supports a self-inflicted shooting…

cut 14 (07) “shot himself”

White’s family has questioned how the 22-year-old man shot himself while handcuffed in the back of the police car.

The Monumental Task Committee says they have collected over 31-thousand signatures opposing the removal of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans. President Pierre McGraw says they would like to erect new monuments dedicated to influential people, including Civil Rights Freedom writers, and have requested to talk with Mayor Mitch Landrieu to put that plan in motion…

cut 8 (10) “holiday season”

McGraw says they want their voices heard before a special city council committee meeting Thursday.

WalletHub and the Corporation for National and Community Service ranks Louisiana as the worst state in the country when it comes to volunteering. Executive Director of Volunteer Louisiana Judd Jeansonne says national surveys do not include church and faith based volunteering that people often times don’t view as volunteering…

cut 5 (10) “those prompts”

Jeansonne says these national studies may not accurately show the volunteer rate in the state and that creates a negative perception.

The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids issued its annual report card on how states are doing with efforts in keeping young people from smoking, and Louisiana gets a failing grade. Spokesman John Schachter says the state spends $7 million dollars on tobacco prevention programs…

cut 10 (03) “CDC recommends”

Schachter says most states get failing grades on their report card and Louisiana ranks 28th in the country on anti-smoking campaigns.

The US Department of Justice announces they will not seek federal criminal civil rights charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Victor White, who died from a gunshot wound sustained while in the back of an Iberia Parish Sheriff’s deputy patrol vehicle. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it appears federal officials conducted a thorough investigation before coming to this decision…

cut 13 (07) “police car”

The Iberia Parish Coroner ruled the death a suicide.

According to studies from WalletHub and the Corporation for National and Community Service, Louisiana ranks as the worst state in the country when it comes to volunteering. But Executive Director of Volunteer Louisiana Judd Jeansonne says a study they commissioned and produced by LSU shows a much higher rate of volunteerism…

cut 4 (09) “40 percent”

Jeansonne says the national surveys do not include church and faith based volunteering.

A group called the Monumental Task Committee says they have collected over 31-thousand signatures from people who oppose the removal of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans. President Pierre McGraw says they want their voices heard before the city council holds a special committee meeting on Thursday that will discuss the removal of the structures….

cut 7 (11) “to attend”

McGraw says the M-T-C supports the installation of interpretive plaques to help gain a better understanding of the original and current context of these monuments.

The US Department of Justice announces they will not seek federal criminal civil rights charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Victor White, who died from a gunshot wound sustained while in the back of an Iberia Parish Sheriff’s deputy patrol vehicle. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it appears federal officials conducted a thorough investigation before coming to this decision…:
Cut 13 (07) “police car”
Meche says there’s not many options for the White family, if they believe justice still has not been served.

According to federal labor statistics, Lafayette ranks worst in the nation for job loss, while the Lake Charles area is the third best in gains between October 2014 to October 2015. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says the struggling oil and gas industry reaches many sectors of the economy…:
CUT 7 (09) “services sector”
A new policy is in place that will require high school seniors attending public schools to apply for financial aid to attend college. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

I-10 in West Baton Rouge Parish reopened this afternoon after a 12 hour closure due to an overnight crash involving 7 vehicles including 6 18-wheelers. State Police say thankfully nobody was seriously injured, but it took cleanup crews most of the day to off-load the overturned big rigs and clear them off the roadway.