The Louisiana National Guard says pilot error was the cause of the fatal Black Hawk helicopter crash off the Florida coast in March. They say the investigation determined that spatial disorientation of both pilots due to failing to effectively transition from visual to instrument flight procedures as thick fog rolled into the training area was the direct cause of the crash. Four Louisiana National Guardsmen and seven Marines were killed in the crash.

State Police say a Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy is under arrest after being found with about 18 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle. Sgt. James Anderson says 28-year-old Derek Nothnagel of Lake Charles was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center and bond was set at $27,300. He says this case is extremely disappointing…

cut 16 (07) “or not”

Nothnagel has been fired from his job as a deputy.

Legislation that would put spending restrictions on the TOPS scholarship program is now headed to Governor Jindal’s desk. Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue’s bill received final legislative approval on a 28-6 vote by the Senate Wednesday. Although Jindal opposes any major changes to TOPS, his office has not stated whether the governor will veto the measure.

The State Department of Agriculture and Forestry says the national egg shortage has caused the price to nearly double over the past couple of months. Michelle Southern reports..

cut 1 (30) “reporting”

Legislation that would ease pot possession penalties in Louisiana is just a step away from Governor Bobby Jindal’s desk for his signature. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

Vermilion Parish narcotics agents arrested four people and rescued two babies after discovering a meth lab at an Abbeville home. When arriving at the home of Jody and Kimberly Wooten, authorities noticed a smell they immediately related to methamphetamine production. Agents discovered a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old inside the home and removed them. The Wootens and two others, Sondra Evans and Brittney Adkins, were arrested on drug charges.

State Revenue Secretary Tim Barfield believes there’s a greater chance Governor Jindal will veto the budget if a tax credit for higher education is NOT approved by lawmakers. The SAVE tax credit failed on a 10-9 vote in the House Ways and Means Committee. Barfield says this is an important piece of the puzzle to be able to get to a budget the governor would sign…

cut 9 (08) “out there”

However, last night the legislation was resurrected after being added to three different bills approved by the Senate Finance Committee.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested nine people they believe are involved in a very complex residential burglary case targeting firearms and electronics. Lt. Tommy Carnline says the suspects were all connected in a stolen item for drugs scheme…

cut 12 (09) “narcotics”

He says most of the firearms stolen in this case have been recovered.

If a tax credit for higher education is NOT approved by the legislature, State Revenue Secretary Tim Barfield says there’s a greater possibility Governor Jindal will veto the budget. The SAVE tax credit failed on a 10-9 vote in the House Ways and Means Committee. Chairman Joel Robideaux explained why some lawmakers are uncomfortable with the tax credit…

cut 8 (09) “that he signed”

Last night the measure was revived when it was added to three different bills approved by Senate Finance committee.

A deputy with the Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office is under arrest after being found with a large amount of marijuana in his vehicle. State Police Sgt. James Anderson says investigators searched the truck of 28-year-old Derek Nothnagel of Lake Charles and ended up finding about 18 pounds of marijuana in a duffle bag. He says Nothnagel faces numerous charges…

cut 15 (08) “inspection decal”

Nothnagel was fired from his job as a deputy.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office says they’ve made nine arrests of people they believe are involved in a very complex residential burglary case targeting firearms and electronics. Lt. Tommy Carnline says they’ve been investigating several daytime residential burglaries since mid April. He says it all came together this week and they were able to make the nine arrests on various ranging charges…

cut 11 (10) “of this case”

He says they were able to recover almost all of the stolen firearms in this case.

The national egg shortage due to an avian flu virus has caused the price to nearly double over the past couple of months according to the State Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says hey are trying to develop a vaccine for this type of influenza…

cut 5 (11) “commercial flocks”

He believes these higher prices will stick around for about the next 6 months.

State Revenue Secretary Tim Barfield says there’s a greater possibility Governor Jindal will veto the budget, if a tax credit for higher education is NOT approved by the legislature. Barfield says the SAVE tax credit is needed to offset the revenue generating tax bills already approved by the House. He says without the legislation, cuts to higher ed may be needed to balance the budget…

cut 7 (09) “from here”

The measure failed on a 10-9 vote in the House Ways and Means Committee, but was revived, when it was added to three different bills approved by the Senate Finance Committee.

The State Department of Agriculture and Forestry says the national egg shortage has caused the price to nearly double over the past couple of months. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says an avian flu virus came into America from Asian migratory birds and we’ve lost about 44 million birds so far…

cut 4 (08) “hens that lay eggs”

Strain says many suppliers have had to go up on their egg prices, but officials are taking steps to get the situation under control.

State Police say a deputy with the Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office is under arrest after being found with a large amount of marijuana in his vehicle. Sgt. James Anderson says, on I-10 in Sulphur, troopers stopped a truck driven by 28-year-old Derek Nothnagel of Lake Charles for a traffic violation…

cut 14 (10) “inside the vehicle”

Anderson says investigators searched the truck and ended up finding about 18 pounds of marijuana in a duffle bag. He says Nothnagel faces several charges and has been fired from his job as a deputy.

A Senate bill considered a complicated higher-ed tax credit helping the budget become revenue neutral fails in House committee Wednesday. Some say the measure would be a way the Governor wouldn’t veto the budget but Scott Cornelius is an LSU student who told the committee that Governors do not veto budgets…:
CUT 13 (11) “ridiculous gimmick”
The vote was 10-9 to kill the proposal. But State Revenue Secretary Tim Barfield says lawmakers will now have to look at other options to produce a revenue neutral budget…:
CUT 7 (09) “from here”
The Governor’s Office statement says there’s still time to get a balanced budget done which doesn’t raise taxes, but protects higher ed and healthcare.

A Common Core comprise bill that establishes a process to review the controversial education standards receives approval from the Senate education committee. Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymann…:
CUT 6 (08) “own standards”
The measure heads to the full senate for final legislative approval.

Legislation that would ease pot possession penalties in Louisiana is just a step away from Governor Bobby Jindal’s desk for his signature. The Senate Wednesday approved a House Bill that would make possession of less than 14 grams of marijuana punishable by a max $300 fine and 15 days in jail. Jindal has already said he’d sign the bill…:
CUT 1 (06) “drug offenders”

The Senate Finance Committee approves a bill that would increase the tax on a pack of cigarettes 64 cents which is 32 cents higher than what the House agreed to. The measure was one of eight revenue generating bills that passed the panel and now head to the full Senate.

Governor Bobby Jindal says he will make a “major announcement” regarding the 2016 presidential race on June 24th in New Orleans. LSU Political Science Professor Wayne Parent says it would be a surprise if Jindal announced he was NOT going to seek the Republican Presidential nomination…
CUT 3 (09) “quite a bit”

A Senate Education Committe has approved a Common Core compromise bill that would set up a review process for the controversial standards. A vocal critic of Common Core, Lake Charles Representative Brett Geyman (guy mun), says he was pleased that State Superintendent of Education John White was so receptive…
CUT 7 (11) Q: ‘as well’
Governor Bobby Jindal also supports the measure.
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The Louisiana Congressional delegation is requesting the Army reverse its decision to deny an Arlington National Cemetery burial for Louisiana National Guard Sergeant Thomas Florich. Florich was on a training mission on a helicopter off the coast of Florida in March that crashed and killed 11. The Army said Florich was not listed as “active duty,” so he was ineligible to be buried there…
CUT 11 (11) Q: “so desire it”
That 5th District Congressman Ralph Abraham -who says he is optimistic the army will change their mind.

An off-duty deputy with the Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office was arrested last night after State Troopers found about 18 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle. Twenty-eight year-old Derek Nothnagel was booked on possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and use and sale of drug paraphernalia; along with other charges.

The so-called SAVE fund – that would have created new fees raised on college students and give schools a tax credit to cover them -has failed to advance out of the House Ways & Means Committee. Supporters say this is a tax offset needed for Governor Jindal to sign the budget, but Gonzales Representative Eddie Lambert says people are tired of gimmicks…:
cut 14 (10) “supposed to do”

It is expected that Governor Bobby Jindal will announce his candidacy for President in a “major announcement” he says he will make June 24th in New Orleans. Even though the polls are showing a big uphill climb, LSU Political Science Professor Wayne Parent says Jindal needs to identify with his support base…
CUT 5 (08) Q: “build from there”
Currently Jindal’s support is running around one percent.
===========================
Members of the Louisiana congressional delegation ask the Army to reverse its decision to deny Louisiana National Guard Staff Sergeant Thomas Florich a burial at Arlington National Cemetery…
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

The Common Core Compromise bill has received the go-ahead from the Senate Education Committee. The measure that establishes a public hearing and legislative input process to review the education standards. Governor Bobby Jindal and State Superintendent of Education John White both support of the measure.