New Orleans Police are investigating a St. Charles Avenue shooting last night that left two men dead, and another man charged with murder. NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison says the altercation happened during the Krewe of Muses parade, and officers were at the scene…
CUT 7 (06) Q: “in the incident”
Nineteen year-old John Hicks is charged with 2 counts of second-degree murder.

The state budget cuts proposed by Governor Bobby jindal for this coming fiscal year are hitting some departments rather hard. The Department of Tourism for one with a $3.6 million dollars in cuts. The Department of Agriculture for another…
CUT 10 (10) Q: ‘340 thousand dollars’
That’s Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain, who says agencies with elected officials are taking the brunt of the cuts, and he calls it unfair.
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During last year’s five-day Mardi Gras holiday, there were 13 deaths on statewide roads, with over half of those involving alcohol. State Police Spokesperson Melissa Matey says they will be out in force…
CUT 4 (12) “those impaired driver”
There were 6 fatal crashes between Lake Charles and New Orleans yesterday alone.

In the fight of underaged use of alcohol and tobacco, the A-T-C is continuing the compliance checks of business to make sure there are no sales made to those aged below legal limits. Commissioner Troy Hebert says all business need to be smart about this…
CUT 14 (09) Q: ‘not worth it’
Hebert adds there are 16 and 17 year-old undercover operatives doing random checks throughout Mardi Gras.

Law enforcement is on patrol throughout the Mardi Gras season to discourage impaired driving. State Police spokesperson, Melissa Matey, says Thursday there were six fatal crashes between Lake Charles and New Orleans. She says these crashes were preventable if people had made smart decisions…
CUT 3 (12) “across the state”
During last year’s five-day Mardi Gras holiday, there were 13 deaths statewide. Over half of those deaths involved alcohol.

Meanwhile, the Louisiana Office of Alcohol Tobacco Control says they’ve conducted over 600 alcohol and tobacco compliance checks across the state since February 2nd, finding some 83 violations. The ATC undercover operatives were 16 and 17 years old, and ATC Commissioner troy Hebert says the undercover opertations will continue.
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It was a deadly Thursday night during the Krewe of Muses Parade in New Orleans on St. Charles Avenue. NOPD superintendent Michael Harrison says they believe there was an altercation that ended in a shooting, resulting in two men dead, and a teen-aged suspect arrested arrested…
CUT 6 (08) Q: ‘at the intersection”
19-year-old John Hicks was charged two counts of second degree murder.

Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain says the mid-year budget cuts proposed by Governor Bobby Jindal are just not fair across the board. He says most all of the larger cuts are hitting departments being manged by elected officials, and that’s not fair…
CUT 11 (07) Q; “other agencies”
The Department of Ag received mid-year cuts equivalent to $2.6 million dollars.

Statewide elected officials are claiming the mid-year budget cuts to their departments proposed by Governor Bobby Jindal are unfair. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

Governor Bobby Jindal announced today that Louisiana will not receive a downgrade in its credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service which would mean the state would have to pay higher interest rates. Jindal says they appreciate Moody affirming that the state’s credit rating won’t go down which has come as a result of acting quickly and responsibly when our state has faced revenue problems.

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol Tobacco Control says they’ve conducted over 600 alcohol and tobacco compliance checks across the state since February 2nd. ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert says of the businesses checked, 83 sold alcohol and/or tobacco to underage operatives which is about a 13% non-compliance rate…:
CUT 12 (11) “underage”
He says agents will continue to work throughout the Mardi Gras weekend to make sure illegal sales of alcohol and tobacco do not dampen the Carnival season.

The shooting at the parade last night in New Orleans claimed the lives of two people. One died last night and the other this morning. Under arrest is 19-year-old John Hicks who is charged with two counts of second degree murder according to the New Orleans Police Department.

Statewide elected officials are claiming the mid-year budget cuts proposed by Governor Bobby Jindal are unfair. Departments managed by statewide elected officials are receiving much larger cuts than than almost all other state departments. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says these cuts are clearly disproportionate…:
CUT 9 (11) “state government”
The Department of Agriculture has received mid-year cuts equivalent to $2.6 million dollars and the Tourism Department has taken a $3.6 million hit, while the governor’s office has proposed a $10,000 cut to its budget.

The Louisiana Alcohol Tobacco and Control said agents did more than 600 compliance checks since Feb. 2. They say 83 businesses were caught selling alcohol or tobacco to people who are underage — and there’s 5 days to go.

The second victim in the New Orleans parade shooting last night died this morning. NOPD says they’ve arrested 19-year-old John Hicks in connection with the crime. Superintendent Michael Harrison says this situation is frustrating, but NOPD remains committed to keeping revelers safe during Mardi Gras…:
CUT 8 (10) “great work”
The shooting happened during the Krewe of Muses parade.

You’ve probably noticed gas prices continue to climb fast. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular in Louisiana is $2.09 according to AAA which is almost a dime more than this time last week.

The shooting Thursday night during a parade in New Orleans which left two dead appears to be the responsibility of a 19-year-old man. The second victim died this morning. NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison says John Hicks is charged with second degree murder in the shootings and illegal carrying of a firearm on the parade route. He says there were cops on the scene at the intersection where the shooting took place…:
CUT 7 (06) “in this incident”
He says cops remain committed to keep parades safe during Mardi Gras.

The open enrollment period to purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act comes to an end Sunday. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services say over 157,000 Louisianians have signed up for insurance this year through the federal marketplace. They encourage those who are uninsured to sign up today if you can online at HealthCare.gov.

Law enforcement across the state will be patrolling throughout the Mardi Gras season to discourage impaired driving and to help reduce the number of crashes on Louisiana roadways. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office says a man from Walker is under arrest accused of posting a hidden camera video of he and his ex girlfriend having sex on Facebook. They say the victim sent a screenshot to cops who later booked 30-year-old Robert Howard into jail on counts of video voyeurism.

One man is dead and another in critical condition after a shooting occurred during a parade Thursday night in New Orleans. NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said it appears there was some sort of altercation that took place between two males while the Muses Krewe was rolling down St. Charles…:
CUT 6 (08) “at the intersection”
He says cops had a suspect in custody almost right away. One victim died at a hospital during surgery and another clings to life. The investigation is ongoing.

Law enforcement across the state will be patrolling throughout the Mardi Gras season to discourage impaired driving and to help reduce the number of crashes on Louisiana roadways. State Police spokeswoman, Melissa Matey, says if you’re going to partake in Carnival revelry, make sure you do it responsibly…:
CUT 5 (06) “Mardi Gras Festivities”
She says Thursday there were six fatal crashes between Lake Charles and New Orleans.

The open enrollment period to purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act comes to an end Sunday. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 3 (29) “reporting”

The one million Match-5 winners in the February 7 Powerball drawing from a ticket that was sold in Hammond have claimed their prize. Thomas and Debbie James said they made the stop at the RaceTrac on their way home to Mississippi from a cruise that docked in New Orleans. The couple gets $700,000 after taxes and the service station gets a $10,000 bonus for selling the ticket.

Despite last night’s fatal shooting during the Krewe of Muses parade, New Orleans officials want visitors to know that the city is safe. Convention and Visitors Bureau President, Stephen Perry, says with the increased presence of state police combining forces with the NOPD, they are expecting an overall safe Mardi Gras season…

cut 6 (10) “around the world”

Perry says Mardi Gras season is typically one of the most protected times of the year in New Orleans.

Open enrollment for purchasing health insurance through the Affordable Care Act ends Sunday. Although premiums in the marketplace have risen since last year, Kara James, with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, says financial assistance is available that can help many lower monthly payments. She says nine out of ten Louisianians, who have selected coverage, were determined eligible for assistance…

cut 12 (08) “those tax credits”

She says if you have yet to enroll, this would be a good day to take care of that.

State Police say there were six fatal crashes between Lake Charles and New Orleans yesterday and one was a motorcycle accident in Vermilion Parish that claimed the life of an Abbeville man. Authorities say as 51-year-old Carl Johnson was changing lanes on his motorcycle, he slowed down quickly in front of another vehicle. That vehicle struck Johnson from behind, ejecting him from his bike. Johnson suffered severe injuries and later died at a local hospital. The crash remains under investigation.

People go out to eat to celebrate Valentine’s Day more than any other Holiday behind Mother’s Day. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (31) “reporting”

A shooting during last night’s Krewe of Muses Parade, along the Uptown parade route in New Orleans, has left one dead and another critically injured. NOPD reports a 21-year-old man died during surgery for gunshot wounds he received in the chest. Another victim is listed in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the neck. Officers were able to arrest the suspect shortly after the shooting.

In spite of last night’s shooting, officials in New Orleans want people who are heading to The Big Easy for Mardi Gras over the next few days to know that the city is safe. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 1 (26) “reporting”

Albert Woodfox, a member of the “Angola 3″, is indicted for a third time in the 1972 murder of an Angola prison guard. Amnesty International spokeswoman, Jasmine Heiss, says there is no physical evidence that ties Woodfox to the crime. She says they also believe the state mysteriously lost a piece of evidence that would have exonerated Woodfox…

cut 16 (10) “four decades”

Woodfox’s case went before a West Feliciana Parish grand jury, because a federal appeals court overturned his last conviction on grand jury selection issues.

Valentine’s night is the 2nd most popular holiday to eat out. Erica Burns with the Louisiana Restaurant Association says if you haven’t made a reservation yet, then it’s probably too late to do. But she says because Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday, many establishments are expanding their sweet specials…

cut 8 (09) “on Saturday”

Burns says one quarter of Americans go out to eat on February 14th.