Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It’s a day which marks the birthday of the chief spokesman for the civil rights movement which is actually January 15th. Dr. Faye Williams of Alexandria currently serves as the Chair of the National Congress of Black Women and says today is a day of service…

cut 6 (09) “servant of the people”

The holiday is observed the third Monday of January each year.

New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond is concerned that airfare prices have not gone down despite the significant decline in fuel costs. He expressed his concerns in a letter to Nicholas Calio, President and CEO of Airlines for America. Richmond says the fact that airline ticket prices haven’t gone down doesn’t make any sense to him…

cut 3 (09) “fuel costs”

In a written statement, Airlines for America says air travel remains one of the best consumer bargains in America.

The Louisiana Department of Education has named Gibson Elementary School in Terrebonne Parish and Claiborne Fundamental Elementary School in Shreveport as this year’s National Title I Distinguished Schools. Gibson principal Sharon Henry says they get the honor for having made the most progress in closing the achievement gap with historically non-performing students…

cut 12 (11) “by 10%”

The program recognizes two schools from each state.

A Baton Rouge lawmaker is concerned about a department of education report that shows more than 61-thousand public school students received an out of school suspension last academic year as a result disciplinary action. Senator Sharon Weston Broome believes that’s too high

cut 9 (10) “infractions”

That number is about nine-percent of the state’s public school students.

Lawmakers approved a 20% pay raise for State Troopers today during a Joint Legislative Budget Committee meeting. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 1 (32) “reporting”

US Senator David Vitter says former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason will be his guest during President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday in Washington. Gleason, who has ALS and has been an advocate for others living with it, announced through Twitter that he was meeting with US Heath and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burton before going to Congress to hear the President’s speech.

A governor’s candidate forum was held in Baton Rouge, and the four candidates discussed what needs to be done for Louisiana highways. The lone democrat in the race, Amite representative Jon Bel Edwards, says Louisiana could spend more money on highways, if state government made sure Transportation Trust Funds went to roads and not other areas…

cut 14 (12) “and bridges”

Republicans Senator David Vitter, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, and Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle also spoke at the forum.

The EPA has agreed to delay the open tray burn of the M6 propellant at Camp Minden for at least 90 days. Minden Representative Gene Reynolds says this is “half time” and now is not the time to let up because the town hasn’t won yet…:

cut 9 (06) “that would be great”

Reynolds says there will now be more meetings to discuss how this 15 million pounds of M6 should be disposed of in a way that does not harm the environment.

The Joint Legislative Committee on the budget approved a 20% pay raise for state troopers. The original request from Col. Mike Edmonson was for a 30% increase but the measure was amended down to 20% reducing the cost from about $14 million to about $10 million. Opelousas Senator Elbert Guillory says this is an easy item to support…

cut 3 (05) “of Louisiana”

But item was not without opposition. Benton Senator Robert Adley, who voted against the measure, says it’s against the law to give troopers money out of the designated fund until the dollars are appropriated by the legislature. But Edmonson says that is not accurate…

cut 6 (10) “be honest with these people”

The vote from the House side was 24-5 and the Senate side 13-3.

Minden Representative Gene Reynolds says the EPA has agreed to delay the open tray burn of the more than 15 million pounds of M6 propellant at Camp Minden for at least 90 days. Reynolds says since the material is on Louisiana soil that means we own it and can make another decision on a way to get rid of it. He says they want to use the incinerator burn method but time is of the essence…

cut 8 (07) “to a certain point”

The propellant was found improperly stored at Camp Minden back in 2012.

State Police say a hostage situation in Evangeline Parish turned deadly with the suspect being shot and killed by police. They say the unidentified man took his girlfriend hostage in a trailer park in Pine Prairie. Master Trooper Brooks David says the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to call from a neighbor…

cut 10 (06) “the residence”

The suspect fired shots after after authorities arrived and they responded with deadly force. The woman was rescued and received only minor injuries in the incident.

Minden Representative Gene Reynolds says the EPA has agreed to delay the open tray burn of the more than 15 million pounds of M6 propellant at Camp Minden for at least 90 days. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (30) “reporting”

State lawmakers found a pool of nearly $179 million in unspent cash after going over end-of-year accounting numbers. The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget recognized that the state spent $167 more than it brought in last fiscal year, but the Jindal administration found $346 million in unspent money that hadn’t been properly accounted for. This extra money can aid with the state’s current budget shortfall.

The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget approved a 20% pay raise for state troopers. But Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue voted against the measure. He told Col. Mike Edmonson that while he supports troopers, the state simply can not afford to speed through making a decision on so much money…

cut 5 (11) “affect is”

Edmonson says this will be the first pay raise for Louisiana State troopers since 2002.

The four announced candidates for governor met in Baton Rouge to discuss ways Louisiana can have a better highway system. The idea of raising the gasoline tax was not discussed, but Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle says he would look into toll roads if elected…

cut 13 (12) “the traffic”

The lone Democrat in the race, Amite representative Jon Bel Edwards, says tolls are not feasible, because of congestion on major highways.

A 20% pay raise for State Troopers has been approved Friday by the Joint Legislative Committee. Col. Mike Edmonson says it will be be the first pay raise for State Troopers since 2002. He requested 30%. Monroe Representative Katrina Jackson agreed 20% was the right thing to do…
CUT 4 (11) Q: “a pay grid”
Some lawmakers say the process was too rushed. The vote from the House side was 24-5 and the Senate side 13-3.

US Senator David Vitter says former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason will be his guest during the State of the Union address next Tuesday in Washington. Gleason, who has ALS and has been an advocate for others living with it, announced on his Twitter page that he was meeting with the US Heath and Human Services Secretary before going to Congress to hear President Obama’s speech.

During a forum Friday with the four announced candidates for governor discussing ways Louisiana can have a better highway system, Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says in too many cases transportation projects are funded as a political favor and that needs to stop:
CUT 15 (12) “capital outlay process”
US Senator David Vitter also spoke along with Amite Representative John Bel Edwards and Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle.

State Police say a hostage situation in Evangeline Parish turned deadly with the suspect being shot and killed by police. They say the unidentified man took his girlfriend hostage in a trailer park in Pine Prairie. Master Trooper Brooks David says victim broke out a window and screamed to the officers that she was going to be killed. David says, at that time, the hostage taker presented himself in the window…:
CUT 12 (04) “hostage taker”
The woman was rescued and received only minor injuries in the incident.

A gubernatorial candidate forum was held today, with the four candidates discussing some of the issues. The lone democrat, Amite representative Jon Bel Edwards, says Louisiana needs to spend more money on much needed highway repairs, and make sure all earmarked highway funds don’t go anywhere else…
cut 14 (12) “and bridges”

A tense hostage situation in Evangeline Parish turned deadly as an unnamed hostage taker was shot dead by police. Master Trooper Brooks David says a neighbor reported a domestic violence situation and when deputies arrived, there was no answer at the door of the residence. Once Troopers arrived to help, gunshots were fired from inside…
cut 11 (05) “to kill her”
David says the woman did escape with minor injuries.
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The Joint Legislative Committee on the budget approved a 20% pay raise for State Troopers today, but not everyone was on board with the plan. Benton Senator Robert Adley, who voted against it, saying they should not use designated funds until the dollars are appropriated by the legislature. But Edmonson says that is not accurate…:
CUT 6 (10) “be honest with these people”
The vote from the House side was 24-5 and the Senate side 13-3.

The EPA has agreed to delay the open tray burn of the more than 15 million pounds of M6 propellant at Camp Minden for at least 90 days, and they would support any decision on an alternative method to get rid of the explosives by the DEQ and the National Guard…:
CUT 7 (09) “that’s progress”
That’s Minden Representative Gene Reynolds.

A 20% pay raise for State Troopers has been approved today by a Joint Legislative Committee. Col. Mike Edmonson says it will be be the first pay raise for State Troopers since 2002, and Monroe Representative Katrina Jackson agreed it was the right thing to do…
CUT 4 (11) Q: “a pay grid”
There was some pushback as some lawmakers said the process was too rushed. Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue voted against the measure, and told Edmonson that – while he supports troopers, the state simply can not afford to speed through making a decision on so much money…:
CUT 5 (11) “affect is”
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Minden Representative Gene Reynolds says the EPA has agreed to delay the open tray burn of the more than 15 million pounds of M6 propellant at Camp Minden for at least 90 days. Michelle Southern reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

With the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals yet to rule on Louisiana’s ban on same-sex marriage, the US Supreme Court says they will review an appellate ruling in four states on their bans. The high court also adds they will make the decision on a nationwide basis by late June. Arguments are expected to begin in April.

Lawmakers approved a 20% pay raise for State Troopers today during a Joint Legislative Budget Committee meeting…
CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

Production for a $65 million dollar start-up auto maker that will produce new three-wheeled vehicles in Shreveport will be delayed once again. Elio Motors had expected to start production in March, now founde Paul Elio says it will be in the first half of 2016.
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A hostage situation in Evangeline Parish turned deadly with the suspect being shot and killed by police. They say the unidentified man took his girlfriend hostage in a trailer park in Pine Prairie. State Police Master Trooper Brooks David says the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s office got the call from a neighbor…
cut 10 (06) “the residence”
The female hostage was screaming she about to be killed, but she was able to escape.

A governor’s candidate forum was held in Baton Rouge today, and the four candidates discussed what needs to be done for Louisiana. Front-runner Senator David Vitter says one of his priorities would be to develop a targeted highway building plan…
CUT 16 (09) Q: “as possible”

All four announced candidates attended today’s forum.