The House Ways and Means Committee will consider this morning a bill that will raise the state’s cigarette tax from 36-cents per pack to $1.54 per pack, which is the national average. Stasha Rhodes, with the American Heart Association in Louisiana, says the measure has an excellent chance at passing, because of the state’s massive budget shortfall…

cut 10 (06) “possible solution”

Rhodes says the cigarette tax increase under consideration today would generate 223-million dollars in new revenue for the state.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office urges consumers to research the costs and benefits of solar panels before purchasing them. The director of the public protection division of the state’s A-G’s office, Sam Pleasant, says homeowners can be attracted by a promise of reduced energy costs from solar power systems, but sometimes there are some significant up front costs…

cut 13 (09) “up front”
The $22.9 million makeover of the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria begins today after numerous delays. The project is finally getting underway after voters approved a bond issue to renovate the facility two-and-a-half years ago. Rapides Police Jury President Richard Billings says everyone’s excited these changes are finally being made…

cut 4 (10) “what we want”

Billings says renovations are happening both outside and inside the building. He says construction is expected to take 20 to 22 months to complete.

Excellent chance we’ll see rain today, if it hasn’t already rained in your area, for central and south Louisiana. The southwest corner of the state is under a severe thunderstorm watch until one P-M.

Olympic champion and reality TV star Bruce Jenner announced last night that he is a woman. The 1976 Olympic Gold medalist says he’s been dealing with gender confusion since he was a child. Matthew Patterson of Equality Louisiana hopes Jenner’s public story will be an inspiration for transgener individuals…:
CUT 8 (07) “of trans people”
Jenner said he has yet to decide if he’ll undergo sexual reassignment surgery.

This afternoon at one PM, the number one ranked LSU baseball team will go for the sweep against Texas A-and-M. The Tigers took game two of the series last night by the score of nine to six.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says national investors have pulled out of a 114-million dollar bond deal that would helped fund various construction projects on LSU’s campus. Kennedy says investors are concerned about potential big budget cuts to higher education…
cut 18 (07) “…put it”
State lawmakers are trying to come up with a plan that would prevent large cuts to higher ed, but so far a clear solution has yet to develop.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission reports that there was a seven percent decline in the number of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2014 compared to the prior year. Deputy Director Ken Trull says helmets are helping to reduce motorcycle deaths. He says an observational study in 2014 found that 100-percent of motorcyclists wore a helmet…:
CUT 13 (08) “turn signals”
He says they need all motorists to get on board with keeping an eye on motorcyclists.

The Department of Health and Hospitals is reminding residents about the importance of taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family from West Nile. In 2014, Louisiana reported 61 cases of West Nile. State Epidemiologist Raoult Ratard says, when it comes to mosquitoes, this mantra will help reduce your risk for infection…
cut 15 (05) “not on my skin”
Due to the heavy rains we’ve received in April, it’s believed this will be a big mosquito season.

Speaking of rain, it’s in the forecast again today. Southwest Louisiana is under a severe thunderstorm watch until One P-M. The watch area covers, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis parishes.

It was another dramatic win for the LSU baseball team last night. The Tigers rallied from a three-run deficit to beat Texas A-and-M nine to six. LSU goes for the sweep today at 1 PM.

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection with a double homicide. 37-year-old Randy Eugene Waits is behind bars today for the deaths of 19-year-old Kylie Duncan and 76-year-old Irma Cotton. Sheriff Scott Franklin says there appears to be a connection between the suspect and one of the victims…:
CUT 4 (11) “as a witness”
Waits is charged with two counts of first degree murder.

Ochnser Health System says they are the first in the nation to use the new Apple Watch for its patients. Dr. Richard Milani says with the Apple Watch, patients can receive medication reminders, feedback from clinics, activity tracking, and exercise reminders…:
CUT 11 (08) “to the patient”‘

State Treasurer John Kennedy says national investors have pulled out of a multi-million dollar bond deal for LSU over concerns of a massive budget cut to higher education….
cut 19 (09) “…blame em”
Proceeds from the bond sale would have funded various construction projects on campus.

New Orleans based Ochsner Health System announces they are the first hospital in the country to use the new Apple Watch to manage patients suffering from chronic diseases. Ochsner uses the watch to track patients who are having trouble controlling their blood pressure…
CUT 9 (10) “that for us”
Dr. Richard Milani says with the Apple Watch, patients can receive medication and exercise reminders and their activity can be tracked.

A small community in LaSalle Parish was rocked this week over a double murder that led to one man’s arrest. 19-year-old Kylie Duncan and 76-year-old Irma Cotton were found dead Wednesday and 37-year-old Randy Waits is charged in their deaths. LaSalle Parish Sheriff Scott Franklin wants to assure people that this is not a mass murder situation…:
CUT 5 (10) “he thought”
Cotton was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head. Duncan was also shot in the head and her throat was cut.

Former Olympic champion Bruce Jenner went on national TV last night to tell the world that for all intents and purposes, he is a woman. Matthew Patterson of Equality Louisiana says the 65-year-old Jenner is being amazingly courageous….
cut 6 (11) “….people in your life”
Jenner did the two-hour interview so that he could help others struggling with gender identity issues.

New Orleans based Ochsner Health System announces they are the first in the nation to use the new Apple Watch to manage patients suffering from chronic diseases. Dr. Richard Milani says Ochsner uses the device to track patients blood pressure and provides medication reminders …:
CUT 10 (07) “at that time”
Milani says since the watch is on your wrist it provides individuals with nudges and feedback in a timely fashion.

Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic Gold medalist and reality TV star, is expected to discuss his reported gender transition to a woman tonight. ABC airs an exclusive two-hour special with Diane Sawyer. Matthew Patterson of Equality Louisiana hopes Jenner’s celebrity status can help put an end to the discrimination against transgender people…:
CUT 7 (12) “other people”

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, who is running for governor, announces he’s raised three million dollars so far and has one-point-eight million dollars on hand. Earlier this week, another gubernatorial candidate, David Vitter, said he had four-point-two million in his campaign warchest.

Be on the alert for severe weather tonight. Northwest Louisiana is under a tornado watch until 10 PM tonight. And a tornado watch is posted in south Louisiana until 8 PM.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says there were fewer fatal motorcycle crashes in 2014. Eighty motorcycle riders were killed last year, a seven percent drop from 2013. The commission’s deputy director, Ken Trull, says they hope to reduce the number even more in 2015 but they need help from all motorists…:
CUT 12 (09) “aware of em”
Trull says unfortunately one-third of all motorcycle fatalities in 2014 involved alcohol.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says the state’s higher education funding crisis has led to national investors pulling out of a 114-million dollar bond deal that would have been used to fund construction projects on LSU’s campus. Kennedy says this is not a welcome development…
cut 20 (11) “…raising tuition”
Kennedy is concerned other universities in Louisiana will have state bond issues as well.

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office has charged 37-year-old Randy Eugene Waits in the double murder of 19-year-old Kylie Duncan and 76-year-old Irma Cotton. Sheriff Scott Franklin says the brutal murder scene happened in Urania…:
CUT 3 (09) “her home”
He says the teen was shot and her throat slit and the older woman was shot in the head. Waits is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and more charges are possible.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne announces he’s raised nearly three million dollars in his pursuit to become the state’s next governor and has one-point-eight million dollars in campaign cash on hand. Senator David Vitter reported earlier this week he has four-point-two million in his campaign warchest.

Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic Gold medalist and reality TV star, will reportedly confirm to the world tonight that he is transgender. Michelle Southern reports…
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

State Treasurer John Kennedy says national investors pulled out a big portion of a $114 million dollar bond deal with LSU over concerns about budget cuts. He says the university didn’t do anything wrong…:
CUT 1 (12) “state right now”
Kennedy says higher education in Louisiana has been shocked with back to back years of reduced funding and investors are sounding the alarm bell.

The number of motorcycle deaths on the road is going down. Eighty motorcycle riders were killed last year, a seven percent drop from 2013 according to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. Deputy director, Ken Trull, says a factor in motorcycle fatalities is impaired driving as one-third of Louisiana’s 2014 motorcycle deaths involved alcohol. He says motorcyclists should never ride impaired or distracted and try to make yourself more visible
CUT 14 (07) “and cars”

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection with a double homicide. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

The 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival kicked off today beginning the seven days of a great lineup of music and amazing food. The lineup this first weekend includes headliners Keith Urban tonight, The Who tomorrow and Sunday it’s Jimmy Buffett on the Acura Stage. Other huge artists performing this weekend are Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, Pitbull, Irma Thomas, Ryan Adams, John Legend, Wilco, Jimmy Cliff, Wayne Toups and more.