The four announced candidates for governor spoke about the state’s $1.6 billion budget deficit at lunchtime forum in Baton Rouge. Governor Bobby Jindal is using the Americans for Tax Reform and it’s “no tax” pledge to develop solutions for the state’s current budget woes, but Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says the answer to Louisiana’s problems are not in Washington D-C…

cut 15 (06) “our state”

The forum that was put together by Louisiana’s small business community.

Tonight, Investigation Discovery’s documentary style show “Web of Lies” will feature the story of the March 2010 kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Justin Bloxom of Stonewall. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says he supports the program airing tonight at 9…

cut 6 (07) “what they’re doing”

Amy Bloxom Fletcher, Justin’s mom, agreed to share the story to remind people about the dangers children can face from predators through social media and texting.

Governor Bobby Jindal is sending political staff to Iowa ahead of his potential presidential campaign. Two Jindal aids, Taylor Teepell, deputy chief of staff, and Matt Parker, legislative affairs director, have resigned their positions within the governor’s office. Both will move to the Hawkeye State where they’ll work for the governor’s new political organization called the America Future Project. Iowa is a key presidential primary state.

An $8,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot a bald eagle in Caddo Parish. Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards claims that Republican candidate Scott Angelle helped create the state’s one-point-six billion dollar budget deficit while serving in the Jindal administration. During his opening statement, Angelle said he would be open to solutions from anyone when it comes to the state’s budget problems…

cut 14 (11) “tax program”

All four announced candidates for governor appeared at a lunchtime forum yesterday in Baton Rouge.

It’s the peak of crawfish harvest season and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office is increasing patrols around crawfish ponds to deter thieves from stealing crawfish. Lt. Clay Higgins says deputies have been guarding ponds annually since 2011…

cut 10 (08) “across the parish”

Higgins says officers often are waiting in the dark, blacked out in their patrol unit, watching for any suspicious activity.

Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue files legislation that he says will control the cost of the TOPS scholarship program. Donahue says under his bill the TOPS award stays the same for a student through their college career, even if tuition goes up…

cut 8 (08) “53 hundred”

Higher education officials and the Taylor Foundation, which started the TOPS program, will promote Donahue’s bill at an 11 o’ clock press conference today in Baton Rouge.

Tonight at 9, Investigation Discovery’s “Web of Lies” will feature the story of the kidnapping, murder, and arrest of 12-year-old Justin Bloxom’s killer. Brian Horn, a previously convicted sex offender, lured Bloxom to his death with fake text messages, pretending to be a girl from his school. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says Justin’s story should be a reminder to parents to keep up with what their kids are doing…

cut 5 (09) “on with them”

Horn was sentenced to death for Justin’s murder last year.

Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue files legislation that he says will control the cost of the TOPS scholarship program. Donahue says under his bill a baseline would be set on how much a student receives for tuition and that dollar amount will not go up in future years, unless the legislature votes to change it

cut 7 (09) “school increases”

Every year the cost of the TOPS program for the state grows by the millions, because of rising tuition costs at public colleges.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards, blames republican candidate Scott Angelle for helping to create the state’s one-point-six billion dollar budget deficit. Angelle is currently a Public Service Commissioner, but he previously served in Bobby Jindal’s administration. Edwards made the swipe at Angelle during a governor’s forum in Baton Rouge…

cut 13 (09) “light the match”

The candidates appeared at a lunchtime forum that was put together by Louisiana’s small business community.

Tonight, Investigation Discovery’s documentary style show “Web of Lies” will feature the story of the kidnapping, murder, and arrest of 12-year-old Justin Bloxom’s killer. Bloxom’s body was found in a shallow pool of water in Stonewall in March of 2010. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says the show can bring to light how vulnerable our children are and how predators operate…

cut 4 (10) “in this case”

Brian Horn, a previously convicted sex offender, lured Bloxom to his death with fake text messages, pretending to be a girl from his school. Horn was sentenced to death for Justin’s murder last year.

The four candidates looking to be Louisiana’s next governor met today for a forum that was hosted by Louisiana small business leaders. All four candidates were not shy about criticizing Governor Bobby Jindal and his use of the Americans for Tax Reform to help with the state’s budget problems. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says the answer to Louisiana’s problems are not in Washington D-C…
cut 15 (06) “…govern our state”
Dardenne and the other three candidates, democrat John Bel Edwards, and republicans Scott Angelle and David Vitter, said they oppose Jindal’s proposal to scale back the inventory tax.

An $8,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot a bald eagle in Caddo Parish. Officials says the bald eagle had wounds to its chest and left wing and because of the severity of the injuries, the eagle was euthanized.

Indiana is taking a lot of heat for its new “religious freedom” law. Sarah Jane Brady, with the Forum for Equality, hopes Louisiana can learn from Indiana when they push a law in the upcoming session that protects discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity…
cut 12 (10) “…here in Louisiana”

Baton Rouge representative Dalton Honore files a bill for the upcoming legislative session that would require all law enforcement officers to wear body cameras. He says there have been recent incidents around the country where body cameras would have answered a lot of questions. Honore feels that a body camera is a great tool in keeping everyone honest…
cut 5 (07) “…great protection”
Honore’s bill does not provide additional funding for law enforcement to purchase the body cameras.

There term ‘Common Core’ is receiving some negative reaction across the state, according to a recent poll conducted the LSU Public Policy Research Lab. Director Michael Henderson says only 39 percent of Louisianians surveyed say they support Common Core, but there seemed to be some uncertainty about who developed the curriculum….
CUT 7 (06) Q; “some guessing”
He says the actual name ‘Common Core’ has been tainted.

As body cameras are being introduced to more law enforcement agencies, a Baton Rouge lawmaker wants to make it a requirement that ALL law officers in the state are equipped with the new technology. State Representative Dalton Honore says the use of body cameras can protect both citizens and police officers…
CUT 3 (08) “down tremendously”
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The A-C-L-U of Louisiana is alleging that Albert Hardison, principal at Walnut Hill Elementary/Middle School in Shreveport, engaged in unlawful religious coercion. Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman says they recently learned of a newsletter Hardison sent home to parents ahead of standardized testing…
CUT 9 (09) “on the test”
Which she says is a violation of Separation of Church and State.

Indiana is taking a lot of heat for its new “religious freedom” law. Sarah Jane Brady, with the Forum for Equality, hopes Louisiana can learn from Indiana when they push a law in the upcoming session that protects against discrimination of people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity…
cut 12 (10) “here in Louisiana”
In the past, lawmakers have shot down bills to protect the L-G-B-T community.

The A-C-L-U of Louisiana alleges that Albert Hardison, principal at Walnut Hill Elementary/Middle School in Shreveport, engaged in unlawful religious coercion…
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

As Governor Bobby Jindal travels across the country to increase face time for a portential run at the White House, the expenses for his State Police Security detail have gone up. Colonel Mike Edmonson says the price tag for his agency is $2.2 million dollars on travel expenses.
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An LSU poll finds a majority of Louisiana oppose the Common Core curriculum, but support the concept. Doctor Michael Henderson, director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab, says when citizens were asked if they support Common Core, only 39-percent said yes….
CUT 6 (07) “67-percent support it”
The political fighting over Common Core-he says-has hurt the name.

The State of Indiana is taking some national heat for their new “religious freedom” law, with many saying it will open the door of discrimination against gay and lesbian groups. Sarah Jane Brady from the Forum for Equality says they hope lawmakers take notice of Indiana, as they introduce a bill in the upcoming session…
CUT 14 (11) Q: “community”

A poll from LSU finds Louisiana residents like the concept behind Common Core, until you call it “Common Core.” …
CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are investigating the shooting of a bald eagle in Caddo Parish, that was discovered near Cavett Road in Gilliam. There’s a reward of up to 85 hundred dollars fot information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the unlawful shooting.

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The website of Walnut Hill Elementary/Middle School in Shreveport was found to have had a “Principal’s Message” that includes references to God and Christ, and the ACLU wants it stopped. Louisiana Executive Director Marjorie Esman says Prinicpal Albert Harrison should know better…
CUT 10 (11) Q: ‘good example (2x)
Caddo Parish Public Schools say they are investigating.

Every year, lawmakers in Baton Rouge shoot down bills to protect gay and other alternative lifestyle groups’ rights. The state of Indiana is now taking some heat for the “religious freedom” law they passed, and the Forum for Equality is hopeful that Louisiana lawmakers will learn from that…
CUT 13 (10) Q: “Need protection”
That’s Sarah Jane Brady with the Forum for Equality.