The 2015 Louisiana Survey reveals that 83-percent of Louisianians want the state’s budget deficit to be resolved through a combination of spending cuts and tax hikes. LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab Director Michael Henderson says people would prefer one over the other…

cut 4 (05) “than tax hikes”

Of those preferring a combination, 59-percent would rather see the the focus mostly on the side of spending cuts.

The financial planning website Bankrate.com lists Louisiana as the fifth worst place to retire. Bankrate’s research analyst Chris Kahn says Louisiana scores low when it comes to its crime rate, health care services and weather

cut 7 (07) “our rankings”

Kahn says retirees in Louisiana do not face a huge tax burden, which is good, but the state has the second highest crime rate in the nation, which does NOT make the bayou state a dream retirement spot.

The Greater Tangipahoa Parish NAACP Branch is meeting this morning with the Mayor of Ponchatoula and other leaders to discuss the controversial Strawberry Festival poster. They believe the painting is racist and want the Kiwanas Club to stop selling it. Christina Rusca, a former member of the Ponchatoula Kiwanis Club, believes they will keep the poster…

cut 13 (09) “stick to their guns, yes”

In a prepared statement, Mayor Bob Zabbia says because negative feelings about the poster go against the purpose of the Strawberry Festival, which has brought the community together for decades, he would recommend that the Kiwanis reevaluate their decision to sell the poster

A new study conducted for the state by LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott shows the film tax credit program created nearly 13-thousand jobs, but cost Louisiana 171-million dollars last fiscal year. And Scott adds that many of the jobs produced do not benefit Louisiana…
CUT 11 (09) Q: “he spent”
The state’s film tax credit program is expected to face changes in the upcoming legislative session.

The Department of Health and Hospitals says Louisiana has cut the rate of Tuberculosis cases by more than half from 2010 to 2014. DHH’s Charles DeGraw says they have also reduced the percentage of TB cases with HIV infection from 10% in 2010 to 4 percent in 2014…:
CUT 14 (10) Q: “who have Tuberculosis.”
Republican Congressman Charles Boustany says a contract has been awarded to build a new VA clinic in Lafayette. Boustany says once construction begins, it will take 18 months to complete …:
CUT 6 (11) “long overdue”
However, Boustany says there is still no word from the VA on the construction of a new clinic in Lake Charles.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s office says two elephants were used to keep an 18-wheeler from overturning on I-49. Deputies say a truck carrying elephants from New Orleans to Dallas got stuck in the mud, when deputies arrived on the scene this morning, they were surprised to find the elephants on the side of the truck that was starting to tip over. The 18-wheeler was eventually pulled out of the mud and no citations were issued, and the elephants were uninjured.

Reforming the state’s film tax credit program is expected to be a major topic in the upcoming legislative session, and some lawmakers will point to the number of jobs it has created. But LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott just completed a study for the State Department of Economic Development that shows the increase in jobs, but also came with a $171 million dollar price tag…
cut 10 (05) “jobs as well”

The Department of Health and Hospitals says Louisiana has cut the rate of Tuberculosis cases by more than half from 2010 to 2014. DHH TB Control Program Director Charles DeGraw says that puts us 12 percent below the national case rate…:
cut 13 (10) “over that period of time”
=========================
Republican Congressman Charles Boustany announces that a contract has been awarded to build a new VA clinic in Lafayette…
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

A man who was tree-sitting in City Park in New Orleans to block the construction of an upscale golf course, has fallen out of a large cyprus tree. It is believed the man-who is identified as Lloyd Boover-may have broken an ankle and his nose from the fall. Authorites reportedly patrolled his protest, and continuously shined a spotlight on him at night. Boover is expected to be charged with trespassing.

A study examining the state’s film tax credit program finds that it created nearly 13-thousand jobs, but cost the state 171-million dollars last fiscal year. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott conducted the study for the state department of economic development…
CUT 9 (10) “film industry”
Which is why lawmakers it will addressed in the upcoming legislative session.

A contract has been awarded to build a new VA clinic in Lafayette. While Republican Congressman Charles Boustany – who got the legislative authorization to build new clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles – says it’s great news for Lafayette, he says the VA is dragging its feet for Lake Charles construction…
CUT 8 (08) Q: ‘on construction’
He says still no word from the V.A.
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A Franklin Parish woman was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree cruelty to a juvenile after causing her 20-month-old daughter to fall out of her moving car last June. District Attorney Mack Lancaster says he’s satisfied with the sentence handed down to 24-year-old LaSasha Allen of Winnsboro…
CUT 3 (10) “appropriate sentence”

The Department of Health and Hospitals says Louisiana has cut the rate of Tuberculosis cases by more than half from 2010 to 2014. DHH TB Control Program Director Charles DeGraw says that puts us 12 percent below the national case rate…:
cut 13 (10) “over that period of time”
DeGraw says he credits the TB Control program for the numbers.

A study examining the state’s film tax credit program finds that it created nearly 13-thousand jobs, but cost the state 171-million dollars last fiscal year. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott conducted the study for the state department of economic development…
CUT 9 (10) “film industry”
Which is why lawmakers it will addressed in the upcoming legislative session.

A contract has been awarded to build a new VA clinic in Lafayette. While Republican Congressman Charles Boustany – who got the legislative authorization to build new clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles – says it’s great news for Lafayette, he says the VA is dragging its feet for Lake Charles construction…
CUT 8 (08) Q: ‘on construction’
He says still no word from the V.A.
—————————–
A Franklin Parish woman was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree cruelty to a juvenile after causing her 20-month-old daughter to fall out of her moving car last June. District Attorney Mack Lancaster says he’s satisfied with the sentence handed down to 24-year-old LaSasha Allen of Winnsboro…
CUT 3 (10) “appropriate sentence”

The Department of Health and Hospitals says Louisiana has cut the rate of Tuberculosis cases by more than half from 2010 to 2014. DHH TB Control Program Director Charles DeGraw says that puts us 12 percent below the national case rate…:
cut 12 (10) “at that point”
DeGraw says he credits the TB Control program for the numbers.

There’s a new study conducted by LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott that shows the film tax credit program created nearly 13-thousand jobs, but cost Louisiana 171-million dollars last fiscal year. Scott says even with those jobs, that doesn’t mean the jobs produced actually benefited Louisiana…
CUT 11 (09) Q: “he spent”
That tax credit will no doubt get a lot of discussion in the upcoming session.

A Winsboro woman has been sentenced go to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree cruelty to a juvenile. Twenty-four year-old LaSasha Alleen placed her daughter in an unrestrained position and opened the car door while rounding a curve, allowing her daughter to fall out. Franklin Parish District Attorney Mack Lancaster says Allen showed no remorse…
CUT 5 (05) Q: ‘somewhat silently’
He said he was satified with the sentenced.
———————————
There’s some good Louisiana health news, as the Department of Health and Hospitals says Louisiana has cut the rate of Tuberculosis cases by more than half from 2010 to 2014. DHH TB Control Program Director Charles DeGraw says they have also reduced the percentage of TB cases with HIV infection from 10% in 2010 to 4 percent in 2014…:
CUT 14 (10) Q: “who have Tuberculosis.”

An Iowa (eye-a-way) woman has died in an overnight single vehicle in Lake Charles that State Police say was caused by a drunk driver. The unrestrained passenger – 44 year-old Molly Frank – was ejected when the driver failed to negotiate a curve on Highway 3256, then hit a tree. Thirty-four year-old Randall Keith Laird II of Lake Charles was charged with vehicular homicide and DWI.

A study released by the state department of economic development finds that the state’s film tax credit program cost the state 171-million dollars last fiscal year. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

State Police say a Marksville woman has been arrested for theft after an audit of the Office of Motor Vehicles revealed missing funds. Authorities say 33-year-old Angelle Temple allegedly stole money from OMV offices in Rapides and Avoyelles Parishes totaling more than $7,000. Temple is charged with felony theft, injuring public records, and malfeasance in office.

A woman from Franklin Parish is sentenced to 25 years in prison after she plead guilty to causing her 20 month old baby to fall out of a moving vehicle last summer. 24-year-old LaSasha Allen of Winsboro was charged with second degree cruelty to a juvenile. District Attorney Mack Lancaster says there is no doubt in his mind that Allen intentionally tried to hurt her daughter…:
CUT 4 (06) “fall out”
He believes this woman got the appropriate sentence.

Republican Congressman Charles Boustany announces that a contract has been awarded to build a new VA clinic in Lafayette. He says this clinic is something veterans in the Acadiana region have been waiting too long for…:
CUT 7 (07) “of this clinic”
The Lafayette clinic will is expected to be completed 18 months after construction begins.