State Police say the woman who fatally struck a pedestrian on Interstate 20 in Ouachita Parish yesterday afternoon was impaired. Twenty-six-year-old Mecca King has been charged with vehicular homicide and careless operation after hitting 38-year-old Eugenia Bates of Monroe. State Trooper Ryan Davis says this fatality did not have to happen…

Cut 5 (08) “..cab services”

House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland warns that budget cuts are coming because Constitutional Amendment Two did not pass last month. Speaking at the Baton Rouge Press Club, McFarland says passage of the amendment would have provided Louisiana with additional dollars to spend this year…

Cut 12 (12) “…through cuts.”

Another company makes a huge investment in Louisiana. CF industries is putting up a massive ammonia facility on the West Bank of Ascension Parish. In a ceremony at the Capitol this morning, Governor Landry said it will be the largest facility of its kind in the world..

Cut 9 (11)  “…blue ammonia.”

The project is expected to create about 100 direct new permanent jobs with an average salary of 110-thousand dollars.

Get ready to pay 5 dollars for your Mega Millions ticket. The price goes up today. Kim Chopin with Louisiana Lottery says, in return, players will get slightly better odds of winning the jackpot—improving from 1 in 303 million to 1 in 290 million, and there will be more frequent billion-dollar prizes.

Cut 6 (08) “…$50 million.”

A 73-year-old man from Cuba who was taken into custody by ICE agents in Lafayette as he was on his way to work is back with family. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

If Constitutional Amendment 2 had passed last month, the temporary $2,000 stipend that is not being renewed would have been replaced by a permanent pay raise for Louisiana teachers. House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland says now finding the money to make the raise the possible is a priority.

Cut 13 (09)  “…role in that.”

Another large facility is coming to the River-Plex Mega-Park near Donaldsonville in Ascension Parish. CF industries is building a massive ammonia facility and Governor Landry says it will create over 100 direct jobs with average salaries of over $100,000 per year.

Cut 11 (11) “…innovation and sustainability.”

The project will also create more than 300 construction jobs. CF Industries is looking for the facility to be operational in 2029.

A Mega Millions ticket will now cost five dollars. Kim Chopin with Louisiana Lottery says, in return, players will get slightly better at winning the jackpot. They aim to distinguish Mega Millions from Powerball and raise the average jackpot from 450 million to 800 million dollars.

Cut 8 (12) “…grow a lot faster.”

Governor Landry makes another huge economic development announcement. Andrew Greenstein is at the Capitol with more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A 73-year-old man from Cuba who was taken into custody by ICE agents in Lafayette as he was on his way to work is back with family. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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State Police have charged a 26-year-old woman with vehicular homicide after she was allegedly driving drunk and hit a Monroe woman on I-20 in Ouachita Parish yesterday. State Trooper Ryan Davis says Mecca King was traveling in the outer lane and gradually veered onto the shoulder and struck a pedestrian, 38-year-old Eugenia Bates.

Cut 3 (12) “…her injuries.”

Davis says King was found to have an odor of alcohol on her breath. Upon questioning, King admitted to drinking two alcoholic beverages.

Cut 4 (07) “…careless operation.”

King was arrested and booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center.  Davis reminds you that walking along the Interstate is illegal, and there’s no excuse for impaired driving.

Cut 5 (08) “…cab services.”

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Mega Millions players will face a price hike as tickets increase from two to five dollars, starting with today’s drawing. Kim Chopin (show-PAN) with Louisiana Lottery says, in return, players will get slightly better odds of winning the jackpot—improving from 1 in 303 million to 1 in 290 million—and more frequent billion-dollar prizes.

Cut 6 (08) “…$50 million.”

Chopin says non-jackpot prizes will also rise, starting at ten dollars, and each ticket will include a free multiplier feature.

Cut 7 (08) “…prize amount.”

Chopin hopes these changes will combat “jackpot fatigue,” a trend where only enormous prizes attract attention. They aim to distinguish Mega Millions from Powerball and raise the average jackpot from 450 million to 800 million dollars.

Cut 8 (12) “…grow a lot faster.”

______________________________________________________________

Another company makes a huge investment in Louisiana. CF industries is putting up a massive ammonia facility on the West Bank of Ascension Parish. In a ceremony at the Capitol this morning, Governor Landry said it will be the largest facility of its kind in the world..

Cut 9 (11)  “…blue ammonia.”

Landry says the new facility will create many high-paying jobs…

Cut 10 (10) “…100-thousand dollars.”

Landry says this is the latest in a series of major economic development projects to come to Louisiana, leading to a very bright future in the state…

Cut 11 (11) “…innovation and sustainability.”

CF Industries started evaluating Ascension Parish three years ago in deciding where to build its new ammonia facility. Along with the direct jobs, the project will also create more than 300 construction jobs. No word on when construction will begin; CF Industries is looking for the facility to be operational in 2029.

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House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland warns that budget cuts are coming because Constitutional Amendment Two did not pass last month. McFarland says passage of the amendment would have provided Louisiana with additional dollars to spend this year…

Cut 12 (12) “…through cuts.”

Passage of Amendment Two would have made a temporary two-thousand dollar teacher pay stipend permanent. 198-million dollars is needed to make the stipend a permanent two-thousand dollar raise and McFarland says finding the money remains a priority, because the state is finally making gains in student achievement…

Cut 13 (09)  “…role in that.”

It’s possible the state’s revenue shortfall will not be as big. Legislative leaders could recognize additional revenue when it meets in May. House Ways and Means Chairwoman Julie Emerson says for tax revenues to increase more than anticipated, the state’s economy needs to be doing well…

Cut 14 (13) “…we will.”

Governor Landry makes another huge economic development announcement. Andrew Greenstein is at the Capitol with more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Beginning today a Mega Millions lottery ticket will cost you 5 dollars. But Kim Chopin with Louisiana Lottery says odds of winning the jackpot improve slightly. She also says non-jackpot prizes will rise, and each ticket will include a free multiplier feature.

Cut 7 (08) “…prize amount.”

State Police have charged a 26-year-old woman with vehicular homicide after she was allegedly driving drunk and hit a Monroe woman who was walking on the shoulder of I-20 in Ouachita Parish yesterday. State Trooper Ryan Davis says Mecca King was traveling in the outer lane and gradually veered onto the shoulder and struck 38-year-old Eugenia Bates.

Cut 3 (12) “…her injuries.”

It’s possible the state’s revenue shortfall will not be as big. Legislative leaders could recognize additional revenue when it meets in May. House Ways and Means Chairwoman Julie Emerson says for tax revenues to increase more than anticipated, the state’s economy needs to be doing well…

Cut 14 (13) “…we will.”

Another company makes a huge investment in Louisiana. CF industries is putting up a massive ammonia facility on the West Bank of Ascension Parish. In a ceremony at the Capitol this morning, Governor Landry says the new facility will create many high-paying jobs…

Cut 10 (10) “…100-thousand dollars.”

House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland warns that budget cuts are coming because Constitutional Amendment Two did not pass last month. McFarland says passage of the amendment would have provided Louisiana with additional dollars to spend this year…

Cut 12 (12) “…through cuts.”

McFarland made the comments to the Baton Rouge Press Club.

State Police have charged a 26-year-old woman with vehicular homicide after she was allegedly driving drunk and hit a Monroe woman on I-20 in Ouachita Parish yesterday. State Trooper Ryan Davis says Mecca King was found to have an odor of alcohol on her breath. Upon questioning, King admitted to consuming two alcoholic beverages.

Cut 4 (07) “…careless operation.”

Mega Millions players will face a price hike as tickets increase from 2 to 5 dollars, starting with today’s drawing. Kim Chopin with Louisiana Lottery says, in return, players will get slightly better odds of winning the jackpot—improving from 1 in 303 million to 1 in 290 million—and more frequent billion-dollar prizes.

Cut 6 (08) “…$50 million.”

Another company makes a huge investment in Louisiana. CF industries is putting up a massive ammonia facility on the West Bank of Ascension Parish. In a ceremony at the Capitol this morning, Governor Landry said it will be the largest facility of its kind in the world..

Cut 9 (11)  “…blue ammonia.”

The project is expected to create about 100 direct new permanent jobs with an average salary of 110-thousand dollars.

Here is Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla’s reaction to a 745-million-dollar verdict against Chevron to restore wetlands that a Plaquemines Parish jury said the energy company destroyed…

Cut 13 (07) “…killed it”

There are 40 other parish lawsuits against energy companies and Moncla says they will keep oil and gas companies from doing any kind of production in coastal inland waters.

State Police say the woman who fatally struck a pedestrian on Interstate 20 in Ouachita Parish yesterday afternoon was impaired. Twenty-six-year-old Mecca King has been charged with vehicular homicide and careless operation after hitting 38-year-old Eugenia Bates of Monroe. State Trooper Ryan Davis says this fatality did not have to happen…

Cut 5 (08) “..cab services”

Bates was walking on the shoulder of the interstate and it’s also illegal to walk on the interstate.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation is actively involved in litter removal with this week being Love the Boot Week. DOTD spokesman Rodney Mallett says partnering with Keep Louisiana Beautiful, DOTD employees are engaged in cleanup efforts statewide…

Cut 14 (12) “…100 miles of roadway.”

Mallett says the state spends more than 13-million dollars annually picking up trash on the side of roadways.

Governor Jeff Landry announced today a four-billion dollar low-carbon blue ammonia plant is coming to the west bank of Ascension Parish. Landry says the CF Industries facility will generate 100 new direct jobs as well as 15-hundred construction jobs.  This announcement comes on the heels of a five-billion dollar steel mill that will be built by Hyundai in Ascension Parish.

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association is speaking out after a jury rules that Chevron must pay Plaquemines Parish almost 745-million dollars. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 30 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

State Police have charged a 26-year-old woman with vehicular homicide after she was allegedly driving drunk and hit a Monroe woman on I-20 in Ouachita Parish last Friday. State Trooper Ryan Davis says Mecca King was traveling in the outer lane and gradually veered onto the shoulder and struck a pedestrian, 38-year-old Eugenia Bates.

Cut 3 (12) “…her injuries.”

Davis says King was found to have an odor of alcohol on her breath. Upon questioning, King admitted to consuming two alcoholic beverages.

The Pelican Institute for Public Policy released its latest Pelican Pulse Poll ahead of the upcoming 2025 legislative session.  The survey of over 800 Louisiana voters shows lawmakers a clear picture of what voters are prioritizing.  Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer says the poll shows voters believe government spending is out of control.

Cut 17 (07) “…limit its growth.”

Erspamer says 61-percent of the respondents also want the L-A Gator Scholarship Program fully funded and 55-percent want further tax reductions, after legislators reduced income taxes last year.

Two bills have been filed for the upcoming session that would increase the tax on consumable hemp products, increasing the tax from three percent to as high as 20-percent. Needless to say, retailers who sell hemp products are not happy. Joe Gerrity, the CEO of Crescent Canna, says those bills only hurt the retailers who already face a great deal of red tape.

Cut 9 (08)  “…know they enjoy.”

The legislative session begins next week and the Pelican Institute for Public Policy  polled 800 Louisiana voters and found that a majority of them support school choice legislation. Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer,,,

Cut 5 (13) “…fully funded”

Governor Landry has proposed 93-million dollars for the LA Gator scholarship program, the state’s new school voucher program. That would provide about 11-thousand families with state funds for education expenses.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation is actively involved in litter removal with this week being Love the Boot Week. DOTD spokesman Rodney Mallett says partnering with Keep Louisiana Beautiful, DOTD employees are engaged in cleanup efforts statewide…

Cut 14 (12) “…100 miles of roadway.”

Mallett says the state spends more than 13-million dollars annually by picking up trash on the side of roadways.

Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla calls the decision by a Plaquemines Parish jury that Chevron must pay 745-million dollars in damages for contributing to coastal land loss a black eye for the state. Moncla says it’s a frivolous lawsuit and the decision reached is an industry killer…

Cut 12 (16) “…begged to do”

Attorney John Carmouche represents several parishes in these so-called legacy lawsuits and says defendant companies failed to follow state law and restore sties as close as possible to their original state.