News for Thursday 022813

By Dave Graichen

Governor Bobby Jindal has announced three legislative proposals he plans to get behind in support of Louisiana  Veterans.  Jindal  says he'll  pursue  legislation  that  creates  penalties  for anyone who fraudulently  takes  advantage  of  a  veterans business incentives, protects   veterans'   funerals  by  establishing   a   protest-free perimeter, and ensuring  active  military  and  vets  have  improved access to specialized treatment.

Gov. Bobby Jindal wants to take $100 million from the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to help fund higher education in next year’s state budget. However, with roughly four months left in the current state fiscal year, the convention center has yet to transfer $20 million the governor put into this year’s state budget. The state expects to be $1.3 billion short of the money needed to keep state government services at their current levels in the budget year that begins July 1.

A new report shows Louisiana and four other states as the example in how to reduce juvenile confinement. All five states in the Justice Policy Institute study released today had a 50 percent or more reduction in the number of juveniles incarcerated from 2001 to 2010. Other states in the report were Connecticut, Tennessee, Minnesota and Arizona. Louisiana had nearly a 53 percent drop in the number of juvenile confinements going from a rate of 505 youth per 100,000 in 2001 to 239 in 2010.

Louisiana is bucking a national trend in a good way. Data  from  the Governors Highway Safety association shows deaths of 16-and-17-year-old drivers increased sharply nationwide in the first six  months  of   2012,  reversing  a  decade-long  trend.  However, Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Elaine Rougeau says those numbers did  not rise in .

Having a rough time making ends meet? You are not alone. Gas  prices, for one, have  been  on  a  steady  rise  over  the  last few weeks. According to Triple-A, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline  is  $3.66,  which is 45-cents more than a month  ago.  UNO economist Janet Speyrer  (spier)  says  food  prices are also up and rising   medical   costs  are  also  making  it  tougher   on   many consumers. Another problem is that people have less disposable income, because the end of the payroll tax holiday at the start of the year, means less take home pay.

Louisiana lawmakers are set to meet today to discuss the investigation  into the company Explo at Camp Minden and 10 millions of pounds of improperly  stored explosives. Bossier City Representative Jeff Thompson is on the  House Committee on Homeland Security. He says they  want to ensure that tax payers aren't footing  the bill for the cost of cleaning up the material. He says they also need to identify the source of the oversight and make sure this never  happens again.

The Public Service Commission has pulled the plug on an "energy  efficiency" program that they approved last December. The program would  encourage consumers to become more energy efficient, but it would also  add a line item charge on monthly bills.  PSC Chairman Eric Skrmetta says they will look at ways to improve the  program and bring it back for another vote in four or five months.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter filed a comprehensive bill Wednesday to increase offshore oil production revenue sharing with Louisiana and other affected states, to expand offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and to expedite other permitting for projects such as the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. Vitter, R-La., said the Energy Production and Project Delivery Act is intended to boost domestic energy production and economic development while also helping the “host” states that would share in the increased federal revenues.

State Police are investigation the case of two  K-9 officers  who went missing  and  were later found in shelters Tuesday  night. They say  the two dogs disappeared from the Bent Tree area from Marrero. Both were unharmed.

18  year  old  Seth Fontenot of Lafayette will not have to face  the death penalty for  the  alleged murder of 15-year-old Austin Rivault and the attempted murders  of  two of Rivault's 15-year-old friends. Court documents indicate the Lafayette  Parish DA agreed to take the death penalty off the table. Fontenot is  accused of opening fire on the three teenagers as they were riding by his home.

In efforts to help  the New Orleans Saints get under the salary cap, quarterback Drew Brees  commented  to  WWL  Radio  that  he would be willing  to  consider  anything that would help the team or its  cap situation. But ESPN is reporting  it  wouldn't  matter  because  the wording  of Brees' contract makes it difficult to provide salary cap relief.

News for Tuesday 020613

By Dave Graichen

A  4-year-old  child appears to be unharmed after being found in his home sunday with  the bodies of his parents who had been dead for two days. Jennings authorities are  investigating  the  shooting  deaths  of  Charles  and  Katrina Williams.  The couple  were  apparently  killed  Friday  night.  The woman's mother  discovered  them  sunday  and  called police. The child, other than shaken, is reportedly ok.

There  was  a bomb threat Monday on the campus of Northwestern  State University  in   Natchitoches.   University  Police  detective  Doug Prescott says the threat was called in to the School of Math,  Science and Arts. He says several  law  enforcement  agencies were called in, to help search the buildings for a possible bomb. To quote Prescott, It was obviously a hoax since nothing went off.  He says investigators are working in tracing the bomb threat call to the guilty party.

Someone left a truck  with  several  incendiary  bombs inside parked outside  the  Whitney  Bank  on  Canal Street in New Orleans  Monday. Police used a robot to remove some of the eight devices found in the vehicle. The bank and nearby businesses  were  evacuated during that; traffic on Canal stopped as well. Investigators  are now determining who the abandoned truck belongs to and what the bombs  were doing in it.

Numbers from the White House show Louisiana will lose millions of  federal education dollars and about 7,000 department of defense workers  will be furloughed, if a deal to avoid automatic budget cuts is not

reached by Friday.  Sequestration will also result in Louisiana losing 2.5 million dollars  for clean water and air quality initiatives. The state will also lose  grant money that helps over a thousand people with substance abuse  issues.

After  a  long  bout  with  cancer,  US  District  Court Judge Frank Polozola  died  Sunday  night.  Polozola was the judge in the 2000 federal trial of former Governor Edwin Edwards. Polozola  sentenced  Edwards  to  10  years  in prison and fined him $250,000 for racketeering and extortion.

An Acadiana legislator proposes a tobacco tax increase, with revenues  raised to be protected from political deal-making. Democratic Carencro  Representative Stephen Ortego (OR-tih-go) says most voters support higher taxes on cigarettes, but only if  the money goes to crucial health care needs. Ortego says his bill would let voters have a role in how much the  tobacco tax should be, and where the revenues should be spent. Ortego says he is filing the bill for the coming Legislative session.

The  Charenton  man  arrested after allegedly shooting and killing a Chitimacha Tribal police  Sgt., suspected of killing another man and burning down his house and wounding two St. Mary Parish deputies has been sent to a mental facility.  Attorneys  say Wilbert Thibodeaux's new location reinforces earlier assessments  that he may be mentally unfit for trial.

The state legislative auditor has released a scathing  review of the 75-million dollar Katrina cottage program in Louisiana.  The federal government provided 75-million dollars, so that the state  can build

homes   to   provide   emergency   housing  for  hurricane  victims. Legislative auditor Daryl Purpera says  it  took  seven years before all 461 cottages constructed were occupied. However, more than half of the cottages were so poorly build residents had to move out within months of moving in. The alternative housing program resulted  in the construction of  homes at 12 sites in Baton Rouge, Lake Charles and New Orleans.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon urges homeowners not to forget tax  credits and other incentives for doing storm mitigation upgrades to  their homes. Donelon says there is a tax break for retrofitting one's

 home to withstand hurricanes.  For information on the Storm Mitigation Incentives, visit the Insurance

Department website, at "LDI.LA.gov".  Donelon says homeowners can not  only claim a tax credit, but can also get lower property insurance  rates...once the upgrades are complete.

The former Jefferson  Parish police jury president  will  spend  nearly  four years  in  federal  prison  for  his conviction on public corruption charges. Aaron Broussard pleaded guilty  last September to accepting

bribes  from  businessmen  and  to  payroll  fraud  for  creating  a supervisory  job for his then-wife--who was not  qualified  for  the position. He's must pay over $200-thousand in restitution.

Defensive backs will take the field at the NFL draft combine today, including former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu. The Honey Badger has been in Indianapolis since the weekend, talking with NFL teams about the drug  problems that forced him to miss the 2012 season. Mathieu says the year  off should not hurt his ability on the football field. Mathieu says he doesn't want NFL teams to have any doubt that he is

 committed to turning his life around and being 100% focused on playing  professional football.

News for Friday 022213

By Dave Graichen

Governor Bobby Jindal unveils the basics of his executive budget plan  for the fiscal year that starts in July. The Governor says his office's  $24.7-billion plan comes in at over $900-million less than the current year.  Jindal says the budget had to shrink this year, due to Congress slashing  Louisiana's federal Medicaid match rate. The budget cuts 10,000 state jobs--mostly by attrition, but many by moving state hospital workers into public/private partnership  employment.

Several  Louisiana military operations could be severely impacted if a deal is not struck in Washington DC by March 1st that would avoid automatic budget cuts. Minden Congressman John Fleming serves on the House Armed  Forces Committee and he's concerned about operations at Fort Polk. He says along  with Fort Polk...Camp Minden, Camp Beauregard and the Louisiana National  Guard  and  reserve units could see a 58-million dollar reduction in funding.

Insurance  Commissioner Jim Donelon urges property owners to be sure to claim their rebate for assessments made to help pay off Hurricane Katrina  debt  incurred  by  the  state-run  last  resort  insurance company. Donelon  says  you can get the rebate as a state income tax deduction or in the form of a check or debit card. More information is online at ldi.la.gov.

State Superintendent of Education John White  announces a five-point plan that will help improve public schools. He  says  improving  the graduation  rate  among  students  with  disabilities will be one of those priorities along with focusing on reducing  the  number of "F" graded  schools,  helping students earn technical college  associate degrees  and  assisting   teachers   achieve  nationwide  assessment

standards.

An Ohio-based glass company's plans are expected to result in the loss of about 200 jobs in Shreveport. Toledo-based Libbey Inc. said Thursday that it plans to end sales of some items and reduce production at Shreveport. Some of that production will be relocated to Toledo and to Monterrey, Mexico. A timetable was not announced

Oscar Sunday is just about here and Louisiana has plenty of nominations  to be proud of. Louisiana Office of Entertainment Executive Director  Chris Stelly says he's especially excited about two movies that were  filmed here and nominated for the coveted Best Picture Academy  Award. The 85th Academy Awards ceremony airs Sunday at 6 on ABC.

Former LSU Heisman Trophy winner Billy Cannon was discharged from Our Lady of the Lake Hospital on Thursday after suffering a stroke on Tuesday. Family members say Cannon is doing extremely well and is up and walking.

A lawsuit filed in federal court claims that former priest Mark Broussard admitted to sexually abusing young boys in 1998.The lawsuit, filed by one of Mark Broussard’s alleged victims, seeks $18 million in damages from the Catholic Church, the Diocese of Lake Charles and the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The plaintiff claims that Broussard molested him during his pre-adolescent years “on a daily basis” from 1985 to 1988 in Broussard’s living quarters at OLQH, as well as other locations.

Stunning new data not yet publicly released shows Louisiana losing its battle with rising seas much more quickly than even the most pessimistic studies have predicted to date. When new data on the rate of coastal subsidence is married with updated projections of sea-level rise, the southeast corner of Louisiana looks likely to be under at least 4.3 feet of Gulf water by the end of the century.

The first of the Louisiana Soundtrack Experience Concert Series is  happening tomorrow in Shreveport. Lt Governor Jay Dardenne says the  concerts are a part of the 2013 celebration of Louisiana's Music. Saturday's event is called "From Elvis to Hank to Johnny:  Celebrating 65 years of the Louisiana Hayride." The concert kick off at 7pm at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium.

The Louisiana Lottery says we've got a new millionaire in the state. Spokesperson Kimberly Chopin  says  a  woman  from Morgan City is $2 million richer after the February 16th drawing. She says Amy Sturges matched all five white numbers in the drawing,  but  added the Power Play option to her Quick Pick. Chopin  says  the  Sturges family plans to buy a nice travel  camper with some of their winnings.

"Select" schools say split playoffs in football violate the LHSAA  Constitution. The association has voted that public schools will compete  against each other in the playoffs, while private and parochial schools will have their own postseason. LHSAA Commissioner Kenny Henderson says their lawyers will look to see if "proposal 18" as its called violates the association's  constitution.

News for Tuesday 021913

By Dave Graichen

Longtime local minister and public servant B.G. Dyess died Monday. Dyess was a former state senator and served as Rapides Parish’s registrar of voters for 24 years. Services are at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Parkview Baptist Church in Alexandria. Visitation is today at Hixson Brothers in Alexandria from 5-9 p.m., and also Wednesday at Parkview from 8:30-11 a.m. B.G. Dyess was 90 years old.

Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy yesterday during his “State Of The City” address said, The city is "fiscally and operationally sound," and that  "The fiscal state of the city bodes well for its future. According to Mayor Roy, Alexandria is now one of the best fiscal responsibility models for municipalities in the state.

Campaign finance  reports filed with the state board of ethics shows Governor Jindal raised  the  most money out of any Louisiana elected official in 2012. He cannot use  that  money  to  run  for  governor again,   but  there  are  other  legal  uses  for  it;  like  buying commercials  to  tout  his  legislative agenda, or to help boost his lagging popularity numbers. The highest funded Democrat in the state is currently New Orleans Mayor  Mitch  Landrieu,  who  has  about  a million  bucks  in  his  warchest. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landrieu is up for re-election  next year, but he could also be eyeing the governor’s office. Pinsonat  says he expects Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and State  Treasurer John Kennedy to also run for Governor in 2015.

Louisiana's Mary Landrieu is part of an effort in Congress to pass  legislation that would require online businesses to collect sales tax at  the point of purchase. Landrieu says it's unfair for local brick-and- mortar retailers to charge their customers sales tax, while online  businesses do not. Landrieu joined a bipartisan group of 53 senators and representatives  who have introduced the Marketplace Fairness Act. The senator says in Louisiana an estimated  800-million dollars of state sales tax revenue goes uncollected every  year.

Gas prices continue their brutal climb. A gallon of regular gasoline in  Louisiana is $3.57 on average and that's about 17 cents more than it was  last week. Don Redman with the American Automobile association says  that's an increase of 42 cents since the start of 2013.  Redman says the price could be as high as $3.80 here by the end of the  month and into March. He says one reason the price is increasing is

because refineries are switching to a summer blend of gas and some are  shut down for maintenance.

New  Orleans  has  hosted Super Bowls, final fours, BCS Championship games and now they'll  get their chance to host Wrestlemania 30. The WWE will bring its premiere  event to the Mercedes Benz Superdome on April 6th, 2014. Mayor Mitch Landrieu is ecstatic the city will host this major event. They say Wrestlemania is  expected   to  bring thousands of fans and tourists  to  the  city  as the WWE brings  it premiere pay per view to the Big Easy.

A Bossier City lawmaker is leader of a grassroots campaign aimed at  protecting Louisiana's Second Amendment gun rights. Representative Jeff  Thompson calls his movement "Defend LA", and says it's about defending  one's right to protect one's home and family.  Thompson says Defend LA has already gathered over 3000 members. Thompson bill  would assure that the identities of  persons who have, or have applied for, concealed carry weapon permits  remain private.

Citing the increased cost of doing business, Entergy Louisiana has asked the state's Public Service Commission to  approve a rate hike for its customers. The increase would come to an  average additional 8 dollars a month for most residences. PSC Chairman  Eric Skrmetta (sker-MET-uh) says the PSC will carefully go over Entergy's rate request,  which is thousands of pages long. He says the review could take up to 12  months to approve--IF it is approved at all.

Investigators  aboard  the  Carnival cruise  ship  "Triumph"  say  a leaking fuel line caused the engine fire that left the ship stranded in the middle of the Gulf. Passengers  went  through  over 5 days of limited  power,  no  toilets,  cold  food  and  no  heating  or  air conditioning  before  they  were finally towed to the Port of Mobile last Thursday night. At least  one  passenger  has  filed  a lawsuit seeking unspecified damages.

The state Office of Conservation has ordered all of the state’s 34 salt dome operators to show how close their caverns are to the outer edges of the subterranean salt domes containing them and, for caverns closest to the salt edge, also to prove they are structurally sound. The directive is in response to the failure of a Texas Brine Co. cavern in the Napoleonville Dome that is believed to be the cause of an 8.6-acre sinkhole in northern Assumption Parish. Conservation Commissioner James Welsh has given operators until March 18 to submit the information.

Sports..

The LSU men's basketball team can get past the five-hundred mark in the  SEC with a win tonight at Tennessee. The Fighting Tigers have won 5 of  their last 6, to even their league record at six-and-six. Airtime is 5:30p this afternoon.

News for Friday 021513

By Dave Graichen

Alexandria mayor Jacques Roy’s chief of staff, T.W. Thompson, has turned in his letter of resignation. Thompson holds three important positions in the city. Chief of staff for the mayor, director of the Division of Public Works and that of  Commissioner of Public Safety. Thompson cited personal reasons for his resignation. His last day will be March 29.

The city of Leesville and surrounding towns are concerned about the Army's recent assessment of  a possible huge troop reduction at Fort Polk. If implemented, would reduce the post's staffing by about half. Local Officials are asking area residents to pitch in by commenting on the report and contacting their congressmen. Information on the campaign, including sample letters commenting on the report and contact information for key congressmen and other elected officials, can be found on websites for the city of Leesville, the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, England Airpark, the Vernon Parish Police Jury and the Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce.

A  statewide  survey  conducted  by the Public Policy Polling Survey shows Governor Jindal's approval rating  has  hit an all-time low of 37-percent.  The same group conducted  a similar poll two years ago, and Jindal's approval rating was 58-percent.

Gov. Bobby Jindal told reporters yesterday, that they don’t have a proposal yet, but everything is on the table as he tries to develop a plan that eliminates personal and corporate income taxes in a “revenue neutral” way. Jindal said he continues to meet with legislators and others to get their ideas before settling on a bill he will ask a legislator to submit for consideration in the legislative session, which begins April 8.

A four-month investigation spanning Rapides and Natchitoches parishes into meth manufacturing led to the arrests of eight people and the discovery of multiple drug cooking spots in the Flatwoods and Mora areas. Local authorities say the investigation began in October 2012 after complaints were received.

A professor of physics at Louisiana Tech along with NASA predict an  asteroid will fly closer to Earth today than any object of its size has ever before. Dr. Lee Sawyer says the big rock is about 150 feet in

diameter, about half the length of a football field. He  says the asteroid will pass within 17,200 miles of the Earth's  surface which is actually closer than most communications satellites.

Former US Attorney Jim Letten  has  been  hired by Tulane University Law  School.  They  say  Letten  will  be  an  assistant   dean  for "experiential learning" , a newly created position. He is  expected

to start the new job later this month.

A federal judge today found Transocean, the company that  owned BP's ill-fated Deepwater Horizon oil rig, guilty of violating the federal Clean Water Act. Transocean will have to pay $400-million in federal

fines and be on probation for 5 years.

Police in Bossier say a Shreveport woman robbed a Wal-Mart by hiding about $70 worth of items in her  6-year-old  son's  jacket. When she was confronted she ran through the parking lot, dragging her son who

almost got hit by a car. The 28 year old woman then went back  to  the  same  Wal  Mart  hours  later to pick up a ring she'd dropped off to be sized. She was arrested.

Police  in  Maringouin  say  a  school bus went into the bayou there after hitting a house Thursday  morning.  They  say  at  the  time of the accident there were 20 students on the bus and four were taken  to a local hospital complaining about head and back pain. The driver told investigators  he  couldn't turn the bus, and that's when he hit the house.

Authorities in Caddo Parish say a Keithville school teacher is under arrest  for  alleged  sexual  contact  with a special needs student. 33-year-old Jeremy Pierce, a teacher at  Port City Christian Academy

in Shreveport, is believed to have had inappropriate  behavior  with the  girl on several occasions, on school grounds.

Jeff  Davis  Parish  deputies arrest a Hathaway  teen  for  indecent behavior with a minor  and  other charges. 18-year-old Michael Gotte Jr. was charged   with computer-aided solicitation  of a minor, inappropriate behavior with a juvenile and production of child pornography. The girl was 14.

Sports..

The 2013 LSU baseball team begins its quest today for Omaha and an  appearance in the College World Series. The Tigers host Maryland at 7:00  tonight in the season opener. Airtime 6:30 on Talk Radio 970 KSYL.

News for Wednesday 021313

By Dave Graichen

An  arrest  has  been  made in the double murder case in  Abbeville. Officials say 24-year-old  Mike  Guidry  and his brother 25 year old Gary Guidry were found dead by a roommate  Tuesday  morning.  No  other details  about  the  suspect  or  exactly  what  happened  are being released  at  this  time. It's being reported the brothers had  just moved into the home they shared with four other people.

It has been a long time coming, over 15 years, but today the doors officially open to the new Jena Choctaw Pines Casino. The casino on highway 167 in Grant Parish will be the third Native American-Owned casino in the state and will offer more than 700 gaming devices, a poker room, buffet and sports bar.

Members of the Pineville city council were told last night, that it may be time to consider the sale of alcohol within the city limits. City auditor Mark McKay gave the city a clean audit report, but he noted that the numbers clearly indicate Pineville is moving into the red more each year with its budget. McKay's report covered the year ending June 30, 2012. He found no compliance or internal control problems in the audit. What he did find, however, was losses. According to McKay, the city’s sanitation fund has lost over $100,000 a year for the past 5 years. The airport lost $95,000. McKay said the city’s sales tax base is stagnate and  until the city has alcohol sales there will be no national restaurant chains, other than fast food companies.  McKay went on to tell the council, he was not sure the city is ever going to be able to grow the downtown or the riverfront without alcohol sales."

A Haughton lawmaker has pre-filed a bill that would require court clerks  to report information about mentally ill citizens to state police and  the FBI -- so they are not able to purchase a gun. Representative Henry  Burns says state and local officials would have 30 days to report when a Louisiana resident has been deemed mentally ill.

A settlement has been reached in the wrongful termination suit filed by  coastal  researcher  Ivor  Van Heerden against LSU. Terms of the deal have yet to be released.  Van  Heerden  claims  he lost his job

because he was outspoken about his criticism of the US Army Corps of Engineers  for  how  they  designed  the  levees that failed  during Hurricane Katrina.

A new report just released by the federal government show Louisiana has the second-lowest public high school graduation rate in the nation for special education students. The 29% rate in Louisiana is only lower than Mississippi and Nevada, which both have a rate of 23%. South Dakota is tops in the nation at 84 percent. The national average is 58 percent.

Natchitoches  Parish  Sheriff's  officials say a Dallas man is under arrest  for filing a fake complaint  with  authorities  in  November alleging he was robbed of several thousand dollar’s worth of valuable coins and  currency. During the course of the investigation deputies discovered that  the  alleged victim, 64-year-old Burton Paul Dupuy, had staged the home invasion which, was actually at his parents’ house,  where he knew there was  about  $350,000  worth  in a safe.  Apparently Dupuy admitted to authorities he has  a  gambling problem.

Shreveport  Police  say  they  stormed  into  a house Monday  night  to prevent  a local man from setting it on fire, with  his  grandmother inside. Officers  say the man was caught trying to start a fire with a propane burner and  a  blanket.  He  was  shot  with  a non-lethal device;  a  bean-bag gun, and taken into  custody. The elderly  woman was treated at a nearby hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

A state judge is expected to rule tomorrow on whether  the Thibodaux man accused of beheading his disabled son in 2011 is mentally fit to stand  trial. Judge John LeBlanc has heard over 6 days of  testimony in the case  of  Jeremiah  Wright,  who allegedly dismembered the child  while his mother  was away. The ruling is on whether Wright is sane enough to assist in his  own  defense,  NOT whether he was sane when he committed the act.

Another check on the fuel gauge  report from the American Automobile Association. The current average statewide  for  a gallon of regular gas is $3.40. A month ago we were paying $3.22.

The town of Homer in Claiborne Parish voted on Monday to disband its police force. The town council moved  to  get  rid  of its 10 member police department, including the chief, effective March 1.

The Delta Regional Authority announces they will invest  210-thousand dollars   towards  northeast  Louisiana's  workforce  training   and development   efforts.   The   authority's   co-chairman  says  this

investment will give workers a chance to develop  new  skills to get good paying jobs.

News for Monday 021113

By Dave Graichen

The weather was not in the mood to cooperate yesterday for the Alexandria Mardi Gras parade. The parade was moved up to 10 in the morning to avoid the forecasted heavy rain and strong winds. But, the rain made it appearance shortly after the parade began. Many of the bands and dance groups decided against taking the chance, as did many fans. Organizers say the crowds were down significantly. Parades scheduled around the area today and fat Tuesday could suffer the same fate, since rain is in the forecast thru tomorrow.

Austin Dean, 21, of Pineville, has been charged with one count of second-degree murder, after an altercation over the weekend at a Lecompte bar that left an Alexandria man dead. Dean faces charges in the death of 19 year old Nicholas Griffin. It’s believe the incident grew out of a fight in the bar’s parking lot. Other details are forthcoming.

Governor Jindal's approval rating is below 50-percent. That's according  to a survey paid for by the Louisiana State Medical Society. The poll  of 600 Louisiana voters resulted in a 46-percent approval rating. The poll also shows voters disagree with the governor's refusal to  expand the Medicaid program in the state. The expansion of Medicaid is  part of the new federal health care law. 51-percent of the poll's

respondents say Louisiana should participate in the Medicaid expansion.

A Slidell lawmaker files legislation to ban a dangerous hallucinogenic  designer drug called "25-I", and others like it. Rep. Kevin Pearson says  25-I was linked to at least one death, and three persons made sick, at  last Fall's Voodoo Fest in New Orleans.  "25-I" is often sold in an eye dropper bottle, but is also frequently  put on blotter paper and sold as LSD to unsuspecting drug users.  Governor Jindal has issued a ban of the substance by executive order,  but Pearson says it needs to have the weight of state statute.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the decision of Farmers  Insurance to leave Louisiana shouldn't alarm the company's 23-thousand  customers in the Bayou State. Farmers announced they were pulling out  last week. Donelon says competitors are waiting in the wings to cover  those homes and businesses. Farmers will start sending non-renewal letters  this Spring, and Donelon has this advice to the company's customers, start shopping now..

Entergy says they figured out the cause of the infamous 34-minute power  outage during the Super Bowl. The utility company says it was a faulty  electrical relay device. CEO of Entergy New Orleans Charles Rice appeared  before the New Orleans City Council to provide more details.  Rice says the faulty device was removed and they are looking into  purchasing new equipment.

Jonesboro Mayor Leslie Thompson is facing three counts of malfeasance in  office. Jackson Parish Sheriff Andy Brown did not go into specifics. But  state legislative auditor Daryl Purpera says his office has not been  able to complete an audit on the town's books since 2007, because they  are so disorganized. Purpera says state law requires all towns to perform an annual audit on  their finances. Purpera says there's no evidence Mayor Thompson stole money, but he says  it's difficult to tell based on the town's financial record keeping.

Better pull up your pants in Grambling, because now you can be fined if  they sag. Police Chief Tommy Clark says they're tightening the dress  code in order to maintain the town's image of being clean and desirable.  He says saggy pants are already restricted in Grambling University's  handbook, but non-compliance caused the city to get involved.  Clark says the first offense is a maximum of a $150 fine, 15 days in  jail or 24 hours community service. He says second offense could be as  much as $250 and the third is no more than $500 and up to 60 days in  jail.

Senator Mary Landrieu is recommending New Orleans attorney Kenneth Allen  Polite Jr for the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana  position. Jim Letten stepped down from the post in December amid an  online scandal involving two of his top prosecutors.

News for Wednesday 020613

By Dave Graichen

State Police are investigating the  Hit  & Run death of a pedestrian Monday  night  in  Pineville,  who  was  struck  by   at   least   two vehicles--possibly  three.  Trooper  Scott  Moreau  says 30-year-old Sonnie  Thompson  was hit while walking along Highway 116.  He  says evidence indicates she was killed by the first vehicle, but also hit by other motorists...who all kept going. A fourth driver stopped and called authorities.

Rapides Parish deputies arrest two teenage girls for making e-mailed  threats against students and teachers at Tioga High school. Sheriff's  spokesman Lt. Tommy Carnline says school officials called them about the  threats last week.  Carnline says Jessica Winslow and Ti'jeanae (TIE-jen-ay) Harris, both  17, were arrested without incident after an investigation traced the  threatening messages to them.  He says they each face ten counts of terrorizing, and no bond has been set as yet.

Pineville PD reports an Alexandria couple has been charged in connection with the theft last month of $18,000 in jewelry the Kmart store in Pineville. 22 year old Ancranette Sword and 45 year old Bobby West were charged with felony theft.  They were booked at the Rapides Parish Detention Center where they are awaiting bond.

Alexandria City Council voted Tuesday to remove Michael Ziegler from the Board of Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority and replace him with Michael Caffery. Alexandria mayor Roy was not happy with the way the matter was handled and accused dist. 3 councilman Jules Green of “good ol’ boyism, after the councilman made the  move to replace Ziegler with Caffery, his former campaign manager. Caffery was appointed to the GAEDA board by Green and confirmed Tuesday by a unanimous vote.

LSU Agricultural Center Vice Chancellor Paul Coreil was named Tuesday as interim chancellor of LSU’s Alexandria campus. He will fill the position for eight months starting March 1.Current LSU-A Chancellor David Manuel is expected to leave the university in May to become president of Drury University in Springfield, Mo.

The A.P.D.. reports A 24-year-old Alexandria man died Monday night when his car hit a tree on Enterprise Road. Alexandria police responded to the 11:10 p.m. crash in the 1700 block of Enterprise.  There they found A 1989 Mercury driven by Charles Carter had run off the road, hit a mailbox and then a tree near the intersection of Paris Street. An autopsy and toxicology tests are being done.

Governor Jindal has released  few  details  of  how  his proposal to raise sales taxes and do away with income taxes will work.  One part would,  reportedly, include a one-dollar per pack tax on cigarettes.

The  legislature   starts   its   regular  session  April  8th,  and anti-tobacco lobbyists will surely  be  there  to  push for a higher cigarette  tax, and to see that it's dedicated to smoking  cessation and prevention programs, or at least to the health care budget.

Louisiana State  Police say the driver of an SUV who crashed head-on into a school bus  this  morning  in  Pointe Coupee Parish has died. Trooper Jared Sandifer says fog could have  been  a  factor  in  the

early morning crash, which is now under investigation. 38-year-old  Jody Harris, of Ventress, died from her  injuries.  The bus driver and the nine kids aboard received only minor injuries.

While  the  exact  cause of the 34 minute "Super  Blackout"  remains under investigation,  it looks like  a public record shows  Mercedez Benz  Superdome officials were told last  season by The Louisiana Stadium & Exposition  District who released an October  15th  memo Monday  saying  tests  to  the  dome's  electrical  feeders "showed some decay and a chance of failure. Entergy representatives  are  expected  at an emergency meeting  Friday  to  discuss  the  outage  and  provide  additional information as to what exactly happened.

The  Louisiana  Conference  of  Catholic  Bishops  asked  the Jindal Administration  to  stop  the  execution  of  Christopher  Sepulvado because  the  lethal  injection is scheduled for Ash Wednedsay.  The Governor reportedly has no plans to intervene. The Desoto Parish Man is scheduled to die for  beating and scalding his 6-year-old stepson two decades ago.

A new license  plate  in honor of the state's timber industry is now available. The Louisiana  Forestry  Association  designed the plate, that you can buy at the Office of Motor Vehicles.  A  portion of the proceeds will go to the forestry division of the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

A  Shreveport  man suspected of two home invasions  and  some  other robberies is behind  bars.  Police  say 41-year-old Anthony McDonald allegedly invaded two homes, and tried  to  rob  a  couple  at a bus stop.  He's  also  accused  of  car  theft. All four of those crimes happened  on  January  28th,  and  all victims  gave  a  description matching McDonald.. He now faces a list of charges.

Acadia Parish  Deputies  say  somebody  broke  into the Crowley High school  Ag  Farm late last month and killed a prize  show  pig.  The perpetrator also  cut three other animals. Deputies says the act was not only cruel and  senseless,  it  also  cost  the owners potential sales  at  the  livestock  show.  There's  a $1000 cash  reward  for information that helps catch the bad guy.

News for Monday 020413

By Dave Graichen

State police report 47-year-old Kenneth M. Aymond was killed over the weekend  when he apparently lost control of his pickup truck on highway 29 in Avoyelles parish, ran off the road and hit a culvert before overturning. Aymond was pronounced dead at the scene.

Visitation for former businessman and Opus broadcasting general manager Kim Jones will be today at Calvary Baptist church in Alexandria from 2 to 4pm and 5 to 7pm and again tomorrow from 5pm until the time of services at 6pm. Jones passed away last Thursday after a long battle with cancer. Kim Jones was 54.

State  Treasurer  John Kennedy says the state is looming on the edge of yet another financial  crisis.   Kennedy  says the Capital Outlay Fund is near its debt limit  with no room to borrow  more  for rural road  improvements,  college  facility   upkeep  and other important building projects.  He says the fund could be exhausted  within  the next four months. The Governor's Office  points  at  Kennedy, saying he indicated they had more borrowing headroom than they  actually  had. Kennedy says, yes,  but he gave them that information before state  revenues  were revised downward last Fall.

The Ravens were rolling, Beyoncé had just put on a stunning halftime show and then the unprecedented happened: The lights went out in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVII. Usually a beacon on the New Orleans skyline, the Superdome was bathed in darkness when the majority of lights flickered out at 7:36 p.m. The power was off inside the stadium for 34 minutes. The lights started to come back on at 8:02 p.m. and play resumed at 8:10 p.m. The exterior lights flickered on at about 8:20 p.m. and the Superdome took back its place in the New Orleans skyline. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a statement issued Sunday night. ”In the coming days, I expect a full after-action report from all parties involved.

Now that the Super Bowl is over, the rush at the New Orleans  International Airport is on. Spokeswoman Michelle Wilcut says all  flights are completely booked today. She says they’re anticipating about 42,000  passengers today.

The  first  black  chief  justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court has been sworn into office.  Bernette  Johnson replaces the first female justice--Kitty Kimball--who retired  last  month after four years in the position.  Johnson has been sitting on the high court since 1994 and served ten years as a district court judge  before being elected to the supreme court.

Cuts to some health care services, brought about by a mid-year revenue  shortfall, have kicked in - affecting low-income mothers, at-risk kids  and others. State Health & Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein says the  cuts are regrettable, but necessary. He says they planned for the lowest negative impacts possible.

A Tangipahoa Parish man is being  held  without  bond  today  in the parish   prison   on   charges   of  aggravated  rape  of  children. Authorities say when they served  a  search  warrant  on the home of 50-year old Robert Eugene Swan they found child pornography  on  his computer  which indicated he was also manufacturing and distributing child porn.   They also say they found video evidence of Swan having sex with children as young as 10 and possible one year old.

The LSU Board of  Supervisors  has  approved a two year extension of head football coach Les Miles' contract  that keeps him connected to the university through the 2019 season.  Miles  annual  salary  went from  just  over three and a quarter million dollars to 4.3 million. Athletic Director Joe Alleva told the board Miles hadn't had a raise in five years, even though he deserved one.

LSU  officials  are  sticking with their timetable of having  a  new university president signed,  sealed  and  delivered within the next four  months.  LSU had a "short list" of about  30  candidates,  but those names  aren't  being released or even guessed at right now and we probably won't know  until  a  finalist  or  finalists are agreed upon.

A Baton Rouge businessman is in the running to be the next Secretary of  Energy.   WBRZ TV in Baton Rouge, is  reporting  Jim  Bernard--founder of the Shaw Group--confirmed  to  them  he  is  one  of  the   candidates  being considered.  Bernard recently sold the world wide construction  firm to a Texas company for some three billion dollars.

Authorities  say  48-year  old Thomas Allen the Third of Baton Rouge was driving with a blood alcohol  content  of three times the normal level when his car slammed head on into another car, killing 10-year old   Bionna  Scott.   He's  been  charged with vehicular  homicide, second offense DWI, reckless operation  and driving with a suspended license.

Confessed killer Brandon Scott Lavergne, who's serving  life for the murders of Lisa Pate in 1999 and Mickey Shunick last year, is asking a  judge  to  release  to him the names of grand jury witnesses  who testified against him and  the  transcript  of  a  secretly recorded meeting with his ex-wife. In December, he requested  his  conviction be  tossed  out,  saying  his  court-appointed lawyers made critical defense errors. Lavergne pleaded  guilty  to  the  two  murders  last August, in order to avoid getting a death sentence.

Seafood expert, oyster distributor and state Wildlife & Fisheries  Commission member Mike Voisin (vwah-zan) has passed away. Voisin died  Saturday, about a week after suffering a massive heart attack. Wildlife  & Fisheries Secretary Bob Barham says he was a fierce advocate for the  seafood industry, but always a gentleman...: