A federal case known as the House Settlement now allows universities to pay their student-athletes directly. Each university athletic department can spend up to 20.5-million dollars in direct payments to student athletes. After LSU rejected Tiger Rag, the Louisiana Illuminator and WAFB-TV’s Freedom of Information requests on those payments to players, a lawsuit was filed. LSU says the payments are protected under federal student privacy laws. Every year, Tiger Rag Magazine publishes a money issue that lists the salaries of all of the employees of the LSU athletic department, including the janitors who work in the football office. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says the lawsuit speaks to a bigger issue. He says that with college athletics moving to a professional sports model, it is conflicting with current state laws.
Cut 9 (12) “…hybrid professional model.”
Tiger Rag is owned by Kingfish Communications, which also owns Louisiana Radio Network.
Under a proposed bill by Monroe Senator, Jay Morris, the governor would have the power to suspend a judge or D-A for up to six months, then the Senate could vote to remove that person. As an example of why the law is needed Morris cited the murder of tourist Jacob Carter in the French Quarter by a teenager whose ankle monitoring contract expired without the judge of D-A realizing it. Jesse Manley with Court Watch NOLA says Morris’ bill is an unnecessary step in holding judges accountable.
Cut 6 (09) “…to be misconduct.”
The LSU Tigers are hosting the first and second rounds of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament. LSU will face Jacksonville Friday at 5 p-m. If the Lady Tigers beat the Dolphins, Coach Kim Mulkey’s squad will play the winner of Texas Tech-Villanova. In Mulkey’s first four seasons, LSU was a three-seed, this year they are a two-seed.