Ahead of his second expulsion hearing, Napoleonville Senator Troy Brown announces his resignation from the Louisiana Senate. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
______________________________________
It’s Coach “O” Day in Lafourche Parish! Emelie Gunn has more on the festivities for LSU’s Head football coach Ed Orgeron…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”
______________________________________
It’s NBA All-Star weekend in New Orleans again! Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
______________________________________
Today the state House will decide how much, if any, of the rainy day fund to use to close a $304 million budget shortfall. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says lawmakers passed a budget last year describing what they want to accomplish for the people of Louisiana, and it’s the legislature’s responsibility to meet those promises. He says the best way to accomplish that would be to use 119-million dollars from the rainy day fund.
Cut 4 (10) “rainy day funds”
Leger says the rainy day fund was created for this purpose, to deal with shortfalls. He says some lawmakers have proposed additional cuts without consulting the agencies that would be affected. He says some of the proposals would have major implications for Louisianans.
Cut 5 (09) “additional reductions”
A bill up for debate today on the House floor would use $74 million from the state’s savings account, but Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds co-authored a bill that would use no rainy day dollars to close the budget gap. He says after some investigating, he found areas in state government that can be cut to reduce the shortfall.
Cut 6 (11) “any of that”
Edmonds’ bill is also up for debate today on the House floor. He says he understands that no cuts are easy, but lawmakers have a responsibility to balance the budget.
Cut 7 (08) “hurt anyone”‘
______________________________________
Today is Coach “O” Day in Lafourche Parish to honor LSU’s new head football coach Ed Orgeron. Orgeron is a native of Larose, where an event will be held at the local civic center at 6:00 p.m. Member of the planning committee, Larry Weidel, says Orgeron, better known as BaBa, was a hometown football star back in his day.
Cut 8 (10) “can understand”
Weidel says during the banquet, Orgeron’s high school football jersey will be retired and fellow members of the 1977 South LaFourche High School football team will be recognized for winning the state championship. He says the event has over 90 sponsors and over a thousand tickets were sold.
Cut 9 (08) “busy night”
Weidel says the biggest takeaway from Coach “O” Day, is the development of a non-profit organization that will donate all the money collected to charities in Lafourche Parish.
Cut 10 (08) “back home”
_________________________________________________________
It is once again NBA All-star weekend in the Big Easy. President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Jay Cicero says they didn’t have much time to plan because they only found out they were hosting last year. The event was moved from Charlotte, North Carolina, in light of an anti-LGBT law that was enacted last year.
Cut 11 (12) “a chance”
This is the third time in 9 years that New Orleans has hosted all-star game, which is a record return rate. Cicero says the big game takes place on Sunday in the Smoothie King Center, but there will be plenty of festivities all weekend.
Cut 12 (11) “their superstars”
Cicero says there’s also the three-point and dunk contests on Saturday night. He says this event had a $106 million economic impact for the state when New Orleans last hosted in 2014. He says even more important is the media exposure, which could have a tremendous impact on tourism.
Cut 13 (12) “New Orleans”
_________________________________________________________
After much ado at the state capitol over attempts to expel Napoleonville Senator Troy Brown, he said in a press conference it is with great sadness that he resigns from the Senate. He says for as long as he could remember, he desired to serve his district and the people of Louisiana.
Cut 14 (08) “Louisiana Senate”
Brown was facing an expulsion hearing on Monday, and the embattled senator says it is readily apparent a fair hearing from his peers will not transpire. He says his colleagues rejected the most basic notion of being held to the laws and constitution they were sworn to uphold, most importantly our fundamental due process.
Cut 15 (10) “constitutional rights”
Brown adds that there was pressure from the Senate body for him to resign. He says he did not go to trial for either of his two domestic violence convictions, instead entering no contest pleas, to spare his family from the ordeal of a trial. He says that’s also why he’s resigning from the Senate.
Cut 16 (09) “further embarrassment”
The resignation comes amid hearings on the Senate floor to expel or suspend Brown following his second conviction of domestic abuse.
_______________________________________________
A highly anticipated college baseball season gets underway tonight for the second ranked LSU Tigers as they host Air Force at 7 PM. Coach Paul Mainieri brings back a veteran team that will also feature a few freshmen who are expected to do great things. Mainieri says he can’t wait to get it started….
Cut 17 (21) “excited “
Alex Lange will start on the mound for the Tigers. The junior right-hander will make his first opening day start and he says he’s had butterflies in his stomach all week…
Cut 18 (11) “season again”
LSU’s best power hitter will be in the line-up tonight, even though he had surgery on Sunday to fix a suffered a fracture cheekbone after taking a pitch to his face. Deichmann says he’s good to go, despite missing a few days of practice thsi week…
Cut 19 (16) “couple days”