LSU’s weekend in Lexington is off to a tough start as the Tigers dropped the opening game of a doubleheader to the Wildcats. Tigers starting pitcher Jared Poche gave up five runs in three innings. Todd Peterson allowed another two runs in 2.1 innings. Alex Lange starts in game two today and then no game on Saturday, because of rain. The series will conclude Sunday afternoon at noon.

The Ragin Cajuns go after their sixth consecutive win tonight when they visit Little Rock. UL Lafayette has outscored opponents 32-6 during this win streak.

23rd ranked McNeese State looks to start another winning streak tonight in Natchitoches as they visit Northwestern State. The Cowboys had their-seven game winning streak snapped on Tuesday in a loss to Louisiana Tech.

Louisiana Tech hosts UAB for three games starting tonight. The Diamond Dogs have won six of their last eight. They are 6-9 in Conference USA, but they’ve played some of the tougher teams in the league.

LSU’s new look offense will be on display Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. The Tigers annual spring game will get underway at seven o clock. Quarterback Danny Etling says it’s still a work in progress but one thing is for certain offensive coordinator Matt Canada likes to spread the football around to their different playmakers…
Cut 18 (11) “the season”
Meanwhile, Head Coach Ed Orgeron still won’t name Etling as his starting quarterback for the 2017 season. Orgeron says the battle won’t be decided until fall camp, but he says Etling is the clear favorite. But Coach O is ready to say that Monroe native and sophomore Rashard Lawrence will be a starter on the defensive line.

The Saints first game of the 2017 seaosn will be a Monday night affair against the Minnesota Vikings. New Orleans home opener is the next week, September 17th against the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots.

Governor John Bel Edwards admits there’s not a lot of legislative support for his controversial Commercial Activity Tax, which would could help stave off a looming budget crisis. But Edwards says he’s disappointed an alternative plan hasn’t been proposed by House Republican leaders.

Cut 12 (09) “not agreement”

Truth in Politics opposes Governor Edwards’ tax plan, and a recent survey they commissioned finds the public doesn’t want to see their taxes increased. Executive Director Kelli Bottgher says 75 percent of respondents oppose a 23 cent hike on the state’s gasoline tax.

Cut 11 (11) “repair infrastructure”

The survey also finds 80 percent of respondents say government spends too much, taxes too much, or both.

U.S. Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy met with a Trump Administration official to request an additional $2 billion in federal flood aid. Kennedy says they asked the White House to include the money in a budget bill that needs to pass to keep the federal government running through September.

Cut 3 (09) “disaster”

Congress has already appropriated Louisiana 1.6 billion dollars in flood recovery dollars.

Today police will begin looking out for people in pickup trucks not wearing their seatbelts as part of the Buckle Up in Your Truck campaign. State Police Sgt. Jared Sandifer says they see less seatbelt compliance in pickup trucks than other vehicles. He says some drivers may feel safer in a big vehicle, but they’re not.

Cut 7 (07) “those pickup trucks”

A poll commissioned by a group that opposes Governor John Bel Edwards tax plan finds most Louisiana residents are concerned about jobs and the economy. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The number of people working in Louisiana dropped by 85-hundred between February and March based on the latest employment survey. Louisiana’s employment total is also lower than at this time last year, a sign of weak economy. The state’s unemployment rate is five-point-seven percent, fourth highest in the country.

Police officers will be out in full force over the next week as the Buckle Up in your Truck campaign is underway to make sure pickup truck drivers wear their seatbelts. State Police Sgt. Jared Sandifer…
Cut 6 (09) “at all times”
According to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, pickup trucks account for 25 percent of vehicles on the road. Sandifer says for some reason they see less seatbelt compliance in pickup trucks than other vehicles.

There is a slight chance for a severe thunderstorm on Saturday as the result of a frontal system that will move through. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s cool air behind this front. He says it will drop high temperatures for Sunday and Monday by 10-degrees…
cut 16 (12) “….nice weather”

The legislative session is about two weeks old and there’s been very little movement on coming up with a plan to address the loss one of one-point-three-billion dollars in revenue from temporary taxes that expire next year. Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s proposed a plan to reduce taxes on individuals and calls on businesses to pay their fair share. He says if legislators don’t like it, they should present their own proposals.
cut 14 (12) “…or another”
Law enforcement over the next week will aggressively enforce the state’s seat belt laws when it comes to pickup drivers. State Police Sergeant Jared Sandifer says they see less seatbelt compliance with pickup trucks than other vehicles…
cut 8 (08) “…that seatbelt”

There is a threat for severe weather on Saturday as a result of a cold front that will provide the state with cool temperatures on Sunday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says eastern portions of Louisiana are under a slight risk of severe weather..
cut 15 (07) “…eye out”
Keim says high temperatures may stay in the 60s for some parts of the state on Sunday.

U.S. Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy have met with a Trump official about getting another two billion in federal flood recovery dollars. The state has already recieved one-point-six billion dollars, but the governor and Congressman Garret Graves have argued about getting the money into the hands of the public. Kennedy says this dispute could hurt the state’s effort in getting the additional two-billion dollars…
cut 4 (09) “…he can”

On Monday, lawmakers will have the first legislative hearing on Governor John Bel Edwards’ proposed Commercial Activity Tax, which would generate at least 400-million dollars and replace tax revenue scheduled to fall of the books next year, when a one-cent sales tax expires. Edwards says the CAT will make sure businesses pay their fair share.

Cut 13 (10) “work for”

Business groups like Truth in Politics strongly oppose the CAT tax. Executive Director Kelli Bottgher says over half of respondents to their recent survey said they do not support the tax. She says 60 percent also say they expect business conditions to stay the same or get worse in the next 6 months.

Cut 10 (11) “the trend before”

This week US Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy met with White House officials seeking an additional $2 billion for flood recovery. Kennedy says he’s thankful for the financial assistance Congress has provided to flood victims, but it is not enough to help the middle class and the small businesses fully recover.

Cut 5 (07) “hand out”

Congress has already appropriated Louisiana 1.6 billion dollars in flood recovery dollars. 

Today begins the Buckle up in Your Truck campaign, when police will be on the lookout for people not wearing seatbelts in pickup trucks. State Police Sgt. Jared Sandifer says for some reason they see less seatbelt compliance in pickup trucks than other vehicles. He says some drivers may feel safer in a big vehicle, but they’re not.

Cut 7 (07) “those pickup trucks”

Pickup trucks are twice as likely to roll over in a crash, according to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

Governor John Bel Edwards admits there’s not a lot of legislative support for his controversial Commercial Activity Tax, which would raise hundreds of millions dollars to help stave off a looming budget crisis. But Edwards says he’s disappointed an alternative plan hasn’t been proposed by House Republican leaders…

Cut 12 (09) “not agreement”

A group opposing Governor John Bel Edwards tax plan has paid for a poll that shows a majority of Louisiana residents are concerned about the economy and oppose higher taxes on businesses. Truth in Politics Executive Director Kelli Bottgher says respondents listed jobs and the economy as their top concerns.

Cut 9 (09) “find a job”

Bottgher says the public also does not want to see their taxes go up anymore.

U.S. Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy met with a Trump administration official this week to seek an additional two billion dollars in federal flood aid. Don Molino has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

Now here’s a look at today’s commodity prices…

Cut MiniPig

This week, U.S. Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy met with a Trump administration official about providing Louisiana an additional two-billion dollars in federal flood aid. Kennedy says they urged the White House to include the 2 billion dollars in a budget bill that needs to pass to keep the federal government running through September.
Cut 3 (09) “disaster”

Congress has already appropriated Louisiana 1.6 billion dollars in flood recovery dollars.

Police officers will be out in full force over the next week as the Buckle Up in your Truck campaign is underway to make sure pickup truck drivers wear their seatbelts. State Police Sgt. Jared Sandifer…
Cut 6 (09) “at all times”

Reducing lengthy sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes was on the mind of the hundreds who rallied on the steps of the state capitol yesterday. They are calling on the legislature to pass a justice reform package. Former Angola inmate Norris Henderson…
cut 9 (09) “…present themselves”

The Louisiana Sheriffs Association says they oppose reductions in sentences of violent offenders.

The Orleans District Attorney’s office isn’t pleased Cardell Hayes was only sentenced to 25 years behind bars for a fatal road rage shooting in New Orleans that left former Saints star Will Smith dead and his wife, Raquel, injured. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Judge Camille Buras’ sentence was fair.
Cut 13 (11) “case like this”

Louisiana lost out to Texas to become the home of the world’s largest ethane cracker plant. Don Molino has reaction from an industry official…
Voicer 2 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

Changes have been made to the centerpiece of Governor Edwards plan to overhaul Louisiana’s tax structure. Edwards is proposing to tax companies gross receipts, but according to the Associated Press the measure will bring in much less revenue than originally proposed, after it was changed to reduce the opposition from the business community.

Louisiana is known as having the world’s largest incarceration rate. Governor Edwards legislative package contains bills that he says can reduce the state’s prison population by at least 13-percent. Former Angola inmate Norris Henderson says now is the time for legislators to act…
cut 8 (09) “…vocabulary”
That’s Henderson speaking on the state capitol steps.

A Shreveport man is behind bars after he allegedly claimed to be a State Trooper while also working as a traveling steak salesman. Trooper Matt Harris says 47-year-old Lester Wells’ fradulent portrayal of an officer led him to receiving free auto parts and law enforcement discounts…
cut 12 (08) “…over someone else”
Harris says is someone comes to your door claiming to be a police officer, ask to see their credentials.