An arrest has been made in a string of recent shootings in East Baton Rouge and East Feliciana Parish that killed 3 men and injured one. Authorities booked 36-year-old Ryan Sharpe on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. They said Sharpe confessed to the crimes, but officials did not elaborate on a possible motive.

Four UL-Lafayette fraternities have been suspended in the wake of LSU Phi Delta Theta pledge Max Gruver’s death. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Louisiana House members will hold a closed door retreat today in order to try to find a fix for a one-billion-dollar plus state budget gap. Alexandria Representative and GOP House Leader Lance Harris says he and Democratic chairman Gene Reynolds thought it would be a good idea to discuss their options…:
Cut 7 (11) “the top”
A temporary one-cent sales tax will expire in July 2018.

Authorities in Tangipahoa Parish are investigating the death of a a baby left inside a car. Detectives say an 8-month-old boy was unintentionally forgotten in a vehicle from around 8am Wednesday until he was discovered later that afternoon. The incident is under investigation.

Four UL-Lafayette fraternities have been suspended in the wake of LSU Phi Delta Theta pledge Max Gruver’s death. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Louisiana House Lawmakers are off to a retreat today to figure out how to fix a one-million-dollar budget shortfall.  Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

______________________________________

The 2007 LSU championship team, and former coach Les Miles will be honored halftime Saturday inside Death Valley. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

___________________________________________________

Four fraternities at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette have been suspended in the wake of LSU Phi Delta Theta fraternity pledge Maxwell Gruver’s death. ULL Dean of Students Margarita Perez says Theta Xi, Kappa Alpha Order, Sigma Nu and Sigma Alpha Epsilon are the suspended Greek organizations. She says after Gruver’s death, more students are willing to come forward and report hazing.

Cut 4  (11) “allegations”

ULL suspended the four fraternities for an investigation but no word has been released on what occurred. Perez says universities and the national Greek organizations have always said they will not tolerate hazing but if they don’t see it, they don’t know about it. She says they are proponents of ‘see something, say something.’

Cut 5  (09)  “be happening”

During the summer, Kappa Sigma, was expelled from the UL-Lafayette campus. Perez says the four Greek organizations will remain on a pause and will not be allowed to conduct social activities or interactions until an investigation is complete. She hopes these students can find other ways to bond within the fraternity.

Cut 6 (11) “their organization”

________________________________________________________

Louisiana House members will hold a closed door retreat today in order to try to find a fix for a one-billion-dollar plus state budget gap.  Alexandria Representative and GOP House Leader Lance Harris says he and Democratic chairman Gene Reynolds thought it would be a good idea to discuss their options…

Cut 7 (11)  “the top.”

Harris hopes that a bi-partisan plan can be approved.  He says this retreat is just one step in what will be many toward a solution…

Cut 8 (07) “state faces.”

A temporary one-cent sales tax will expire in July 2018, which will leave the state with a budget deficit of over one billion dollars.  Harris says he’s not ready to say what is the best solution to address the fiscal cliff, but the goal is to stabilize the budget…

Cut 9 (06)  “year out.”

____________________________________________________

The Louisiana Department of Transportation has received an additional 60-million-dollars from the federal government for highway projects. Each year, the Federal Highway Administration allocates road repair funds not used by other states or national programs.  DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says the money will be used to fix several bridges…

Cut 10 (09)  “and repair.”

Wilson says every area of the state will see money to repair and improve roads and in some cases help alleviate congestion in some areas…

Cut 11 (08) “we’ve done.”

The money should help DOTD to do more projects that were originally planned going into the year.  Wilson says as long as projects are ready to start, they get the matching funds…

Cut 12 (07) “originally planned.”

_________________________________________________________

The 2007 LSU championship team will be honored at halftime this Saturday in Death Valley during the game between the Tigers and Auburn. Members of the ’07 squad and former Coach Les Miles are all slated to attend the reunion on the field. LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says this group has certainly made their mark on the Tiger legacy..:

Cut 13 (10) “on that ’07 team”

Bonnette says about 65-70 former team members have agreed to come. He says during the 10-year anniversary ceremony they will have the trophy, then Miles along with each member there will be recognized individually…:

Cut 14 (08) “in 2007″

This will be Miles’ first time back inside Death Valley since his firing last September after the 2016 Auburn game. Bonnette expects The Mad Hatter will get a giant ovation from LSU fans…:

Cut 15 (05) “recognize that”

________________________________________________

The Ragin Cajuns play in front of a national television audience tonight when they host Texas State in a Sun Belt contest. The Bobcats are 1-and-5 and winless in league play. But Louisiana Coach Mark Hudspeth says Texas State has played better than what their record indicates

Cut 16  (19)  “very easily”

The Cajuns struggled on defense in their first four games, but looked much better in the win over Idaho last Saturday. Hudspeth says getting pressure on the quarterback was the key

Cut 17 (17)  “our success” 

_______________________________________________________

Saints Coach Sean Payton calls the trade of running back Adrian Peterson to the Arizona Cardinals a “win-win” situation. Payton says the emergence rookie running back Alvin Kamara made it difficult to get Peterson the number of snaps he needs to be successful

Cut 18 (15) “make a trade” 

The Saints will receive a conditional draft pick in next year’s draft from Arizona in exchange for Peterson. Payton says the Saints still have enough running backs on the roster to get through the season…

Cut 19 (20) practice fields“

The Saints host the Lions on Sunday. Detroit has won the last three meetings between the two teams. Payton says it’s easy to see why they lost those games…

cut 20 (19)  “three for the Lions” 

Ten LSU students are charged in connection with the hazing death of 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver of Georgia. Jeff Palermo spoke with a legal analyst…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

An initial autopsy report revealed that Gruver had THC, the chemical found in marijuana.  East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. Beau Clark won’t say if that was confirmed in his findings…

Cut 8 (09) “going on.”

Clark added the death was an accident due to acute alcohol intoxication…

________________________________________________________________________

Sean Pennison is one of the ten LSU students arrested as part of the investigation into Max Gruver’s death. His Attorney Franz Borghardt says it’s extremely hard for these students as Max was their friend. He says Pennison is not being charged with Gruver’s death, only hazing.

Cut 9 (07)  “innocent”

If found guilty on the misdemeanor, Pennison and the others could serve up to 30 days in jail.

The CDC reports Louisiana had the second highest rate of HIV in 2016. Deputy Director for the Louisiana STD/HIV Program Chaquetta Johnson says they are aggressively tackling this epidemic. She says they have partnered with each office of public health and also with community and parish leaders to educate the public on these diseases.

Cut 14 (07) “Louisiana”

Louisiana is ranked second in the country when it comes to the high rates of STDs for the third year in a row.

Ten current and former LSU students were booked on charges today in connection with the suspected hazing death of 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver. All of the individuals are facing a misdeamnor hazing charge and one of them, 18-year-old Matthew Naquin of Texas, also faces a negligent homicide charge.

Sean Pennison was one of the ten individuals who turned himself in at the LSU Police Department. Emelie Gunn spoke with his attorney…
voicer 2 (29) “….I’m Emelie Gunn”

Additional police reports came out today as well, indicating that Gruver was targeted during the hazing incident.

The East Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office has released the cause of death of LSU fraternity pledge Maxwell Gruver. Dr. Beau Clark classifies it as an accidental death due to acute alcohol intoxication…
Cut 6 (11) “his lungs.”
Clark says Gruver had a blood alcohol level of .495.

The CDC’s 2016 STD Surveillance Report finds Louisiana ranks second for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis rates. Deputy Director for the Louisiana S-T-D—H-I-V Program Chaquetta Johnson says they are looking at ways to increase screening and testing to lower this high number…..
cut 13 (09) “…disease”
The CDC also reports Louisiana had the second highest rate of HIV in 2016.

Ten LSU students face charges in connection with last month’s hazing death of 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver.  All were booked on a misdemeanor hazing charge, while Matthew Alexander Naquin (Nah-can) is charged with negligent homicide.  The East Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office has released the cause of Gruver’s death.  Dr. Beau Clark says the death was an accident due to acute alcohol intoxication.  His blood alcohol level was .495, more than six times the legal limit…

(CUT 7) (:05) “With death.”

Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says law enforcement nationwide is cracking down on hazing, intent on bringing justice to the victims…

(CUT 5) (:10) “homicide case.”

More information has come to light on the final moments of LSU fraternity pledge Maxwell Gruver’s life.  Much of it involved members forced to drink 190 proof diesel liquor.  Others have told police Gruver drank ten to 12 pulls that night – saying Matthew Naquin was the most aggressive among those there.  Attorney Franz Borghardt says his client Sean Pennison and the others truly cared about Max…

(CUT 10)  (:10) “fraternity.”

Former Saints and LSU star Tracy Porter has been arrested on drug and domestic battery charges.  Sgt. Don Coppola with the Baton Rouge Police Department says the victim visited Porter trying to get her keys back.  That’s when an argument started…

(CUT 15) (:09) “was reporting.”

The Saints returned to the practice field today as they get ready for Sunday’s game against Detroit. Wide receiver Willie Snead is expected to play after he missed the last game with a hamstring injury. Lions QB Matthew Stafford told the Detroit media that he feels good after getting banged up in a loss to Carolina last week.

Former Saints and LSU star Tracy Porter has been arrested on drug and domestic battery charges. Sgt. Don Coppola with the Baton Rouge Police Department says the victim alleged she visited Porter to get her keys back from him, then the two became involved in an argument that got physical…:
CUT 15 (09) “what she was reporting”
Porter was arrested on charges of battery of dating partner, possession of marijuana and distribution of schedule II drugs. Porter will always be remembered for his Pick 6 in Super Bowl 44.

LSU’s two starting offensive tackles, KJ Malone and Toby Weathersby are questionable for Saturday’s game against 10th ranked Auburn. Both players did not practice yesterday. Injuries along the line, forced the coaching staff to shuffle players in and out against Florida. Quarterback Danny Elting says it wasn’t that big of a distraction….
cut 18 (20) “….as well”

Coach Mark Hudspeth will start Andre Nunez at quarterback tomorrow night when the Cajuns host Texas State in a game that will be shown on ESPN-U. Nunez has provided a spark for the Cajuns off the bench in the last two games. He threw for 213 yards and one touchdown in the win against Idaho last weekend.

Ten LSU students were arrested today on hazing charges in connection with the death of fraternity pledge Maxwell Gruver.  Of the ten, one fraternity member Matthew Naquin  has been charged with hazing and negligent homicide.  Sean Pennison’s attorney Franz Borhardt says Gruver’s death will stay with Pennison for the rest of his life…

Cut 11 (10) “with this.”

The East Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office has released the cause of death – an accident due to acute alcohol intoxication.  The initial autopsy report revealed that he had THC, the chemical found in marijuana.  Coroner Dr. Beau Clark won’t say it was confirmed in his findings…

CUT 7 (05) “his death.”

His blood alcohol level was .495.

______________________________________________________________

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Former Saints and LSU Star Tracy Porter has been arrested on drug and domestic battery charges.  Baton Rouge Police Department Sgt. Don Coppola says the victim and the 31-year-old Porter had been in a relationship over the past couple of years…

CUT 16 (07) “that had become physical.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds Louisiana is ranked second in the country when it comes to the high rates of STDs for the third year in a row. Deputy Director for the Louisiana STD/HIV Program Chaquetta (Sha-que-taa) Johnson says chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are the sexually transmitted diseases measured. She credits this increase to a few factors.

CUT 12 (11) “tested.”

Ten LSU students were arrested today on hazing charges in connection with the death of fratnerity pledge Maxwell Gruver. One of suspects, 19-year-old Matthew Alexander Naquin of Texas, also faces a negligent homicide charge and Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says if found guilty of negligent homicide, he could be behind bars for some time…
cut 4 (08) “….five years”
According to the arrest report, Naquin was alllegedly the fratnerity member that was most aggressive during the hazing event.

The East Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office has released the cause of death of Gruver. Dr. Beau Clark classifies it as a an accidental death due to acute alcohol intoxication…
Cut 6 (11) “his lungs.”
Clark says Gruver had a blood alcohol level of .495.

The CDC’s 2016 STD Surveillance Report finds Louisiana ranks second for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis rates. Deputy Director for the Louisiana S-T-D—H-I-V Program Chaquetta Johnson says they are looking at ways to increase screening and testing to lower this high number…..
cut 13 (09) “…disease”
The CDC also reports Louisiana had the second highest rate of HIV in 2016.

CenturyLink’s next chief executive tells the USA Today Network he will not live in Louisiana, but plans to keep the company’s headquarters in Monroe for now. Jeff Storey takes over as the leader of the Fortune 500 telecommunications company in 2019. The company and the state have a contract that requires Centurylink to remain headquartered in Louisiana through at least 2020. Centurylink employs over 27-hundred people in Louisiana.

Sean Pennison is one of ten members of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity charged with hazing in the death of pledge Max Gruver…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

One of the 10 students, Matthew Alexander Naquin, is also being charged with negligent homicide. East Baton Rouge Coroner Dr. Beau Clark says Gruver’s blood alcohol level of .495 was more than six times the legal limit…:
Cut 7 (05) “with death”

Former Saints and LSU star Tracy Porter has been arrested on drug and domestic battery charges. Sgt. Don Coppola with the Baton Rouge Police Department says the victim alleged she visited Porter to get her keys back from him, then the two became involved in an argument that got physical…:
CUT 15 (09) “what she was reporting”
Porter was arrested on charges of battery of dating partner, possession of marijuana and distribution of schedule II drugs.

For the third straight year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds Louisiana is ranked second in the country for STDs. Deputy Director for the Louisiana STD/HIV Program Chaquetta Johnson says they have partnered with each office of public health and also with community and parish leaders to educate the public on these diseases..:
Cut 14 (07) “Louisiana”
The CDC also reports Louisiana had the second highest rate of HIV in 2016.