Death row exoneree Shareef Cousin is teaming up with the ACLU of Louisiana and LA Repeal in an effort to persuade lawmakers to repeal the death penalty.
Cut 1AM (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
The accused St. Landry church arsonist is now set to face hate crime charges, but Legal analyst Tim Meche says in Louisiana, our hate crime laws aren’t particularly intimidating.
Cut 13 (07) “…five years”
Holden Matthews social media content indicated an interest in white power music.
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The Senate Agriculture Committee is considering legislation today that would strictly define what can and cannot be labeled as “milk”. This comes in response to the rising popularity of products like almond, coconut, and soy “milk”.
Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the definition would be strict.
Cut 4 (09) …ect…”
If approved the Department of Health would be tasked with enforcement.
Despite it’s creamy white liquid appearance, Strain says milk substitutes do not include many of the vital health benefits that come from the real deal.
Cut 5 (08) “…proteins.”
If the bill passes retailers would be given a grace period in which to change the labeling.

LSU has reinstated basketball coach Will Wade after a five week long suspension. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
The severe weather that impact Louisiana on Saturday resulted in two deaths. The first was a 13-year-old boy, who fell into a flooded drainage canal in West Monroe. Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Deputy Glenn Springfield says a call for help came just before 5 o’clock Saturday afternoon.
Cut 6 (04) “…he fell in.”
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The crawfish supply remains limited this season and experts cannot pin down an exact cause. LSU Ag Center Aquaculture Specialist Greg Lutz says so far they have two leading theories as to why the mudbug class of 2019 appears to be smaller in both size and number. One of them is the irregularly long winter that featured some bursts of brutally cold weather.
Cut 10 (09) “…their growth.”
A St. Landry parish judge has denied bond for 21-year-old Holden Matthews, who is accused of burning down three historically black churches. Matthews trial on state charges is set to begin in September. Federal prosecutors are also considering charges against Matthews and Legal analyst Tim Meche expects this case be prosecuted federally…
Cut 14 (06) “…will end up”
Holden has been charged with state hate crimes, and posted and shared Facebook content suggesting an interest in white power movements.

LSU basketball coach Will Wade’s suspension is over as the 36-year-old has been reinstated, after meeting with LSU and NCAA officials. Athletics director Joe Alleva says Wade answered all questions and denied any wrongdoing in connection with the reported allegations of recruiting violations. Tiger Rag Assistant editor Tyler Nunez says Wade could have possibly avoided the five-week long suspension
Cut 3 (09) “…he’s back.”
A St. Landry parish judge has denied bond for 21-year-old Holden Matthews, who is accused of burning down three historically black churches. Matthews had his first court appearance today since he was arrested on Wednesday nighton three arson charges. Prosecutors have also added three hate crime charges. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the hate crime charges are not that significant

Cut 13 (07) “…five years”

Two people are dead following the severe weather that impact Louisiana on Saturday.  Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Deputy Glenn Springfield says flooding has also resulted in infrastructure damage that leaves some roads closed today.  In West Monroe, Highway 546, which is one of the major state highways in that part of the parish, sustained a severe washout under the roadbed.
Cut 8 (10) “…of the road.”
The potential for more severe weather is in the forecast Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

The crawfish supply remains limited this season and experts cannot pin down an exact cause. A theory is the white spot virus, which is a fatal disease for mudbugs. LSU Ag Center Aquaculture Specialist Greg Lutz says white spot has become a bigger problem since it was first discovered in Louisiana ponds about 10 years ago.

Cut 11 (11)   “…harvested”
Lutz reiterated that the virus does not effect humans, or even fish, it’s restricted solely to crustaceans.

A St. Landry parish judge has denied bond for 21-year-old Holden Matthews, who is accused of burning down three historically black churches. Matthews had his first court appearance today since he was arrested on Wednesday night. Legal analyst Tim Meche is not suprised Matthews remains in jail without bail…
cut 12 (07) “…denied bond”
Matthews was arrested Wednesday on arson charges. Prosecutors have also added three hate crime charges.

Will Wade is back as LSU basketball’s head coach. Athletics director Joe Alleva says Wade answered all questions and denied any wrongdoing when he met with university and NCAA officials last Friday. Tiger Rag Assistant editor Tyler Nunez…
Cut 4 (09) “…get him back”
Wade says he’s humbled and grateful to back and he regrets the circumstances that prevented him from meeting with LSU sooner.

Saturday’s severe weather is responsible for two deaths in Ouachita Parish. Deputies say a 13-year-old drowned in a drainage canal that filled up with water during a flash flood. Patsy Meeks of Calhoun also died. Her body was found in a submerged vehicle on a rural road. Another round of severe weather could hit the state Wednesday night.

It’s four months into 2019 and the crawfish season still hasn’t quite taken off. Matt Doyle talked to a mudbug expert about why that is.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

LSU basketball coach Will Wade’s suspension is over as the 36-year-old has been reinstated, after meeting with LSU and NCAA officials. Athletics director Joe Alleva says Wade answered all questions and denied any wrongdoing in connection with the reported allegations of recruiting violations. Tiger Rag Assistant editor Tyler Nunez says Wade returns to a team that looks much different than the one that just won the SEC regular season championship. Five players have declared for the NBA draft, but have the option of returning to LSU. Wade also needs to build up a recruiting class that’s rated near the bottom in the SEC…
Cut 5 (09) “…April 20th”
A federal appeals court rules a judge was right when he cleared the way to remove a Confederate monument at the Caddo Parish Courthouse.   The 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals turned back claims from the United Daughters of the Confederacy who said it has a private property interest and says officials have violated rights to free speech and equal protection.

The severe weather that impact Louisiana on Saturday resulted in two deaths.  The first was a 13-year-old boy, who fell into a flooded drainage canal in West Monroe.  Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Deputy Glenn Springfield says a call came in around 10:15 PM of a vehicle being taken over by floodwaters on a rural road in Calhoun.  When first responders arrived, the vehicle was still underwater.
Cut 7 (06) “…of the vehicle.”
Deputies say the victim was identified as 80-year-old Patsy Meeks.
The crawfish supply remains limited this season and experts cannot pin down the exact cause of this year’s disappointing harvest so far. LSU Ag Center Aquaculture Specialist Greg Lutz says this late in the season we could be looking at a mixed bag when it comes to size and quantity of the crop.

Cut 9 (11) “…so long”

LSU has reinstated basketball coach Will Wade after a five-week long suspension. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Holden Matthews, the suspect in recent arson fires that destroyed three historical black churches in St. Landry Parish, has had his bond request denied, and is now facing three additional hate crime charges in addition to initial charges of three counts of arson of a religious building.  Matthews was apprehended on Wednesday.

The severe weather that impact Louisiana on Saturday resulted in two deaths.  The first was a 13-year-old boy, who fell into a flooded drainage canal in West Monroe.  Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Deputy Glenn Springfield says a call for help came just before 5 o’clock Saturday afternoon.
Cut 6 (04) “…he fell in.”
The investigation is ongoing as to why he fell into the water.  The second victim died when floodwaters overtook a vehicle she was driving.

The U-S House passed Violence Against Women Act has an uncertain future in the Republican Controlled Senate. The NRA opposes the legislation because it would lower the threshold for banning gun ownership to those with misdemeanor convictions of domestic abuse or stalking, among other concerns. Current law only applies to felonies. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves believes that provision may infringe on the constitution…
Cut 14 (12) “…rights.”

Will Wade is back as LSU basketball’s head coach after the formerly suspended 36-year-old met with NCAA and LSU officials Friday to discuss allegations of recruiting violations. Athletics director Joe Alleva says Wade answered all questions and denied any wrongdoing, and says his explanations, absent actual evidence of misconduct, satisfy his contractual obligation to LSU. Tiger Rag Assistant editor Tyler Nunez says LSU’s compliance department could not find any wrongdoing.
Cut 4 (09) “…get him back”
five players from Wade’s SEC winning team will likely be gone next year after declaring for the NBA draft.
The man accused of burning down three historically black churches in St. Landry parish has had his bond request denied, and is now facing three additional hate crime charges. According to a Daily Beast report on his Facebook activity, 21-year-old Holden Matthews expressed interest in a Scandinavian neo-nazi metal musician who was convicted in the 90s for church burnings and a murder.
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Former Louisiana Congressman John Fleming is a month into his new job as the assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. Fleming says because the U-S EDA serves areas impacted by disasters, as well as economically distressed communities, he can serve the Bayou State…
Cut 7 (12) “…help Louisiana.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries’ service has listed the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s (BROO-dus) whale as endangered. NOAA estimates there are less than 100 Bryde’s whales in the Gulf but Marine Mammal Biologist Laura Engleby says the whales live in a restricted area of the gulf and the many human threats make it hard for the whale population to thrive…
Cut 12 (08) “…things like that.”
Now that the listing has been announced, they plan on developing a recovery plan for the whales.

LSU basketball coach Will Wade’s suspension is over as the 36-year-old has been reinstated, after meeting with LSU and NCAA officials. Athletics director Joe Alleva says Wade answered all questions and denied any wrongdoing in connection with recently reported allegations of recruiting violations. Tiger Rag Assistant editor Tyler Nunez says Wade could have possibly avoided the five-week long suspension

Cut 3 (10) “…severe tornadoes.”

Alleva also says Wade’s explanations and clarifications offered during the meeting, absent actual evidence of misconduct, satisfy his contractual obligation to LSU.

Holden Matthews, the suspect in three recent arson fires that destroyed three historical black churches in St. Landry Parish is scheduled for a bond hearing this morning before District Judge James Doherty. Matthews was apprehended on Wednesday, charged with three counts of arson of a religious building.

D.C. lawmakers are tangling over the Violence Against Women Act as it heads to the Senate after clearing the House 263 to 158, on a mostly party line vote. Sexual Trauma Awareness Response President Racheal Herbert says the lower legal requirements to ban gun ownership are vital, because it’s tough enough already to get any penalties for abusers.

Cut 15 (12) “…charged”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries’ service has listed the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s (BROO-dus) whale as endangered. NOAA estimates there are less than 100 Bryde’s whales in the Gulf but Marine Mammal Biologist Laura Engleby says the latest survey shows the population could be less than half of that…

Cut 10 (12) “…best case scenario.”

Two days after meeting with school and NCAA officials, LSU made the decision to reinstate head basketball coach Will Wade. Wade had been suspended since March 8th. Athletics director Joe Alleva says Wade’s explanations and clarifications offered during the meeting, absent actual evidence of misconduct, satisfy his contractual obligation to LSU.

The second week of the legislative session begins today and soon lawmakers will debate whether the death penalty should be repealed. President of the ACLU of Louisiana Alanah Odoms Hebert brought Shareef Cousins to the capitol. Cousins was on death row for three years, before he was exonerated. Hebert says Cousins story can convince lawmakers to get rid of the death penalty…
cut 6 (12) “….for repeal”
Louisiana’s Attorney General Jeff Landry opposes any effor to abolish the death penalty.

The U-S House passed Violence Against Women Act has an uncertain future in the Republican Controlled Senate. The NRA opposes the legislation because it would lower the threshold for banning gun ownership to those with misdemeanor convictions of domestic abuse or stalking, among other concerns. Current law only applies to felonies. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves believes that provision may infringe on the constitution…
Cut 14 (12) “…rights.”
Senate leaders say they are seeking to pass a bill that has more bipartisan support.

NOAA has placed the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s (Brood-dus) whales on the Endangered Species List. Marine Mammal biologist Laura Engleby says experts estimate less than 100 of these whales are left…
cut 11 (09) “….ashore’
Now that the listing has been announced, NOAA will develop a recovery plan.