This weekend, the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians will be hosting the DC Mardi Gras in our nation’s capitol. Eric Gill has more…

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A super PAC has been established that could be used to help finance a presidential run by Governor Bobby Jindal. Scott Carwile has the story…

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After Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson, who is 87, announced he was cutting his children and grandchildren out of the sports franchises in the event of his death, the former heirs sued, claiming he’s incapacitated. Michelle Southern reports.

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This weekend, the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians will be hosting the DC Mardi Gras in our nation’s capitol. A reported 3,000 Louisianians will fly in for the festivities at the Washington Hilton. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says, with this being an election year in Louisiana, you can expect to see a lot of candidates attending looking for support…

cut 4  (10)  “Louisiana politics”

Alford says a “Who’s Who” of Louisiana politics will be attending. He says the bar at the Hilton becomes Louisiana’s 65th parish during DC Mardi Gras. Alford says one topic has been dominating the conversation there this year and that’s money…

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In the past, this was an event where Louisiana politicians could really let their hair down. But Alford says, due to technology, there is now a reluctance among politicians to have too much fun in public…

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The New Orleans City Council has approved a ban on smoking in bars and casinos, so could we see the Louisiana legislature pass a similar law that would impact the entire state. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says a statewide ban on smoking in bars and gambling halls is something legislators might consider

CUT 7 (11)  “what we need to do”

Hoffman says an ordinance that prohibits smoking in bars and bingo halls in all of Ouachita Parish went into effect last January and it’s been well received by bar owners

Cut 8 (10)  “it’s possible” 

Hoffman authored legislation that went into effect at the start of this year that prohibits smoking near the entrance of state buildings. He says a public smoking ban in New Orleans could convince legislators that it’s time to do it statewide

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Republican supporters of Governor Bobby Jindal establish a super PAC that could assist him in a presidential bid. Former Louisiana Congressman, Bob Livingston, is the chairman of the political action committee, called Believe Again PAC. Livingston acknowledges this is the first step in a possible run for the White House

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The Super PAC can raise an unlimited amount of money, but Jindal can’t direct or coordinate how the money is spent. Livingston says the Super PAC will get Jindal ready, if he chooses to run for President

cut 11 (09) “structure his operation”

Livingston says organizers of the super PAC have not set a goal of how much they plan to raise…

cut 12 (09)  “if possible”

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A day after Saints owner Tom Benson, who is 87, announced his wife will assume ownership of the Saints and Pelicans when he dies, his former heir files suit claiming her grandfather is incapacitated. Rita Benson LeBlanc, her mother Renee Benson and brother Ryan LeBlanc filed the petition in Orleans Civil District Court. Legal analyst Tim Meche…:

Cut 13 (12)  “she has a chance”

The suit makes several claims that Benson is not fit mentally and physically to manage his personal or business affairs and that Renee should be executor of his sports and business ventures with Rita in the secondary position. Meche says they will have to prove that Tom Benson is not capable of making decisions on his own…:

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The suit also alleges that Tom Benson’s wife, Gayle, is trying to take advantage of her husband’s unfit mental state and is only after his money. Meche says ultimately the complainants would have to come up with evidence that Benson is too handicapped to handle his affairs…:

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College baseball teams can begin full squad workouts today and for the LSU Tigers they enter the season ranked ninth in the country according to Division One-Baseball-dot-com. One of there writers, Aaron Fitt, says LSU’s line-up has the potential to score a lot of runs this year

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Fitt says LSU’s pitching staff is talented, but young and inexperienced…

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Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson announces ownership of both teams will transfer to his wife, Gayle, upon his death. Eric Gill reports…

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The woman who has assisted law enforcement locally and nationally in identifying human remains, Mary Manhein, announces she is retiring from the LSU FACES Laboratory after more than 30 years. Michelle Southern reports…:

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Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson announces ownership of both teams will transfer to his wife, Gayle, upon his death. This move effectively cuts out Benson’s daughter, Renee, and grandchildren, Ryan Leblanc and Rita Benson Leblanc, from the sports franchises. The voice of the Saints, Jim Henderson, says this had to be an agonizing decision for Benson to make…

CUT 3 (10)  “a rough one”

Benson stated that this change in succession is necessary for the long-term success of both teams. There are reports that there was tension at team headquarters with Renee, Rita, and Ryan. Henderson says if you looked closely, you could observe the strain…

CUT 4 (10)  “and his support”

Henderson says this is a very bold move on Benson’s part. It was expected that Rita would succeed her grandfather in leading the sports empire. He says Rita was suspended a couple of years ago for lack of attention to the job and that could have weighed on Benson enough to make this change…

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The woman who has assisted law enforcement locally and nationally in identifying human remains, Mary Manhein, announces she is retiring from the LSU FACES Laboratory after more than 30 years. Also known as “The Bone Lady,” Manhein has consulted on hundreds of forensic cases including mass disasters…:

CUT 6 (13)  “and what happened to them”

Manhein says her last day is April 30th and she’ll then turn over the reins of the program to another generation. She says some of the most rewarding work she’s done was in the aftermaths of Hurricanes Katrina and Issac in which they were able to assist cemeteries who were having problems with graves…:

CUT 7 (11)  “is known for”

Manhein says she’s loved that her job has enabled her to work with families of victims in helping resolve cold cases of unidentified persons. She says through the cold case “hit” program, they’ve had instances where the DNA from an unidentified person get matched up with someone from across the country…:

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The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Department has arrested a 24-year-old woman in the May 2014 death of her fiance’s 3-year-old son. After an eight month investigation, Brittany Marie Prejean of Rayne is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Keaghyn Parsons. Spokesperson Maxine Trahan says Prejan was often left to care for the toddler…

CUT 9 (08)  “of the child”

Prejean was caring for the toddler the day of his death. Trahan says an autopsy was performed on Parsons and the Calcasieu Parish Coroner ruled his death a homicide. Trahan says it was determined that the child had a perforation of the small intestine…

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Trahan says the cause of death was from a perforation of the small intestine due to blunt force trauma. She says Prejean was booked into the Acadia Parish Jail… (No bond has been set, at this time.)

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is offering a $10,000 reward for information about the whooping crane that was shot in Vermilion Parish then later died late last year. Spokesman Adam Einck says the reward money is coming from several sources including the operation game fees, the LDWF foundation…:

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Einck says the whooping crane is one of the world’s most endangered birds and they want to make it clear that there are serious repercussions  from killing one. He says this is now the 6th bird that has been shot and killed in Louisiana…:

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Einck says if you have any information on this case, you can report it online at wlf.louisiana.gov. He says LDWF is putting a lot of resources, time, effort and money into bringing the whooping cranes back to a sustainable population in Louisiana…:

cut 14 (07) “put on them”

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The New Orleans City Council today approved a smoking ban at bars and casinos by a 7-0 vote. This is a big win for supporters who say it’s a public health issue for workers and patrons of these establishments. Tonia Moore is with the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living. She says they are thrilled this initiative had so much support…:

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The opposition was mostly from business owners who were worried such a smoking ban would threaten revenue. Moore says they hope to see many other municipalities in Louisiana follow suit and ban smoking in bars after this historic day…:

cut 16 (07) “of this measure”