A state judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed by the Tangipahoa Parish School System on behalf of Amite High School in an effort to lift the football team’s suspension from the Class 3A playoffs. The LHSAA ruled Amite couldn’t compete in the semi-finals because a bench clearing brawl broke out in their previous victory. Legal analyst Tim Meche isn’t surprised:
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A lawyer representing Amite says they are disappointed in the ruling for the team and the kids, but there is no chance for an appeal and the season is over.

An analysis released by a national credit rating agency says The Jindal Administration used temporary fixes to close a $487 million dollar midyear budget hole. Fitch ratings says stop-gap measures were used that do not address the state’s persistent budget challenges. State Treasurer John Kennedy says this is a warning shot that Louisiana risks a credit rating downgrade if this problem is not addressed.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards forms a higher ed transition committee to make policy recommendations. Jeff Palermo reports..:
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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the jury in the trial of a man who shot an LDWF enforcement agent in Ouachita Parish came back with two attempted degree murder convictions. 32 year old Sgt Scott Bullitt of Jonesboro was shot while on patrol by 29-year-old Luke Hust of Monroe on May 21st. LDWF says Hust will be sentenced on February 11th.

This morning a judge dismissed the lawsuit seeking to dismiss the suspension of Amite High School from the playoffs as ruled by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, saying the court does not have the power to second guess a private organization’s decision. This means the ruling stands from the LHSAA stating Amite can’t compete in the Class 3A semi-final game because of a bench clearing fight during the Bogalousa game.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards has formed a higher education transition committee to make policy recommendations on ways to improve Louisiana’s colleges and universities. Edwards says he wants the state put more money into higher ed and also make it more affordable for students to go to college. CABLE President Barry Erwin is on the committee…:
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He says Edwards is seeking more of a balance between tuition investment and state investment than we have right now.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is undergoing a study to see if active video games can help improve health in overweight and obese children. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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The man accused of murdering a Baton Rouge couple then fleeing to Florida is reportedly headed back to Louisiana. The Baton Rouge Police Department said 42-year-old Ernesto Alonso is being extradited to the state Friday to face murder charges in the deaths of Denis Duplantier and his wife Suzanne.

Democrat New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu announces he will not run for the US Senate in 2016. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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The St. Helena Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of a Sunday morning fatal shooting in Greensburg. They believe Gene Allen Rawls shot and killed 65-year-old Herbert Graves while he slept and fled the scene in Graves’ pickup truck. Rawls was arrested after he drove the victim’s truck to a meeting with authorities. Rawls is charged with first degree murder and theft of a vehicle.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is looking into whether active video games can help improve health, especially in overweight children. Assistant Professor Dr. Amanda Staiano says when you play active video games, you’re working up a sweat and raising your heart rate, which is exercise…

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If you want your child to be a part of the study, call (225) 763-3000 to see if they qualify.

The fate of the Amite football team is in the hands of a state judge after the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s decision to remove them from the Class 3A playoffs following a bench clearing brawl in their quarterfinal win. The Tangipahoa Parish School System filed a lawsuit claiming the punishment is too harsh and unfair. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine is quick to point out that this entire situation is unfair to St. James High, Amite’s semifinal opponent, as they prepare for a game that may or may not happen tonight…

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Today a state judge will hear the case regarding the LHSAA’s decision to remove the Amite football team from the Class 3A playoffs following a bench clearing brawl in their quarterfinal win. Jeff Palermo reports…

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The man accused of shooting at two Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agents in Ouachita Parish has been convicted on two counts of attempted first degree murder. The jury voted to convict 29-year-old Luke Hust after four hours of deliberation. Agent Scott Bullitt was shot and paralyzed in the May incident. Hust was also found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm. Hust’s attorney said he would appeal the verdict.

While Democrat New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has decided not to run for Senator David Vitter’s senate seat, lapolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says there are several democrats that could run, like former Congressman and US Attorney Don Cazayoux and Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell. Alford says democrats are looking to capitalize on Edwards surprise victory in the governor’s race…

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Several republicans are also looking at a Senate run next year.

Louisiana ranks 5th for the worst drivers in the country. That’s according to the website Car-Insurance-Comparison-dot-com, who says Louisiana is the worst state when it comes to obeying traffic laws. State Police Trooper Melissa Matey says it’s required that everyone in the vehicle be buckled up and troopers often see people not wearing a seatbelt in the back seat…

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Louisiana ranked 7th when it comes to careless driving.

Democrat New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu announces he will not seek Senator David Vitter’s senate seat next year, but Jeremy Alford, publisher of lapolitics.com says there are several democrats that could run. He says Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is a possible candidate. He says it helps that Campbell is close to Governor-Elect John Bel Edwards…

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Several republicans are also looking at Vitter’s Senate seat.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is studying whether active video games can help improve health, especially in overweight children. Assistant Professor Dr. Amanda Staiano says she’s optimistic the Game Squad study will prove to be effective and there are a variety of games to keep your children interested…

cut 5 (08) “family activity”

Staiano says if you want your child to be a part of the study, call (225) 763-3000 to see if they qualify.

Louisiana ranks 5th for the worst drivers in the country, according to the website Car-Insurance-Comparison-dot-com. State Police Trooper Melissa Matey says the Bayou State does have a problem with drunk drivers, as 42-percent of fatal crashes are due to drinking and driving…

cut 10 (09) “the wheel”

The website says Louisiana is the worst state in the nation when it comes to obeying traffic signals.

The lawsuit seeking to overturn the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s decision to remove the Amite football team from the Class 3A playoffs following a bench clearing brawl in the quarterfinals hits the courtroom today. Tangipahoa School system attorney Chris Moody argues that many Amite players left the sidelines because they had just scored a touchdown and were preparing to kick the extra point. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine is skeptical of that explanation…

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The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30.

Democrat New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu announces he will not run for Senator David Vitter’s senate seat. Jeremy Alford, publisher of lapolitics.com says there are several democrats that could run, like former Congressman and US Attorney Don Cazayoux

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Landrieu, who is in his second term as mayor, says his work in the Crescent City is not yet done.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center Assistant Professor Dr. Amanda Staiano says they’re studying whether active video games can help improve health, especially in overweight children. She says boys and girls ages 10 to 12 will be part of the Game Squad study for six months.

cut 4 (11) “lose weight”

Staiano says the goal is to get the kids active for at least an hour a day.

Today, a state judge will hear the lawsuit seeking to reverse the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s decision to remove the Amite football team from the Class 3A playoffs following a bench clearing brawl in their quarterfinal win over Bogalusa. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says sportsmanship rules clearly state that players who leave the bench area during a fight are automatically suspended for the next game…

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If the LHSAA’s ruling stands, St. James will advance to the Three-A title game to face the winner of Friday night’s semifinal contest between West Feliciana and Lutcher.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is busy putting his transition committees together. He announced the higher ed transition committee today and already named Democrat Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell co-chair of a committee that combs through the state’s budget woes. Campbell says the committee members definitely have their work cut out for them…:
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He says this committee is truly bipartisan.

The fate of Les Miles was determined after halftime of the Texas A&M game says LSU President F. King Alexander to the Baton Rouge Business Report. He said the millions in buyout money was a factor. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says Alexander made it clear that even though the buyout would be funded by boosters, the PR hit would have been still been tremendous…:
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Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge announces they will host the Inaugural Ball of Louisiana’s 56th Governor, John Bel Edwards, on January 11th.

Democrat New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu announces he’s decided not to run for US Senate in 2016 ending the speculation. Senator David Vitter said after he lost the governor’s race that he would not be seeking re-election next year.

The City of Alexandria kicks off their first ever Alex Winter Fete and hopes people from all over will come out to experience the festival. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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Governor-elect John Bel Edwards has named Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell as the co-chair of his transition committee looking at the state’s budget problems. Eric Gill reports…:
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New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has officially announced that he will not seek the office of the US Senate in 2016 after David Vitter retires. In a statement, Landrieu says Louisiana is the midst of one of the greatest comebacks ever, but he believes he can best serve by finishing the job he started in New Orleans five and a half years ago.

LSU President F. King Alexander says the final decision on Les Miles’ coaching job wasn’t made until after halftime of the Texas A&M game according to business-report-dot-com. Alexander says the cost of the buyout and the show of public support for Miles went into the decision. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says Miles went into that game not knowing his job status…:
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Worsham says even though Miles gets to keep his job for now, it’s likely the fate of the Mad Hatter is still in limbo because the decision was made for political reasons.

For the first time, the City of Alexandria kicked off their three day winter festival today called Alex Winter Fete. Director of Community Services Daniel Williams says there will be carnivals, vendors, entertainment, snow and an ice skating rink which is all free…:
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