cut 15 (11) “…no future”
Dozens of students were on the steps of the state capitol today expressing their opposition to proposed cuts to higher education. One of the organizers, Peter Jenkns, who graduated from LSU and Nicholls, says it’s important that the students’ voices are heard….
cut 14 (10) “…..come out”
Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo says under the best case scenario, public colleges would receive a 70-million dollar cut this fiscal year.

Invest in a Healthy Lousiaina released a poll today that shows strong support among Louisiana voters for an increase in the state’s cigarette tax as a way to address the state’s huge budget shortfall. Pollster Glen Bolger says the poll asked people about three different tax levels and found no statistical difference between the options…
cut 10 (09) “….73-percent”
At this point lawmakers have only talked about raising the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 22-cents.

The last member of the Angola three was released from prison today. Albert Woodfox plead no contest to the manslaughter and aggravated burglary charges he’s facing in the death of a 1972 prison guard. Woodfox has spent most of his prison life in solitary confinement. Attorney General Jeff Landry says they will NOT seek to try Woodfox for a third time.

Harper Lee, author of the Pultizer Prize-winning novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” has died at the age of 89. Halen Doughty reports…
voicer 2 (31) “….I’m Halen Doughty”

Harper Lee, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “To Kill A Mockingbird,” has died at the age of 89. Head of Special Collections at LSU Jessica Lacher Feldman says Lee’s death is the end of an era. Feldman was the Director of Special Collections at the University of Alabama, where Lee would speak to students once a year. There has been speculation as to whether Lee wrote any more books that were not published. Feldman says her death may bring more writings to light.

CUT 8 (08) “she’s written”

Funeral services for Lee have not yet been announced.

Albert Woodfox, the last remaining member of the Angola 3, plead no contest to manslaughter for the 1972 killing of a prison guard, which is expected to pave the way for his release this afternoon. Woodfox entered the plea at the West Feliciana parish courthouse. He has spent the last four decades in solitary confinement for killing prison guard Brent Miller, but his conviction was recently tossed out. The Attorney General’s office plans to try him again, which led to today’s plea of no contest.

A new poll from Invest in a Healthy Louisiana and Public Opinion Strategies finds increasing the tobacco tax is favored by voters including smokers in all demographics. Pollster Glen Bolger says the survey finds out of 500 likely Louisiana voters many people want to raise tobacco taxes by a significant amount. He says intensity matters in polling….

CUT 9 (07)  “strongly favor”

Increasing the cigarette tax by $1.25 would raise more than $200 million a year for Louisiana. 

The ACLU of Louisiana issued a statement in response to the latest Crime Stoppers video by St. Landry Parish’s Captain Clay Higgins that’s gone viral. Higgins is looking for wanted members of the Gremlins Gang and says they each have a $2500 bounty on their head. ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director Marjorie Esman says Higgins also shouldn’t be calling these suspects “heathens” which is a religious term that implies he knows something about their beliefs…:

CUT 5 (10)  “they’re committing crimes”

“To Kill A Mockingbird” novelist Harper Lee has died at the age of 89. LSU Professor Jessica Lacher Feldman was Lee’s handler when she visited and spoke at the University of Alabama. She says Lee’s first novel was influential because Lee wrote about race and gender issues in a very real, but idealized, way…:
CUT 7 (07) “the century”
Feldman says Lee’s recently released book “Go Set A Watchman,” broke many publishers records.

Early voting begins Saturday for the March 5th Presidential Primary in Louisiana. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says registered Republicans and Democrats can only vote in their respective parties. He says local elections are taking place…:
CUT 14 (11) “this is it”
You can early vote through next Saturday.

The ACLU of Louisiana issued a statement in response to the latest Crime Stoppers viral video by St. Landry Parish’s Captain Clay Higgins looking for wanted Gremlins Gang members. Emelie Gunn reports..:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

One of the men suspected of killing an Angola prison guard decades ago pleaded no contest to lesser charges today and was ordered to be released from prison. 69-year-old Albert Woodfox is the last of the Angola Three still incarcerated.

Harper Lee, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “To Kill A Mockingbird,” has died at the age of 89. Head of Special Collections at LSU Jessica Lacher Feldman says Lee’s death is the end of an era. Feldman was the Director of Special Collections at the University of Alabama, where Lee would speak to students once a year. She says Lee’s novel resonated deeply with many people…:
CUT 6 (10) “the world”
Funeral services for Lee have not yet been announced.

The ACLU of Louisiana issued a statement in response to the latest rather aggressive Crime Stoppers viral video by St. Landry Parish’s Captain Clay Higgins looking for wanted Gremlines Gang members. Executive Director Marjorie Esman says this aggravates the problem of a public who feels cops are the bad guys…:
CUT 4 (09) “what police officers do”

Apple is fighting the federal government over hacking into iPhones and the ruling could impact a murder case in Baton Rouge. Halen Doughty has the story…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

State Police urged the public to be on the lookout for a toddler and her father. Troopers issued a Level II Endangered/Missing Child Media Advisory on behalf of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office for 22-month-old Desiree Mayfield of Baton Rouge. She was last seen Thursday afternoon with her father 23 year old Donoven Bessie. Authorities said the child is believed to be in danger.

The ACLU of Louisiana issued a statement in response to the latest Crime Stoppers video by St. Landry Parish’s Captain Clay Higgins that’s gone ridiculously viral. Higgins is looking for wanted members of the Gremlins Gang and says they each have a $2500 bounty on their head. ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director Marjorie Esman has a problem with that…:
CUT 1 (06) “summary execution”
Esman feels all this video does is exacerbate the problem of a public perception that cops are the bad guys.

Early voting begins tomorrow for Louisiana’s Presidential Preference Primary which will be held on March 5th. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says only registered Republicans and Democrats will be able to vote in their respective primaries…:
Cut 13 (06) “that primary”
Early voting runs through next Saturday, but polls are closed Sunday.

Apple is fighting the federal government over accessing iPhones and the ruling could have implications on murder case in Baton Rouge. 29-year-old Brittney Mills was shot and killed last year and investigators believe her locked phone could provide information which would help solve her murder. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says trying to get into a phone to solve a crime is not different than asking for a residential search warrant…:
CUT 9 (07) “doesn’t work”
Apple says they plan to fight this all the way to protect customers’ privacy.

Sweet story out of Kenner. Fire officials tell WWL-TV that a 5-year-old girl who learned about fire safety in school last year was able to save her blind grandmother from a burning home. They say Cloe wood heard the fire alarm and jumped out of bed to get her grandmother and guide her out of the house. Th actions may have saved both their lives, Kenner Fire Chief John Hellmers told WWL.

Early voting begins tomorrow for Louisiana’s Presidential Preference Primary which will be held on March 5th. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says Democrats must choose a Democrat and Republicans choose a Republican, but everyone should vote in local elections. He says early voting runs through next Saturday…:
CUT 15 (07) “early voting”
He says the polls will be closed on Sunday.

When the LSU baseball tigers take Skip Bertman Field tonight, it’ll be the first call at the Box for the new Voice of the Tigers, Chris Blair. Blair is taking the spot of Jim Hawthorne who retires after the end of men’s basketball season. Blair says he never thought he’d be able to say one day he’d be calling play-by-play for LSU football, baseball and basketball…:
Cut 5 (04) “pipe dream of mine”
The Tigers take on Cincinatti tonight. First pitch is set for 7pm.

Attorney General Jeff Landry has announced he’s terminating outside legal contracts with District Attorneys and their civil practices. Emelie Gunn has more on other changes…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A 16-year-old boy is under arrest after Baton Rouge cops say he shot his neice, also 16, by mistake while playing with a gun. The victim is in critical condition. Police have yet to determine where the gun came from. the suspect was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Detention on charges of negligent injuring and illegal possession of a firearm by a juvenile.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says if the feds can force Apple to unlock iPhones, it could set a precedence for the Baton Rouge murder of Brittany Mills. He says they can’t get into Mills phone which could contain information that would help solve her murder….:
CUT 8 (07) “in the phone”
The FBI has received a court order for Apple to hack into a phone used by one of the shooters in the San Bernandino terrorist attack.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says he’s taking steps to rid his office of public corruption. He says outside government contracts will be eliminated with DAs and their civil partners. Also the existing contracts with outside council on BP litigation are terminated…:
CUT 11 (08) “incident”
He says they will keep working to find ways to make his office honest and ethical, so it can be something Louisina citizens are proud of.

The new voice of the Tigers, Chris Blair, will hit the airwaves for the first time tonight on the LSU Sports Radio Network as baseball season gets underway at The Box. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 1 (24) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A man who coached at a playground in Metairie is indicted by a Jefferson Parish grand jury on 18 counts related to the sexual abuse of three boys, years ago. 44-year-old James Prince Jr faces one count of aggravated rape of a victim under age 13, four counts each of sexual battery and indecent behavior with a juvenile and nine counts of child porn, according to court records. Prince’s bail was set at $1.21 million.

Early voting begins Saturday for the March 5th Presidential Primary in Louisiana. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says registered Republicans and Democrats can only vote in their respective parties. He says local elections are taking place…:
CUT 14 (11) “this is it”
You can early vote through next Saturday.

Apple is fighting the federal government over accessing iPhones which could impact the Baton Rouge Brittney Mills murder as authorities can’t get into her phone. East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore is glad the feds are trying to move Apple’s hand…:
CUT 7 (06) “looking for”
But Apple says it could lead to privacy issues for its customers. Authorities believe Mills could have valuable information on her phone which would help them solve her murder.

Baton Rouge Police say an arrest has been made in the case of an apparent accidental shooting which sent a teen girl to the hospital where she is last listed in critical condition. They say her 16-year-old uncle was allegedly playing with a gun when it went off and struck the victim. The suspect was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Detention center on charges of negligent injuring and illegal possession of a firearm by a juvenile.

The new voice of the Tigers, Chris Blair, will hit the airwaves for the first time tonight on the LSU Sports Radio Network as baseball season gets underway at The Box. Blair says, on a smaller level, his time at Georgia Southern helped him prepare for dealing with passionate fan bases…:
cut 4 (10) “won the game”
Blair takes over for Jim Hawthorne who after 30 years is retiring after the men’s basketball season.