The State of the Union is expected to cover a wide range of issues from the economy to national security.  Baton Rouge Congressman Garrett Graves says immigration will be another hot ticket item tonight.

Cut 12 (09) “1.8 million.”

Cajun Navy founder Jon Bridgers is expected to be recognized during the speech.  His volunteer group is credited with rescuing thousands during Hurricane Harvey and the 2016 floods.

One of the state agencies facing massive cutbacks if Governor John Bel Edwards “Doomsday budget” becomes reality is the LSU Pennington Biomedical Center.  Executive Director John Kirwan says with the uncertainty about the budget, he hopes they can draw the best and brightest…

Cut 9 (10)  “moving forward”

The recent cold weather has put stress on tropical plants that normally flourish all year long in Louisiana.  Jeff Palermo spoke with LSU horticulturalist Dan Gill…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Baton Rouge based Raising Cane’s has a new mascot.  Todd Graves and his wife Gwen announced they have added a Yellow Labrador Retriever puppy named Raising Cane the Third.  She follows her predecessor Raising Cane the Second who died in 2016 at the age of 16.  The latest nine-week-old addition will be trained to serve as a therapy dog and attend company and community events.

What can we expect tonight during President Donald Trump’s first official State of the Union? Senior Administration officials have been quoted saying it will be an “optimistic speech.” LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says lawmakers will pay close attention to Mr. Trump’s agenda…:
Cut 6 (11) “his proposals”
Hogan believes economic progress will be a focal point of the speech.

The President has invited Cajun Navy founder Jon Bridgers of Livingston Parish to attend. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says praising the efforts of the volunteer disaster rescue group is something in which everyone can agree…:
Cut 11 (07) “amazing work”
The Cajun Navy is credited with rescuing thousands of people during Hurricane Harvey and the 2016 floods.

If you’ve got plants that appear to have died in the recent frigid weather, don’t give up on them just yet. Horticulture expert Dan Gill with the LSU Ag Center says many plants tend to come back in the spring as their roots are still alive. He says you can easily check a tree with the scratch test…:
Cut 15 (09) “still alive”
He says some plants won’t begin rebounding until March or April it could be summer for trees.

The West Monroe Police Department is asking for help locating an attempted murder suspect who allegedly shot a man during a drug deal arranged on Snapchat. They say 19-year-old Hunter Millwood is believed to have gone to the home of two men to sell drugs when he was shot. The suspect at large on one count of attempted second degree murder is 28-year-old Sylvester Smith Jr. Cops believe Millwood was selling drugs over Snapchat.

President Donald Trump’s first official State of the Union address is tonight. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan believes Mr. Trump will stress the strengths of his Administration…:
Cut 5 (08) “economic vitality”

The man who founded the Cajun Navy will be there tonight…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ “Doomsday Budget” proposal has state agencies scrambling to shore up funding, and LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is looking at a potential 600,000 dollar cut. Executive Director John Kirwan says all of this uncertainty tends to drive away talented researchers…:
Cut 8 (10) “this or that”
Kirwan says the budget cuts threaten Pennington’s groundbreaking research on diabetes, which he says effects nearly 50 percent of the state’s population.

If you’ve got plants that appear to have died in the recent frigid weather, don’t give up on them just yet. Horticulture expert Dan Gill with the LSU Ag Center says some of Louisiana’s flourishing tropical plants tend to come back in the spring…:
Cut 14 (10) “what’s dead”

President Donald Trump has invited Cajun Navy founder Jon Bridgers of Livingston Parish to tonight’s State of the Union address. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the volunteer group is credited with rescuing thousands of people during Hurricane Harvey and the 2016 floods…:
Cut 10 (10) “great story”

The President’s first official address will begin at 8pm. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan believes Mr. Trump will stick to his copy points…:
Cut 4 (10) “that way”
Senior Administration officials have been quoted saying it will be an “optimistic speech,” likely highlighting economic progress.

The recent cold weather has put stress on tropical plants that normally flourish all year. Jeff Palermo spoke with LSU horticulturalist Dan Gill…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Recreational fishing and hunting licenses will be unavailable today and tomorrow, as the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries begins their transition to a new sales system. The licenses will not be available for purchase via regular retail vendors until April 2nd.

President Donald Trump delivers his first State of the Union speech tonight:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

This winter’s extremely cold weather in Louisiana has stunted or even killed many of the tropical plants that normally flourish in Louisiana. But Horticulture expert Dan Gill with the LSU Ag Center says they could rebound…:
Cut 13 (08) “out again”

Governor John Bel Edwards’ “Doomsday Budget” proposal has state agencies scrambling to shore up state funding, with LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Center looking at a potential 600,000 dollar cut. Executive Director John Kirwan says it’s a pressing issue for the world renowned research center…:
Cut 7 (11) “and recruit”
Kirwan says Pennington is the world’s largest nutritional research center, responsible for over 400 Louisiana jobs.

Coach Will Wade has dismissed freshmen Mayan Kiir and Galen Alexander from LSU’s basketball team and suspended freshman Brandon Rachal and sophomore Wayde Sims. Wade said Kiir would take “a leave of absence” from the program until the end of the season, with a chance to be re-instated to the team. Alexander will not return to the program, while Sims and Rachal will serve one-game suspensions for violating team policies.

President Donald Trump delivers his first State of the Union speech tonight. Kelley Ray finds out from a local political analyst on what we might hear…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

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The man who founded the Cajun Navy will be in attendance for tonight’s State of the Union. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The recent cold weather has put stress on tropical plants that normally flourish all year long in Louisiana.  Jeff Palermo spoke with LSU horticulturalist Dan Gill…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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President Trump’s first official State of the Union address is tonight.  It is believed the President will stress bi-partisanship with Mr. Trump himself calling it an “important speech.”  Senior Administration officials have been quoted saying it will be an “optimistic speech.”  LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan believes we will not see Mr. Trump fly off the handle as he does in some situations…

Cut 4  (10) “that way.” 

It’s been the custom of Presidents to talk about the strengths of their Administration and Hogan expects no less of Mr. Trump tonight…

Cut 5  (08)  “economic vitality.”

The speech is also important for the Republican led Congress.  Hogan says how they respond to the President’s agenda tonight could factor in their hopes to remain in office with this year’s mid-term election…

Cut 6 (11)  “his proposals.”

Many believe Mr. Trump will stress immigration issues since revealing his plans last week.  However, Hogan says don’t expect to hear anything on the Russian investigation involving possible meddling in the 2016 election.

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Governor John Bel Edwards’ “Doomsday Budget” proposal has state agencies scrambling to shore up state funding, with LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Center looking at a potential 600,000 dollar cut. John Kirwan, who was named executive director last month, says it’s a pressing issue for the world renowned research center.

Cut 7 (11)  “and recruit”

Kirwan says the budget issues threaten to drive off talented researchers…

Cut 8 (10) “this or that”

Kirwan says Pennington is the world’s largest nutritional research center, responsible for over 400 Louisiana jobs. He says even with uncertainty surrounding the budget, he hopes the center can draw in the best and brightest.

Cut 9 (10)  “moving forward”

Kirwan says the budget cuts threaten Pennington’s groundbreaking research on diabetes and pre-diabetes, which he says effects nearly 50 percent of the state’s population.

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President Donald Trump invited a very special guest to his first State of the Union address tonight. Cajun Navy founder Jon Bridgers will be in attendance along with a section of 15 other special guests. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says Bridgers’ volunteer group has been credited with rescuing thousands of people during Hurricane Harvey and the 2016 floods.

Cut 10 (10) “great story”

Graves says praising the Cajun Navy’s heroics is one of the few things everyone can agree on.

Cut 11 (07) “amazing work”

New Orleans Police say several French Quarter strip clubs lost their liquor licenses because of criminal activity including prostitution. Michelle Southern reports…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Two people died after their Ford F-250 work truck slammed into an 18-wheeler this morning in Madison Parish. It happened on US Highway 65 near the Tensas Parish line. The two people inside the work truck were killed, 38-year-old Michael Shayne Butler of Jonesville and 36-year-old Richard Hudnall of Jena.

Tax filing season began today. There are several ways to file, including using a tax preparer. If you decide to use a tax preparer to file your return, state department of revenue spokesperson Bryon Henderson says it’s important to find a reputable preparer…
Cut 4 (09) “for you.”
Your federal tax return is due April 17, state returns are due May 15.

Officials cut the ribbon today on the new LSU Center for River Studies, which has a state of art model of the Mississippi River. Director Clint Willson says it gives coastal scientists a powerful tool on how sediment diversion can help in the fight against coastal erosion…:
Cut 6 (12) “have available”
The project is the result of a collaboration between LSU and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

The head of Louisiana’s Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control says they’ve suspended the liquor licenses for eight French Quarter strip clubs, because they found evidence of prostitution, drug sales and lewd acts. New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison says the investigation’s target was not prostitutes, but human traffickers. He says no one has been charged with human trafficking, but the investigation continues…
cut 11 (06) “…as well”
Hearings are scheduled in Februay to see if the clubs who had their liquor licenses suspended will get them back.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue began accepting state income tax returns today. Spokesperson Bryon Henderson says make sure your personal information is up to date with LDR…:
Cut 5 (10) “contact information”
The state return deadline is May 15th.

The two adults who died when their pontoon boat capsized in a hunting accident in Woodville, Mississippi have been identified. They are Darrin Vince and Madaline Hemba. A child also drowned. Woodville Police Chief Jessie Stewart says the bodies were recovered around 3 PM yesterday and thankfully a fourth person survived….
cut 12 (07) “….notified authorities”

The Slidell Police Department arrests two Gulfport men for allegedly trying to sell fake flat-screen televisions. Detective Daniel Seuzeneau says they got a report about the suspects’ activities taking place at a gas station near a Mardi Gras parade route. He says cops moved in to check the serial numbers on the TVs, and quickly learned they weren’t stolen…:
Cut 14 (10) “inside the boxes”
The two men have been charged with theft by fraud.