The TOPS task force formed five months ago to find a long term solution to funding the scholarship program has decided against endorsing a single position, and instead is submitting a series of proposals for the legislature to consider. Jennings Senator Blade Morrish says he hopes the results will help legislators when voting on potential changes to TOPS in the upcoming regular session.
Cut 8 (07) “other side.”
It’s unclear if any of these proposals will receive majority support in the legislature.

A bill has been filed to create the Louisiana Checkbook, which is a website that would give the public an opportunity to see every transaction the state makes…
cut 14 (11) “…be able to”
Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey’s bill will be heard in the upcoming regular session.

Senator John Kennedy co-authors legislation intended to stop the feds from paying the deceased. Kelley Ray has more…
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.

A twin-engine plane that left Slidell headed for Patterson made an emergency landing in the Atchalfayla River. Coast Guard Petty Officer Lora Ratliff says the pilot realized there was not enough fuel to make it to Patterson…
cut 7 (10) “….emergency landing”
The four people on board were rescued and just one minor injury.

State Representative Barry Ivey has filed a bill for the regular session that would create an on-line checkbook so taxpayers can see how every penny of state government is spent. Ivey says the Louisiana checkbook would be helpful for legislators too….
cut 15 (09) “….to us”
House Bill 50 will be heard by legislators next month.

The U-S Coast Guard had to rescue four people from a plane that landded in the Atchalfalya River near Patterson. Petty Oficer Laura Ratliff says they received a call around 5 PM yesterday afternoon…
cut 6 (12) “…in the river”
Ratliff says there was only one minor injury. The twin-engine aircraft took off from Slidell and it’s original destination was Patterson.

Pineville-based Cleco Corporate Holdings announces they’ve bought South Central Generating, which means they acquire nine utility cooperatives including one in New Roads. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says the transaction also gives them eight new generating assets and the purchase of South Central Generating should be a seamless transition for all of their customers…
cut 4 (10) “…be impacted”
Cahill says Cleco Energy will maintain the current workforce as part of the acquisition.

It’s been a mixed day for LSU football on national signing day. The Tigers missed out on two cornerbacks including Patrick Surtain, who made the decision to sign with Alabama. But four-star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase of Rummel chose LSU.

The nation’s number one cornerback Patrick Surtain Junior was expected to sign with LSU today, instead he chose Alabama. Surtain said the reason he chose the Crimson Tide is because they win championships. Four-star cornerback Mario Goodrich also chose Clemson over LSU. But the state’s top defensive back prospect, Scotlandville’s Kelvin Jospeh has signed with the Tigers.

Former LSU offensive lineman Willie Allen signed with Louisiana Tech. The six-foot-six, 330-pounder was a four-star prospect coming out of John Curtis in 2016. It didn’t work out at LSU, so he played at Tyler Junior College in Texas last season. Allen will have three years of eligibilty in Ruston.

Tech also signed wide receiver Davon “Smoke” Harris and defensive back Derek Turner. Both players led West Feliciana to its first state championship in football last December.

The LSU men’s basketball team looks for its second straight win when they visit Florida tonight in Gainesville. The Tigers need to put some wins together in order to make at least the NIT Tournament.

In the Southland…first place Nicholls State is at Abilene Christian. The Colonels are trying to win their fourth straight road game. Southeastern is tied for third place in the Southland and they visit U-I-W tonight, who is winless in league play. Northwestern State also looks for its first Southland win when they host Lamar tonight.

Louisiana Tech seven-footer Joniah White has decided to end his basketball career because of heart related health issues. White made 23 starts during his career in Ruston and finishes number five on the school’s all-time blocked shots list.

Since losing All-Star DeMarcus Cousins to a season-ending injury, the Pelicans have fallen from sixth place in the Western Conference to eighth place, just a half-game ahead of the Clippers for the final playoff spot. New Orleans hosts Indiana tonight. The Pacers are 30-25 on the season.

Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey is proposing legislation for the regular session that would require state agencies to publish all of their expenditures online for the public. The measure would create a “Louisiana Checkbook” that Ivey says is all about transparency.
Cut 13 (11) “transactional level.”
The proposal seeks to replicate Ohiocheckbook.com, where all Ohio state expenditures are logged, and available to view using a user-friendly interface.

Recruiting analysts anticipated that the nation’s number one cornerback would sign with LSU, but that didn’t happen. Florida’s Patrick Surtain chose the Crimson Tide over the Tigers. Surtain told ESPN-U that he chose Alabama, because they win championships. The loss of Surtain means LSU’s recruiting class will not finish in the top 10.

Pineville-based Cleco Corporate Holdings has acquired nine utility cooperatives and eight generating assets in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, totaling one-billion-dollars. Spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says this will help them increase the scale of their operations and give them the ability to provide over 35-hundred megawatts of power in all three states…
Cut 3 (08) “seventy percent.”
The sale is expected to close by the end of the year.

We are seeing rain over a good portion of the state today as a cold front moves through. We dry out tomorrow, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says showers and thunderstorms return on Friday just in time for the big Mardi Gras weekend….
cut 11 (11) “…both days”
At least temperatures are expected to be mild.

A Baton Rouge lawmaker has filed a bill for the regular session that would require state agencies to post all expenditures online. Michael Farrar has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

LSU is losing out on a five star cornerback to rival Alabama.  Patrick Surtain Jr. was the national top unsigned prospect for the 2018 class.  It’s not been a good day for LSU.  Earlier, cornerback Mario Goodrich chose Clemson over the Tiger program.  LSU quarterbacks will have to contend throwing in Surtain’s direction when they meet the Crimson Tide November 3^rd.

U.S. Republican Senator John Kennedy wants to make sure dead people don’t get anymore Social Security benefits.  He has introduced a bill that would allow the Social Security Administration and the Treasury Department to trade information notifying each other to stop improper payments…

Cut 5 (09)  “of why.”

Kennedy says nearly 10-billion-dollars in payments to deceased persons were made in 2015.

Topcashback.com surveyed thousands of adults asking their opinion on Valentine’s Day gifts that may have some of you scrambling for the receipts. Chief Communications Officer Natasha Rachel Smith says according to their results, materialistic gifts are out, and quality time is in.

Cut 7 (10)  “use once”

Senator John Kennedy has introduced the Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act. Kelley Ray has more…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

It’s been a tough start to National Signing Day for LSU football. Five-star cornerback Patrick Surtain Junior who was said to be signing with the Tigers, instead announced he plans to attend Alabama, because he says they win championships. Also, four-star cornerback Mario Goodrich picked Clemson over LSU.

We are seeing rain across central and south Louisiana this morning and more rain is in the forecast for this weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it doesn’t look good for the most of the state on Saturday, which is a big day for Mardi Gras parades…
cut 12 (08) “….your ponchos”
At least the temperatures will be mild for the weekend.

A week from today is Valentine’s Day, so you still have a few more days to get your sweetheart something nice. According to a survey by Top-cashback-dot-com, 53-percent of women say lingerie is their least desired gift. Natasha Rachel Smith says lingerie used to be a much more popular gift on Valentine’s Day….
cut 8 (10) “….item now”
Smith says based on their survey, trips or a unique experience is the most desired Valentine’s gift.

U-S Senator John Kennedy supports a bill that’s been filed that would allow federal agencies to communicate with each other so they don’t send government checks to dead people. After it becomes law, Kennedy says he will lead the effort to make sure those who work in the Social Security Administration and the Treasury Department are held accountable…
Cut 6 (09) “their job.”
Kennedy is confident the legislation will pass.

In Baton Rouge, a bill has been filed to create the Louisiana Checkbook, which is a website that would give the public an opportunity to see every transaction the state makes…
cut 14 (11) “…be able to”
Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey’s bill will be heard in the upcoming regular session.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he’ll decide by Friday if he’ll call a special session so legislators can pass tax bills to address a one-billion dollar revenue shortfall for next fiscal year. Edwards is still waiting to hear from House leadership on what revenue generating measures they could support.

Mardi Gras celebrations could be soggy this weekend. Matt Doyle has more.
Voicer 2 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

It’s national signing day…LSU was hoping to sign Missouri four-star cornerback Mario Goodrich, but he’s decided to play for another group of Tigers, Clemson.

U-S Senator John Kennedy has co-authored legislation that he says will prevent the federal government from paying dead people. Kennedy says currently the Social Security Administration does not share its list of dead people to the Treasury Department. Kennedy says this bill will allow them to trade that information, stopping the waste of billions of dollars…
cut 5 (09) “…of why”
Kennedy says a Louisiana woman cashed 300-thousand dollars worth of checks sent to her mom, who had been dead for 10 years.

State Representative Barry Ivey has filed a bill for the regular session that would create an on-line checkbook so taxpayers can see how every penny of state government is spent. Ivey says the Louisiana checkbook would be helpful for legislators too….
cut 15 (09) “….to us”
House Bill 50 will be heard legislators next month.

We are seeing rain over a good portion of the state today as a cold front moves through. We dry out tomorrow, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says showers and thunderstorms return on Friday just in time for the big Mardi Gras weekend….
cut 11 (11) “…both days”
At least temperatures are expected to be mild.

A week from today is Valentine’s Day. Have you bought your sweetheart that special gift. Top-cash-back-dot-com spokesperson Natasha Rachel Smith says half of the women they surveyed would not be happy if their Valentine gave them money…
cut 9 (10) “….into that”
Smith says the top gift for men and women would be plans for a trip out of town or doing an unique experience together.