According to the National Hurricane Center, Subtropical Storm Alberto has maximum sustained winds are 40 miles per hour is currently along the western tip of Cuba.  Alberto is moving north at 10 miles per hour and forecasters say it’s expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico by tonight. The storm is expected to make landfall in the U-S early Tuesday morning.  But long before Alberto arrives it is affecting weather from Louisiana to Florida and officials say people along the gulf coast should aware of the possibility of tropical cyclones.

Weather also affected the LSU Tigers pathway in the SEC Tournament. At midnight on Friday thick fog rolled into the ballpark and halted play in the bottom of the 6th inning with LSU far ahead on the scoreboard 10 to 0. The Tigers scored seven runs in the sixth inning on four hits last night.  LSU resumed play this morning increased its lead 11 to zero to beat the top ranked Florida baseball team.

The fiscal cliff is getting closer as the legislature narrowly voted down a GOP backed tax bill on Friday night.  Governor John Bel Edwards is pushing for a sales tax bill that generates more revenue and there are Republicans who are not for higher sales taxes. But PAR President Robert Travis Scott has grave concerns about the showdown over the state budget.

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Many lawmakers and Edwards administration officials are working over the Memorial Day holiday weekend to work on possible solutions that could get 70 votes in the House.  The legislature is set to officially resume their efforts on Monday afternoon.

Weekend drivers will notice more law enforcement on the roadways to encourage people to obey posted speed limits and wear seat belts.  Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says the holiday weekend would be a great time to start a potentially lifesaving behavior change.

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The effort will be in conjunction with Line to Line, where Louisiana and Mississippi officers have paired together to increase patrols on I-55.

The Memorial Day holiday weekend more people driving to getaway destinations. The increased traffic also has more law enforcement on roadways to encourage obeying posted speed limits and the use of seat belts around the clock. A recent report showed that drivers are less likely to wear a seatbelt when driving at night. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson Mark Lambert says darkness does not stop authorities from spotting and ticketing unbuckled drivers or passengers failing to wear seat belts.
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Surveys data lists 13 percent of drivers admitting to not using seatbelts.

The State Fire Marshal’s office continues to investigate the explosion at the Proctor and Gamble plant in Pineville claimed the life of a Jena man. The incident occurred early Thursday morning. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the explosion was contained to the incident area.
Cut 6 (07) “equipment”

On Friday a GOP backed sales tax bill was voted down on the House floor, falling just seven votes short of passage. Governor John Bel Edwards in a statement that ‘My plan remains on the table to adequately fund all of these priorities and would still reduce the tax burden on the people of Louisiana by $400 million.”’  Robert Travis Scott of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana has been watching the legislature’s struggle. Scott has his doubts if the battle over the state budget crisis causes another special session.

CUT 14 (09) “…very slim.”
Lawmakers resume their efforts on Monday at 2 pm.

Fog and rain delayed the LSU Tigers from advancing to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. They were leading Florida 10-0 in the sixth inning last night when a thick fogged rolled in and halted play. The game will resume this morning and if LSU can get three outs in the seventh inning without Florida scoring, they will win by mercy rule.

The first named storm of the season known as Alberto has formed in the Caribbean Sea. National Hurricane Center forecasters predict the path of the storm making landfall in the U.S. on Tuesday morning. However, Alberto’s effects on weekend weather patterns has people in re-thinking their outdoor Memorial Day holiday weekend plans across the gulf coast due to rain forecasts from Louisiana to western Florida.

The Louisiana Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday starts today and lasts through Sunday. The state tax holiday is designed to encourage people to stock up on things that can be helpful over the Hurricane season Among those items are storm shutters, batteries, cell phone batteries, mobile phone chargers, flashlights, and portable radios. A complete list of tax holiday items is on the Louisiana Department of Revenue’s website.

Law enforcement is ramping up their Click it Or Ticket seatbelt awareness and ticketing campaign over the Memorial Day weekend, to remind drivers about road safety. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson Mark Lambert says while they do anticipate an increase in tickets, that’s not necessarily the goal of the campaign.
Cut 9 (10) “the behavior”

A temporary sales tax bill went down in defeat on the House floor, as it fell seven votes short of passage. Representative Lance Harris wrote the tax bill it had been expected to generate 370-million dollars in revenue. But the state’s budget shortfall is projected to be a whopping 648-million. Robert Travis Scott is President of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana. He says the legislation could have reduced the fiscal cliff by renewing one-third of an expiring one-cent sales tax, but not everyone likes it.
CUT 12 (09) “..this bill.”
The full House is set to meet again on Monday at 2 PM.

The LSU Tigers are very close to advancing to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. They were leading Florida 10-0 in the sixth inning last night when a thick fogged rolled in and halted play. The game will resume at 10 AM this morning and if LSU can get three outs in the seventh inning without Florida scoring, they will win by mercy rule.

Louisiana Tech was bounced from the Conference USA Tournament as the Bulldogs lost to 27^th ranked Florida Atlantic 8-6. Tech grabbed a 3-0 lead in the 2^nd inning, but couldn’t overcome a four-run 4^th inning. Tech waits to see if its 39-20 record is good enough to make the NCAA Tournament. The field is revealed on Monday.

Ugly end to the Sun Belt Tournament for the Ragin Cajuns. After winning their first game 19-16, they lost 10-1 to Troy and then fell to Texas State 11-1 last night. UL Lafayette not expected to receive an NCAA Tournament bid.

Northwestern State is in the Southland Tournament title game for the first time since 2006 after beating seventh-seeded Nicholls three to two. The third seeded Demons scored two runs in the eighth inning. Southland Conference Player of the Year David Fry tied the game with an RBI triple and scored the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice. Jose Vasquez struck out the side in the 9^th inning for his fourth save of the year.

The Demons will play either UNO or Houston Baptist in the Southland Tournament Championship game which will begin at 6 PM. The Huskies beat the Privateers 4-3 in 12 innings in a game that ended early this morning. UNO’s Orynn Veillon hit a two-run homer in the 8th inning to tie the game. A rematch with Houston Baptist begins at 1 o’ clock in Sugar Land, Texas.

The LSU softball team is one win away from advancing to its fourth straight Women’s College Series after holding on for a six to five win over Florida State.  Game two of the best of three series is at 4 PM today.

Lake Charles Police arrest a Texas man  after a woman was found bound near Highway 14. Don Molino has the story…

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The State Fire Marshal’s office continues to investigate the explosion at the Proctor and Gamble plant in Pineville claimed the life of a Jena man. The incident occurred early Thursday morning. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the explosion was contained to the incident area.

Cut 6 (07)  “equipment”

Law enforcement will be ramping up their Click it Or Ticket seatbelt awareness and ticketing campaign over the Memorial Day weekend, to remind drivers about road safety. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson Mark Lambert says while they do anticipate an increase in tickets, that’s not necessarily the goal of the campaign.

Cut 9 (10) “the behavior”

The first named storm of the season has formed at the edge of the Caribbean Sea. Alberto is expected to be a tropical storm when it impacts the coast early next week. National Weather Service Slidell Forecaster Phil Grigsby says the five-day forecast shows Alberto could impact Louisiana

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7 to ten inches of rain are expected for the area that gets hit by the cyclone.

The first named storm of the season has formed at the edge of the Caribbean Sea, and his name is Alberto. Landfall is expected somewhere between Mississippi and Louisiana between Monday and Tuesday. Coastal Southeastern Louisiana is now under a tropical storm watch. National Weather Service Slidell Forecaster Phil Grigsby says if you’re outside of the levee system you could be in store for some light flooding.

Cut 5  (05) “the west”

The State Fire Marshal’s office continues to investigate the explosion at the Proctor and Gamble plant in Pineville claimed the life of a Jena man. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the investigation could be quite lengthy, due to the number of factors that have to be considered.

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The coroner has identified the victim as 56-year-old Allen Kendrick.

Law enforcement will be ramping up their Click it Or Ticket seatbelt awareness and ticketing campaign over the Memorial Day weekend, to remind drivers about road safety. A recent report showed that drivers are more likely to not wear a seatbelt when driving at night. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson Mark Lambert says that won’t keep troopers from spotting an unbuckled driver, or rider, this weekend.

Cut 10 (09) “belt law”

The Public Affairs Research Council believes the temporary sales tax bill approved  by the House Ways and Means Committee is the legislature’s best opportunity at raising enough revenue to pass a budget.  PAR President Robert Travis Scott says Harris’ bill is the best opportunity at reducing the proposed cuts within state government

Cut 14 (09)  “very slim”

The first named storm of the season has formed at the edge of the Caribbean Sea, and his name is Alberto. Alberto is now a tropical system, and could put Memorial Day weekend plans at risk for folks across the gulf coast. National Weather Service Slidell Forecaster Phil Grigsby says the five-day forecast shows Alberto could impact Louisiana.

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Coastal southeast Louisiana is now under a Tropical Storm Watch.

Law enforcement will be ramping up their Click it Or Ticket seatbelt awareness and ticketing campaign over the Memorial Day weekend, to remind drivers about road safety. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson Mark Lambert says while they do anticipate an increase in tickets, that’s not necessarily the goal of the campaign.

Cut 9 (10) “the behav

The State Fire Marshal’s office continues to investigate the explosion ior”

at the Proctor and Gamble plant in Pineville claimed the life of a Jena man. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the explosion was contained to the incident area.

Cut 6 (07)  “equipment”

The coroner has identified the victim as 56-year-old Allen Kendrick

Lake Charles Police arrest a Texas man after a woman was found bound near Highway 14. Don Molino has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Don Molino “

The State Fire Marshal’s office continues to investigate the explosion at the Proctor and Gamble plant in Pineville claimed the life of a Jena man.  Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says investigators have confirmed that a smaller scale explosion did occur.

Cut 7 (10)  “of equipment”

Law enforcement will be ramping up their Click it Or Ticket seatbelt awareness and ticketing campaign over the Memorial Day weekend, to remind drivers about road safety. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Spokesperson Mark Lambert says  the holiday weekend would be a great time to start a potentially lifesaving behavior change.

Cut 11 (07) “second nature”

The Public Affairs Research Council believes the temporary sales tax bill approved by the House Ways and Means Committee is the legislature’s best opportunity at raising enough revenue to pass a budget.  It would result in Louisiana consumers paying a state sales tax of 4.3 percent after July 1st and it’s expected to generate 370-million dollars in revenue, but the shortfall is pegged at 648-million.  PAR President Robert Travis Scott:

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Four days into the special session and there’s only been one significant piece legislation that has made it to the House floor that could significantly reduce the budget gap. The measure would result in consumers paying a state sales tax of 4.3 percent after July 1st and it’s expected to generate 370-million dollars in revenue, but the shortfall is pegged at 648-million. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says the bill is the best opportunity at reducing the proposed cuts within state government….
cut 14 (09) “….very slim”
But it’s unclear if this legislation has the 70 votes to get full House approval.

The LSU baseball team will take on Florida tonight in an elimination game at the SEC Tournament. The Gators lost to Arkansas earlier today.

It’s not even hurricane season and we already have our first named storm. Subtropical storm Alberto has formed near the Yucatan Peninsula and the five day forecast has southeast Louisiana in the cone of uncertainity for landfall early next week. Phil Grigsby is with the National Weather Service in Slidell and he says heavy rainfall is Alberto’s main threat….
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Grigsby says coastal areas need to keep a close eye on this one.

The State Fire Marshal’s office continues to investigate the explosion at the Proctor and Gamble plant in Pineville claimed the life of a Jena man. An earlier report from Proctor and Gamble said that there was no plant explosion, and the death was related to a forklift incident, but State Fire Marshal office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says investigators have confirmed that a smaller scale explosion did occur….
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56-year-old Allen Kendrick of Jena died in the incident.