New Orleans’ historic newspaper, The Times Picayune has been purchased by their Baton Rouge based rival, The Advocate. Manship School Professor Len Apcar, a 40 years veteran journalist who’s worked at the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, says the merger will increase the quality of reporting in the Crescent City.
Cut 6 (08) “…years.”
The Advocate has published a daily paper in New Orleans since 2012, and the merger will use “brands and features of both publications” starting in June.
The LA Wallet app, which allows Louisiana drivers to present their license on their smartphone, is now free through May. OMV field administrator Paige Paxton.
Cut 12 (06) “…of their license.”
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Vice President Mike Pence visits Mount Pleasant Baptist Church today, one of the three churches recently torched in St. Landry Parish. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnart”
LSU has been named one of America’s best value colleges by Forbes magazine. The publication ranked it the number one best value college in the state, fourth in the SEC, and the 69th best amoung all public colleges. Among public flagship universities, LSU ranks 20th.

Vice President Mike Pence arrives in Lafayette this afternoon and will visit Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, one of the three churches recently torched in St. Landry Parish. Pence will meet with community and church leaders. Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins believes the way law enforcement and the church community faced the situation stands out to the Vice President.
Cut 4 (10) “…horror was handled.”
Legislation that would require Louisiana businesses to provide employees with paid leave to deal with family or medical issues cleared its first legislative hurdle. The Senate Labor committee approved the measure on a 4-to-1 vote after hearing about the benefits of the proposal. This new dad believes its a great idea
Cut 9 (11) “…exception.“.

The measure heads to the Senate Finance, because it requires a small payroll tax to create a fund that would provide the temporary paid leave.

The loosening on regulations based on rules written following the 2010 BP oil spill may make the Gulf of Mexico more attractive to those looking to establish offshore rigs.  Tulane Energy Institute Professor Eric Smith says the new rules will reduce the number of times a rig has to open up a blowout preventer for inspection, as well as expands who can conduct the inspections when they take place.

Cut 8 (10) “…by federal inspectors.”

Ecologists are sounding the alarm about a huge increase in the number of dead dolphins being found off the coast of Mississippi, and are pinning the blame partly on the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway in March. But Institute for Marine Mammal Studies President Dr. Mody Solangi says it’s not just the Spillway at fault. In previous decades, the spillway’s opening wasn’t as devastating, but the Mississippi River has grown so polluted that dumping that water into the gulf is disastrous.

Cut 11 (11) “…used to.”

Vice President Mike Pence will visit this afternoon with leaders of the churches burned down by a suspected arsonist in St. Landry Parish. Speaking at a National Day of Prayer event at the White House, Pence said the world condems the recent attacks on religious buildings…
cut 5 (12) “….churches in Louisiana”
Governor Edwards and members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation will join Pence for the visit.

Marine biologists are sounding an alarm over an increase in dolphin deaths off the coast of Louisiana and Mississippi. President of the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Doctor Moby Solangi, says pollution from the Mississippi River and fresh water getting into the Mississippi Sound are the two biggest factors and dolphins are not the only marine life impacted…
cut 12 (08) “….easily seen”

The Louisiana House approves a proposal that would extend the license of the state’s lone land-based casino for 30 years. House Speaker Taylor Barras says New Orleans Harrah’s casino’s minimum annual payment to the state would go from 60-million dollars to 65-million in 2022 and increase by two percent per year thereafter…
cut 14 (12) “…salary expenses”
The legislation still needs Senate approval.

The Trump Administration is giving oil and gas companies more flexibility in meeting safety requirements that were put in place after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. Tulane Energy Institute Professor Eric Smith says among those rules was a requirement to break down blowout preventers after every drilling program….
cut 7 (12) “….the blowout preventer”
Smith says the new rules will reduce the number of times a rig has to open up a blowout preventer for inspection.

Vice President Mike Pence visits Mount Pleasant Baptist Church today, one of the three churches recently torched in St. Landry Parish…
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnart”

It’s a challenging day for those who work at the Times-Picayune and NOLA.com. The Advocate has purchased the 182-year-old New Orleans-based newspaper. Those who work at the Times-Pic are facing a lay off and there’s no guarantee they’ll be rehired by the Advocate.

Ecologists are sounding the alarm about a huge increase in the number of dead dolphins off the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi. Institute for Marine Mammal Studies President Dr. Mody Solangi says 28 dead dolphins were found in April, 55 since January.
cut 10 (11) “….months”
Solangi says there are two possible causes, Mississippi River pollution and the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway sent fresh water into Lake Ponchatrain, which eventually makes its way into the Mississippi Sound.

The Trump administration has announced the easing of offshore drilling safety rules. Tulane Energy Institute Professor Eric Smith says rules put into place after the BP spill were overly harsh and now that they’ve been rolled back, the Gulf of Mexico is more appealing for energy companies…
cut 9 (09) “….unworkable”

Vice President Mike Pence arrives in Lafayette this afternoon and will visit Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, one of the three churches recently torched in St. Landry Parish. Pence will meet with community and church leaders. Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins…
Cut 4 (10) “…horror was handled.”
21-year-old Holden Matthews has been accused of setting the fires that burned down the churches. He faces arson and hate crime charges.

The Louisiana House has overwhemingly approved legislation that would ok a 30-year license extension for New Orleans Harrah’s casino, the state’s only land based gambling hall. In return for the lengthy extension, House Speaker Taylor Barras says Harrah’s will perform 325 million dollars in upgrades, including a new hotel…
Cut 13 (06) “…amenities”
The bill does not expand the gambling floor space for the facility and it still needs Senate approval.

Dolphins off the coast of Louisiana and Mississippi are dying in alarming numbers, and a marine biologist says Mississippi river pollution and freshwater from the opening of the Bonnet Carre spillway are largely to blame. Matt Doyle has more.
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The owners of the New Orleans Advocate newspaper are purchasing the Times-Picayune and its nola-dot-com website. The Advocate says they will publish a seven-day home delivered newspaper in New Orleans starting in June. Editors, writers and photographers at the Times-Picayune will be out of a job in 60 days, some of them could be re-hired by the Advocate.

Vice President Mike Pence arrives in Louisiana later today where he’ll visit with community and faith leaders impacted by the burning down of three black churches in St. Landry Parish. The churches have seen an outpouring of support with a GoFundMe page raising over $2 million in donations. Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins credits the church communities faith as their greatest resource, but says the churches can expect support on the federal level as well.
Cut 6 (11) “…as they rebuild.”

The full House supports a proposal to extend the license of Harrah’s New Orleans Casino for 30 years. House Speaker Taylor Barras says if the legislation passes Cesaers Entertainment would invest 325-million dollars to upgrade the casino and that includes a new hotel…
cut 15 (10) “…historically”
A similiar proposal died in the Senate last year.

Loosening of regulations set following the 2010 BP oil spill may lead to the Gulf of Mexico being more attractive for drilling….
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The National Weather Service says two small tornadoes are responsible for the property damage that occurred yesterday in the DeSoto Parish towns of Mansfield and Stanley.

Vice President Mike Pence visits Mount Pleasant Baptist Church today, one of the three churches recently torched in St. Landry Parish.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnart”

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Loosening of regulations set following the 2010 BP oil spill may lead to the Gulf of Mexico being more attractive for drilling. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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Dolphins off the coast of Mississippi are dying in alarming numbers, and a marine biologist says Mississippi river pollution and the Bonnet Carre spillway are largely to blame. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Vice President Mike Pence arrives in Lafayette this afternoon and will visit Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, one of the three churches recently torched in St. Landry Parish. Pence will meet with community and church leaders. Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins believes the way law enforcement and the church community faced the situation stands out to the Vice President.

Cut 4 (10) “…horror was handled.”

Pence, speaking at the White House during a National Day of Prayer event, says the world condemns the recent attacks at religious buildings.

Cut 5 (12) “…churches in Louisiana.”

The churches have seen an outpouring of support with a GoFundMe page raising over $2 million in donations for the rebuilding efforts. Higgins credits the church communities faith as their greatest resource but says the churches can expect support on the federal level as well.

Cut 6 (11) “…as they rebuild.”

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The loosening on regulations based on rules written following the 2010 BP oil spill may make the Gulf of Mexico more attractive to those looking to establish offshore rigs.  Tulane Energy Institute Professor Eric Smith says among those rules was a requirement to break down blowout preventers after every drilling program.

Cut 7 (12) “…the blowout preventer.”

Smith says the new rules will reduce the number of times a rig has to open up a blowout preventer for inspection, as well as expands who can conduct the inspections when they take place.

Cut 8 (10) “…by federal inspectors.”

Smith describes the rules set following the oil spoil as overly harsh and now that they’ve been loosened, it opens the Gulf of Mexico to being more competitive with other deep water drilling sites around the world.

Cut 9 (09) “…that were unworkable.″
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Ecologists are sounding the alarm about a huge increase in the number of dead dolphins being found off the coast of Mississippi, and are pinning the blame partly on the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway in March.

Institute for Marine Mammal Studies President Dr. Mody Solangi says 28 dead dolphins were found in April, and 55 since January.

Cut 10 (11) “…months.”

The Spillway floods Lake Pontchartrain with Mississippi River water to relieve pressure on New Orleans levees. That water eventually drains out of the Lake to the Mississippi Sound.

But Solangi says it’s not just the Spillway at fault. In previous decades, the spillway’s opening wasn’t as devastating, but the Mississippi River has grown so polluted that dumping that water into the gulf is disastrous.

Cut 11 (11) “…used to.”

Solangi says local marine life is not adapted to the polluted river water that floods the coast when the Spillway opens, and that’s having a terrible effect all the way down the food chain.

Cut 12 (08) “…seen.”

Solangi says that includes a significant, and growing threat to one of the most endangered species on earth, sea turtles.

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The Harrah’s Casino 30 year license extension effort rolled through the House and is on it’s way back to the Senate, where it died last year.

In return for a substantial extension, House Speaker Taylor Barras’ bill asks for Harrah’s to invest 325 million dollars dollars to upgrade the facility, including building a new hotel…

Cut 13 (06) “…amenities”

The bill does not expand the gambling floor space for the facility.

The agreement also calls for the gaming house to up it’s payments to the state by tens of millions of dollars relative to the last deal, Barras says that includes an minimum yearly payment to the state from Harrah’s of 65 million dollars, that increases over time…

Cut 14 (12) “…expenses”

This year’s version pays the state 130 million dollars more over the length of the deal than last years, which collapsed amid disputes over allegations it was too generous to Harrah’s.

The bill reportedly has Senate President John Alario’s backing, and was appraised to be at market value, compared to the payments the state would have received had they opened the contract to bids. Barras says it’s a great deal for the Crescent City.

Cut 15 (10) “…historically”

The bill calls for Harrah’s to also make an upfront payment once the agreement is struct, 7.5 million to New Orleans, and 17.5 million to the state.

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The 14th ranked LSU baseball team begins an important weekend series against 15th ranked Ole Miss tonight. The two teams have identical 13-8 records in the SEC, two games back of Arkansas for first place in the West division. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri says his team will have to play their best, because the Rebels swept Texas A-and-M last weekend…

Cut 16  (11) “…good arms” 

Mainieri says the Rebels like to steal bases, they’ve swiped 76 bags on the season…

 cut 17 (10)   “curtail it” 

One year after the state legislature restored voting rights for some convicted felons, there’s an effort to allow some convicts to be eligible for jury duty. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says his legislation would allow convicted felons to be called for jury duty once they are off parole or probation for five years
Cut 3 (09) “…made mistakes ”
The House Criminal Justice Committee sent the proposal to the full House after a 9-6 vote. Bossier City Republican Raymond Crews says his constituents are against this bill…
Cut 4 (09) “…with you”
Hammond Representative Nicky Muscarello’s legislation that would conceal the identity of companies that sell the state lethal injection drugs has been moved to the House Governmental Affairs Committee, because it would carve out a public records request exemption.
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The Harrah’s Casino 30 year license extension effort rolled through the House and is on it’s way back to the Senate, where it died last year. In return for a substantial extension, House Speaker Taylor Barras’ bill asks for Harrah’s to invest 325 million dollars dollars to upgrade the facility, including building a new hotel…
Cut 13 (06) “…amenities”
This year’s version pays the state 130 million dollars more over the length of the deal than last years.
The House health committee approves legislation that would allow medical marijuana patients to receive the drug through an inhaler, instead of a liquid or pill. Members of the House Health and Welfare committee heard moving testimony from veterans. An 11-year combat veteran from Belle Chasse says he’s using medical marijuana to treat P-T-S-D…
Cut 8 (12) “…V-A.”

LSU pitcher Zach Hess has agreed to head to the bullpen as a reliever after two years of trying to mold himself into a starting pitcher. The junior admitted in a recent interview that he’s better when he can give his all on every pitch, instead of having to stretch his stamina out across 8 or so innings. Here’s coach Paul Mainieri on the decision.
Cut 18
12th ranked LSU baseball takes on Ole Miss at Alex Box for a three game series this weekend, but Freshman right-hander Cole Henry is still not available to pitch because of a sore elbow.
Louisiana Tech will be playing it’s final home series against Western Kentucky at Warhawk Field at Louisiana-Monroe’s campus. The Bulldog’s home field is still in tatters after being heavily damaged by a Tornado that tore through the campus on April 25th.
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A construction firm has been selected to manage the first phase of what would, if approved, ultimately be a 450-million dollar Superdome renovation. The first phase of construction will cost about 100 million dollars, and will focus on the installation of escalators and elevators, along with a new food area, but a final funding plan has not been ironed out yet.
The Saints have agreed to pay for a third of whatever the total cost is. That means the remaining two thirds would be split between the Superdome, and the State. Superdome Commission spokesperson Mike Hoss says hopefully the taxpayers won’t have to foot much of the bill.
Cut 14 (06) “…this.”
The plan is for all four phases of renovation to be completed before the 2024 Superbowl in New Orleans.
Basketball observers are praising new Pelicans GM David Griffin’s poaching of former Phoenix Sun’s head atheltic trainer Aaron Nelson. Nelson is highly regarded, and has presided over a team that while lacking succsess on the court, had one of the lowest injury rates in the league.