In a speech during his state visit to Japan early this morning, President Trump touted his recent visit to Louisiana. Trump bragged about the advancements the state has made at the Cameron LNG export facility in Cameron Parish. The $10 Billion liquefied natural gas facility was a highlight of the President’s trip to the state last week. He encouraged leaders in Japan to make an investment in the Sempra project. The President and First Lady are in Japan as he negotiates a new bilateral trade agreement with Tokyo.

Its Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. Your BBQ grill is not the only thing heating up this weekend. Temperatures across the state are expected to reach into the 90s. State Climatologist Barry Keim says not only has the summer heat returned, but we’ve hit a dry weather pattern

Cut 5 (10) “…next Thursday”

Keim also says we can also say goodbye for the time being to low temperatures in the low to mid-60s.

An estimated 25,000 acres of farmland is expected to be destroyed if the decision is made to open the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish. LSU Ag Center county agent Mike Carriere (Carry-aye) says it’s not welcome news that the Morganza could possibly open because it comes on the heels of a difficult planting season, because of wet conditions.…

Cut 8 (08) “…spillway”

Two Texas men are dead after trying to jump a compact car across the gap on a raised drawbridge in Louisiana

State Police say it happened shortly after 2 a.m. Friday at the Black Bayou Bridge about 6 miles south of Lake Charles. Investigators say the bridge was closed to traffic to allow a boat to pass through on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Witnesses say the car’s passenger pushed the gate arm up and they drove their car up to the raised section. They backed up, then accelerated forward, trying to jump to the other side. The vehicle landed in the water and sank. Both men were pronounced dead on the scene.

LSU’s remarkable run in the SEC Tournament continues after pounding the Mississippi State 12-2 last night. The game ended after seven innings because of the tournament run rule. The Tigers had two big innings, five runs in the third inning and seven in the fourth inning.

The five runs in the third came off T-J Ginn, who was a first round draft pick last year.

LSU had a dozen hits on the night, Josh Smith, Antoine Duplantis (Doo-plan-tis), Daniel Cabrera, Chris Reid and Saul Garza each had two hits. Zach Watson, Chris Reid and Drew Bianco each drove in two runs.

Aaron George was the winning pitcher as he did not allow a run in nearly three innings of work out of the bullpen.

So LSU will play today at around 3:30 this afternoon in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament in Hoover.  The Tigers will face top seeded Vanderbilt. The other semi-final match up will be Ole Miss versus Georgia. The Rebels rallied to beat Arkansas 3-to-2 yesterday.

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ULM will play Coastal Carolina at 11:30 central in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Tournament. After winning their first three games in the tournament, the Warhawks had a day off in Conway South Carolina. Meanwhile, Coastal had to beat UT Arlington 14-13 for a chance to play ULM.

McNeese is just one win away from reaching the NCAA Tournament after the Cowboys beating U-I-W 5-3 last night in the Southland Conference Tournament. The Cowboys scored  three runs in the eighth inning to take the lead. Jake Dickerson’s two-run double snapped a three-three tie. McNeese will face either Southeastern Louisiana or Central Arkansas in the Southland Championship game tonight. The Lions and Bears will meet today at 1 PM in Sugar Land, Texas. S-L-U beat U-C-A nine to three yesterday.

LSU softball dropped game one of its super regional against Minnesota. The Golden Gophers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Tigers five to three. GAme two is 5 PM today in Minneapolis.

The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority will begin installing a temporary barge flood gate on Bayou Chene Tuesday. Once the spillway is opened the water that flows down the Atchafalaya River will naturally flood Morgan City. But Chairman of the Coastal Protection Restoration Authority Board Chip Kline says by sinking the barge in Bayou Chene…

Cut 6 (08) “…backwater flooding.”

Officials say the installation of the barge would begin May 28th and any water flow from the spillway would not arrive in the area until two weeks after it is opened.

It’s Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it took a little later this year, but hot and humid conditions have arrived for the holiday weekend

Cut 3 (11) “…the summer.”

Keim says we can also say goodbye for the time being to low temperatures in the low to mid-60s

A State Police trooper working an I-10 construction zone in East Baton Rouge is recovering from injuries after an alleged drunk driver slammed into the back of his vehicle. State Police spokesperson Taylor Scrantz says drivers need to respect trooper and worker safety if they see blue lights in a construction zone…

cut 12(12)   “…workers””

The Legislature passes a proposal to add an HOV lane to a 15 mile stretch of I12 between Walker and the 10/12 split in Baton Rouge. Matt Doyle talked to the bill’s author…

cut 2 (29) I’m Matt Doyle”  

An estimated 25,000 acres of farmland is expected to be destroyed if the decision is made to open the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish. LSU Ag Center county agent Mike Carriere (Carry-aye) says seepage from the Mississippi along the levees has already brought standing water to fields…

Cut 7 (07) “…this year.”

A State Police trooper working an I-10 construction zone in East Baton Rouge is recovering from injuries after an alleged drunk driver slammed into the back of his vehicle. With record numbers of cars expected to be on the road for the Memorial Day weekend, L-S-P spokesperson Taylor Scrantz is asking all motorists to drive with an abundance of caution, particularly in construction zones…

Cut 14 (11) “…Iberville Parish”

31-year-old Volha Tryshyna was charged with a DWI, Vehicular Negligent Injuring, and Careless Operation.

It’s Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it took a little later this year, but hot and humid conditions have arrived for the holiday weekend

Cut 3 (11) “…the summer.”

A proposal to add an HOV lane to a heavily trafficked stretch of I-12 between Walker and the I-10/12 split in Baton Rouge heads to the Governor’s desk. Livingston Senator Dale Erdey (Err-dee) says I-12′s large shoulder lanes will be used to create the new lane, signage will be put up along the 15-mile stretch, and heat sensing cameras will be installed to prevent drivers from skirting the law by putting a dummy in the passenger seat…

Cut 11 (10)“ driver”

25,000 acres of farmland could be destroyed if the Morganza Spillway is opened in Point Coupee Parish…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Connor Ferrill”

Governor Edwards also revealed today that the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority will begin the process of installing a temporary barge flood gate on Bayou Chene next Tuesday. The installation of that barge will reduce the amount of backwater system flooding as a result of the opening of the Morganza. The barge will be installed before the Morganza opens, and the waters from the Morganza opening may not hit the barge for another two weeks.

A proposal to add an HOV lane to a heavily trafficked stretch of I-12 between Walker and the I-10/12 split in Baton Rouge heads to the Governor’s desk. Livingston Senator Dale Erdey (Err-dee) says this should shave time off the commute of everyone driving in and out of Baton Rouge from the east.

Cut 9 (10) “…right now”

Before any work can begin a study must be completed, and the project OK’d by the feds, but Erdey says expect work to begin sometime in the fall.

A State Police trooper working an I-10 construction zone in East Baton Rouge is recovering from injuries after an alleged drunk driver slammed into the back of his vehicle. L-S-P spokesperson Taylor Scrantz says despite the nasty wreck, a full recovery is expected.

Cut 13 (08) “…in time”

31-year-old Volha Tryshyna was charged.

Early this morning two Texas men, 23 and 32 years old, died after attempting to jump an open drawbridge in Calcasieu Parish. The pontoon bridge was closed to traffic to allow a boat to pass through. According to a witness the passenger got out of the car and pushed the gate arm up. The two then reversed the car, accelerated toward the ramp to jump the Black Bayou Bridge and became airborne. They landed in the water sank to the bottom and were both pronounced dead at the scene.

The Legislature passes a proposal to add an HOV lane to a 15 mile stretch of I12 between Walker and the 10/12 split in Baton Rouge. Matt Doyle talked to the bill’s author…

Cut 2 (29) I’m Matt Doyle”

An estimated 25,000 acres of farmland is expected to be destroyed if the decision is made to open the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish. LSU Ag Center county agent Mike Carriere (Carry-aye) says news that the Morganza could possibly open soon comes on the heels of a difficult planting season, because of wet conditions…

Cut 8 (08) “…spillway”

It’s Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we can also say goodbye for the time being to low temperatures in the low to mid-60s.

Cut 4 (12) “…to stay”

A State Police trooper working an I-10 construction zone in East Baton Rouge is recovering from injuries after an alleged drunk driver slammed into the back of his vehicle. L-S-P spokesperson Taylor Scrantz says drivers need to respect trooper and worker safety if they see a cop car’s blue lights on in a construction zone…
cut 12(12) “…workers”
A Baton Rouge woman is facing several charges for hitting the trooper’s vehicle.

A High occupancy lane is coming to I-12 in East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes. The legislature has approved legislation that allows DOTD to create a new lane along a 15-mile stretch of the highway that’s very congested. Livingston Senator Dale Erdey says heat sensing cameras will be installed to prevent drivers from skirting the law by putting a dummy in the passenger seat….
cut 11 (10) “…driver”

25,000 acres of farmland could be destroyed if the Morganza Spillway is opened in Point Coupee Parish…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Connor Ferrill”

State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will be a hot and humid Memorial Day Weekend and barely any chance of rain…
cut 5 (10) “…next Thursday”

The Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish could open in early June which will send a lot of water from the swollen Mississippi River into the Atchafalya Basin towards Morgan City. A barge will have to be sunk in Bayou Chene to prevent backwater flooding in Terrebonne and several other parishes. Governor Edwards says he’s requesting a federal emergency declaration to offset flood preparation costs…
cut 12 (08) “….things”

Farmers are also bracing for the potential impact of the Morganza opening. An estimated 25-thousand acres could be damaged. LSU Ag Center Point Coupee Parish county agent Mike Carriere says seepage from the Mississippi along the levees has already brought standing water to fields…
cut 7 (07) “…this year”
Farmers are also having to move cattle to higher ground in anticipation of flooding in the Atchafalya Basin.

Legislation to designate a high occupancy lane on a 15-mile stretch of I-12 in East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes is heading to the governor’s desk. You see H-O-Vs in other parts of the country, so Livingston Senator Dale Erdey says it will take a little education to let motorists know they are not for solo drivers…
cut 10 (11) “…better route”

It’s Memorial Day weekend, the unofficiall start of summer. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it took a little later this year, but hot and humid conditions have arrived for the holiday weekend…
cut 3 (11) “…rest of the summer”
Keim says the next significant chance of rain isn’t until next Thursday.