Republicans did what they have long sought to do – they have cut off all federal funding to PBS and NPR stations to the tune of more than one-billion dollars. Senator John Kennedy was among those who led the push because of what he says is a liberal slant in PBS and NPR’s news coverage.

Cut 12 (12) “…the taxpayers’ dime.”

Jay Curtis, the general manager at Monroe NPR station KEDM, says all public radio and TV stations play an important role in their respective local communities.

Cut 10 (07) “…every single day.”

Curtis says the loss in federal funding will hurt rural stations more than big city stations. He says KEDM will now have to make up 145-thousand dollars – about 22-percent of his station’s annual budget.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is in Lake Tahoe for the annual meeting of the National Lieutenant Governors Association. Nungesser says there, they started the new State Strategies Committee on Aerospace, which will advance aerospace, aviation and defense policy in the states and territories.

Cut 5 (10) “…advantage of that.”

The SEC preseason poll released today has LSU finishing in fourth, close behind Alabama in third. Texas and Georgia took the top two spots, and there’s a clear cutoff between the top four teams and the rest of the field. Tiger Rag Executive Editor Todd Horne says the Tigers need to finish better than predicted.

Cut 13 (11) “…finish fourth.”