Senator John Kennedy says progress has been made towards fixing the duplication of benefits problem that’s prevented some six-thousand 2016 Louisiana flood victims from receiving thousands of dollars in recovery money. Kennedy says he and Senator Bill Cassidy met with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and they’ve received assurances from HUD that they’ll do their part. Kennedy says now they need to get the office of management and the budget to act and he’s not afraid to call the president if O-M-B keeps dragging its feet….
cut 9 (09) “…meeting set”
Kennedy says he’ll meet with budget officials by the end of this month.

Meanwhile both Kennedy and Cassidy voted against a measure that seeks to block President Donald Trump from calling a national emergency so that he can free up funds to build a wall along the Southern border. But 12 Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the president, who will veto against the legislation.

LSU faces Florida in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament today at noon and it remains unclear if freshman Javonte Smart will be able to play. He was held out last Saturday over concerns that Coach Will Wade may have worked on an arrangement so that’s Smart family can receive money on the side. If Smart doesn’t return to the court, how does that impact LSU’s seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Jerry Palm is a bracketologist for CBS Sports…
cut 6 (08) “…the tournament”
Smart has been a valuable player off the bench this season.

A four member crew had to escape a tugboat that sunk in the Mississippi River near LSU….
cut 14 (10) “….the four crew members”
That’s Coast Guard Petty Officer Brandon Giles says the vessel went under after hitting another boat’s anchor chain.