Two days after meeting with school and NCAA officials, LSU made the decision to reinstate head basketball coach Will Wade. Wade had been suspended since March 8th. Athletics director Joe Alleva says Wade’s explanations and clarifications offered during the meeting, absent actual evidence of misconduct, satisfy his contractual obligation to LSU.

The second week of the legislative session begins today and soon lawmakers will debate whether the death penalty should be repealed. President of the ACLU of Louisiana Alanah Odoms Hebert brought Shareef Cousins to the capitol. Cousins was on death row for three years, before he was exonerated. Hebert says Cousins story can convince lawmakers to get rid of the death penalty…
cut 6 (12) “….for repeal”
Louisiana’s Attorney General Jeff Landry opposes any effor to abolish the death penalty.

The U-S House passed Violence Against Women Act has an uncertain future in the Republican Controlled Senate. The NRA opposes the legislation because it would lower the threshold for banning gun ownership to those with misdemeanor convictions of domestic abuse or stalking, among other concerns. Current law only applies to felonies. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves believes that provision may infringe on the constitution…
Cut 14 (12) “…rights.”
Senate leaders say they are seeking to pass a bill that has more bipartisan support.

NOAA has placed the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s (Brood-dus) whales on the Endangered Species List. Marine Mammal biologist Laura Engleby says experts estimate less than 100 of these whales are left…
cut 11 (09) “….ashore’
Now that the listing has been announced, NOAA will develop a recovery plan.