The Louisiana National Guard is remembering the four soldiers killed in a training exercise off the Florida coast last week. One of those is 26 year-old Staff Sergeant Thomas Florich from Baton Rouge, whose wife is expecting their first child…
CUT 12 (06) Q: ’8 years ago’
That’s Major General Glenn Curtis, who says the others are Staff Sergeant Lance Bergeron from Thibodaux; along with Chief Warrant Officers 4 George David Strother of Alexandria and George Wayne Griffin, Jr. of Hammond.

He’s one of the great mysteries of the early 2016 presidential campaign. That’s how the Washington Post is referring to Governor Bobby Jindal, saying he appears “lost,” saying he is trying to find some sort of identity…
CUT 4 (06) Q: “from everybody else”
ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley
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Louisiana State Police says a man and a woman died on their motorcycle in a Rapides Parish crash over the weekend, after a collision with a PT Cruiser, which was making a left turn on Highway 21. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says 62 year-old Larry Callahan of Calcasieu was cited with improper turning in front of the bike…
CUT 8 (07) Q: “proceed from there”
Fifty-nine year-olds Ronnie and Sharon Filingim (Fill in gem) were pronounced dead at a local hospital.

A very famous name in the New Orleans restaurant industry has passed away. Dick Brennan Sr., who managed many of the Crescent City’s most popular dining spots, is given credit for starting the tradition of the Jazz brunch at the world famous Commander’s Palace. Big Easy restaurant writer and critic Tom Fitzmorris …
CUT 15 (06) Q: “see this now”
Dick Brennan Sr. was 84.

The Louisiana National Guard has released the identities of the four soldiers killed in a helicopter crash during a training exercise over the Florida Panhandle last week. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret has reportedly been named as president and CEO of the LSU Foundation. Moret has worked as the LED Secretary under Governor Bobby Jindal since 2008 and has been a major part of securing projects resulting in thousands of jobs and billions in capital investment. According to the report Moret takes over at the foundation in May.

Prominent New Orleans restaurateur Dick Brennan Sr, a driving force behind the highly popular Commander’s Palace, died over the weekend at the age of 84. Big Easy restaurant write and critic Tom Fitzmorris says the chefs who worked at the award winning eatery in New Orleans under Brennan couldn’t be more popular…:
CUT 13 (12) “had ever met”
A spokesman for the family says Brennan died of natural causes.

State police say a couple Texas died on their motorcycle in a Rapides Parish crash over the weekend. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says 59-year-old Ronnie Fillingim and 59-year-old Sharon Fillingim, both of Livingston, Texas, were traveling on their bike south on LA Hwy 21. He says that’s when a Chrysler PT Cruiser, driven by 62-year-old Larry Callahan of Calcasieu entered that lane…:(FILL in GEM)
CUT 6 (11) “to stop”
Callahan was cited with improper turning.

The Louisiana National Guard has released the identities of the four soldiers killed in a helicopter crash during a training exercise over the Florida Panhandle last week. Louisiana National Guard Major General Glenn Curtis says 37-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 4 George Wayne Griffin, Jr., of Delhi, leaves behind a wife and four children. He says Griffin joined the National Guard in 1994…”
CUT 9 (10) “in 2008″
The other servicemen who died Tuesday are 44-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 4 George Strother of Alexandria, 40-year-old Staff Sgt. Lance Bergeron of Thibodaux and 26-year-old Staff Sgt. Thomas Florich of Baton Rouge along with the 7 Marines from North Carolina.

Officials with the Eglin Airforce Base say responders and divers continue to focus on collecting human remains and debris from the helicopter along the shoreline and in the debris fields around the accident site.

A Washington Post article refers to Governor Bobby Jindal as one of the great mysteries of the early 2016 presidential campaign. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

After several weeks of gains it looks like the gas price is trying to come back down. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is down a penny from the day before to $2.25.

A Washington Post article refers to Governor Bobby Jindal as one of the great mysteries of the early 2016 presidential campaign. They said that not long ago, Jindal was considered a fresh new face in the Republican Party, but his star has since fallen. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley agrees…:
CUT 3 (12) “in that conversation”
The Post says, for the first time in Jindal’s political career, he appears to be lost.

The Louisiana National Guard identified the four Black Hawk crewmen who died last week when the helicopter crashed over the Florida panhandle. Chief Warrant Officer 4 37-year-old George Griffin Jr of Deli, 44-year-old Cheif Warrant Officer George Strother of Alexandria, 26-year-old Staff Sgt. Thomas Florich of Baton Rouge and 40-year-old Staff Sgt Lance Bergeron of Thibodaux died Tuesday.

The state Department of Health and Hospitals announces a new initiative aimed at reducing c-section rates among Louisiana mothers. DHH Secretary Kathy Kleibert says it’s called “Going the Full 40″ and they will be talking to hospitals and doctors about the importance of going full term…:
CUT 12 (04) “this initiative”
She says about 50% of babies in Louisiana are born before 40 weeks gestation and we have the second highest c-section rate in the nation.

The new Baseball America Poll is out and LSU is still on top now for the second straight week. The Tigers went 3-1 on the week losing once in a 14-inning game against ole Miss. They’re joined in the top 10 with four other SEC teams, Florida, Vandy, Texas A&M and South Carolina.

PARCC testing is underway for students in grades 3-8 in Louisiana. It’s the first time the Common Core standardized test is being administered here. State Department of Education Superintendent John White says these tests are about getting a simple description of what kids should be able to do at the end of each grade…:
CUT 7 (10) “we’re doing that”
White says promotion from one grade to the next will be decided at the district level.

The names of the 4 Louisiana National Guard soldiers who died in a helicopter crash along with 7 marines from North Carolina last week are expected to be released at this hour. The servicemen each did two tours in Iraq and also worked during hurricanes in Louisiana and the 2010 BP oil spill. Governor Bobby Jindal has ordered all flags at state buildings be flown at half-staff until sunset on Friday.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and it is reported that nearly 23 million Americans between the ages of 50 and 75 are not getting tested as recommended. Scott Carwile reports…:
CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

LSU will be going to the dance for the first time since 2009. The purple and gold are the nine-seed in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and will face North Carolina State this Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

The state Department of Health and Hospitals announces a new initiative aimed at reducing c-section rates among Louisiana mothers. Here’s Michelle Southern…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

A Baton Rouge day care teacher is charged with cruelty to a juvenile after an incident at the facility where she worked. Authorities say 49-year-old Melissa Schexnayder is accused of shoving a 1-year-old girl to the floor and then slamming her head against a wooden cabinet, leaving the child with a bloody nose. The incident was caught on video. Schexnayder was fired shortly thereafter and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

The controversial Common Core testing begins today for third through eighth grade students across the state. State Department of Education Superintendent John White says Common Core is a standard, not a curriculum and how it’s taught and what’s used to teach it is up to school districts. He says at the state level, it’s their job to assure kids a basic fundamental right to a quality education…:

cut 9 (07) “to parents”

There are many people who oppose Common Core arguing that it’s too complex.

For the first time since 2009, the LSU Tigers are in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Coach Johnny Jones says the tournament selection committee recognizes LSU had a good regular season…

cut 14 (09) “from this team”

The Bayou Bengals are a nine-seed and they’ll take on North Carolina State in Pittsburgh Thursday.

Students in third through eighth grades will begin taking the controversial tests tied to Common Core today. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (30) “reporting”

State Police say a two vehicle crash in St. Mary Parish has left one dead and another critically injured. They say a vehicle, driven by 33-year-old Teala Bernard of Charenton, crossed the center line and collided with another vehicle head-on. Bernard was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in Bernard’s vechicle, Aaren Brown of Jeanerette, was transported to a local hospital and is listed in critical condition. Impairment is suspected and the investigation is ongoing.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and Tulane Gastroenterologist, Dr. Jordan Karlitz, says Louisiana has some of the highest mortality rates for colorectal cancer in the United States. But he says it is preventable with screening. Karlitz says, by getting screened appropriately, you can really have a profound effect on this illness…

cut 6 (09) “least in half”

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States.

The LSU Tigers are in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for the first time since 2009. The Bayou Bengals are a nine-seed and they’ll face North Carolina State Thursday night in Pittsburgh. The Tigers get into the NCAA Tournament in year three of Coach Johnny Jones at the helm. He says it’s a sign the program is heading in right direction…

cut 15 (08) “right road”

He says the goal all season long was to get an invite to the Big Dance.

Third through eighth grade students will begin taking the controversial tests tied to Common Core today. There are many people who oppose Common Core arguing that it’s too complex but State Department of Education Superintendent John White says it’s time that we stop teaching math with memorization…

cut 8 (10) “taught tricks”

The DOE says if a child chooses not to take the PARCC test, the score for that student in the accountability system is counted as a zero.

“Go the Full 40″ is a new initiative aimed at reducing c-section rates among Louisiana mothers from the state Department of Health and Hospitals. DHH Secretary Kathy Kleibert says they know going full term reduces medical problems for both the mother and child…

cut 11 (09) “complications”

Kleibert says she is very proud of the March of Dimes and health care partners for taking another step in making the well being of newborns a priority.

This month is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States. But Tulane Gastroenterologist, Dr. Jordan Karlitz, says it is preventable with screening. He says a colonoscopy is recommended because it can identify pre-cancerous polyps and remove them before they turn into cancer…

cut 5 (07) “their screening”

Karlitz says many insurance plans, including Medicare, help with the expense of colorectal cancer screenings.

State Police say a two-vehicle crash in Rapides Parish has claimed the lives of a Texas couple. They say Ronnie Fillingim and Sharon Kay Fillingim, both 59 from Livingston, Texas, were riding their motorcycle when a car, driven by 62-year-old Larry Callahan of Calcasieu, made a left turn in the path of the motorcycle. The bike tried to stop, but couldn’t and hit the car. Both motorcyclists were ejected from the vehicle. They were taken to local hospitals where they were pronounced dead. Callahan was not injured and received a citation for improper turn.