At this hour, the LSU Board of Supervisors is hearing a report from the firm Husch Blackwell about how LSU has handled allegations of sexual and domestic assault in years past. USA Today LSU beat reporter Glen Guilbeau tempers any expectations the report will be a bombshell…
cut 13 (10) “…that out”
LSU interim president Thomas Galligan says Husch Blackwell has delivered a brutally honest and objective evaluation of their culture.

Early voting for special elections to elect U-S Representatives in districts two and five will begin tomorrow. In the fifth district, Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s widow, Julia Letlow, appears to be the favorite to win. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley…
cut 9 (09) “…well”

State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they’ve received 37 letters of interest from firms who are interested in teaming up with the state to build a new I-10 Calcasieu Parish bridge. Wilson says a private-public partnership is a revenue risk project, so tolls could be used to help finance construction…
cut 12 (08) “….formula”
Wilson says they expect the cost of a new bridge in the billion-dollar range.

The state health department is holding more mass COVID-19 vaccination events today and tomorrow. State Health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says if you are on the fence about getting vaccinated, seek out reputable sources….
cut 6 (12) “…with them”

Dr. Julia Letlow remains the prohibitive favorite in the 5th Congressional District special election as early voters head to the polls Saturday. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “…Matt Doyle.”

The other special congressional election is District two. 15 candidates have signed up to replace Cedric Richmond, who now works with the Biden administration. State senators Karen Carter Peterson and Troy Carter have been the most active on the campaign trail, along with Baton Rouge activist Gary Chambers.

State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says there is significant interest from private firms who are interested in partnering with the state in building a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Wilson says he’s encouraged after receiving 37 letters of interest.
Cut 10 (08) “…industry.”
Wilson says they expect the cost of the project to be in the billion-dollar range, but they are searching for partners to bring about innovative cost-effective ways to build and maintain the bridge over time.

Based on data from the state health department, 60-percent of the people who have received at least one-shot of the two-shot COVID-19 vaccines are women. State Health Officer Doctor Joseph Kanter…
cut 5 (10) “…opportunity”
Kanter says with teachers eligible he doesn’t see that percentage changing soon.

A report by a private firm hired by LSU to investigate the school’s handling of past sexual misconduct cases will be unveiled today at a Board of Supervisors meeting. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

USA Today reports that after a 2013 investigation former LSU head football coach Les Miles was barred from one-on-one contact with any female student. Miles was accused of texting female students, taking them to his condo alone, and on one occasion kissed a student. Miles denies he kissed a student.

Early voting in the 5th Congressional District special election to replace Luke Letlow, who died last year of COVID, begins Saturday. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Letlow’s wife Julia, a Republican, remains the prohibitive favorite.
Cut 7 (09) “….side.”
There’s only one Democrat in the race, Candy Christophe. Early voting will also begin in the second district race, two state senators, Karen Carter Peterson, and Troy Carter are the main candidates in that race.

The state department of transportation says they’ve heard from 37 firms who are interested in a public-private partnership to build a new I-10 bridge in Calcasieu Parish. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they will invite those who have shown interest to a meeting…
cut 11 (10) “…teams”

Husch Blackwell will release its report today on how LSU has handled cases of sexual assault and violence involving students, including football players. USA Today Network reporter Glen Guilbeau says many of the people involved in the alleged mishandlings still work at LSU…
cut 14 (12) “….book”
LSU has released information from a 2013 investigation into former football coach Les Miles who was accused of sexual advances on female student workers. The coach was ordered to stop texting and being alone with them.

Early voting begins tomorrow for Louisiana’s two special congressional elections. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says there’s a chance Doctor Julia Letlow could win the fifth district without a runoff…
cut 8 (11) “….election”
The primary is March 20th.

DOTD says they’ve received 37 letters of interest from firms who are interested in a public-private partnership to build a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is in support of a 100-million dollar settlement between a dozen coastal parishes and Freeport McMoRan. The parishes claim the mining corporation damaged Louisiana’s coastal wetlands. The Oil and gas industry says they are disappointed Landry sided with plaintiffs’ attorneys in support of job-killing lawsuits.

Husch Blackwell the firm hired by LSU to review the school’s title nine policies and procedures following reports the university failed to properly act on allegations of sexual misconduct releases its report today to the LSU Board of Supervisors. USA Today Network reporter Glen Guilbeau says if the report lacks details, board members can grill investigators for more information…
cut 15 (07) “…you want”
LSU released a report yesterday that said in 2013 former football coach Les Miles was ordered to stop texting female student workers and could not be alone with them, because of inappropriate conduct.

The state health department says 713-thousand Louisana residents have received at least one shot of a two-shot COVID vaccine. 60-percent are women. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter on why that might be…
cut 4 (10) “….a little bit”

A political analyst says Dr. Julia Letlow remains the prohibitive favorite in the 5th Congressional District special election as early voting begins tomorrow. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “…Matt Doyle.”

The state health department announces it’s holding a series of mass COVID vaccination events. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (29) “ …I’m Brooke. Thorington”

A Baton Rouge judge had ordered Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry to release relevant information about a sexual harassment investigation involving Pat Magee, who heads up the A-G’s criminal division. The judge ruled against Landry who sued an Advocate news reporter seeking that the records be released.

Thirty-three Republican lawmakers have signed a letter that asks Governor John Bel Edwards to lift COVD businesses restrictions and the mask mandate. House Republican delegation chairman Blake Miguez says the mandate leads to nonsensical situations wherein people wear a mask into a restaurant, sit down to eat, take it off, then put it back on to leave…
cut 10 (07) “…normal”
At a press conference earlier this week, Edwards said it’s too soon to drop the mask mandate.

Three farmers will be inducted into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction during a ceremony tonight co-hosted by the Louisiana Radio Network. LRN Farm Director Don Molino says one of the inductees is longtime Louisiana Farm Bureau President Ronnie Anderson…
cut 12 (09) “….150-thousand today”
Tonight’s other two inductees are south Louisiana sugarcane farmer John Gay and Jakie Loewer of Acadia Parish, who has served on the Louisiana Rice Research Board for 12 years.

Louisiana has entered Phase 3 of coronavirus restrictions, which allows restaurants to increase capacity from 50 to 75-percent. Live music is also allowed indoors, but there are a lot of rules businesses must follow before they strike up the band. Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says they are asking for patience from customers…
cut 12 (06) “…..the way”
20 feet must separate performers and the audience, ten feet if there’s a plexiglass barrier.

Delayed data from the 2020 Census will likely mean that the state legislature will have to wait until next year to draw up new congressional and legislative boundaries as part of the redistricting process. House Governmental Affairs Chairman John Stefanski says they don’t expect census data to come in until the fall…
cut 6 (08) “…redistricting”

The search for new voting machines in Louisiana has been withdrawn by Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin amidst an outcry over the process. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Early voting will begin Saturday for the two special congressional elections. Voters in the fifth and second districts will choose a new U-S House of Representative. The death of Luke Letlow has resulted in a vacancy in the fifth district and the second district became open when Cedric Richmond accepted a position within the Biden Administration.