The online harassment of college athletes by betters is a real issue and the Louisiana Legislature is trying to address it. Joe Gallinaro has the story…

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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Senator Bill Cassidy has declined an invitation to debate his two biggest challengers during Moon Griffon’s statewide radio talk show. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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State lawmakers have started to advance legislation that would allow the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to set up a rule where they can ban a person from placing sports bets in Louisiana if they harass a college athlete. Leesville Senator Mike Reese says a recent ESPN report found that one in three high profile college athletes receive abusive messages from bettors.

Cut 3 (08) “…those tournaments.”

Reese is the author of the legislation, and he says Ohio and West Virginia have already passed this law and the NCAA is encouraging more states to do the same…

Cut 4 (09) “…place bets.”

During his testimony in front of a Senate Committee, Reese presented evidence that female college athletes are harassed more than men…

Cut 5 (07) “…other sports.”

Reese says many of these threats are related to prop bets, which Louisiana has already prohibited on college contests. An example of a prop bet would be a wager on the number of points or touchdowns a player would score.

The bill heads to the Senate floor and is expected to receive legislative approval.

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Senator John Kennedy says he feels everyone’s pain when it comes to soaring gasoline prices. The spike started at the beginning of this month in the wake of the U.S. military action in Iran. That choked off the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical shipping corridor for oil coming into the U.S. Kennedy says by closing that waterway, Iran is only hurting itself in the long run. 

Cut 6 (10) “…them the most.”

Kennedy says everyone knew that a spike in gas prices would result from the military action in Iran.

Cut 7 (10) “…their only play (2x).”

As to when the price of gasoline and diesel will stop soaring into the stratosphere, Kennedy says at this point, it’s anyone’s guess.

Cut 8 (09) “…back to normal.”

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Senator Bill Cassidy has declined talk show host Moon Griffon’s invitation to participate in a debate involving his two most formidable challengers to his re-election chances. John Fleming and Julia Letlow plan on attending the April 28^th debate from 9 to 11 AM on Griffon’s radio show. Cassidy says it would be better for voters, if the Senate Republican Primary debates are on television…

Cut 9 (05)  “…primetime.”

When Cassidy was elected to his second term in 2020, he refused to debate Democrat and at that time Shreveport mayor Adrian Perkins. Cassidy said during an interview on KEEL Radio in Shreveport, the circumstances were different back then…

Cut 10 (08) “…different elecitons.”

Cassidy is still calling on Letlow to debate him on TV….

Cut 11 (13) “…TV.”

Multiple TV stations have invited Cassidy, Letlow and Fleming to participate in a debate before the May 16^th primary, but so far the three candidates have not agreed to do one.

Even if you don’t drive an 18-wheeler, you will be paying the high price of diesel one way or another. Andrew Greenstein explains.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Tragedy in Rapides Parish as a former sheriff is run over and killed. Joe Gallinaro reports.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”

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If you think gasoline prices are high, get a load of diesel fuel prices! Some truck stops are selling diesel at more than five dollars a gallon. Dr. Walter Lane, the chairman of the Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting at UNO, says even if you don’t commute to and from work via semi truck, you will feel the effects.

Cut 3 (08) “…comes by truck.”

Dr. Lane says tractor-trailers are an extremely important component to logistics, since they usually handle the final leg of a product’s journey to the store’s shelves.

Cut 4 (09) “…comes by truck.”

According to the Engine Technology Forum, about 97-percent of all Class 8 commercial trucks – the ones we usually refer to as “18-wheelers” – are powered by diesel engines. And Lane says the more it takes to keep them fueled, the more the goods they transport will end up costing us.

Cut 5 (10) “…chain to us.”

The current average diesel price, however, is not a record. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, that was set at the end of June of 2022, when the nationwide average for a gallon of diesel shot up to $5.78 a gallon.

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Legislation continues to move through the state capitol that would allow for the Louisiana Wildlife Commission to establish rules and regulations for a recreational alligator hunting season. The Louisiana Senate unanimously approved the bill by Franklin Senator Robert Allain, who says the alligator population has become too large…

Cut 6 (07) “…side of the road.”

Allain, who is also a commercial alligator hunter, says the alligator population now exceeds three million and it’s a safety issue…

Cut 7 (07) “…footprint.”

A nonverbal autistic, 12-year-old boy died near his New Orleans home after he was attacked by an alligator last August. Allain is concerned about more alligator-human interactions as the gator population explodes…

Cut 8 (06) “..this bill.”

The measure now heads to the House for its approval. There’s already a commercial hunting season, made famous by the popular TV reality show “Swamp People.” Allain’s bill would authorize the Louisiana Wildlife Commission to establish a recreational hunting alligator season that would be open to five-thousand hunters each year, with a two-gator limit.

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The winningest football coach in Northwestern State history has died. Sam Goodwin, who led the Demons to 102 wins from 1983 through 1999, died last Friday at the age of 82. Former Northwestern State Sports Information Director Doug Ireland says during those 17 seasons, the Pineville native turned the program into a perennial powerhouse in the Southland Conference. 

Cut 9 (06)  “…coaching tenure here.”

Ireland says not only did Goodwin overachieve as the coach of the team, he also brought out the best in players who had been overlooked in high school, as evidenced by the number of Demons who went on to play on Sundays after their college careers.

Cut 10 (08) “…in the rough.”

Ireland says Goodwin was not just a great mentor on the field, but he was a great mentor off the field as well.

Cut 11 (09) “…coach of people.”

A memorial celebration is slated for April 25th.

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President Donald Trump released a video today expressing his support for Congresswoman Julia Letlow in the US Senate race. The President calls Letlow a great Congresswoman…

Cut 12 (10) “…ever before.”

Cassidy remains confident he’ll win re-election, because he believes the race is not about an endorsement, but who has been more effective in delivering legislation and federal funds to help Louisiana.

In Trump’s endorsement video for Letlow, he touted her record for fighting border security and tax relief…

Cut 13 (09) “…every single American.”

But Cassidy points out that Letlow voted against legislation that resulted in 13-billion dollars to improve infrastructure in Louisiana.

Trump says he wants Letlow to represent Louisiana in the Senate…

Cut 14 (11) “…great state.”

Cassidy lost Trump as a political ally when he voted to impeach Trump for his role in the January sixth attack on the nation’s capitol.  The other major candidate in the race, State Treasurer, John Fleming, claims the Trump Administration tried to get him out of the race by offering him a high ranking job with the CDC.