LSU has beaten Texas in football and basketball this season and now they’ll try to knock of the Longhorns in baseball as the two teams meet tonight in Houston at Minute Maid Park. LSU won Wednesday night seven to one over Louisiana Tech. Coach Paul Mainieri says he’ll use that same line-up over the course of this weekend, because at this point he feels that group gives them the best chance to win…
cut 18 (18) “…is going to work”
Sophomore right-hander Cole Henry will get the start on the hill for the Tigers, while Texas will counter with junior right-hander Bryce Elder, who is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA.

Also tonight, La Tech hosts Maine at Ruston High, the Cajuns host Sam Houston State, Illinois State is at ULM and Eastern Illinois is at Northwestern State.
_________________________________________________________________

The Pelicans host the Clevland Cavaliers tonight to start a three-game home stand. New Orleans is in tenth place, three games back of Memphis for the final playoff spot in the West. The Cavs are 17-and-41, but they’ve won four of there last five. On Sunday, the Pels host Anthony Davis and the Lakers.

LSU baskeball has an 11 AM tip off tomorrow against Texas A-and-M. The Tigers are coming off a blowout loss in Florida, while the Aggies have won three of their last four.

In other action, the Ragin Cajuns are at Little Rock, UNO is at Nicholls, Northwestern State visits Southeastern Louisiana and McNeese is at Houston Baptist. Grambling hosts Arkansas Pine-Bluff.

At the combine, former LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson ran the 40 in 4-point-4 seconds which will improve his draft stock. Safety Grant Delpit will reportedly not work out at the combine. Delpit says he’s still recovering from a right ankle sprain suffered during the season. Former LSU Coach Les Miles has sold his Baton Rouge home.

Baton Rouge area State District Judge Jessie Leblanc has submitted her resignation one day after Governor John Bel Edwards called for her to step down. Leblanc admitted to using racial slurs in an angry text message sent to a former sheriff’s deputy. The message was sent after an eight-year extramarital affair had ended with the cop from Assumption Parish.

Congressman Ralph Abraham tells Matt Doyle his support for term limits guided his decision not to seek a 4th term in office…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Oil prices continued to fall today as demand weakens over concerns from the coronavirus. The U-S West Texas Intermediate crude fell below 46-dollars a barrel, it’s the lowest level since January 2019. LSU Energy Studies Director David Dismukes says there’s a lot of uncertainty right now…
cut 12 (10) “…globally”
Dismukes says if oil prices continue to drop, it will cause problems in the oil patch for businesses who are already struggling to make a profit.

Jonesboro Republican Jack McFarland has filed legislation that would allow for year-round nighttime hunting of feral hogs on private property. There’s been opposition to this bill in the past, but McFarland says he’s worked to address the opponent’s concerns…
cut 10 (11) “….that you did”
The legislative session begins March 9th.

Congressman Ralph Abraham announces he will not seek re-election this fall. Brooke Thorington has a reaction from a political analyst…
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Captains of New Orleans krewes will meet with New Orleans public safety officials, including N-O-P-D Superintendent Shaun Ferguson at five o’clock today to discuss how they can make Mardi Gras parades safer. Two parade-goers were killed within days of each other last week.

Health officials say there have been over 81-thousand cases of the coronavirus since it emerged in China. Symptoms include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath or pneumonia. LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Chief of Infectious Diseases, Doctor Julio Figueroa, says research shows 80-percent of those diagnosed with the virus have mild symptoms, and 20-percent require medical attention…
cut 5 (08) “…being told”

Last year an effort to legalize sports betting in Louisiana failed, but the issue will come up again in the 2020 legislative session. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry has filed a bill that would give voters on November third an opportunity to decide if sports betting should be legal in their parish…

Cut 13 (10) “…parish or not.”

If voters approve sports betting than the legislature in 2021 would work to pass legislation on taxing and regulation.

Health officials say it’s only a matter of time before a coronavirus outbreak hits the United States. Brooke Thorington spoke with an LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease expert about preparations
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

U-S Representative Ralph Abraham from Richland Parish has announced he will not seek a fourth term in office. And Governor Edwards has called on state District Judge Jessie Leblanc to resign after she admitted to using racial slurs in a text message referring to black officials in Ascension Parish. Leblanc’s attorney says Edwards should be concerned with the executive branch of government, not the judiciary.

Metairie Senator Cameron Henry has filed legislation to legalize sports betting in Louisiana after an effort to do so last year failed. Henry’s bill would allow voters to decide in November if sports betting should be legal in their parish…
cut 14 (07) “…we’ll be successful’
Henry says if sports betting receives approval from the public than the legislature in 2021 would vote on taxing and regulation laws.

A poll from YouGov finds that the hardest thing to give up for Lent is watching TV or streaming services. Caffeine came in second. But You Gov data journalist Jamie Ballard says one age group indicated that TV is not the hardest thing to give up…
cut 9 (03) “….be social networking”
Ballard says overall social networking and chocolate ranked in the top five for hardest things to give up for Lent.

5th District Congressman Ralph Abraham announces he will not seek a fourth term in office this fall, keeping a campaign promise of only serving three terms. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the Republican’s announcement is not a surprise…
cut 10 (11) relatively brief”
So who will run for the vacant seat? Republican Ouachita Parish Police Juror Scotty Robinson and Democrat Candy Christophe of Alexandria have expressed interest. Qualifying is in July.

A preliminary report from the N-T-S-B on this month’s plane crash in Jackson Parish that killed three people, says the pilot, Robert Gilliam of Minden, reported that ice was forming on the plane as it was headed for Shreveport. Chris Mudd and Wade Williams of Shreveport-Bossier also died in the crash.

Legislation has been filed for the upcoming session that if approved would ask voters in November if they want sports betting legalized. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

A new poll from You-Gov has found that the hardest thing to give up for Lent is watching TV or streaming services. You-Gov data journalist Jamie Ballard says when breaking down the responses by political affiliation…
cut 8 (08) “…29-percent of independents”
Caffeine came in as the second hardest thing to give up for Lent, followed by social networking and chocolate.

LSU’s recent meetings with Florida have been close ball games, but that was not the case last night as the Gators got off to a quick start and went on to whip the Tigers 81-66. 48 of Florida’s points came inside the paint as the Gators shot 55-percent from the field. Emmit Williams had 25 points in a losing effort as LSU and Florida are now tied for third in the SEC.

The Ragin Cajuns rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to beat Arkansas State 77-74. P-J Hardy hit six three-pointers and finished with 19 points.

McNeese snapped a six-game losing streak with a 104-82 win over Southeastern Louisiana. Southland leader Stephen F Austin slammed Northwestern State 90-59 and Nicholls improved to 13-5 in conference play with a 93-85 win over Houston Baptist.

LSU thumped Louisiana Tech seven to one on the baseball diamond. The Bulldogs had just five hits, while Tigers lead-off man Zach Mathis had three hits and drove in two runs. ULM mashed Southeastern Louisiana 23-5 in five innings. The Warhawks scored a school-record 19 runs in the fourth inning. Andrew Beesley had 6 RBIs on the day. Northwestern State had a five-run fourth inning and beat the Ragin Cajuns 10-8. Peyton Davis had a big three-run homer. And McNeese defeated Missouri 12-4 as the Pokes scored nine runs in the third inning.

Last year an effort to legalize sports betting at Louisiana casinos failed, but the issue is set to come up again in the legislative session that begins March 9th. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry has filed a bill that would give voters an opportunity to decide if sports betting should be legal in their parish. If approved, the proposition will appear on the November 3rd ballot.
Cut 13 (10) “…parish or not.”
If voters approve sports betting than the legislature in 2021 would work to pass legislation on taxing and regulation.