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.

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

Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates says the nephew of New Orleans native and Hollywood filmmaker Tyler Perry hung himself inside his jail cell. Twenty-six-year-old Gavin Porter pleaded guilty to manslaughter in April 2017 for the shooting death of his father in October 2016. The sheriff says Porter’s death is under investigation.

President Donald Trump says the country is ready for whatever the coronavirus outbreak brings to the United States. The illness has killed 27-hundred worldwide. LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Chief of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Julio Figueroa, says when you compare the coronavirus to the common flu and worldwide mortality rates, yes more people do die from the common flu but that could change.
Cut 6 (12) “…know yet.”
The number infected in the U-S is 60, none in Louisiana.

Governor Edwards is calling on state judge Jessie LeBlanc to resign after she admitted to using racial slurs in a text message to describe a sheriff’s deputy and black law clerk in Ascension Parish. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says it’s rare for a governor to chime in on the competence of a judge, but other state entities could get involved…
cut 11 (12) “…or racially motivated’
LeBlanc has apologized for using the racial slurs.

Visitation is tonight in Morgan City for former state legislator Butch Gautreaux, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 72. Louisiana Democratic Party executive director Stephen Handwerk says Gautreaux was known as a lawmaker who worked well with both sides of the aisle…
cut 13 (10) “…from Butch”

On Capitol Hill, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy grilled acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf about how his agency is preparing for a potential coronavirus outbreak in the United States. Kennedy’s blood pressure rose when Wolf said a vaccine could be available in a few months, but C-D-C officials said it could take 12 to 18 months…
Cut 4 (12) “…everyday.”

Advocates for domestic violence victims are raising concerns about costs that are coming down on victims who fail to make a court appearance after filing a temporary restraining order. Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic violence executive director Mariah Wineski says such a practice could keep other victims from filing the order…
cut 7 (10) “….first place”
Wineski says work requirements, a sick child or facing threats from their assailant are some of the reasons why a victim might not attend a hearing.

Governor Edwards calls for the resignation of 23rd Judicial District Judge Jessie LeBlanc to resign following her admission to sending racists text messages. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says it’s outside of the Governor’s reach to make such a call.
Cut 9 (08) “…of a judge.″
Ciolino says the Judiciary Commission should conduct an investigation.

Advocates for Domestic violence victims are concerned victims are getting hit with court costs if they fail to show up to court after filing a temporary restraining order. In a state that has the second-highest rate of women murdered by men in the nation, Executive Director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Mariah Winseki says this practice needs to stop.
Cut 6 (11) “…victim safety.”

U-S Senator John Kennedy has a tense exchange with acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf over the coronavirus…
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Former LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson told NFL.com that the fistful of of cash he received from Odell Beckham after the national championship went to his church.

U-S Senator John Kennedy is not happy with the lack of answers coming from acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf about the coronavirus outbreak. Kennedy’s frustration grew when Wolf couldn’t say how many respirators and masks are available in the United States or if there’s an estimate on how many cases we might see…
cut 3 (14) “….security”

Today is Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, which means lots of Louisiana residents will abstain from eating meat today and Fridays for the next 40 days. Chairman of the Gulf Seafood Institute Harlon Pearce says wild-caught Louisiana catfish is becoming a popular dish…
cut 12 (09) “…farm-raised shrimp”

New data shows gun death rates in the Bayou State continue to rise. Brooke Thorington spoke with Violence Policy Center, Legislative Director Kristen Rand about the disturbing trend.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A cold front has dropped the temperature in Louisiana and a strong wind out of the northwest is giving us another taste of winter. National Weather Service meteorologist Brad Bryant says highs will only be in the 50s today…
cut 6 (08) “….there for sure”