Louisiana honors Gold Star Families and their fallen loved ones today for Memorial Day. Brooke Thorington has the story…
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State Police say a 21-year-old driver was killed early Sunday morning when his vehicle hit a horse near Hammond. L-S-P says there was a dark colored horse standing in LA 1040 and 21-year-old Javonte Lamone Johnson braked and swerved slightly to the left, but hit the horse. The collision resulted in Johnson’s vehicle overturning and he was ejected.

The US Army Corps of Engineers is expected to announce later today an official date on when they will open the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish. It would divert Mississippi River water into the Atchafalaya Basin, flooding thousands of acres of farmland. Chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chip Kline…
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Wildlife experts say there will be few places for the animals to go when the spillway opens.

The legislative session will end a week from Thursday and there are numerous bills still trying to get final legislative passage. Fairness for Fantasy Sports spokesperson Ryan Berni says the bill that sets up taxing and regulation of fantasy sports still needs to get through the Senate and there’s a chance it might not pass…
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Sports betting and statewide regulation for ride sharing services are other pieces of legislation that’s seeking final legislative approval.

On this Memorial Day, 11-thousand flags are planted on the grounds in front of the State Capitol to honor servicemen and woman from Louisiana who died while protecting our country….
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That’s Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Colonel Joey Strikland, who asks all Louisianians to take time today to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

There will be work inside the state capitol today as Senate finance meets to discuss the budget. Lawmakers have until next Thursday to complete their work. The Fantasy sports tax and regulation bill is one of many pieces of legislation trying to gain final legislative passage. Fairness for Fantasy Sports spokesperson Ryan Berni says revenue from fantasy sports would go to some good causes…
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Governor John Bel Edwards is requesting federal assistance due to the ongoing threat of river flooding across Louisiana. The U-S Army Corps of Engineers could open the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish next week to alleviate pressure on Mississippi River levees downstream. Opening the spillway will flood thousands of acres of farmland, but Chip Kline, director of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority says if the Morganza is not opened, it could have devastating effects on the Bayou State…
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62,000 pounds of beef were recalled due to a possible E. coli contamination, but CEO of Cattle Producers of Louisiana Dave Foster says if you go to the store today to buy meat, don’t worry about recalls…
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It’s Memorial Day, a time to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Joey Strickland says if you want to honor the fallen, but can’t make it to any of today’s ceremonies, there’s a few simple ways you can contribute….
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Many will light up the grill on this Memorial Day. CEO of Cattle Producers of Louisiana Dave Foster says with cheap prices available for steaks go to the store and stock up on all kinds of cuts of beef…
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And today at 11 AM, the the NCAA Baseball Tournament brackets will be unveiled. LSU has already been announced as a host a site. McNeese and Southern are also in the tournament.

Fantasy sports regulation is halfway through the legislative process and advocates are prepping for a fight against video poker interests in the Senate….
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Tomorrow, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority will begin sinking a barge in Bayou Chene in southern Assumption to act as temporary flood gate. It’s needed to prevent backwater flooding after the Morganza spillway is opened. Chairman of the Coastal Protection Restoration Authority Board Chip Kline…
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The Morganza could open in early June.

LSU’s remarkable run in the SEC Tournament continues after pounding the Mississippi State 12-2 last night. The game ended after seven innings because of the tournament run rule. The Tigers had two big innings, five runs in the third inning and seven in the fourth inning.

The five runs in the third came off T-J Ginn, who was a first round draft pick last year.

LSU had a dozen hits on the night, Josh Smith, Antoine Duplantis (Doo-plan-tis), Daniel Cabrera, Chris Reid and Saul Garza each had two hits. Zach Watson, Chris Reid and Drew Bianco each drove in two runs.

Aaron George was the winning pitcher as he did not allow a run in nearly three innings of work out of the bullpen.

So LSU will play today at around 3:30 this afternoon in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament in Hoover.  The Tigers will face top seeded Vanderbilt. The other semi-final match up will be Ole Miss versus Georgia. The Rebels rallied to beat Arkansas 3-to-2 yesterday.

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ULM will play Coastal Carolina at 11:30 central in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Tournament. After winning their first three games in the tournament, the Warhawks had a day off in Conway South Carolina. Meanwhile, Coastal had to beat UT Arlington 14-13 for a chance to play ULM.

McNeese is just one win away from reaching the NCAA Tournament after the Cowboys beating U-I-W 5-3 last night in the Southland Conference Tournament. The Cowboys scored  three runs in the eighth inning to take the lead. Jake Dickerson’s two-run double snapped a three-three tie. McNeese will face either Southeastern Louisiana or Central Arkansas in the Southland Championship game tonight. The Lions and Bears will meet today at 1 PM in Sugar Land, Texas. S-L-U beat U-C-A nine to three yesterday.

LSU softball dropped game one of its super regional against Minnesota. The Golden Gophers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Tigers five to three. GAme two is 5 PM today in Minneapolis.

A State Police trooper working an I-10 construction zone in East Baton Rouge is recovering from injuries after an alleged drunk driver slammed into the back of his vehicle. L-S-P spokesperson Taylor Scrantz says drivers need to respect trooper and worker safety if they see a cop car’s blue lights on in a construction zone…
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A Baton Rouge woman is facing several charges for hitting the trooper’s vehicle.

A High occupancy lane is coming to I-12 in East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes. The legislature has approved legislation that allows DOTD to create a new lane along a 15-mile stretch of the highway that’s very congested. Livingston Senator Dale Erdey says heat sensing cameras will be installed to prevent drivers from skirting the law by putting a dummy in the passenger seat….
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25,000 acres of farmland could be destroyed if the Morganza Spillway is opened in Point Coupee Parish…
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State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will be a hot and humid Memorial Day Weekend and barely any chance of rain…
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The Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish could open in early June which will send a lot of water from the swollen Mississippi River into the Atchafalya Basin towards Morgan City. A barge will have to be sunk in Bayou Chene to prevent backwater flooding in Terrebonne and several other parishes. Governor Edwards says he’s requesting a federal emergency declaration to offset flood preparation costs…
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Farmers are also bracing for the potential impact of the Morganza opening. An estimated 25-thousand acres could be damaged. LSU Ag Center Point Coupee Parish county agent Mike Carriere says seepage from the Mississippi along the levees has already brought standing water to fields…
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Farmers are also having to move cattle to higher ground in anticipation of flooding in the Atchafalya Basin.

Legislation to designate a high occupancy lane on a 15-mile stretch of I-12 in East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes is heading to the governor’s desk. You see H-O-Vs in other parts of the country, so Livingston Senator Dale Erdey says it will take a little education to let motorists know they are not for solo drivers…
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It’s Memorial Day weekend, the unofficiall start of summer. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it took a little later this year, but hot and humid conditions have arrived for the holiday weekend…
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Keim says the next significant chance of rain isn’t until next Thursday.