Another round of bad weather is hammering much of the state today.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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 A family advocacy group is bringing legislation that would guarantee Louisianans 12 weeks of paid parental, family emergency, or long term illness leave. Matt Doyle has the story.

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Thinking about getting a bunny or a chick as gift for someone this Easter? The Louisiana SPCA says you may want to reconsider. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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Another round of bad weather is impacting Louisiana today, starting this morning. There’s an enhanced risk for severe weather in the forecast for East Carroll Parish all the way down to the Cameron Parish and all parishes east of that stretch. State Climatologist Barry Keim says expect strong thunderstorms.

Cut 4 (08) “…of Louisiana today.”

The storms will likely continue into the early evening hours.

Keim expects the front to clear the state by tomorrow morning. The rain potential is anywhere from one to two inches.

Cut 5 (05) “…careful with that.”

Once the front is out of the way, expect cool and dry weather starting Friday and continuing through the weekend.

Keim says this part of spring is notorious for severe weather as the atmosphere is very unstable this time of year.

Cut 6 (07) “…makes perfect sense.”

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A bill is being introduced that would guarantee all Louisianans 12 weeks of paid family or medical illness leave, along with legal protections against being fired while out. Berni Consulting partner Caitlin Berni says it would allow you to draw from a fund managed by the Workforce Commission, and paid into by you and your employer every paycheck.

Cut 7 (08) “employer”

The bill includes parental leave, leave to take care of a close relative who has fallen ill, and long term medical leave for events like chemo therapy in cancer patients.

Berni says the pot of leave money would grow overtime, and mechanisms would be put in place to cover expenses of young workers who need to take the leave before they’ve built up enough money to cover 12 weeks. Berni says the leave is transferable between jobs.

Cut 8 (10) “…four quarters.”

The leave pay would come directly from the fund, and not your employer while you were out.

Louisiana Families First is beginning a statewide effort to push support for the proposal. While it would functionally be an income tax increase of about about a quarter of a percent on most workers, she says 82 percent of those polled were on board.

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The bill is being brought by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell.

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For the last two years, more than 60 pet rabbits have been turned over to the Louisiana SPCA following the Easter holiday from owners with buyer’s remorse.  While rabbits can be great companion animals, Louisiana SPCA spokesperson Rebecca Melanson says many people do not realize the commitment of rabbit ownership.

Cut 10 (09) “…in your family.”

Melanson says each year, in addition to the hundreds of rabbits that are turned into shelters and some people even try release rabbits in the wild in an effort to relinquish ownership.

Cut 11 (05) “…from wild rabbits.”

Melanson says there are great alternatives to giving bunnies and baby chickens as gifts at Easter.

Cut 12 (07) “…for real chicks.”

The average rabbit lifespan is 10-12 years.

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Texas A&M Athletic Director Scott Woodward is reportedly set to take over as LSU’s new AD. Woodward has been in charge of Aggies athletics since 2016, but Glen Guilbeau, who covers LSU for the USA Today Network, says he’s a local boy who may have been itching to get back to his roots in the boot.

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Woodward is leaving one of the richest programs in all of college athletics for an LSU that isn’t exactly known for it’s free spending, evidenced by the fact that current football coach Ed Orgeron is not one of the highest paid in the SEC. Guilbeau says this could be signaling a change.

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Woodward presided over the hiring of football coach Jimbo Fisher at A&M, a 10 year 75 million dollar contract.

This wraps up a wild week for the school that saw basketball coach Will Wade’s suspension lifted, and a long time AD axed. Guilbeau says Alleva was not a popular figure in the program, and it’s remarkable he stuck around for over ten years.

Cut 15 (09) “…he did.”

Nola.com reports the hire was made less than an hour after it was announced that former LSU AD Joe Alleva was set to “transition” into a new role at the school while his contract runs for another year.

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LSU is set to begin a three-game series tonight against Florida and there’s good news on the injury front. Coach Paul Mainieri says he’s shocked by it, but he’s been told Zack Hess, Zach Watson and Chris Reid could return from injury and play in this series…

Cut 16  (14) “…three weeks” 

LSU is not sure if Hess will start on the mound tonight, but could come in as a reliever. Hess has a groin injury and so is Watson. Mainieri says he’s not sure how effective Watson will be, but it would be great to get him back on the field…

 cut 17 (18)   “.got hurt” 

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Cut 18 (22)  of your life” 

Griffen doesn’t expect his conversation with Davis to be very complicated…

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Griffen was the general manager of the Cavaliers when that franchise won their first championship in 2016. Griffen says Cleveland and San Antonio are excellent examples of how a small market city can be successful in the NBA…

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Former Governor Kathleen Blanco is in his hospice care. Jeff Palermo has more…

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A GoFundMe campaign for the burned St. Landry Parish churches is now over 1.2 million dollars. Matt Doyle spoke with the Seventh District Baptist Church President about the effort…

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Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco is under hospice care. Blanco, who served as governor from 2004 to 2008 was first diagnosed with an eye cancer in 2011, but the cancer returned in 2017 and spread to her liver. Last December, she said there’s no escape from her cancer. Franklin Representative Sam Jones spoke on the House floor to recognize the governor’s fight for her life…

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Blanco did not seek re-election in 2008. She was criticized for her handling of Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath and the federally funded program set up to help Louisiana homeowners rebuild. Jones, who worked for Blanco in the governor’s office, fought hard for the state and wasn’t afraid to stand up to the White House…

Cut 4 (09) “…her recently”

Blanco served in elected offices for two dozen years, as she spent time as a state legislator, public service commissioner, Lt. Governor and then elected as the state’s first woman governor. Jones asks that Louisiana residents pray for Blanco…

Cut 5 (10) “…that side”

Blanco is a New Iberia native, who lives in Lafayette. She’s 76-years-old.

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Over 1.2 million dollars has been raised for the burned St. Landry Parish churches on a GoFundMe page that’s seen a surge in donations since a fire tore through the historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Seventh District Missionary Baptist Church President Freddie Jack says the historic congregations are hoping for help from their insurance, but one of them is looking at some heavy costs.

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The page has been shared by national figures like Hillary Clinton, and Katie Couric.

The Pastor noted the historic majority black congregations have deep roots in the community, some of which go back over a century.

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21-year-old Holden Matthews is accused of burning the churches in a racially motivated attack.

Jack says the effort is much appreciated, and the congregations are taking the tragedy in stride while they figure out how to get back into their old homes.

Cut 8 (08) “…spirits”

You can find the fund by searching Seventh District Baptist Church Fires on GoFundMe.

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The Center for Reproductive Rights says if an admitting privileges law set to be heard at the US Supreme Court were to take effect, two of the state’s three abortion clinics would close.

President Nancy Northup says the regulation requiring clinics and providers to have admitting privileges at a local hospital would dramatically reduce access to the procedure.

Cut 9 (11) “…each year”

The only remaining clinic would be a facility in Baton Rouge.

The Shreveport facility has reported a significant increase and concentration of what they called “nasty” personal harassment of facility workers and patients as the number of facilities has declined statewide. Senior Council TJ Toup says the only doctor with privileges at the facility said he’d retire if the law took effect.

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Shreveport clinic administrator Cathleen Pittman says a nearly identical law in Texas demonstrated that reducing access won’t end abortion, but it will make it significantly less safe.

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CRR has filed a motion to have the law dismissed by the court, citing it’s similarity to a previously dismissed Texas admitting privileges law.

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Tiger Rag Magazine has confirmed the initial report from the Baton Rouge Business Report that Joe Alleva is out as athletics director at LSU. Alleva has been the school’s A-D since 2008, but Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says Alleva is widely unpopular

Cut 12 (10) “…in charge”

Alleva’s unpopuarlity began to take a hit with the attempted firing of Les Miles as head football coach towards the end of the 2015 season. It got worse for Alleva when basketball coach Will Wade was suspended in early March. Moran says there’s evidence Alleva wanted to go through with the firing of Miles and not suspend Wade, but the fan outrage is with Joe…

Cut 13 (10) “…Joe Alleva”

Alleva’s contract is set to expire next year and Moran says this could be a good time for the head of athletics to step down or retire…

Cut 14 (11) “…figure.”