New research gives more of an indication on how many people are cutting the cord when it comes to cable. Conner Ferrill has the story…
voicer 2 (28) “…..I’m Conner Ferrill”

The LSU mens’ basketball team is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2006 thanks Tremont Water’s game-winning shot with one second left to give the Tigers a two-point win over Maryland. Interim head coach Tony Benford says they knew who they wanted to take the final shot..
cut 15 (09) “….us today”
The Tigers face Michigan State on Friday night in D-C.

Strange story out of northwest Louisiana as a now former animal shelter worker pleaded guilty to crimes against nature after he encouraged a coworker at the shelter to have sex with a dog. Caddo Parish district attorney spokesperson John Prime says 43-year-old Booker Thomas was given a three year suspended sentence. Prime says the woman admitted to following through with the act said there is video of the incident on Thomas’ cell phone, but the footage was never located…
cut 5 (12) “…with another woman”
Thomas has been ordered that he cannot live or work with any animals for five years.

The LSU men’s basketball team survived and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 79-74 win over Yale yesterday in Jacksonville. Guard Tremont Waters was one of four Tiger players in double figures with 15 points…
cut 10 (11) “…the best”
LSU’s next opponent is the Maryland Terrapins, who are 23-10 on the season. One of there best players is Bruno Fernando, a six-foot-10 forward, who is a future NBA lottery draft pick. Tip time tomorrow is at 11:10.

Following yesterday’s win over Yale, Alleva told Jeff Goodman of the Stadium that he wishes suspended head coach Will Wade would just come to him and tell the truth and that Alleva can handle the truth even it’s bad. Wade has been suspended for two weeks and has said he can’t talk about a purported FBI wiretap under the advice of his legal counsel.

Former LSU Tiger Shaquille O’ Neal will be the new face of Papa John’s Pizza and he’s the pizza maker’s newest board member. O’Neal is also investing in nine Papa John’s restaurants in Atlanta. The endorsement deal will net the Hall of Fame basketball player a reported 8.25 million dollars.

The 7th ranked LSU baseball team is in Athens for the weekend for a big three-game series against 5th ranked Georgia. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri on the 19-and-2 Bulldogs…
Cut 16 (10) “…power arms”
LSU will face one of the top sophomore pitchers in the country tonight. Georgia right-hander Emerson Hancock is 5-0 with an E-R-A well below one. First pitch tonight is 6 PM local time.

Also, ULM basketball has advanced to the second round of the C-I-T Tournament as the Warhawks defeated Kent State 87-77. Travis Munnings had 28 points, nine rebounds, and four assists last night.

The state Attorney General’s office announces the arrest of five Louisiana residents for Medicaid welfare fraud. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Caddo Parish D-A’s office says a former employee at the Caddo Parish Animal Shelter has admitted to encouraging a coworker to have a sex with a dog. 43-year-old Booker Thomas of Shreveport pleaded guilty to acting as principal in a crime against nature. Thomas was sentenced to three years in prison.

The third seeded LSU Tigers are headed to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after beating Yale 79-74. The Tigers had a shaky second half, but interim head coach Tony Benford says those things will happen…
cut 11 (10) “…good run”
LSU will now play Maryland in the second round. Early tip time from Jacksonville, 11:10 central time.

Presently, state law limits the total amount of bottles of wine that can be shipped to a home to 144 bottles that do not exceed 750 ml per bottle. But a proposed law to be debated in the upcoming session would remove the limit on how big a bottle you can have delivered, while keeping the total volume of booze the same. Senator Jack Donahue says says the current law impedes on those that collect wine as a hobby.
Cut 14 (07) “…large format bottles.”
Donahue’s bill will discussed by legislators next month.

The third seeded LSU Tigers are on their way to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after beating Yale 79-74. The Tigers led by 16 points at halftime and withstood a good run from the Bulldogs in the second half. LSU also had a bad second half against Florida in the SEC Tournament, but interim head coach Tony Benford says concerns about the team’s second half woes are overstated…
cut 11 (10) “…good run”
LSU will play Maryland on Saturday in Jacksonville. The Terrapins beat Belmont 79-77 in a back and forth game. Maryland is 23-10 on the season and their top player is six-foot junior guard Anthony Cowan, who is averaging 16 points a game.

ULM beat Kent State 87-77 to reach the second round of the C-I-T tournament. Travis Munnings led the way with 28 points. The Warhawks second round opponent is to be determined.

The Saints have reportedly signed defensive back and returner Marcus Sherels, who has spent all eight of his seasons in the NFL with the Vikings. Sherels is the all-time leader in Vikings history for punt returns for touchdowns. He averaged 12 yards a punt return last season.

7th ranked LSU baseball begins a weekend series against 5th ranked Georgia tonight. Coach Paul Mainieri says tonight’s game against the 19-and-2 Bulldogs begins a difficult stretch for the Tigers…
paul 1 (10) “….few notches”
LSU will face a pitcher tonight, sophomore Emerson Hancocks, who has an ERA of 0.58 in five starts. After this series, the Tigers will host McNeese on Tuesday and then go back on the road next weekend to visit second ranked Mississippi State.

Also this weekend, the Ragin Cajuns host Appalachian State, ULM is at Texas State, Louisiana Tech visits Middle Tennessee, S-L-U hosts Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word is at McNeese, Lamar takes on Northwestern and Corpus Christi travels to Nicholls.

Two people in a suspected stolen car died when it crashed into a New Orleans beauty shop last night which sparked a three-alarm fire. NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson says officers tried to stop the car, but the vehicle sped away…
cut 7 (09) “….traffic stop”
Ferguson says a few moments later the vehicle crashed into the beauty salon. Several other people were injured, including a woman in the building who was badly burned.

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office has charged 42-year-old Heather Hidalgo with first-degree murder of her 18-month daughter, who reportedly had a fatal range for an adult of methadone and other drugs in her system. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Casey Raborn Hicks…
cut 12 (08) “…pregnancy”

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association is addressing the energy industry’s challenges and opportunities at its annual meeting in Lake Charles. Matt Doyle has the story.
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute finds that East Carroll is the unhealthiest parish in the nation. Morehouse Parish came in second. Cameron and Ascension Parish are the healthiest.

LSU leads Yale 45-29 at halftime in their first round NCAA Tournament game.

According to research from staffing firm Robert Half, 72% of managers say work environments that include March Madness activities improve employee morale. New Orleans senior recruiting manager Carrie Lewis says when in moderation, there are definite potential benefits to group activities tied to the college basketball games…
Cut 4 (11) “…their favorite school.”
Many workers will take an extended lunch break today to watch LSU take on Yale in the NCAA Tournament. The game gets underway at 11:40.

Governor Edwards applauds LSU’s decision to give head football coach Ed Orgeron a two-year contract extension that includes a 14-percent raise to boost his salary to four million dollars a year…
cut 9 (09) “…..foundation”
Edwards made the comments on his monthly talk show.

A Baton Rouge mom has been charged with murder after authorities say she admitted to giving her toddler various drugs on a daily basis for months. East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office spokesperson Casey Raborn Hicks says the toxicology report on 42-year-old Heather Hidalgo’s 18-month-old child had disturbing results…
cut 11 (11) “…system”
Hicks says Hidalgo said she was trying to comfort the child.

It’s the first full day of spring and state climatologist Barry Keim says the long-term forecast calls for a wetter and warmer spring for the Gulf South. State Climatologist Barry Keim says that prediction means good and bad news….
cut 15 (10) “….and other cattle”
But rain chances will be very low through the weekend as this run of nice weather continues.