With four more regular season games left, 13th ranked LSU is in a three-way tie for first place in the Southeastern Conference after the Tigers thrilling 82-80 overtime win over 5th ranked Tennessee on Saturday. Starting point guard Tremont Waters missed the game, because of an illness, but Javonte Smart and Skylar Mays combined for 52 points, Smart had 29. Coach Will Wade says Smart was phenomenal…
cut 16 (20) “…our team”
Tennessee and Kentucky are the other two teams tied with LSU for first place. The Vols and Wildcats will play each other on Saturday, while the Tigers will play three teams down the stretch that have a losing record in conference play, including Texas A-and-M on Tuesday.

For the first time since 2014, LSU is off to a 7-0 start. The Tigers completed a three-game sweep of Bryant with a 4-3 victory over the Bulldogs on Sunday. Josh Smith and Zach Watson each had two hits, while Antoine Duplantis drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the sixth inning. Aaron George was the winning pitcher as he struck out three in relief and Todd Peterson had a six-out save.

Louisiana Tech split a Sunday doubleheader with Troy. The Bulldogs hit four home runs in an 11-4 victory over the Trojans. Taylor Young and Mason Mallard each had three hits, including a home run. Troy took Game two 7-5.

ULM also split a doubleheader with S-I-U Edwardsville, Sam Houston State defeated the Ragin Cajuns nine to two. Nicholls swept a doubleheader from Grambling, while Southern split a doubleheader from Northwestern State.

Texas State defeated McNeese five to three in eleven innings and Southeastern Louisiana shutout Stony Brook 8 to 0.
And in the NBA tonight, the Pelicans, who are coming off a win over the Lakers, are at the 76ers.

37-thousand people enrolled in Medicaid have been told they no longer qualify for the taxpayer funded health care coverage, because they make too much money. Louisiana Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says a new computer system does a more thorough job of checking to make sure a Medicaid recipient qualifies for the program…
cut 8 (08) “…effectively managing”
If you received one of these notifications and can’t prove you no longer meet the income qualifications, your Medicaid coverage will end by March 31st.

LSU announces the administrators put on leave last week so an investigation can be conducted into what they knew about the hazing allegations at Delta Kappa Epsilon have been cleared of any wrongdoing. LSU says an investigation determined they did not try to sweep under the rug accusations of hazing that were allegedly taking place inside the DKE frat house.

Federal and state officials signed an agreement to allow construction on a $760 million flood protection project estimated to benefit over 60,000 people in St. James, St. John and St. Charles parishes. Congressman Garret Graves says it took 45 years for the state to gain the funding and construction on 18.5 miles of earthen levees should begin later this year.
Cut 5 (08)“…being made here.”
The levees will protect against storm surge that impaced the river parishes during Hurricane Isaac in 2012.

Six men will be inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in Winnfield today. They are former Secretary of State Paul Hardy, former first gentleman Raymond Blanco, the husband of former governor Kathleen Blanco, the C-E-O of Acaidan Ambulance Richard Zuschlag, former state representative Ron Gomez, Fourth circuit court of appeals judge Edwin Lombard and Marion Edwards, who is the late brother to former governor Edwin Edwards.

Thousands of Medicaid patients have been told they are no longer eligible for the taxpayer financed health care coverage after an improved computer system found they no longer meet the income requirements. Louisiana Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says most of those who no longer qualify are low-wage income workers, and may qualify for subsidies through the Affordable Care Act.
Cut 7 (09) “…for it.”
Gee says they usually find about 18,000 individuals every month who no longer qualify for Medicaid, this month the total was 37,000.

The Edwards administration has recommended a 30-million dollar budget plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. It includes pay raises for public school teachers, fully funds TOPS and provides more money for juvenile justice. But funding is uncertain, since House Republican leadership has yet to go along with a recommendation to raise the state’s income forecast.

Governor Edwards and the U-S Army Corps of Engineers has signed an agreement that allows construction to begin on a $760 million flood protection project that would protect an estimated 60,000 people in St. James, St. John and St. Charles parishes. This area saw extensive flooding during Hurricane Isaac in 2012. Congressman Garret Graves says it’s estimated this massive flood control project can reduce annual damaged from flooding by 865-million dollars over the next 50 years….
Cut 4 (12) “…of the interstate″
The 760-million dollars will pay for 18.5 miles of earthen levees.

A large portion of the state from I-10 to the north is under a slight risk for severe weather today. Northeast Louisiana is under an enhanced risk. Strong winds, hail and tornadoes are possible.

The Edwards administration has submitted a spending plan to lawmakers for next fiscal year that fully funds TOPS, gives public school teachers a raise and increases funding for social services, but it remains unclear if the funding is available. State economists project higher tax revenues than previously estimated, but Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras has blocked efforts to raise the income forecast. Barras says the economy is volatile and the Revenue Estimating Conference has been wrong before, so why not wait…
cut 10 (05) “…smaller and smaller”
Barras says he doesn’t want to appropriate money the state might not have.

Somebody missed out on a chance to claim a one million dollar Powerball prize. A ticket worth that amount from an August 26th drawing expired Thursday, with no one claiming the prize. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says the money will go into an unclaimed prize fund…
cut 13 (05) “….throughout the years”
The ticket was sold in New Oleans.

Officials have signed an agreement that sets into motion the construction of a $760 million flood protection project for the river parishes. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Some strong thunderstorms are set to move through northwest Louisiana this morning. Most of the state from I-10 to the north is under a slight risk for thunderstorms. Northeast Louisiana is under an enhanced threat as damaging winds and tornadoes are possible later today.

Officials gathered in Lutcher today for a signing ceremony that sets into motion the construction of a $760 million flood protection project for the river parishes. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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Thanks to a computer upgrade, the Louisiana Health Department has notified 37-thousand Medicaid recipients they may no longer be eligible for the taxpayer funded program, because they make too much money. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

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An agreement to begin construction on a $760 million flood protection project estimated to benefit more than 60,000 people in river parish region has been signed. Congressman Garret Graves says the west shore of Lake Pontchartrain project will consist of 18.5 miles of earthen levees and floodwalls… .

Cut 3 (10) “…the last several years.”

Communities on the west shore of Lake Pontchartrain saw extensive flooding during Hurricane Isaac in 2012.  Graves says it’s estimated this massive flood control project can reduce annual damaged from flooding by 865-million dollars over the next 50 years….

Cut 4 (12) “…of the interstate″

Graves says for 45 years the state has been attempting to gain the funding for the project and says construction should begin later this year.

Cut 5 (08)“…being made here.”

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Thousands of Medicaid patients have been told they are no longer eligible for the program after a new computer system showed they no longer meet the income requirements for the government health insurance. Louisiana Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says the new program automatically confirms your wages and income with Workforce Development and other agenices…

Cut 6 (10) “…information”

Gee says the usual turnover for Medicaid is 18,000 people a month, and after running the entire database, this month was 37,000.
The Secretary says most of those who no longer qualify are still considered low-wage and income workers, and may qualify for Obamacare subsidies.

Cut 7 (09) “…for it.”

All of those removed from the program qualified under the 2016 Medicaid expansion and are non-elderly adults.

Gee says the new system of checks also will make it easier for prospective Medicaid recipients to figure out whether or not they qualify.

Cut 8 (08) “…navigate.”

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The Edwards administration has presented state lawmakers with a proposed 30-billion dollar spending plan for next fiscal year that would give teachers a pay raise and increase funding for education and health care. But Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says funding remains uncertain, because an official forecast that shows increased revenues coming into the state has yet to be adopted

Cut 9 (08) “…recognized.”

State economists project higher tax collections than previously estimated, but Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras has blocked efforts to raise the income forecast. Barras says the economy is volatile and the Revenue Estimating Conference has been wrong before, so why not wait…

Cut 10 (05)“…smaller and smaller”

But Dardenne says eventually state lawmakers will need an official forecast in order to make decisions on funding…

Cut 11 (06)   “…do that.”

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Thursday was the deadline for the owner of a million dollar Powerball ticket to claim their prize. The ticket was sold in New Orleans for the August 25^th drawing.  So did someone show up at Louisiana Lottery headquarters to claim the prize?  Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison has the answer.

Cut 12 (05)   “…claim the prize.”

Annison says it’s rare that winnings of this magnitude go unclaimed.  The prize money will now go into the unclaimed prize fund.

Cut 13 (05) “…throughout the years.” 

Annison says the excitement around the lottery headquarters was high as the staff waited to see if anyone would show up in time to claim the prize.

Cut 14 (06)  “…it’s surprising.” 

The Edwards administration laid out its spending proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. It calls for an across the board teacher pay raise of one-thousand dollars and more funding for education and health care. But funding remains unclear, because House Republican leaders have blocked efforts to increase the state’s revenue forecast, despite recommendations from economists. House Speaker Taylor Barras says he wants to wait, to reduce the chance of spending money the state really doesn’t have. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says…
cut 11 (06) “…do that”
Dardenne hopes the Revenue Estimating Conference adopts a revised income forecast soon.

Thursday was the deadline for the owner of a million dollar Powerball ticket to claim their prize. The ticket was sold in New Orleans for the August 25th drawing. So did someone claim the prize? Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison has the answer.
Cut 12 (05) “…claim the prize.”
Annison says it’s rare that winnings of this magnitude go unclaimed. The prize money will now go into the unclaimed prize fund.

Officials gather in Lutcher today for a signing ceremony that will set into motion the construction of a $760 million flood protection project for several River Parish communities. Kevin Barnhart has more
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

It’s been 10 days since an abandoned newborn baby was found 50 yards from the entrance of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and authorities have yet to locate the mother. But the infant is said to be doing well and is in a foster home. Deputies say the child was outside for about 15 minutes, before being discovered.

A 32-year-old Lafayette Parish mom has been charged with an obscure crime for posting a video to social media showing two kids fighting at the school her son attends. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The state health department has let 37-thousand Medicaid enrollees know they could lose their taxpayer financed health care coverage. Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says it’s been determined these individuals make too much money to be eligible for coverage and credits an upgraded computer system for double-checking a Medicaid recipients’ income.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission has given approval to Entergy Louisiana to buy solar power from a 50-megawatt power plant that will be built in West Baton Rouge Parish. Entergy spokesperson Lee Sabatini says the utility company is committed to bringing green, reliable energy to customers…
cut 6 (12) “….from this power plant”
Construction on the plant is expected to be completed next year.

One of the largest Mardi Gras parades in the state is set to roll at 4:30 on Saturday in Shreveport. Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesperson Chris Jay says the Krewe of Centaur features 45 floats…
cut 7 (10) “…of stuff”
On Sunday, it’s the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux in Bossier city which usually attracts 10-thousand spectators.