The NFL Network reports the league has rescinded Louisiana Tech pass rusher Jaylon Ferguson invite to the scouting combine because he was convicted of simple battery as a freshman in Ruston. Ferguson was arrested after a fight at a McDonald’s. The NFL has told clubs they will bar players from the combine, if a background check reveals a conviction involving violence. Ferguson’s agent says the NFL should allow players in Jaylon’s situation the opportunity to prove to potential employers they are remorseful.

LSU freshman defensive tackle Dominic Livingston who played in one game last season as a true freshman has entered the transfer portal, while fellow freshman defensive tackle Davin Cotton removed his name from the transfer portal.

LSU basketball remains in second place in the SEC after Tennessee stay undefeated in league play with an 85-73 win over South Carolina. The 10-and-1 Tigers are at 1-and-10 Georgia on Saturday, while Tennessee visits Kentucky.

Southeastern Louisiana moved into a tie for third place in the Southland with a 70-64 win over Incarnate Word last night. Senior Moses Greenwood led the way with 25 points and 10 rebounds for his 9th double-double of the season. The Lions are now 8-4 in the Southland and they’ve won eight of their last nine.

Northwestern State’s rally came up short last night as the Demons lost to Lamar 75-70. Northwestern is now 4-8 in the Southland. McNeese also came up short last night, losing to Stephen F Austin 67-57. And Abilene Christian crushed Nicholls 64-48.

Tonight, Louisiana Tech hosts UTEP. The Bulldogs have lost three in a row, but they are 12-0 this season in the TAC. The Miners are 8-15 on the year and have yet to win away from El Paso this season. Tip-off is at 6:30.

The Pelicans play their final game before the All-Star break tonight against Oklahoma City. What kind of effort will New Orleans give? It seemed like they gave up on the season in an embarrassing loss to Orlando on Tuesday. There are 24 games left in this season that’s going nowhere.

Congressional leaders have agreed to provide 1.37 of the 5.7 billion dollars the President has demanded to construct additional physical barriers along the US-Mexican border. Senator John Kennedy says he hasn’t read the entire bill yet, but he’s been told that when combined with other funds, the final tab is a bit higher.
Cut 4 (12) “…October.”
The U-S House will vote on the border security bill today.

Beginning this fall, Louisiana will become only the second state in the US with military veteran centers on every college campus. Chancellor of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System Monty Sullivan says the resource centers will help vets transition into the campus lifestyle.
Cut 13 (07) “…the resource available.”
The program is called LaVetCorps and it will cost 520-thousand dollars a year, but federal grant money will pay for over half of the cost.

Legislation to allow the state’s 15 riverboats to expand gambling space onto land was approved last year, but we haven’t seen any expansions yet. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says so far he knows of only two who are actively working out their expansion plans…
cut 11 (10) “…El Dorado’
Jones says the Belle in Baton Rouge has paued their plans to initiate an expansion.

On this Valentine’s Day, the Louisiana Family Forum is recognizing over a dozen married couples who have been married for over 70 years. General Counsel Kristie Cross…
cut 8 (12) “…hall of fame”
The longest known married couple is Wallace and Gladys Menard of Duson, who have been husband and wife for 80 years.

Congressional leaders say a 1.37 billion dollar southern border wall compromise has been reached. Matt Doyle spoke with Senator John Kennedy…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A nine-year-old boy was shot to death in Jefferson Parish. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says they’ll hold a press conference at 11 AM to provide more details.

And in Pointe Coupee Parish, authorities say a woman was fatally shot during a drive by shooting in the town of Glynn during the overnight hours.

Starting this fall, every college campus in Louisiana will have a veteran center to help vets transition into a campus lifestyle. Chancellor of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System Monty Sullivan says the number of vets enrolled in colleges across the state has significantly increased in recent years…
cut 14 (11) “….this past year”
Federal grants will pay for most of the cost of this program.

On this Valentine’s Day, the Louisiana Family Forum is honoring the state’s longest married couples. Kristie Cross says married couples who have reached 70 years are in their Hall of Fame and it should be a lesson to newlyweds…
cut 9 (11) “…these marriages”
Cross says Wallace and Gladys Menard of Duson is the longest known married couple at 80 years.

It appears Congress is getting ready to vote for a border security bill that would provide only a fraction of the billions of dollars President Trump has demanded to secure the southern border. Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy says he’s not sure if he will vote for the deal, but the nearly two billion dollars contained in the bill is not a bad start towards wall expansion efforts…
cut 5 (11) “…250”
President Trump has signaled he will sign the legislation.

The state has announced that its putting help centers on every college campus in Louisiana to help military veterans. Chancellor of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Monty Sullivan says the 520-thousand dollar program will help veterans interact with other vets on campus…
cut 15 (06) “…college environment”
Louisiana would be just the second state to have veteran centers on college campuses.

It’s been nearly a year since legislation passed to allow riverboat casinos to expand on land within 1,200 feet of their river mooring, and so far no ground has been broken on those sought after expansions. Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says that was expected, and it may be quite some time before any casinos climb up out of the water.
Cut 10 (09) “…ten years”

On this Valentine’s Day, the Louisiana Family Forum is recognizing over a dozen married couples who have been married for over 70 years. General Counsel Kristie Cross…
cut 8 (12) “…hall of fame”
The longest known married couple is Wallace and Gladys Menard of Duson, who have been husband and wife for 80 years.

Congressional leaders have agreed to provide 1.37 of the 5.7 billion dollars the President has demanded to construct additional physical barriers along the US-Mexican border. Senator John Kennedy says he hasn’t read the entire bill yet, but he’s been told that when combined with other funds, the final tab is a bit higher.
Cut 4 (12) “…October.”
The U-S House will vote on the border security bill today.

Beginning this fall, Louisiana will become only the second state in the US with military veteran centers on every college campus. Chancellor of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System Monty Sullivan says the resource centers will help vets transition into the campus lifestyle.
Cut 13 (07) “…the resource available.”

In honor of Valentine’s Day, Louisiana Family Forum has found the longest married couple in the state. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The state department of transportation now says emergency repairs on the Sunshine Bridge in Donaldsonville will be completed in mid-March.

Thousands of Americans who have received their federal tax refunds are wondering why it’s smaller this year. Frank Holzenthal with the Louisiana CPA Society says it’s the result of changes with the federal tax code, but many workers have also been bringing home bigger checks since the tax reform was enacted last year…
cut 12 (09) “…structured”
The I-R-S says the average refund is eight-percent smaller this year compared to last.

LSU Ag Center Aquaculture Specialist Greg Lutz has some good news for crawfish fanatics: this year’s crop is looking pretty good. Despite some topsy-turvy weather lately, he says the conditions are ripe for a solid, but not record setting year for size and supply.
Cut 4 (10) “…out there.”

Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton announces he will not seek re-election. Hilton was first elected sheriff in 1992, retired in 2008, but was elected again in 2011 and he says this retirement is final…
cut 8 (08) “…when I retired”
Hilton says his proudest accomplishment is supplying each school with a resource officer.

The 19th ranked LSU basketball team made a huge statement last night by beating 5th ranked Kentucky 73-71 in Lexington. Kavell Bigby-Williams with the tip-in at the buzzer stunned the Rupp Arena crowd and ended the Wildcats 10-game winning streak. LSU came back from nine points down in the second half to win. Coach Will Wade…
cut 20 (14) “…tonight”
It’s only the second time in program history that LSU has defeated a Top five team on the road. 1980 was the only other time.

LSU is becoming a basketball school as the Tigers made a strong statement last night with a 73-71 upset win over 5th ranked Kentucky. It’s only the second time in program history that LSU has defeated a Top 5 team on the road. The Tigers are now 20-4, 10-1 in the SEC and will look for another road win on Saturday at Georgia.

Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton is not seeking re-election, making his sixth term his last. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

It was another cool morning across Louisiana and LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Specialist Greg Lutz says these cold snaps are keeping crawfish from getting bigger…
cut 5 (10) “…growing”
The forecast calls for warmer temperatures the rest of the work week, which should help create a better supply of crawfish.

And we are keeping an eye on the Mississippi River which is rising again. But President of the Fifth Louisiana Levee District Reynold Minsky says the levees in northeast Louisiana should be able to handle all the water that’s on its way…
cut 14 (09) “….have to sandbag”
But Minsky says more rain in the Missouri and Ohio River valleys could cause problems, especially in Tensas Parish, which is susceptible to overtopping.

Matt Doyle has some good news about this year’s crawfish crop…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

LSU fans are feeling good today after watching the 19th ranked Tigers upset 5th ranked Kentucky on a tip in at the buzzer. 73-71 was the final score. Many Kentucky fans believe the last basket should not have counted, because they claim it was offensive goal tending, but finally a call for a Louisiana sports team went their way.

River levels for the Mississippi are very high and they are forecast to continue to rise. President of the 5th Louisiana Levee District Reynold Minsky says as bad as it is, it could be much worse, but the future is highly dependent on weather conditions in other areas of the country.
Cut 13 (12) “…range of valleys.”
The 5th district levees offer protection of at least 58 feet.

Longtime Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton announces he will retire and not seek re-election to a seventh term this year. Hilton started his first stint as sheriff in 1992, retired in 2008, but came back four years later. Hilton says he’s proud of putting a school resource officer at every school in Rapides Parish…
cut 9 (10) “…remembered for”
Hilton says the biggest challenge for the next sheriff will be controlling a growing drug problem.