Baton Rouge native Scott Woodward is the new LSU athletics director, after spending the last four years leading the Texas A-and-M athletic department. Matt Doyle talked with a Lone Star State writer about what to expect…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The latest data from the Louisiana survey shows how Louisiana residents feel about recreational marijuana and sports betting.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

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Baton Rouge boy Scott Woodward is coming home to take over LSU Athletics after a four-year run as Texas A&M’s Athletic Director. Woodward made a big splash in College Station by hiring football coach Jimbo Fisher and basketball coach Buzz Williams. Robert Cessna with AggieSports.com says he’s a real winner.

Cut 3 (10) “…everybody ”

Cessna also praised Woodward for his work on getting a softball stadium ready in time for the senior class.

LSU tried and failed to lure Fisher in 2015, but Woodward sealed the deal a year later with a ten-year, 75 million dollar deal. Woodward will be tasked with beating a school he just helped rebuild, but for now he’ll do it with a coach he didn’t hire…

Cut 4 (08) “…to beat”

The LSU/A&M rivalry has been heating up over the years, and last year exploded in a physical altercation between coaches at the end of a controversial Tiger loss to end the regular season. Cessna says get ready for an even more heated competition.

Cut 5 (11) “…other side”

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The latest data released from the Louisiana Survey shows majority support for both legalized sports betting as well as the legalization of recreational marijuana use.  LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Dr. Mike Henderson says sports betting received support from 59% of residents while recreational marijuana received the approval of 55% of residents.

Cut 6 (08) “…social issues.”

Henderson says there is a big generational gap on recreational pot support.  A majority of support comes from younger residents.  80% of those ages 18-29 support the idea of legalization, but those 65 and older showed a 69% opposition.

Cut 7 (10) “…to the idea.”

Legislation to legalize sports betting in Louisiana is up for discussion in the session.  Governor Edwards has voiced his support for the activity.  Henderson says in addition to the latest data, there is a history of public opinion in the state that would indicate support.

Cut 8 (12) “…support for this”

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A tornado watch is in effect for this afternoon for much of south Louisiana, a portion of central Louisiana and delta parishes in northeast Louisiana. National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Efferson says the big concern is that the unstable atmosphere has the potential of producing strong tornadoes…

Cut 9 (08) “…part of the area”

A strong line of storms is making its way across Louisiana. Efferson says tornadoes are the biggest threat, but we can also see other forms of severe weather…

Cut 10 (08) “…pretty significant.”

Efferson says the area covered by the tornado watch is under an enhanced risk of severe weather…

Cut 11 (08)   “…means”

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Ground has been broken on the 450-million dollar Comite River Diversion project. It’s a 12 mile long canal running from the Comite to the Mississippi River, diverting water out of northern East Baton Rouge Parish waterways that present a flood risk for E-B-R and Livingston parishes. Central Mayor David Barrow says it’s long overdue.

Cut 12 (12) “…damage”

Locals have been paying taxes towards a diversion project since 1983, but the construction just kept getting pushed back as the state’s backlog of flood prevention initiatives grew larger and larger. Barrow says at least now there appears to be an end in sight.

Cut 13 (11) “…three years”

The canal would run between the town’s of Baker and Zachary.

But the Mayor was quick to note that even after it’s completed, it’s still possible the area could flood, it just likely will not be as devastating as the 2016 event.

Cut 14 (10) “…relief”

Construction is expected to be complete by 2021.

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

 Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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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.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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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.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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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.

Cut 9 (09) “…employee″

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.

Cut 13 (06) “Louisiana.”

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.

Cut 14 (12) “…Scott.”

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…

Cut 19 (11)    looks like” 

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…

Cut 20 (24) “…here for”