The Louisiana Department of Health has a new approach in providing home and community services to those with developmental diabilities. Kevin Barnhart has more.
Cut 2 (29) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Audubon Zoo officials will hold a press conference at one o’ clock this afternoon to give an update on the investigation into how a jaguar escaped and killed nine other animals over the weekend. Investigators believe the jaguar damaged steel cable barrier and zoo-keeper error is not a factor.

Carb washing… It’s the latest trend seen on football fields, boxing rings, and recently the world cup. Some athletes say the practice of rinsing a carb solution around in their mouth, but not consuming it, is providing a boost. Assistant Professor at LSU Health New Orleans, Dr. Henry Nuss says scientists are not so sure of the validity of the claims.
Cut 7 (12) “…I should try it. ”

Can LSU knock off Alabama this season. That question was posed to the players from LSU who were at SEC Media Days in Atlanta. Linebacker Devin White losing to the Crimson Tide doesn’t hurt any worse than other losses….
cut 15 (10) “….of me”

The Louisiana Department of Health announces a new approach to end the 25-year-old waiting list for thousands of citizens with developmental disabilities who are seeking home and community-based services. L-D-H’s Deputy Secretary Mark Thomas says a tiered waiver system puts poeple and their needs first….
cut 11 (07) “…services ASAP”
Previously, these community-based services were offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

After looking at all of the numbers, the Tax Foundation has determined Tennessee holds the distinction of having the highest combined state and local sales tax rate in the nation, barely beating out Louisiana. The Tax Foundation’s Scott Drenkard….
cut 5 (11) “…as high as six percent”

Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy announces he will not seek a fourth-term in office. Roy says he’s sticking to a self-imposed limit of three terms, which will allow for new blood, fresh ideas and new players which are vital to democracies.

LSU took its turn at SEC Media Days yesterday, and got peppered with questions about the new offense, and just who will run it in August. Matt Doyle has the story.
Voicer 3 (32) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Due to the renewal of a partial penny state sales tax and a tax rate drop in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana no longer holds the dubious distinction of the highest sales tax rate when combining the state’s rate and the average local sales tax rate. An economist for the Tax Foundation, Scott Drenkard, says that title now belongs to Tennessee.
Cut 4 (10) “…less than Tennessee.”
Drenkard says Louisiana could lower it’s sales tax rate, if it expands the sales tax to services that it currently doesn’t cover, like salons, barbers and veterinary services.

Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves says he strongly disagrees with what President Donald Trump had to say when it comes whether Russia meddled in the 2016 US Election. Mr. Trump questioned American intelligence findings after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. But Graves says multiple investigations have proved Russia meddled in the US elections and the President should provide additional clarity on the United States relationship with Russia.

The Louisiana Department of Health says they are ending a 25-year waitlist for people with developmental disabilities that are in need of home-based medical support and personal care assistance. L-D-H’s Deputy Secretary, Doctor Mark Thomas, says the new plan prioritizes the needs of people instead of the date they applied for services…
cut 12 (11) “…losing their home place”
Thomas says anyone who has an urgent need for home and community based services gets those vital services much sooner.

Carb rinsing, the spitting out of sports drinks was a popular practice at the just concluded World Cup. But Assistant Professor at LSU Health New Orleans, Doctor Henry Nuss, has better advice for those looking to achieve peak physical performance…
cut 9 (09) “…better than that”

A new approach by the Louisiana Department of Health in providing home and community services will end the waiting list for thousands of citizens with developmental disabilities. Deputy Secretary of LDH, Mark Thomas, explains the new method will now prioritize the over 16,000 on the list by urgency.
Cut 10 (08) “…of our department”
Thomas says the new plans means individuals with a greater urgency of need will be priorities for receiving the most approprate home and community-based services.

During the World Cup you saw a lot of the athletes spitting out their sports drinks in a practice known as “Carb Rinsing.” LSU Health New Orleans, Doctor Henry Nuss, says there are studies indicate its works and the theory comes down to a mental shell game with your body….
cut 8 (07) “…start working harder”
Nuss staying hydrated and cosuming the appropriate number of calories is the best way to acheive peak physical performance.

All nine of the animals attacked by an escaped jaguar at the Audobon Zoo in New Orleans have now died. Zoo officials believe the young male jaguar busted a steel cable barrier which allowed him to get out of the roof of his enclosure.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron admitted during SEC Media Days it was a mistake to hire Matt Canada as the Tigers offensive coordinator last season. But Orgeron is confident new coordinator and former tight ends coach Steve Ensminger will do a great job…
cut 13 (10) “….with Steve”
Orgeron also told reporters he’s looking to have the never-ending quarterback question solved by the time the regular season starts.

LSU has lost a verbal commitment from a three-star linebacker out of Mississippi. Zach Edwards from Starkville announced on Twitter that he’s decided to take a step back and decommit from LSU. He’s opening his recruitment to all schools. Edwards committed to LSU on March 3^rd, but over the last three weeks LSU has received commitments from two other inside linebackers.

Alabama has announced that former four-star linebacker Terrell Lewis tore his ACL while training and a time frame for his return is unknown. Lewis was expected to be the Crimson Tide’s best pass rusher this season. Earlier this week, Nick Saban dismissed sophomore linebacker VanDarius Cowan from the team.

Former Saints cornerback Brandon Browner is now facing a charge of attempted murder as a result of the alleged house break-in he committed on Sunday in California. A woman inside that home alleges that Browner physically harmed her and threatened her life.

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Former Northwestern State standout Mark Duper will be inducted into the Miami Dolphins Walk of Fame prior to the game versus Buffalo on December 2^nd. He’ll go into the Walk of Fame with Mark Clayton. The “Mark Brothers” put up big numbers in the 1980s catching passes from Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.

Razorbacks Baseball Coach Dave Van Horn has told the media in Arkansas he’s agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2023 season with options for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Van Horn just led the Hogs to within one strike of winning its first national championship in baseball.

The Zurich Classic will once again be on the final weekend of April in 2019, but the rest of the PGA Tour schedule looks different. The Players Championship is moving back to mid-March, the PGA Championship will be in May instead of August and the FedEx Cup playoffs will consist of three tournaments and end before Labor Day weekend.

Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy say they like the President’s pick for the soon to be vacant seat on the US Supreme Court. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The state has released LEAP test results today and State Superintendent of Education John White says 43-percent of third through 12th graders scored mastery or above in English, but only 33-percent did so in math…..
cut 8 (10) “….in mathematics”

30-year-old Robert Kimble from Pointe Coupee Parish has been ordered to pay over 10-thousand dollars in civil restitution for killing a black bear in Concordia Parish last November. General Counsel with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Yolanda Martin says Kimble admitted to shooting the bear…
cut 16 (08) “…with the agency”

The State Police Bureau of Investigations is looking into this morning’s police shooting in Baton Rouge involving a State Trooper and a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a traffic stop.
cut 11 (07) “…everything took place”
Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says the officer at the scene suffered a minor injury, while the non compliant passenger was sent to a local hospital with a gunshot wound.

Louisiana’s US Senators seem to be on board with President Donald Trump’s nominee to the US Supreme Court, D-C based federal appellate judge Brett Kavanaugh. Bill Cassidy says Kavanaugh’s track record on past decisions, compares favorably with the newest justice, Neil Gorsuch…
cut 4 (10) “…like most”
Junior Louisiana Senator John Kennedy says Kavanaugh has an impressive resume, but a confirmation hearing needs to happen first before he fully supports the president’s nomation.

State Police say one of their troopers was shot during a traffic stop in Baton Rouge early this morning. The trooper sustained a minor injury and a noncompliant passenger in the vehicle was also shot and hospitalized….
cut 10 (05) “…injuries there”
Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says the search is on for two individuals who fled from the vehicle after gunfire was exchanged.

This year’s LEAP Test results are in, and average scores are up one percent over the 2016-2017 school year. The percentage of students in the 3rd through 8th grade who scored mastery level or above is 34 percent. Only 21 percent of African American students scored mastery level or above, and Superintendent of Education John White says this needs to be a major focus going forward.
cut 6 (07) “…not closing”

The state department of corrections says the savings from the 2017 criminal justice reform laws has doubled previous projections. Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc credits new programs to help nonviolent offenders get out of the system faster if they achieve certain benchmarks….
cut 15 (06) “…rewarded”
The state says the savings from last year fiscal year total 12-million dollars.