The nation observes its 47th federally recognized Memorial Day today. The tradition memorializes those who died while serving in the US Military. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs spokesperson Alex Juan is asking people to keep in mind what that means for Gold Star Families who have lost a loved one in service to our country.
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Juansays visiting one of the eight veterans cemeteries in Louisiana is an apporpriate way to recognize the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

An eleven-year-old girl was killed in a police chase in Opelousas on Sunday morning and authorities are looking for two men she was with prior to her death. The family of Bryla Bell say she snuck out of the home and got into a truck with two people inside. When Opelousas Police approached the vehicle, two men jumped out and the girl took the wheel of the vehicle and which eventually struck an embankment and she died.

The summer swim season has begun, but unfortunately the C-D-C has to respond to U-S Recreational Water Illness outbreaks. Michele Hlavsa (Hill-lav-sa) says there’s one spot that seems to be teeming with nasty bacteria that could ruin a vaction and that’s a hotel pool….
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For those who own their pool, make sure you are using test strips to make sure the chlorine levels are where they need to be.

Thanks to a 4-2 record at the SEC Tournament, the LSU Baseball team will likely make the NCAA Tournament by receiving an at-large bid. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says this is a more confident team then they were a week ago….
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The NCAA Tournament Selection Show is at 11 AM.

The LSU Tigers are very close to advancing to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. They were leading Florida 10-0 in the sixth inning last night when a thick fogged rolled in and halted play. The game will resume at 10 AM this morning and if LSU can get three outs in the seventh inning without Florida scoring, they will win by mercy rule.

Louisiana Tech was bounced from the Conference USA Tournament as the Bulldogs lost to 27^th ranked Florida Atlantic 8-6. Tech grabbed a 3-0 lead in the 2^nd inning, but couldn’t overcome a four-run 4^th inning. Tech waits to see if its 39-20 record is good enough to make the NCAA Tournament. The field is revealed on Monday.

Ugly end to the Sun Belt Tournament for the Ragin Cajuns. After winning their first game 19-16, they lost 10-1 to Troy and then fell to Texas State 11-1 last night. UL Lafayette not expected to receive an NCAA Tournament bid.

Northwestern State is in the Southland Tournament title game for the first time since 2006 after beating seventh-seeded Nicholls three to two. The third seeded Demons scored two runs in the eighth inning. Southland Conference Player of the Year David Fry tied the game with an RBI triple and scored the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice. Jose Vasquez struck out the side in the 9^th inning for his fourth save of the year.

The Demons will play either UNO or Houston Baptist in the Southland Tournament Championship game which will begin at 6 PM. The Huskies beat the Privateers 4-3 in 12 innings in a game that ended early this morning. UNO’s Orynn Veillon hit a two-run homer in the 8th inning to tie the game. A rematch with Houston Baptist begins at 1 o’ clock in Sugar Land, Texas.

The LSU softball team is one win away from advancing to its fourth straight Women’s College Series after holding on for a six to five win over Florida State.  Game two of the best of three series is at 4 PM today.

Four days into the special session and there’s only been one significant piece legislation that has made it to the House floor that could significantly reduce the budget gap. The measure would result in consumers paying a state sales tax of 4.3 percent after July 1st and it’s expected to generate 370-million dollars in revenue, but the shortfall is pegged at 648-million. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says the bill is the best opportunity at reducing the proposed cuts within state government….
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But it’s unclear if this legislation has the 70 votes to get full House approval.

The LSU baseball team will take on Florida tonight in an elimination game at the SEC Tournament. The Gators lost to Arkansas earlier today.

It’s not even hurricane season and we already have our first named storm. Subtropical storm Alberto has formed near the Yucatan Peninsula and the five day forecast has southeast Louisiana in the cone of uncertainity for landfall early next week. Phil Grigsby is with the National Weather Service in Slidell and he says heavy rainfall is Alberto’s main threat….
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Grigsby says coastal areas need to keep a close eye on this one.

The State Fire Marshal’s office continues to investigate the explosion at the Proctor and Gamble plant in Pineville claimed the life of a Jena man. An earlier report from Proctor and Gamble said that there was no plant explosion, and the death was related to a forklift incident, but State Fire Marshal office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says investigators have confirmed that a smaller scale explosion did occur….
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56-year-old Allen Kendrick of Jena died in the incident.

The Public Affairs Research Council believes the temporary sales tax bill approved Thursday by the House Ways and Means Committee provides the legislature with its best opportunity at raising enough revenue to pass a budget. PAR President Robert Travis Scott says the legislation can lessen the fiscal cliff by renewing one-third of an expiring one-cent sales tax, but not everyone likes it, which might be a good thing…
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Scott says this House bill is the most viable instrument to propel the special session toward a sensible outcome.

Sub Tropical Storm Alberto has formed near the Yucatan Peninsula. The five day forecast calls for the system making landfall near the Mississippi-Alabama line early next week, keeping Louisiana on the good side of the storm, but Phil Grigsby with the National Weather Service says….
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State troopers from Louisiana and Mississippi are working together to promote highway safety along I-55. Becca Dill has the story.
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It’s also a Click It or Ticket weekend, which means law enforcement is looking for motorists who are not buckled up. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert….
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13 percent of Louisiana drivers admitted in a recent survey they do not wear a seat belt.

The first named storm of the season has formed at the edge of the Caribbean Sea, and his name is Alberto. Alberto is expected to develop into a tropical storm, and could put Memorial Day weekend plans at risk for folks across the gulf coast. National Weather Service Slidell Forecaster Phil Grigsby says the five-day forecast shows Alberto could impact Louisiana
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Heavy rains are the biggest concern with Alberto.

LSU baseball fans are still buzzing over the two-run double hit by pitcher Todd Peterson to help the Tigers beat South Carolina six to four in 12 innings in last night’s SEC Tournament elimination. Peterson says he never hit in a competitive game in high school, but sounded like a hitter in the post game press conference….
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The Tigers play again tonight.

A report from America’s Health Rankings says Louisiana seniors have the worst health outcomes in the nation. Michael Farrar has the story.
Voicer 1 (29) I”m Michael Farrar“

Louisiana Troopers are partnering with Mississippi Highway Patrol in a new highway safety initiative called “Line to Line.” Senior Trooper Dustin Dwight…
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