Interest is growing in the legislature for a constitutional convention. Matt Doyle reports,
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”
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For the first time since 2009, the LSU Tigers will take on the UL Lafayette Ragin Cajuns. Kelley Ray has a look at the upcoming first round NIT matchup…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”
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Health care providers are spelling out exactly what would happen if the legislature cuts its way to a balanced budget. Jeff Palermo has more.
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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House and Senate committees are meeting today to discuss legislation that if adopted would trigger a constitutional convention. Much of the interest is due to the state’s current budgetary law that restricts cuts to only higher ed and health care when faced with a budget deficit. Senator Troy Carter, who has proposed his own bill to tackle the issue, says it’s time to bring our government into 2018.
Cut 4 (07) “21st century”
The Senator says the world has changed substantially since Louisiana’s last constitutional convention in 1974. He says the state needs to adapt to new economic realities.
Cut 5 (08) “any more”
A constitutional convention would likely take at least a year to complete, which wouldn’t do anything to solve the impending fiscal cliff, but the New Orleans Democrat says it could lead to a more reasonable budgetary process in the future.
Cut 6 (07) “the brunt.”
Representatives Neil Abrahamson, Frank Foil, and Barry Ivey, as well as Senator Page Cortez have also introduced legislation to trigger a convention.
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The Ragin Cajuns basketball team seems ready for tonight’s 6 PM N-I-T match-up between UL-Lafayette and LSU. Cajuns coach Bob Marlin says it’s great to play in Baton Rouge, but he believes they should have been seeded higher than LSU and the home team…
Cut 7 (11) “32 teams.”
This will be the 47th meeting on the hardwood between the two south Louisiana schools, but it’s the first time they’ve played each other since 2009. Marlin says he’s tried to schedule LSU more often and even tried to get the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches involved…
Cut 8 (11) “that either.”
Marlin says it’s sad that it took a NIT committee to finally pit UL-Lafayette against the Tigers…
Cut 9 (12) “be honest.”
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If the legislature decides to cut its way through the billion dollar budget gap, private health care providers warn the consequences would be dire. If the Department of Health sustains the kinds of cuts being discussed, public-private facilities would be on the chopping block. Our Lady of the Lake President Scott Wester says those cuts would mean the end of their partnership with the state, LSU, and LDH.
Cut 10 (07) “our agreement.”
Wester says that would end care for tens of thousands of patients with a variety of health issues.
Cut 11 (11) “Baton Rouge”
Our Lady of the Lake has a robust residency program that allows hundreds of aspiring doctors get the experience necessary to complete their education. Wester says if the cuts go through, hundreds of LSU students would lose that opportunity.
Cut 12 (12) “it self”
Wester says the cuts would also damage rural hospitals and nursing homes.
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Livingston Sheriff Jason Ard urges persons in an abusive relationship to have a restraining protection order in place. Authorities say 43-year-old Ricardo Diaz shot and killed 31-year-old Lydia Johnson in Walker, then led police on a chase to the Mississippi River Bridge and jumped. Both left behind seven children. Ard says sadly this case ended in tragedy even with a protective order in place, but it normally gives police an extra layer of defense…
Cut 13 (08) “arrest someone.”
Ard says there are times even when a restraining order is in place, the victim becomes too scared to notify police if the person they are trying to avoid continues to harass them…
Cut 14 (07) “restraining order.”
Ard encourages anyone in an abusive relationship to work closely with them in putting measures in place to help prevent tragedies such as what occurred this week…
Cut 15 (09) “be done.”
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The 16th ranked LSU baseball team hosts South Alabama tonight in its final non-conference game before SEC play begins. The Tigers are 11-6 and Coach Paul Mainieri says he likes what he’s seen so far
Cut 16 (11) “go with.”
LSU will begin conference play on Friday when they host Missouri. But Mainieri says they have a big game tonight against the Jaguars…
Cut 17 (18) “tradition”
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The next playmaker for LSU’s offense appears to be Jonathan Giles. The six-foot wide receiver sat out last season after transferring in from Texas Tech. Even though he didn’t play a game last season, he impressed the coaches enough that he’s wearing number seven, an iconic number in Tiger Town over the last decade. Giles says it’s an honor to wear number seven…
Cut 18 (19) “be here”
Giles says he likes being around new offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger…
Cut 19 (17) “around him”
Coach Ed Orgeron said LSU’s defensive backs had trouble keeping up with Giles as a member of the scout team offense. D-B-U took exception to that on social media. Giles admits he’s had some good battles with LSU’s safeties and corners
Cut 20 (12)”those guys”