The state’s two largest teachers unions are responding to Governor Edwards’ push for a 1,000 dollar pay raise for teachers, and a 500 dollar pay raise for support personnel. But one group says it’s not enough. Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says it would take a 1,850 dollar raise to get Bayou educators to the regional average, but the regional average is also too low.
Cut 4 (12) “…the conversation.”
Louisiana Association of Educators President Debbie Meaux says her organization is seeking a 1,200 dollar a year raise for teachers.

Slidell High School teacher Valerie Scogin is facing backlash for a Facebook post that said, “Want to not be stereotyped, tell people of that color to quit acting like animals.” It’s unclear who the message was directed to, but a school official says it has been taken down and the school system is taking appropriate disciplinary actions.

The Bayou Bridge Pipeline could be facing a delay, after agreeing to cease construction on private property in St. Martinville after the owner alleged the company was there illegally. Matt Doyle has more.
voicer 2 (31) ”I’m Matt Doyle”

Walker High’s head football coach, Lester Ricard, along with an assistant coach Marcus Brown, have resigned. The resignations come days after the announcement the two had been suspended. The question of “Why?” remains. Prep writer for The Advocate, Robin Fambrough, says Ricard, a former quarterback at Tulane, had the program heading in the right direction.
Cut 11 (08) “…disappointed”
A Baton Rouge TV station reports officials are looking into suggestive comments and text messages to young women.

Governor John Bel Edwards will urge lawmakers next year to support giving public school teachers a one-thousand dollar pay raise. But Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says a one-thousand dollar salary boost would still leave the average salary in this state below the Southern Regional Average….
cut 5 (08) “….of teachers”
Landon says a recent survey of his organization found support for a potential strike, if teachers do not receive an adequate pay bump, and increased funding for public schools.

The company building the Bayou Bridge pipeline has agreed to stop work on a parcel of land in St. Martin Parish until an eminent domain dispute can be settled with a property owner. Louisiana Bucket Brigade Director Anne Rolfes says they’ve had protesters demonstrating near work sites arrested and they believe this is a victory in their efforts…
cut 9 (05) “…in handcuffs”
Energy Transfer Partners says completion of the project has not been delayed.

Hundreds gathered at a park in Kenner in an effort to convince Mayor Ben Zahn to rescind his decision to ban booster clubs from buying Nike products. Saints players Cam Jordan and Terron Armstead were among those who attended. In a statement, Zahn says he’s trying to protect taxpayer dollars from being used in a political message.

Two games into the season and LSU is already ranked dead last in the SEC in total offense, averaging just 316 yards a game. The Tigers are second to last in pass offense. Coach Ed Orgeron has said the offensive line needs to get better, but that’s not the only group struggling
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LSU is a 9.5 point underdog heading into Saturday’s game against seventh ranked Auburn.

The National Hurricaen Center says the chances are growing we could see a tropical cyclone in the western Gulf of Mexico later this week. Seth Warthen, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says they are keeping an eye on a large cluster of showers and thunderstorms in the northwestern Caribbean that will move over Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula…
cut 4 (10) “…get developed”
Warthen says if we see a tropical depression or storm, a landfall in Texas seems likely.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he’ll push for public school teachers to receive a raise when lawmakers return to Baton Rouge for a regular session in April. The governor’s education policy advisor, Donald Songy, says the plan is for educators to see a pay raise of at least one-thousand dollars and cafeteria workers and other personnel to receive a five-hundred ollar boost…
cut 7 (05) “…2020 school year”
But the Louisiana Federation of Teachers say for Louisiana teachers to make the Southern Regional Average, they’ll need close to a two-thousand dollar raise.

31-year-old Kayla Coutee is facing a second-degree murder charge after police say she shot her estranged husband at a parking lot in Walmart. There were reports the two were involved in a custody battle and their three children were present when Kayla allegedly killed Thomas Coutee Junior. Alexandria Police Corporal Wade Bourgeois says under Louisiana law, planning a murder doesn’t mean first-degree murder, despite what social media posts say…
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Will Senator John Kennedy run for governor? Well, Kennedy says he has a poll that shows he’ll be an easy winner, if he challenges Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards next year…
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Kennedy is not saying when he’ll make a decision. Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry and U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham have also expressed interest in running.

With Louisiana teachers now making nearly $2k less than their regional peers, Governor Edwards’ office is working toward pay raises that would see educators hitting the southern regional average….
Cut 1 (26) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn says he doesn’t want taxpayer dollars used for a political campaign and that’s why he issued a memo that called for a ban on Nike merchandise by the city’s recreation department and booster clubs who use those facilities. Nike has launched a marketing campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick who started the national anthem protests.

31-year-old Kayla Coutee is behind bars today after she allegedly shot her estranged husband at a Walmart parking lot in Alexandria on Saturday. Alexandria Police Corporal Wade Bourgeois says Kayla Coutee was meeting her husband to exchange children that included a two-year-old child…..
cut 11 (06) “…shooting”
Kayle Coutee has been charged with second-degree murder. The victim is Thomas Coutee Junior, who worked at Central Louisiana Technical Community College.

Several motorists on I-12 between Hammond and Walker had to pull over today because of flat tires. State Police Trooper Bryan Lee says a bunch of nails punctured the tires and they are not sure where the nails came from….
cut 14 (05) “…for you”
The state department of transportation used a vehicle with a magnetic device to pick up the nails from the highway.

Governor John Bel Edwards says his office will push to fund at least a one-thousand dollar pay raise for public school teachers, when the legislature meets in April. The governor’s education policy advisor, Donald Songy, believes the state can afford it, thanks to a strengthening economy…
cut 8 (06) “…additional revenues”
Teachers unions say Louisiana educators are getting paid on average about two-thousand dollars less than their regional peers.

It was a tough Monday morning for several motorists in Livingston Parish as several vehicles traveling along I-12 had to pull over because of a flat tire. State Police Trooper Bryan Lee says a bunch of nails apparently punctured the tires…
cut 13 (09) “…left out’
Lee says they are not sure if some purposely scattered the nails along the interstate.

Could we see a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico this week? Don Molino has more on that…
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LSU football coach Ed Orgeron said today he plans on making some changes on his offensive line after the Tigers front five failed to protect quarterback Joe Burrow on a consistent basis in Saturday’s win over Southeastern Louisiana. Starting guard Garrett Brumfield is optimistic the unit can get it together…
cut 30 (11) “…with time”

A disorganized area of thunderstorms in the northwest Caribbean Sea is grabbing the attention of forecasters. Seth Warthen, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says the chances of development of anything major are low.
Cut 3 (10) “…developing into anything.”
The disturbance is expected to make it into the Gulf of Mexico and forecasters say an eventual landfall is more likely along the Texas coastline.

An Alexandria woman faces second-degree murder in the death of her husband in front of their three children Saturday in the parking lot of a Walmart. Alexandria Police say 31-year-old Kayla Coutee shot her 30-year-old estranged husband, Thomas Coutee. Corporal Wade Bourgeois.
Cut 9 (10) “…that day”
The three children in the vehicle were unharmed, but may have witnessed the shooting.

Southeastern may not have fared so well against LSU on the football field, but according to a report, at least their students graduate with a lot less debt…
Voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

LSU Quarterback Joe Burrow took some big hits in the 31-0 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday night. Coach Ed Orgeron says Burrow needs to do more to avoid injury….
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But Burrow says he doesn’t know how to slide and doesn’t want to learn.

The National Hurricane Center is watching three hurricanes and that should come as no surprise as today marks the statistical peak of the Atlantic Hurricane season. Kevin Barnhart talks with State Climatologist Barry Keim…
Voicer 2 (31) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn issued a memo that asks boosters they can not buy shoes, clothes or anything from Nike or with the Nike swoosh. No reason was given, but it comes after Nike began a marketing campaign with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who started the movement of national anthem protests against racial inequality.

Southeastern Louisiana University students graduate with less debt than any other university in Louisiana, that according to a report from LendEDU. The average Louisiana student’s debt clocks in at 26,800 dollars, but SELU President John Crain says his university’s average is thousands of dollars lower….
cut 10 (08) “…in state”
Grambling State students graduated with the most debt in the state.

We learned two things during LSU’s 31-0 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday. The Tigers offensive line needs to improve and quarterback Joe Burrow will not slide to avoid contact…
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Coach Ed Orgeron says he would like to see Burrow slide, because there are only two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. 12th ranked LSU faces a big challenge this Saturday as they will visit 7th ranked Auburn. The Bayou Bengals are a 10-point underdog.