Can spending time with your kids be considered punishment? One Baton Rouge lawmaker is convinced it can be as Jim Shannon reports.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

The NFL is reportedly looking into the some of the questions former LSU running back Derrius Guice received while speaking with teams at the Draft Combine. Guice told SiriusXM Radio he was asked whether he likes men and whether his mom sells herself.

Target and Walmart workers will see more money in their paycheck. Walmart says Associates in Louisiana will receive 13.7 million dollars in bonuses today, while Target says they are raising its minimum hourly wage to 12-dollars this spring and 15-dollars by the end of 2020. Will higher wages result in higher store prices. UNO Business Professor Mark Rosa…
Cut 7 (10) “disproportionately high.”

A State Trooper’s effort has gone viral after finding a wallet on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras and personally paying to send it back to the owner. Senior Trooper Melissa Matey says Master Trooper John Jett from central Louisiana worked in the city last month, and found the owner’s wallet still containing money and personal information…
Cut 11 (06) “like that.”
The Reddit post that the wallet’s owner put online about Trooper Jett’s actions has been viewed some 96-thousand times.

Baton Rouge Representative Pat Smith wants to send some convicted criminals home if they have kids to take care of. It’s part of a proposed bill that would give judges more flexibility on deciding how to punish parents who have committed non-violent crimes.
Cut 3 (:11) “been committed.”
Smith says research has determined that kids who have lost contact with their parents are more likely to cause problems in school or on the streets.

The state ag department is seeking the public’s help in trying to determine who is responsible for the death of a cow and three calves. Commissioner Mike Strain says they were killed in a pasture at a levee near Port Barre…
cut 9 (10) “…March 3rd”
Anyone with information is urged to call 10-855-452-5323.

Water from a rising Mississippi River is now flowing into nearby Lake Ponchartrain as a result of the U-S Army Corps of Engineers opening part of the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish. In 2011, the Mississippi River was extremely high and another flood control structure in Pointe Coupee Parish was also used. But Colonel Mike Clancy doesn’t think that action will be needed this time…
cut 14 (10) “….Morganza spillway”

In a viral social media post, Clint Durrett thanks Master Trooper John Jett from Alexandria-based Troop E for shipping his lost wallet back to him. He lost the wallet on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras. State Police spokesperson Melissa Matey says L-S-P is known for highway patrols, but they do much more…
cut 12 (08) “….particular circumstance”

Baton Rouge Representative Pat Smith wants to send some convicted criminals home if they have kids to take care of. It’s part of a proposed bill that would give judges more flexibility on deciding how to punish parents who have committed non-violent crimes. Smith says research has determined that kids who have lost contact with their parents are more likely to cause problems in school or on the streets.
Cut 5 (:10 ) “act out.”
The measure is House Bill 264 and is pending in the upcoming regular session.

The Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Department is seeking information in finding persons responsible for the death of a cow and three calves. Commissioner Mike Strain says they were killed in a pasture at a levee near Port Barre…
Cut 9 (10) “March 3rd.”

Target and Walmart are putting more cash in their employees pockets. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff palermo”.

The Army Corps of Engineers has begun opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish to reduce the flooding risk down the Mississippi river. Cranes are pulling wooden planks, or needles out of bays, diverting river water into Lake Ponchatrain. Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Michael Clancy…
cut 13 (07) “….timbers up”
Clancy says the Mississippi is high, but there are no plans to open the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish.

Target and Walmart workers will see more money in their paycheck. Walmart Associates in Louisiana will receive 13.7 million dollars in bonuses today, while Target is raising its minimum hourly wage to 12-dollars this spring and 15-dollars by the end of 2020. UNO Business Professor Mark Rosa says this is the effect of the recent federal tax overhaul…
cut 6 (10) “…employees”

A pro life documentary, I Lived on Parker Avenue will begin streaming online tonight focusing on a Metarire man and his first in person meeting with his birth mom. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (27) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Clint Durrett took time to thank a State Trooper on social media for mailing his wallet to him after he lost it on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras. State Trooper John Jett provided Durrett with a letter telling him he found the wallet and decided to mail it to him at his own expense after learning the NOPD 8th district didn’t have a lost and found.

UL-Lafayette ended a five game losing streak to LSU in baseball with a four to three victory over the Tigers in 10 innnings. The Cajuns trailed 1-0 for the most of the game, but three consecutive bunts in the 8^th inning sparked a three-run rally. Austin Bain tied the game at three with a two-run double in the ninth, but Bain suffered the loss when Jonathan Windham hit a soft single into centerfield to drive home the winning run.

Northwestern State lost in 11 innings to 10^th ranked Texas A-and-M as the Aggies beat the Demons seven to six. Northwestern State blew a five run lead.

Elsewhere…Houston outscored McNeese State 13-9. Southeastern Louisiana scored seven runs in the 5^th inning and 5 runs in the 8^th inning for a 13-12 win over Tulane. Nicholls blanked Sacred Heart 10-to-zip. And Louisiana Tech shutout ULM 7-0. Chris Clayton drove in four runs and David Leal struck out eight.

_____________________________________________________________________

The Pelicans won their 10th straight last night as they defeated Sacramento 114 to 101. Anthony Davis rolled his ankle in the third quarter and finished with 17 points. Nikola Mirotic had 26 point and 10 rebounds.

LSU basketball begins play tonight in the SEC Tournament as they’ll tip it off against Mississippi State at 6 PM. The Tigers just beat the Bulldogs by 21 points. LSU can receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament if they win four games over the next four days. Coach Will Wade admits that will be tough for his team…

Cut 16 (19) “…we played”

Tremont Waters broke his nose in practice, but he’ll play tonight.

Elsewhere…ULM, Louisiana Tech and UNO all advanced in their conference tournaments.

A bill has been filed in the regular session to legalize sports betting in Louisiana. The U-S Supreme Court could soon issue a ruling that legalizes sports betting across the country. New Roads Representative Major Thibaut says several other states are preparing to allow sports betting and he believes Louisiana should be prepared to regulate it to…
cut 4 (10) “…part in this’
Under Thibaut’s bill, sports betting parlors would be allowed at the state’s four horse racing tracks.

West Virginia teachers are getting a five-percent pay raise after striking for nine days. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says some teachers in this state haven’t received a raise in a decade, and the victory in West Virginia gets their attention…
cut 14 (11) “…the end”

Republican U-S Senator John Kennedy has sent out a statement praising House Republicans for saving Louisiana families from Governor Edwards’ tax increases. And Kennedy adds the fault lies with the governor and Democracts for refusing to fully embrace basic budget reforms. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Kennedy is a potential challenger to Edwards in 2019…
cut 11 (12) “…against him”

The LSU Manship School has helped create Solve the Budget dot-org which gives you the opportunity to solve the billion dollar fiscal cliff. Manship Dean Jerry Cepos says it help taxpayers understand the tough decisions legislators have to make
Cut 28 (10) “key subjects.”

The Pelicans made it nine straight wins last night with a 121-116 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. New Orleans will try to make it 10 victories in a row tonight when they visit Sacramento. The Kings are 24 games under the .500 mark. Tip-off is at 9:00.

The 10th seeded Louisiana Tech Bulldogs will face North Texas tonight in Frisco, Texas, in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament. Eric Konkol’s team will need to snap a four-game losing streak to keep its season alive…
cut 16 (19) “….next play’
Tip-off is at 8:30. Over in the Southland Tourney, UNO faces Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi.

After losing to Arkansas State on Saturday, ULM gets another shot at the Red Wolves tonight in the Sun Belt Tournament. The Warhawks have the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. Michael Ertel from Indianapolis is averaging 12 points a game and shooting 37-percent from three point territory. Coach Keith Richard says Ertel was a major factor in their success during the second half of the Sun Belt schedule…
Cut 19 (15) “timely 3s”
Tip-off is at 7:30.

LSU’s Zack Watson returned from an oblique injury and had three hits in the Tigers 8-2 win over Southern last night. Tonight, LSU is in Lafayette to face the Ragin Cajuns. Elsewhere, ULM hosts Louisiana Tech, McNeese is at Houston, Nicholls hosts Sacred Heart and Southeastern Louisiana visits Tulane.

St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith said the double murder of two young people found in a submerged Chevy Camaro was a carjacking gone bad. Four people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Raegan Day and Dustin Hartline….
cut 5 (11) “….Chevrolet Camaro”
Smith says Hartline decided to sell his vehicle, the suspects were interested and then they decided to steal it.

A Lafayette woman is facing criminal charges after she allegedly stole another student’s diploma during last December’s LSU graduation ceremony. LSU Police say Bianca White actually walked across the stage and accepted a purple diploma cover and graduation diploma that belonged to another student. When confronted that day, White said she gave the real diploma to another person. She’s finally been booked on several charges including theft.

Republican U-S Senator John Kennedy has sent out a statement praising House Republicans for saving Louisiana families from Governor Edwards’ tax increases. And Kennedy adds the fault lies with the governor and Democracts for refusing to fully embrace basic budget reforms. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Kennedy is a potential challenger to Edwards in 2019…
cut 11 (12) “…against him”

Daylight Saving Time goes into effect this week, so we will all lose an hour a sleep. Doctor Rebecca Meiners with Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rouge, says if you are among the millions who struggle to get plenty of sleep, she provides these tips…
cut 7 (11) “…covered up”