Republican Senator Bill Cassidy says drug traffickers can pay for the proposed U-S Mexico border wall. Cassidy says billions of dollars in drug money crosses the border each year and he says the US is only intercepting a fraction of it…
cut 13 (11) “…going back”
One estimate says it will cost 18-billion dollars to build the border wall.

LSU’s all-time leading rusher and three time Super Bowl Champion Kevin Faulk has been named as the Director of Player Development for the LSU football program. Faulk says he will help the players not only on the field, but away from the game as well…
Cut 3 (09) “long time.”
Head Coach Ed Orgeron says their mission is to develop every aspect of a young man’s life while they are a part of the program and Faulk will be instrumental in this process.

A new Tulane study finds Louisiana is making slow progress in electing minorities and women to judgeships. Political Science Professor Sally Kenney says another concern is that most of Louisiana’s minorities and women judges are serving in certain areas, like Orleans…:
Cut 7 (09) “would show”
She says minorities are 36% of the state’s population, but non-white judges were only at 22 percent. Women judges comprised less than 32 percent of all state and federal judges in Louisiana. But 51% of the state is female.
Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis is confident they’ll be able to sign Quarterback Drew Brees to a new contract. The 39-year-old’s contract is set to expire in March, but Loomis doesn’t have a time line on when a new deal may get done…
cut 11 (11) “…Drew Brees”
Brees is one of seven Saints players that will play in Sunday’s Pro Bowl.

Negotiations are underway to find a resolution to the impending expiration of the Dream Act, a law that provides legal status to people brought to the US as children. Matt Doyle has the story…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Advocate newspaper reports an LSU task force formed following the death of a fraternity pledge may recommend random drug tests for frat members, eliminating hard alcohol and kegs and frat houses and relocating fraternity tailgates. A full report will be made official next month.

A Tulane study finds Louisiana has made slow progress when it comes to electing minorities and women to judgeships. Political Science Professor Sally Kenney says they are also concerned that President Trump’s nominees to the federal bench in Louisiana and the US have been 91-percent white men…
cut 8 (08) “…18 years”
The President has nominated Wendy Vitter as a federal judge in New Orleans.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis told reporters at the Senior Bowl they want Quarterback Drew Brees to return next season. Brees is coming off a season where he completed an NFL record 72-percent of his passes, but his contract will expire in March. Loomis also says there is a possibility they may draft a quarterback in April…
cut 10 (12) “…number of years”

The ex-leader of State Police did not respond to the more serious allegations of misconduct in an audit produced by the state legislative auditor’s office. An attorney representing Mike Edmonson issued a response today that says he does not have the type of resources needed to respond to the allegations outlined. One accusation is using a state facility for housing and not reporting it on his taxes. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says defending that accusation will be difficult…
cut 14 (07) “…case here”

A fire in Hammond claimed the life of a 60-year-old man living in a travel trailer. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says it appears the victim used an outdoor cooking burner to heat the trailer. Browning says there were no smoke detectors either…:
cut 9 (07) “smoke alarms”
The victim’s name has not been released.
Deaf students have filed a discrimination suit against the Louisiana community college System, alleging they struggled in school because they couldn’t get interpreters and other accommodations for their disability. Plaintiffs’ attorney Andrew Bizer believes Delgado Community College violated the Americans with Disabilities Act…:
Cut 3 (08) “everybody else”
The System would not comment on the pending case but said they take the issue of accessibility for its students very seriously.

No running water in Tallulah because of a power failure at the town’s water treatment plant. The mayor says power has been restored, but more repairs are needed, so it will be until tomorrow before the plant is functioning again and water can start flowing in homes and businesses. In the meantime, Yvonne Lewis, with the city of Tallulah, is asking for help…
cut 8 (10) “…0694″

An attorney representing Mike Edmonson, the former leader of State Police, did not address many of the allegations made against him in a response to a scathing audit released in December. The state audit claims Edmonson used his position of authority to violate state law. In the two-page response, Edmonson’s attorney said the retired superintendent does not have the type of resources to respond, because a draft report was released early.

Deaf students have filed a lawsuit against Louisiana’s community college system allegeding they did not accomodiate for their disability by providing interpreters. Attorney Andrew Bizer says he hopes the suit will force the state to overhaul its treamtent of disabled students…
cut 5 (09) “…civil rights law”
A spokesperson for the community college system could not comment on pending litigation, but said they always do everything they can to provide proper access to their students.

There is no running water in Tallulah because of a power failure at the town’s water treatment plant. The mayor says power has been restored, but more repairs are needed, so it will be until tomorrow before the water plant is functioning again and water can start flowing again in homes and businesses. In the meantime, Yvonne Leiws, with the city of Tallulah, is asking for help…
cut 8 (10) “…0694”

Another person has died in a house fire in Louisiana. Officials say a mobile trailer ignited when the resident used an outdoor cooking burner to heat the trailer. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says many of the deaths are related to people finding unconventional ways to keep warm….
cut 11 (08) “…around cooking”
Browning the home also did not have working smoke detectors.

Republican Congressman Clay Higgins is cosponsoring legislation that seeks to make immigration and border security reforms. Higgins says there’s also provisions in the bill that would punish sanctuary cities. New Orleans currently prohibits police officers from asking suspects about their immigration status. Higgins is tired of these cities disrespecting federal laws…
Cut 11 (07) “been discarded.”
Back in November, the Justice Department found no evidence that New Orleans is out of compliance when it comes to immigration laws.

University of Louisiana System President Doctor Jim Henderson is not happy to see the governor proposing a budget for next fiscal year that cuts TOPS by 80-percent. Henderson says cutting TOPS would be a betrayal of hard working students…
cut 14 (07) “….to them”
Henderson is hopeful TOPS will be fully funded when legislators approve a budget in June.

The recent cold snap could mean a delay in the strawberry harvest this year, and a possible increase in price at the grocery store. Whitney Wallace, LSU AgCenter agent in Tangipahoa Parish, says many of the blossoms on the plants that weren’t protected will have to regrow again, which is a 21 day process:
Cut 4 (09) “cold weather”
Strawberry production in Louisiana is valued at an estimated 17-million-dollars.

The 2018 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be headlined by Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Buffett and Lionel Richie. Producer Quint Davis says they will also celebrate the City of New Orleans’ 300th anniversary. He says there will be a massive Cultural Exchange Pavilion featuring all things New Orleans…:
Cut 7 (10) “festival”
Jazzfest is April 27 to May 6 this year.