St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith said robbery was the movite in the murder of a Pearl River man and woman. The victims were found dead in a Camaro in the water off the East Pearl River Boat Launch. Smith says one of the victims decided to sell that car and it turned out to be a carjacking gone bad…
cut 4 (11) “..victims”
Four people have been arrested in connection with the double homicide.

West Virginia teachers are getting a five-percent pay raise after striking for almost two weeks. 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”

Jefferson Parish Representative Kirk Talbot has filed a bill for the regular session, that would let voters decide in October if internet fantasy sports betting should be legal in Louisiana. The issue dates back to a 1991 attorney general opinion concluding that fantasy draft games done over the phone were illegal and by expansion, now includes websites such as Draft Kings and Fan Duel. Talbot argues this proposition would not expand mainstream gambling…
Cut 10 (10) “above board.”
Opponents might say they don’t want another mode of gambling to come to Louisiana, but Talbot says legalizing online sports betting would provide the state with another source of revenue.

St. Tammany sheriff Randy Smith provided more details this morning on the arrest of four people who are connected to the deaths of Raegan Elizabeth Day and Dustin Hartline, who were recovered Monday near an East Pearl River Boat Launch on Highway 90. Both were found shot and the suspected murder weapons were eventually recovered as well. Sheriff Smith says it was a senseless crime.
Cut 3 (:11) “premediated this.”

New research from Accountemps has found 44-percent lose sleep over work. The study also identified 50-percent of respondents are overwhelmed with work and the amount of hours devoted to their job…Another 20-percent identified strained relationships with their co-workers. Spokesperson Carrie Lewis encourages employees to talk with their boss to try to solve the problem between you and your co-workers…
Cut 6 (07) “at work.”

The Trump Administration is backing a plan to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The plan is aimed at making American metal production more competitive at home, but Director of State Projects at the nonpartisan Tax Foundation Scott Drenkard says as a port state, the proposal hits Louisiana particularly hard.
Cut 13 (11) “given year”
The Tax Foundation estimates the tariffs would cost the US 9 billion dollars a year.

The LSU Manship School has an online game that lets taxpayers devise their own plan on how to address the billion dollar fiscal cliff. “Solve The Budget-dot-org” gives you a list of budget items that can be cut or funded, and tax proposals that can be adopted to rejected to close the budget gap. Manship Dean Jerry Cepos encourages everyone to give it a try.
Cut 7 (11) “legislators do.”
Again the website is solve-the-budget-org”

With the special legislative session over, lawmakers are looking ahead to the regular session that starts Monday. The question is how the legislature will react to a highly fractured House after accusations of mistrust among members. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey says he can’t see any scenario during the upcoming session where legislators pass a budget.
Cut 4 (11) “more difficult.”
Governor John Bel Edwards agrees that it will be difficult to pass a budget for next fiscal year in the regular session, because lawmakers will see the cuts will be too deep, without raising additional revenue. He says that’s why another special session is likely….
cut 10 (11) “…June 4th”

Parents and students alike are worried how they can afford higher education since TOPS funding may be cut back. Jeff Palermo has more…
Voicer 2 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”.

A Denham Springs man has been charged with a hate crime after he allegedly told investigators that he caused damage to a convenience store because he thought the owners were Muslim. Sheriff Jason Ard says 27-year-old Chad Horsley even tried to steal the store’s ATM machine…
cut 14 (09) “…doing it”
Horsley is being held on a 56-thousand dollar bond.

TOPS and Higher Education are facing cuts next fiscal year after a special session failed to address the loss of a billion dollars in expiring sales taxes. Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo says cuts to public colleges will hurt more than just students and faculty, it could cripple the state’s economy…
cut 9 (12) “…it deserves”

A Denham Springs man has been charged with a hate crime after he allegedly tried to steal an ATM from a conveinence store. Livingston Sheriff Jason Ard says the motive 27-year-old Chad Horsley gave is a little strange…
cut 15 (11) “…that nature”
Ard says Horsley also told those in the store he was an East Baton Rouge officer, but that is not true and they are not sure if he ever served in the military.

Governor Edwards is planning for another special session after legislators did not address the loss of a billion dollars in temporary sales taxes. Louisiana will receive an additional 300-million dollars in state tax revenues, because of changes made as a result of the federal tax overhaul. Edwards says even with the extra revenue, deep cuts will be needed and there will be more urgency to raise revenue in a special session that he hopes will begin in May…
cut 12 (11) “….this year”
But Kenner Representative Julie Stokes says the House is so divided that it will be difficult to agree on any significant tax reform policy…..
cut 6 (11) “…this situation”

Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan is seeking to introduce a bill that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana and set up a way to tax the sale of cannabis. Jordan says this legislation could help with the state’s constant budget deficits…
Cut 7 (09) “right now.”
Washington State is expected to bring in over 700-million-dollars between 2017 and 2019.

The statewide average for unleaded gas is $2.33 a gallon, but Louisiana Triple A spokesperson Don Redman says the price at the pump will soon rise to about $2.50 as refinieries shift from a winter grade gasoline to summer. He says drivers typically aren’t concerned as long as gas stays below $2.75 a gallon…
Cut 12 (06) “this summer.”

With the special legislative session being a memory for some and a nightmare for others, lawmakers are looking ahead to the regular session that starts Monday. The question is how the legislature will react to a highly fractured body after the recent blood-bath. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey.
Cut 3 (:11) “that we serve.”

Matt Doyle looks at how much it cost taxpayers for lawmakers to do nothing towards fixing a one billion dollar shortfall…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Pelicans put their eight-game winning streak on the line tonight when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers. New Orleans has put itself in position to host an NBA playoff series with this long winning streak. After being named the Western Conference Player of the Month, Anthony Davis was named Western Conference Player of the Week as he averaged 34 points a game in three contests.

LSU pitcher Zack Hess was named national player of the week by Collegiate Baseball. Hess struck out a career-high 13 hitters last Friday in a win over Toledo. The Tigers will host Southern University tonight.

Louisiana Tech’s Matt Miller has been named as the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week. Miller pitched seven strong innings and gave up just one unearned run on five hits in the Bulldogs four to two victory over nationally ranked Texas A-and-M. Tonight, the Bulldogs host Grambling State. 

Also tonight, Northwestern State is at 10th ranked Texas A-and-M. Southeastern hosts Toledo and Sacred Heart is at Nicholls.

_____________________________________________________________

The NFL Network reports the Seahawks are not expected to re-sign tight end Jimmy Graham before free agency starts on March 14th. A source says the Saints would have some interest in bringing Graham back to New Orleans. The 31-year-old caught 10 touchdown passes last season.

NFL teams have been told the salary cap for next season will be 177-million dollars, a nine million dollar increase from the 2017 season. The Saints will reportedly have 30-million dollars in cap space, but that doesn’t include the signing of former Panthers safety Kurt Coleman.

At the NFL combine, former LSU cornerback Donte Jackson ran the 40 in 4.32 seconds. The 40 time record at the combine was set last year by John Ross. The eventual first round pick of the Bengals ran a 4.22.

Nicholls Richie Riley has been named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year. Newcomer of the Year is Roddy Peters, defensive player of the year is Southeastern’s Marlain Veal. 

And in the Sun Belt, the Cajuns Bob Marlin has been named coach of the year. UL-Lafayette’s JaKeenan Gant is Defensive Player of the Year, while ULM’s Michael Ertel is the Freshman of the year.