Jennings Senator Blade Morrish is proposing to change TOPS award amounts. Under his plan, students who earn the basic award by achieving a 2.5 GPA and a20 ACT would receive just a four-thousand dollar annual stipend, while TOPS Honor students would get their tuition paid for, plus a stipend between 15-hundred and 25-hundred dollars. Morrish says he wants to challenge students to improve their performance…
cut 9 (08) “….old model”
Morrish could seek this change in TOPS in the upcoming session.

The Louisiana teacher arrested this week at the Vermilion Parish School Board meeting after she questioned her superintendent’s pay raise might file a lawsuit. Deyshia Hargrave spoke yesterday at a rally…
cut 11 (05) “…shocking disrespect”
Hargrave hopes her experience will empower people to use their voice when they see something that’s not right.

Monroe-based Centurylink has told its employees they will not receive a merit raise this year. A company spokesperson says Centurylink remains confident they are on the right path towards growth, but they also have to watch costs and adjust their operations to meet the needs of their business. Centurylink employs 52-thousand workers worldwide, 27-hundred in Louisiana.

A series of social media posts has experts reminding teens not to eat Tide Pods. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has called an 11:30 press conference where he’ll announce a 600-million dollar funding plan to widen I-10 from the Mississippi River bridge to the I-10–I-12 split in Baton Rouge. The governor’s office says if they receive the funding, they’ll also be able to complete construction projects in New Orleans and Bossier City.

A state lawmaker is proposing to change the amounts that TOPS students receive. Kelley Ray has the story…
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Hundreds showed up at a rally yesterday to support teacher Deyshia Hargrave who was forcefully removed from a school board meeting after questioning the superintendent’s pay raise. The treatment of Hargrave, who was handcuffed has angered many. She told her supporters that she was just sticking to her principles…
Cut 10 (11) “that myself.”
Hargrave hopes her story will encourage others to speak out when they don’t agree with something.

The Louisiana Property Assistance Agency will resume its monthly state surplus property auctions in Baton Rouge tomorrow. The auction will feature a wide variety of items once used by state agencies. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says there’s something for everyone…
Cut 4 (11) “boats, trailers.”
More information can be found on the Division of Administration’s website.

Jennings Senator Blade Morrish has put forth a proposal that would make substantial changes to TOPS. Morrish is proposing that TOPS recipients who qualify for the scholarship with a 2.5 GPA and a 20 on their ACT would receive a four-thousand dollar annual stipend, while 4.0 students would have tuition paid for, plus a stipend…
cut 8 (11) “….2500 dollars”
The proposal would need legislative approval and if passed, would not impact current students.

Hundreds showed up in downtown Abbeville to support Deyshia Hargrave. Her arrest at a school board meeting has angered many. Hargrave hopes her story will encourge others to stand up for what they think is right…
cut 12 (06) “…those meetings”
Hargrave is considering legal action .

In 2017, poison control centers dealt with more than 10,000 reports of children eating detergent pods. Louisiana Poison Control President-Elect Mark Ryan…
cut 13 (11) “…bright and colorful”
Ryan says a new social media challenge has led to an increasing number of teenagers ingesting the colorful pods. He says under no circumstance should they go into your mouth.

State surplus property will be auctioned off on Saturday in Baton Rouge. Division of adminstration spokesperson Jacques Berry says you can bid on motor vehicles, construction equipment, appliances and home furniture once used by state agencies…
cut 5 (10) “…repurpose them”
For more information go to the division of administration’s website.

A state lawmaker is proposing to change TOPS scholarship amounts. Students who meet the minimum eligibility would receive a four-thousand-dollar annual stipend. Jennings Senator Blade Morrish says four-thousand-dollars may seem low, but it’s still the most lucrative college tuition program in the U-S…
Cut 7 (09) “state universities.”
Morrish says TOPS honors students would have their tuition paid for, plus they would get a stipend ranging from 15-hundred to 25-hundred dollars. The proposal would need legislative approval.

Governor John Bel Edwards will announce a funding plan today to pay for a major I-10 reconstruction project in Baton Rouge. The governor’s office says if the funding is received, a new interchange on I-10 in Kenner can also be built, plus a new access from I-20 directly into Barksdale Air Force Base.

Vermilion Parish teachers held a rally for Deyshia Hargrave, to protest her treatment at a recent schoolboard meeting. Matt Doyle has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Teenagers are putting detergent pods in their mouths as part of a new online challenge on social media. Louisiana Poison Control President-Elect Mark Ryan says no one should be eating these pods….
cut 15 (10) “…breathing tube”
Tide has released a statement says their laundry pods should not be played with, even if meant as a joke.

The Louisiana teacher arrested this week at the Vermilion Parish School Board meeting after she questioned her superintendent’s pay raise might file a lawsuit. Deyshia Hargrave spoke yesterday at a rally that was called to support her….
cut 11 (05) “…shocking disrespect”
Hargrave hopes her experience will empower people to use their voice when they see something that’s just not right.

Jennings Senator Blade Morrish is proposing to change TOPS award amounts. Under his plan, students who earn the basic award by achieving a 2.5 GPA and a20 ACT would receive just a four-thousand dollar annual stipend, while TOPS Honor students would get their tuition paid for, plus a stipend between 15-hundred and 25-hundred dollars. Morrish says he wants to challenge students to improve their performance…
cut 9 (08) “….old model”
Morrish could seek this change in TOPS in the upcoming session.

A portion of north Louisiana is under a winter weather advisory as light to moderate rainfall has been slowly transitioning to a freezing rain or snow or sleet mix as temperatures are dropping below subfreezing. Roadways could be slick. The state transportation department has closed a portion of I-49 in Caddo Parish.

A new social media challenge has teens eating laundry pods. Louisiana Poison Control President-Elect Mark Ryan says this is obviously dangerous and there’s no benefit…
cut 14 (12) “…off of”
Ryan says digesting a detergent pod could land you in the hospital.

The Louisiana Association of Educators held a rally this afternoon to show their support for middle school teacher Deyshia Hargrave, who was arrested at a Vermilion Parish School Board meeting. Kelley Ray has more…
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

Get ready for a dramatic drop in temperatures. A strong cold front is moving through the state, bringing with it heavy rain and and showers. Once the front moves through, expect high temperatures Friday and through the weekend in the 40s.

Officials broke ground today on a major I-10 widening project which will affect travelers between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The job will stretch over a six mile portion of the interstate from Highland Road to Highway 73. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson on the timeline…:
Cut 9 (12) “for drivers”
He encourages drivers to visit 511LA.org for traffic and road closure info.

Steve Ensminger was introduced today as LSU’s offensive coordinator. The former Tigers quarterback says he plans on running a fast paced, spread offense…
cut 13 (12) “….four wideouts”
Ensminger will also have the task of developing young quarterbacks.

Teachers from multiple parishes have gathered in Abbeville at this hour to show their support for middle school teacher Deyshia Hargrave, who was arrested at a school board meeting after questioning a raise given to the Vermilion Parish Schools superintendent. Louisiana Association of Educators President Debbie Meaux on the message they are sending with this rally…:
Cut 6 (08) “to speak”
Superintendent Jerome Puyau says he, his staff and family have received death threats over the incident. He also says he should have stood up for Hargrave.

Meanwhile it’s been learned that the marshal who arrested Hargrave was previously sued for excessive force. Reggie Hilts was working as a police officer in the city of Scott and was named as a defendant in the 2012 lawsuit. The suit was eventually settled in 2016. Hilts left the Scott Police Department before the lawsuit was filed.

Steve Ensminger held his first press conference as LSU’s offensive coordinator. Matt Doyle has there…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Wildlife and Fisheries agents have arrested a Point Coupee Parish man for allegedly killing a protected black bear. The bear was a part of the Louisiana Black Bear Management and Research project. LDWF Spokesperson Adam Einck says agents responded after the tagged bear set off an alert..:
Cut 3 (05) “of days”
He says 28-year-old Ronald Kimble is a convicted felon and is not allowed to possess a firearm in the first place.

The Louisiana Association of Educators holds a rally this afternoon to show their support for Rene Rost middle school teacher Deyshia Hargrave.   Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

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Steve Ensminger held his first press conference as LSU’s offensive coordinator. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Wildlife and Fisheries agents have arrested a Point Coupee Parish man for allegedly killing a protected black bear. The bear was a part of the Louisiana Black Bear Management and Research project. LDWF  Spokesperson Adam Einck says agents responded after the tagged bear set off an alert…

Cut 3 (05) “of days.”

After the bear was found, Wildlife and Fisheries agents increased patrols in the area. Einck says 28-year-old Ronald Kimble was frequently observed by agents passing through the area with a .270 rifle…

Cut 4  (09) “that bear.” 

Louisiana black bears have been a threatened species since 1992, and it is illegal to hunt them. Einck says the charges carry a severe punishment…

Cut 5  (07)  “days in jail”

Those who kill black bears are also liable to face a 10,000 dollar civil restitution fee, and as a convicted felon, Kimble could also be facing up to 20 years in jail for possessing a firearm.

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The Louisiana Association of Educators holds a rally this afternoon to show their support for Rene Rost middle school teacher Deyshia Hargrave.  She was arrested Monday after criticizing a raise for the superintendent, while teacher’s wages have been stagnant for nearly a decade.  LAE President Debbie Meaux says they are holding this rally to expose what school and governmental boards are doing…

Cut 6 (08)  “to speak.”

In a video shown on NBC’s Today show, it is clearly seen that Hargrave is being shut up by board President Anthony Fontana with him saying, “Alright. Stop. Stop right now”.   Meaux says Fontana’s actions were completely out of line…

Cut 7 (11)  “our citizens.”

Meaux says the LAE understands the role of the board president is to keep order during a meeting, but feels nothing occurred to demand the treatment Hargrave received from the Abbeville City Marshal Reginald “Reggie” Hilts as she was escorted out of the meeting…

Cut 8 (05) “it got.”

The rally will be held at 3:45pm at Magdalen Square in downtown Abbeville.

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A major road construction project on I-10 will affect travelers between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.  Groundbreaking ceremonies are this afternoon for the project which will expand an over six mile stretch from four to six lanes from south of Baton Rouge to Highway LA-73 near Prairieville.  DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says this project won’t be completed until sometime in 2020…

Cut 9 (12) “for drivers.”

With 95-thousand drivers passing over that section of the road, Wilson says it is imperative that the flow of traffic continues through the construction zone as smoothly as possible…

Cut 10 (08) “one lane.”

The 72-million-dollar expansion comes from some repurposed earmarked funds from projects that either never happened or from leftover funds.  Wilson says the majority of the money is due to the farsightedness of the Edwards Administration…

Cut 11 (08) “this administration.”

Wilson reminds drivers to check 5-1-1-l-a-dot-org and to download the phone app for when you are on the go.

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LSU head coach Ed Orgeron introduced his new offensive coordinator today, Steve Ensminger. Ensminger is an old face around Tigers, having been with the team since 2010, and having captained LSU to three bowl games in the late 70s at quarterback. Ensminger got choked up as he was introduced…

Cut 12 (09) “this state proud”

LSU’s motion offense was sluggish at times under former coordinator Matt Canada, and has ranked in the middle of the pack in the SEC over the last few years. Ensminger says he plans on running a fast paced, spread offense…

Cut 13 (12)  “four wideouts”