The federal government announces 73-million acres in the Gulf of Mexico will be up for sale on August 16th for oil and gas exploration. But Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute Eric Smith says the areas up for sale are not very attractive to oil companies…
cut 14 (10) “….administration”

There’s a shortage of firefighters with the Department of Agriculture due to budget cuts. That’s according to Ag Commissioner Mike Strain, who says he has only 53 teams responsible for 14 million acres of forests. He says they may not have enough firefighters if things go badly.
Cut 30 (12) “of the state”
Strain says the last cut to his department was more than $1.2 million.

A federal appeals court has approved the removal of three Confederate monuments in New Orleans. Emelie Gunn has more….
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A cadet at the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center was arrested and fired for allegedly trying to smuggle drugs and a cell phone into the prison. The state Department of Corrections says 29-year-old Jomar Jackson had hidden the contraband in Pringles cases in his lunch box. His charge is a felony.

The federal government will offer up 73-million acres for oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico at a lease sale that’s scheduled for this August. Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute Eric Smith does not have high hopes for this sale given the low price of oil, but is optimistic conditions will change as President Trump pushes for energy independence…
cut 15 (10) “…obligations are”

A Jennings woman is facing several charges after her four-year-old niece was set on fire. State Fire Mashal chief deputy Brant Thompson says 29-year-old Gail Brown was supposed to be watching the girl, but instead she was being paid by a man to have sex….
cut 8 (10) “…engulfed flames”
The four-year-old victim and another six-year-old were playing with a cigarette lighter that resulted in her receiving serious burns.

New Orleans officials are working towards taking down three Confederate monuments now that the federal appeals court has ruled they can be removed. Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s office says they are taking bids and a contract will be awarded in 25 days. But Vice President of the Monumental Task Committee Gary Mason says they advocate tolerance and respect rather than removal…
cut 3 (10) >…new monuments”
Landrieu says the removal of the monuments will let the city begin to turn the page on a divisive past and chart the course for a more inclusive future.

In LSU’s starting quarterback competition, Danny Etling is the clear leader, Coach Ed Orgeron said today as spring practice begins this Saturday. Orgeron says the Tigers will install a new offense under first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada…:
cut 11 (10) “known for”
The spring game is April 22nd in Tiger Stadium.

A federal appeals court rules the city of New Orleans can remove three Confederate-era monuments that have been a source of contention. Take Em Down NOLA coordinator Malcolm Suber is thrilled with the ruling. He says the statutes are memorials to people who stood for slavery….
cut 6 (10) “…public spots”
Supporters to keep the monuments standing are reviewing their legal options.

Spring football begins Saturday for the LSU Tigers and Head Coach Ed Orgeron said today there will be an open competition for starting quarterback. Danny Etling is the clear front-runner, after starting 10 games last season. But Orgeron says the other QBs on the roster look good as well…:
Cut 10 (12) “looking good”
The spring game will be April 22nd at 7pm in Tiger Stadium.

It doesn’t look like public schools will see an increase in state funding next fiscal year. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education says they are ready to approve a three-point-seven billion dollar financing formula, which is the same as this year. Education leaders want more money to cover rising expenses, but BESE says continued state budget problems will make it difficult to receive an increase in state funding.

A Jennings woman is facing additional charges for allegedly lying about how her four-year-old niece was set on fire. Michelle Southern reports…
voicer 2 (31) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

New Orleans is taking bids from contractors to remove four controversial confederate monuments. A ruling by a federal appeals court paved the way for the city to begin taking bids. Vice President of the Monumental Task Committee Gary Mason believes New Orleans is making a big mistake…
cut 4 (12) “…unique”
Private money will be used to take the monuments down.

The federal government announces 73-million acres in the Gulf of Mexico will be up for sale on August 16th for oil and gas exploration. But Associate Director of the Tulane Energey Institute Eric Smith says the areas up for sale are not very attractive to oil companies…
cut 14 (10) “….administration”

A Jennings women is facing multiple charges after her four-year-old niece was burned and sent to a pediatric burn unit in Texas. State Fire Marshal chief deputy Brant Thompson says the six-year-old daugther of 29-year-old Gail Brown was playing with a lighter and it ignited the clothing of the four-year-old. He says Brown was not around, because she was with a man who paid to have sex with her and then Brown didn’t even try to help….
cut 9 (10) “…crews”
Brown has been booked with prostitution and child desertion, plus other charges.

LSU football coach Ed Orgeron is expecting a big 2017 from star running back Derrius Guice and anticipates new running backs coach Tommie Robinson will help Guice’s development…
cut 12 (12) “….Tommie Robinson”
Spring football begins Saturday for the Tigers.

President Donald Trump has signed a revised version of his travel ban prohibiting new visas for citizens from six Middle Eastern countries, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham supports the revised travel order…
cut 10 (10) “…very guarded”
Executive director of the Louisiana ACLU Marjorie Esman remains skeptical of the president’s intentions.
cut 11 (10) “coming home”

Former Klu Klux Klan leader and Louisiana U.S. Senate candidate David Duke had his twitter account suspended for a brief time this morning. The social media site has taken an active role in recent months to take action against those who use hate speech.

US Representative Cedric Richmond says he’s sorry for making a joke about a viral photo of President Trump aide Kellyanne Conway. Richmond said Conway looked familiar while kneeling on an Oval office couch. President of the National Organization for Women in Baton Rouge, Angela Adkins….
cut 3 (10) “…inappropriate”

Governor John Bel Edwards was in Tensas Parish to break ground on a new water system in St. Joseph to replace the current one that has lead in it. The governor’s deputy chief of staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says Edwards moved quickly to secure nine-million dollars to pay for the project….
cut 15 (10) “…the governor”
The Louisiana National Guard has large trucks in the Tensas Parish town to supply residents with safe drinking water.

LSU lost for the third time on the season yesterday as they dropped a five to four decision to Texas Tech. Despite the loss, freshman Eric Walker pitched very well. The Texas native allowed one run on six hits in six innings. The right-hander says he’s starting to feel more comfortable pitching to college hitters…
cut 18 (15) “…next Sunday”
LSU’s Jared Poche has been named SEC Co-pitcher of the week. The senior lefty tossed seven shutout innings in a four to nothing win over Baylor.

Louisiana Tech senior third baseman Chase Lunceford is the Conference USA hitter of the week. Lunceford hit .421 during five games last week and drove in at least one RBI in each . Tech is 11-1 and ranked 24th in the coaches poll.

At the NFL combine, former LSU Tiger Duke Riley recorded the second fastest 40-time by a linebacker. He clocked at 4.58 seconds. Tigers safety Jamal Adams ran a 4.56.

In the NBA…the Pelicans are at Utah tonight after beating the Lakers last night. They’ve signed guard Jordan Crawford to a 10-day contract. He was averaging 23-points a game for the Grand Rapids Drive in the D-League.

Former Ragin Cajuns standout Shawn Long has also signed a 10-day contract to play for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Sun Belt Conference named Ragin Cajuns guard Jay Wright as the Sun Belt defensive player of the year as led the league in steals. And his teammate, Frank Bartley, has been named as the league’s newcomer of the year.

Louisiana Tech’s Erik McCree and Jacobi Boykins have received all-Conference USA honors. McCree leads Tech in scoring and rebounding and Boykins averages 15 points a game, while shooting 41-percent from three-point range.

New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says he’s sorry for joking President Trump aide Kellyanne Conway looked familiar while on her knees on a couch in the Oval Office. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The state’s economic development office believes Louisiana is becoming one of the top states for computer science graduates. The Bayou State has invested over 38-million dollars in computer science and engineering departments at universities. Louisiana-job-connection-dot-com is a way to connect graduates with potential jobs in the IT sector.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations believes former FBI agent John Guandolo should be removed as a speaker from a three-day law enforcement training program hosted by the Rapides Parish District Attorney’s office. CAIR government affairs director Robert McCaw says Guandolo portrays all Muslims as potential terrorists…
cut 7 (11) “….Muslim American citizens”
But the Rapides D-A says there are no plans to remove Gaundolo as a speaker.

Ground was broken today on the construction of a new water system for the town of St. Joseph. State health officials have found evidence of lead in the water system. The governor’s deputy chief of staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says they hope the project is completed in September and until then the state will continue to make sure there is safe drinking water available…
cut 16 (10) “…going on”