There’s a report former LSU running back Leonard Fournette is meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals. It looks like the Bengals are interested in drafting a running back as they’ve also met with Florida State’s Dalvin Cook and Oklahoma’s Joe Mixon. The Bengals have the ninth overall pick in the first round.

Former LSU track star Cyril Grayson has signed with the Seattle Seahawks, even though he hasn’t played in a football game since 2011. Grayson is a four-time NCAA track champion and participated in LSU pro day last week. He impressed Seattle enough that the Seahawks decided to sign him to a standard rookie deal.

Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro tells the Baton Rouge Advocate he’s interested in signing a contract extension with the Black and Gold.

And Louisiana Tech head football coach Skip Holtz has agreed to a five-year, three-point-five million dollar contract extension. He’s led the Bulldogs to three straight bowl victories.

LSU’s Eric Walker is the SEC Pitcher of the Week. Walker threw a four-hit shutout in the Tigers two to nothing series clinching win over the Razorbacks. Walker has extended his scoreless inning streak to 16 innings. Coach Paul Mainieri says Walker has shown a great ability to command all of his pitches…
cut 18 (18) “….glove a lot”
Tonight the Tigers face the Cajuns in the Wally Pontiff Junior Classic in Metairie. Freshman Matthew Beck will make hsi first start on the mount, the Cajuns will send freshman right-hander Jack Burk to the bump. He’s been impressive. Burk is 2-3 with a 2.23 ERA.

Also tonight, Nicholls is at Tulane, ULM hosts Louisiana Tech and McNeese State will host Alcorn State.

Small businesses oppose increasing the state’s gasoline tax. Dawn Starns, State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says they surveyed their members and 73-percent oppose a gas tax hike. Starns says everyone wants to see better roads but….
Cut 3 (09) “they have”
Lawmakers are expected to take up bills that would increase the gasoline tax by at least seven-cents a gallon.

The film tax credit program will be under a microscope this session, and LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott has conduced another study indicating the return on investment isn’t there for the state’s budget when it comes to movie incentives. He says Louisiana is subsidizing about 30 to 35-percent of the cost of making a film…:
Cut 29 (05) “your favor”
The film tax credit program is currently capped at 180 million dollars.

The federal government has granted Louisiana access to start dispensing 1.6 billion dollars to flooded residents. Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor, Julie Baxter Payer..::
Cut 14 (11) “appropriated”
The next big step for the state is to hire a contractor who will manage the Homeowner Assistance Program.

A Thibodaux man is in hot water with his wife and law enforcement. Thibodaux Police Corporal David Melancon says 33-year-old Junius Boyd hit his girlfriend with a shovel handle at an Easter Egg hunt, after she first attacked him with that shovel handle…
cut 7 (12) “…defending yourself”
Boyd and the women was arrested. Melancon says the altercation took place in front of Boyd’s wife and child.

The federal government has made available the money for Louisiana to distribute the one-point-six billion dollars appropriated by Congress to help homeowners rebuild from last year’s floods. Julie Baxter Payer, deputy chief of staff for the governor, says federal restrictions have been placed on who receives the money first…
cut 15 (09) “…flood insurance”
Payer says the state is close to hiring a contractor that will oversee the home rebuilding programs.

A Chinese company announces plans to build a one-point-one billion dollar plant in Louisiana . Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says he led a contingent to Wanhua’s (Wan-hwah)’s headquarters in China last month, where they completed final plans to move the project forward…
cut 6 (11) “…investments”
A final site choice within Louisiana will be made in the coming months.

It’s the first full day of the legislative session. Governor Edwards is pushing an ambitious tax plan that would increase taxes on businesses, but lower income taxes on 90-percent of taxpayers. But West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says lawmakers need to be cautious about lowering taxes for individuals and getting businesses to foot the bill…
cut 11 (10) “…to business”

Another study by LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott finds the benefit to Louisiana’s budget isn’t there when it comes to state’s film tax credit program. He says the return on investment from movie incentives was just 22% in 2016…:
Cut 7 (07) “million bucks”
Lawmakers are slated to discuss the film tax credit program in the current session.

Governor John Bel Edwards asks lawmakers to leave partisan politics at the door as they begin the 2017 legislative session. Michelle Southern has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The governor also wants to pour more money into Louisiana’s roads. In so many words, he announced his support for an increase to the gasoline tax…
cut 14 (07) “….traffic congestion”
There’s been talk of raising the gas tax anywhere between seven and 17-cents.

The House Ways and Means committee will begin tomorrow pouring over some of the proposals included in the governor’s tax plan. John Bel Edwards ambitious proposal will increase taxes on many businesses, but he says it will lead to lower income taxes for 90-percent of the taxpayers. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James is confident once more details of the plan come out, there will be ample support.
Cut 10 (11) “very top”
But West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says Louisiana has one of the lowest income tax rates in the nation. He’s concerned about putting too much of the tax burden on businesses and losing jobs. He says lawmakers need to be cautious about lowering taxes for individuals and getting businesses to foot the bill..
Cut 11 (10) “to business”

Governor John Bel Edwards called today for a bipartisan effort to pass tax laws that will alleviate the state’s fiscal challenges it faces every year. Edwards is also urging lawmakers to raise the minimum wage and pass equal pay legislation so women receive the same wages as men for equal work…
cut 15 (08) “….applause”
The legislative session began today and it will last two months.

Gas prices are on the rise as the summer driving season approaches. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says the statewide average of $2.19 is about 7 cents higher than the prior week which is typical for this time of year.
Cut 12 (11) “in June”
Gas prices are at their highest level since January.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he will resign if the federal government is the reason flood victims have not yet received any federal assistance. Graves made the comments on the Jim Engster Show, also issuing a call for Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same…
Cut 6 (09) “…with the governor”
The governor’s communciations director, Richard Carbo, denies the state is holding up the process and instead blames red tape with the federal government. Carbo says Graves comments are not helping homeowners…
cut 9 (08) “…not accurate”

Starting today, Louisiana homeowners who flooded in 2016 are asked to fill out a survey at restore-dot-la-dot-gov. The survey will give the state a better idea on where flood victims are in the recovery process and more importantly help determine if they are eligible federal homeowner assistance.

The 2017 legislative session started today with a 38-minute speech from Governor John Bel Edwards in the House chambers. The governor is pushing an ambitious tax plan that will mean higher taxes for businesses, but possibly lower taxes for many Louisiana residents. Edwards also says he wants to put money towards better roads, even if that means increasing the state’s gasoline tax…
cut 14 (07) “…traffic congestion”
The legislative session will conclude on June 8th.

As is typical when the weather warms up, the price at the pump also starts going up. Triple-A fuel analyst Don Redman says refineries are switching from a winter grade of gasoline to a summer…:
CUT 11 (10) “a gallon”
The current statewide average is $2.19.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he will resign if the federal government is holding up flood recovery financial assistance…
Voicer 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Christopher Few was arrested over the weekend in Avoyelles Parish on a domestic abuse charge. Few is the father of Jeremy Mardis, the six-year-old autistic boy killed during a police chase. Chief Deputy Steven Martel says Few is in their parish jail and he also has outstanding warrants for theft in St. Landry…
cut 15 (05) “….on him”

Republican Congressman Garret Graves says he’s so sure that it’s the state delaying the process of distributing federal flood recovery dollars to homeowners he’ll resign if it turns out the problem is with the federal government….
cut 8 (08) “…or not”
But the governor’s communications director Richard Carbo says he has a letter from HUD indicating that the money has yet to become available for the state to use..

The father of the 6-year-old autistic boy killed by a Marksville deputy marshal has been arrested for allegedly trying to strangle his girlfriend. Chief Deputy Steven Martel with the Avoyelles Sheriff’s Office says they received a call Saturday about a domestic dispute between 26-year-old Christopher Few and his girlfriend.
Cut 3 (09) “strangle him”

Have you noticed gas prices are on the rise? AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says the cost of regular gasoline rose 7 cents a gallon over the last week for a statewide average of $2.19. Redman says it’s that time of the year when the price at the pump rises.
Cut 10 (11) “their equipment”
Gas prices are at their highest level since January.

The legislative session begins today and taxes will be the big debate. Over 850 bills have been filed including the measure that requires exotic dancers in strip clubs to be at least 21-years-old. Lake Charles Senator Ronnie Johns says the new measure is less broad than last year’s when it comes to the definition of nudity. But the goal is the same, prevent human trafficking…
cut 14 (07) “…my intent”
The legislative session will last until June 8th.

The 2017 legislative session begins today. Governor John Bel Edwards will address lawmakers from the House chamber at 1 PM and he’ll ask legislators to pass a significant change to our tax code that would increase taxes on businesses, but promises to lower taxes on most Louisiana residents. Minden Representative Gene Reynolds heads the state Democratic caucus and believes the governor’s tax plan will be hard to pass in this two month session. He says Edwards might have more success if a constitutional convention was called….

cut 9 (09) “…a while”

Big news on the economic development front. A chemical company from China has chosen Louisiana to build a one-point-one billion dollar manfufacturing complex. The state’s economic development office says the project will create 170 new direct jobs and another 945 new indirect jobs. A specific site selection will be made later this year.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he will resign if the federal government is the reason flood victims have not yet received any federal assistance. Graves made the comments on the Jim Engster Show, also issuing a call for Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same…

Cut 6 (09) “…with the governor”

Richard Carbo with the Governor’s Office says there is no truth to Graves’ claims that the state is holding up the process. He says Louisiana submitted its plan on how to spend recovery dollars to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development with record speed, and the funds are tied up in red tape on the federal level.

Cut 7 (09) “…the funds”

Carbo says they anticipate the federal government will release the money very soon. In the meantime they are asking 2016 flood victims to fill out a survey at restore-dot-la-dot-gov.