There’s potential for severe weather tonight and during the overnight hours. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says wind gusts stronger than 60 miles per hour and isolated flooding is possible, along with tornadoes…

Cut 7 (11) “…EF1s, EF2s”

Cooler temperatures tomorrow, with highs only in the 60, but it will be sunny.

A Senate committee approves a bill making it a crime to conduct a protest that disrupts church services. Meghan Garvey with the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers says the U-S Supreme Court has already ruled it unconstitutional to ban someone from protesting on a public sidewalk. Garvey says the bill also needs to do a better job in defining what is “disruptive” …

Cut 11 (12) “…disruptive.”

The measure heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.

US Senator Bill Cassidy held a hearing on college athletics that focused on NIL deals. Cassidy says some of these student athletes are being taking advantage of by their agent and the transferring from school to school is preventing them from workings towards a degree. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy raised concerns about trying to restrict what students can receive through NIL deals…

Cut 15 (10) “…professional sport.”

Cassidy plans to hold additional hearings on the issue.

March Madness is peaking right now in Lake Charles as the city is hosting the Southland Conference basketball tournament and the boys high school basketball championships. Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority Executive Director Eric Zartler….

Cut 3 (07) “…be fantastic”

Big upset in the boys’ basketball tournament today as 12^th seeded Northside upset top seeded Madison Prep 65 to 61 in the Division Two select semifinals.

The Department of Insurance releases its benchmarks for hurricane-only premium discounts for fortified roofs. Commissioner Tim Temple says there are a total of nine tiers, and they’re based on two factors.

Cut 10 (09) “…silver or gold.”
The discounts are set to take effect for premiums purchased or renewed after January 1^st.

House Transportation has approved legislation to name a new Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge the “President Donald J. Trump Expressway.”   Monroe Representative Michael Echols filed the bill because he says it will help secure three-billion dollars in federal funding for construction. Denham Springs Republican Representative Kellee Dickerson says the alternative to foregoing federal funding for the bridge would draw the ire of drivers by charging tolls…

Cut 6 (06) “…a chalk board.”

A Senate committee approves legislation that would make it a crime to conduct a disruptive protest inside a church or near a place of worship. Ponchatoula Senator Bill Wheat says with his legislation, he’s not trying to infringe upon the First Amendment right to protest…

Cut 9 (13) “…as they are”

The legislation, which is headed to the Senate floor, is in response to a protest that took place at a Minneapolis church last January where the pastor was an ICE officer.

March Madness is peaking right now in Lake Charles as the city is hosting the Southland men’s and women’s basketball tournaments and the boys high school basketball championships. Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority Executive Director Eric Zartler….

Cut 3 (07) “…be fantastic”

McNeese will play Stephen F Austin for the Southland Conference Tournament Championship game at 4 PM today. The Cowboys defeated UTRGV in three overtimes last night to survive and advance.

The Louisiana Department of Insurance has issued benchmarks for the type of premium discount homeowners should see if they have a fortified roof.  The discounts on the hurricane portion of their premium, range from 16-percent for those in north Louisiana with a base-level fortified roof to 49-percent for those in south Louisiana with a gold-level fortified roof….

Cut 12 (09) “…in south Louisiana”

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the discounts take effect January 1^st and if your insurer can’t meet these discounts, they have to justify why not.

After a series of earthquakes in northwest Louisiana triggered by Thursday’s magnitude 4.9 in Red River Parish, the U.S. Geological Survey spent time this week installing new equipment to assist in detecting earthquakes. Among those on the team was Cynthia Ebinger (uh-BING-er) with the Tulane University School of Science and Engineering, who says this is standard operating procedure.

Cut 7 (12) “…the ground accelerations.”

There have been no additional quakes since Monday.

The LSU men’s basketball team plays Kentucky in the SEC Tournament at 11:30 and if the Tigers lose it could be the last game for Matt McMahon as head coach. Tiger Rag editor Glenn Guilbeau believes McMahon is likely to return next year due to donor fatigue.

Cut 13 (08)  “…overextended right now.”

The NFL new league year begins today and the Saints will announce their new free agent acquisitions, including running back Travis Etienne from Jennings and former Bills offensive guard David Edwards. Saints sideline reporter for WWL Radio, Jeff Nowak, says Edwards’ addition gives the o-line the potential to be something special…

Cut 17 (14) “….looking offensive line”

Governor Jeff Landry says it is time to retire the inspection sticker. In his State of the State address, Landry says he supports a bill, which would eliminate the need for Louisiana residents to get an inspection sticker for non-commercial vehicles…

Cut 26 (14) “…only six dollars”

State Representative Larry Bagley has once again authored the bill to eliminate the requirement for the annual vehicle inspection stickers. But as the bill is currently written, there’s no mention of changing to a Q-R code.

Landry is encouraging voters to approve Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16^th ballot. The governor says passage of that amendment would result in the state paying down teacher retirement debt that would convert a 22-hundred dollar teacher pay stipend, into a permanent pay raise…

Cut 8 (09) “…raising taxes”

People knew that Amtrak’s new Mardi Gras line connecting New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, would be successful, but they probably underestimated how successful. Amtrak projected about 71-thousand riders on that line in its first year; it’s now exceeded 80-thousand – and only half the time to do so! Southern Rail Commission Chairman Knox Ross says there are many reasons why people are riding the Mardi Gras line in droves.

Cut 9 (09)  “…day of it.”

Northwest Louisiana has been dealing with a series of earthquakes since a 4.9 quake rattled Red River Parish last Thursday.  Doctor Justin Rubenstein says he’s not expecting another quake greater than 4.9 and the aftershocks following last Thursday’s earthquake is common. He says if the ground does start moving again, here are some things you can do to protect yourself…

Cut 14 (10) “…shaking stops”

Governor Landry is pushing for the passage of Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16^th ballot. The measure would pay down teacher retirement debt, to make permanent a 22-hundred dollar pay raise that teachers already receives but as a stipend.  Landry says passage of the Amendment would show our public-school teachers that the public has their back…

Cut 7 (12) “…to leave.”

Landry also wants to see more funding for the state’s voucher program known as L-A Gator. It currently serves 56-hundred children, mostly from low-income families who use the dollars to pay for private school tuition. The Pelican Institute just conducted a poll and found 61-percent support expanding the program. Vice President of the Pelican Institute Erin Bendiily…

Cut 5 (11) “…government run school”

As if last Thursday’s magnitude 4.9 earthquake in Red River Parish wasn’t enough, that was followed by several other earthquakes in the following days, including four within a ten-minute span early Monday morning near Coushatta, ranging in magnitude from 3.1 to 4.4. Dr. Justin Rubenstein with the U.S. Geological Survey says these additional earthquakes following an initial earthquake, sometimes referred to as aftershocks, are very common.

Cut 12 (08) “…change in stress.”

Dr. Rubenstein says while there may be additional aftershocks, the chances of another earthquake of 4.9 or higher in the near term is fairly low.

A check on gas prices finds that they are up another seven cents today. According to Triple-A, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.11, up 61 cents from a month ago and 40-cents from a week ago.

Governor Landry used his State of the State address to push for the passage of Constitutional Amendment 3 on the May 16^th ballot. Landry says the amendment would pay down debt within the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana which would free up money for teacher pay raises…

Cut 6 (10) “…responsibly funded”

If Amendment 3 passes, the permanent pay raise would be 22-hundred dollars for teachers 11-hundred dollars for support staff. These educators are receiving this money, but it’s considered a stipend and could go away.

As debate over funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program gets underway in the legislature, one poll indicates that the program is popular among Louisiana voters. Erin Bendily, the senior vice president of the Pelican Institute, says its first quarter Pelican Pulse Poll shows that 61-percent support the program.

Cut 3 (08) “…LA GATOR program.”

The LA Scholarship program provides state dollars to an eligible family to pay for nonpublic school tuition, or it can go towards tutoring, textbooks, dual enrollment courses and uniforms.

The Saint Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested dozens of people after deputies received word of a cockfight in progress near Opelousas…

Cut 10 (08) “…were participating”

Sheriff Bobby Guidroz has identified 36-year-old John Eddie Lachapelle as the principal organizer of the cockfight event and he faces numerous charges.

The Saints were active on the opening day of free agency as they signed former Jacksonville running back Travis Etienne from Jennings, offensive guard David Edwards, tight end Noah Fant and veteran punter Ryan Wright, who averaged 44.5 yards a punt last season with the Vikings, fourth best in the NFL. Matt Paras of the Advocate, says Wright looks to be the right move…

Cut 15 (10) “….to solve it”