LSU announces the new “Voice of the Tigers” will be Georgia Southern play-by-play man Chris Blair replacing Jim Hawthorne who retires after the 2015-16 men’s basketball season. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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Today is the first full day of Summer and State Climatologist Barry Keim says it has arrived, pretty much, right on time. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (28) “I’m Eric Gill”

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As a result of Governor Bobby Jindal’s religious freedom executive order, IBM has reportedly cancelled today’s ribbon cutting for its new National Service Center in downtown Baton Rouge. Soon after the state legislature voted down the “Marriage and Conscience Act”, the governor issued an executive order that mirrored language in the bill. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the move by Jindal is just politics…

CUT 3 (08)  “don’t agree”

Company executives wrote a letter to the governor saying the legislation opposes what IBM stands for, equal rights and opportunity for everyone and discrimination for no one. Pinsonat says Jindal’s executive order actually doesn’t carry much weight…

CUT 4 (07)  “does nothing”

Pinsonat says the governor’s executive order is purely symbolic, related to him running for president, and really does nothing. He says IBM has every right to cancel the ceremony, but most governors in most states don’t do everything a corporation wants…

CUT 5 (08)  “can make money”

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LSU announces the new “Voice of the Tigers” will be Georgia Southern play-by-play man Chris Blair replacing Jim Hawthorne who retires after the 2015-16 men’s basketball season. Blair says getting this huge gig is surreal…:

CUT 6 (10)  “absolutely amazing”

Blair begins calling at LSU starting with the 2016 LSU baseball season and his title will be Director of Radio Broadcasting. The 40-year-old is currently the GM and Voice of the Eagles at Georgia Southern Sports Properties. Blair says when he applied for Hawthorne’s job, he never imagined he’d be the man in that seat…:

CUT 7 (11) “hope and prayer”

The announcement was made by Athletic Director Joe Alleva on Saturday and Blair says he and his family felt embraced by LSU fans right away…:

CUT 8 (08)  “brand”

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A preliminary autopsy report could be released today on 32-year-old Kevin Bajoie of Zachary, who died after he was tased by two Baton Rouge police officers. Corporal Don Coppola says officers responded to a call involving a fight outside a home, when units arrived, Bajoie was lying on his back, he unexpectedly jumped up and attempted to attack an officer…

CUT 9 (11)  “tasers”

Coppola says at first, it was only one officer who used his taser against Bajoie, but a second officer also used his taser, when the now deceased man kept fighting…

cut 10 (09) “Bajoie” 

After Bajoie was taken into custody, he was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from unknown reasons. Coppola says the two officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave per standard procedure. He says officers are trained to use their tasers in incidents like this

cut 11 (12)  “tasers”

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Today is the first full day of Summer and State Climatologist Barry Keim says it has arrived, pretty much, right on cue. He says the wet weather pattern in the state for the past six weeks or so has kept temperatures down. But Keim says that pattern has changed and now the forecast is calling for more seasonal temperatures…

cut 12 (10)  “of the year”

Keim says the long term forecast for the summer season is calling for near normal temperatures with below normal rainfall. He says fewer afternoon showers will definitely be something people will notice…

cut 13 (06)  “in the afternoon”

He says before you know it, fronts will begin flying though Louisiana in September and all will be right with the world. Keim says there are a few precautions people should follow to make it though these hot summer months…

cut 14 (12) “well hydrated”

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Three LSU football players have been indefinitely suspended from the team after being charged with unauthorized entry into a residence. Jeff Palermo has more

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A 19 million dollar contract has been signed to destroy the M6 propellant that is illegally stored at Camp Minden in Webster Parish. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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LSU Quarterback Anthony Jennings and two other players have been charged with unauthorized entry into an inhabited dwelling. Police records indicate the players went to an on-campus apartment to retrieve items that were taken from Jennings. Legal analyst Chick Foret says that’s not a valid defense and District Attorney Hillar Moore will decide what actions to take…

CUT 3 (07)  “filed”

Jennings, cornerback Dwayne Thomas and defensive lineman Maquedius Bain have been suspended indefinitely. Coach Les Miles policy has been to suspend players charged with felonies. Foret says the players’ defense attorney will need to get their side of the story before going to the DA to ask for a reduced charge…

CUT 4 (11)  “all charges”

Foret says there is still a long way to go before these players’ football future is decided. The DA may not grant the request for a misdemeanor based on what the victim says occurred, although it is possible the charges will be dropped…

CUT 5 (09)  “change of heart”

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Baton Rouge based Explosive Service International signs a 19-million dollar contract with the Louisiana National Guard which allows them to begin the process of disposing 15 million pounds of M-6 propellant from Camp Minden in Webster Parish. Guard Spokesperson Colonel Pete Schneider says it will take the company a few months to create the closed container to burn the explosives.

CUT 6 (08)  “several months”

Schneider says they aren’t sure the exact date of when the disposal will begin but they are hosting public meetings to keep the community up to date.

CUT 7 (07) “take place”

Schneider explains they aren’t sure of how old the explosives are but the Army says M6 gets more unstable, the older it gets. He says the federal government will pay for the disposal.

CUT 8 (07)  “good thing”

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Louisiana receives a one million dollar job training grant from the federal government that will be used to help unemployed workers and veterans join the workforce in North Louisiana. Louisiana Workforce Commission spokesperson Aaron Caffarel says the commission is excited to get this money that will expand employment opportunities…

CUT 9 (08)  “apprenticeship programs”

The state is currently deciding where the money will go. Caffarel says it could go towards a parish, police jury or municipality depending on the type of industries in the area…

cut 10 (09) “those funds” 

Cafarrel says the grant will target the areas of Alexandria, Monroe and Shreveport because the state received a six million dollar grant last year for regions below those cities. The grant will assist dislocated workers, veterans, and those who have been unemployed for an extensive time period…

cut 11 (09)  “they need”

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Governor Bobby Jindal announces that his chief of staff, Kyle Plotkin and Deputy Communications Director Shannon Dirmann are leaving his administration to pursue other opportunities. Jeremy Alford, with LApolitics.com says they will be joining Jindal’s presidential campaign.

cut 12 (09)  “research roles”

LaPolitics.com also reports one of Jindal’s most trusted political advisors, Timmy Teepell will serve as manager of the national campaign. Alford wonders what national names will eventually join Jindal’s campaign team.

cut 13 (10)  “this campaign”

Jindal is expected to officially announce that he’s running for president on Wednesday. Alford says once the governor gets his presidential campaign team together, one of their top priorities is to make sure Jindal participates in the Republican presidential debates.

cut 14 (11) “point bump”

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Most people will spend a little less for Father’s Day gifts than they did last month for Mom. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A bill that would require all public high school students to pass the US Citizenship exam is awaiting Governor Bobby Jindal’s signature. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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An effort by the estranged heirs of Saints and Pelcians owner Tom Benson to have a judge declare him incompetent to make important business decisions fails, so what’s next? Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

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Father’s Day is Sunday and the average person will spend about $116 on Dad, according to the National Retail Federation.The NRF says average spending on Mom was $173 dollars for Mother’s Day.  LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice

cut 4  (11)  “for mom”

Rice says another reason why spending is more for Mom than Dad, is because clothes for females usually cost more.

Cut 5  (07)  “more expensive”

Rice says Moms might also get more gifts than Dad, because sons and daughters really want to show how much they appreciate all she does.

Cut 6 (06)  “really nice”

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A bill that would require all public high school students to pass the US Citizenship exam is awaiting Governor Bobby Jindal’s signature. Louisiana would be the 8th state to enact such legislation. Frank Riggs is the president and CEO of the Joe Foss Institute which leads the National Civics Education Initiative…:

CUT 7 (10)  “public education”

Under the new law, civics courses in the state will have to contain curriculum on the same subject matter that is taught to immigrants seeking to become citizens. The student then has to pass the naturalization test to graduate. Lafayette Senator Page Cortez, who sponsored the measure, says increased knowledge of America is important

Cut 8  (04)  “better Americans” 

Riggs says making the test a graduation requirement helps educate all young people on our unique constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights that unite us…:

Cut 9 (10)  “have in Common”

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A civil district court judge in New Orleans denies a petition from the estranged heirs of Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson that claimed the 87-year-old is mentally unfit to run his professional sports teams. It’s a victory for Benson. But Legal analyst Tim Meche says the real court battle is over Benson’s trust funds, and whether he can get them changed so that his wife Gayle can assume ownership of the teams when he dies…

Cut 10 (07) “or the Saints”

Meche says a bigger legal challenge for Benson is whether he can change a trust fund  set up for his daughter and her children to take over as owners of the teams….

cut 11 (11) “give it Gayle”

Meche says while Benson prevailed in the competency case, he’ll have a tougher time when it comes to getting a judge to remove Renee Benson and her two children as the future owners of the teams, when it’s already been established in trusts…

cut 12 (10)  “at the day”

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In the 5th Week of the Louisiana Radio Network’s Governor Q&A, we asked the major candidates for Governor about the controversial SAVE legislation. The measure was pushed by Governor Bobby Jindal in the last session as a way to keep the budget “revenue-neutral.” Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle…:

Cut 13 (10)  “game changers”

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says SAVE will be rescinded under his leadership if a court hasn’t already thrown it out…:

Cut 14 (11) “very worst”

Democratic Amite Representative John Bel Edwards says he opposed the SAVE Act in the session because it was a dishonest, contrived piece of legislation…:

Cut 15  (09)  “wreck our state”

US Senator David Vitter says he’s seen a poll that shows 70% of Louisianians think the SAVE Act is a gimmick…:

Cut 16  (09)  “scenarios”

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The LSU baseball team’s season ended last night with an 8-to-4 loss to TCU in the College World Series. The Tigers got off to a good start, by scoring a run in the 1st inning, but the Horned Frogs scored three runs in the 2nd inning and three more in the 5th and it was just too much to overcome. Coach Paul Mainieri says it’s tough to see a talented team not reach its ultimate goal…

Cut 17 (21) ” terribly” 

Mainieri says losing at the College World Series before reaching the championship series is a cruel way to end a great season…

Cut 18 (16) “so difficult”

LSU had just seven hits as TCU relief pitcher Trey Teakell shut the Tigers down for most of the game and LSU’s bullpen struggled. Austin Bain and Jesse Stallings each gave up multiple runs and starter Zac Person also allowed three runs. Mainieri says they got beat by a better team…

Cut 19 (14) “…comes to an end “

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