A bill to require parental permission if a student wants to go by another name or pronoun has been filed for the upcoming legislative session. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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LSU continues its run through the NCAA Women’s basketball tournament as the Lady Tigers take on Utah today. Teiko Foxx reports a large group of LSU fans are in South Carolina to cheer them on…

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Sleeping Beauty, Cindrella, Shrek and Donald Duck were some of the names submitted to the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters Office in the effort to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Among the bills filed for the upcoming legislative session is the “Given Name Act,” authored by Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews. Crews says school employees would be required to use a student’s given name and corresponding pronouns unless written parental consent says otherwise.

Cut 4 (11)  “…two things.”

Crews says he’s received positive feedback from teachers, who in some cases have been asked by a student to use another name and pronoun that the parents are not aware of.

Cut 5 (08) “…written permission.”

The Republican lawmaker says parents have to give permission for their minor child to have a gun or a tattoo and he believes the “Given Name Act” falls along the same lines.

Cut 6 (11)  “…kind of guidance.” 

Crews says he’s received positive feedback from teachers and fellow lawmakers. The regular session begins on April 10^th.

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The tiger train is moving full steam ahead as alumni gather to show support for Coach Mulkey and the LSU Women’s Basketball team as they prepare to play Utah in Greenville, South Carolina in the Sweet 16 later today. President of the LSU Alumni Association Joe Carvalhido says Mulkey has brought an immeasurable amount of excitement to the university.

Cut 7 (06) “…staff before.”

The Lady Tigers – who are 30-2 this season – made five trips to the final four in the 2000s but did not receive alumni engagement on this scale. Carvalhido says the alumni mission is about brand and fan engagement, and it’s good to see the program on top.

Cut 8 (09) “…the excitement.”

Mulkey, in her second season leading the Tigers, is a semifinalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Coach of the year. Carvalhido says Mulkey is committed to greatness and the alumni are around to support her and the Lady Tigers.

Cut 9 (11)  “…from afar.”

LSU Tigers Women’s Basketball will play Utah Utes today at 4 p.m. on ESPN.

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The Bayou State could be in for some dicey weather today as a frontal system, winding itself up in Texas and Oklahoma, moves east. State Climatologist Barry Keim says while it crosses the state, we’ll need to remain weather-aware today.

Cut 10 (12)  “…three to four days.”

Keim says rain amounts shouldn’t exceed a few inches, but what’s most serious concerning is the severe weather threat the front is bringing. He says northeast Louisiana has a moderate threat of experiencing high winds, hail, and tornados.

Cut 11 (05)  “…high-risk.”

And Keim says severe weather today and tomorrow is not just limited to northeast Louisiana.  He says areas north of the I-10/I-12 corridor are under the enhanced and slight category for severe weather.

Cut 12 (09)  “…tomorrow morning.”

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The Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters says some of the signatures they received from the failed recall effort of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell were Disney names, but recall organizers say there were thousands of signatures not counted. Danielle Duplessis Hammond with the Registrar’s office read off some of the names

Cut 13 (13) “…Barney Rubble.” 

45 thousand signatures were needed to force the recall and only 27 thousand were certified. New Orleans Registrar of Voters Sandra Wilson stands by her counting…

Cut 14 (09)  “…in the law.”

But recall organizers Eileen Carter and Belden Batiste say Wilson’s math doesn’t add up

Cut 15 (08)  “…we got back up.”

But what about the Disney signatures? Carter says Wilson’s office was also not clear on when the signatures needed to be submitted so in the rush to them in, some false names were mixed in with valid signatures

Cut  16 (12)  “…seriously.” 

Carter says they are not going away and exploring all legal options.

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The LSU women’s basketball team continues their NCAA Tournament run today against second-seeded Utah. The Lady Tigers are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2014 in just their second season under Kim Mulkey. Mulkey says that no one could have expected this quick of a turnaround and the team is ready to leave it all out on the court…

Cut 17 (22) “… then we did.” 

LSU reached the Sweet 16 after dominant wins in the first two rounds at home over Hawaii and Michigan. All-American Forward Angel Reese shined in the 66-42 win over the Wolverines with 25 points, 24 rebounds, and 5 blocks. The Maryland transfer has had a double-double in 30 of LSU’s 32 games this season but Mulkey says her team is stacked with talent…

Cut 18 (19) “…shoot it.”

Tip-off in Greenville, South Carolina is at 4:00

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The LSU baseball team starts off the first game of their series against third-ranked Arkansas today at noon. The Tigers 13 game win streak ended in an 8-6 loss in College Station, but LSU will hope to get back to their hot start in what Coach Jay Johnson said would be an important series for their hopes of winning the SEC this year. The game was originally scheduled for 7:00 and moved up to noon because of weather forecasts, and with more coming this weekend, Johnson says they may have to move Sunday’s game too…

Cut 19 (20) “…the schedule.”

The Razorbacks come into Baton Rouge matching the Tigers 19-2 record after sweeping Auburn at home to begin SEC play last weekend. Arkansas is seventh in the SEC in batting average and home runs and ninth with a 4.21 ERA. Johnson said he knew Arkansas would be one of the best programs each year when he came to the SEC…

Cut 20 (20)  “…all year.”  

After the failed effort to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Covington Representative Paul Hollis says he’ll file bill for the upcoming legislative session to lower the threshold….

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Get ready for flying trapeze artists and BMX acrobats. After a six-year hiatus, Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey circus is back with a completely reinvented show. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx” 

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After a failed attempt to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, a state lawmaker says he’ll attempt to pass legislation to make it easier to recall elected officials. Covington Representative Paul Hollis says it’s too hard to recall an elected official, because it takes 20-percent of the registered voters in large parishes like Orleans….

Cut 3 (09) “…that’s a massive number” 

Hollis wants to lower the threshold for the number of signatures needed to force a recall. He says instead of making it based on the number of qualified voters, the number should be based on the number of people who voted in the election of the person now targeted in the recall

Cut 4 (10)  “…recalled” 

Hollis says if recall organizers are successful in getting signatures from 20 percent of people who voted in the election, it would still take a majority vote in the recall election to oust a person from public office.

In 2018, Hollis convinced lawmakers to change the recall election rules so that only 20-percent of the registered voters in a municipality with over 100-thousand voters were needed for a recall petition to be successful. It was 33-percent. Hollis wants to lower the threshold again…

Cut 5 (11) “…that campaign”

Hollis’ bill will be debated in the legislative session that begins April 10th.

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The “Greatest Show on Earth” is back and it’s heading to North Louisiana. Ringling Brothers. and Barnum & Bailey will begin their North American tour in Bossier City at the Brookshire Grocery Arena, September 29 through 31.  Show Guide Lauren Irving says they are reintroducing Ringling at a time when families are seeking to share experiences that provide togetherness.

Cut 6 (06)  “…those memories.” 

The show ended its 146-year run in 2017 due to high operating costs and costly legal battles with animal rights groups. Irving says there will be no animals on the tour but it will be a massive playground with two main stages, a 360-degree view with live camera feeds, and unique performances.

Cut 7 (09)  “…seen before.” 

The reimagined all-human show features acts including Triangular Highwire, Criss-Cross Flying Trapeze, double wheel, Extreme Box Jump Trampoline, and more. Irving says their goal was to enhance the total experience with technology and amazing wow moments.

Cut 8 (08)  “…same thing.” 

There will be a 19-city tour and the stop in Bossier City is the only one scheduled for Louisiana.

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Louisiana U-S senator Bill Cassidy went on the floor of the U-S Senate today to challenge President Biden to meet with a bipartisan group of senators currently discussing solutions to save the program. The Republican from Baton Rouge says the President has said he’s ready to work with Congress, but so far they have not been able to get an appointment with Mr. Biden…

Cut 9 (08) “…personal sign off”

Cassidy says the Social Security Trust Fund will go insolvent in nine years, resulting in an automatic 24-percent benefit cut. The senator says President Biden has not taken any steps to address this looming problem…

Cut 10 (12) “…no plan.” 

Cassidy says the President should show sense of urgency to act as Social Security is heading toward a financial cliff in less than a decade…

Cut 11 (12)  “…24-percent cut”

When the President unveiled his 2024 budget, he said the Administration is committed to protecting and strengthening Social Security, but Cassidy says Mr. Biden has not shown how the federal government will shore up Social Security.

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Exactly four weeks after Nathan Millard disappeared, Baton Rouge Police are looking for a Florida man who was last seen at 12:45 Wednesday morning. Sgt L’Jean McKneely says 44-year-old Jody Bert was traveling back home with his family after visiting relatives in Oklahoma, became ill and stopped for the night.

Cut 12 (10) “…concerned.” 

Bert’s wallet, phone, and car were found in a nearby parking garage.

McNeely wouldn’t disclose Bert’s medical condition but says it could be related to his disappearance.

Cut 13 (11) “…assistance.”

Police are searching the area where he was last seen and McNeely says detectives are gathering and viewing surveillance camera footage from the area in an attempt to trace Bert’s steps.

Cut 14 (08)  “…investigation.”

He’s described as 6 feet, 220 pounds, with short black hair and tattoos on his left arm, wearing blue jeans, and a dark-colored hoodie. If you have any information you are asked to contact BRPD or Crimestoppers.