Adding to a 9 thousand person lay-off in January, oilfield services giant Schlumberger has announced plans to lay off about 11,000 additional employees because of the drop in oil prices. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says oil companies are dealing with crude prices roughly half of what they were a year ago and service companies are being asked for a break in price…
CUT 3 (06) Q: “what’s going on”
He says the pinch won’t be quite as bad for Louisiana, as most oil is off-shore.

A poll on the Republican presidential primary in New Hampshire says Governor Bobby Jindal has received the best favorability rating out of all the presidential hopefuls, at 43%…
CUT 6 (09) “him back in”
That’s Tom Jensen with Public Policy Polling.
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This latest round of rain hitting the state today and tonight has flash watches and river flood warnings in effect for many of the rain-soaked areas. The National Weather Service says the rain will be moving on tomorrow, giving us dryer weather pattern.

A conspiracy to plant drugs on a person has yielded another arrest. The former Knight Oil Tools employee was part of the plot to set up Brian Knight. Captain John Babin, with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office, says Russell Manual is the fourth person to be arrested as part of this investigation….
cut 12 (11) “intimidating witness”

A 25-year Shreveport police veteran has been fired following disciplinary hearing yesterday for an off-duty fight in 2013. Officials say Officer Tracy Fulton picked the fight that broke bones in the victim’s face and caused a concussion, following a minor traffic accident in 2013. Fulton’s attorney say they will appeal.

A new poll on the Republican presidential primary in New Hampshire says Governor Bobby Jindal has the best favorability rating among all the presidential hopefuls…
CUT 2 (24) “reporting”

After a four year absence from the NBA playoffs, the New Orleans Pelicans are back facing #1 seed Golden State today. The Warriors won 67 games in the regular season, and went 3-1 against the Pels, but Anthony Davis did not play in two of those games. Game 1 tips off at 2:30 pm this afternoon on ABC.
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The former Knight Oil Tools employee involved in a conspiracy to plant drugs on Brian Knight to have him arrested, has turned himself in. Authorities say Russell Manual, along with a state trooper and a Lafayette Sheriff’s deputy, who have both also been arrested, were involved in the plot. Knight’s brother Mark, who is the former firm CEO, was also charged…
CUT 13 (09) Q: “the appropriate manner”
That’s Captain John Babin, with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.

There’s some better Louisiana weather news for tomorrow-especially in South Louisiana, as the rain that’s been pounding the state this week will finally start moving out…
cut 11 (06) “dry out”
That’s Lance Escude (es cue aid) , with the National Weather Service, who adds flash flood watches are in place in the heavier rain areas through tonight.

Governor Bobby Jindal is in New Hampshire today to deliver a speech tonight at 8 o’clock the Republican Leadership Conference. And he will be going to the podium with some new polling numbers that give him a 43 percent approval rating. Tom Jensen with Public Policy Polling says says Jindal could get even stronger in the presidential race if he touts his conservative agenda tonight…

CUT 8 (08) “conservative principles”

There are scattered storms in the forecast for North Louisiana today, but the heavier rains continue to soak most of South Louisiana today, especially along the coast…
CUT 10 (08) Q: “definitely possible”
That’s Lance Escude (es cue aid) , with the National Weather Service, who adds tomorrow will be much improved.
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About 11,000 employees are planned at Oilfield services giant Schlumberger, which officials say is because of reductions in oil prices…
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

An oil rig that has been leaking in the Gulf for about 11 years. has a US Senator putting pressure on the feds to reveal more information. Democratic Florida Senator Bill Nelson-who’s on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation–also said “all necessary resources” should used to stop the leak of the Taylor Energy Company rig.

LOUISIANA RADIO NETWORK SPORTS: The Pelicans will play in their first postseason game since 2011 this afternoon when they take on Golden State in the Western Conference playoffs. The Warriors are the top seed after winning 67 games, while the Pelicans had to scratch and claw to get in the postseason. Golden State was 3-1 against New Orleans during the regular season, but Anthony Davis didn’t play in two of of those games. Tip-off is at 2:30.

Weather permitting, the LSU baseball team will play a doubleheader today at noon, because last night’s game was rained out. Freshman Alex Lange will start Game one and sophomore Jared Poche is expected to start game two.

UL Lafayette’s game against Texas State was also rained out last night. The two teams will play a doubleheader at noon at Bobcat Ballpark. ULM edged Arkansas State 3 to 2. Alex Hermeling pitched eight strong innings to get the win and Louisiana Tech lost 18-9 to UAB.

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Southeastern Louisiana remains in first place in the Southland after beating McNeese State four to two in 10 innings last night. Julian Service blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th to win it.

Elsewhere in the Southland….Central Arkansas edged Northwestern State 2 to 1, while Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi clipped UNO 3-to-1.

The LSU gymnastics team had a disappointing finish to its season as they failed to reach the Super Six. The Tigers were shaky on beam and it cost them an opportunity to compete for a national championship.

The LSU football team will complete spring practice with the spring game at 1 PM this afternoon. The spring game will be a chance for quarterbacks Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris to gain a step on the starting job this fall. Both players will get reps with the first and second teams today.

Louisiana Tech also holds its spring game today at one P-M. It’s the first opportunity for fans to see former Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel in a Bulldog uniform.

A new poll on the Republican presidential primary in New Hampshire says Governor Bobby Jindal is someone to keep an eye on after receiving the best favorability rating out of all the presidential hopefuls at 43%. Tom Jensen with Public Policy Polling says Jindal’s favorability rating really stuck out on the poll…
CUT 6 (09) “him back in”
Jindal is speaking this weekend at the Republican Leadership Summit in New Hampshire.

The rain that’s been pounding the state this week will start to slack off significantly by Sunday, but we have some more to deal with Saturday, leaving the southern half of the state in a flash flood watch…
CUT 10 (08) Q: “definitely possible”
That’s Lance Escude (es cue aid) , with the National Weather Service.
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Oilfield services giant Schlumberger has announced plans to lay off approximately 11,000 additional employees due to the reduction in oil prices…
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

There’s lots of financial backing, and the firm behind “Jersey Boys” is has shifted their latest entertainment support to camo and beards. The “Duck Commander Musical” made it’s debut Rio Hotel in Las Vegas this week to some strong reviews. Entertainer Robin Leach-writting for the Las Vegas Sun-gave the show high marks, saying “get to Broadway as fast as you can.”

Oilfield services giant Schlumberger has announced plans to lay off about 11,000 additional employees due to the reduction in oil prices. LSU Economist Loren Scott says those prices are roughly half of what they were a year ago, and oil companies are asking service companies for a break in their fees…
CUT 3 (06) “what’s going on”
Louisiana’s pinch won’t be as bad, since most of our jobs are offshore.

Governor Bobby Jindal is in New Hampshire this weekend to speak at the Republican Leadership Conference, and he’s got some good polling numbers to go along with him. Tom Jensen with Public Policy Polling says Jindal’s favorability rating was 43-percent, and his presidential campaign stock could rise even more if he touts his conservative agenda…
CUT 8 (08) “conservative principles”
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The former Knight Oil Tools employee involved in a conspiracy to plant drugs on Brian Knight to have him arrested, has turned himself in. Authorities say Russell Manual, along with a state trooper and a Lafayette Sheriff’s deputy, who have both been arrested, were involved in the plot. Knight’s brother Mark, who is the former firm CEO, was also arrested…
CUT 13 (09) Q: “the appropriate manner”
That’s Captain John Babin, with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.

There’s less rain state-wide rain coverage right now, but there’s more rain expected…
CUT 9 (10) Q: “to redevelop”
That’s Lance Escude (ES cue aid) from the National Weather Service, who says Sunday will be much dryer.

It’s the best presidential polling news so far for Governor Bobby Jindal, as a New Hampshire survey has his favorability rating at 43 percent, which leads all Republican hopefuls. Tom Jensen with Public Policy Polling says Jindal has recently been excluded from their Republican presidential polls after consistently polling in last place, but that could change…
CUT 7 (10) Q: ‘where he is’

The overall coverage of rain this week has diminished somewhat across the state today, but some thunderstorm activity will linger through Saturday, but Sunday will have a significant drop in rain probability…
CUT 11 (06) Q: ‘dry out’
That’s Lance Escude (ES cue aid) from the National Weather Service.
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With oil prices about half of what they were a year ago, oilfied giant Schlumberger (Shlum Ber jhay) has plans for tens of thousands of layoffs in the near future. Louisiana is also to be affected, but not as severely, as most oil and gas jobs are offshore…
CUT 5 (08) “planning horizons”
That’s LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott.

The former Knight Oil Tools employee that authorities say was involved in a conspiracy to plant drugs on Brian Knight to have him arrested, has turned himself in. Authorities say Russell Manual, along with a state trooper and a Lafayette Sheriff’s deputy, who have both been arrested, were involved in the plot. An arrest warrant was issued for Manual earlier this week, and he eventually surrendered to the authorities.
cut 14 (05) “eventually booked”
That’s Captain John Babin, with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office.

A new poll on the Republican presidential primary in New Hampshire says Governor Bobby Jindal has the best favorability rating among all the presidential hopefuls. Jeff Palermo reports…:

CUT 2 (24) “reporting”

The entire bottom half of the state is under a Flash Flood Watch until tomorrow evening. The National Weather Service says isolated scattered thunderstorms are possible across the area this afternoon and is expected to be the main threat of heavy rain over the next 36 hours. Many areas are already completely saturated according to meteorologists.

The former Knight Oil Tools employee that authorities say was involved in a conspiracy to plant drugs on another person has turned himself in. Captain John Babin, with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office, says Russell Manual is the fourth person to be arrested as part of this investigation…:
CUT 12 (11) “intimidating witness”
Two cops and the CEO of Knigh Oil were also arrested this week.

Schlumberger, an oilfield services giant with locations throughout the state and the US, announces they plan to lay off about 11,000 more employees because of the oil price drop. Economist Dr. Loren Scott believes a majority of these layoffs will occur in states that depend on drilling on land…:
CUT 4 (10) “and Pennsylvania”
In January, Schlumberger announced they were reducing their workforce by 9,000 employees.

A new poll on the Republican presidential primary in New Hampshire says Governor Bobby Jindal is someone to keep an eye on after receiving the best favor-ability rating out of all the presidential hopefuls. Tom Jensen with Public Policy Polling says Jindal’s favor-ability rating was 43-percent. He says it really stuck out on this poll…:
CUT 6 (09) “him back in”
He says this is good news for Jindal.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office has established a benefit fund for Corporal Burt Hazeltine who was shot multiple times Thursday by someone frustrated by school crossing traffic. They say all donations, which can be made on their Facebook page, will be given to the Hazeltine family as the deputy, a father of four, recovers at University Hospital. The alleged shooter, 58-year-old John Paul Devillier is being held on $1 million dollars bond.

The National Weather Service is keeping the south half of the state under a flash flood watch through Saturday afternoon. Meteorologist Lance Escude..:
CUT 10 (08) “definitely possible”
Four to six inches of rain fell during a two hour period Thursday afternoon in Alexandria and about 50 homes flooded and cops had to participate in about 50 water related rescues.

The Pelicans are headed to the west coast today where they will begin their best of seven series with Golden State. Game one is tomorrow and will be on ABC at 2:30pm. Fox Sports New Orleans announced today that they’ll televise games two through four and possibly more games if the series is extended beyond four games.

Four to six inches of rain fell during a two hour period Thursday afternoon in Alexandria, flooding about 50 homes. Police also say there were numerous car crashes and the fire department participated in about 50 water related rescues. Lance Escude, with the National Weather Service, says more rain is on the way…:
CUT 9 (10) “to redevelop”
He says the southern half of the state remains under a flash flood watch through Saturday afternoon.

The woman from Baton Rouge who has been missing all week was reportedly awarded more than $1 million dollars in a divorce settlement just weeks before she vanished. 54-year-old Taherah Ghassemi’s vehicle was found intentionally torched on Sunday and she hasn’t been heard from since Saturday. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office is not commenting about whether the money or bitter marital dispute with her former husband could be connected to Ghassemi’s disappearance.

Oilfield services giant Schlumberger has announced plans to layoff approximately 11,000 additional employees due to the reduction in oil prices. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

Funeral Services have been set for R&B legend Percy Sledge who died of cancer in his Baton Rouge home this week. Visitation for the “When a Man Loves a Woman” singer will be Tuesday morning at Bethany in the Capitol City. Family members are having a private service on Monday.