Governor Bobby Jindal was on NBC’s Meet the Press and spoke about the religious freedom debate that’s created a national controversy in recent weeks. Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson has filed a religious freedom bill in Louisiana. Jindal says there used to be a bi-partisan consensus in the US about religious liberty…:
CUT 4 (11) “held beliefs”
Jindal says he supports the defense of religious liberty.

Shreveport Police are looking for a 19-year-old man accused of firing a gun into a crowd gathered at a park, killing a 13-year-old boy. Witnesses told authorities that Antonious Cawthorne was asked to leave the park after pulling a gun during an argument. They say, as he was driving off, he stopped and fired into the crowd. Keandre Broadway was shot and died later at a local hospital. Cawthorne is wanted for second degree murder.

A US public interest research group says there are over 1800 bridges in Louisiana that need repairs. They are listed as being “structurally deficient” but Department of Transportation spokesman Rodney Mallett says that doesn’t mean bridges across the state have been neglected…:
CUT 7 (10) “replacement projects”
He says a “structurally deficient” designation doesn’t mean a bridge is unsafe it means it has at least one component that needs repair or replacement.

Even though it’s been common knowledge that Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne is running for governor, he made it official today. He says Louisiana is in horrible financial shape right now and he plans to go to work on budget matters from day one…:
CUT 13 (09) “to celebrate”
Dardenne says his office will work to end the practice of using one-time money to pay for ongoing expenses.

State Police say a trooper’s vehicle was hit by a drunk driver on the side of the interstate in East Baton Rouge Parish Easter morning while he was investigating another DWI crash. Trooper Dustin Dwight says the vehicle that slammed into the back of the cop car was driven by 24-year-old Magen Hall of Zachary…:
CUT 10 (09) “minor injuries”
Dwight says both the trooper and the first DWI offender were inside the fully marked Tahoe when it was hit.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne officially kicked off his campaign for Governor today. In his announcement, Dardenne said he’s traveled thousands of miles across Louisiana in his current job which is what he plans to do if he’s elected to be the next leader of the state…:
CUT 12 (08) “and Shreveport”
Dardenne says he’d work out of an existing state office in each location.

According to the United States Public Interest Research Group, federal data from 2014 indicates that over 1,800 bridges in Louisiana need repairs. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

Gas prices continue slowly going down as we get further into spring. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $2.19.

Governor Bobby Jindal made an appearance on NBC’s Meet The Press to talk about the religious freedom debate that’s created a national controversy in recent weeks. Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson has filed a religious freedom bill in Louisiana. Jindal says this issue is about business owners that don’t want to have to choose between their religious beliefs and being able to operate their businesses…:
CUT 3 (09) “those ceremonies”
Johnson’s proposed bill would permit private businesses to deny the same benefits to same-sex couples as other married couples based on a religious objection.

A 54-year-old man from Baton Rouge is booked with attempted murder charges after allegedly trying to set his ex girlfriend’s home on fire in Baker while she was inside. Cops say the woman reported 54-year-old Leper Lewis was angry because the couple had recently broken up. Lewis is charged with attempted first degree murder and attempted aggravated arson.

State police say one of their troopers was injured in a crash involving a drunk driver Sunday morning while investigating another DWI related accident in East Baton Rouge Parish. Trooper Dustin Dwight says the unidentified trooper had the first DWI suspect inside his vehicle parked on the side of I-12 and was finishing up the paperwork for that accident report…:
CUT 9 (06) “back of him”
That driver is 24-year-old Megan Hall of Zachary and Dwight says her BAC was nearly twice the legal limit. The first DWI suspect and the trooper suffered minor to moderate injuries.

According to the United States Public Interest Research Group, federal data from 2014 indicates that over 1,800 bridges in Louisiana need repairs. The Federal Highway Administration labels those bridges as “structurally deficient”. Louisiana Department of Transportation spokesman Rodney Mallett says motorists should not be frightened by this designation…:
CUT 6 (07) “for repairs”

A contentious legislative session has another hot button item to discuss. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

State Police say one of their troopers was injured in a wreck involving a drunk driver Sunday morning in East Baton Rouge Parish. They say the cop was arresting someone for DWI on the side of I-12, when the fully marked State Police Tahoe was hit from behind by a vehicle. That driver, 24-year-old Magen Hall, registered a BAC of nearly twice the legal limit and was arrested. Both the trooper and the first DWI suspect suffered minor to moderate injuries.

Former New Orleans Saints star Darren Sharper is scheduled to be in court today in Louisiana. Sharper is accused of drugging women so he could rape them in four states and struck a “global” plea deal to address the charges in all jurisdictions. Legal analyst Chick Foret believes Sharper will definitely serve nine new years in jail, but the exact details of the multi state plea deal are not yet known…:
CUT 12 (10) “complicated plea bargain”
Sharper is scheduled to be in federal court today in New Orleans and state court tomorrow.

State Police say a crash in Iberia Parish claimed the life of Loreauville Mayor Albert Broussard. They two vehicles hit head-on when a truck entered the opposite lane of travel and struck the car Broussard was riding in. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were hospitalized.

Lt Governor Jay Dardenne starts a statewide tour today to officially announce that he’s running for Governor. Recent polls have shown Dardenne a distant third in the race behind the leading Republican David Vitter then the Democratic candidate John Bel Edwards. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says in order for Dardenne to have a fighting chance at making the runoff, something major would have to happen with Vitter…

cut 6 (09) “in the runoff”

Dardenne will begin in Baton Rouge and Lafayette today, tomorrow he’ll visit Alexandria and Lake Charles. Wednesday it’s New Orleans then Thursday Monroe and Shreveport.

Shreveport Police are looking for a 19-year-old man accused of firing a gun into a crowd gathered at a park, killing a 13-year-old boy. Witnesses told authorities that Antonious Cawthorne was asked to leave the park after pulling a gun during an argument. They say, as he was driving off, he stopped and fired into the crowd. Keandre Broadway was shot and died later at a local hospital. Cawthorne is wanted for second degree murder.

Former New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper is scheduled for arraignment today in federal court and tomorrow in state court. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (31) “reporting”

State Police report an overnight crash in Richland Parish has claimed the life of a Rayville man. They say a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Jeremy Wood traveled off the roadway and struck a culvert causing his vehicle to become airborne and overturn. Wood, who was unrestrained at the time of the crash, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is continuing.

Lt Governor Jay Dardenne begins a statewide tour today to officially announce that he’s running for Governor. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 1 (30) “reporting”

State Police say a man was killed and a woman injured in a single vehicle motorcycle crash in Lafourche Parish. They say 48-year-old Troy Billiot of Lockport failed to negotiate a left turn and drove off the roadway down an embankment. Both Billiot and his passenger, 41-year-old Melissa Duran, were ejected from the motorcycle. Billiot was pronounced dead at the scene. Duran was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries. The investgation is ongoing.

The religious freedom debate is coming to Louisiana. Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson has filed a bill that would block state government from penalizing a business or person for decisions made based on their religious views about marriage. Jeremy Alford of la-politics-dot-com, says some veteran lawmakers might not be willing to debate this bill, with some big issues already on the table…

cut 15 (10) “through the system”

Common Core and the budget are expected to dominate the legislative session that begins one week from today.

And in that session, lawmakers will attempt to come up with a fiscal plan to avoid large budget cuts to health care and higher education. Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Troy Hebert, Governor Jindal’s legislative liaison, says while the state’s budget problems are difficult, he believes every crisis is an opportunity….

cut 9 (11) “solution”

The hot topic of religious freedom, which made national headlines in Indiana and Arkansas, is coming to Louisiana. Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson has filed a bill that would prevent state government from penalizing a business or person for decisions made based on their religious views about marriage. Jeremy Alford of la-politics-dot-com, says this bill has a chance to bring national attention to Louisiana…

cut 14 (10) “violently”

Gays rights organization, Equality Louisiana, has already come out in opposition to Johnson’s measure.

Today, Lt Governor Jay Dardenne kicks off a statewide tour to officially announce that he’s running for Governor. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the fact that Dardenne supports Common Core may be a big problem for his campaign…

cut 4 (09) “dislike Common Core”

Recent polls have shown Dardenne a distant third in the race behind the leading Republican David Vitter then the Democratic candidate John Bel Edwards.

A very difficult legislative session begins a week from today and there are numerous bills seeking to raise revenue as a way to close the budget deficit. However, the Jindal administration has said if lawmakers raise taxes in one area, they have to be lowered somewhere else, so it’s revenue neutral. Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Troy Hebert, Governor Jindal’s legislative liaison, believes that’s what the public wants too…

cut 8 (07) “anymore either”

Hebert is optimistic a workable solution can be had.

Former New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper is scheduled for arraignment today in federal court on drug and rape charges. It’s been reported that Sharper will get 20 years in Louisiana, but will serve just nine under a “global” plea deal. Legal analyst Chick Foret says many people aren’t happy about the leniency Sharper is getting for these very serious charges…

cut 11 (10) “been reduced”

Tomorrow Sharper will appear in state court for arraignment on aggravated rape charges.

Former New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper is scheduled for arraignment today in federal court and tomorrow in state court. The 39-year-old is accused of drugging and raping women in four states and struck a “global” plea deal to resolve all of the charges where he’s been indicted. Legal analyst Chick Foret says the end results of both hearings this week will be guilty pleas…:

cut 10 (12) “serve his time”

It’s been reported that Sharper will get 20 years in Louisiana, but will serve just nine under the multi state deal.

In the NBA, Oklahoma City fell to the Houston Rockets last night 115-12. The Thunder have lost four of their last five, while the Pelicans have won four of their last five. The Pels are now just a half game behind the Thunder for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Pelicans host Golden State tomorrow night.

The third-ranked LSU Tigers completed a wild weekend sweep of Alabama over the weekend as two of the three games went into extra innings. It’s LSU’s first road sweep of the Crimson Tide since 2001. The Tigers improve to 27-5 and will host UNO tomorrow night.

Speaking of the Privateers, they will be coming to The Box after dropping three straight to McNeese State. The Cowboys hit the road to take on ULM Tuesday night.

Elsewhere in the Southland, Nicholls sweeps Incarnate Word and Southeastern took two of three against Northwestern State. Southeastern remains atop the Southland Conference standings. The Colonels will next face Tulane on Tuesday while Southeastern hosts South Alabama. Wednesday, Northwestern travels to Baton Rouge to face LSU.

In the Sun Belt, UL-Lafayette dropped two out of three against Geogia Southern and ULM sweeps Texas-Arlington. The Cajuns look to bounce back when they host Houston tomorrow.

And Louisiana Tech dropped their weekend series against Conference USA foe, Western Kentucky.

Lt Governor Jay Dardenne begins a statewide tour today to officially announce that he’s running for Governor. Dardenne will begin in Baton Rouge and Lafayette today. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat believes Dardenne has a tough road ahead

cut 4 (08) “in the middle”

tomorrow he’ll visit Alexandria and Lake Charles. Wednesday it’s New Orleans then Thursday Monroe and Shreveport.

The religious freedom debate which made national headlines in Indiana and Arkansas is coming to Louisiana. Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson has filed a bill that would prevent state government from penalizing a business or person for decisions made based on their religious views about marriage. Jeremy Alford of la-politics-dot-com says, with the state facing a huge budge deficit, will some legislators be willing to debate this issue…

cut 13 (09) “hallways”

Common Core and the budget are expected to dominate the legislative session that begins Monday.

What is expected to be a very difficult legislative session begins a week from today as state lawmakers will try to come up with a fiscal plan to avoid large budget cuts to health care and higher education. Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Troy Hebert has been appointed as Governor Jindal’s legislative liaison. Hebert is optimistic a workable solution can be had…

cut 7 (11) “in the past”

Heading into the session, there are numerous bills seeking to raise revenue as a way to close the budget deficit, but the Jindal administration has said if lawmakers raise taxes in one area, they have to be lowered somewhere else, so it’s revenue neutral.

Lawmakers had until Friday to pre-file bills for the legislative session that begins April 13th and so far there are nearly 1,000 measures set to be taken up. Most of the legislation deals with the massive state budget deficit, but there was a bill filed yesterday which would prevent state government from penalizing a business or person for decisions made based on their religious views about marriage. So the religious freedom debate which made national headlines in Indiana and Arkansas appears headed to Louisiana.

Haughton Representative Henry Burns, who has filed a bill that would require bar and restaurant patrons to have a designated driver, is now saying he will not try to seek approval of his measure in this session. Burns says his legislation would be difficult to enforce…:
CUT 3 (08) “smooth transition”
He feels something like this would be better taken up at local levels.

This is the biggest weekend of the seafood year and a distributor says the crawfish are in good supply, but the sooner you get your orders in the better…:
CUT 2 (26) “reporting”

The Slidell police officer who was shot during a shootout Friday night is said to be doing well. Cops say they responded to reports of a disturbance at a bar and were opened fire upon by a suspect. Officers returned fire but it is not known of the suspect was hit by a bullet. The suspect was apprehended by a K-9 and was injured in the incident which remains under investigation.