In Ruston, Mayor Ronny Walker says they are bouncing back after an EF-3 tornado ripped through the town in the early morning hours Thursday. Walker says the volunteerism has been unbelievable, especially from Louisiana Tech students. He relayed this story from a woman who lost several trees on her property.
Cut 3 (12) “…started crying”

The National Weather Service has survey teams looking at the impacted areas from the Wednesday night into Thursday morning tornado outbreak. Ruston was the hardest hit area and National Weather Service forecaster CS Ross says their experts say the damage falls in line with an EF-3 tornado.
Cut 9 (11) “…community as well“.

Speculation about the future of LSU President F. King Alexander, was put to rest with a comment from Governor Edwards on Friday. “I support the entire team that’s in place,” Gov Edwards told reporters during a visit to the LSU Board of Supervisors.  LSU board Chairman James M. Williams also echoed Edwards’s feelings about Alexander. They believe LSU is making strides, with the hiring of Scott Woodward as AD and one of LSU’s largest ever graduating classes with an estimated 7,109 students on May 10.

At the capitol, the House will consider whether or not delivery services should be allowed to bring low alcohol content booze with their food to your front door. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody says his legislation specifies that the alcohol must be brought with food, and must be in the original manufacturer’s seal container, so that means no mixed drinks…
Cut 6 (12) “…gunna fly”

A federal appeals court has ruled that a Baton Rouge police officer injured during protests over the 2016 killing of Alton Sterling can sue a Black Lives Matter organizer. The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the officer, identified as Joe Doe, can sue on the grounds the organization was negligent by leading people to block a highway.

In 2017 a federal judge threw out the lawsuit against DeRay McKesson of Black Lives Matter, noting that the organization was too loosely organized to sue.

The National Weather Service has survey teams looking at the impacted areas from the Wednesday night into Thursday morning tornado outbreak. Ruston was the hardest hit area and NWS forecaster CS Ross says their experts say the damage falls in line with an EF-3 tornado.

Cut 9 (11) “…community as well“.

The LSU Board of Supervisors approves new Athletic Director Scott Woodward’s six year, eight million dollar contract. Board member Valencia Jones thanked Woodward for his decision to join the Purple and Gold, and says the AD is a high caliber talent.

Cut 14 (11) “together ”

The board also approved the amendments made to basketball coach Will Wade’s contract, which takes away his bonus pay for winning an SEC title and reaching the NCAA Tournament

The House will consider whether or not delivery services should be allowed to bring low alcohol content drinks with their food to your front door. Bill sponsor Thomas Carmody says food delivery services do not require their workers to have all of the same certifications that a waiter has, but that could change this legislation…

Cut 8 (09) “…waiter”

A bill to legalize the delivery of low content alcohol passes committee and is headed to the House. Matt Doyle talked to the bill sponsor.
cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

The federal government is set to pay Louisiana approximately $95 million of its royalties from offshore oil revenue in the Gulf of Mexico earned in fiscal year 2018.

This week the U.S. Department of the Interior announced the latest Gulf of Mexico Energy and Security Act award will go toward flood protections and coastal restorations projects.

Louisiana’s award is about $12 million more than it received last year.

In sports The Saints have a history of trading up in the NFL draft and they did that again last night to take Texas A-and-M center Erik McCoy. The former Aggie was a three-year starter in College Station and the Saints made a trade with the Dolphins to move up 14 spots to take him. Draft analysts say McCoy is a good value pick and someone who could start in his rookie season. The Saints needed a center with the retirement of Max Unger.

Former LSU Tiger Greedy Williams saw seven cornerbacks selected, before the Cleveland Browns used the 47th pick overall to take the former Calvary Baptist star

And today is day three of Jazz Fest in New Orleans. It’s opening weekend and the 50^th anniversary of the Festival, and the weather is expected to cooperate today with highs in the lower 80s and lows in the lowers 60s tonight. The Festival has been plagued with woes with this year’s from the cancellation of the Rolling Stones, and replacement act Fleetwood Mac’s sudden cancellation. Wide Spread Panic is scheduled to replace the former headliners on May 2^nd. One of tonight’s headliners at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans is American Idol judge Katy Perry.

In Ruston, Mayor Ronny Walker says they are bouncing back after an EF-3 tornado ripped through the town in the early morning hours Thursday. Walker says the volunteerism has been unbelievable, especially from Louisiana Tech students. He relayed this story from a woman who lost several trees on her property.
Cut 3 (12) “…started crying”
The National Weather Service has survey teams looking at the impacted areas from the Wednesday night into Thursday morning tornado outbreak. Ruston was the hardest hit area and National Weather Service forecaster CS Ross says their experts say the damage falls in line with an EF-3 tornado.
Cut 9 (11) “…community as well“.

Speculation about the future of LSU President F. King Alexander, was put to rest with a comment from Governor Edwards on Friday. “I support the entire team that’s in place,” Gov Edwards told reporters during a visit to the LSU Board of Supervisors.  LSU board Chairman James M. Williams also echoed Edwards’s feelings about Alexander. They believe LSU is making strides, with the hiring of Scott Woodward as AD and one of LSU’s largest ever graduating classes with an estimated 7,109 students on May 10.

At the capitol the House will consider whether or not delivery services should be allowed to bring low alcohol content booze with their food to your front door. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody says his legislation specifies that the alcohol must be brought with food, and must be in the original manufacturer’s seal container, so that means no mixed drinks…
Cut 6 (12) “…gunna fly”

Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says they are bouncing back after an EF-3 tornado ripped through their town Thursday morning. Walker says the volunteerism has been unbelievable, especially from Louisiana Tech students. He relayed this story from a woman who lost several trees on her property.
Cut 3 (12) “…started crying”
The National Weather Service has survey teams looking at the impacted areas from the Wednesday night into Thursday morning tornado outbreak. Ruston was the hardest hit area and NWS forecaster CS Ross says their experts say the damage falls in line with an EF-3 tornado.
Cut 9 (11) “…community as well“.
The storm started over Texas, moving northeast into Louisiana. Ross says this week’s severe weather could go down as a significant event in history for the National Weather Service’s Shreveport office coverage area.
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The House will consider whether or not delivery services should be allowed to bring low alcohol content booze with their food to your front door. Currently food delivery services do not require their workers to have all of the same certifications that a waiter has, but Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody says under his proposal…
Cut 7 (10) “…for it.”
The bill is the result of recommendations of the E-Commerce Committee’s fall recommendation about how to allow alcohol delivery, and deal with the potential liability issues.
The LSU Board of Supervisors approves new Athletic Director Scott Woodward’s six year, eight million dollar contract.LSU Vice President for Legal Affairs Thomas Skinner says the contract includes hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonuses, and includes a base pay that increases every year.
Cut 12 (12) “…five.”

Ruston is beginning the recovery from an EF 3 tornado that damaged hundreds of homes and left a mess to clean up in its path. Jeff Palermo has the latest…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m jeff Palermo”

Former LSU cornerback Greedy Williams was one of five players who attended the first round of the NFL draft in Nashville, but didn’t hear his name called. Williams is expected to picked tonight and former Louisiana Tech defensive end Jaylon Ferguson could also hear his name called tonight in the second round.

The House will consider whether or not delivery services should be allowed to bring low alcohol content booze with their food to your front door. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody says delivery people would be authorized to refuse to drop off the order if they’re suspicious about the recipient’s age, or level of inebriation.

Cut 7 (10) “…for it.”

The same committee that passed this bill also passed other alcohol related legislation like allowing delivery people to accept the LA Wallet app.

The LSU Board of Supervisors approves new Athletic Director Scott Woodward’s six year, eight million dollar contract. Board member Valencia Jones thanked Woodward for his decision to join the Purple and Gold, and says the AD is a high caliber talent who will bring success to the Ole War Skule…

Cut 14 (11) “together ”

Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says they are bouncing back after an EF-3 tornado ripped through their town Thursday morning. Walker says the volunteerism has been unbelievable, especially from Louisiana Tech students. He relayed this story from a woman who lost several trees on her property

Cut 3 (12) “…started crying”

The National Weather Service has survey teams looking at the impacted areas from the Wednesday night into Thursday morning tornado outbreak. Ruston was the hardest hit area and NWS forecaster CS Ross says the current count of tornadoes for the area is at seven, but the number can still rise.

Cut 10 (08) “…rural Union Parish.”

A storm team is also surveying rural La Salle Parish today from a separate storm cell.

The House will consider whether or not delivery services should be allowed to bring low alcohol content booze with their food to your front door. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody says his legislation specifies that the alcohol must be brought with food, and must be in the original manufacturer’s seal container, so that means no margaritas…
Cut 6 (12) “…gunna fly”
The measure received from the House Commerce committee this week.

The LSU Board of Supervisors approved the contract today for new athletics director Scott Woodward. He’s the first LSU AD to make over one-million dollars a year. But LSU Vice President for Legal Affairs Thomas Skinner says only $525,000 of it comes from taxpayer dollars.
cut 13 (09) “…contracts”
The board also approved the amended contract of basketball coach Will Wade. It takes away his bonuses from this past season.

The National Weather Service has survey teams looking at the impacted areas from the Wednesday night into Thursday morning tornado outbreak. Ruston was the hardest hit area and NWS forecaster CS Ross says their experts say the damage falls in line with an EF-3 tornado.

Cut 9 (11) “…community as well“.

Ross says the current count of tornadoes for the area is at seven, but the number can still rise.

Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says they are bouncing back after an EF-3 tornado ripped through their town Thursday morning. Walker says the volunteerism has been unbelievable, especially from Louisiana Tech students. Walker estimates the damages to homes and businesses in the hundreds…

Cut 5 (10) “…houses”

The EF 3 tornado also produced damage in Union Parish. Officials there say about 80 structures damaged, including 15 to 20 chicken houses.

The House will consider whether or not delivery services should be allowed to bring low alcohol content booze with their food to your front door. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody says delivery people would be authorized to refuse to drop off the order if they’re suspicious about the recipient’s age, or level of inebriation.

Cut 7 (10) “…for it.”

The same committee that passed this bill also passed other alcohol related legislation like allowing delivery people to accept the LA Wallet app.

The athletic committee of the LSU Board of Supervisors have given the greenlight on the contract of new A-D Scott Woodward and the contract amendments of basketball coach Will Wade. The full board is expected to approve of both later today.

A Grambling student, 34-year-old Kendra Butler and her son, 14 year-old Remington Butler died yesterday from a powerful tornado that swept through Ruston in the early morning hours. trees are down, power lines mangled and several businesses are destroyed. Mayor of Ruston Ronnie Walker says the community is coming together to recover.
Cut 3 (12) “…gone”
The tornado is confirmed to have been an EF-3, with 145 mile per hour measured winds.
Governor Edwards was on-hand to survey the devastation, and says you can trust Louisiana first responders to get the job done right.
Cut 12 (12) “…have it”
___________________________
A New Orleans Senator’s bill to rename the I-10 the “Who Dat Nation Highway” has it’s ambitions reduced to just some state line road signs after lawmakers discover the stretch of road has already been dedicated to veterans.
Winnfield Senator Gerald Long ultimately supported the bill, but not before raising questions about just how this kind of proposal makes us look to the rest of the nation.
Cut 6 (09) “…Louisiana”
Attorney General Jeff Landry is welcoming other AG’s from around the nation to an event in Lafayette this week that address their roles following a disaster. Landry says it’s a good time to remind people to beware post disaster fraud.
Cut 14 (10) “…their law enforcement.”

A proposal to rename the stretch of I-10 that runs from Texas to Mississippi the “Who Dat Nation Highway” sees it’s scope substantially pared back. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The LSU Board of Supervisors is set to vote today on the contract of new Athletics Director Scott Woodward and the amendments of Coach Will Wade’s contract.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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Governor Edwards says the path of destruction left by a deadly EF-3 tornado in Ruston is some of the worst, concentrated damage he’s seen while in office. Matt Doyle

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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A New Orleans Senator’s bill to rename the I-10 the “Who Dat Nation Highway” has it’s ambitions significantly reduced after lawmakers discover the stretch of road has already been dedicated to veterans.

Wesley Bishop amended the bill to call for three plates saying “Welcome to the Who Dat Nation” to be placed underneath some existing road signs.

Cut 4 (09) “…exit.”

The plates would be paid for by private donors.

Bishop says before filing the legislation, he was not aware that the entirety of the I-10 from Jacksonville, Florida to Santa Monica, California, had already been dedicated to something a bit more prominent than a football team.

Cut 5 (11) “so ever.”

The amended version of the bill cleared committee, but not without some raised eyebrows. Winnfield Senator Gerald Long ultimately supported the bill, but not before raising questions about just how this kind of proposal makes us look to the rest of the nation.

Cut 6 (09) “…Louisiana”

_______________________

The LSU Board of Supervisors is set to vote on the contracts of two major figures in the school’s athletics.  The first is that of the new Athletic Director Scott Woodward.  Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says Woodward’s six-year contract is valued at $8 million, with a starting annual salary of $1.1 million and seeing it bumped to $1.5 in years five and six.

Cut 7 (08) “…commitment to Woodward.”

Woodward’s contract is not only more lucrative than his predecessor on the base pay, but if Woodward is still on board in 2025, he receives a quarter million dollar bonus, and after six years, that’s a half million.  Moran says it’s a testament to LSU’s dedication to Woodward.

Cut 8 (07) “…in the SEC.”

Basketball coach Will Wade’s contract is also being amended as part of his reinstatement.  Wade has agreed to waive his quarter million dollar performance bonuses earned in the most recent season.  Also, Moran says if the NCAA finds that Wade has committed a level one or level two violation, LSU can send Wade packing.

Cut 9 (08) “…this past season.″

In the event that NCAA punishments come down on the athletics department for anything that happened prior to Woodward taking over, Woodward’s contract is automatically extended for two years at a rate of $1.5 million annually.

___________________________

Governor Edwards was on-hand to survey the devastation in Ruston in the wake of a freak EF-3 tornado that cut a deadly path Thursday morning through the hometown of Louisiana Tech University.

Edwards says pictures from the ground just don’t do the damage justice, and for a state used to floods and hurricanes, it’s unusual to see such a precise path of destruction.

Cut 10 (12) “…damaged.”

Edwards has declared a state of emergency while officials get a full handle on the scope of the damage that cut across several northern parishes.

The Governor says while going through the city, there was one moment in particular that shocked him.

Cut 11 (11) “…injured.”

Two people in Ruston died when a tree fell on their house, and search and rescue teams are still out and about ensuring no one else has been hurt by debris or collapsed houses. Edwards says Louisiana’s first responders can be trusted to get the job done right.

Cut 12 (12) “…have it”

_______________________

Attorney General Jeff Landry is welcoming other AG’s from around the nation to an event in Lafayette this week that address their roles following a disaster.  Landry says often times AG’s play a very pivotal role as the chief legal officers of their state, and sometimes have to wear many hats.

Cut 13 (08) “…is properly done.”

Landry says following natural disasters, the Attorney General also works in consumer protection as people will come to an impacted area and pretty upon those that are going through tough times.

Cut 14 (10) “…their law enforcement.”

Of the topics up for discussion, Landry says the event will address how to handle the medical needs of those impacted.

Cut 15 (09) “to medical conditions.”

The event is not only addressing natural disasters, but is discussing an AG’s role following events such as active shooter situations.

____________________________________

LSU’s freshman pitcher Cole Henry will not pitch this weekend when the 14th ranked Tigers visit Alabama. Coach Paul Mainieri says Henry has developed soreness in his pitching elbow. The coach says the plan was for Henry to start tonight and move Zack Hess back to the bullpen

Cut 16  (20) “…getting sore” 

Mainieri says they don’t believe the injury to Henry is serious and an MRI on the elbow came back clean…

 cut 17 (25)   “next weekend” 

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The Saints only have one pick in the first four rounds and six overall, with two in the sixth and two in the seventh. Payton says they can also add to the roster through undrafted free agents

Cut 19 (20) time on”