Lawmakers grilled LSU’s lawyer over the decision to ban all employees from testifying under oath at a legislative committee investigating the school’s mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

The state officially launches a vaccine hotline to help residents schedule their COVID vaccines and connect those with concerns about the vaccine with a healthcare professional to answer their questions. The number is 1-855-453-0774.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says a family of four in Louisiana could purchase a health insurance plan for premiums as low as 163-dollars per month at health-care-dot-gov. Director of the Office of Minority Health Doctor LaShawn McIver says that’s because of newly expanded financial assistance

Cut 13 (12)“…enrollment period”

McIver says the President recently extended the special enrollment period to August 15, so that families can take advantage of newly expanded financial assistance.

Colorado State University hurricane researchers anticipate an above-average 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Graduate Researcher at CSU Jhordanne Jones says they are predicting 17 named storms.

Cut 6 (09) “…in 2020”

Lawmakers blasted LSU’s lawyer this morning over the school’s decision not to allow employees to testify at a Legislative hearing on the mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman says school officials have not justified their decision to not fire anyone as a result of the Husch Blackwell report. LSU General Counsel Winston Decuir responded on behalf of Interim President Tom Galligan…

Cut 12 (11)   “…unacceptable” 

A fiery crash on I-10 near Crowley claims the lives of three people. Trooper Thomas Gossen says the crash occurred as one vehicle was heading the wrong way down the interstate, but because of the damage, it’s hard to tell right now which vehicle it was…

Cut 5  (09)  “…the crash.”

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Colorado State University anticipates another above-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2021. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (29) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The state is now up to 1.3 million Louisianans who have taken at least one COVID shot and just under 900,000 that have completed their full vaccine series. About 24 percent of all residents in the New Orleans region have now completed their series, tops in the state. In last place are central Louisiana and the Lake Charles region at 14 and 13 percent.

LSU’s General Counsel Winston Decuir told lawmakers LSU employees are banned from speaking under oath to a Legislative Committee today because of a lawsuit filed by current athletic administrator Sharon Lewis. But New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman pointed out head coach Ed Orgeron had already refused to attend before the lawsuit and Tuesday night Orgeron held a Zoom press conference…

Cut 11 (06) “…statement”

Several other athletic and administrative leaders had also refused to attend before the lawsuit was known. Several LSU students have testified at the ongoing hearing expressing their disappointment with the university over the alleged Title IX violations and that university places athletics above the safety and well-being of its students. A lawsuit was filed on behalf of Lewis this morning seeking $50-million from the university. Lewis alleges she was the victim of retaliation in connection to the investigation of sexual harassment by former coach Les Miles.

State Police say a vehicle heading in the wrong direction on Interstate 10 near Crowley caused a fiery crash that killed three people. Trooper Thomas Gossen says they are still trying to determine why a vehicle was going the wrong way and for a period of time…

Cut 4 (08) “..westbound lanes” 

Another person is listed in critical condition and the victim’s identities have not been released.

Colorado State University predicts 17 named storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 major ones for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. While not as many as we experienced in 2020, Graduate Researcher at CSU Jhordanne Jones says this time last year sea surface temperatures along the east coast and Gulf of Mexico were higher than normal.

Cut 7 (09) “…active season”

Jones also says predictions last year though were eerily similar to the current ones.

A New Orleans lawmaker says LSU’s decision to bar all employees from testifying under oath to a legislative committee investigating the school’s mishandling of sexual misconduct is stopping witnesses to further misconduct from coming forward. Representative Aimee Freeman says she has witnesses who claim either Verge Ausberry or Miriam Segar violated the terms of their recent suspensions they were given for mishandling sexual misconduct reports…

Cut 10 (12) “…job” 

Colorado State University anticipates an above-average 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Graduate Researcher Jhordanne Jones says there’s a 50/50 chance a hurricane hits Louisiana this year.  

Cut 8 (09) “…happens”

Voters in 55 parishes approved Sports Betting last fall but before you can legally place your wagers a few things must happen. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

As expected no LSU employees appeared before a legislative committee today that’s looking into allegations that the school purposely covered up previous sexual misconduct cases. An attorney for the school, Wimston DeCuir, says because of a 50-million dollar lawsuit filed against the university and several officials, it was not prudent for them to discuss the matter publicly…
cut 9 (11) “…circumstanstance”

Colorado State University hurricane researchers anticipate an above-average 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Graduate Researcher at CSU Jhordanne Jones says they are predicting 17 named storms.
Cut 6 (09) “…in 2020”
Jones says warmer than average sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic favors an active 2021 hurricane season.

Voters in 55 of 64 parishes approved Sports Betting last fall and for it to become a reality both a regulatory and tax bill must be approved in the legislative session this year. Crowley Representative John Stefanski says his bill proposes tax revenue from sports betting be undedicated…
Cut 10 (11) “…as good.”
Determining where people can place bets and can they do it over their phone will also have to be ironed out during the course of the session.

The longtime voice of Louisiana Tech, Dave Nitz, says he will no longer call Bulldog football and basketball games, but will still be on the mic for Tech baseball games. The 78-year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster says he’ll miss being at Joe Aillet Stadium and the Thomas Assembly Center…
cut 15 (09) “….it may be”

State Police say a vehicle heading the wrong way on Interstate 10 near Crowley caused a fiery crash that killed three people and left another person in critical condition. Trooper Thomas Gossen says the vehicle driving in the opposite direction slammed head-on into another vehicle…

Cut 3 (07)  “…that was also involved.” 

Gossen says they are still trying to determine why one of the vehicles involved was heading in the wrong direction

LSU has barred all employees from testifying under oath at today’s Legislative hearing into the school’s mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. This comes after both coach Ed Orgeron and AD Scott Woodward decided not to attend. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says this setback will not stop lawmakers from pressing on…

Cut 4 (10)“…again.”

The 2021 Louisiana Survey finds 57-percent of residents support raising the state’s gasoline tax if it’s used to fund transportation infrastructure. LSU Public Policy Lab Research Director Mike Henderson says they also asked if they want the funds spent on maintaining current infrastructure versus expanding and the responses were surprising.

Cut 9 (08) “…capacity.”

781 adult residents were surveyed in the state from January 4^th to March 1^st.

The longtime voice of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Dave Nitz has decided to retire as the radio voice of football and basketball but will remain behind the mic to call baseball games.  The 78-year-old Nitz says he’s been considering this transition for quite some time.

Cut 13 (10) “…football and basketball.”

LSU will not allow current employees to testify at today’s Senate Select Committee on Women and Children as a university attorney said it would not be prudent to publicly discuss the mishandling of sexual assault cases as the school and several officials are expected to be named defendants in a 50-million dollar lawsuit. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says her panel will continue to try and get answers…
cut 5 (09) “…questions”

The legislative session starts Monday and several bills have been filed that seeks to get sports betting legalized in Louisiana after voters in 55 parishes approved the activity. Crowley Representative John Stefanski on who could possibly take bets one day…
cut 11 (08) “….as well”
Stefanski says there will also be a push to allow mobile sports betting.

The legendary voice of Louisiana Tech athletics Dave Nitz has decided to retire from football and basketball and solely focus on baseball after 47 seasons of calling games on the gridiron and hardwood…
cut 3 (30) “…i’m Taylor Sharp”

The sun is out after stormy weather last night and early this morning that produced street flooding in New Orleans and damaged homes in Morehouse Parish near the Arkansas state line. Also, Lafayette TV stations are reporting three people died in a multi-vehicle crash on I-10 near Crowley.

LSU has blocked its employees from testifying before the Louisiana Senate Select Committee on Women and Children. LSU’s legal team says it would not be prudent to discuss the mishandling of previous sexual misconduct cases now that an employee has threatened to sue the school and several university officials. Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response President Rachel Hebert says LSU leaders refusing to speak sends a bad message to victims.
Cut 6 (11) “…to that.”

57-percent of Louisiana adults surveyed say they would support a higher tax on gasoline if it is used on transportation infrastructure. But LSU Public Policy Lab Research Director Doctor Michael Henderson says support for a higher tax decreases when the respondents were told the extra revenue will go towards capturing federal matching dollars…
cut 8 (08) “….unexpected finding”

Voters in 55 parishes approved Sports Betting last fall and state lawmakers will work during the legislative session to make it happen…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The longtime voice of Louisiana Tech , Dave Nitz, says he will no longer call Bulldog football and basketball games, but will still be on the mic for Tech baseball games. The 78-year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster says he’ll miss being at Joe Aillet Stadium and the Thomas Assembly Center…
cut 15 (09) “….it may be”

LSU has barred all employees from testifying under oath at today’s Legislative hearing into the school’s mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. This comes after both coach Ed Orgeron and AD Scott Woodward decided not to attend. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says this setback will not stop lawmakers from pressing on…
Cut 4 (10)“…again.”
The Senate Select Committee on Women and Children will still meet today at 10 AM, even though LSU officials will not be there to testify.

There is a bill in the legislative session that begins on Monday that seeks to raise the state’s gasoline tax in order to pay for road construction projects. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson says their survey found that 57-percent of Louisiana adults support raising the gasoline tax if it is used to fund transportation infrastructure…
cut 7 (06) “…the pump”

Voters in 55 of 64 parishes approved Sports Betting last fall and for it to become a reality both a regulatory and tax bill must be approved in the legislative session this year. Crowley Representative John Stefanski says his bill proposes tax revenue from sports betting be undedicated…
Cut 10 (11) “…as good.”

The longtime voice of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs is reducing his workload. 78-year-old Dave Nitz will no longer call Tech football and basketball games, but he’ll keep calling Bulldog baseball games. Nitz is in his 47th season calling La Tech games and the West Virginia native never thought he’d become a Louisiana institution…
cut 14 (13) “…somewhere like that

LSU is not allowing its employees to speak at a legislative hearing today that’s set to discuss the school’s past problems in reporting sexual misconduct claims. Brooke Thorington has the story…
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Advocate reports the LSU Board of Supervisors is considering firing the Baton Rouge law firm that’s represented the school since the 1930s. It was Taylor Porter who advised university leaders not to let the entire board know about the Les Miles investigation into the coach’s alleged improper behavior with female students.

During the legislative session that begins on Monday, state lawmakers will work to make legal sports betting a reality. Voters in 55 parishes have approved the activity, but the Legislature has to decide how it will be taxed, where the revenue will go, and where you can place bets. Crowley Representative John Stefanski says mobile sports betting has to be a component for it to be successful…
cut 12 (08) “….the state”
Stefanski says the bills that set the tax rate in place will also need two-thirds of support in both chambers.

The longtime voice of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Dave Nitz has decided to retire as the radio voice of football and basketball but will remain behind the mic to call baseball games. The 78-year-old Nitz says he’s been considering this transition for some time.
Cut 13 (10) “…football and basketball.”
Nitz has been the voice of Tech athletics for over four decades.