Bo Pelini is returning for a second stint as defensive coordinator at LSU. Pelini guided the Tigers defense from 2005 to 2007 and left to be the head coach at Nebraska after the Bayou Bengals won the 2008 BCS National Championship. Pelini is known as a fiery coach and some LSU fans wonder how he’ll mesh with Ed Orgeron’s coaching staff. Former Tigers safety Craig Steltz played for Pelini at LSU and expects Coach Bo will work well with Coach O….
cut 15 (12) “…I’m excited”
Pelini’s contract is reportedly three years at two-point-three million dollars a year, which will make him the second highest paid assistant coach in college football.

The Pelicans are at Cleveland tonight. A good chance for the Pels to get a win as the Cavs have the third worst record in the NBA.

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LSU basketball’s eight game winning streak has caught the attention of voters. The Tigers are back in the A-P Top 25 poll y are ranked 22nd. LSU is 24th in the coaches poll. The Bayou Bengals put their undefeated SEC record on the line tomorrow night when they host Alabama, who has won 10 of its last 13. Also LSU’s Trendon Watford has been named SEC Freshman of the Week after averaging 18 points a game in two victories last week.

Ragin Cajuns forward Jalen Johnson has been named Sun Belt men’s basketball player of the week. Johnson had a career-high 27 points in an 81-60 win over ULM on Saturday.

McNeese forward Sha’Markus Kennedy is the Southland Men’s basketball player of the week for a second straight week. Kennedy averaged 32 points and 10 rebounds a game last week. The Cowboys have won six in a row and host second-place Nicholls tomorrow and rival Lamar on Saturday.

And McNeese is searching for a new athletics director as Bruce Hemphill is transitioning to a new role.

06:30 News
Tragedy in our state as two three year old boys – in separate incidents – shot themselves with guns they found within their homes. One of the cases is fatal; a Baton Rouge 3-year-old shot himeself in the head with the weapon he’d found. Across the state, in Keithville, another three-year-old shot himself in the shoulder. He is expected to recover. Authorities are investigating both cases.
The Louisiana Department of Health kicks off the Own Your Own Health Challenge, a competition aimed at getting Louisianans more active, healthier, and ultimately lighter. Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness Director Rudy Macklin says you can compete against others around the state and country to see who can win a steps challenge, or who can lose the most weight.
Cut 10 (10) “…miles.”
OYOH has been going strong in Louisiana for nearly two decades.
***********
Today is National Plan Your Vacation Day and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is encouraging Louisiana residents to plan a staycation instead.
Cut 01 (32) “Kevin Barnhart”
The Coast Guard says the search for three men who went missing on the Mississippi River when two barge towing vessels collided has been suspended. The two vessels collided Sunday morning near Luling, Louisiana, temporarily closing the river to vessel traffic.
Now here’s the morning commodities.

Today is National Plan Your Vacation Day and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is encouraging Louisiana residents to plan a staycation instead.

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The Own Your Own Health challenge is underway, giving Louisianans a fun, competitive way to start living a healthier life. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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LSU brings back Bo Pelini as its defensive coordinator. Jeff Palermo spoke with a former LSU all-american on what Pelini’s return means for the Tigers…

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Nicholls State University gets recognition from the National Council on Teacher Quality as the top teacher prep program for early reading instruction, receiving an A+ rating.  Nicholls head of teacher education Dr. Alyson Theriot says students who struggle with reading will struggle with just about every other subject.

Cut 4 (08) “…how to do.”

Theriot says the reason for success is covering the five essential components of reading including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, as well as the ability to work with local school districts and mentor teachers.

Cut 5 (10) “…in the success.”

Theriot says feedback received from those that have gone through the program is further verification of the program’s effectiveness.

Cut 6 (12) “…in the field.”

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Today is National Plan Your Vacation Day and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says the state has been busy marketing itself to visitors from outside of Louisiana but also encourages residents to take a staycation in their home state. Nungesser says last year nearly nine million days of vacation went used in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (08) “…here in Louisiana.”

Nationally, 768 million vacation days went unused. Nungesser says the most effective remedy is better planning as 47% of planners used all of their vacation days. 23% of non-planners haven’t taken a vacation or trip in the last two years.

Nungesser says there is no shortage of different ways to celebrate Mardi Gras in different parts of the state.  Plus, there is festival season.

Cut 8 (09) “…new to do.”

Nungesser says if you are looking for one of a kind culture, Louisiana has a massive selection of attractions and details on many of them can be found at LouisianaStaycation.com.

Cut 9 (07) “…for everybody’s taste.”

____________________

The Louisiana Department of Health kicks off the Own Your Own Health Challenge, a competition aimed at getting Louisianans more active, healthier, and ultimately lighter.

Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness Director Rudy Macklin says you can compete against others around the state and country to see who can win a steps challenge, or who can lose the most weight.

Cut 10 (10) “…miles.”

OYOH has been going strong in Louisiana for nearly two decades in one form or another, and over 100,000 people have participated in it.

The competition comes with drawings for prizes every Friday, and even features a little regional competition…

Cut 11 (12) “…another.”

Macklin adds the service also allows for private organizations like churches or businesses to challenge each other.

Even if you don’t end up taking home any trophies in the competition, Macklin says it’s still a great way to introduce people to exercise.

Cut 12 (08) “…have it”

Visit O-Y-O-H-Dot-com to sign up.

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Bo Pelini is back as LSU’s defensive coordinator. In 2007 he helped the Tigers win a national championship and returns to Baton Rouge after heading coaching stops at Nebraska and Youngstown State. Safety Craig Steltz was an All-American on that 2007 team and it’s great to have Coach Bo back

Cut 13 (08) “…be successful.”

Pelini was defensive coordinator for the Tigers from 2005 to 2007. In each of his three years with the Tigers, Pelini’s defenses ranked number three in the nation in yards allowed. Steltz says Pelini was always one step ahead of opposing offenses…

Cut 14 (11) “…big time sack.”

Pelini is known as a fiery coach and some LSU fans wonder how he’ll mesh with Ed Orgeron’s coaching staff. Steltz expects Pelini will work well with Coach O…

Cut 15 (12) “…I’m excited”

The nation is mourning the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash.  Despite the terrible news the Pelicans played and defeated the Celtics yesterday. Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry says it was tough for the team to prepare mentally for the game, and even after blowing out one of the best teams in the league, it was hard to really enjoy it.
Cut 5 (08) “…life.”
Both the Celtics and Pelicans began the game with 24-second shot clock violations in honor of Kobe, who wore 24.
Two people are dead following a drag race that happened on a Baton Rouge street. Sergeant Don Coppola says the two cars bumped each other, sending them off the roadway, killing a bicyclist and one of the drivers. Coppola says the driver who survived, 57-year-old Lattimore Brock of Baton Rouge faces multiple charges…
Cut 10 (06) “…reckless driving” 
The bicyclist who died has been identified as 24-year-old Deondrick Rudd of Jeanerette.
Two people not wearing a seatbelt were killed in a head-on crash in Vermilion Parish this morning on Highway 14. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says 29-year-old Kiristan Mitchell drifted into the other lane on the curvy highway…
Cut 8 (09) “…pending.”
Mithcell died and the other driver was pronounced dead too, 18-year-old Kalix Broussard, a former star running back at Vermilion Catholic.
Juries may soon get to know if someone injured in a car crash was wearing a seatbelt, something not allowed under current law.  Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt has pre-filed a bill for the change and says the juries should be aware if someone is negligent in mitigating damages from not being properly restrained.
Cut 12 (10) “…wearing your seatbelt.”
Hewitt says there is hope this bill could result in lower claims and lower settlements with insurance companies, with that savings being passed along to consumers.

A bill pre-filed by Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt aims to reduce auto insurance premiums by disclosing if someone injured in a car crash was wearing a seatbelt. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

29-year-old Kiristan Mitchell and 18-year-old Kalix Broussard died this morning in a head-on crash in Vermilion Parish on Highway 14. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says the victims were not buckled up…
Cut 7 (08) “…get the message.”
Broussard was a star running back at Vermilion Catholic High School and graduated in 2019.

A drag race in Baton Rouge killed two over the weekend, one of the victims was a bicyclist, who was an innocent bystander. 56-year-old Christopher Brock of Baker, one of the alleged racers, died at the scene. Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Don Coppola says 24-year-old Deondrick Rudd of Jeanerette is the bicyclist who also died at the scene…
Cut 11 (10) “…unfortunate situation.”
57-year-old Lattimore Brock survived and faces numerous charges.

Several members of the Pelicans organization are taking the sudden death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant hard. Brandon Ingram is a former member of the Lakers and was given Bryant’s locker as the heir apparent to the 18-time All-Star and was visibly upset after last night’s game…
cut 4 (10) “…around”
The Pelicans beat the Celtics last night.

LSU announces Bo Pelini is back as defensive coordinator. Pelini was the D-C for the Tigers for three seasons and helped LSU win a national title in 2007. LSU was 34-6 during Pelini’s three seasons in Baton Rouge.

NBA legend Kobe Bryant’s death in a California helicopter crash is a difficult blow for many people who loved watching Bryant play basketball. Pelicans players and coaches reflect on the Black Mamba’s legacy…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Lawmakers have begun to file bills for the 2020 regular session that starts in March and there are two pieces of legislation that attempt to tackle the state’s sky-high auto insurance rates. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt has authored a bill that allows the civil court system to take into account whether the plaintiff was wearing a seat belt…
cut 14 (10) “….legislature this year”
Hewitt is hopeful her legislation can pass out of a House chamber that’s nearly two-thirds Republican.

Two people from Kaplan, 29-year-old Kiristan Mitchell and 18-year-old Kalix Broussard, died this morning in a head-on crash on Highway 14 in Vermilion Parish. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says Mitchell crossed the center lines while trying to negotiate a curve
Cut 6 (10) “…the crash”
Broussard, who graduated last year, was a star running back at Vermilion Catholic High School.

The country is mourning the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash. Despite the terrible news, the Pelicans played and defeated the Celtics yesterday. Afterward, rookie Zion Williamson reflected on Kobe’s legacy…
Cut 3 (11) “…tough man”

Two people are dead as a result of a drag race that happened on a Baton Rouge street. Sergeant Don Coppola says the two cars bumped each other, sending them off the roadway, killing a bicyclist and one of the drivers. Coppola says the driver who survived, 57-year-old Lattimore Brock of Baton Rouge faces multiple charges…
cut 10 (06) “….reckless driving”
The bicyclist who died has been identified as 24-year-old Deondrick Rudd of Jeanerette.

Louisiana has some of the highest insurance rates in the nation and Republican lawmakers say they want to do something about it. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt has filed legislation for the session that begins in March that would allow the court system to consider whether a plaintiff was wearing a seatbelt when determining damages. Hewitt says there is hope this bill could result in lower claims and lower settlements with insurance companies.
Cut 13 (09) “…by the consumers.”
This is third straight year Hewitt has filed this bill.

Two people not wearing a seatbelt were killed in a head-on crash in Vermilion Parish this morning on Highway 14. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says 29-year-old Kiristan Mitchell drifted into the other lane on the curvy highway…
cut 8 (09) “…pending”
Mithcell died and the other driver was pronounced dead too, 18-year-old Kalix Broussard, a former star running back at Vermilion Catholic.

The Pelicans may have scored a big win over the Celtics yesterday but the specter of NBA legend Kobe Bryant’s sudden death hung over the contest. Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry says it was tough for the team to prepare mentally for the game, and even after blowing out one of the best teams in the league, it was hard to really enjoy it.

Cut 5 (08) “…life.”

Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash yesterday.

An alleged drag race in Baton Rouge kills two, one of the victims being a nearby bicyclist. 56-year-old Christopher Brock of Baker, one of the alleged racers, died at the scene. Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Don Coppola says Twenty-four-year-old Deondrick Rudd of Jeanerette is the bicyclist who also died at the scene…

Cut 11 (10) “…unfortunate situation.”

A bill pre-filed by Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt aims to reduce auto insurance premiums by disclosing if someone injured in a car crash was wearing a seatbelt.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

29-year-old Kiristan Mitchell and 18-year-old Kalix Broussard died this morning in a head-on crash in Kaplan. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says investigating troopers say the victims were not buckled up…

Cut 7 (08) “…get the message.”

Broussard was a star running back at Vermilion Catholic High School and graduated in 2019.

Juries may soon get to know if someone injured in a car crash was wearing a seatbelt, something not allowed under current law.  Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt has pre-filed a bill for the change and says the juries should be aware if someone is negligent in mitigating damages from not being properly restrained.
Cut 12 (10) “…wearing your seatbelt.”
Hewitt says there is hope this bill could result in lower claims and lower settlements with insurance companies, with that savings being passed along to consumers.
Two people from Kaplan, 29-year-old Kiristan Mitchell and 18-year-old Kalix Broussard, died this morning in a head-on crash on Highway 14 in Vermilion Parish. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says Mitchell crossed the center lines while trying to negotiate a curve
Cut 6 (10) “…the crash”
Broussard, who graduated last year, was a star running back at Vermilion Catholic High School.

Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven others died in a helicopter crash yesterday. Pelicans players and coaches look back at the Black Mamba’s legacy…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Starting today you can submit your 2019 state and federal tax returns. Federal taxes are due April 15th, state taxes are due May 15th. New Orleans CPA Jerry Schreiber says his number one tip for filers every year is organizing your tax information either for yourself or your preparer.
Cut 7 (11) “…returns”
Schreiber says unlike last year, there are no major changes with this year’s forms.

Several members of the Pelicans organization are taking the sudden death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant hard. Brandon Ingram is a former member of the Lakers and was given Bryant’s locker as the heir apparent to the scoring machine’s legacy and was visibly upset after last night’s game…
cut 4 (10) “…around”
Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter are among the nine dead from a helicopter crash in California.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is recruiting babies who are not breastfed to be part of the CONNECT research study which explores how early life nutrition and nutrients impact the brain and cognitive development. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case of a man who died after he stabbed by his wife. Deputies say Renada Celestin stabbed Eric Darnell Celesting in the upper right chest. Eric died from his injuries, while Renada was questioned and released pending the location of additional witnesses. The investigation is ongoing.