New Orleans State Senator Troy Carter files a bill that will ban “hate-related” throws at Mardi Gras parades. When Carter learned a young boy caught a throw, which was a caricature of a black man holding a watermelon with a noose around his neck, less than two weeks later he filed the bill for the session that opens March 9^th.

Cut 4 (11) “…of Mardi Gras.”

The bill proposes fines up to $1000 for the person caught or the organization can be fined the person throwing is not identified.

According to AAA, in 2019, Louisiana households spent about 13% of their income filling up at the pump.  AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says there were savings compared to 2018 as households saved nearly $46 a month.

Cut 6 (07) “…almost $550.”

Tyler Perry orders a second autopsy for his nephew that died at the Union Parish Detention Center this week. Perry has hired a pathologist to perform the autopsy of his nephew Gavin Porter who was found dead in this cell Tuesday night of an apparent suicide according to the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office.

President of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Ronnie Anderson announces he is retiring this summer following 31 years of leadership.  Anderson says it has been a great run and credits those he’s worked with over the years for contributing to that. Anderson says many of the people he has worked with have become close like family.

Cut 15 (12) “…really close to.”

23rd Judicial District Court Judge Jessie LeBlanc has resigned following her admission of her use of the n-word in an angry text message to former Assumption Parish Chief Deputy Bruce Prejean as their extramarital affair ended.  The letter was filled with accusations directed at others in the court system of who knew what and when. Baton Rouge attorney Franz Borghardt says that the letter creates a lot of questions and feels that the letter’s accusations warrant an investigation.

Cut 6 (08) “…to the community.”

Covington Senator Patrick McMath introduces this year’s effort to ban all handheld phone use for drivers. Seven states, including Louisiana, have partial bans on handheld use, but McMath says partial bans like ours can be nearly impossible to enforce.

Cut 9 (08) “…my phone″

Coronavirus fears have sent the stock market tumbling, with the Dow Jones dropping 1,100 points yesterday alone, and nearly 12 percent over the past five days. That might have older retirement investors spooked, but Tulane Professor of Finance Peter Ricchiuti says those close to retirement likely have moved more towards bonds, which is paying off right about now…

Cut 11 (09) “…in here.”

Ricchiuti says younger investors should look to take advantage of declining stock prices by boosting contributions to their retirement accounts.
President of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Ronnie Anderson announces he is retiring this summer following 31 years of leadership.  Anderson doesn’t have too many plans laid out to occupy his time, but he knows he’ll be spending more time with family.

Cut 14 (10) “…stuff with them.”

The Cavs make their only visit to New Orleans tonight to kick off a critically important three-game homestand that could propel the pels closer to securing the 8^th seed. New Orleans is three games back of Memphis for the final playoff spot in the West and Coach Alvin Gentry says with 24 games left, the margin for error is small…

cut 19 (29) those games”  

At the NFL combine, former LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson ran a 4-4 in the 40 to help improve his draft stock. Former Tigers tight end Thaddeus Moss has a broken bone in his foot and he will not be able to work out at the combine. And the Cincinnati Bengals reportedly came away very impressed after meeting with Joe Burrow for the first time.

The 11th ranked LSU baseball team will spend the next three days in Houston facing Texas, Baylor and 15th ranked Oklahoma at the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park. Coach Paul Mainieri says it will be an exciting weekend for his players and the fans

Cut 16  (16)  …Friday night’   

Louisiana Tech basketball was up by 17 points with just over five minutes to go last night, but lost to Western Kentucky 95-91 in overtime. The Hilltoppers hit three straight three-pointers to force overtime and then outscored the Dunkin Dogs 15-11 in the extra period.

ULM fell to 5-and-14 in the Sun Belt as they lost to Little Rock 79-63.

And the Saints and Quarterback Drew Brees reportedly would like to agree on a new contract before the start of a new league year.

Another teacher accused of having sex with students. This time at Terrebonne High in Houma, where police have arrested 59-year-old Joseph Clement for multiple counts of Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile, Sexual Battery, Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile and Prohibited Sexual Conduct Between Educator and Student. Detectives say Clement’s behavior had been going on for (quote) “quite some time” and that more arrests may be coming.
Fears of the coronavirus have sent stock markets into freefall. Tulane Professor of Finance Peter Ricchiuti says the virus has exacerbated a market that was already showing signs of weakness thanks to the US’s growing debt, the high price of stocks, and…
CUT 10 (10) Q:…profit”
The Dow has dropped 12 percent in five days; just a few percent shy of being a “bear” market.
***********
23rd Judicial District Court Judge Jessie LeBlanc resigns in a letter full of accusations about others involved in the court system. Kevin Barnhart has the story…
CUT 01 (31) Q: Kevin Barnhart”
A Washington Parish lawmaker proposes banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. State Senator Beth Mizell’s legislation would mandate that those born male could only compete with other males; regardless of having gender reassignment. The Save Women’s Sports Act will come up in the 2020 Legislature.

23rd Judicial District Court Judge Jessie LeBlanc resigns following her admission of her use of a racial slur in an angry text message to a sheriff’s deputy with whom she was having an affair. In the resignation letter, LeBlanc admitted to the extramarital affair, but says that three members of her bench also knew of that relationship. She also said another judge in her district, Alvin Turner, was made aware in 2017 that his own law clerk allegedly had an affair with the same deputy. Criminal defense attorney Franz Borghardt says he’s not sure that the letter was the proper venue to shed light on those issues…
CUT 05 (09) “cases before him”
Judge Turner says Judge Leblanc is distorting the truth.
He was at one time, one of New Orleans’ most-beloved sportscasters, but Vince Marinello’s 2008 conviction for killing his wife sent him to prison for life. Prison officals in Jackson, LA report Marinello has died of natural causes. Marinello was 82.
*******
A Covington Senator wants to ban drivers from holding their phone. He spoke with Matt Doyle…
CUT 02 (30) Q:…Matt Doyle”
The athletic director of Terrebonne High School, in Houma, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of having sex with female students under 17. 59-year-old Joseph Clement had been at Terrebonne High for 18 years and police say he’d been taking advantage of students for (quote) “quite some time”. The investigation at the school is ongoing and detectives are looking into allegations possibly involving other faculty members.

Look out, the 2020 Louisiana Legislative session is about to begin. This year is a long session, wherein lawmakers can and do propose bills of any kind. Covington Senator Patrick McMath introduces this year’s effort to ban all handheld cell phone use for drivers. McMath says passing the law would save a lot of lives and help reduce auto insurance rates. He cites stats showing Louisiana claims the nation’s 7th highest distracted driving rate. McMath says his legislation proposes fines for an offense that are about average for the 20 states that do have total handheld driving bans…
CUT 08 (08) Q: beyond”
Another bill, by New Orleans Senator Troy Carter, would ban any parade throws of a racially-disrespectful nature. This comes after his son caught a figurine of a black man holding a watermelon during a Gretna parade. Carter’s bill – if passed into law – would punish racially-charged throws with fines up to a thousand bucks and up to 90 days in jail. The Legislature convenes a week from this Monday.
*******
Coronavirus fears have sent the stock market tumbling, with the Dow Jones dropping 1,100 points yesterday alone, and nearly 12 percent over the past five days. Tulane Professor of Finance Peter Ricchiuti says younger investors should look to take advantage of declining stock prices by boosting contributions to their retirement accounts…
Cut 12 (11) Q:…as well.”
President of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Ronnie Anderson announces he is retiring this summer following 31 years of leadership. Anderson says it has been a great run and credits those he’s worked with over the years for contributing to that…
Cut 13 (10) Q:…many good people.”

23rd Judicial District Court Judge Jessie LeBlanc has resigned following her admission of her use of the n-word in an angry text message to former Assumption Parish Chief Deputy Bruce Prejean as their extramarital affair ended. Baton Rouge attorney Franz Borghardt says it would have been difficult for her to continue in her role…
CUT 04 (06) “issue for her”
Leblanc told a Baton Rouge TV station that she used the slur to describe a black sheriff’s deputy and black law clerk in her district. In the resignation letter, LeBlanc admitted to the extramarital affair, but says that three members of her bench knew of her previous relationship, having direct meetings with two of them. She also said another judge in her district, Alvin Turner, was made aware in 2017 that his own law clerk allegedly had an affair with Prejean as well.
Convicted killer and former New Orleans sportscaster Vince Marinello has died in prison. Marinello was convicted in 2008 for the murder of his wife two years earlier. He was 82.
*********
The Dow Jones is down 12 percent in the last five days thanks to coronavirus-related fears. Matt Doyle has the story…
CUT 03 (28) Q: “Matt Doyle”
The 11th ranked LSU baseball team will spend the next three days in Houston facing Texas, Baylor and 15th ranked Oklahoma at the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park. LSU won Wednesday night seven to one over Louisiana Tech.

23rd Judicial District Court Judge Jessie LeBlanc resigns in a letter full of accusations about others involved in the court system. Kevin Barnhart has the story…
CUT 01 (31) Q: I’m Kevin Barnhart
The athletic director of Terrebonne High School was arrested Thursday for allegedly having sexual relationships with multiple students. According to Houma Police, 59-year-old Joseph Clement had been at the school 18 years and had engaged in sex with students for “quite some time”.
**************
Covington Senator Patrick McMath introduces this year’s effort to ban all handheld phone use for drivers. McMath says passing the law would save a lot of lives by reducing the number of crashes, and reducing the number of crashes would also save state drivers a lot of money.
CUT 07 (09) Q: …from this”
Seven states – including Louisiana – have partial hand-held phone use bans in place, but McMath says they can be nearly impossible to enforce. A similar bill last year cleared the House and Senate, but failed to come out of a compromise committee.
Former New Orleans sportscaster and radio host Vince Marinello has died in prison. Marinello was serving a life sentence for murdering his wife in 2006. Prosecutors showed he took great care in planning the killing, but neglected to get rid of his “to do” list for the day of the act. Marinello was 82.

The Pelicans begin a three-game homestand tonight by hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers. New Orleans is three games back of Memphis for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Pels Coach Alvin Gentry says if they are going to make the playoffs, they need to win at home…

23rd Judicial District Court Judge Jessie LeBlanc resigns in a letter full of accusations about others involved in the court system.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

_____________________________________

A Covington Senator wants to ban drivers from holding their phone. He spoke with Matt Doyle…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

___________________________________________

The Dow Jones is down 12 percent in the last five days thanks to coronavirus-related fears. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 3 (28)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

____________________________________________

23rd Judicial District Court Judge Jessie LeBlanc has resigned following her admission of her use of the n-word in an angry text message to former Assumption Parish Chief Deputy Bruce Prejean as their extramarital affair ended.  Baton Rouge attorney Franz Borghardt says it would have been difficult for her to continue in her role.

Cut 4 (06)_ “…issue for her.”

Leblanc told a Baton Rouge TV station that she used the slur to describe a black sheriff’s deputy and black law clerk in her district.

In the resignation letter, LeBlanc admitted to the extramarital affair, but says that three members of her bench knew of her previous relationship, having direct meetings with two of them.  She also said another judge in her district, Alvin Turner, was made aware in 2017 that his own law clerk allegedly had an affair with Prejean as well.  Borghardt says he’s not sure that the letter was the proper avenue to shed light on those issues.

Cut 5 (09)  “…cases before him.”

Turner has since accused LeBlanc of distorting the truth.

Borghardt says that the letter creates a lot of questions and feels that the letter’s accusations warrant an investigation.

Cut 6 (08) “…to the community.”

____________________________

Covington Senator Patrick McMath introduces this year’s effort to ban all handheld phone use for drivers.

McMath says passing the law would save a lot of lives by reducing the number of crashes, and reducing the number of crashes would also save state drivers a lot of money.

Cut 7 (09) “…from this”

The Republican cited stats showing Louisiana claims the nation’s 7^th highest distracted driving rate.

McMath says his legislation proposes fines for an offense that are about average for the 20 states that do have total handheld driving bans.

Cut 8 (08) “…beyond.”

McMath’s bill would allow drivers brief use of their phone to click to receive a call, make an emergency call, or respond to their GPS,

Seven states, including Louisiana, have partial bans on handheld use, but McMath says partial bans like ours can be nearly impossible to enforce.

Cut 9 (08) “…my phone″

Last session a similar version of this bill cleared the House, then Senate, but a compromise effort returned to the House and failed by a few votes.

____________________

Coronavirus fears have sent the stock market tumbling, with the Dow Jones dropping 1,100 points yesterday alone, and nearly 12 percent over the past five days.

Tulane Professor of Finance Peter Ricchiuti says the virus has exacerbated a market that was already showing signs of weakness thanks to the US’s growing debt, the high price of stocks, and…

Cut 10 (10) “…profit.”

Ricchiuti says the 12 percent loss is still shy of the 20 loss needed for the declaration of a “bear” market.

That might have older retirement investors spooked, but Ricchiuti says those close to retirement likely have moved more towards bonds, which is paying off right about now…

Cut 11 (09) “…in here.”

Ricchiuti says younger investors should look to take advantage of declining stock prices by boosting contributions to their retirement accounts.

Cut 12 (11) “…as well.”

_____________________________________

President of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Ronnie Anderson announces he is retiring this summer following 31 years of leadership.  Anderson says it has been a great run and credits those he’s worked with over the years for contributing to that.

Cut 13 (10) “…many good people.”

Anderson doesn’t have too many plans laid out to occupy his time, but he knows he’ll be spending more time with family.

Cut 14 (10) “…stuff with them.”

Anderson says many of the people he has worked with have become close like family.

Cut 15 (12) “…really close to.”

__________________________________________

 The 11th ranked LSU baseball team will spend the next three days in Houston facing Texas, Baylor and 15th ranked Oklahoma at the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park. Coach Paul Mainieri says it will be an exciting weekend for his players and the fans

Cut 16  (16)  …Friday night’   

LSU will play Baylor on Saturday and then take on the Sooners on Sunday at 11 AM. Mainieri says Texas is undefeated on the season because they have not given up many runs….

Cut 17  (11) “their game” 

LSU won Wednesday night seven to one over Louisiana Tech. Mainieri says he’ll use that same line-up over the course of the next weekend because at this point he feels that group gives them the best chance to win…

cut 18  (18) “is going to work”   

____________________________________________________

The Pelicans begin an important three-game homestand tonight as the Cleveland Cavaliers make their only appearance at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans is three games back of Memphis for the final playoff spot in the West and Coach Alvin Gentry says with 24 games left, the margin for error is small…

cut 19 (29) those games”  

Gentry says if the Pelicans are going to make the playoffs, they have to defend their home court…

cut 20 (12) “   the game”