LSU has reinstated basketball coach Will Wade after a five-week long suspension. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Holden Matthews, the suspect in recent arson fires that destroyed three historical black churches in St. Landry Parish, has had his bond request denied, and is now facing three additional hate crime charges in addition to initial charges of three counts of arson of a religious building.  Matthews was apprehended on Wednesday.

The severe weather that impact Louisiana on Saturday resulted in two deaths.  The first was a 13-year-old boy, who fell into a flooded drainage canal in West Monroe.  Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Deputy Glenn Springfield says a call for help came just before 5 o’clock Saturday afternoon.
Cut 6 (04) “…he fell in.”
The investigation is ongoing as to why he fell into the water.  The second victim died when floodwaters overtook a vehicle she was driving.

The U-S House passed Violence Against Women Act has an uncertain future in the Republican Controlled Senate. The NRA opposes the legislation because it would lower the threshold for banning gun ownership to those with misdemeanor convictions of domestic abuse or stalking, among other concerns. Current law only applies to felonies. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves believes that provision may infringe on the constitution…
Cut 14 (12) “…rights.”

Will Wade is back as LSU basketball’s head coach after the formerly suspended 36-year-old met with NCAA and LSU officials Friday to discuss allegations of recruiting violations. Athletics director Joe Alleva says Wade answered all questions and denied any wrongdoing, and says his explanations, absent actual evidence of misconduct, satisfy his contractual obligation to LSU. Tiger Rag Assistant editor Tyler Nunez says LSU’s compliance department could not find any wrongdoing.
Cut 4 (09) “…get him back”
five players from Wade’s SEC winning team will likely be gone next year after declaring for the NBA draft.
The man accused of burning down three historically black churches in St. Landry parish has had his bond request denied, and is now facing three additional hate crime charges. According to a Daily Beast report on his Facebook activity, 21-year-old Holden Matthews expressed interest in a Scandinavian neo-nazi metal musician who was convicted in the 90s for church burnings and a murder.
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Former Louisiana Congressman John Fleming is a month into his new job as the assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. Fleming says because the U-S EDA serves areas impacted by disasters, as well as economically distressed communities, he can serve the Bayou State…
Cut 7 (12) “…help Louisiana.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries’ service has listed the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s (BROO-dus) whale as endangered. NOAA estimates there are less than 100 Bryde’s whales in the Gulf but Marine Mammal Biologist Laura Engleby says the whales live in a restricted area of the gulf and the many human threats make it hard for the whale population to thrive…
Cut 12 (08) “…things like that.”
Now that the listing has been announced, they plan on developing a recovery plan for the whales.

LSU basketball coach Will Wade’s suspension is over as the 36-year-old has been reinstated, after meeting with LSU and NCAA officials. Athletics director Joe Alleva says Wade answered all questions and denied any wrongdoing in connection with recently reported allegations of recruiting violations. Tiger Rag Assistant editor Tyler Nunez says Wade could have possibly avoided the five-week long suspension

Cut 3 (10) “…severe tornadoes.”

Alleva also says Wade’s explanations and clarifications offered during the meeting, absent actual evidence of misconduct, satisfy his contractual obligation to LSU.

Holden Matthews, the suspect in three recent arson fires that destroyed three historical black churches in St. Landry Parish is scheduled for a bond hearing this morning before District Judge James Doherty. Matthews was apprehended on Wednesday, charged with three counts of arson of a religious building.

D.C. lawmakers are tangling over the Violence Against Women Act as it heads to the Senate after clearing the House 263 to 158, on a mostly party line vote. Sexual Trauma Awareness Response President Racheal Herbert says the lower legal requirements to ban gun ownership are vital, because it’s tough enough already to get any penalties for abusers.

Cut 15 (12) “…charged”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries’ service has listed the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s (BROO-dus) whale as endangered. NOAA estimates there are less than 100 Bryde’s whales in the Gulf but Marine Mammal Biologist Laura Engleby says the latest survey shows the population could be less than half of that…

Cut 10 (12) “…best case scenario.”

Two days after meeting with school and NCAA officials, LSU made the decision to reinstate head basketball coach Will Wade. Wade had been suspended since March 8th. Athletics director Joe Alleva says Wade’s explanations and clarifications offered during the meeting, absent actual evidence of misconduct, satisfy his contractual obligation to LSU.

The second week of the legislative session begins today and soon lawmakers will debate whether the death penalty should be repealed. President of the ACLU of Louisiana Alanah Odoms Hebert brought Shareef Cousins to the capitol. Cousins was on death row for three years, before he was exonerated. Hebert says Cousins story can convince lawmakers to get rid of the death penalty…
cut 6 (12) “….for repeal”
Louisiana’s Attorney General Jeff Landry opposes any effor to abolish the death penalty.

The U-S House passed Violence Against Women Act has an uncertain future in the Republican Controlled Senate. The NRA opposes the legislation because it would lower the threshold for banning gun ownership to those with misdemeanor convictions of domestic abuse or stalking, among other concerns. Current law only applies to felonies. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves believes that provision may infringe on the constitution…
Cut 14 (12) “…rights.”
Senate leaders say they are seeking to pass a bill that has more bipartisan support.

NOAA has placed the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s (Brood-dus) whales on the Endangered Species List. Marine Mammal biologist Laura Engleby says experts estimate less than 100 of these whales are left…
cut 11 (09) “….ashore’
Now that the listing has been announced, NOAA will develop a recovery plan.

LSU has reinstated basketball coach Will Wade. The university says during a meeting on Friday, Wade answered all questions and denied any wrongdoing about contents of an FBI wirtetap conversation in which Wade reportedly discussed a strong offer for a recruit with a convicted recruiting middleman. Wade was suspended for about five weeks.

The Bryde’s (BROO-dus) whale in the Gulf of Mexico is now listed as an endangered species. Connor Ferrill has more.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Connor Ferrill”

Advocates who are attempting to end domestic violence are disappointed Louisiana’s House Republican delegation voted against the Violence Against Women Act, which seeks to limit gun rights for those convicted of misdemeanor crimes involving domestic abuse or stalking. Sexual Trauma Awareness Response President Racheal Hebert says…
cut 16 (09) “…think”
Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he voted against the bill because it included protections for transgender individuals.

Today, begins week two of the legislative session and soon lawmakers will begin debating whether the state should repeal the death penalty. Shareef Cousin of New Orleans will be there to support a repeal. He spent three years on death row in the 1990s for a murder he did not commit and he says there maybe other innocent people on death row…
cut 5 (10) “…mental health disorders”

LSU basketball coach Will Wade’s suspension is over as the 36-year-old has been reinstated. Wade met with LSU and NCAA officials on Friday and A-D Joe Alleva says Wade answered all questions and denied any wrongdoing in connection with recently reported allegations of irregularities in college basketball recruiting.

Death row exoneree Shareef Cousin is teaming up with the ACLU of Louisiana in an effort to persuade lawmakers to repeal the death penalty.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

D.C. lawmakers are tangling over the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act as it heads to the Senate after clearing the House on a mostly party line vote. Republican Congressman Garret Graves says he voted against the legislation…
Cut 13 (11) “…scrutiny”
Senate leaders are trying to come up with their own version that’s more bipartisan.

Former Louisiana Congressman John Fleming is now an assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. Fleming says they are working on a program that allows private investment into a distressed community and the money can be multiplied when combined with federal and local dollars…
cut 9 (12) “….of that”

It seemed unlikely that Will Wade would ever coach at LSU again, but the school has reinstated the 36-year-old basketball coach. Athletics director Joe Alleva says during a meeting on Friday with university and NCAA officials, Wade answered all questions and denied any wrongdoing in connection with recently reported allegations of irregularities in college basketball recruiting. Alleva says actual evidence of misconduct was also not found.

Lawmakers will once again consider repealing Louisiana’s death penalty in the ongoing legislative session. Shareef Cousin of New Orleans spent three years on death row for a fatal shooting that occurred in the 90s in the French Quarter before his name was cleared. Cousin says his message for legislators is simple.
Cut 4 (10) “…that is flawed.”
There are two bills in the legislative session that seek to abolish the death penalty, but the measures are expected to receive opposition from Louisiana’s Attorney General.

The Violence Against Women Act re-authorization could bog down in the Senate after House Democrats passed a version that prohibits gun ownership for those with misdemeanor convictions of domestic abuse or stalking.
voicer 3 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Death row exoneree Shareef Cousin is teaming up with the ACLU of Louisiana and LA Repeal in an effort to persuade lawmakers to repeal the death penalty.

 Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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The Bryde’s (BROO-dus) whale in the Gulf of Mexico is now listed as an endangered species. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Connor Ferrill”  

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 The Violence Against Women Act re-authorization could be bogged down in the Senate after House Democrats passed a version that prohibiting gun ownership for those with misdemeanor convictions of domestic abuse or stalking. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (32) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Lawmakers will once again consider repealing Louisiana’s death penalty. The effort is being backed by the ACLU of Louisiana and LA Repeal. Shareef Cousin spent three years on death row in Louisiana for a crime that occurred in the 90s before having his name cleared. Cousin says his message for lawmakers is simple.

Cut 4 (10) “…that is flawed.”

Cousin says he is just one of many who has been released from death row and says even all these years later, his time in prison still haunts him.

Cut 5 (10) “…mental health disorders.”

President of the ACLU of Louisiana Alanah Odoms Hebert believes the support for the repeal is becoming stronger.

Cut 6 (12) “…state for repeal.”

There are two bills filed for this legislative session that seek to repeal the death penalty, one by Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor and New Iberia Representative Terry Landry. Louisiana’s Attorney General Jeff Landry is expected to oppose any effort to get rid of the death penalty.

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Former Louisiana Congressman John Fleming is a month into his new job as the assistant secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. Fleming says because the U-S EDA serves areas impacted by disasters, as well as economically distressed communities, he can still serve the Bayou State…

Cut 7 (12) “…help Louisiana.”

Fleming served as a U.S. Representative for four terms in Louisiana’s 4^th congressional district from January 2009 to January 2017.

Fleming says while groups like the Cajun Navy provide immediate relief to disaster areas his position at the EDA is focused on long term recovery…

Cut 8 (11) “…same areas.”

Fleming says he’s excited about a relatively new provision in the law that can allow for private dollars to benefit distressed communities in Louisiana and the rest of the country. It’s known as Opportunity Zones. He says the process starts with federal funds, matched by local dollars and then can be multiplied by private investment…

Cut 9 (12) “…of that.″

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries’ service has listed the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s (BROO-dus) whale as endangered. NOAA estimates there are less than 100 Bryde’s whales in the Gulf but Marine Mammal Biologist Laura Engleby says the latest survey shows the population could be less than half of that…

Cut 10 (12) “…best case scenario.”

The whales are the only known resident baleen whales in the Gulf of Mexico.

Engleby says if the population continues to shrink it will be hard to track because of the size of the Gulf…

Cut 11 (09) “…ashore.”

Engleby says the whales live in a restricted area of the gulf and the many human threats make it hard for the whale population to thrive…

Cut 12 (08) “…things like that.”

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D.C. lawmakers are tangling over the Violence Against Women Act as it heads to the Senate after clearing the House 263 to 158, on a mostly party line vote.

Congressman Garret Graves says he voted against the legislation because it included over 200 pages of proposals that were not vetted before the bill was voted on…

Cut 13 (11) “…scrutiny”

Republicans have presented an unaltered version of the bill for short-term renewal.

The NRA called for “No” votes on the bill because it would lower the threshold for banning gun ownership to those with misdemeanor convictions of domestic abuse or stalking, among other concerns. Current law only applies to felonies. Graves says he’s concerned that provision may have infringed on due process.

Cut 14 (12) “…rights.”

He did add that it’s a proposal worth considering though, given research that indicates a link between domestic abuse and gun violence.

But Sexual Trauma Awareness Response President Racheal Herbert says the lower legal requirements to ban gun ownership are vital, because it’s tough enough already to get any penalties for abusers.

Cut 15 (12) “…charged”

The new, House passed version also allocates about a billion dollars in funding to a range of programs.

Louisiana’s five Republican Congressmen all voted against the re-authorization, and Herbert says it was a partisan decision that neglected the fact that similar legislation was found success in the Louisiana Legislature.

Cut 16  (09) “…think.” 

33 House Republicans voted for the bill’s passage.

Severe weather risks are now rising in south Louisiana as a brutual line of weather is expected to begin slamming the state this afternoon, and much of north Louisiana is now under a severe thunderstorm watch until 3pm. State Climatologist Barry Keim says no matter where you are today, keep an eye on the weather…
Cut 5 (10) “…thunderstorms.”
The feds have awarded the Ports of New Orleans and Baton Rouge a 3.1 million dollar grant to get shipping containers off the roads and back onto the river. Congressman Garret Graves says as the global market shifts to the use of 40-foot containers, ports that do not have the capability to process the steel boxes will fall behind their competitors.
Cut 13 (11) “…with them”
The existing container on barge service moves about 16,800 40-foot equivalent units between Memphis/Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
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LSU President F. King Alexander says if sports betting is legalized in Louisiana, then LSU should get a cut of the revenue since a lot of the gambling will be on the Purple and Gold. But Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says he’s committed to ensuring any revenue generated goes towards early childhood education subsidies for working and middle class families.He says giving a cut to LSU because of their athletics opens up a nasty can of worms.
Cut 10 (06) “…i’m doing.”
When electric scooter companies Bird and Lime placed their electric scooters in Lafayette, there were no ordinances in place to govern their use on the city’s streets. So Lafayette Senator Page Cortez has introduced a bill that provides regulations.
Cut 8 (10) “…third party companies.”
The scooters would be able to be operated on roads which have a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less.

The threat of severe rain and the possibility of tornadoes has increased for Baton Rouge and Lafayette, as a nasty weather system is set to impact pretty much all of the state later this afternoon. State Climatologist Barry Keim says expect a lot of water with these possibly damaging winds.
Cut 4 (10) “…severe weather.”
There’s a 10-15 percent chance of tornadoes in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas, with even higher chances of damaging winds as you move north past Alexandria and into Monroe.
LSU President F. King Alexander says if sports betting is legalized in Louisiana, then LSU should get a cut of the revenue since a lot of the gambling will be on the Purple and Gold. Alexander says it’s only right that a portion of the revenue should return to the individuals who will generate the revenue.
Cut 9 (12) “…about that”
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The Ports of New Orleans and Baton Rouge are getting a 3.1 million dollar grant that could reduce traffic congestion by getting more shipping trucks off the road. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
US Senator John Kennedy says President Trump is getting involved in the duplication of benefits dispute. Kennedy says he spoke with the President during a lunch meeting
Cut 15 (11) “…couple of weeks”