Louisiana is working to retrieve 26-million dollars it erroneously sent to taxpayers in the form of a duplicate state refund check. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says is in most cases, the state can get the money directly from the bank, but if the money is already gone, taxpayers will get a letter from the revenue department with repayment instructions…
cut 5 (07) “…paid back”
A computer error resulted in the double state tax refund payment.

Seven Angola employees have resigned and four of them have been arrested on allegations of inappropriate relationships with inmates and smuggling drugs into the prison. Department of Corrections spokesperson Ken Pastorick…
cut 14 (09) “….our public safe”
The three people who resigned and were not arrested are expected to be arrested.

Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says he’ll bring legislation to the state legislature again this year to abolish the death penalty. Claitor says it will not impact the over 70 convicted killers who are currently on death row..
cut 8 (09) “…forward looking bill”
Claitor proposed similiar legislation last year, but it failed. 2010 was the last lethal injection in Louisiana.

LSU’s stay in the SEC Basketball Tournament lasted one game as Florida nailed a three-pointer with one second left to upset the Bayou Bengals 76-73. The Tigers led for most of the game, until interim head coach Tony Benford received a technical foul with 3:45 left as he questioned whether a three-pointer by Florida should have counted….
Cut 15 (12) “back on it”
LSU will find out its seed in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at 5 PM.

26 million dollars in duplicate state tax refunds were sent out on Tuesday, and the state is scrambling to get the cash back. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A bill to abolish the death penalty in Louisiana will soon be filed as the debate about capital punishment continues on the national level. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says he has several issues with death sentences.

Cut 6 (08) “…that it’s immoral.”

12 US Senate Republicans voted against the President’s national emergency declaration that would allow him to access billions in construction dollars to build additional physical border wall. Senator John Kennedy was not among the 12, and says history shows the President’s move is quite legal.  The opposing Senators voiced concerns about executive overreach, and the potential for the declaration to be a template for future Democratic presidents. Kennedy says he sympathizes with that concern.

Cut 10 (11)“…mistake.”

A Department of Corrections investigation has resulted in multiple arrests and resignations at Angola since the investigation began last Friday. Of those involved in the investigation, six were sergeants and one was a nurse. Department spokesperson Ken Pastorick says more arrests are expected as the investigation continues.

Cut 13 (07) “…with charges pending.”

The LSU Tigers stay in the SEC Tournament didn’t last long as Florida nailed a three-pointer in the last second to upset the Bayou Bengals 76-73. LSU now awaits Selection Sunday to find out where they’ll be seeded in the NCAA Tournament. Interim head coach Tony Benford believes the Tigers should be seeded high…
Cut 16 (11) “…two seed”
26 million dollars in duplicate state tax refunds were electronically sent out to 66,700 Louisianans on Tuesday, March 12th as a result of a computer malfunction. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says if you’ve already spent the money, understand the state will need to recoup it.
Cut 5 (12) paid back”
_______________________
A Republican Baton Rouge lawmaker is pushing to end the death penalty in Louisiana.
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
President Trump vetoes a Congressional rejection of his national emergency declaration. Senator John Kennedy supports the declaration, but says expect that kind of executive authority to be challenged soon.
Cut 11 (09) “…Act”

President Donald Trump vetoes a Congressional effort to overturn his national emergency declaration that seeks to divert funding to construct additional border wall. Senator John Kennedy says legally, the President has every right to declare the emergency.
Cut 9 (12) “…power”
The veto is unlikely to be undone, as it would require a 2/3rds vote in Congress.
The LSU Tigers stay in the SEC Tournament didn’t last long as Florida nailed a three-pointer in the last second to upset the Bayou Bengals 76-73. LSU led for most of the game, until interim head coach Tony Benford was hit with a technical foul with 3:45 left in regulation as he questioned whether a three-pointer by Florida should have counted….
Cut 15 (12) “back on it”
________________________
26 million dollars in duplicate state tax refunds were electronically sent out to 66,700 Louisianans on Tuesday, March 12th as a result of a computer malfunction. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says they’re not sure what caused the error.
Cut 4 (08) “.again″
Dardenne says if you got a duplicate return, don’t spend it, and wait for the state to correct the mistake.
A Department of Corrections investigation has resulted in multiple arrests and resignations at Angola since the investigation began last Friday. Department spokesperson Ken Pastorick says the accused employees are facing a wide ran allegations.
Cut 12 (11) “…into the facility.”

Florida hit a three-pointer with one-point-two seconds left as the Gators upset the LSU Tigers 76-73 in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Head Coach Will Wade was not there as he remains suspended for failing to discuss with university officials a recorded conversation purportedly between him and a recruiting handler. Naz Reid had 26 in a losing effort. Javonte Smart was cleared to play and had 13 points, but Tremont Waters and Skyler Mays combined to scored just 15 points. LSU now awaits its seeding in the NCAA Tourney.

26-million dollars in duplicate state tax refunds were electronically sent out to 66,700 Louisianans on Tuesday as a result of a computer malfunction. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says if you got a duplicate return, don’t spend it.
Cut 3 (10) “..outset”
Dardenne says they are currently unsure what caused the computer error.

Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says he’ll bring legislation to the state legislature again this year to abolish the death penalty. Claitor says it will not impact the over 70 convicted killers who are currently on death row..
cut 8 (09) “…forward looking bill”
Claitor proposed similiar legislation last year, but it failed. 2010 was the last lethal injection in Louisiana.

US Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy voted against a measure that seeks to block President Donald Trump from calling a national emergency so that he can free up funds to build a wall along the Southern border. But 12 Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the president, because they are concerned about the precedent it sets. Kennedy predicts this incident will inspire an effort to prevent future similar uses of national emergencies.
Cut 11 (09) “…Act”

A bill to abolish the death penalty in Louisiana will soon be filed as the debate about capital punishment continues on the national level.  State Senator Dan Claitor says he’s taking the action because he believes the death penalty cheapens life in society, adding there are errors that occur, as well as a list of other issues. Claitor, a Republican from Baton Rouge, is working with Rep. Terry Landry, a Democrat from Acadiana on pushing the bill forward.  Claitor says victims’ families will get to be a part of the discussion as the bill is pushed forward.
Cut 7 (11) “…favor of it.”
This is not the first time this legislation has been introduced, but Claitor says he’ll keep trying even if not successful in this session.

A Department of Corrections investigation has resulted in multiple arrests and resignations at Angola. The allegations range from employees having inappropriate relationships with offenders, to conspiring with prisoners and their families to smuggle contraband into the facility. More arrests are expected as the investigation continues.

12 US Senate Republicans voted against the President’s national emergency declaration that would allow him to access billions in construction dollars to build additional physical border wall. Senator John Kennedy was not among the 12 and says history shows the President’s move is quite legal.  The opposing Republican Senators voiced concerns about executive overreach, and the potential for the declaration to be a template for future Democratic presidents. Kennedy says he sympathizes with that concern.

Cut 10 (11)“…mistake.”

Most of the Republicans who voted against the declaration, like Marco Rubio, Susan Collins, and newly elected Mitt Romney, are considered to be from the center-right of the party.
Louisiana officials are working to recover 26-million dollars mistakenly handed out to taxpayers. The Division of Administration says about 66-thousand residents received their state tax refund twice and they are asking individuals who may have received an extra tax refund not to spend that money.

12 US Senate Republicans voted against the President’s national emergency declaration that would allow him to access billions in construction dollars to build additional physical border wall. The 12 Republican Senators voiced concerns about executive overreach, and Senator John Kennedy, who was not among the 12, says he sympathizes with that concern.
Cut 10 (11)“…mistake.”
The President says he will veto the Congressional action, which will not likely be overturned.
LSU is in SEC Tourney action as we speak against Florida, but the recruiting scandal still looms over the team. In good news though, CBS Sports bracketologist Jerry Palm says the recruiting scandal will not factor into their NCAA tourny seeding.
Cut 4 (07) “…the court.”
____________________________
Could the death penalty be abolished in Louisiana? If a bill being introduced by a Baton Rouge Republican gets signed into law that could be the case. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

12 US Senate Republicans voted against the President’s national emergency declaration that would allow him to access billions in construction dollars to build additional physical border wall. Senator John Kennedy was not among the 12, and says history shows the President’s move is quite legal.

Cut 9 (12) “…power”

The President says he will veto the Congressional action, and it appears highly likely that vetoed will be sustained, as Congress would need a 2/3rds vote to overturn it.

Seven Angola employees has resigned and are facing serious criminal allegations that they were helping smuggle contraband into the prison, and even having “inappropriate” relationships, in one case involving sex, with the inmates at the facility. Sex between a guard and inmate, even if consensual, is considered rape.
______________________________________________

A bill to abolish the death penalty in Louisiana will soon be filed as the debate about capital punishment continues on the national level. State Senator Dan Claitor says he’s taking the action because he believes the death penalty cheapens life in society, adding there are errors that occur, as well as a list of other issues.

Cut 6 (08) “…that it’s immoral.”

Claitor says victims’ families will get to be a part of the discussion as the bill is pushed forward.

LSU basketball freshman guard Javonte Smart has been cleared to play in today’s contest against Florida in the Tiger’s opening game of the SEC tournament. Smart was held out of the regular season finale against Vanderbilt in the wake of an FBI wiretap that may include evidence that Smart’s family received improper payments for the talent to come to Baton Rouge. Coach Will Wade, who allegedly spearheaded the improper payments, is still suspended by LSU. Smart was the number one high school prospect in the state in 2018.

US Senator John Kennedy says progress is being made to help an estimated six-thousand Louisiana residents who have not been able to access recovery dollars because they received a Small Business Administration loan following the 2016 floods. Kennedy says he had a productive meeting with U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson…
cut 7 (10) “…HUD”
President Trump signed a law last October that closes the duplication of benefits loophole. But HUD has yet to release the guidance required.

LSU announces freshman guard Javonte Smart can play in the SEC Tournament. The school says Smart fully cooperated and participated in a joint investigation with LSU and NCAA officials and after multiple interviews no evidence was found that Smart committed any violations. The Tigers take on Florida in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament at noon.

Louisiana’s Division of Administration is trying to recover 26-million dollars mistakenly sent to about 66-thousand taxpayers. These individuals received their state tax refunds twice, because of a computer system error. The problem has been fixed and since most of the money went into accounts as a direct deposit, the state believes the money can be quickly recovered.

A Caddo Parish manhunt ended Thursday when the suspect was found dead in a Shreveport home. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Senator John Kennedy says progress has been made towards fixing the duplication of benefits problem that’s prevented some six-thousand 2016 Louisiana flood victims from receiving thousands of dollars in recovery money. Kennedy says he and Senator Bill Cassidy met with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and they’ve received assurances from HUD that they’ll do their part. Kennedy says now they need to get the office of management and the budget to act and he’s not afraid to call the president if O-M-B keeps dragging its feet….
cut 9 (09) “…meeting set”
Kennedy says he’ll meet with budget officials by the end of this month.

Meanwhile both Kennedy and Cassidy voted against a measure that seeks to block President Donald Trump from calling a national emergency so that he can free up funds to build a wall along the Southern border. But 12 Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the president, who will veto against the legislation.

LSU faces Florida in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament today at noon and it remains unclear if freshman Javonte Smart will be able to play. He was held out last Saturday over concerns that Coach Will Wade may have worked on an arrangement so that’s Smart family can receive money on the side. If Smart doesn’t return to the court, how does that impact LSU’s seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Jerry Palm is a bracketologist for CBS Sports…
cut 6 (08) “…the tournament”
Smart has been a valuable player off the bench this season.

A four member crew had to escape a tugboat that sunk in the Mississippi River near LSU….
cut 14 (10) “….the four crew members”
That’s Coast Guard Petty Officer Brandon Giles says the vessel went under after hitting another boat’s anchor chain.