The state’s largest two teacher unions have mixed responses to the governor’s plan for educators to receive a 1,000 dollar pay raise next year. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Hundreds gathered at Susan Park in Kenner to protest Mayor Ben Zahn’s decision to ban Nike products from being purchased by local booster clubs. Saints players Cameron Jordan and Terron Armstead were among those in attendance. Zahn says he doesn’t want taxpayer dollars used in a political campaign. Nike has a marketing campaign featuring former NFL quarterback Collin Kapernick, who started the National Anthem protests.

A section of Bayou Bridge Pipeline construction has been put on hold. Energy Transfer Partners agreed to cease construction on private property in St. Martinville after the land’s owner alleged the company was building there illegally. Louisiana Bucket Brigade Director Anne Rolfes says ETP did not get permission to build on the land
Cut 8 (12) “…pipeline.”
But E-T-P says this will not have any impact to their construction schedule or the timing on completing the project.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron is planning on making changes on his offensive line, but he also wants to see better play from his receivers….
cut 15 (10) “…football player”
The Tigers rank dead last in the SEC in total offense heading into LSU’s game against Auburn.

The state’s two largest teachers unions are responding to Governor Edwards’ push for a 1,000 dollar pay raise for teachers, and a 500 dollar pay raise for support personnel. But one group says it’s not enough. Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says it would take a 1,850 dollar raise to get Bayou educators to the regional average, but the regional average is also too low.
Cut 4 (12) “…the conversation.”
Louisiana Association of Educators President Debbie Meaux says her organization is seeking a 1,200 dollar a year raise for teachers.

Slidell High School teacher Valerie Scogin is facing backlash for a Facebook post that said, “Want to not be stereotyped, tell people of that color to quit acting like animals.” It’s unclear who the message was directed to, but a school official says it has been taken down and the school system is taking appropriate disciplinary actions.

The Bayou Bridge Pipeline could be facing a delay, after agreeing to cease construction on private property in St. Martinville after the owner alleged the company was there illegally. Matt Doyle has more.
voicer 2 (31) ”I’m Matt Doyle”

Walker High’s head football coach, Lester Ricard, along with an assistant coach Marcus Brown, have resigned. The resignations come days after the announcement the two had been suspended. The question of “Why?” remains. Prep writer for The Advocate, Robin Fambrough, says Ricard, a former quarterback at Tulane, had the program heading in the right direction.
Cut 11 (08) “…disappointed”
A Baton Rouge TV station reports officials are looking into suggestive comments and text messages to young women.

Governor John Bel Edwards will urge lawmakers next year to support giving public school teachers a one-thousand dollar pay raise. But Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says a one-thousand dollar salary boost would still leave the average salary in this state below the Southern Regional Average….
cut 5 (08) “….of teachers”
Landon says a recent survey of his organization found support for a potential strike, if teachers do not receive an adequate pay bump, and increased funding for public schools.

The company building the Bayou Bridge pipeline has agreed to stop work on a parcel of land in St. Martin Parish until an eminent domain dispute can be settled with a property owner. Louisiana Bucket Brigade Director Anne Rolfes says they’ve had protesters demonstrating near work sites arrested and they believe this is a victory in their efforts…
cut 9 (05) “…in handcuffs”
Energy Transfer Partners says completion of the project has not been delayed.

Hundreds gathered at a park in Kenner in an effort to convince Mayor Ben Zahn to rescind his decision to ban booster clubs from buying Nike products. Saints players Cam Jordan and Terron Armstead were among those who attended. In a statement, Zahn says he’s trying to protect taxpayer dollars from being used in a political message.

Two games into the season and LSU is already ranked dead last in the SEC in total offense, averaging just 316 yards a game. The Tigers are second to last in pass offense. Coach Ed Orgeron has said the offensive line needs to get better, but that’s not the only group struggling
Cut 14 (11) “…do that”
LSU is a 9.5 point underdog heading into Saturday’s game against seventh ranked Auburn.

Responses from teachers unions to the governor’s call for a 1,000 dollar pay raise were mixed. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “I’m Matt Doyle”

__________________________________

 The Bayou Bridge Pipeline is facing another setback, this time in St. Martinville after agreeing to cease construction on private property after the owner alleged the company was there illegally. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (31) ”I’m Matt Doyle” 

__________________________________

Walker High School has accepted the resignations of head football coach Lester Ricard and defensive coordinator Marcus Brown, as two are reportedly under investigation by school officials for alleged misconduct. Kevin Barnhart has more

Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

_________________________________________

The state’s two largest teachers unions are responding to Governor Edwards’ push for a 1,000 dollar pay raise for teachers, and a 500 dollar pay raise for support personnel. But one group says it’s not enough. Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says it would take a 1,850 dollar raise to get Bayou educators back to the regional average, but the regional average is also too low.

Cut 4 (12) “…the conversation.”

A 1,850 dollar raise, or 3.65 percent, would cost the state 105 million dollars a year. Including all support personnel such as cafeteria workers and principles would jack the price up to 170 million a year.

Landon says while 1,000 dollars would be appreciated, it wouldn’t be enough to substantially effect teacher’s quality of life. He says teacher’s chronically low pay is the reason why the state is facing a budding educator shortage.

Cut 5 (08) “…of teachers”

Landon says a recent survey of his organization indicated widespread support for a potential strike if teachers do not receive an adequate pay bump, and increased funding for public schools.

Louisiana Association of Educators President Debbie Meaux says her organization is seeking a 1,200 dollar a year raise for teachers, as well the establishment of living wages for support personnel. Meaux says the decade long decline in teacher quality of life has many looking to leave the profession.

Cut 6 (11) “…eroded away.”

The state says average teacher pay in Louisiana is 49,800 dollars. The national average is 58,000.

Meaux says they’ve been in active conversations with the governor’s office about getting that raise, but notes they’re looking for more than just a pay bump. She says they’re also demanding an increase for public school funding.

Cut 7 (09) “…ten years.”

____________________________

A section of Bayou Bridge Pipeline construction has been put on hold after another legal setback. This time the pipeline was paused after parent company ETP agreed to cease construction on private property in St. Martinville after the land’s owner alleged the company was building there illegally. Louisiana Bucket Bridge Director Anne Rolfes says ETP did not get eminent domain for the land.

Cut 8 (12)  “…pipeline.”

Rolfes says pipeline workers have cleared trees and dug up land over the last 60 days since entering the 32 acre property.

St. Martinville has been the site of increased tensions between environmental activists and local Sherriff’s deputies and ETP security personnel. Clashes between the two groups on the private land has led to arrests and felony charges for several activists, But Rolfes says those activists were invited by the property owner…

Cut 9 (10)  “in handcuffs.”

The environmental protesters were charged under a law passed last spring that made it a felony to trespass on critical infrastructure such as pipelines.

The pipeline is currently more than 85 percent complete and was on track to finish construction by October, at which point it would begin sending crude oil from Lake Charles to St. James Parish. Rolfes says the decision will, at a minimum, delay the project by nearly three months until the two groups get a hearing.

Cut 10 (08)   “…in state.“

Entergy Transfer Partners responded saying “This does not have any impact to our construction schedule or timing of our project completion.” The company will seek to have the expropriation of the tract completed.

______________________________________

Walker High’s head football coach, Lester Ricard, along with an assistant coach Marcus Brown, have resigned.  The resignations come days after the announcement the two had been suspended.  The question of “Why?” remains.  Prep writer for The Advocate, Robin Fambrough, says Ricard, a former quarterback at Tulane, had the program heading in the right direction.

Cut 11 (08) “…disappointed” 

Fambrough says the situation is a huge deal to the school’s football program.

Cut 12 (07) “…for the program.”

Fambrough says it’s important to not jump to conclusions on the nature of the investigation.

Cut 13 (10) “…there’s something out there.”

___________________________________

Two games into the season and LSU is already ranked dead last in the SEC in total offense, averaging just 316 yards a game. The Tigers are second to last in pass offense. Coach Ed Orgeron has said the offensive line needs to get better, but that’s not the only group struggling

Cut 14 (11) “…do that”

Two games into the season and LSU is already ranked dead last in the SEC in total offense, averaging just 316 yards a game. The Tigers are second to last in pass offense. Coach Ed Orgeron has said the offensive line needs to get better, but that’s not the only group struggling

Cut 15 (10) “football player”

________________________________________

The Saints are eager to put behind Sunday’s bad performance in the upset loss to Tampa Bay behind them. Linebacker Demario Davis says it was humbling to watch the tape of Bucs Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing for 417 yards on just 21 completions…

Cut 16 (10) “   get it fixed” 

Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins says the mistakes made are fixable…

Cut 17 (14)  “next Sunday” 

Cut 18 (13) “…win a game” 

Governor John Bel Edwards has plans to recommend a raise of at least a grand for public school teachers, the first substantial raise in about a decade.  The plan would also see cafeteria workers and other personel get a pay best of $500 annually.  The governor’s education policy advisor Donald Songy says the state can afford it, thanks to a strengthening economy…

Cut 8 (06) “…the additional revenue.”

Response from teachers unions has been mixed, with one of the state’s two major organizations saying 1,000 just isnt enough considering Bayou teachers a 1,850 dollars below the regional average.

An Alexandria woman faces second-degree murder in the death of her husband in front of their three children Saturday in the parking lot of a Walmart. Alexandria Police say 31-year-old Kayla Coutee shot her 30-year-old estranged husband, Thomas Coutee. Corporal Wade Bourgeois…

cut 9 (10) “…that day”

Could we see a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico this week? Don Molino has more on that…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Molino.”  

Drivers on I-12 West between Hammond and Walker got a nasty surprise today as the road was littered with nails, leading to over a dozen flats for commuters. State Police Spokesperson Trooper Bryan Lee says  it’s not too uncommon, and as such there’s a special vehicle ready to go when the nails hit the road.

Cut 13 (09) “left out”

A disorganized area of thunderstorms in the northwest Caribbean Sea is grabbing the attention of forecasters. Seth Warthen, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says the chances of development of anything major are negligible. Warthen says once the storm moves north, the risk for a major impact in Louisiana is fairly low.

Cut 5 (05)  “…into the weekend.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards has plans to recommend a raise of at least a grand for public school teachers, the first substantial raise in about a decade.  The plan would also see cafeteria workers and other personel get a pay best of $500 annually.  The governor’s education policy advisor Donald Songy says the message from Edwards to the teachers is clear.

Cut 6 (06) “…southern regional average.”

Bayou State teachers are paid 1,850 dollars less than the regional average, and nearly 10,000 dollars less than the national average.

An Alexandria woman faces second-degree murder in the death of her husband in front of their three children Saturday in the parking lot of a Walmart. Alexandria Police say 31-year-old Kayla Coutee shot her 30-year-old estranged husband, Thomas Coutee. Corporal Wade Bourgeois Says there were a lot of posts on social media questioning the second-degree murder charge. But under Louisiana law, planning a murder doesn’t result in a first-degree murder charge.

Cut 10 (11) “that works”

Drivers on I-12 West between Hammond and Walker got a nasty surprise today as the road was littered with nails, leading to over a dozen flats for commuters. Authorities aren’t sure if this was intentional, or just a case of bad luck, but either way State Police Spokesperson Trooper Bryan Lee says it sure did cause a lot trouble for quite a few drivers.

Cut 12 (09)   “those isues 

The National Hurricaen Center says the chances are growing we could see a tropical cyclone in the western Gulf of Mexico later this week. Seth Warthen, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says they are keeping an eye on a large cluster of showers and thunderstorms in the northwestern Caribbean that will move over Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula…
cut 4 (10) “…get developed”
Warthen says if we see a tropical depression or storm, a landfall in Texas seems likely.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he’ll push for public school teachers to receive a raise when lawmakers return to Baton Rouge for a regular session in April. The governor’s education policy advisor, Donald Songy, says the plan is for educators to see a pay raise of at least one-thousand dollars and cafeteria workers and other personnel to receive a five-hundred ollar boost…
cut 7 (05) “…2020 school year”
But the Louisiana Federation of Teachers say for Louisiana teachers to make the Southern Regional Average, they’ll need close to a two-thousand dollar raise.

31-year-old Kayla Coutee is facing a second-degree murder charge after police say she shot her estranged husband at a parking lot in Walmart. There were reports the two were involved in a custody battle and their three children were present when Kayla allegedly killed Thomas Coutee Junior. Alexandria Police Corporal Wade Bourgeois says under Louisiana law, planning a murder doesn’t mean first-degree murder, despite what social media posts say…
cut 10 (11) “…that works”

Will Senator John Kennedy run for governor? Well, Kennedy says he has a poll that shows he’ll be an easy winner, if he challenges Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards next year…
cut 30 (05) “…was at 37″
Kennedy is not saying when he’ll make a decision. Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry and U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham have also expressed interest in running.

With Louisiana teachers now making nearly $2k less than their regional peers, Governor Edwards’ office is working toward pay raises that would see educators hitting the southern regional average….
Cut 1 (26) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn says he doesn’t want taxpayer dollars used for a political campaign and that’s why he issued a memo that called for a ban on Nike merchandise by the city’s recreation department and booster clubs who use those facilities. Nike has launched a marketing campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick who started the national anthem protests.

31-year-old Kayla Coutee is behind bars today after she allegedly shot her estranged husband at a Walmart parking lot in Alexandria on Saturday. Alexandria Police Corporal Wade Bourgeois says Kayla Coutee was meeting her husband to exchange children that included a two-year-old child…..
cut 11 (06) “…shooting”
Kayle Coutee has been charged with second-degree murder. The victim is Thomas Coutee Junior, who worked at Central Louisiana Technical Community College.

Several motorists on I-12 between Hammond and Walker had to pull over today because of flat tires. State Police Trooper Bryan Lee says a bunch of nails punctured the tires and they are not sure where the nails came from….
cut 14 (05) “…for you”
The state department of transportation used a vehicle with a magnetic device to pick up the nails from the highway.

Governor John Bel Edwards says his office will push to fund at least a one-thousand dollar pay raise for public school teachers, when the legislature meets in April. The governor’s education policy advisor, Donald Songy, believes the state can afford it, thanks to a strengthening economy…
cut 8 (06) “…additional revenues”
Teachers unions say Louisiana educators are getting paid on average about two-thousand dollars less than their regional peers.

It was a tough Monday morning for several motorists in Livingston Parish as several vehicles traveling along I-12 had to pull over because of a flat tire. State Police Trooper Bryan Lee says a bunch of nails apparently punctured the tires…
cut 13 (09) “…left out’
Lee says they are not sure if some purposely scattered the nails along the interstate.

Could we see a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico this week? Don Molino has more on that…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Don Molino”

LSU football coach Ed Orgeron said today he plans on making some changes on his offensive line after the Tigers front five failed to protect quarterback Joe Burrow on a consistent basis in Saturday’s win over Southeastern Louisiana. Starting guard Garrett Brumfield is optimistic the unit can get it together…
cut 30 (11) “…with time”

Governor John Bel Edwards has plans to recommend a raise of at least a grand for public school teachers, the first substantial raise in about a decade.  The plan would also see cafeteria workers and other personel get a pay boost of $500 annually.  The governor’s education policy advisor Edward Songy says the message from Edwards to the teachers is clear.

Cut 6 (06) “…southern regional average.”

Songy says the extra money to fund the pay raises will likely come from a stronger economy.

Drivers on I-12 West approaching Baton Rouge got a nasty surprise today as the road was littered with nails, leading to over a dozen flats for commuters. Authorities aren’t sure if this was intentional, or just a case of bad luck, but either way State Police Spokesperson Trooper Bryan Lee says it sure did cause a lot trouble for quite a few drivers.

Cut 12, 9 seconds, those issues

I-12 West is now open to traffic.

There are concerns about LSU’s offensive line heading into Saturday’s SEC opener against Auburn. For the second straight week, the Tigers had trouble protecting quarterback Joe Burrow, who was sacked twice and completed just 10 passes in a 31-0 win over Southeastern Louisiana. Head Coach Ed Orgeron says they got a lot of work to do…

Cut 13 (10) “…there are concerns”

And the Saints D got an Ivy League Education yesterday from Harvard grad Ryan Fitzpatrick who took Cam Jordan and Co. to school to the tune of 417 yards through the air and 5 total touchdowns in the Bucs upset 48-40 win over the Black and Gold. It’s yet another year in a row New Orleans has failed to win their opening game. They went 0-2 to start the year last year.