LSU Baseball Head Coach Paul Mainieri is not happy about the team’s RPI rating of 81. The Tigers have tumbled down the NCAA’s rating index despite an 18 and 11 record. Mainieri says he’s befuddled by the extraordinarily low rating.

Cut 17 (15) “…our RPI”

LSU has a midweek game tonight as they host Nicholls at 6:30 PM at Alex Box Stadium.

Louisiana Tech is ranked 22^nd in the D-1 poll and they are at Grambling State tonight. The Bulldogs have a team RPI of 58 and they’ve won 17 of their last 21. G-S-U has won three of its last four.

In other action tonight, the Ragin Cajuns are at 13^th ranked Southern Miss, while ULM visits 5^th ranked Arkansas. The Razorbacks are 19-and-9 on the season and the Hogs are 5-4 in the SEC, same record as LSU.

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A bill that calls for a statewide referendum to legalize sports betting in Louisiana will be heard in a Louisiana senate committee today. Metairie Senator Daniel Martiny says the argument against his legislation is that it expands gambling, but it can help generate a stable revenue source for state government…

Cut 14 (12) “…dollar deficit”

The U-S Supreme Court could soon strike down a decades old federal law that has banned sports betting outside of Nevada.

LSU football has added an eighth member to its 2019 recruiting class. IMG Academy offensive lineman Charles Turner gave his verbal commitment to the Tigers coaching staff after visiting the school two weeks ago. He’s a three-star prospect, who also had offers from Florida, Michigan and Auburn. He’s the third offensive lineman in LSU’s 2019 recruiting class.

A Senate Committee will hear a gun control bill today that would raise the minimum age of purchase for firearms to 21. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Severe weather is expected across much of Louisiana as a strong cold front is expected to move through tonight. State climatologist Barry Keim says some of the strongest weather could be seen in north Louisiana…

Cut 8 (12)  “and tornadoes.”

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Several protesters marched into Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office on Monday demanding a grand jury look at the evidence from the Alton Sterling investigation. Landry announced last week two white police officers will not be criminally charged in the 2016 shooting death of a black man. But Louisiana NAACP President Michael McClanahan says the violent video of the shooting released on Friday should be reviewed by a 12-member panel to determine if criminal charges are warranted…

Cut 11 (12) “for everybody.”

Pig Guts

Louisiana is getting nearly 6 million dollars from the feds to buy new voting machines. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A suspect has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection to a weekend shooting in Natchitoches. Police spokesperson Kelly Parks says 21-year-old Jaquarious Ardison of Campti shot Jamel Haskett after an argument at a Shop Right on Saturday night

Cut 8 (06) “Keyser Ave.”

Parks says the suspects exchanged fire in the parking lot.

Baton Rouge Police investigators have decided against charging a man in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old. Sergeant L’Jean Mckneely says the teenager, Ke’irie Grayer, pointed a gun at a 25-year-old and tried to rob him, as he walked out of a convenience store

Cut 6 (10)  “justifiable shooting”

Louisianans for Prison Alternatives is actively lobbying the legislature to not only maintain the 2017 justice reforms passed but to enact even more measures to reduce the prison population by 50-percent over the next 10 years. Colleen Gielskie (gel-skie) is a spokesperson with Louisiana prison alternatives.

Cut 13 (10) “new ones”

A gun control bill will be heard in Senate Judiciary C in Louisiana today that would raise the minimum purchasing age for assault weapons to 21. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter, calls himself a gun enthusiast, but says his legislation is one step forward in curbing gun violence.

Cut 21  (12) “deranged person.” 

Carter says the legislation would level the legal playing field between assault weapons and handguns, and is not infringing on gun rights because age restrictions already exist for purchasing handguns.

But Louisiana Shooting Association Lobbyist Wade Duty says it’s not fair that 20-year-olds can serve in the military, but would be barred from purchasing assault weapons.

Cut 22 (11)  “for it”

A bill that calls for a statewide referendum to legalize sports betting in Louisiana will be heard in a senate committee today. Metairie Senator Daniel Martiny says the argument against his legislation is that it expands gambling, but it can help generate a stable revenue source for state government…

Cut 23 (12) “dollar deficit.”

The U-S Supreme Court could soon strike down a decades old federal law that has banned sports betting outside of Nevada.

ouisianans for Prison Alternatives is actively lobbying the legislature to not only maintain the 2017 justice reforms passed but to enact even more measures to reduce the prison population by 50-percent over the next 10 years. Colleen Gielskie (gel-skie) is a spokesperson with Louisiana prison alternatives.

Cut 13 (10) “new ones”

Louisiana will receive 5.8 million dollars from the federal Election Assistance Commission to purchase thousands of new voting machines as part of a proposed 50 to 60 million dollar plan to overhaul the state’s aging voting equipment. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says we have a looming crisis with our decade old voting booths.

Cut 10 (12) “precarious position.”

Bids will begin for the new machines May 1^st.

Louisianans for Prison Alternatives is actively lobbying the legislature to not only maintain the 2017 justice reforms passed but to enact even more measures to reduce the prison population by 50-percent over the next 10 years. Colleen Gielskie (gel-skie) is looking to have the three strike and mandatory minimum sentencing laws changed.

Cut 14 (11)   “offenses”

Baton Rouge Police investigators have decided against charging a man in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old. Sergeant L’Jean Mckneely says the teenager, Ke’irie Grayer, pointed a gun at a 25-year-old and tried to rob him, as he walked out of a convenience store. Mckneely says they are turning over their evidence to the District Attorney’s office, leaving open the possibility that the D-A could purse charges…

Cut 7 (11)  “entire incident”

A suspect involved in a reported domestic disturbance in New Llano (New Lan-no) was shot dead by a Vernon Parish Sheriff’s deputy on Easter Sunday. Sheriff Sam Craft says 60-year-old Bobby Hinton tried to shoot the unidentified sheriff’s deputy moments after he arrived on the scene…

Cut 3 (11) “left forearm.”

Louisiana stands to receive nearly six million dollars from the federal government that will go towards the purchase of 10-thousand early and election day voting machines.
cut 11 (10) “…out there”
Secretary of State Tom Schedler says it will cost between 50 to 60 million dollars to overhaul the state’s aging voting system and they’ll begin accepting bids in May.

Louisianans for Prison Alternatives is actively lobbying the legislature to not only maintain the 2017 criminal justice reforms, but to enact even more measures to reduce the prison population by 50-percent over the next 10 years. Spokesperson Colleen Gielskie (gel-skie)…
Cut 13 (10) “new ones”
Gielskie says the so-called three strike law and high mandatory-minimum sentences are largely to blame for such long prison sentences.

Baton Rouge Police investigators have decided against charging a man in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old. Sergeant L’Jean Mckneely says the teenager, Ke’irie Grayer, pointed a gun at a 25-year-old and tried to rob him, as he walked out of a conveinence store…
cut 6 (10) “…justifiable shooting”
Mckneely says they are turning over their evidence to the District Attorney’s office, leaving open the posisibility the D-A could purse charges.

A Vernon Parish sheriff’s deputy is recovering today after he was involved in a fatal shooting when he responded to a domestic distrubance call in New Llano. Sheriff Sam Craft says 60-year-old Bobby Hinton fired at his officer as soon he got out of his patrol car. Craft says the deput fired his weapon, killing Hinton….
cut 5 (06) “…fired immediately”
The female who called in the incident was not injured,

Prosecutors say they will not seek the death penalty against a man accused in the alleged killing of an East Feliciana Parish man in October. DA Sam D’Aquilla (Duh-quill-a) says he has informed Ryan Sharpe’s defense attorney he will not seek the death penalty, even though Sharpe is charged with first-degree murder of Brad DeFranceschi after allegedly gunning him down in front of his home. Sharpe also is facing two counts of second-degree murder and one attempted first degree charge in East Baton Rouge Parish.

A suspect has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection to a weekend shooting in Natchitoches. Police spokesperson Kelly Parks says 21-year-old Jaquarious Ardison of Campti shot Jamel Haskett after an argument at a Shop Right on Saturday night. Haskett was shot multiple times.

Cut 9 (08) “later died.”

The state took steps to reduce Louisiana’s massive prison population last year and Jim Shannon reports there’s legislation in this session to lower the jail count even more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jim Shannon”

Thousands of new voting machines will be purchased for the state with five-point-eight-million-dollars in Federal Election assistance monies. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says even though the voting machines here was not comprised in the 2016 election, the new equipment is needed to keep hackers out…

Cut 12 (10)   “is open”

Louisiana will receive 5.8 million dollars from the federal Election Assistance Commission to purchase thousands of new voting machines as part of a proposed 50 to 60 million dollar plan to overhaul the state’s aging voting equipment. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says the new machines will function much like the older ones, but feature newer, crisper screens and be easy to set up.

Cut 11 (10) “out there”

Baton Rouge Police investigators have decided against charging a man in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old. Sergeant L’Jean Mckneely says the teenager, Ke’irie Grayer, pointed a gun at a 25-year-old and tried to rob him, as he walked out of a convenience store. Mckneely says they are turning over their evidence to the District Attorney’s office,

Cut 7 (11)  “entire incident”

An 11-year-old died this morning while driving a vehicle at high speeds on LA 802. State Police responded the crash at 4:15am, where they discovered Clark Davis, the driver, had slammed into a tree just off the road. Davis was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

A bill by Representative Pat Smith that would prevent schools from taking school lunches away from students with unpaid lunch debt will be heard on the House floor this week. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Louisiana will receive 5.8 million dollars from the federal Election Assistance Commission to purchase thousands of new voting machines as part of a proposed 50 to 60 million dollar project to overhaul the state’s aging voting equipment. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says we have a looming crisis with our decade old voting booths.
Cut 10 (12) “precarious position.”
The state will begin accepting bids for new voting machines on May 1st.

There were two officer-involved shootings in Louisiana on Easter Sunday. One in Vernon and another in St. Tamany Parish. In both cases a deputy was shot, but is expected to survive, while a suspect was fatally shot. The incident in St. Tammany involved in a car burglary suspect who led authrorities on a pursuit.

The parents of Maxwell Gruver, who died last year in an alleged hazing incident at LSU, are expected back at the state capitol to show support for a bill that would stiffen criminal penalties for those found guilty of hazing. The “Max Gruver Act” is set to be heard today on the House floor.

A suspect has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection to a weekend shooting in Natchitoches. Police spokesperson Kelly Parks says 21-year-old Jaquarious Ardison of Campti shot Jamel Haskett after an argument at a Shop Right at 11PM Saturday night..
cut 8 (06) “….Keyser Avenue”
Haskett died at a local hospital, while Ardison turned himself in on Easter Sunday.

A suspect involved in a reported domestic disturbance in New Llano (New Lan-no) was shot dead by a Vernon Parish Sheriff’s deputy on Easter Sunday. Sheriff Sam Craft says 60-year-old Bobby Hinton was killed after trying to shoot at the deputy. After calling for backup and medical personnel, Craft says both the deputy and Hinton were transported to a hospital…

Cut 4 (13) “followup surgery.”

Hinton was declared dead at the hospital.

The parents of Maxwell Gruver, who died last year in an alleged hazing incident at LSU, are expected back at the state capitol to show support for a bill that would stiffen criminal penalties for those found guilty of hazing. Max’s mom Rae Anne says the family is still struggling with the loss of their 18-year-old son who was found dead with a blood alcohol content of .495.

Cut 16 (09) “our lives”

The bill, entitled the Max Gruver Act is sponsored by Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry.

Legislation that would prevent schools from taking lunches away from students with unpaid school debts is moving to the House floor. But there are some concerns about Representative Pat Smith’s bill being an unfunded mandate for school districts requiring them to feed hungry children without guarantee of repayment. Louisiana School Board Association Executive Director Scott Richard…

Cut 10 (10) “is free”

The bill was passed 7-4 and has a floor hearing set for Wednesday.

Former LSU football coach Les Miles will appear in a film inspired about the 1986 Challenger explosion called Angry Men. Patrick Mulhearn a Senior Director at Louisiana Economic Development says he’s looking forward to coach’s portrayal of a NASA chief.

Cut 13 (07)  “of NASA”