An autopsy is scheduled for today on the body of an LSU student who died from an apparent hazing incident involving the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Maxwell Gruver died Thursday at a Baton Rouge Hospital. LSU President F. King Alexander says police suspect alcohol was a factor.

House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says get ready to hear scare tactics coming from the governor’s office. In a video posted to his Facebook page, the Republican from Metairie says he expects Governor Edwards to start threatening cuts to important programs like TOPS
Cut 13 (12) “in Louisiana”
The governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Richard Carbo, says Henry is intent on continuing partisan gridlock in the House. Carbo says the governor is working with the House Speaker to come up with a bipartisan plan that doesn’t raise new revenue.

The LSU AgCenter is studying to see if crawfish can be used for more than its tail meat. Researcher Subramaniam (Sue-bruh-muniam) Sathivel (Sat-ee-vawl) says an antioxidant from the crustacean could help with Alzheimer’s disease….
cut 5 (11) “….beta-carotene”
Sthivel says this antioxidant could also help with obesity related to stress and diabetes.

Several Louisiana high school football teams are participating in “Touchdowns against Cancer.” It’s a three week campaign that allows fans to pledge a donation for every touchdown scored by their team and the proceeds go to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital. Ascension Episcopal Head Coach Michael Desormeaux says this gives them just another reason they ahve to score as many touchdowns as possible…
cut 8 (06) “…do over there”

LSU System President F. King Alexander has suspended Greek events on campus after an 18-year-old student died from a possible hazing incident. Alexander says Max Gruver of Roswell, Georgia’s life was cut short and it didn’t need to happen….
cut 12 (09) “….period”
Gruver was pronounced dead at a local hospital and authorities believe alcohol led to his death.

Governor Edwards has been meeting with business leaders discussing the looming fiscal cliff, the loss of one-billion dollars in temporary taxes. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says the governor should ask executives how the state can help their business grow, instead of what taxes they can afford…
cut 14 (08) “…more money”
A spokesperson for the governor says Edwards is trying to come up with a bipartisan plan that doesn’t raise new revenue.

State Police have arrested an Alexandria Police officer for allegedly having sex with at least one woman while on-duty and distributing illegal drugs. Forty-two-year-old Kenneth Thomas of Deville was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center.

Several Louisiana high school football teams are participating in “Touchdowns Against Cancer” which will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The campaign lets fans pledge a donation for every touchdown scored over the next three weeks. Ascension Episcopal in Lafayette is participating, head coach Matthew Desormeaux hopes more schools participate next year….
cut 9 (07) “…jumping on”

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith says Fire Chief Steve Krentel has been cleared in the murder of his wife Nanette, who was found in burned home with a gunshot wound to the head in July.  Smith says Steve Krentel was their initial primary person of interest…

Cut 3 (09) “from the beginning”

Sheriff Smith says they worked this case as a homicide since day one and will continue to do so.

An arrest has been made in the murder of a St. Martin Parish woman who was eight months pregnant. Major Ginny Higgins says authorities arrested 32-year-old Toni Trimble Thomas and she is charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of first degree feticide….:

Cut 6 (06) “continuing”

The suspect’s brother was the boyfriend of the victim, 24-year-old Ashley Nicole Meche.

Louisiana Community and Technical College System president Monty Sullivan would like the state to have a scholarship program that would benefit adults who want to attend one of their two-year campuses….

            Cut 10 (10) “…of education”

Sullivan calls it a wise investment and can help a mother of two who makes eight dollars an hour receive the training that can lead to an 18-dollar an hour job.

In other education news..

Neville High School in Monroe has been named the most beautiful public high school in Louisiana by Architectural Digest. Dana Jefferson, Executive Director of the school’s Alumni Association, says the school has undergone many renovations to preserve the 86-year-old building…:

CUT 12 (06) “to come”

Jefferson says Neville is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and that’s something the students and staff are really proud of.

A woman whose body was found in the charred remains of her burned out home in Julywas the wife of Fire Chief Steve Krentel.  However, the St. Tammany Corner officially ruled Nanette Krentel’s death as a homicide by a gunshot wound.  Sheriff Randy Smith does not dispute the ruling, but is concerned about the timing of the announcement, because there’s more to determine in this case…

Cut 4  (11) “from the scene”

Sheriff Smith says that Fire Chief Krentel has been cleared in the murder investigation.

An arrest has been made in the murder of a St. Martin Parish woman who was eight months pregnant. Major Ginny Higgins says this is very unfortunate as the life of a baby and mother were lost.

Cut 8 (10) “very sad”

32-year-old Toni Trimble Thomas was charged with the stabbing death of Ashely Nicole Meche and her baby.

A young man is dead and LSU is investigating the circumstances at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house.  East Baton Rouge Coroner Beau Clark says 18 year old Maxwell Gruver passed away at a hospital after he was transported there from campus. A school spokesperson says they are aware of the incident and will report more information when it becomes available.

TOPS for grown ups? The leader of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System likes the idea. Emelie Gunn has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

St Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith says a fire chief has been cleared of his wife’s death.  Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1  (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Two men died this morning after a head-on collision between a car and an 18 wheeler truck on Louisiana highway 124 near the Winn and LaSalle Parish line.  The fatal crash took the lives of 22 year old Logan Franklin from Olla and 26 year old David Lincecum of Grayson. State Police both victims were not wearing a seat belt.

A suspect is under arrest in the stabbing of Ashley Nicole Meche, which led to her death and the death of her unborn child.  St. Martin Parish Sheriff charged Toni Trimble Thomas with first degree murder and first degree feticide.  Major Ginny Higgins says at one point Thomas’ brother Mark Timble was questioned but then released.  He was the boyfriend of the victim.

Cut 7    (07) “…what occurred.”

Authorities are still investigating possible motives.

Architectural Digest has honored one public high school from all 50 states as the most beautiful high school in their respective state.  The magazine’s choice in Louisiana is Neville High School in Monroe.  Executive Director of the school’s Alumni Association (DAN-UH) Dana Jefferson says it’s a great honor

Cut 14    (10)  “…to this historic school.”

St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith has cleared a fire chief in his wife’s death. Smith says Steven Krentel did not murder his wife Nanette, who was found in her burned out home in July. The coroner has ruled it a homicide and Smith says he agrees with that conclusion and they are seeking justice for the family….
cut 5 (12) “….our exhausted”

The general election for State Treasurer is a month away. Three Republican candidates are raising money. There’s also a Democrat and Libertarian on the ballot. Publisher of La-politics-dot-com, Jeremy Alford, says even though it’s a statewide race, the candidates have not raised a lot of money, so they’ll have to be creative…:
Cut 15 (09) “name recognition”
Early Voting begins September 30th.

The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Monty Sullivan, would like to see the state establish a TOPS scholarship program for grown ups. Sullivan says it would be a wise investment, if the state provided financial assistance for a working mother of two who is only making eight bucks an hour, but with education and training can make 18-dollars an hour…
cut 11 (09) “….their family”
The state currently spends around 300-million dollars on TOPS.

Neville High School in Monroe has been named the most beautiful public high school in Louisiana by Architercutral Digest. Dana Jefferson, executive director of the school’s alumni association, says there is a lot of charm attached to the 86-year-old building…
cut 13 (10) “….convenient places”
Neville is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

TOPS for grown ups? The leader of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System likes the idea. Emelie Gunn has the story…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Governor John Bel Edwards is in Shreveport today for meetings with local elected officials and business leaders. The governor has held similar meetings around the state lately to discuss the state’s challenging budget situation, as Louisiana is facing a one-billion dollar deficit, because temporary taxes are set to expire in July.

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith says Fire Chief Steve Krentel has been cleared in the murder of his wife Nanette who was found dead in a fire in July. The Corner officially ruled Nanette Krentel’s death as a homicide. Smith does not dispute the ruling, but he is concerned about the timing of the announcement, because there’s more to determine in this case…:
Cut 4 (11) “from the scene”
Smith says Steve Krentel was their initial primary person of interest, but he has been cleared.

Neville High School in Monroe has been named the most beautiful public high school in Louisiana by Architectural Digest. Dana Jefferson, Executive Director of the school’s Alumni Association, says the school has undergone many renovations to preserve the 86-year-old building…:
CUT 12 (06) “to come”
Architectural Digest recently chose one public high school from all 50 states.

St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith says a fire chief has been cleared his wife’s death. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System wants the state to pursue a scholarship program for adults so they can attend two year schools. Monty Sullivan likes the idea of a TOPS for grown folks.:
Cut 9 (12) “their families”

An arrest has been made in the murder of a St. Martin Parish woman who was eight months pregnant. Major Ginny Higgins says authorities arrested 32-year-old Toni Trimble Thomas and she is charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of first degree feticide. She says this is very unfortunate as the life of a baby and mother were lost…:
Cut 8 (10) “very sad”
A motive in the case has yet to be established.

Thibodaux Police arrest a 19-year-old on first offense DWI after she registered a .181% blood alcohol content. They say Amy Jernigan of Houma was released on a summons.

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith says Fire Chief Steve Krentel has been cleared in the murder of his wife Nanette, who was found in a burned home with a gunshot wound to the head in July. Smith says Steve Krentel was their initial primary person of interest…:
Cut 3 (09) “from the beginning”
The St. Tammany Corner officially ruled Nanette Krentel’s death as a homicide.

An arrest has been made in the murder of a St. Martin Parish woman who was eight months pregnant. Major Ginny Higgins says authorities arrested 32-year-old Toni Trimble Thomas and she is charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of first degree feticide….:
Cut 6 (06) “continuing”
The suspect’s brother was the boyfriend of the victim, 24-year-old Ashley Nicole Meche. Investigators believe the boyfriend had nothing to do with this.

The general election for State Treasurer is a month away. Three Republican candidates are raising money. There’s also a Democrat and Libertarian on the ballot. Publisher of La-politics-dot-com, Jeremy Alford, says even though it’s a statewide race, the candidates have not raised a lot of money, so they’ll have to be creative…:
Cut 15 (09) “name recognition”
Early Voting begins September 30th.

The principal of a Baton Rouge charter school is accused of punishing a 5-year-old by locking her in a closet for punishment. Shafeeq Syid Shamsid-Deen, is listed as the principal of Laurel Oaks Charter School. He is wanted on counts of cruelty to a juvenile and false imprisonment, but Baton Rouge Police say he has yet to turn himself in and had not been booked. The school’s board has reportedly placed the principal on leave pending the results of its own investigation.

Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo says the first LaSTEM Advisory Council meeting was successful in discussing how to increase the amount of students who will succeed in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. Rallo says if we don’t engage, Louisiana will not catch up with neighboring states when it comes to STEM jobs…:
Cut 10 (10) “meet that”

For the second straight year, Area Development Magazine has ranked Louisiana fifth in their annual Top States for Doing Business Survey. State economic development secretary Don Pierson says one reason for the high ranking is the state’s new economic development fund, which was created thanks to a large donation from Cleco….
cut 9 (09) “…looking for”

One month from today is the general election for the State Treasurer’s Race. Jeff Palermo reports the candidates are becoming more active..
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards is in Shreveport today for meetings with local elected officials and business leaders. The governor has held similar meetings around the state lately to discuss the state’s challenging budget situation, as Louisiana is facing a one-billion dollar deficit, because temporary taxes are set to expire in July.