The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants LSU to stop using live tigers as mascots once Mike VI dies. Mike was diagnosed with terminal cancer this week. Lewis Crary with PETA, says locking up another tiger is not the way to promote team spirit…:
CUT 14 (11) “human entertainment”
LSU says right now the focus is on Mike’s treatment.

As more changes are made to TOPS in the legislature, a recent study finds the scholarship program should be need based and not merit based to save the state money and not leave lower income students out. Tulane University Cowen Institute Policy director Vincent Rossmeier…:
CUT 6 (10) “prosperity”
He says even raising the GPA requirement from 2.5 to 2.7 would leave 22 percent of Louisiana students with no way to pay for college.

New Orleans lost out to Atlanta, who is building a new stadium, to host Super Bowl 53 in 2019, and some are asking if it’s time for New Orleans to get a new stadium. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards will travel to Monroe today for his next stop on the statewide Medicaid expansion tour. He will be joined by Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee in a tour of Conway Hospital.

LSU fans are hailing the rally possum again today following the Tigers miracle come from behind 5-4 victory over Tennessee in the SEC Tournament Tuesday. LSU advances to play Florida today.

A recent study out of Tulane finds the state would benefit from making TOPS needs based instead of merit based. The popular scholarship program is facing changes including cuts in light of Louisiana’s budget problems, and Tulane Cowen Institute Policy director Vincent Rossmeier says if the academic conditions are raised, many college worthy students won’t get TOPS…:
CUT 5 (09) “statewide”
He says education is the main vehicle to long term economic prosperity.

A woman in Baton Rouge gave up her infant anonymously to a fire station under the state’s Safe Haven law, saying she couldn’t take care of the baby. Rhenda Hodnett with DCFS says hospitals, police stations, and child advocacy centers are examples of locations where a child can be handed over…:
Cut 8 (06) “Safe Haven law”
She says the child is in good health.

On the heels of Mike the Tiger’s recent cancer diagnosis, PETA sent a letter to LSU calling for them to end the live mascot program. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The floor is laid and the stage is going up in Tiger Stadium ahead of this weekend’s big Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge. But ticket sales are reportedly struggling for the three-day country music festival. Seats are still available at Ticketmaster, and the secondary ticket market has tickets for sale at lower than face value. Headliners this year include Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Jason Aldean.

A report from Tulane says if the legislature is forced to reduce state funding for TOPS, they hope students most in need of financial assistance are protected first. Policy director of the Cowen Institute Vincent Rossmeier says the program has increasingly awarded scholarships to students who are coming from families who could otherwise afford college…:
cut 4 (08) “or more”
He says they favor need-based changes if cuts are made to the program.

PETA wants LSU to stop using live tigers as mascots. Mike VI was diagnosed with a rare form of terminal cancer this week, and the organization says they don’t want to see LSU lock up another tiger. Lewis Crary with PETA says wild animals are not meant to live in captivity on a college campus…:
Cut 13 (10) “each year”
LSU says they are focusing on Mike’s treatment right now.

The state Department of Children and Family Services says a Baton Rouge mother took the appropriate steps when she left her newborn baby at a Safe Haven fire station, instead of abandoning the child. Rhenda Hodnett with DCFS says the infant was placed in the arms of a fireman and, under the Safe Haven law, no questions are asked…:
CUT 7 (09) “a child”
Hodnett says newborns up to 60 days old can be relinquished in the hands of an employee at an emergency care facility.

New Orleans lost out to Atlanta to host the Super Bowl in 2019. The ATL will have a new stadium by then and many say that’s what Louisiana needs. But former Governor Kathleen Blanco, who sits on the board that oversees the Superdome, believes New Orleans will get at least one more Super Bowl in the venue…:
CUT 12 (09) “right now”
It would have been the 11th Super Bowl for New Orleans.

LSU once again had the Rally Possum there in spirit after a come-from-behind win over Tennessee in an elimination game at the SEC Tournament. The Tigers were down 4-0 at one point, but the team’s frustration in the error-filled contest dissipated following a game-tying homer by Greg Deichmann in the bottom of the 9th, then Kramer Robertson’s bases loaded walk-off RBI single to clinch the win. LSU plays Florida today in Hoover in a double elimination game.

New Orleans lost a second straight bid to host a Super Bowl, as Atlanta ended up getting the 2019 championship game. Former-governor Kathleen Blanco, who sits on the board which oversees the Dome, is confident the Big Easy will be be the site of another Super Bowl. She doesn’t think a new stadium is needed at this time…:
CUT 12 (07) “right now”
It would have been the 11th Super Bowl for New Orleans.

In light of LSU’s Mike the Tiger’s recent cancer diagnosis, PETA sent a letter to the university calling for them to end the live mascot program. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

In the ACC tournament, Tulane kicked things off with a 4-3 win in the first round over UCF. The Green Wave will play Houston Thursday.

Today in the Southland, Southeastern takes on UNO in the first round of the conference tournament. McNeese will take on Northwestern State.

Louisiana Tech and Rice will meet today in the Conference USA Baseball Tournament.

The top-seeded Ragin Cajuns will face Arkansas State in the Sun Belt.

A report out of Tulane University says it would be more beneficial to state if TOPS was needs based instead of merit based. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

PETA has sent a letter to LSU calling for them to end the live mascot program once Mike VI, who has cancer, passes away. The school issued a statement saying this is not the time to discuss such things. Mike’s attending vet Dr. David Baker says they’re just worried about Mike’s well being…:
Cut 15 (04) “treatment plan”

After New Orleans finished second to Atlanta to host the Super Bowl in 2019, some are wondering if it’s time for a new stadium. This is the second straight time the Superdome has lost to a city that was in the process of building a state-of-the art venue. Former-governor Kathleen Blanco, who sits on the board which oversees the Dome, says a new site in Louisiana is not needed at this time…:
Cut 10 (07) “that discussion”
Blanco remains optimistic that the Mercedes Benz Superdome will be able to host at least one more Super Bowl.

The Rally Possum strikes again for the LSU baseball team. The No. 7 Tigers came back from a 4-0 deficit to eliminate Tennessee from the SEC Tournament following a 5-4 win. LSU will play Florida tonight in Hoover in a double-elimination contest.

A House-approved bill that would have punished so called “sanctuary cities” for implementing policies that are deemed to protect illegal immigrants, failed to get enough votes to pass out of a Senate committee. The Louisiana Sheriffs Association opposed the bill and Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand was vocal in his dislike…
cut 8 (08) “…(08) “…unsafe”
Normand added that it’s the federal government’s job to combat illegal immigration. The proposal could have hurt New Orleans and Lafayette’s ability to borrow money for construction projects.

A House-committee voted against a proposed program that would allow law enforcement agencies to automatically scan motorists license plates. Supporters say the program would be used to catch car thieves and uninsured motorists, but opponents raised concerns about a private vendor making a nice profit from the fine money.

The Pastor Protection Act, which gives legal protections for clergy members who refuse to marry a same sex couple, failed to get enough votes to pass out of a Senate committee. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…reporting”

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted for legislation that would ban abortions in cases where the fetus is determined to have a genetic abnormality. The House-approved measure passed on a three to one vote. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor raised concerns the proposed law is unconstitutional, but despite his objection, the panel advanced the measure to the full senate.

On a 3-2 vote, a Senate committee killed The Pastor Protection Act, which would have provided protection for religious organizations if they refuse to perform a same sex marriage. Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says this bill is NOT as expansive as some religious freedom bills passed in other states.

CUT 3 (11)  “its scope”

But New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says pastors and clergy members are already protected under the Religious Freedom Protection Act. He says he doesn’t see a need for this bill.

CUT 4 (10)  “a problem”

New Orleans was not picked to host the Super Bowl in 2019. Super Bowl 53 will be held in Atlanta at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

A House-approved bill that would punish so-called sanctuary cities by making it difficult for them to borrow money for construction projects was defeated in a Senate committee. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand spoke in opposition, saying this legislation is not needed and makes no sense…

CUT 9 (12) “by business”

The legislation was designed to force New Orleans, Lafayette and any other city to follow federal immigration laws.

PETA has issued a statement in response to LSU’s Mike the Tiger’s cancer diagnosis. PETA sent a letter to the university, calling for them to end their live mascot program all together, when Mike VI eventually succumbs to his terminal diagnosis. The animal rights activists say large breed cats are not meant to live in captivity.

Atlanta, not New Orleans will host Super Bowl 53 in 2019. The Big Easy made a proposal to NFL owners who are meeting in Charlotte today, but the vote went Atlanta’s way. Some considered New Orleans a long shot, because Atlanta is in the process of building a new stadium.

House-approved legislation that sought to penalize so called “sanctuary cities” died in a Senate committee today. The legislation was designed to force New Orleans and Lafayette to follow federal immigration laws. New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison spoke out against the bill..
cut 7 (10) “…sanctuary city”
Attorney General Jeff Landry supported the legislation as he would have authority to determine which municipalities should be defined as sanctuary cities.

A Senate committee voted down the “Pastor Protection Act” which would have provided legal protections for clergy who refuse to perform a same sex marriage ceremony. Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson tried to argue that his legislation is necessary, because of last year’s US Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage…
cut 5 (08) “…thiese issues”
But democratic senators on the committee argued the legislation is not needed and the Act is actually putting discrimination into the law.

Fifth District US Representative Ralph Abraham says he’s introduced legislation that attempts to stop President Obama’s order that calls on public schools to let transgender students use the bathroom consistent with their gender identity. Abraham says there’s support for his legislation…
cut 15 (09) “…to it”
Abraham’s bill clarifies in federal law that the term “sex” refers to a person’s biological sex, not their gender identity.

Legislation to withhold funding for construction projects in cities that don’t enforce federal immigration laws died in a Senate committee. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 2 (27) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted for legislation that would ban abortions in cases where the fetus is determined to have a genetic abnormality. The House-approved measure passed on a three to one vote. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor raised concerns the proposed law is unconstitutional.

5th District Representative Ralph Abraham introduces legislation that seeks to combat what he says is an executive overreach on the issue of transgender bathrooms in public schools. President Obama issued a decree that public schools must let transgender students use the bathroom consistent with their gender identity, or risk losing federal funding. Abraham says the President can’t threaten to withhold money that is appropriated by Congress….
cut 13 (09) “…the president”
Abraham’s believes his legislation has enough support in Congress to pass.

The ribbon was cut on the new Curtis Coleman Memorial Bridge that connects Alexandria with Pineville over the Red River. Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett…
cut 10 (10) “..entire region”
Mallett says the new bridge cost 83-million dollars.

The Pastor Protection Act, which would allow clergy members to refuse to marry a same sex couple, failed to get enough votes to pass the Senate Judiciary Committee. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

We’ll find out today if New Orleans will host a Super Bowl in 2019. A vote by the league’s owners, who are meeting in Charlotte, is expected after the various cities make their pitches. Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Miami are New Orleans’ main competition for Super Bowl 53.

The sanctuary cities legislation, which would have punished cities for not adopting federal immigration laws, did not get out of a Senate committee today. Supporters this law would help keep cities safe from illegal immigrants. A fired up Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says he’s offended by this bill…:
CUT 8 (08) “unsafe”
He says the push is not necessary.

A head-on crash in East Feliciana Parish claimed the lives of 2 Mississippi men who were not buckled up. State Police say around midnight 39-year-old Julius Packnett was traveling south on LA 19 when, for unknown reasons, crossed the center line and collided into 39-year-old Adam McKey’s vehicle. Both drivers were not restrained and they both sustained fatal injuries.