A former tight end on LSU’s 2003 national championship team has been sentenced to five decades in prison for his involvement in a 2011 truck stop casino shooting in Port Allen. 32-year-old Demetri Robinson pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted second degree murder. West Baton Rouge Parish Prosecutor Tony Clayton says Robinson received the maximum sentence…

cut 6 (07) “what he did”

Robinson was sentenced to 50 years in prison on each count, but each count was set to be served concurrently.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has charged a man with the illegal killing of a Louisiana Black Bear while hog hunting in St. Mary Parish. LDWF spokesman Adam Eick says it happened last Saturday when 52-year-old Richard Picard Jr. of New Iberia was out hunting with a group of friends on private land when their dogs starting chasing the bear…

cut 10 (08) “with a buck shot”

Picard faces more than $10,000 in fines and restitution and 120 days in jail.

It looks like a nice start to the weekend weather-wise in Louisiana, but, unfortunately, it is not expected to last. Michelle Southern has more…

cut 1 (28) “reporting”

It has been a wild weather week in Louisiana and sadly we’re only going to get a couple of days of sunshine before it starts raining again. It’s nice but cold today and tomorrow and Andy Tingler with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says much of the state can expect gray skies and light rain for much of the week starting Sunday evening…:
CUT 4 (08) “or three inches”
He also says temps next week will remain a little below average.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says a man is charged with the illegal killing of a Louisiana Black Bear while he was hog hunting in St. Mary Parish. LDWF spokesman Adam Eick says 52-year-old Richard Picard Jr. accidentally shot the animal thinking it was a feral hog…:
CUT 9 (07) “12 gauge shot gun”
Picard has to pay a $10,000 civil restitution.

A man who played football for LSU including on the 2003 national championship team has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of attempted second-degree murder. In September 2011 prosecutors say 32-year-old Demetri Robinson shot a cashier and fired a two other employees when he was asked to leave a Port Allen truck stop. The 50-year sentence was handed down on Thursday.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education rejects a proposal to waive penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking the Common Core exam on a 7-to-4 vote. Superintendent of Education John White says let’s wait and see what happens March 16th to the 20th when students take the standardized test…:
cut 14 (08) “the situation”
Before the vote, BESE members heard from frustrated parents and educators who oppose Common Core and say their child will opt-out.

After waking up to cold temperatures this morning, it appears things will brighten up heading into the weekend. Baton Rouge set a record low this morning of 26 degrees and record lows were tied in New Orleans and Shreveport. Andy Tingler, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says the weekend will start with sunny skies and warmer temps…:
CUT 3 (08) “of next week”
He says some areas of the state could pick up two to three inches of rainfall next week.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education rejects a proposal to waive penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking the Common Core exam. In a 7-to-4 vote, BESE agreed with Superintendent of Education John White, who says let’s wait and see how many opt outs there are first…
cut 13 (09) “somewhere else”
A zero score will be given for each student who doesn’t take the test, which critics say is not fair to the school.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reports a man is charged with the illegal killing of a Black Bear while he was hog hunting in St. Mary Parish. They say 52-year-old Richard Picard Jr was hunting with a group of friends when he fired a 350 pound Louisiana Black Bear with a 12 gauge shotgun. The crime brings a $900 to a $950 find and up to 120 days in jail.

“Marsh Madness” gets ramped up today in Lake Charles as three girls’ state championship basketball teams will be crowned tonight. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

BESE votes against a proposal that would have waived penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking Common Core exams. Scott Carwile has more…

cut 3 (31) “reporting”

State Police say an early morning single vehicle crash in St. Tammany Parish has left a Folsom man dead. They say for unknown reasons, 27-year old Lloyd Giddens lost control of his vehicle, exited the roadway, and struck two large trees. Giddens received life threatening injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. Speed and impairment are suspected factors in the crash. The investigation is ongoing.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office says they are pleased to announce that after 34 years “Bossier Doe” has been identified as 17-year-old Carol Ann Cole of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Sgt. Dave Faulk says someone recognized the composite on “Bossier Doe’s” Facebook page as looking familiar to a picture of a woman missing from Michigan on a Craigslist ad..

cut 11 (08) “lining up”

Faulk says Cole was stabbed to death and this is now an open homicide investigation.

Yesterday was brutally cold, but as things warm up today there’s hope that spring is just around the corner. Fred Zeigler with the National Weather Service in Slidell says, looking at the long range forecast, we can expect temperatures in the 50s and 60s the next couple of days, but get ready for some gloomy rain to return on Sunday…

cut 9 (12) “rain chances”

Zeigler says today it’s still cool, but it is dry and nice outside.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education rejects a proposal to waive penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking the Common Core exam on a 7-to-4 vote. Superintendent of Education John White says let’s wait and see what happens March 16th to the 20th when students take the standardized test…

cut 14 (08) “the situation”

Before the vote, BESE members heard from frustrated parents and educators who are upset over the new academic standards and the tests tied to them. Bossier Parish school board member Bill Lott complained to BESE that he’s for higher standards but Common Core teaches children liberal messages…

cut 16 (10) “grand children”

A zero score will be given for each student who doesn’t take the test, which could lower a school’s performance score. Critics say that’s unfair to the school and the child.

Louisiana College in Pineville has named Dr. Rick Brewer as its new president. Brewer will take office April 7th, leaving his role as Vice President of Student Affairs and Athletics at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina. Brewer, who was born in New Orleans, replaces interim president Dr. Argile Smith.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office says the woman “Bossier Doe,” who was found murdered in January 1981, has finally been identified. Michelle Southern reports.

cut 2 (31) “reporting”

In a 7-4 vote, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has turned down a proposal to waive penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking the Common Core exam. Before the vote, BESE members heard from frustrated parents and educators who are upset over the new academic standards. This parent didn’t hide her feelings…

cut 15 (07) “you’re delusional”

BESE sided with Education Superintendent John White, who says let’s wait and see how many opt outs there are first before making considerations.

Yesterday was a brutally cold day and a freeze warning remains in effect for portions of south Louisiana this morning. Fred Zeigler with the National Weather Service in Slidell says while it’s not unusual for it to be cold in March, the dramatic difference from 70s and 80s one day to 30s and 40s the next is not the norm…

cut 8 (08) “the deep south”

He says we can expect temperatures in the 50s and 60s the next couple of days.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office says they are pleased to announce that after 34 years “Bossier Doe” now has an identity. Sgt. Dave Faulk says in January 1981 hunters found a partially decomposed body of an unknown white female who had been murdered and left in the woods. He says all these years they didn’t know who she was or where she came from…

cut 10 (11) “all this together”

DNA testing identified “Bossier Doe” as 17-year-old Carol Ann Cole of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

“Marsh Madness” gets ramped up today in Lake Charles as girls’ state basketball champions will be crowned this weekend and the boys’ Top 28 tournament will begin there next week. Today’s state championship games will be highlighted by the Class 3-A title game between Mansfield and Baton Rouge’s University High. Sales Director of the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Eric Zartler says they’re excited about tonight’s championship clash…

cut 5 (05) “that match-up”

This is the second year Lake Charles has hosted both the boys’ and girls’ state basketball tournaments.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education rejects a proposal to waive penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking the Common Core exam. In a 7-to-4 vote, BESE agreed with Superintendent of Education John White, who says let’s wait and see how many opt outs there are first…

cut 13 (09) “somewhere else”

A zero score will be given for each student who doesn’t take the test, which could lower a school’s performance score. Critics say that’s not fair to the school or the child.

“Marsh Madness” ramps up today in Lake Charles as three girls’ state championship basketball teams will be crowned tonight, four more tomorrow and the boys’ Top 28 tournament begins there next week. Sales Director of the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Eric Zartler, says these events are great for the local economy…

cut 4 (06) “this year”

Today’s games will be highlighted by the Class 3-A title game between Mansfield and Baton Rouge’s University High.

Yesterday was a brutally cold day and a freeze warning is in effect for portions of south Louisiana this morning. But things will warm up today and there’s hope that spring is just around the corner. Fred Zeigler with the National Weather Service in Slidell says temperatures across the state remained in the 30s most of Thursday but today we’ll be in 40s to low 50s…

cut 7 (10) “about 15 to 20 degrees”

Zeigler says yesterday was about as miserable a day you can get weather-wise as it was not only cold but cloudy, damp and wind chills were in the 20s. He says, while today is still cool, it’s dry and nice outside.

The yo-yoing of the temperatures makes us more susceptible to sickness according to experts. But James Diaz, the Program Director of Occupational Health Sciences at LSU Health New Orleans, says there are things you can do to protect yourself…:
CUT 12 (09) “last fall”
Diaz says immune systems can weaken when temperatures swing from hot to cold.

No more elephants at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The company announces the phase out of the act by 2018. Humane Society of Louisiana Executive Director Jeff Dorson says it’s about time as negative reinforcement is often used to train these elephants…:
CUT 14 (07) “public’s wishes”
Horses, dogs, tigers and other animals will continue to be used in the shows.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a mother in Houma dragged her daughter around by her hair, made her drink hot sauce and whipped her with a belt for punishment. Captain Dawn Foret says they got a call from a local junior high where the 13-year-old victim attended school…:
CUT 5 (10) “from her mother”
Detectives confirmed the child had severe bruising on many areas of her body. The mother, 33-year-old Gricelda Mejia (Gra-Sil-Da, Ma-Hee-A) was arrested for one count of cruelty to a juvenile.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has cited a New Iberia man for allegedly killing a Louisiana Black bear in St. Mary Parish. Agents say 52-year-old Richard Picard Junior was hog hunting and Picard claims he mistakenly identified the black bear as a wild hog. Picard faces hundreds of dollars in fines and possible jail time as well.

The cold front that moved through Louisiana has produced some hazardous driving conditions across Louisiana. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says some bridges and overpasses are closed in the northern half of the state. Reichardt says there’s even some slick spots in south Louisiana…
CUT 7 (08) “but passable”

Our extremes in temperatures is not only affecting our driving conditions, but our health. James Diaz, the Program Director of Occupational Health Sciences at LSU Health — New Orleans, says there are some things we can do during these seasonal changes to keep you from getting sick, like taking care of your air passages…;
CUT 10 (07) Q: “keep well hydrated”
And he says it’s still not too late to get a flu shot, if you haven’t gotten one already.
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An unidentified deceased female found stabbed 34 years ago in Bossier Parish has been identified. “Bossier Doe” is actually Carol Ann Cole of Michigan. Her body was found January 28, 1981 off Highway 157. Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington says social media had a big part in the leads to find the answers through DNA.

It looks like the end of an era is coming for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus…
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

Some rather dicey driving conditions still remain in portions of the state, because of this recent strong cold front. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says some areas have shown some improvement…
CUT 8 (10) Q: “into tomorrow”
Temperatures today will be above freezing only for a couple of hours in some spots, and that ‘s not enough time for any ice on roadways to completely melt.

A mother in Houma has been arrested, after she reportedly physically abused her 13 year-old daughter. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Dawn Foret says they got the call from the child’s middle school, and their investigation revealed-besides the alleged whipping by a belt– …
CUT 6 (06) Q: ‘around the house’
Thirty-three year-old Gricelda Mejia (Gra-Sil-Da Ma Hee-ah) faces one count of cruelty to a juvenile.
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There’s a lot of talk about the weather across the Louisiana today, centering around the highs and low temperature extremes in the past 24 hours. Early spring temperatures surges and drops also are a topic of discussion for physicians, who say get a flu shot…
CUT 11 (08) Q: “infections”
That’s James Diaz, the Program Director of Occupational Health Sciences at LSU Health, New Orleans.

Animal rights groups are celebrating a decision by the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, that they will begin phasing out their elephant acts by 2018. Feld Entertainment, the circus’ parent company says they will continue to use horses, dogs, tigers, and other animals in their performances. Jeff Dorson is the Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana…
CUT 15 (05) Q: “major victory”