The former sheriff of Rapides Parish who was run over and killed this week will be laid to rest today. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Fraternities and sororities could be banned permanently from campus if a member of their organization dies in a hazing incident. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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In one of the rarest stories in college basketball history, Will Wade is returning to Baton Rouge to coach LSU nearly four years after being fired. Andre Champagne has the story.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”
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The former Rapides Parish sheriff who was run over and killed Monday afternoon will be laid to rest today. The funeral service for William Earl Hilton is at noon at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria, and that will be followed by a procession and burial. One of Sheriff Hilton’s contemporaries, Grant Parish Steven McCain, says if he could sum up Hilton in one word, it would be “legend.”
Cut 4 (06) “…as he could.”
Sheriff McCain remembers when he saw Hilton at the new sheriff school that all newly-elected sheriffs are required to attend – he was elected for the first time, and Hilton was re-elected after being out of office for four years after previously serving 16.
Cut 5 (07) “…learn something new.”
Calvary Baptist Church’s sanctuary has a capacity of 23-hundred people, and McCain says it’s very likely that many more than that will show up.
Cut 6 (07) “…13-hundred people.”
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Universities could permanently ban a student organization if a hazing incident results in a student’s death under legislation heading to the House floor. The proposal is in response to the death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson, who died in 2025 after he was repeatedly punched in the chest during an off-campus fraternity hazing ritual. Caleb’s mother, Urania Wilson, spoke to the House Education Committee.
Cut 7 (10) “…not have been.”
Laws were passed after the 2017 death of LSU student Max Gruver, who died from alcohol poisoning while pledging at a fraternity, but those laws were directed at the individuals involved. Jason Hughes, the chairman of the Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Task Force, says this legislation would apply to the entire fraternity, sorority, sports team, club, band or any student organization.
Cut 8 (08) “…be in vain.”
Baton Rouge Representative Vanessa LaFleur’s legislation would also require organizations to report hazing incidents to the university. Urania Wilson says she does not want to see another mother go through this.
Cut 9 (08) “…needs to happen.”
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The National Hurricane Center is rolling out some new graphics for this year’s hurricane season. Whereas in years past watches and warnings were only indicated in coastal areas, this year, they will be shown in inland areas as well. Deputy Director Jamie Rhome says there are also new colors for certain types of warnings, including one for a simultaneous tropical storm warning and hurricane watch.
Cut 10 (11) “…to do that.”
That’s done with alternating diagonal blue and pink lines within the affected area. Rhome says whereas those watch and warning areas were previously shown in coastal areas, this year, they’re shown inland as well.
Cut 11 (06) “…the cone itself.”
The cone indicates the projected path of the storm, and Rhome says this year, there will be no distinction between the short-range forecast and the long-range forecast – and that’s due to user feedback.
Cut 12 (10) “…on the eyes.”
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Will Wade is returning to Baton Rouge as LSU’s men’s basketball coach four years after being fired for recruiting violations.Wade has signed a seven-year deal that will pay him four-million dollars in his first season. He’s also expected to have a roster budget exceeding 12-million dollars. Tiger Rag magazine editor Glenn Guilbeau says the fan base is ready to “Boot Up” again….
Cut 13 (12) “…was their guy.”
Although fans will be glad with the leadership change, the move will come at a significant cost for LSU. McMahon and his staff’s buyout is expected to total around 11-million dollars. While the move will put LSU Athletics in a tight financial position, Guilbeau says the program will find a way to raise enough money to continue operating at full capacity.
Cut 14 (13) “…program had gone.”
Wade was fired by then-athletic director Scott Woodward in 2022. Current LSU AD Verge Ausberry was serving as an assistant athletic director at the time Wade was fired. Guilbeau says Ausberry was very supportive of Wade and believes his firing wasn’t as significant as many made it out to be.
Cut 15 (12) “…all legal now.”
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Junior offensive tackle Jordan Seaton spoke to the media for the first time yesterday since transferring to LSU. Seaton, who was rated as the top offensive lineman in the transfer portal, says his decision to come to Baton Rouge factored into how professional the program is run.
Cut 16 (13) “…is not enough.”
Last summer, Seaton trained with former LSU and current Patriots left tackle Will Campbell. Seaton says seeing Campbell’s mindset toward football played a key role in his decision to end up in Baton Rouge.
Cut 17 (16) “…to do that.”
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With starting pitcher Cooper Moore sidelined for the next two to three weeks due to triceps soreness in his throwing arm, LSU will need to find another arm to start for the third game against Kentucky this weekend. Coach Jay Johnson hasn’t named a third starter, but the ability to pitch extended innings will factor into the decision.
Cut 18 (11) “…do it differently.”
Sophomore right-hander Casan Evans will start tonight, and sophomore William Schmidt will start tomorrow.
Senior first baseman Zach Yorke is coming off a much-needed breakout performance against Louisiana Tech as he heads into this weekend’s series against 19th-ranked Kentucky. Yorke hit two home runs against the Bulldogs after striking out four times in last Friday’s game against Oklahoma. Coach Johnson says the two homers should boost Yorke’s confidence.
Cut 19 (12) “…him towards that.”
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ULM introduced Ryan Cross as its new men’s basketball coach yesterday. Cross spent eight seasons as a Warhawk assistant before spending the last six years as an assistant at U-A-B. He says his teams will pride themselves on pushing the floor and dominating in the post.
Cut 20 (16) “…collectively, you win.”