State Superintendent of Education John White says after the first day of PARCC testing, concerns that there would be widespread non-participation did not bear out. He says preliminary findings show more than 320,000 students took the test associated Common Core which is about 99% participation…

cut 10 (13) “in the test”

He says 50% of non-participants were in Calcasieu Parish.

Shreveport Representative Barbra Norton has filed a bill for the upcoming legislative session that would make it illegal to supply a child 12 or under with an Uzi sub-machine gun. She says kids are not big enough to handle such a large weapon in a safe manner…

cut 7 (11) “concern about that”

She feels that the risk for a tragedy is greatly increased when a Uzi is in the hands of a child.

Jury selection begins today in Lafayette in the first-degree murder trial of Seth Fontenot, accused of a 2013 shooting that killed 15-year old Austin Rivault and injured two others. Fontenot claims he fired to scare the teens, who he thought were breaking into his truck, not to hurt them. Legal analyst Tim Meche says this will be a tough case for Fontenot…

cut 4 (10) “the consequences”

He says Fontenot appears to be going after a manslaughter verdict. With a manslaughter conviction, Fontenot could face up to 40 years in prison.

State Superintendent of Education John White says after the first day of PARCC testing, concerns that there would be widespread non-participation did not bear out. He says preliminary findings show more than 320,000 students took the test associated Common Core which is about 99% participation:
CUT 10 (13) “in the test”
White says half of the 1% of non-participants came from Calcasieu Parish. He also says Red River, Jackson and Central Community had a high number of students who didn’t test today.

The state’s economic development secretary Stephen Moret will leave his job in May and take over as the president and CEO of the LSU foundation, which is LSU’s top fundraising organization. Moret is an LSU grad and has severed as Governor Bobby Jindal’s LED secretary since 2008.

The Louisiana National Guard has released the identities of the four soldiers killed in a helicopter crash during a training exercise over the Florida Panhandle last week. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office says a toddler from Slidell is in the hospital after being run over apparently by a family member who then left the scene. They say 44-year-old Derrick Populus eventually admitted he struck the child with a vehicle in the driveway then drove off. He is booked with felony hit-and-run. The child’s condition appears to be improving.

The Louisiana National Guard has released the identities of the four soldiers killed in a helicopter crash last week. Twenty-six year-old Staff Sergeant Thomas Florich from Baton Rouge; Staff Sergeant Lance Bergeron from Thibodaux, and Chief Warrant Officers 4 George Wayne Griffin, Jr. of Hammond, and David Strother of Alexandria, who’s a 26 year veteran…
CUT 10 (11) Q: ‘in 2013’
That’s Major General Glenn Curtis.

An icon in the New Orleans restaurant industry has died. Dick Brennan Sr. was considered to be the visionary force behind Commander’s Palace…
CUT 13 (12) Q: “had ever met”
Big Easy Restaurant writer and critic Tom Fitzmorris. Brennan was 84.
————————————–
A Washington Post article refers to Governor Bobby Jindal as one of the great mysteries of the early 2016 presidential campaign. Here’s Eric Gill has more…
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

Day number one of Common Core testing is in the books, and it appears that concerns that large numbers of students would not be participating appear to be unfounded. State Superintendent of Education John White says the numbers show 99 percent participation of students today.

The four Louisiana National Guard soldiers who died in the helicopter crash off the Florida coast last week have been identified as 26 year-old Staff Sergeant Thomas Florich from Baton Rouge; Chief Warrant Officers 4 George David Strother of Alexandria and George Wayne Griffin, Jr. of Hammond, along with 40 year-old Staff Sergeant Lance Bergeron from Thibodaux. He’s been with the Guard since 2001…
CUT 11 (08) Q: ‘in 2008’
That’s Major General Glenn Curtis.

The Washington Post is labeling Governor Bobby Jindal as one of the great mysteries of the 2016 presidential campaign, as he seeks to find his identity in the race…
CUT 5 (10) Q: “the last year”
That’s ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley.
——————————-
A motorcycle versus car crash on Highway 21 in Rapides Parish over the weekend has killed a man and a woman from Texas. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says 62 year-old Larry Callahan of Calcasieu reportedly turned his PT Cruiser right in front the bike riden by fifty-nine year-olds Ronnie and Sharon Filingim (Fill in gem) of Livingston, Texas.
CUT 7 (05) Q: “too severe”
Callahan was cited for improper turning.

A marquis name in the New Orleans restaurant business has passed away. Dick Brennan Sr. was instrumental in opened a string of restaurants including Mr. B’s Bistro, Palace Cafe and Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse; and of course, Commander’s Palace…
CUT 14 (10) Q: ‘beat it’
That’s Big Easy restaurant writer and critic Tom Fitzmorris.

The Louisiana National Guard is remembering the four soldiers killed in a training exercise off the Florida coast last week. One of those is 26 year-old Staff Sergeant Thomas Florich from Baton Rouge, whose wife is expecting their first child…
CUT 12 (06) Q: ‘8 years ago’
That’s Major General Glenn Curtis, who says the others are Staff Sergeant Lance Bergeron from Thibodaux; along with Chief Warrant Officers 4 George David Strother of Alexandria and George Wayne Griffin, Jr. of Hammond.

He’s one of the great mysteries of the early 2016 presidential campaign. That’s how the Washington Post is referring to Governor Bobby Jindal, saying he appears “lost,” saying he is trying to find some sort of identity…
CUT 4 (06) Q: “from everybody else”
ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley
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Louisiana State Police says a man and a woman died on their motorcycle in a Rapides Parish crash over the weekend, after a collision with a PT Cruiser, which was making a left turn on Highway 21. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says 62 year-old Larry Callahan of Calcasieu was cited with improper turning in front of the bike…
CUT 8 (07) Q: “proceed from there”
Fifty-nine year-olds Ronnie and Sharon Filingim (Fill in gem) were pronounced dead at a local hospital.

A very famous name in the New Orleans restaurant industry has passed away. Dick Brennan Sr., who managed many of the Crescent City’s most popular dining spots, is given credit for starting the tradition of the Jazz brunch at the world famous Commander’s Palace. Big Easy restaurant writer and critic Tom Fitzmorris …
CUT 15 (06) Q: “see this now”
Dick Brennan Sr. was 84.

The Louisiana National Guard has released the identities of the four soldiers killed in a helicopter crash during a training exercise over the Florida Panhandle last week. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret has reportedly been named as president and CEO of the LSU Foundation. Moret has worked as the LED Secretary under Governor Bobby Jindal since 2008 and has been a major part of securing projects resulting in thousands of jobs and billions in capital investment. According to the report Moret takes over at the foundation in May.

Prominent New Orleans restaurateur Dick Brennan Sr, a driving force behind the highly popular Commander’s Palace, died over the weekend at the age of 84. Big Easy restaurant write and critic Tom Fitzmorris says the chefs who worked at the award winning eatery in New Orleans under Brennan couldn’t be more popular…:
CUT 13 (12) “had ever met”
A spokesman for the family says Brennan died of natural causes.

State police say a couple Texas died on their motorcycle in a Rapides Parish crash over the weekend. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says 59-year-old Ronnie Fillingim and 59-year-old Sharon Fillingim, both of Livingston, Texas, were traveling on their bike south on LA Hwy 21. He says that’s when a Chrysler PT Cruiser, driven by 62-year-old Larry Callahan of Calcasieu entered that lane…:(FILL in GEM)
CUT 6 (11) “to stop”
Callahan was cited with improper turning.

The Louisiana National Guard has released the identities of the four soldiers killed in a helicopter crash during a training exercise over the Florida Panhandle last week. Louisiana National Guard Major General Glenn Curtis says 37-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 4 George Wayne Griffin, Jr., of Delhi, leaves behind a wife and four children. He says Griffin joined the National Guard in 1994…”
CUT 9 (10) “in 2008”
The other servicemen who died Tuesday are 44-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 4 George Strother of Alexandria, 40-year-old Staff Sgt. Lance Bergeron of Thibodaux and 26-year-old Staff Sgt. Thomas Florich of Baton Rouge along with the 7 Marines from North Carolina.

Officials with the Eglin Airforce Base say responders and divers continue to focus on collecting human remains and debris from the helicopter along the shoreline and in the debris fields around the accident site.

A Washington Post article refers to Governor Bobby Jindal as one of the great mysteries of the early 2016 presidential campaign. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

After several weeks of gains it looks like the gas price is trying to come back down. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is down a penny from the day before to $2.25.

A Washington Post article refers to Governor Bobby Jindal as one of the great mysteries of the early 2016 presidential campaign. They said that not long ago, Jindal was considered a fresh new face in the Republican Party, but his star has since fallen. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley agrees…:
CUT 3 (12) “in that conversation”
The Post says, for the first time in Jindal’s political career, he appears to be lost.

The Louisiana National Guard identified the four Black Hawk crewmen who died last week when the helicopter crashed over the Florida panhandle. Chief Warrant Officer 4 37-year-old George Griffin Jr of Deli, 44-year-old Cheif Warrant Officer George Strother of Alexandria, 26-year-old Staff Sgt. Thomas Florich of Baton Rouge and 40-year-old Staff Sgt Lance Bergeron of Thibodaux died Tuesday.

The state Department of Health and Hospitals announces a new initiative aimed at reducing c-section rates among Louisiana mothers. DHH Secretary Kathy Kleibert says it’s called “Going the Full 40” and they will be talking to hospitals and doctors about the importance of going full term…:
CUT 12 (04) “this initiative”
She says about 50% of babies in Louisiana are born before 40 weeks gestation and we have the second highest c-section rate in the nation.

The new Baseball America Poll is out and LSU is still on top now for the second straight week. The Tigers went 3-1 on the week losing once in a 14-inning game against ole Miss. They’re joined in the top 10 with four other SEC teams, Florida, Vandy, Texas A&M and South Carolina.

PARCC testing is underway for students in grades 3-8 in Louisiana. It’s the first time the Common Core standardized test is being administered here. State Department of Education Superintendent John White says these tests are about getting a simple description of what kids should be able to do at the end of each grade…:
CUT 7 (10) “we’re doing that”
White says promotion from one grade to the next will be decided at the district level.

The names of the 4 Louisiana National Guard soldiers who died in a helicopter crash along with 7 marines from North Carolina last week are expected to be released at this hour. The servicemen each did two tours in Iraq and also worked during hurricanes in Louisiana and the 2010 BP oil spill. Governor Bobby Jindal has ordered all flags at state buildings be flown at half-staff until sunset on Friday.

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and it is reported that nearly 23 million Americans between the ages of 50 and 75 are not getting tested as recommended. Scott Carwile reports…:
CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

LSU will be going to the dance for the first time since 2009. The purple and gold are the nine-seed in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and will face North Carolina State this Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

The state Department of Health and Hospitals announces a new initiative aimed at reducing c-section rates among Louisiana mothers. Here’s Michelle Southern…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

A Baton Rouge day care teacher is charged with cruelty to a juvenile after an incident at the facility where she worked. Authorities say 49-year-old Melissa Schexnayder is accused of shoving a 1-year-old girl to the floor and then slamming her head against a wooden cabinet, leaving the child with a bloody nose. The incident was caught on video. Schexnayder was fired shortly thereafter and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

The controversial Common Core testing begins today for third through eighth grade students across the state. State Department of Education Superintendent John White says Common Core is a standard, not a curriculum and how it’s taught and what’s used to teach it is up to school districts. He says at the state level, it’s their job to assure kids a basic fundamental right to a quality education…:

cut 9 (07) “to parents”

There are many people who oppose Common Core arguing that it’s too complex.

For the first time since 2009, the LSU Tigers are in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Coach Johnny Jones says the tournament selection committee recognizes LSU had a good regular season…

cut 14 (09) “from this team”

The Bayou Bengals are a nine-seed and they’ll take on North Carolina State in Pittsburgh Thursday.