At today’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting, one question that will be addressed is what to do about Common Core Opt-Outs. BESE member Jane Smith says BESE needs a least a year to figure out a compromise when it comes to Common Core because clearly there are issues as students opt-out of the tests because their parents don’t think it’s appropriate…

cut 12 (10) “and teachers”

Smith says, as it stands now, the school would get a zero for any student who opts-out towards its performance score.

The New Orleans Saints have released running back Pierre Thomas from the team. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says, although the fans love him, this is about winning games…

cut 15 (13) “they’re paying you”

Thomas complied 3,745 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns on 187 carries in his eight seasons with the Saints.

There are reports of snow in the Shreveport-Bossier City area and a wintry mix falling in Monroe as a result of a cold front that began moving through Louisiana last night. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for north Louisiana and central Louisiana is under a Winter Weather Advisory. Both alerts expire at noon today. State highway officials have closed a portion of I-49 and I-220 in the Shreveport area as a precaution.

Sleep experts have tips on how to prepare your children for the springing forward this Sunday with the time change. Emelie Gunn has more….

cut 1 (28) “reporting”

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet today and one of the items on the agenda is the question of what to do about Common Core Opt-Outs. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (28) “reporting”

The cold front that began moving through the state last night has caused another round of wintry precipitation in north Louisiana. There are reports of snow in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, as well as a wintry mix in Monroe. State highway officials have closed a portion of I-49 and I-220 in the Shreveport area as a precaution. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until noon in north Louisiana. Central Louisiana is under a Winter Weather Advisory until noon, as well.

In an effort to address the state’s $1.6 billion budget deficit, Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera suggests that Louisiana increase its oyster lease rates. The audit report recommends more than doubling the lease rate, from $2 an acre to $5.20. Sal Sunseri, with P&J Oysters in New Orleans, says this proposed rate increase will effect more than just the consumer…

cut 9 (06) “lose farmers”

He says a reasonable rate increase would be acceptable, but what is proposed is just too great.

Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend and sleep experts have some tips for parents on ways to prepare their children for losing an hour of sleep. Laura Swartz with Healthy Happy Sleep says the change will be easy for naturally early risers but most parents will know if they’re children are sensitive to changes in their routine.

cut 6 (15) “certain activities”

Swartz says give yourself permission to relax about this change since parents tend to over think the process.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets today and one item on the agenda is the question of what to do about Common Core Opt-Outs. BESE member Jane Smith says parents not letting their kids take the PARCC test is a variable that punishes the school that they can’t control…

cut 11 (09) “accountability policy”

Smith says students who opt-out of taking the Common Core test won’t be punished but it’s the school that would get a zero for that student towards its performance score.

With Daylight Saving Time beginning this weekend, sleep experts have tips for preparing your children for losing an hour of sleep. Laura Swartz with Healthy Happy Sleep says you should start waking your kids up 15 minutes earlier than usual.

cut 5 (11) “of seven”

She also suggests keeping sleep patterns the same after the time has changed.

A report released this week by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera suggests that increasing oyster lease rates can increase revenues for the state in light of the $1.6 billion budget shortfall. But Sal Sunseri, with P&J Oysters in New Orleans, points out the oyster industry is not a subsidized farming industry like many industries in agriculture…

cut 8 (12) “get subsidized”

The audit report recommends raising the lease rate from $2 and acre to $5.20, which Sunseri says is just too great.

In a move to save over $1.7 million against the salary cap, the New Orleans Saints have released running back Pierre Thomas from the team. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says the move is really not a surprise, but the Saints will really miss is his pass protection skills…

cut 14 (07) “with one team”

Detillier says Thomas, who’s spent all of his 8 seasons with the team, gave New Orleans the screen game back like no one since Dalton Hilliard.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet today and one of the items on the agenda is the question of what to do about Common Core Opt-Outs. BESE member Jane Smith seeks to delay consequences for schools who have students who opt out…

cut 10 (13) “performance score”

Some families who oppose the education standards have said they won’t let their child take the PARCC test.

A report released this week by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera suggests that Louisiana can increase revenues by increasing oyster lease rates. The audit report recommends almost tripling the lease rate, from $2 and acre to $5.20. Sal Sunseri is with P&J Oysters in New Orleans…

cut 7 (10) “not the route”

Louisiana has the second lowest oyster lease rates among the top six states that produce Eastern Oysters.

Sleep experts have some tips for parents on ways to prepare their children for losing an hour of sleep this weekend as we spring forward. Mother of six, Laura Swartz with Healthy Happy Sleep says plan on keeping sleep patterns the same after the time has changed…

cut 4 (14) “…go about it. “

Swartz says the rhythms of daily life will regulate your children’s new sleep schedule so give yourself permission to relax about this change since parents tend to over think the process.

Sources say the New Orleans Saints have released running back Pierre Thomas from the team. The 30-year-old will save the Black and Gold $1.735 million dollars against the salary cap. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says it’s a heart breaking move, but not really a surprise…:
CUT 13 (09) “a year too late”
New Orleans needs to continue to move or lay-off some players by March 10th to get below the salary cap.

Louisiana State Police are preparing for precipitation and freezing temperatures as the National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Winter Storm WArning for much of the northern part of the state until 9am tomorrow morning. Winter precip could include freezing rain, sleep and possibly snow in much of north and central Louisiana.

Governor Bobby Jindal today announced that EPIC Piping would be making a $45.3 million dollar capital investment in Livingston Parish to establish an advanced facility and corporate headquarters. The project is to create 560 new direct jobs with an average daily salary of $56,600 plus benefits.

As officials with the US Army visited the Leesville area last night to listen to the concerns of folks in the community surrounding reductions to the Vernon Parish base, people once again lined the streets in support of keeping things as is. Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese says the church venue was filled as they made the presentation to the military…:
cut 12 (10) “and city hall”
Personnel reductions are being considered at about 30 bases across the country.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for parishes north of I-20, ahead of a strong cold front moving through the state this evening…
CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

According to sources close to the New Orleans Saints, the club will be releasing popular 8 year veteran running back Pierre Thomas. Thomas signed on as an undrafted free agent in 2007, and was a key component of the Saints Superbowl win against the Colts in 2009. The Saints may be also looking to trade linebacker Curtis Lofton.
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Tonight, there is be an event at Southern University to discuss the case of Victor White III’s case of being shot and killed while handcuffed in the back of an Iberia Parish Sheriff deputy’s squad car. The mother of Victor White III’s child has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Sheriff and the deputy, and Monroe Attorney Carol Powell Lexing says they are discussing this case and others….
CUT 11 (10) Q: “of these cases”

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is dead after officers responded to reports that a suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of a street near the Schriever. Overpass…:
CUT 6 (07) “in the air”
Captain Dawn Foret says when officers got there, they detained 49 year old Troy Brady in the middle of the road with a shotgun, then he became unresponsive and later died.

With a strong cold front about to move through the state this evening, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect for parishes north of I-20. Gary Chatelain, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says rain is forecast for the area today, then things will change when the front comes through…
CUT 3 (10) “and power lines”
Chatelain adds it should not be quite as bad as North Louisiana’s last storm.

Score one for President Obama, as the US Senate has failed to override the president’s veto of a bill to begin construction on the Keystone Oil Pipeline. The final vote was 62-47; just four votes shy of what was needed for the override. Republican insiders say they play to attached the pipeline measure to another bill in the future.
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A man in Shriever is dead after officers responded to reports that the suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of the street. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office Captain Dawn Foret says 49 year-old Troy Brady was sitting down in the road with a shotgun, and when he was detained, he became unresponsive…
CUT 8 (08) Q: “pronounced dead”
An autopsy is pending.

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in federal court against Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal and a deputy in Victor White III’s death by White’s mother. White died from a gunshot wound while handcuffed in the backseat of the deputy’s squad car. The Iberia Sheriff’s Department claims White shot himself, but the attorney hired by the family, Monroe attorney Carol Powell Lexing says the feds are now involved…
CUT 10 (07) Q: “hear from them”

For all Louisiana parishes north of I-20, there’s a a Winter Storm Warning is in effect ahead of a strong cold front that will move through the state this evening. Gary Chatelain, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says there will be rain developing first…
CUT 5 Q: “the Ark-La-Tex”
He says the winter weather should not be as severe as last time in North Louisiana, since the ground is warmer. But icy conditions on bridges and overpasses will be an issue.

US Army officials payed a visit to Vernon Parish last night to listen to citizen concerns about reductions at Fort Polk. Army evaluators stayed until about 10:30pm at a local church in Leesville, listening to dozens of people expressing how important the base is…
CUT 13 (10) Q: “statewide issues”
That’s Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese.
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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is dead after officers responded to reports that the suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of the street…
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

The LSU men’s basketball team plays its final home game of the year tonight as they host the Tennessee Volunteers at six pm in the Maravich Center. These two teams met in Knoxville on Valentine’s Day and it was all LSU as they won by 18 points. The Volunteers bring a five-game losing streak to Baton Rouge. LSU has won its last three and they are ten and six in league play.

A winter storm warming is in effect for parishes north of I-20 from this evening through tomorrow morning. Gary Chatelain with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says a winter weather advisory is also in effect along and south of I-20. He says those areas won’t be hit as hard as northern parishes…:
CUT 4 (06) “noon or so”
Chatelain says this weather event should not be as severe as last week’s.

The mother of Victor White III’s child has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal and a deputy in White’s death. White died from a gunshot wound while handcuffed in the backseat of the deputy’s squad car. Monroe attorney, Carol Powell Lexing, who represents White’s family, says reason for the lawsuit is simple…:
CUT 9 (07) “accountable for it”
Calls to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department have not been returned.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is dead after officers responded to reports that the suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of the street. Captain Dawn Foret says 49-year-old Troy Brady may have been firing shots into the air while running down the road and that’s where cops found them…:
CUT 7 (08) “un responsive”
She says Brady later died at a hospital and there were no obvious signs of trauma so an autopsy has been ordered.

Lots of people showed up to support Fort Polk to Army officials yesterday in Vernon Parish. Personnel reductions are being considered at about 30 bases across the country. Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese says they believe the visitors from the military heard loud and clear that the entire state of Louisiana does not support yet another troop reduction at Fort Polk…:
CUT 14 (06) “those evaluators”

As officials with the US Army visited the Leesville area last night to listen to the concerns of folks in the community surrounding reductions to the Vernon Parish base, people once again lined the streets in support of keeping things as is. Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese says the church venue was filled as they made the presentation to the military…:
CUT 12 (10) “and city hall”
Personnel reductions are being considered at about 30 bases across the country.

The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s office says a 25-year-old man from Crowley is charged with second degree murder after allegedly running over and killing a teenager with his vehicle shortly before midnight. They say Landricy Robinson allegedly tried to get away from a fight which is when he hit 16-year-old Antoinette Rochon of Rayne who died as a result.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for parishes north of I-20, ahead of a strong cold front that will move through the state this evening. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

Gas prices jumped two cents from the day before. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is now $2.24.