The LSU men’s basketball team will host 17th ranked Kentucky tonight in the PMAC. The Wildcats are currently averaging 88 points a game, which is third in the nation, and are shooting 41 percent from the three-point line, which leads the country. LSU Head Coach Matt McMahon says that LSU will have to play great transition defense in order to keep up with Kentucky’s fast paced play.

Cut 16 (20) “… transition attack.”

The game will tip off at 8pm tonight on ESPN.

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In high school football news, Carencro Head Coach Tony Courville has retired after seven seasons with the program.

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And in college softball news, the Ragin Cajuns softball team defeated LA Tech yesterday 9 to 3 to improve to 6 and 5 on the season.

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Last night was a very successful night for the UL-Lafayette baseball team as the Cajuns cruised to an 11 to 3 win over McNeese. The Cajuns started off hot as they posted eight runs in the bottom of the first inning sending 11 batters to the plate. The Ragin Cajuns will be in action against Rice this weekend.

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ULM also had a big night with their 13 to 3 win over Grambling. Warhawk outfielder Easton Winfield was a home run shy of hitting the cycle and four ULM players recorded multiple RBI’s. The Warhawks will face Murray State on Friday with first pitch at 6 pm.

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In other baseball news, Tulane defeated Nicholls in a close game yesterday 3 to 2 and LSU will start a four game series in the box tomorrow against Northern Illinois and Stony Brook with first pitch against Northern Illinois at 2 pm.

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And Louisiana Christian has named Ben McLaughlin as its new head football coach according to the Town Talk. Ben McLaughlin is the school’s all-time leading passer and has been serving as the offensive coordinator at Alexandria Senior High.

A bill to expand methods used to carry out the death penalty passed in House Criminal Justice Tuesday. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (39)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

If you want to vote in the March Presidential primary, today is the final day to register in person or by mail. In the primary, Each voter can only vote for a party’s nominee if they are affiliated with that party.

Entergy Louisiana announces its renewable power is exceeding coal in energy production for the first time. Director of Resource Planning Laura Beauchamp says this is a significant milestone for the company.

Cut 3 (12) “…five years.”  

Data from the company’s 2023 power generation report shows renewable energy production totaled one point one million megawatt hours. Beauchamp points out solar energy reduces carbon emissions and offers many benefits.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser granted an official pardon to the state’s eighth crustacean Sherbin – to celebrate the mudbug season.

Cut 14 (08) “…this year.”

The pardoned crawfish was named in honor of Henderson’s Mayor Sherbin Collette.

The House Criminal Justice Committee approves legislation that would shield from public view the names of drug makers that provide the state the chemicals used to perform a lethal injection. Hammond Representative Nicholas Muscarello says the death penalty is already legal and he told Pineville Representative Mike Johnson says his bill is designed to restart executions in the state…
cut 9 (08) “….absolutely not”
The bill would also expand the methods the state can use to execute a death row inmate. One of the options would be nitrogen gas. There were members of the public who spoke against it
cut 8 (11) “….the process”

USDA Census numbers show the number of farms in Louisiana fell by more than two-thousand from 2017 to 2022. Teiko Foxx reports owners of smaller farm land have struggled to keep up with cost of fertilizer and other input costs…
cut 1 (25) “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

A crawfish named Sherbin in Breaux Bridge has been pardoned and will not meet his fate in a crawfish boil. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser does this every year to highlight the crawfish industry and because of a low supply of mudbugs, this year is difficult…
cut 15 (10) “..tough season”

Legislation expanding the methods the state can use to carry out an execution and protect drug companies that provide the ingredients used for lethal injection was passed in House Criminal Justice Tuesday. Pineville Representative Mike Johnson asked Hammond Representative Nicholas Muscarello, the bills author, why the state has difficulty carrying out death sentences.

Cut 7 (12) “…the fight.”

A statement was read on behalf of Brett Malone, the son of Mary Ann Shaver Malone who was murdered in 2000 urged lawmakers to reject adding additional methods of execution.

Cut 10 (06) “…are barbaric.”

The last death row inmate executed in Louisiana was in 2010.

USDA census shows more than two thousand farms have left the Bayou State in the last five years. Neil Melancon with the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation says family farms help drive the economy, but a drop in farmers statewide means education and awareness decreases.

Cut 6 (12) “…to day.”

There were eight million acres of farmland in 2017, compared to 7.97 million in 2022.

A lucky crawfish was officially pardoned by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser as crawfish season ramps up. Sherbin – the crawfish becomes the eight-crustacean granted freedom. Nungesser says this highlights the industry’s importance.

Cut 14 (08) “…this year.”

A bill to expand ways to execute death row inmates in Louisiana advances from House Criminal Justice. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (39) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Also advancing on Tuesday was a bill that would result in 17-year-old offenders being charged as adults. It would repeal the Raise the Age Law that was approved in 2016.

A Senate committee has approved legislation that would allow non felon adults to possess a concealed handgun without a permit or training. A New Orleans Police Department official told the panel permits help enssure gun owners receive firearm safety training, but West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says criminals in New Orleans do not care about safety training…
cut 12 (10) “…the city”
The measure heads to the full Senate.

A crawfish named Sherbin in Breaux Bridge has been pardoned and will not meet his fate in a crawfish boil. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has pardoned Sherbin, named after the mayor of Henderson. The Lt. Governor does this every year to highlight the crawfish industry and because of a low supply of mudbugs this year is difficult…
cut 15 (10) “..tought season”

A Senate Committee has approved legislation that would allow non-felon adults to conceal carry without a permit or the training that is currently needed to obtain a permit. NOPD Deputy Superintendent Lawrence Dupree spoke in opposition…
cut 13 (09) “….law’s passage”
But Chairman of the Senate Judiciary C Committee, Jay Morris of Monroe, responded…
cut 11 (07) “….the problem”
Morris says his daughter was mugged in the warehouse district in New Orleans and it’s likely the perpetrator was carrying a gun without a permit.

On the House side, a bill to expand the methods for the state to carry out an execution was approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee. It gets another hearing today in front of the House Governmental Affairs Committee.

USDA Census data finds the number of farms in Louisiana declined by two-thousand from 2017 to 2022. Fewer farms, means fewer farmers and Neil Melancon with the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation says that has a ripple effect…
cut 5 (12) “….depends on”
Melancon says the number of farms are on the decline, but the actual acreage of farmland in the state has stayed relatively the same, which means farms are getting larger.

A crawfish named Sherbin has been pardoned by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. For the last eight years on the first Tuesday after Mardi Gras, the state officially pardons one crustacean to celebrate the mudbug season. Nungesser says this highlights the industry’s importance.
Cut 14 (08) “…this year.”

According to the USDA, Louisiana lost two-thousand farms between 2017 and 2022, but the amount of land used to farm has stayed about the same. Neil Melancon with the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation says smaller farms are finding it impossible to remain economically viable, so we are just seeing bigger farms.
Cut 4 (12) “…single season.”

No one on the House Criminal Justice Committee voted against a bill that would expand the methods the state can use to execute a death row inmate. One of the options would be nitrogen gas. There were members who spoke against it
cut 8 (11) “….the process”
The legislation gets another hearing today in House Governmental Affairs.

A bill allowing non-felon adults in Louisiana to carry a concealed gun without a permit is headed to the Senate floor after passing a Senate Judiciary Committee. Colleen Crain has the story…
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The House Criminal Justice Committee has approved legislation where a person convicted of a carjacking that results in serious bodily harm will get 20 to 30 years. Author of the bill Metairie Representative Laurie Schlegel says the crime of carjacking cost the life of a 73-year-old grandmother in 2022…

Cut 12 (09)  “..their car.”  

A senate committee today approved Legislation that would allow non felon adults to concealed carry without a permit. President of New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission Rafael Goyeneche has concerns about the bill because in order to obtain a permit you need to pass a training class

Cut 4 (09) “…no training.”

But supporters of the legislation say it allow law abiding adults to protect themselves

LSU running back Trey Holly posted a statement on social media to announce his innocence in a shooting that took place in Farmerville. But Legal analyst Tim Meche says Holly stating that he was at home when the shooting happened

Cut 9 (13) “…go together.” 

Holly is one of three people charged with attempted second-degree murder where two people were wounded. Meche says if Holly feels he was falsely identified and he’s 100 percent innocent…

Humane Society of Louisiana Director Jeff Dorson says a young pig was rescued from three men who were throwing him like a football during carnival season. Dorson says preparations to place piglet in his forever home is underway.

Cut 8 (12) “…keep him.” 

An exam found Piglet did not suffer any injuries or trauma.  HSLA is planning a formal presentation of piglet to Representative Lauren Ventrella to take place on the steps of the State Capitol.

Legislation to concealed carry without a permit in Louisiana is being debated in the current special session on crime. President of the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission Rafael Goyeneche says police are trained to look for outlines of a gun in clothing and if passed this bill would prevent officers from asking for proof of a gun permit.

Cut 3 (11) “…passes.”  

And the first item to receive approval by the House Criminal Justice Committee is a measure that increases penalties for carjacking. Under the bill, a person convicted of a carjacking that results in serious bodily harm will get 20 to 30 years. Katie Hunter Lowrey with the Promise of Justice Initiative spoke against it…

Cut 11 (10) “…detention centers”

LSU running back Trey Holly is one of three people charged with attempted second-degree murder. Legal analyst Tim Meche believes it was a bad move for Holly to post on social media and says if Holly feels he was falsely identified and he’s 100 percent innocent…

Cut 10 (11) “…going forward.”

The scared baby swine, named Piglet, was removed from the harsh environment after being tossed around like a football during carnival season. Shortly after, Piglet was placed in the care of HSLA. To help pay his vet care, Dorson says a video was placed on social media and piglet became an internet favorite.

Cut 7 (13) “…approaching $1400..”  

One of the first bills to make it out of a House committee at the special session is a measure to increase the penalties for carjacking. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

In the House Oil City Representative Danny McCormick sponsored a bill to allow for concealed carry without a permit and in the upper chamber Erath Senator Blake Miguez has similar legislation. President of the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission Rafael Goyeneche expressed concerns…

Cut 5 (11) “…to public safety.”

Legal analyst Tim Meche believes it was a bad move for LSU running back Trey Holly to give a statement on social media of the shooting that took place in Farmerville. The shooting injured two people. In the social media post, Holly states he was at home at the time of the shooting and the shooting occurred outside of his apartment.

Cut 9 (13) “…go together.” 

A piglet is now resting comfortably after being tossed around like a football during carnival season. Humane Society of Louisiana Director Jeff Dorson says a bystander spotted three men throwing what he assumed was a ball—until he heard squeals.

Cut 6  (11) “…be treated.”