Monday night’s big game is expected to bring big bucks to the Big Easy and the Bayou State. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

And LSU students no longer have to worry about classes on Monday and Tuesday. After saying all week the spring semester will begin Monday, the LSU Board of Supervisors voted today to cancel classes at the Baton Rouge campus for Monday and Tuesday. The university will remain open.

Severe weather is expected in Louisiana tonight and into tomorrow. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a powerful cold front will spark the storms…
Cut 14 (09) “…about.”
Shreveport and Monroe are under a moderate risk for severe weather tonight and into tomorrow morning.

There’s strong opposition in Mandeville over a proposed hotel and conference center at Fontainebleau State Park. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the development could also include a zipline and horseback riding, which would generate revenue to fund improvements at other state parks. But state representative-elect Richard Nelson says locals are opposed…
Cut 9 (11) “…connection to it..”
Nungesser says if the opposition is strong enough, the proposal won’t move forward.

The LSU Board of Supervisors votes to reverse course and cancel LSU classes Monday and Tuesday ahead of Monday night’s showdown with Clemson for the CFP Championship game.  Board member Ronnie Anderson supported the proposal

Cut 12 (14) “…to agree.”

The following Monday is MLK Day, which means some students will be missing two straight weeks of classes as a result.

With that decision in the books students can now start pouring into the city for a three and a half days of pregaming before kickoff. They’ll be joined by tens of thousands of visitors from around the world in the Quarter, which is set to be inundated with rain from a severe weather event Saturday. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says that shouldn’t tamp down the fun, and the bad weather shouldn’t last too long.

Cut 8 (11) “…good time”

____________________________

State Police has identified 27-year-old Lacey Jade Jordan of Oakdale as the driver involved in a fatal hit and run of a bicyclist Thursday morning just south of Alexandria. Routine toxicology tests are pending. Trooper Casey Wallace says the crash is a reminder for cyclists to take measures to protect themselves.

Cut 5 (09) “…just always key.”

The victim was 50-year-old Taurus McQuarn of Alexandria.

Mandeville State Representative-elect Richard Nelson was in attendance at a heated meeting involving Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, where area residents opposed a pitch to construct a hotel and conference center in Fontainebleau State Park. Nungesser accused Nelson of getting forceful with him.  Nelson explains his side of the story.

Cut 11 (13) “…is their park.”

The LSU/Clemson CFP National Championship game in the Dome Monday night is set to bring tens of millions of dollars in revenue to the city and state, along with immeasurable levels of exposure for the state’s tourism industry, and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says it’s largely thanks to a team full of players with great character, led by Heisman winner Joe Burrow…

Cut 7 (06) “that team.”

Nungesser highlighted Burrow’s Heisman speech where the QB called attention to poverty in his hometown.

27-year-old Lacey Jade of Oakdale has been identified as allegedly being the driver behind a hit and run that killed 50-year-old Taurus McQuarn of Alexandria on US Highway 165. Trooper Casey Wallace says Jordan has not been charged yet…

Cut 4 (08) “…her as well.”

The possibility of having a hotel and conference center constructed in Fontainbleau State Park is not sitting well with residents in the Mandeville area. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

The LSU/Clemson showdown in the Dome Monday night for the CFP National Championship is expected to bring a lot of money and attention to New Orleans and the state at large. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says events like these can generate tens and even hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, but even more so than that, it’s exposure…

Cut 6, 9 seconds, Louisiana

The Dome has seen three major games to start the year, the Georgia vs. Baylor Sugar Bowl, the Saints vs. Vikings playoff game, and now Clemson and LSU.

Heads up LSU students, you’ll be expected to be at class Monday and Tuesday despite LSU’s historic game Monday night. LSU Faculty Senate President Dr. Mandi Lopez says losing class time is not an option.

Cut 15 (08) “…planned.”

Spring classes start Monday.

Troopers locate and identify the driver involved in a fatal hit and run of a bicyclist on Thursday morning just south of Alexandria.  Trooper Casey Wallace says the 27-year-old Lacey Jade Jordan of Oakdale was behind the wheel of the southbound Chevy Silverado that hit a 50-year-old Taurus McQuarn of Alexandria on US Highway 165.

Cut 3 (08)  “… he became deceased.” 

Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock says north Louisiana is chronically underserved by dentists, and the region needs a dental school in the Bossier/Shreveport medical hub to help solve that problem. The Senator says the lack of access is leading to expensive, and dangerous outcomes where people are taking their oral needs to an ER.

Cut 8 (10) “…setting.”

The Senator believes hosting a school in the north would make it more likely those students would stay in the region after graduation.

Northern Louisiana is under a moderate risk for severe weather tonight and central and southwest Louisiana are under an enhanced risk of severe weather. National Weather Service meteorologist Brandon Thorne says the timing of this event produces an added danger…
cut 6 (11) “…people being asleep”
The severe weather threat shifts to southeast Louisiana tomorrow.

Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock is pushing for the construction of a dental school in north Louisiana. Peacock says the Board of Regents is looking at the proposal and awaiting for more information from LSU…
cut 9 (08) “…funded”
The potential dental school would presumably be a part of the LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine.

A pitch to construct a hotel and conference center at Fontainebleau State Park sees heavy opposition at a meeting organized by Mandeville’s mayor. There have been rumors of placing a casino there as well, but Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says those rumors are untrue.
Cut 10 (11) “…pulled that back.”
But some residents in the area believe the hotel and conference center will be constructed anyway, despite opposition.

Even though many LSU students plan on spending the day in New Orleans Monday and staying up late, the school says the spring semester will still start as previously scheduled on Monday. LSU Faculty Senate President Doctor Mandi Lopez says canceling classes would hurt students in the long run…
cut 14 (12) “…class days’

The threat for severe thunderstorms will increase later this afternoon for the western side of the state. Shreveport, Ruston, Monroe and Natchitoches are all under a moderate risk for severe weather. That means damaging winds, tornadoes, hail and heavy rainfall are possible.

A state senator wants the Board of Regents to OK construction of a new dental school in the Shreveport/Bossier area. Matt Doyle spoke with him about the request…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A proposal to build a hotel and conference center at Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville is running into opposition from local residents who are concerned over the impact the new buildings would have on wildlife and drainage. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has requested a feasibility study and told a rowdy crowd at a public meeting that if development were to occur, it would be an environmentally friendly facility…
cut 12 (11) “…parks in Louisiana.
Not only would there be a hotel and convention center, the proposal also calls for horseback riding and a zipline that could generate as much 2-point-five million dollars a year.

LSU Faculty Senate President Doctor Mandi Lopez says classes will take place Monday, despite LSU playing in the national championship game that night…
cut 13 (11) “…period”

North and central Louisiana could see tornados, hail and damaging winds late tonight as the climate prediction center calls for a moderate risk of severe weather for this part of the state. National Weather Service meteorologist Brandon Thorne says moisture from the gulf will clash with a cold front
Cut 4 (08) “…that cold front.”

It got spicy at a public meeting this week in Mandeville where Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser discussed building a hotel and conference center at Fontainbleau State Park. Area residents are concerned about the proposal and Nungesser says state representative-elect Richard Nelson took it a step too far when he swiped his microphone when addressing the crowd…
cut 11 (08) “….plans there either”
Nungesser is shooting down rumors of a proposed casino at the state park.

Former Jennings high school football star Travis Etienne returns to his home state to play LSU in the national championship game on Monday.
The two-time ACC Offensive Player of the year understands he has a unique opportunity in front of him…
cut 18 (09) “…take care of business”
Both teams arrive in New Orleans later today.

Even though many LSU students plan on spending the day in New Orleans Monday and staying up late, the school says the spring semester will still start as previously scheduled on Monday. LSU Faculty Senate President Doctor Mandi Lopez says canceling classes would hurt students in the long run…
cut 14 (12) “…class days’

Louisiana Radio Network, I’m Jeff Palermo….
cut 30
That’s Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham reading the names of 43 Louisiana soldiers killed by I-E-D’s manufactured by Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. Abraham read the names before the House voted on a resolution seeking to restrain President Trump’s war powers.

A proposed hotel and conference center at Fontainbleau State Park is not sitting well with residents in the Mandeville area. Kevin Barnhart has more.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock is pushing to have a dental school built in the Shreveport/Bossier area, as the only school currently in the state is in New Orleans. Peacock says Louisiana really needs another dental school in general. He says our residents suffer from low levels of access to oral healthcare.
Cut 7 (11) “…thousand.”
The legislature has asked the Board of Regents to study the proposal.

Even though LSU will play for a national championship in New Orleans on Monday, the spring semester will still start Monday and there are no plans to cancel classes. LSU Faculty Senate President Doctor Mandi Lopez says with many classes only meeting once or twice a week, losing that time would be detrimental…
cut 15 (08) “….planned”