President Donald Trump has pardoned former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Junior who pleaded guilty to giving 400-thousand dollars to former governor Edwin Edwards for a riverboat casino license…

cut  2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Drew Brees announces on Instagram he will be back for the 2020 season. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says that makes Teddy Bridgewater the odd man out in the Saints crowded QB roster.

Cut 8 (12)“…heavily”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon supports a legislative effort to allow information about whether or not a crash victim was wearing a seatbelt into trials, in an effort to lower the amount of settlement money insurance companies have to pay out in those cases. Donelon feels that this would eventually lead to lower auto insurance prices.

Cut 5 (10)  “…trying that case.”

Donelon also supports lowering the jury trial threshold, to 5,000 dollars. Currently legislation is being considered that would lower it to 15,000 dollars.

37-year-old Gregory Jones of Shreveport is shot by police after allegedly shooting his 43-year-old girlfriend to death Sunday night. Corporal Angie Willhite says officers cornered Jones after he killed Tasha Mayberry, and Jones was shot in the chest after he pointed a gun at officers.  Willhite says Jones remains hospitalized

Cut 15 (07) “…him to recover.”

Detectives also arrested a relative of the victim, 18-year-old Tristan Mayberry for Accessory After the Fact to Second Degree Murder.

Saints legend Drew Brees will return for the 2020 season. Matt Doyle spokes with an NFL analyst about what that means for the Black and Gold…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

After spending 52 days in the hospital, Wade Berzas is heading home. He’s the lone survivor of a December plane crash in Lafayette Parish that killed five people, including sports journalist Carley McCord. The plane was flying from Lafayette to Atlanta carrying passengers to watch the LSU Tigers compete in the Peach Bowl. Berzas will continue his rehabilitation while living at home.

President Trump has pardoned former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Junior who in 1998 pleaded guilty to failing to report a felony when he paid 400-thousand dollars to former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards. Edwards is also glad to see the federal conviction erased from DeBartolo’s record, because the U-S Attorney’s office forced DeBartolo to lie

Cut 11 (10) “…of things”

DeBartolo avoided prison time but was fined one-million dollars and suspended by the NFL for a year.

Shreveport Police charge 37-year-old Gregory Jones for the Sunday night shooting death of his girlfriend 43-year-old Tasha Mayberry.  Shreveport Police Corporal Angie Willhite says officers were responding to call that initially appeared to be an argument near the intersection of West 73^rd Street and Union Avenue.

Cut 13 (12) “…of the injuries.”

Jones was shot in the upper body by police while being apprehended but is expected to recover.

Saints QB Drew Brees announces on his Instagram that he will return for the 2020 season after taking some time to consider retirement. The season ended on an uncharacteristically poor home playoff performance for Brees and Saints analyst Mike Detillier says the captain needed some time to decompress, and consider other offers.

Cut 6, 8 seconds, about it

Brees put up 208 yards along with one TD and two turnovers in the 26-20 loss to the Vikings.

President Trump has pardoned former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Junior who in 1998 pleaded guilty to failing to report a felony when he paid 400-thousand dollars to former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards. Former U-S Attorney Jim Letten prosecuted the case and says DeBartolo deserves to be pardoned because he was a victim in Edwards illegal plan to sell a riverboat gambling license

Cut 9 (05) “…extortion″

DeBartolo avoided time in prison.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon detailed his support for certain legislation in the upcoming session that he feels would lower auto insurance rates. Donelon supports a provision lengthening the time to file suit.  Louisiana has the shortest time in the nation to file a lawsuit before losing the right to do so at one year versus many other states at two years.  Another provision looks to allow for a reduction in damages from collateral sources.

Cut 4 (09) “…of auto insurance.”

Whether or not someone is wearing their seatbelt is information currently not allowed in court, and Donelon supports legislation allowing that info into court.  

Drew Brees announces on his Instagram that he will return for another season, saying Who Dat Nation, let’s make another run at it.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon breaks down the legislation he supports that are aimed at slicing auto insurance rates. Donelon says he wants to lower jury thresholds to $5,000. In the 13 states that have a jury threshold, Louisiana’s is the highest at $50,000.

Cut 3 (08)  “…rid of lawsuits.” 

The killing of an endangered whooping crane in Jefferson Davis Parish leads to organizations teaming up to offer 5,000 dollars to find the bird’s killer. LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck says the money comes courtesy of LDWF, the Whooping Crane Conservation Association, and the International Crane Foundation.

Cut 14 (08) “…for this case.”

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office alleges a former fire chief in Webster Parish, Billy Raspberry, Jr. overpaid himself during a two-year period.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, who went to jail for paying former Governor Edwin Edwards 400,000 dollars for a riverboat gambling license, and was indicted for gambling fraud has been pardoned by President Donald Trump. He plead guilty for failing to report a felony related to his payoff but avoided having to serve any time in prison. DeBartolo was owner during the 9ers dominate 80s and 90s run and ended his tenure with five Super Bowls.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the so-called “widow’s penalty” that results in women whose husbands pass away receiving an auto insurance rate increase, isn’t quite what it appears. 

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Northwestern State has placed football coach Brad Laird on administrative leave for one week following his D-W-I arrest on Saturday night in Natchitoches. Laird has released a statement that says he regrets the poor decision he made getting behind the wheel while intoxicated and apologizes to everyone he unknowingly put at risk.

The Legislative Auditor accuses a former Webster Parish fire chief of giving himself unauthorized extra compensation for overtime and an authorized raise. Assistant Legislative Auditor Roger Harris says Billy Raspberry, Jr. gave himself a 7,500 dollar raise and 24,000 dollars in compensation that was not approved.

Cut 7 (10) “…was also overtime.”

Harris says there were also over $1,700 in purchases for personal use.

You may have heard about the Democratic Presidential Primary debacle in Iowa, but Louisiana Party Executive Director Stephen Handwerk wants to assure Bayou State Dems that they won’t have the same problems when they head to the polls to pick their nominee April 4^th. He says unlike Iowa, we are not a caucus state.

Cut 12 (09) “…precints”

Republicans will also be voting in their primary April 4^th

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says when it comes to auto insurance rates, there’s no such thing as a so-called “widow’s penalty,” A bill has been filed for the upcoming legislative session that would prohibit a person’s auto insurance rates from going up just because their spouse dies. Donelon told the Baton Rouge Press Club that such a penalty doesn’t exist…
Cut 4 (12) “…if you’re married.”
Bills have been filed in the House and Senate for the upcoming session aimed at ending the practice of calculating insurance rates based on whether a person is a widow.

Shreveport Police continue to look for the person responsible for fatally shooting 85-year-old John Henry McDonald on Saturday. He was found dead in his pickup truck.

The executive director for the Louisiana Democratic Party Stephen Handwerkc believes when the Louisiana Presidential Primary gets here on April 4th, the race for the Democratic nomination will still be competitive…
cut 11 (10) “…races”
Nationally the race remains tight with Senator Bernie Sanders in the lead, followed by Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office releases an investigative report that alleges a former fire chief in Webster Parish, Billy Rasberry Junior, paid himself excess compensation also used public funds to purchase auto parts. Auditor Roger Harris…
cut 8 (08) “…district vehicles”
An attorney for Rasberry denies the claim he received excess compensation and it was the auto parts store that mistakenly billed the Fire District.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announces his support for legislation to end what’s been known as the “Patriot Penalty.” Deployed military members who cancel or allow their auto insurance to lapse are forced to pay higher auto rates when they return home to renew their insurance because there was a gap in their coverage. Donelon says that’s because current law allows for insurance companies to charge a higher premium to anyone with a gap in coverage.
Cut 6 (08) “gap in coverage.”
Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau has filed a bill to end the practice of penalizing deployed soldiers when they return home.

Wade Berzas is heading home after spending 52 days in the hospital. He’s the lone survivor of a December plane crash in Lafayette Parish that killed five people, including sports journalist Carley McCord.

A state audit alleges a former fire chief in Webster Parish, Billy Raspberry, Jr. overpaid himself during a two-year period…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A five-thousand-dollar reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the person that fatally shot an endangered whooping crane in Jefferson Davis Parish in November. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says there are only an estimated 76 of these large birds in Louisiana…
cut 15 (09) “…admire it”

Louisiana has the second-highest auto insurance rates in the nation and several bills have been filed for the upcoming session that attempts to lower rates. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau has filed bills that would prohibit the calculating of insurance rates based on credit score and gender over the age of 25. But Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon opposes those measures…
Cut 5 (09) “…am for credit.”
Real Reform Louisiana points out that a person with a D-W-I on their record and a high credit rating actually pays less for insurance than a person with a clean record and a low credit score.

The lone survivor in the December plane crash in Lafayette that killed five people, including sports journalist Carley McCord has been released from the hospital after 52 days. Wade Berzas will continue his rehabilitation while living at home.

Louisiana’s Presidential Primary is April 4th and a leader in the state Democratic Party expects the race will still be competitive…
cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is offering 5,000 dollars for information that would help them catch the person who fatally shot an endangered whooping crane in Jefferson Davis Parish. LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck…
Cut 13 (07) “…gunshot wound.”
Einck says anyone with information should contact the Louisiana Operation Game Thief hotline.

A struggling LSU basketball team will welcome 10th ranked Kentucky to the PMAC tonight. The Tigers have lost three of their last four as they’ve allowed their opponents to make a bunch of three-point shots and beat LSU on the offensive glass. Coach Will Wade says his team will need to tighten up
Cut 16 (22) …screening”
The Tigers have fallen out of the Top 25, but a win tonight and they will move back into a first-place tie with the Wildcats in the SEC. Tip-off is at 8 PM.

Before tonight’s LSU hoops game, the 11th ranked Tigers baseball squad will host crosstown foe Southern at five o’clock. The Jaguars beat LSU for just the third time in 58 meetings last year.

Former LSU Quarterback Joe Burrow told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he has leverage when asked about the upcoming NFL draft. The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to select Burrow with the top pick and the Heisman Trophy winner says they have their process and he has his process. But Burrow did not elaborate on those comments.

LSU football has agreed to a home-and-home series in 2031 and 2032 with Utah. Salt Lake City will welcome Tiger fans in 2031 and the PAC-12 school will return the trip the next year. LSU and Utah have only met twice on the gridiron and the Tigers won both games in 1974 and 1976.

Northwestern State has placed football coach Brad Laird on administrative leave for one week following his D-W-I arrest on Saturday night in Natchitoches. Laird has released a statement that says he regrets the poor decision he made getting behind the wheel while intoxicated and apologizes to everyone he unknowingly put at risk.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the so-called “widow’s penalty” that results in higher auto insurance rates after a woman’s husband dies is not quite what it appears…
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Cops say they’ve arrested two men and searching for three others that allegedly robbed two LSU students at gunpoint inside their dorm room. Authorities say the five men were there under the guise to play video games. The thieves allegedly took iPhones, a Sony PlayStation controller and the keys to a 2019 Honda Accord that was eventually recovered.

The 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination process is rolling along and Louisiana Democrats will get a chance to pick their candidate April 4th. State Party Executive Director Stephen Handwerk says it’s a closed primary, which means only Democrats can vote in it. If you’re not a Democrat though, you can always join the party…
Cut 10 (08) “…election.”
The deadline to register is March 4th in person, or March 14th online.

A state audit alleges that a former fire chief in Webster Parish may have violated state law by paying himself excess compensation and purchasing auto parts for personal use. State auditor Roger Harris says they also believe Billy Rasberry Junior held two government jobs at once, which is against state law….
cut 9 (11) “…..deputy sheriff”
Rasberry’s attorney denies many of the claims made in the audit, including the allegation he violated state law by holding dual government positions.