Democrats may have lost big in last fall’s House legislative races, but their alliance with moderate Republicans in the election of Clay Schexnayder as House Speaker appears to have paid off. Matt Doyle explains…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The campaign totals for 2019 have been totaled up and President Donald Trump received one-point-two million dollars from Louisiana donors. Former Vice President Joe Biden collected the most from Louisiana residents out of the Democratic presidential candidates, 366-thousand dollars.

East Baton Rouge, Terrebonne, and Pointe Coupee parishes are the first in the state to receive cutting edge needle incineration devices that can be used to protect law enforcement from needle stick injuries. The device has the potential to save taxpayer dollars. CEO of Redhawk Holdings, the company behind the device, Darcy Klug says a single stick injury can top 30-thousand dollars in workers comp costs, even if a first responder doesn’t contract a disease such as Hep C or HIV…
cut 15 (12) “….of taxpayer dollars”
More parishes are expected to obtain the devices in the near future.

Louisiana high school principals will have to wait another year to try and mend the public private school athletics playoff split in four sports after a proposal to end the separation failed to get the 2/3^rd vote needed. LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says in the meantime they’ll look to better define what a select or private school is

Cut 14 (09) “…all sports.”

The final vote to end the split received 52 percent.

Maplewood Middle School in Sulphur is home to a Grammy winner in Mickey Smith, who was honored with the Music Educator Award. Smith came onto the Grammy’s radar after he was nominated by Sulphur local, two time Grammy nominee Sean Ardoin, who’s known for his work in creole rock and roll. Ardoin noticed Smith had grown the school band to half the schools population.

Cut 5 (11) “…classroom”

AAA is concerned about the growing movement to legalize recreational marijuana, citing evidence of increasing drug based DUIs in legal states. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says drivers are already very nonchalant about toking and driving as 70% think they won’t be caught, and it has the potential to get worse.

Cut 8 (13) “…on the highways.”

Redman says in the five years prior to the state of Washington legalizing recreational use, 9% of drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for THC. That numbers double.

Louisiana State Police added 51 Troopers to its force as their 99th cadet class graduated Friday. State Police Lt Nick Manale says they are prepping for their historic 100^th cadet class at the LSP Academy and graduation day is a momentous occasion for every trooper.

Cut 11 (11) “…very challenging.”

The Public/Private school split in postseason Football, baseball, basketball, and softball will remain after a move to reunite the playoffs failed to get the 2/3^rd vote needed for passage.  North Vermilion High School principal Tommy Byler’s proposal grabbed 52 percent of votes, but it just wasn’t enough…

Cut 13 (13) “…be the start”

The proposal would have created six classes and eight in all other sports and many select schools would play at a higher classification.

The 99^th Louisiana State Police Cadet class graduated yesterday, adding 51 new troopers to the force. State Police Lt Nick Manale says it took a lot of study and physical training to pull off, plus some very job-specific classes….

Cut 10 (12) “regimen.” 

The classes lasted 23 weeks.

AAA is concerned the growing number of states who have legalized recreational marijuana have not adapted their impaired driving laws to compensate for it. AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says lawmakers need to consider the serious ramifications as laws against driving high will be very hard to enforce and impairment tricky to determine once recreational use is legal.

Cut 7 (09) “…are being abused.”

The Grammy award for Music Education goes to Maplewood Middle’s Mickey Smith who runs the Suplhur based schools music program. Smith was nominated and ultimately won, due to his charity work providing kids with instruments, and his ability to massively expand Maplewood’s music program.

Cut 4 (11) “…to watch”

Smith was nominated by Sean Ardoin, who has won two Grammys himself for his work in creole rock and roll and creole soul.

The split LHSAA playoffs will remain in place after high school principals failed to approve proposals to bring the association back together…

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana State Police added 51 Troopers to its force as their 99th cadet class graduated Friday. State Police Lt Nick Manale says the newly inducted cadets underwent 23 weeks of intense training and…

Cut 9 (09) “…out their career.

AAA is warning of the potential impacts that legalization of recreational marijuana could have on Louisiana roadways ahead of the legislative session that begins in March.  AAA spokesperson Don Redman says in the five years prior to the state of Washington legalizing recreational use, 9% of drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for THC.

Cut 6 (11) “…impaired on marijuana.”

Redman is calling on lawmakers to factor that into legislation in the upcoming session.

Maplewood Middle School in Sulphur is home to a Grammy winner in Mickey Smith, who was honored with the Music Educator Award. Smith says he received the award for his work at a school he grew up just a few blocks away from…

Cut 3 (12)  “teaching” 

The educator will receive a 10,000 dollar honorarium with a matching school grant.

Proposals to end the public-private school split in postseason play for football, basketball, baseball, and softball high school sports failed to pass on the final day of the LHSAA annual convention. LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine has worked for the last five years to end the split

Cut 12 (12) “.   right now” 

Bonine says they are about 50 votes short shy of ending the split.

The Pelicans are now only four games back of a spot in the playoffs after beating 8^th seed Memphis in the Smoothie King Center last night 139-111. New Orleans started the game hot, and bucked a season wide trend of collapsing in the 3^rd quarter by dropping 44 points during that period. Zion Williamson led the team in scoring with 24 points on just 15 shots while adding 6 rebounds in 29 minutes. Brandon Ingram pitched in another 20, and Lonzo Ball put up 19.

The Pels take on the Rockets tomorrow at 1PM.

The number 22 Tigers play Ole Miss today in Baton Rouge. The Tigers are on a nine game winstreak and are unbeaten in conference play. Ole Miss is 1-6 in the Sec.

Former LSU superstar Tyrann Matthieu will take the field Sunday night as a core piece of the Kansas City defense against Jimmy Garapolo and the 49ers, seemingly finally hitting his professional stride after a rough start to his career. Matthieu struggled with drug use during his time at LSU and was kicked off the team in 2012, reportedly for multiple failed drug tests. After his dismissal, he went into rehab, and turned it around in the NFL…

Cut 14 (10) “…the now.”

The DB suffered a series of injury setbacks early in his NFL career as he tried to stabilize his life after leaving Louisiana where he was raised. Getting a ring after all his struggles would be special…

Cut 15 (11) “…humbling.”

Kickoff is 5:30 PM.

Proposals to end the public-private school split in postseason play for football, basketball, baseball, and softball high school sports failed to pass on the final day of the LHSAA annual convention. LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine has worked for the last five years to end the split…

cut 12 (12) “…right now”

Bonine says they are about 50 votes short shy of ending the split.

Former Lakers standout and LSU alum Shaquille O’Neal announces that proceeds from his annual Super Bowl party will go to the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Foundation and the families of those who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash. O’Neal posted on Twitter that he debated on whether he should even host his event this year but decided Kobe, his former teammate, would want him to celebrate life.

As the legalization of recreational marijuana use spreads to more states the AAA is warning drivers that driving after smoking pot is still considered a form of impairment. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says lawmakers need to consider the ramifications…

Cut 7 (09) “…are being abused.”

Louisiana State Police added 51 Troopers to its force as their 99th cadet class graduated Friday. State Police Lt Nick Manale says the newly inducted cadets underwent 23 weeks of intense training and their education doesn’t stop there…
Cut 9 (09) “…out their career.”

The cadets will now be spread out across the state.

Proposals to end the public-private school split in postseason playoffs for all high school sports failed to pass on the final day of the LHSAA annual convention. High School principals can not vote again on another proposal to unify the association until next year. LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says in the meantime they’ll look to better define what a select or private school is

Cut 14 (09) “…all sports.”

Louisiana State Police added 51 Troopers to its force as their 99th cadet class graduated Friday. State Police Lt Nick Manale says they are prepping for their historic 100^th cadet class and graduation day is a momentous occasion for every Trooper.

Cut 11 (11) “…very challenging.”

In Calcasieu Parish, the courts are going to start looking at better ways to get people to show up for court. Reportedly 350 people were summoned for jury duty last week, but only 72 actually appeared according to Judge Robert Wyatt in Lake Charles. Wyatt says courts might have to begin limiting excused absences and change the way it subpoenas potential jurors.

A Sulpher middle school teacher takes home a Music Educator Grammy for his work in the classroom. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”