LSU basketball fans making the trip to Washington DC to see the Purple and Gold face off with Michigan State on Friday will have good company from alumni that already live in the area. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Obamacare signups are down 15 percent in Louisiana this year, and the 93,000 enrollees mark the lowest level of participants since the individual market came online in 2014.
Enrollment is also down 57 percent from it’s high point in 2016, and Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says when the Medicaid expansion kicked in, many of those low income individuals qualified for Medicaid, which is free government insurance.
Cut 5 (12) “…lives.”

Senator John Kennedy is calling on the US Attorney’s Office to pursue action against former Empire star Jussie Smollett for allegedly faking a racially motivated assault against himself. The prosecution says the case against Smolett was dismissed after he agreed to a set of conditions, including 16 hours of community service and forfeiting his 10-thousand dollar bond, which means he doesn’t get it back. It’s also been reported prosecutors also took into account that it was a non-violent crime. But Kennedy still disagrees with the decision made by the Cook County state’s Attorney’s office.
Cut 8 (11) “…substantially.”

President Trump has also weighed in on the Smollett saga saying the feds will now review the case.

LSU will need its bats to wake up in Starkville as the Tigers begin a three-game series against Mississippi State tonight. Following the Tigers two-to-nothing loss to McNeese on Tuesday, the team held a players only meeting. Junior right-hander Zack Hess will get the start on the mound for the 12th ranked Tigers. Hess hopes the loss to McNeese is a turning point in their season…
Cut 18 (12) made of”

A Jefferson Parish deputy was wounded and two men are dead after a shooting Wednesday night in Gretna.
According to Sheriff Joseph Lopinto, the shooting happened around 10:22 p.m. outside an IHOP in the 100 block of the Westbank Expressway near Terry Parkway.
Lopinto said detectives were conducting an undercover drug purchase in the parking lot when a driver put his vehicle in reverse, striking a deputy and ramming a JPSO car. Detectives shot at the suspect’s car, striking the driver and a man sitting in a passenger seat.
The JPSO reports that the driver died at the scene. The passenger who was also shot at the scene was taken to the hospital where he later died.
One detective was struck by police gunfire. He was also taken to University Medical Center and underwent surgery overnight. He was shot in the abdomen is listed in stable condition and is expected to fully recover.
A witness at the scene said she heard about 15 shots and was very scared.
The investigation into the shooting continues.
Senator John Kennedy says the decision by Cook County prosecutors not to pursue charges against actor Jussie Smollet, who police staged a fake hate crime, is another example of how the rich and famous get to play by a different set of rules…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction for the man who fatally shot former Saints player Will Smith in a 2016 traffic dispute. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the opinion of the panel to reject all grounds of the appeal of Cardell Hayes was very thorough.
Cut 13 (09) “…a crime novel.”

Obamacare individual market enrollment hits it’s lowest level in Louisiana since the option came online in 2014. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Senator John Kennedy is calling on the US Attorney’s Office to pursue action against former Empire star Jussie Smollett for allegedly faking a racially motivated assault against himself. This comes after Cook County prosecutors dropped their charges against the actor.
Kennedy says he’s encouraged by reports that the feds are stepping in where local authorities failed.
Cut 7 (08) “…the law”

LSU hoops fans heading to the nation’s capital to see the Tiger take on Michigan State Friday in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament will have a warm welcome from the DC’s LSU Alumni Chapter. Chapter secretary Ginger Gibson says they are excited to welcome Tiger fans from Louisiana and around the nation.
Cut 10 (10) “…that we’re organizing.”
LSU will need its bats to wake up in Starkville as the Tigers begin a three-game series against Mississippi State tonight. Following the Tigers two-to-nothing loss to McNeese on Tuesday, the team held a players only meeting.

Saints Owner Gayle Benson vowed to make changes to the NFL rulebook after the team felt they were denied a chance at playing for a Super Bowl, because of a non-pass interference call. Coach Sean Payton arrived at the NFL owners meeting earlier this week, lobbying others to allow instant replay look at pass interference calls…

Cut 7 (08) “…good about that”
NFL owners voted to expand the use of instant replay to include pass interference calls and allow for the review of a non-pass interference call.

State Fire Marshal investigators are on the case of a mobile home fire that left two children dead in the Franklinton area. Shortly after midnight, firefighters were dispatched to the home. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says deputies are conducting their investigation into the origin and cause of the fire.

Cut 4 (13) “…at this point″

Seven people have been arrested in an alleged U-Haul insurance fraud scheme that authorities say was led by 42-year-old Hayward Howard and 28-year-old Jasmine Howard. The team allegedly staged two wrecks in Orleans Parish and then filed claims against Howard’s U-Haul purchased short term insurance. So why pick U-Hauls for insurance fraud?  State Police Trooper Monroe Dillon says it’s possible the hustle may not have resulted in Howard’s premiums increasing.

Cut 13 (10) “…with this.”

20-year-old Elias Smallsreed is locked up following a multi-parish police pursuit on I-10 yesterday that ended in Baton Rouge when the suspect crashed into several cars. State Police spokesperson Taylor Scrantz says the wild episode started when a trooper attempted to make a traffic stop on Smallsreed’s vehicle but ended with him catching a litany of charges.

Cut 11 (13)   “…other traffic charges.”

Even though it will not change the outcome of the NFC Championship game, the Saints secured a victory on Tuesday night when the NFL owners voted to expand the use of instant replay to include pass interference calls and allow for the review of a non pass interference call. Coach Sean Payton led the charge for the new rule…
Cut 6 (08) “…good change”
Saints Owner Gayle Benson vowed to make changes to the NFL rulebook after the team was defeated by the NOLA No Call.
20-year-old Elias Smallsreed is locked up following a multi-parish police pursuit on I-10 yesterday that ended in Baton Rouge when the suspect crashed into several cars. State Police spokesperson Taylor Scrantz.
Cut 9 (08) “…into Ascension Parish.”
__________________________________
An overnight mobile home fire leaves two children dead in the Franklinton area.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
The Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction for the man who fatally shot former Saints player Will Smith in a 2016 traffic dispute. The three-judge panel unanimously rejected all grounds of Cardell Hayes’ appeal. Hayes was sentenced to 25 years in December 2016.

NFL owners vote to expand the use of instant replay to include pass interference, both calls and non-calls like the one in the NFC Title game. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The Louisiana 4^th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction for the man who fatally shot former Saints player Will Smith in a 2016 traffic dispute.  The three-judge panel unanimously rejected all grounds of Cardell Hayes’ appeal.  Hayes was sentenced to 25 years in December 2016.

State Fire Marshal investigators are on the scene of a mobile home fire that left two children dead (10 year old girl, 6 year old boy) in the Franklinton area. Shortly after midnight, firefighters were dispatched to the home. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says a total of seven people were in the home at the time of the blaze.

Cut 3 (11) “…hospitals for treatment.”

Browning says the fire has shaken the community.  Deputies are currently conducting their investigation into the origin and cause of the fire.

20-year-old Elias Smallsreed of Zachary is locked up following a multi-parish police pursuit on I-10 yesterday that ended in Baton Rouge when the suspect crashed into several cars. State Police spokesperson Taylor Scrantz says the wild episode started when a trooper attempted to make a traffic stop on Smallsreed’s vehicle for driving east on the interstate at a high speed, then hooked a U-turn and headed back into the direction of Baton Rouge, where he then encountered traffic.

Cut 10 (08)“…he continued to refuse.”

Saints Owner Gayle Benson and coach Sean Payton have convinced NFL owners to give coaches the opportunity to challenge pass interference and non-pass interference calls. Heading into the NFL owners meetings, there was resistance in expanding replay use for penalties, but Payton says after some convincing, there was majority support for pass interference calls
Cut 8 (06) “…got it right”
The vote was 31-1 in favor of the rule change. The Bengals were the lone no vote.

Two children were killed and three other kids were airlifted to a Baton Rouge hospital after an overnight night fire in Franklinton. Two adults escaped the blaze uninjured. An investigation is underway into what sparked the fatal fire and State Fire Marshal Butch Brown is asking all residents to have an escape plan in the event of a fire…
cut 5 (10) “…maybe the mailbox”
The two childen who died are a 10-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy.

Seven people have been arrested in an alleged U-Haul insurance fraud scheme that authorities say was led by 42-year-old Hayward Howard and 28-year-old Jasmine Howard. The team allegedly staged two wrecks in Orleans Parish, and then filed claims against Howard’s U-Haul purchased short term insurance. State Police Trooper Monroe Dillon.
Cut 12 (12) “…companies.”
Detectives say in both cases, Hayward Howard drove a rented U-Haul truck into another vehicle.

State Police have released the identity of the man who led authorities on a high speed chase on I-10 that started in East Baton Rouge Parish, then went into Ascension Parish, before ending in E-B-R near the Mississippi River bridge. State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says 20-year-old Elias Smallsreed faces numerous charges…
cut 11 (13) “…traffic charges”

An overnight mobile home fire leaves two children dead in the Franklinton area.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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NFL owners vote to expand the use of instant replay to include pass interference, both calls and non-calls like the one in the NFC Title game. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

_____________________________________________

State Fire Marshal investigators are on the scene of a mobile home fire that left two children dead (10 year old girl, 6 year old boy) in the Franklinton area. Shortly after midnight, firefighters were dispatched to the home. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says a total of seven people were in the home at the time of the blaze.

Cut 3 (11) “…hospitals for treatment.”

Browning says the fire has shaken the community.  Deputies are currently conducting their investigation into the origin and cause of the fire.

Cut 4 (13) “…at this point″

Browning says the tragedy serves as a reminder of the importance of having an escape plan in the event of a fire.

Cut 5 (10)  “…maybe the mailbox.”

____________________

Even though it will not change the outcome of the NFC Championship game, the Saints secured a victory on Tuesday night when the NFL owners voted to expand the use of instant replay to include pass interference calls and allow for the review of a non pass interference call. Coach Sean Payton led the charge for the new rule…

Cut 6 (08) “…good change”

Saints Owner Gayle Benson vowed to make changes to the NFL rulebook after the team felt they were denied a chance at playing for a Super Bowl, because of a non-pass interference call. Payton arrived at the NFL owners meeting earlier this week, lobbying others to allow instant replay look at pass interference calls…

Cut 7 (08) “…good about that”

Coaches can now challenge questionable pass interference plays until the last two minutes and then it’s subject to a booth review. Heading into the owners meetings, there was resistance in expanding replay use for penalties, but Payton says after some convincing, there’s majority support for pass interference calls

Cut 8 (06) “…got it right”

_____________________

20-year-old Elias Smallsreed is locked up following a multi-parish police pursuit on I-10 yesterday that ended in Baton Rouge when the suspect crashed into several cars. State Police spokesperson Taylor Scrantz says the wild episode started when a trooper attempted to make a traffic stop on Smallsreed’s vehicle

Cut 9 (08) “…into Ascension Parish.”

Scrantz says Smallsreed then hooked a U-turn and headed back into the direction of Baton Rouge, where he then encountered traffic.

Cut 10 (08)“…he continued to refuse.”

Authorities with the help of a K-9 then removed the man from the vehicle.  Scrantz says Smallsreed was impaired at the time and he had drug paraphernalia on him. Had Smallsreed complied from the start, Scrantz says the situation likely would not have escalated to the point it did, but now he’s facing a litany of charges.

Cut 11 (13)   “…other traffic charges.”

_____________________________________

Seven people have been arrested in an alleged U-Haul insurance fraud scheme that authorities say was led by 42-year-old Hayward Howard and 28-year-old Jasmine Howard. The team allegedly staged two wrecks in Orleans Parish, and then filed claims against Howard’s U-Haul purchased short term insurance. State Police Trooper Monroe Dillon.

Cut 12 (12) “…companies.”

The allegations by RepWest about the August 2018 crash were forwarded to the Louisiana State insurance fraud section.

So why pick U-Hauls for insurance fraud? It might be because the recommended insurance for truck drivers is actually separate from your regular car insurance, and Dillon says it’s possible the hustle may not have resulted in Howard’s premiums increasing.

Cut 13 (10) “…with this.”

Those inside of the vehicles during the staged wrecks filed personal injury claims as well.

Dillon says the other five people catching charges were in on the scam, and likely going to get a cut of whatever the settlement was.

Cut 14 (08) “…as well.”

Everyone involved was from New Orleans.