LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron is set to get more job security and a bump in pay. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Im Jeff Palermo”

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Taxes are due in less than a month.  Kevin Barnhart talks with Metairie CPA Tyler Johnson about how to reduce the risk of a bumpy experience.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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The two Republicans running to unseat Governor Edwards have different thoughts in how they’d approach healthcare and education if elected. Matt Doyle was there for their joint public apperance….

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott slammed Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards for his handling of the state’s economy, going as far to say that Edwards has made his job easier when it comes to attracting jobs to the Longhorn state. Abbott says Texas’ economy is growing, because of a business friendly environment, and wished the same for Louisiana, but…

Cut 4 (08) “…incentive.”

The comments were made yesterday in Baton Rouge at the Republican Governor’s Association business round table that included GOP candidates for Governor, Eddie Rispone and Congressman Ralph Abraham.

Abbott targeted the Edwards’ decision to reform a tax break known as the Industrial Tax Exemption, as an example of policies that have companies fleeing west out of the Bayou State…

Cut 5 (11) “…struggle.”

Edwards Campaign spokesperson Eric Holl hit back, noting the Republican Governor Association’s past support for former Governor Bobby Jindal…

Cut 6 (11) “…us back”

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The LSU Board of Supervisors will vote tomorrow on a contract extension and raise for head football coach Ed Orgeron. The proposed deal would extend Orgeron for another two years, through the 2023 season and he’ll get a 14-percent increase in pay, boosting his salary to four-million dollars a year. Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says the contract seems justified…

Cut 7 (11) “…head coach”

Some college football analysts outside of Louisiana said Orgeron was on the hot seat heading into the 2018 season, but that changed after the Tigers outperformed expectations. Moran says the contract extension will help the LSU football program build on last year’s success…

Cut 8 (09) “good thing.”

Orgeron’s buyout would increase to 10-million dollars with the amount set to decrease by 250-thousand dollars each month through March 2021 and then remain at four-million dollars for the rest of the contract. Athletic Director Joe Alleva has already signed the deal, it just needs the Board’s approval which Moran says should happen….

Cut 9 (08) “…won it″

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There’s less than a month left before federal taxes are due. Metairie CPA Tyler Johnson says the last few weeks have been mighty busy and getting busier as April 15^th draws closer. Johnson says procrastinating in scheduling a time to sit down with someone to do your taxes could be a big mistake.

Cut 10 (12) “…toward April 15th”

Johnson says one of the biggest things is making sure to keep an eye on the mail to make sure you get your tax docs together, whether its W-2s, 1099s, or health insurance.

Cut 11 (06) “things you’re missing.”

Johnson says for those that need to file a six-month extension, it’s important to remember that the extension is only for filing a return, not for paying money if you owe on your taxes.

Cut 12 (07) “…the shortfall was.”

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Congressman Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone, the two Republicans running against Governor Edwards in this year’s governor’s race, showed some differences in policy approach following a a business round table discussion hosted by the Republican Governor’s Association. Abraham says if elected he would not undo the Medicaid expansion, but it would be reformed.

Cut 13 (11) “…economics.”

Abraham says his experience as a rural doctor would help guide his decisions on Medicaid reform.

Rispone had a different plan though. He also agreed that the expansion should not be rolled back, but says considering recent reports of improper spending in the Medicaid program, he would put a hold on new applicants until the Department of Health could rectify it’s problem with ineligible recipients on the rolls.

Cut 14 (11) “…properly.”

Rispone says he would aim to have any freeze only be temporary, until a review of the program could be completed.

Both candidates agreed there needed to be some form of teacher pay raise, but they differed on how it should be put in place. When asked about a proposed 5,000 dollar Texas teacher pay raise, Abraham says a Bayou State version is long overdue, and that he’d pay for it with tax reform.

Cut 15 (10) “…invest in”

But Rispone, who was heavily involved in education issues at the Capitol before his candidacy, disagreed with giving all teachers a raise. He says not every educator has earned the income bump, and he’d rather let local school systems determine who should see a bigger paycheck.

Cut 16  (08) “demand” 

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The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge from a Louisiana man who was convicted in 2016 by a non-unanimous jury verdict for the murder of a New Orleans woman. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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A state audit shows LSU improperly compensated a faculty member with the School of Veterinary Medicine.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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A state lawmaker who championed having the right to vote restored to felons now wants those same individuals serve jury duty with a bill pre-filed for the upcoming legislative session.  About 36,000 former felons were granted the right to vote as of March 1. But Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says these individuals are not allowed to serve on a jury.

Cut 3 (06) “…in the law”

James says it’s important to see returning citizens reintegrated on a full scale.  He adds jury duty is an obligation, and often, there are not diverse juries.

Cut 4 (08) “…in my opinion.″

James says much like voting rights, jury pool eligibility isn’t restored as soon as the cell door opens and someone is released into society.

Cut 5 (10)  “…of our society.”
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LSU opens their NCAA Tournament run Thursday against Yale, and the American Gaming Association says 47 million American adults will place a bet on this year’s contest either by filling out a bracket or putting down money on a specific game. CEO Bill Miller says 8.5 billion in bets will be placed by the end of the tournament.

Cut 6 (08) “…championship game.”

The Bayou Bengals are eight-point favorites to beat the Bulldogs.

The vast majority of those participating in NCAA Tourney wagers, about 40 million, will be folks filling out brackets, hoping to predict the outcome of all 63 games, starting with tomorrow’s First Four. Miller says 147 million brackets will be filled out.

Cut 7 (08) “…and more.”

Vegas does not expect the Tigers to challenge for an NCAA title, giving them 50-1 odds.

Despite seven new states approving legal sports betting last year, the black market is still projected to be the biggest recipient of funds, as only 4.1 million bettors are expected to place a legal wager. Miller says they hope the 27 states, including Louisiana, that are reportedly considering legalizing sports gaming will join the growing number.

Cut 8 (12) “…provides”

Louisiana’s easterly neighbor, Mississippi has legalized sports betting, something that has Bayou State casinos concerned.

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The US Supreme Court will consider overturning a Louisiana man’s 2016 non-unanimous jury conviction in a murder case. Last year the Bayou State voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring unanimous convictions in all felony cases, but the law is not retroactive. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino.

Cut 9 (10) “…the state”

43-year-old Evangelisto Ramos was convicted of Second Degree Murder on a 10-2 in the death of New Orleans woman, who’s body was found in a garbage can in 2014.

If Ramos’ conviction is overturned, then all current cases being tried, along with those being appealed, would be subject to the new requirement. Ciolino says that impact would be felt immediately in the appeal of one high profile case, the shooting death of former NFL running back Joe McKnight by Ronald Gasser.

Cut 10 (10)“…gasser.”

Louisiana’s unanimous juries law only applied to crimes committed in 2019 and beyond.

Ciolino says previous federal challenges to non-unanimous convictions were declined, and so if Ramos’ conviction is overturned, Ciolino says the state will face a major unanswered question about cases that go back decades involving those non-unanimous convictions…

Cut 11 (07)   “…the pipe”

The US Supreme Court last ruled on the issue in 1972, where it upheld the legality of state non-unanimous jury laws.

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The state Legislative Auditor’s office releases a report that shows LSU paid a faculty member over 400-thousand dollars in salary and benefits for nearly three years, even though that person admitting to not performing work for the university during that time. State auditor Barrett Hunter says the School of Veterinary Medicine did not take sufficient action to address the employee’s lack of performance…

Cut 12 (10) “…anything like that.”

The audit showed the employee was having performance issues, not showing up for work and management didn’t take appropriate action to handle the issue.  Hunter says according to LSU’s audit, even the employee acknowledge he was undeserving of his pay.

Cut 13 (08) “…deserve the pay.”

Hunter says there is a chance that the employee could face legal ramifications for the payment.

Cut 14 (12) “…in recouping it.”

LSU has responded saying the School of Veterinary Medicine has inserted safeguards to ensure nothing like this will occur again.