The Saints return to practice today to get ready for Sunday’s NFC Championship game against the Rams. There’s only a few Saints players still around from the 2009 Super Bowl team. Offensive Tackle Terron Armstead says he’s looking forward to playing his first NFC championship game and he doesn’t take this opportunity for granted…

Cut 18 (15)   to a win” 

The Saints are 3.5 point favorites to advance to the Super Bowl in Atlanta.

The Pelicans take on the Warriors tonight at 930 in San Francisco. New Orleans is 21-23 on the season, sitting 12^th in the West, while Golden State is 30-14, and 1^st in the West, riding a five game streak. It’s a tough matchup for the Pelicans, who have struggle on the road this year, at 6-17 in away games, against the team with the second best home record in the NBA.

The LSU Tigers Men’s basketball team took down the 18^th ranked Ole Miss Rebels 83-69 last night, thanks to a dominant second half that allowed the Purple and Gold to pull away after a deadlocked 31-31 first half. Guard Tremont Waters was outstanding, scoring 20 points, dishing out nine assists, and even nabbing four rebounds. Another performance worth noting was a big double double from Forward Kavell Bigby-Williams, who dropped 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

Rebels guard Terence Davis had a strong game though, putting up 21 pints, and pulling down 10 boards. The Tigers are now 3 and 0 in conference play, and sit atop the SEC standings, while riding a six game win streak. For their next game, The Purple and Gold take on South Carolina on Saturday.

In action tonight you’ve got Southeastern Louisiana University taking on the Lamar Colonels at home. The lions are at the bottom of the Southland, 0-3 in conference play, and Lamar isn’t looking too much better, sitting second to last with a 1-3 conference record.

Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond said today that one of three people involved in last week’s fatal shooting of police officer Chateri Payne was the victim’s boyfriend and father of their child. He’s been identified as 26-year-old Treveon Anderson. Raymond says they also recovered the murder weapon, a 40 caliber gun…
cut 4 (10) “…society”
Raymond says two other men have been arrested and all three suspects are facing second-degree murder charges.

For weeks we have seen gas prices on the decline, but now they are heading back in the other direction. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says the price at the pump nearly jumped three cents overnight…
cut 6 (11) “…climb”
Redman points to rising crude oil prices as the reason for the increase.

Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says they are preparing to fight back against any tax proposals to fund the Governor’s proposed 1,000 dollar teacher pay raise. Matt Doyle has the story.
Voicer 2 (29) “Im Matt Doyle”

And after saying anyone but the Saints when asked who she would like to see in the Super Bowl in Atlanta, Atlanta Mayor Kiesha Lance Bottoms said fans from all 32 teams are welcomed…
cut 14 (12) “….the entire world”
The Super Bowl is February 3rd.

Three men have been arrested in connection with last week’s shooting death of Shreveport Police Officer Chateri Payne. Payne’s boyfriend and father of her young child, 26-year-old Treveon Anderson, claims he was home when he heard gunshots and ran outside to shoot at a suspect. But Police Chief Ben Raymond says evidence later debunked that story.
Cut 3 (07) “…an unknown suspect.”

For weeks we have seen gas prices on the decline but now they are heading back in the other direction. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says even with the price of crude oil rising you shouldn’t expect any huge jumps in prices until the start of summer…

Cut 8 (11) “…gallon.”

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says they are preparing to fight back against any attempts to raise revenue to fund the Governor’s proposed 1,000 dollar teacher, and 500 dollar school support personnel pay raise. President Stephen Waguespack, on AM Baton Rouge, says unnamed leaders have mentioned their support a pay raise tax.  Instead of a flat raise for all Bayou State teachers, Waguespack, the business lobbyist, supports utilizing the same amount of funds, or fewer, to reward teachers who he feels perform better than their peers.
Cut 11 (10) “…good thing”
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says she was only kidding when she said  “Anybody but the Saints” when asked, who she would like to see in the Super Bowl.  Bottoms says it was a just a joke when she said she didn’t want the black and gold in the big game, but Saints have to understand where she’s coming from…

Cut 13 (12) “…come to Atlanta.”

Shreveport authorities have arrested three men and charged them with second-degree murder in last week’s fatal shooting of police officer Chateri Payne. Chief Ben Raymond credits the work of his detectives…
cut 5 (10) “…anyone else”
Raymond says one of the men arrested, 26-year-old Treveon Anderson was Payne’s boyfriend and father of their children. He says the two other men are accomplices.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says she was only kidding when she said she anybody but the Saints when asked who she would like to see in the Super Bowl. Bottoms addressed the minor controversy at a pre-Super Bowl press conference for the February 3rd game…
cut 12 (12) “…it was a joke”
New Orleans City Councilman Jay Banks stood up for Saints by saying the Atlanta mayor is still upset her team blew a 25-point lead in the 2017 Super Bowl.

Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says they are preparing to fight back against any attempts to raise revenue to fund the Governor’s proposed 1,000 dollar teacher raises. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “Im Matt Doyle”

Property once owned by Dukes of Hazzard star and country singer John Schneider sold for 385-thousand dollars at an auction. The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s office seized the land, which has two homes on it, a baseball field, studios and other features, because of unpaid mortgage payments. Schneider hopes the new owner will maintain the movie studio on the land.

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says they are preparing to fight back against any attempts to raise revenue to fund the Governor’s proposed 1,000 dollar teacher, and 500 dollar school support personnel pay raise. President Stephen Waguespack, on AM Baton Rouge, says unnamed leaders have mentioned a tax hike to pay for the raise.
Cut 9 (11) “like this″
Waguespack also wants to see teachers who perform better than their peers receive larger raises.

The statewide average price for regular gasoline rose three cents over night to a $1.97. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says gasoline prices are up on average about a nickel over the last week as crude oil prices have also been on the rise…
cut 7 (08) “…future”

Three men have been arrested in connection with last week’s shooting death of Shreveport Police Officer Chateri Payne. Kevin Barnhart has the story
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff deputies have arrested a 12-year-old girl at Houma Junior High after allegedly threatening to shoot three of her classmates. The threat was made on Instagram. Deputies say the juvenile admitted to sending the message as a joke, but she was still booked at the Terrebonne Parish Juvenile Justice Center.

Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond said today that one of three people involved in last week’s fatal shooting of police officer Chateri Payne was the victim’s boyfriend and father of their child. He’s been identified as 26-year-old Treveon Anderson. Raymond says they also recovered the murder weapon, a 40 caliber gun…
cut 4 (10) “…society”
Raymond says two other men have been arrested and all three suspects are facing second-degree murder charges.

For weeks we have seen gas prices on the decline, but now they are heading back in the other direction. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says the price at the pump nearly jumped three cents overnight…
cut 6 (11) “…climb”
Redman says points to rising crude oil prices.

The Louisiana Family Forum is seeking the best examples of lasting love as they want to find the longest married couples for Valentine’s Day. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Three men have been arrested in connection with last week’s shooting death of Shreveport Police Officer Chateri Payne.  Payne’s boyfriend and father of her young child, Trevon Anderson, claims he was home when he heard gunshots and ran outside to shoot at a suspect.  But Police Chief Ben Raymond says evidence later debunked that story.

Cut 3 (07) “…an unknown suspect.”

Postseason success for the Saints results in a victory for the local economy. President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Jay Cicero says  if the Saints win Sunday and advance to the Super Bowl in Atlanta on February 3rd, he expects another big crowd for Super Bowl weekend in the Big Easy…

Cut 6 (06) “…the game.”

The Saints will host the Rams Sunday in the NFC Championship game, and their favored by 3.5 points.

Louisiana Family Forum is on the hunt for the longest married couples throughout the state.  For the last three years, a couple from Benton have locked in the title for being married the longest.  But that couple passed away in 2018, and another couple will be taking the distinction.  General council at LFF Kristie Cross says upon finding the top couple, LFF will plan a celebration around the duo.

Cut 12 (11) “…go to them.”

Cross says it’s an effort to encourage future generations to get married.

LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing has been ranked the 10^th best nursing school in the nation by Nursing Schools Almanac, and 4^th among all public schools. The rankings surveyed 3,200 programs nationwide. Nursing Dean Demetrius Porche says they traditionally fare well in these rankings due to the wealth of programs available, and the success of their graduates.

Cut 13 (10) “…we have.”

Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond just wrapped up a press conference where he provided a few more details in the shooting death of rookie police officer Chateri Payne. Three men have been arrested. Raymond says one of the suspects was romantically involved with Payne, who was shot multiple times in uniform before she was set to begin her shift.

The Board of Regents has released preliminary numbers that shows only 32-percent of students who are admitted into a college without meeting minimum admissions, graduate in six years, compared to half without exemptions. Students admitted by exceptions also averaged a 2.0 grade point average, while non-exempt students averaged a 2.7. But Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says student athletes who didn’t meet admission standards perform much closer to average…
cut 8 (09) “…successful”

Postseason success for the Saints results in a victory for the local economy. President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Jay Cicero says even retailers that do not sell Saints merchandise benefit from the Black and Gold, especially if they keep winning in the playoffs…
Cut 4 (12) “…than that.”
The Saints will host the Rams Sunday in the NFC Championship game.

Louisiana Family Forum is on the hunt for the state’s longest married couples. For the last three years, a couple from Benton have had the title for longest married. But Lawrence and Varrie Player passed away in 2018. LFF’s Kristie Cross says it’s an effort to encourage future generations on marriage.
Cut 10 (08) “…thick and thin.”

A Board of Regents report finds that students who do not meet academic requirements, but are still able to enroll at a college, do not perform at the same level as those students who met the academic requirements. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says many of those students admitted by exceptions are first generation college students, who need more support to succeed in college…
cut 9 (11) “….successful”

LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing is ranked 10th among all nursing schools in the United States according to a ranking by Nursing Schools in Almanac. Dean and Professor Demetrius Porche says it’s a proud achievement…
cut 15 (11) “…within nursing”

According to data from the National Education Association, public school teachers who first start out, are paid about 15-hundred dollars more than the national average for rookie teachers around the country. But after a few years, the average salary for a veteran teacher falls significantly below the national average. Teacher unions say the higher than average starting salary attracts teachers to the profession.

The Louisiana Family Forum is seeking the best examples of lasting love as they want to find the longest married couples for Valentine’s Day. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”