Saints head coach Sean Payton has spoken publicly for the first time since one of the darkest days in the history of Louisiana sports, the NFC Championship loss against the LA Rams now known as the Bayou Burglary.  Payton says for the first 24 hours he was angry, but in the days that followed, he resorted to a coping in isolation.

Cut 3 (10) “…it’s probably sugar.”

NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell is likely to address the controversy at a press conference scheduled for noon.

The eastbound side of the I-210 Bridge in Lake Charles will be shut down for the next several month while it undergoes extensive repair work starting at 9PM today. In the meantime, traffic will be maintained in both directions, but on the westbound side. DOTD spokesperson Tammy York says drivers approaching the structure should expect some new traffic diversions.

Cut 9, 12 seconds, outside lane

A report shows Louisianans are leaving 8.9 million vacation days a year on the table, 27^th most in the nation. Of the 17 days a year Louisianans do take, only eight of them were for travel, so Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says now’s a great time to start planning your “Staycations” for the year. To start, he recommends the criminally overlooked beauty of a bayou southwest of New Orleans.

Cut 4 (08) “state park”

A state commission is advancing a legislative plan to dramatically increase the amount of support for early childhood education. The preliminary funding plan, called LA B to 3, aims to clear the 22,000 children on the wait list for early childhood education financial support, and provide support to 114,000 children three and under. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says it’s a crucial first step.

Cut 13 (11) “…from that.”

The commission was created during the last legislative session.

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins has been appointed as the Republican Ranking member of a House Subcommittee on Border Security. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will likely have to break his silence today about the infamous no-call of the pass interference that happened in the final two minutes of regulation of the NFC Championship game. Goodell delivers his state of the NFL address in Atlanta at noon.

Over 14-hundred state educators are in Baton Rouge today learning from national experts on how to handle behavioral challenges in the classroom. Lisa French, with the state department of education says the goal is to see troubled students remaining in the classroom instead of going to alternative schools or being suspended and sent home.
Cut 12 (10) “…their behavior

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says if you are one of the many Louisianians who leave vacation days on the table, he’s urging you to use those days for a staycation in the Bayou State. Nungesser suggests this spot in Beauregard Parish
cut 5 (07) “….of ghosts”
Nungesser says in north Louisiana he recommends visiting the Chennault Aviation and Military museum.

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins has been named as the top ranking Republican on a House Border Security Subcommittee. Higgins appointment comes as another federal government shutdown looms, unless President Donald Trump receives funding for a border wall…
cut 9 (12) “….my home”
Higgins says this subcommitte will be a focal point of the border security debate.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is urging Louisiana residents to take a “Staycation” this year. Nungesser says research shows that Louisiana residents do not use 25-pecent of their vacation days and suggests using vacation days to check out a couple of great World War two era historical must-sees…
cut 6 (13) “…to fly”
1400 educators have gathered today at the Raising Canes Baton Rouge River Center to discuss how to respond to children with behavioral issues. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Students at Gueydan High School in Vermilion Parish returned to school today after a bat infestation kept them home on Monday and Tuesday. School officials say most of the bats are gone and the few remaining are contained to one area. Students were given a flyer telling them how to respond if they see a bat.

Two state lawmakers will urge the legislature this year to spend an additional 86-million dollars so that 114-thousand young children can receive early childhood education. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says a report from a state commission has found that one dollar invested in early education, can yield a $7.30 return…
cut 15 (11) “….investment”
173,000 children are in need of early childhood education.

Police records from the St Charles Parish Sheriff’s office shows 21-year-old Dakota Theriot had a troubled history before he killed five people on Saturday, including his parents in Gonzales. Deputies say Theriot was hallucinating when they arrested him in 2017 after he allegedly threatened to burn his family’s home down. The Advocate reports Theriot was diagnosed with “substance-induced mood swings.”

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins has been named as the Top Republican on a Subcommittee of Border Security, Facilitation and Operations. Higgins says he expects the subcommittee to be one of the more contentious in the 116th Congress, and he wants to unify both sides of the border security debate.
Cut 8 (07) “…as a country.”
Higgins is optimistic an agreement will be reached on border wall funding before another possible government shutdown next month.

A report shows Louisianans are not using 8.9 million vacation days a year, 27th most in the nation. So Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says now is a great time to start planning your “Staycation” for this year. To start, he recommends the overlooked beauty of a bayou southwest of New Orleans.
Cut 4 (08) “state park”

Saints fans would say that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell comes out of hiding today. That’s because he’s holding a press conference in Atlanta, the site of this year’s Super Bowl. Goodell normally does a state of the league address during Super Bowl week, but you can bet he’ll be asked about the infamous no pass interference call in the NFC Championship game.

A report shows Louisianans do not use a quarter of their vacation days that they earn every year, and the Lt. Governor says he has a fix for that…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A state commission proposes spending an additional 86-million dollars on early childhood education. The funding plan, called LA B to 3, aims to provide assistance to a total of 114,000 children three and under. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says it’s a crucial first step.
cut 13 (11) “…from that”
A report says only half of Louisiana kindergarten students are considered ready for school.

Students’ behavior is another critical area in education. About 14-hundred educators are in Baton Rouge today for a summit on the issue. Lisa French with the state department of education says national experts will discuss methods on how to keep troubled students from dropping out or being sent to an alternative school…
cut 10 (11) “..curriculum”

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins has been named the top Republican of the Subcommittee of Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations, which is responsible for all aspects of security ops along land, air, and maritime borders. It’s an appointment that Higgins will not take lightly.
Cut 7 (10) “…our southern border.”

A state panel is proposing that Louisiana spend an additional 86-million dollars this year to provide 114 of the 173-thousand children that need early childhood education. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is behind the effort…
cut 14 (10) “…an example”
Mizell says less than a third of three-year-olds can access quality childcare in Louisiana.

About 14-hundred educators gather in Baton Rouge for what the state department of education calls a Behaviorial Intervention Summit. Chief of Staff of the Office of Student Opportunities at the state department of education, Lisa French, says the summit is a first in the state and comes as a response to behavioral issues faced in the classroom, in an effort to identify the best implementation of appropriate interventions.
Cut 11 (10) “…in this space.”
French says the goal is to see the behavioral needs being met with students remaining in the classroom instead of going to alternative schools or being suspended and sent home.

A report shows Louisianans do not use a quarter of their vacation days that they earn every year, and the Lt. Governor says he has a fix for that…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Congressman Clay Higgins has been appointed as the Republican Ranking member of the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operation.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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The Raising Canes River Center in Baton Rouge is playing host to 1400 educators today.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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A report shows Louisianans are leaving 8.9 million vacation days a year on the table, 27^th most in the nation. Of the 17 days a year Louisianans do take, only eight of them were for travel, so Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says now’s a great time to start planning your “Staycations” for the year. To start, he recommends the criminally overlooked beauty of a bayou southwest of New Orleans.

Cut 4 (08) “state park”

the report, which studied trends in 2017, notes nationwide, 705 million vacation days go unused.

Once you wrap up your trip to Bayou Segnette, The Lt. Governor recommends driving west to Lake Charles, staying at one of the new resorts, and then driving just north for one of the most haunted destinations in the state.

Cut 5 (12) “…of ghosts.”

After you get your scares, Nungesser recommends loading the family in the car and visiting central and north Louisiana, which is becoming a hotbed of WW2 era historical must-sees. With one weekend trip to Alexandria and then Monroe, you can cover both theaters of the war.

Cut 6 (13) “…to fly”

The report notes people who plan their vacations ahead of time were more likely to utilize all of their vacation days than those who don’t.

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Congressman Clay Higgins has been named the top Republican of the Subcommittee of Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations, which is responsible for all aspects of security ops along land, air, and maritime borders.   It’s an appointment that Higgins says he doesn’t take lightly.

Cut 7 (10) “…our southern border.”

Higgins says although he expects the subcommittee to be one of the more contentious in the 116^th Congress, he expects his role to be one to unify the both sides of the border security debate.

Cut 8 (07) “…as a country.”

Higgins says he’s in favor of the border wall, and feels optimistic an agreement will be reached funding the structure prior to another shutdown that could take place next month.

Cut 9 (12) “…my home.″

_________________________________

The Louisiana Department of Education is hosting the 2019 Behavioral Intervention Summit today at the Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge.  Chief of Staff of the Office of Student Opportunities at LDOE Lisa French says about 1400 educators and national experts will convene in a day full of focus on equipping educators with the tools and resources needed to work with the behavior issues of students.

Cut 10 (09) “emotional skills.”

French says the summit is a first in the state and comes as a response to behavioral issues faced in the classroom, in an effort to identify the best implementation of appropriate interventions.

Cut 11 (12) “…in this space.”

French says the goal is to see the behavioral needs being met with students remaining in the classroom instead of going to alternative schools or being suspended and sent home.

Cut 12 (10) “…their behavior.”

_______________________

A state commission is advancing a legislative plan to dramatically increase the amount of support for early childhood education. The preliminary funding plan, called LA B to 3, aims to clear the 22,000 children on the wait list for early childhood education financial support, and provide support to 114,000 children three and under. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says it’s a crucial first step.

Cut 13 (11) “…from that.”

The commission was created during the last legislative session.

Much of Louisiana’s early childhood education funding comes from the feds, but Mizell says this time the large increase in funds necessary to get this program going will have to come locally.

Cut 14 (10) “an example”

The commission reports less than a third of three-year-olds can accesses quality childcare in Louisiana.

But it’s not the only expensive education priority this session, with a teacher pay raise also on deck for intense discussions. The report notes every one dollar invested in early education yields $7.30 in return, and the expansion can large pay for itself unlike other programs.

Cut 15 (11) “…investment.”

173,000 children three and under are in need of early childhood education.

_______________________________________________

19th ranked LSU looks to extend its winning streak to 10 games tonight when they visit Texas A-and-M. The Tigers are coming off a remarkable victory, where they rallied from 14 points down late in the second half to beat Missouri on their home floor. LSU guard Tremont Waters says that win shows a lot about their team…

Cut 16 (13) “…the end″

It looked like LSU would suffer its first SEC loss on Saturday in Missouri, but Skylar Mays got hot, scoring nine consecutive points to start the rally. Mays says it was a great win, but they can’t forget why they were down by double digits…

 cut 17 (16)   “against A-and-M” 

The Aggies are 1-5 in the SEC, with their only win coming against Alabama with a buzzer beating three-pointer. But Mays says they can’t overlook A-and-M…

Cut 18 (17)  this league” 

Authorities say they have obtained a confession from 21-year-old Dakota Theriot, the south Louisiana man accused of killing his parents in Ascension Parish and then three others in Livingston Parish during Saturday shooting spree. Theriot was arrested Sunday morning in Virginia in the driveway of his grandmother’s home. He’s currently in the Richmond County, Virginia jail and an extradition hearing is set for Friday morning. Theriot faces five counts of first-degree murder when he returns to Louisiana. Webre says the suspected killer is eligible for the death penalty if convicted…

Cut 11 (10) “opposed to that”

The NBA has slapped a $50,000 fine on Pelican’s forward Anthony Davis following his agent’s public disclosure of his trade request.  The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement prohibits such disclosures, citing the comments made by agent Rich Paul to ESPN as “an intentional effort to undermine the contractual relationship between Davis and the Pelicans.”

Freezing temps will be blanketing a chunk of the state as far south as the I-10 corridor.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says tomorrow will be the most brutal of the cold temps, especially for the northern portions of the state.

Cut 12 (06)   “…points northward.”

Keim says now is the time protect people, plants, pets and pipes.

It’s been four years since the legislature approved legislation to allow Louisiana patients who suffer from certain diseases have access to medical marijuana, but you still can’t get it. Some families are frustrated that the process has been delayed once again, this time with a treatment availability estimated at early summer. Katie Corkern is a mother of a child who suffers from epilepsy and believes medical marijuana could be used to replace some of her child’s current medications, medications that have severe side effects. She says every month the state delays, is another month her child has to suffer.

Cut 8 (11) “to half”