Parents and students alike are worried how they can afford higher education since TOPS funding may be cut back.  Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”.

With the special legislative session being a memory for some and a nightmare for others, lawmakers are looking ahead to the regular session that starts Monday. The question is how the legislature will react to a highly fractured body after the recent blood-bath. Representative Barry Ivey.

Kenner Representative Julie stokes also is suffering the effects of a brutal special session that she also fears will bleed over to the regular session.

Cut 5  (07 ) “is respect.”

St. Tammany Parish detectives have arrested four people in connection with the murders of Raegan Day and Dustin Hartline. A Sheriff’s office facebook post says all individuals directly involved in the murders are in custody. However, the investigation is ongoing and other arrests are possible.

Yesterday St. Tammany Sheriff’s officials located a 2011 Chevrolet Camero with Day and Hartline inside, two friends reported them missing in the Pearl River area since Feb. 15.

The investigation into their disappearance led detectives to the East Pearl River Boat Launch, where the vehicle was located under water.

Louisiana drivers are getting a bit of a break with falling gas prices over the last few weeks. The statewide average for regular unleaded gas is $2.33 a gallon, but Triple A’s Don Redman drivers aren’t concerned as long as gas stays below $2.75 a gallon, which will translate to a lot of traveling this year…

Cut 12 (06) “this summer.”

St. Tammany Parish detectives have arrested four people in connection with the murders of Raegan Day and Dustin Hartline. A Sheriff’s office facebook post says all individuals directly involved in the murders are in custody. However, the investigation is ongoing and other arrests are possible.

Yesterday St. Tammany Sheriff’s officials located a 2011 Chevrolet Camero with Day and Hartline inside, two friends reported them missing in the Pearl River area since Feb. 15.

The investigation into their disappearance led detectives to the East Pearl River Boat Launch, where the vehicle was located under water.

Louisiana drivers are getting a bit of a break with falling gas prices over the last few weeks. Triple A’s Don Redman says statewide average for regular unleaded gas is $2.33 a gallon…Earlier this year, the projection was for $3.00 a gallon.

Cut 11 (10) “a gallon.”

With the special legislative session over, lawmakers are looking ahead to the regular session that starts Monday. The question is how the legislature will react to a highly fractured body after the recent blood-bath. Representative Barry Ivey says he can’t see any scenario during the upcoming session that passes a budget.

Cut 4  (11) “more difficult.” 

Now that the special session concluded without a solution to fill a one-billion-dollar budget shortfall in July, TOPS funding could be cut by 80-percent. Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo says many parents can’t afford to send their kids to college without some financial help. Those college prospects are looking elsewhere to get their education…

Cut 7 (11)  “students leaving.”

Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan is seeking to introduce a bill that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana and set up a way to tax the sale of cannabis. Jordan says this legislation could help with the state’s constant budget deficits…
Cut 7 (09) “right now.”
Washington State is expected to bring in over 700-million-dollars between 2017 and 2019.

The statewide average for unleaded gas is $2.33 a gallon, but Louisiana Triple A spokesperson Don Redman says the price at the pump will soon rise to about $2.50 as refinieries shift from a winter grade gasoline to summer. He says drivers typically aren’t concerned as long as gas stays below $2.75 a gallon…
Cut 12 (06) “this summer.”

With the special legislative session being a memory for some and a nightmare for others, lawmakers are looking ahead to the regular session that starts Monday. The question is how the legislature will react to a highly fractured body after the recent blood-bath. Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey.
Cut 3 (:11) “that we serve.”

Matt Doyle looks at how much it cost taxpayers for lawmakers to do nothing towards fixing a one billion dollar shortfall…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Leaders from both sides are pointing fingers after the special session crashed and burned after 15 days of failed negotiations, leaving the state with no certain path to solving the one billion dollar fiscal cliff. Republicans are blaming Governor Edwards and the Democrats for not being flexible in negotiations’.

But Edwards is placing the blame on House Speaker Taylor Barras.

Edwards says the House and Barras failed to provide a long term solution to Louisiana’s fiscal situation…

Cut 16 (11) “the Senate”

Political analyst Clancy Dubos says legislators spent a lot of taxpayer money for very little return.

DuBos says the legislative gridlock could hurt some lawmakers chances at re-election….

Cut 6 (10)  “a shot.”

Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan is seeking to introduce a bill that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana and set up a way to tax the sale of cannabis. Baton Rouge and New Orleans recently approved ordinances that decrease the penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. He says making it legal statewide is the next obvious step…

Cut 9 (10)  “it underground.”

Louisiana drivers are getting a bit of a break with falling gas prices over the last few weeks. The statewide average for regular unleaded gas is $2.33 a gallon, but Triple A’s Don Redman says don’t get too comfortable with these lower prices as we move into the warmer months…

Cut 10 (10) “grade gasoline.”

Leaders from both sides are pointing fingers after the special session crashed and burned after 15 days of failed negotiations, leaving the state with no certain path to solving the one billion dollar fiscal cliff. Republican Representative Cameron Henry says Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards was unable to rally his people.

Henry says the governor failed to communicate exactly what he wanted, or how large of a shortfall that needed to be made up…

Cut 14 (10) “shortfalls.”

But Edwards is placing the blame on House Speaker Taylor Barras.

Cut 15 (10) “of leadership”

The state legislature went home after spending 15 days in a special session and failing to find a solution for the one billion dollar fiscal cliff. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says legislators spent a lot of taxpayer money for very little return.

The session is expected to cost the state nearly a million dollars, 50-to-60-thousand dollars a day.

Despite early reports of House leadership and the governor having a framework for a deal, negotiations collapsed once the session started. DuBos says the same partisan divides that tanked the February special session still exist going forward.

Cut 5  (11)  “of uncertainty.”

A south Louisiana lawmaker thinks he has a solution for the state’s budget woes. It involves legalizing marijuana. Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

Louisiana drivers are getting a bit of a break with falling gas prices over the last few weeks. The statewide average for regular unleaded gas is $2.33 a gallon, but Triple A’s Don Redman says drivers typically aren’t concerned as long as gas stays below $2.75 a gallon, which will translate to a lot of traveling this year…

Cut 12 (06) “this summer.”

This year’s post special session blame game is revving up after the legislature failed to solve the fiscal cliff. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The state legislature went home after spending 15 days in a special session and failing to find a solution for the one billion dollar fiscal cliff. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says legislators spent a lot of taxpayer money for very little return.

Cut 4  (07) “… nothing.” 

Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan is seeking to introduce a bill that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana and set up a way to tax the sale of cannabis.

Colorado, the first state to legalize marijuana, pulled in nearly 200-million-dollars in taxes, while Washington State is expected to bring in over 700-million-dollars between 2017 and 2019.  California could make upwards of 1.4-billion-dollars by 2021.  Jordan proposes a tax rate similar to cigarettes, which is $1.08 per pack.  Jordan says if Louisiana were to legalize pot, it wouldn’t give citizens the right to smoke it whenever they want to

Cut 8 (10) “manner possible.”

Louisiana drivers are getting a bit of a break with falling gas prices over the last few weeks. The statewide average for regular unleaded gas is $2.33 a gallon, but Triple A’s Don Redman says Earlier this year, the projection was for $3.00 a gallon in Louisiana, but Redman says the increase won’t be as much as first thought…

Cut 11 (10) “a gallon.”

Legislators waived the white flag on the special session. Matt Doyle looks at how much it cost taxpayers for lawmakers to do nothing towards fixing a one billion dollar shortfall…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana drivers are getting a bit of a break with falling gas prices over the last few weeks. The statewide average for regular unleaded gas is $2.33 a gallon, but Triple A’s Don Redman says don’t get too comfortable with these lower prices as we move into the warmer months…

Cut 10 (10) “grade gasoline.”

Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan is seeking to introduce a bill that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana and set up a way to tax the sale of cannabis. Jordan says this legislation could help with the state’s constant budget deficits…

Cut 7 (09)  “right now.”

Leaders from both sides are pointing fingers after the special session crashed and burned after 15 days of failed negotiations, leaving the state with no certain path to solving the one billion dollar fiscal cliff. Republican Representative Cameron Henry says Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards was unable to rally his side.

Cut 13 (11)  “black caucus”

The Pelicans put their eight-game winning streak on the line tonight when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers. New Orleans has put itself in position to host an NBA playoff series with this long winning streak. After being named the Western Conference Player of the Month, Anthony Davis was named Western Conference Player of the Week as he averaged 34 points a game in three contests.

LSU pitcher Zack Hess was named national player of the week by Collegiate Baseball. Hess struck out a career-high 13 hitters last Friday in a win over Toledo. The Tigers will host Southern University tonight.

Louisiana Tech’s Matt Miller has been named as the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week. Miller pitched seven strong innings and gave up just one unearned run on five hits in the Bulldogs four to two victory over nationally ranked Texas A-and-M. Tonight, the Bulldogs host Grambling State. 

Also tonight, Northwestern State is at 10th ranked Texas A-and-M. Southeastern hosts Toledo and Sacred Heart is at Nicholls.

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The NFL Network reports the Seahawks are not expected to re-sign tight end Jimmy Graham before free agency starts on March 14th. A source says the Saints would have some interest in bringing Graham back to New Orleans. The 31-year-old caught 10 touchdown passes last season.

NFL teams have been told the salary cap for next season will be 177-million dollars, a nine million dollar increase from the 2017 season. The Saints will reportedly have 30-million dollars in cap space, but that doesn’t include the signing of former Panthers safety Kurt Coleman.

At the NFL combine, former LSU cornerback Donte Jackson ran the 40 in 4.32 seconds. The 40 time record at the combine was set last year by John Ross. The eventual first round pick of the Bengals ran a 4.22.

Nicholls Richie Riley has been named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year. Newcomer of the Year is Roddy Peters, defensive player of the year is Southeastern’s Marlain Veal. 

And in the Sun Belt, the Cajuns Bob Marlin has been named coach of the year. UL-Lafayette’s JaKeenan Gant is Defensive Player of the Year, while ULM’s Michael Ertel is the Freshman of the year.

Governor John Bel Edwards was hopeful that legislators would find a way to come up with nearly one-billion-dollars to cover the loss of a one-cent sales tax on June 30^th. Today, he was sadly disappointed as both the House and Senate informed him they were at a stalemate and agreed to finalize the special session two days early. The Governor in a press conference was already hinting at another special session…

(CUT 26) (11) “the 4^th.”

Metairie Republican Representative Cameron Henry says the Governor called this special session without much forethought. Henry says to put the blame for this failure on the Democratic Party…

(CUT 28) (11) “black caucus.”

The Corps of Engineers is recommending opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway just outside of New Orleans this Thursday as Mississippi River levels are expected to steadily rise after several weeks of intense rains in the Midwest. Colonel Michael Clancy says the Mississippi is getting close to topping the New Orleans levee system.

Cut 15 (08) “designed for”

The river is currently at 14 feet. Once it reaches 15 feet, recreation and work near the levees will be restricted.

Another cold front will bring back cooler temperatures to Louisiana this week. Pierre C. Shadeaux, Louisiana’s rodent weather forecaster predicted an early end to winter back on ground hog day, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says the nutria’s prediction was premature.

Cut 12 (10) “of year.”

Temperatures will rebound somewhat by this coming weekend.