A federal judge today ruled to block Louisiana’s law that requires people to be at least 21 years old to work as a stripper. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier (BAHR’-bih-aye) believed the unidentified exotic dancers who filed the suit made a strong case that the mandate was against the constitution. Today’s preliminary injunction means the law won’t be enforced before the case goes to trial.

K-12 schools in Louisiana won’t be seeing an increase in state funding after approval by BESE today. Executive Director of the Louisiana School Boards Association, Scott Richard, says federal funding is also in a decline, which leaves local school districts to pick up the lion’s share of the costs…:
CUT 7 (10) “serious concern”
Richard says it’s a shame that educating our children isn’t more of a priority for lawmakers.

It looks like the coaching days of Johnny Jones are coming to an end. Jones has been the head basketball coach at LSU since 2012, where he won more games in his first four years than any other basketball coach in the school’s history. But the team failed to make the NCAA Tournament last year and this season, they only won two SEC games:
Cut 9 (07) “basketball”
That’s Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham.

US House Republicans have presented their plan for replacing the Affordable Care Act. The new plan scraps fines imposed on taxpayers who do not purchase insurance and instead offers tax credits to those who purchase coverage in the open market. Chief Healthcare Economist for Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana Mike Bertaut says that has huge implications for the marketplace…:
Cut 13 (09) “20-percent”
He says the goal is to deliver the plan for the American Healthcare Act to the Senate by April 1.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves a proposal that does not increase funding for public schools…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

In the race for Troy Brown’s Senate seat in District 2, Warren Harang, a sugarcane farmer and Conservative Democrat, announced his campaign for the vacancy. Two state representatives, a school board president, a film executive and the director of the Louisiana High School Coaches Association are all looking at the race according to LaPolitics.com. A special election has been called for April 29th and qualifying begins a week from today.

Officials have released the name of the suspected intruder who was killed by a resident of the Baton Rouge home allegedly being robbed. Police believe 40-year-old Anthony Gordon forced his way into a house an confronted the homeowner when he was shot and killed. DA Hillar Moore says Louisiana law allows homeowners to use lethal force to defend themselves…:
Cut 5 (07) “every case”
Baton Rouge Police say Gordon was armed with a gun when he tried to gain entry into the home.

It’s reported that LSU basketball coach Johnny Johns will be fired after the season is over. The Tigers play Mississippi State tonight in the SEC Tournament. Men’s hoops is 2-16 in conference this year.

State funding for public schools is at a standstill, as the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves a proposal that does not increase additional dollars per student. Executive Director of the Louisiana School Boards Association, Scott Richard, says the outlook for K-12 schools is pretty bleak…:
Cut 6 (09) “funding formula”
BESE says continued state budget problems makes it difficult to ask and receive an increase in state funding.

The Baton Rouge Police Department says a man was fatally shot while allegedly trying to break into a home early this morning; and no charges are expected to be filed in the case. The intruder is identified as 40-year-old Anthony Gordon. East Baton Rouge Parish DA Hillar Moore says the homeowner had every right to defend himself.:
Cut 3 (10) “something wrong”

Tonight could be all she wrote for LSU basketball coach Johnny Jones. The Tigers play Mississippi State in the SEC tournament, and sources say Athletic Director Joe Alleva will be looking for a new coach once this season is over. Jones remains optimistic the Tigers can make a run in this tourney…:
Cut 25 (08) “for this team”
TigerRag.com’s Cody Worsham said multiple sources indicate that as of this morning, Jones and Alleva had not spoken about the reports or his future with the program.

Officials in Ascension Parish say they are looking for the man seen on surveillance video at a Walgreens crawling his way through a drink cooler in order to steal 11 cartons of cigarettes. Another person is standing watch while the suspect made his way into the fridge then crawled to the storage area in the back to snatch the smokes. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact authorities.

One year after the March flood devastated parts of north and central Louisiana, flood victims are still trying to recover. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Bossier City police is warning residents about a telephone scam where the person on the other end of line claims to be with the I-R-S. Sergeant Brian Griffith says anytime someone receives a call from the IRS asking for credit card of banking information, it’s usually a scam…
cut 8 (09) “…been using”

There’s a lot of discussion over the House Republican health care plan that seeks to scrap major parts of the Affordable Care Act. A big complaint of the A-C-A is that premiums have increased. Chief Healthcare Economist for Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana Mike Bertaut says that’s because more people had access to coverage, many for the first time in their lives, which drove up health carecare costs…
cut 15 (09) “…catching up on”

Construction has begun on a 10-mile stretch of cable barriers that will be installed in the median on L-A 31-32 in Shreveport. Tammy Willson of Haughton pushed for the cable barriers after her daughter was killed in 2013 when a distracted driver crossed the median and slammed into her vehicle…
cut 11 (09) “….make it happen’

Richland Parish US Representative Ralph Abraham reflects on the devastating flood in north Louisiana which began a year ago today. He says it’s hard to believe no state or federal dollars have been handed out to help flood victims…:
Cut 6 (09) “back together”
Congress has so far approved $1.6 billion to respond to the March and August flooding.

A little over three years after losing her daughter to a head on collision, a Haughton mother’s grass-roots effort to have cable barriers installed on that highway has become a reality. Casey Colley was killed in a cross-over accident on LA 3132 and her mother, Tammy Willson, says money for this cable barrier groundbreaking, and other highway safety initiatives is what saves lives…:
CUT 12 (07) “to stop”
The cables are designed to catch a vehicle as it crosses a median at high speed, preventing what often turns into a fatal crash.

The Bossier City Police Department is reminding residents not to fall for IRS telephone scams. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Officials have released the name of the suspected intruder who was killed by a resident of the Baton Rouge home allegedly being robbed. Police believe 40-year-old Anthony Gordon forced his way into a house an confronted the homeowner when he was shot and killed. The DA says a preliminary investigation indicates that this will be classified as a justified shooting.

It was a year ago today that rain began hammering north and central Louisiana causing the first of two devastating floods in the state in 2016. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham says homeowners weren’t the only ones impacted by the March event…:
CUT 5 (11) “us everyday”
He says he’s frustrated no state or federal money has been handed out to help flood victims rebuild their homes.

Today Governor John Bel Edwards will deliver the keynote address at the 2017 Cybersecurity Summit. It will be hosted by CenturyLink in Monroe.

The Baton Rouge Police Department says a man was fatally shot while allegedly trying to break into a home early this morning. The DA says a preliminary determination indicated the shooting was justified.

DOTD breaks ground on cable barriers that will be installed on the median of LA 3132 in memory of a young woman who lost her life in a 2013 accident. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Bossier Police are warning residents of an IRS phone scam. They say residents report they are getting calls saying they’ll be arrested if they don’t make a payment. Sgt. Brian Griffith advises anyone who receives a similar call to immediately hang up…:
Cut 9 (09) “as possible”

The Chief Healthcare Economist for Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana breaks down the US House Republicans’ plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. Mike Bertaut says under Obamacare, tax credits are based on income. But he says under this new proposal, by 2020 credits will be based on age…:
Cut 14 (11) “4-thousand dollars”
Governor John Bel Edwards says the plan would halt Louisiana’s expanded Medicaid program.

One year ago today, heavy rains began pouring down on north Louisiana, causing the worst flood the area has seen in hundreds of years. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham says he’s frustrated no state or federal money has been handed out to help flood victims:
Cut 4 (11) “church based help”
The flood prompted a federal disaster declaration for 37 parishes.

Construction has begun on cable barriers along the median of LA 3132 in Shreveport thanks to the efforts of a grieving mother. Tammy Willson of Haughton lost her daughter, Casey Colley, in 2013 when a truck crossed the median of the highway. She says she knew she had to do something in Casey’s memory…:
Cut 10 (10) “other lives”
Willson says if road barriers had been up, she would still have her daughter today.

The Bossier City Police Department is warning residents of telephone scammers claiming to be the IRS and requesting money. Sgt. Brian Griffith says they’ve received multiple reports of phone calls stating a payment needs to be made over the phone or an arrest warrant will be issued for the individual…:
Cut 7 (07) “for that”
He says it’s good to know and tell your friends that anytime someone calls and claims to be from the IRS it’s usually a scam.

US House Republicans have presented their plan for replacing the Affordable Care Act and it scraps fines imposed on taxpayers who do not purchase insurance and instead offers tax credits to those who purchase coverage in the open market. Chief Healthcare Economist for Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana Mike Bertaut says that has huge implications for the marketplace…:
Cut 13 (09) “20-percent”
Bertaut says the goal is to deliver the plan for the American Healthcare Act to the Senate by April 1.

Tonight could be the final game for Johnny Jones as head coach of the LSU Tigers. Tiger-rag-dot-com reports Athletic Director Joe Alleva is expected to hand Jones his pink slip shortly after the Tigers are eliminated from the SEC Tournament. Jones was asked whether he thought he deserved another season..:
Cut 16 (09) “game to play”

One year after the March flood devastated parts of north and central Louisiana, flood victims are still trying to recover. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

One suspect has been arrested in connection to a fire inside a Walmart in Baton Rouge. According officials, 19-year-old Jarrett McCleskey admitted to setting the fire was booked on charges of aggravated arson and terrorizing.