16:45 LRN Sportscast March 8th

LSU Basketball Coach Johnny Jones is expected to be fired, once the Tigers are eliminated from the SEC Tournament. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says the coaching seat started gettting warm for Jones, after he failed to lead LSU to the NCAA Tournament last year with Ben Simmons…
cut 10 (11) “…program’s reputation”
LSU faces Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament tonight. Jones remains optimistic the Tigers can make a run in this tourney…
cut 18 (19) “…working toward that”
Tip-off from Nashville is at 6 PM.

The Sun Belt Men’s basketball tournament begins today in New Orleans. At 5:00, UL Lafayette will take on Little Rock. The Cajuns already beat the Trojans twice this season and Coach Bob Marlin knows it won’t be easy to get a third win…
cut 19 (20) “….semifinals”
The Cajuns are the seventh seed in the tournament, but they are also on a six-game winning streak.

In the NBA, the Pelicans host Toronto. New Orleans has lost three straight to the Raptors.

In Lake Charles, LSU faces McNeese State. The Cowboys beat the Tigers last year 7-0.

And the Boys Class 3A semifinals are tonight in Lake Charles, Peabody versus Madison, Carroll takes on Wossman.

15:30 Newscast March 8,2017

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

Today, Governor John Bel Edwards sent President Donald Trump a list of potential coastal projects to consider in the state as the president is pushing for the development of new infrastructure. Edwards says the projects would help Louisiana become more resilient from floods and hurricanes, while protecting production in the energy sector.

 
A federal judge once again blocked a state law prohibiting women under 21-year-old from exotic dancing. Three strippers aged 18 to 20 filed suit and their attorney Harry Rosenberg says their argument was the law prohibited the women from expressing their right to free speech through dance. He says the basis for the ruling granting the injunction stemmed from the broad nature of the law.
cut 14 (11) “broad”

The Johnny Jones era at LSU could be coming to a close. The Tigers basketball team failed to make the NCAA tournament last year and they’ve only won two SEC games this season. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva has money to spend and should be willing to invest in a good basketball coach….
cut 11 (08) “head coaches”

Worsham says Jones is expected to be fired once LSU is eliminated from this week’s SEC tournament.

LRN PM Newscall March 8th

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves a proposal that does not increase funding for public schools. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A federal judge once again blocks a state law that would prohibit women under 21-years-old from exotic dancing. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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No charges are expected in the fatal shooting that occurred when a 40-year-old man attempted to break into a Baton Rouge home this morning. Authorities say Anthony Gordon was shot and killed by the homeowner during a confrontation, after forcing his way into the house at around 1:30 a.m. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore says the homeowner had every right to defend his home.

Cut 3 (10) “something wrong”

Gordon was pronounced dead at the scene. Moore says an investigation into the shooting is underway…

cut 4  (05) “justified shooting”

Baton Rouge police say Gordon was armed with a gun when he tried to gain entry into the home. Moore says Louisiana law allows homeowners to use lethal force to defend themselves…

Cut 5  (07)  “every case”

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State funding for public schools is at a standstill, as the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves a proposal that does not increase state funding 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”

Richard says like anything else, the cost of operating a school is going up every year, but funding has not increased. He 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”

BESE says continued state budget problems makes it difficult to ask and receive an increase in state funding. Richard says educating our children should be more of a priority for lawmakers.

Cut 8 (10) “year after year”

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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. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham…

Cut 9 (07)  “basketball”

Worsham says the biggest problem with Jones was his inability to get more out of last year’s team with talented players, like Ben Simmons.

Cut 10 (11) “program’s reputation”

Worsham says LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva has money to spend and should be willing  to invest in a good basketball coach….

cut 11 (08) “head coaches”

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A federal judge in New Orleans has once again blocked a state law that makes the minimum age to be an exotic dancer 21-years-old. Three strippers filed suit after the state legislature passed the legislation last year and their attorney is Harry Rosenberg….

cut 12 (07) “vague”

The women were 18, 19, and 20 when the suit was originally filed. Rosenberg says Judge Carl Barbier’s ruling ensures the law will not go into effect until this case goes to trial at a later date.

Cut 13 (09) “from dancing” 

Rosenberg says their argument to the court was that the law prohibited women aged 18 to 20 from expressing their right to free speech through dance. He says the basis for the court’s ruling granting the injunction stemmed from the extremely broad nature of the law.

cut 14 (11) “broad”

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14:30 LRN Newscast March 8th

A federal judge in New Orleans once again blocks a state law that makes the minimum age to be an exotic dancer 21-years-old. Three strippers filed suit after the state legislature passed the legislation last year and their attorney is Harry Rosenberg….
cut 12 (07) “vague”
Rosenberg says the ruling ensures the law will not go into effect until this case goes to trial at a later date.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves a recommendation that calls for K-through-12 public schools to receive three-point-seven billion dollars in state funding next year, which is same as the current year. BESE says continued state budget problems makes it difficult to receive an increase in state funding. Louisiana School Board Association executive director Scott Richard says education should be more of a priority…
cut 8 (10) “…year after year”

LSU Basketball Coach Johnny Jones is expected to be fired this week, once the Tigers are eliminated from the SEC Tournament. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says coaching seat started gettting warm for Jones, after he failed to lead LSU to the NCAA Tournament last year with Ben Simmons…
cut 10 (11) “…program’s reputation”

Bossier City Police uges residents not to fall for telephone scams. Emelie Gunn has more
voicer 2 (27) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

13:30 Newscast, March 8th, 2017

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.

12:30 Newscast, March 8th, 2017

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.

 

11:40 LRN Sportscast March 8th

It’s expected LSU Coach Johnny Jones will be dismissed once the Tigers are eliminated from the SEC Tournament. LSU meets Mississippi State in the first game of the tourney tonight in Nashville. Jones is completing his fifth season as the Tigers head coach. Two years ago, he took LSU to the NCAA Tournament. Last season, LSU failed to make the Big Dance, despite having the eventual number one pick in the NBA draft on their team. This past season, LSU went 2-16 in the SEC. Jones on his time as head coach at LSU…
cut 17 (09) “…do that”
Tonight’s game tips off at 6 PM.

In NFL news…the Saints have reportedly signed wide receiver Brandon Coleman to a one-year deal worth 615-thousand dollars and have tendered a qualifying offer to Willie Snead. Snead has caught 2016 passes during his two seasons in New Orleans.

It was another great win for Louisiana Tech baseball last night. The Bulldogs scored two runs in the eighth to tie and then another run in the ninth to beat Mississippi State three to two. Sean Ullrich hit a two-run double in the eighth inning and Raphael Gladu scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. Nate Harris earned his sixth save of the season.

The sixth ranked LSU baseball team is in Lake Charles to face McNeese State. The Cowboys are 8-and-4 on the year, with all four losses coming against a nationaly ranked Arizona squad. Freshman right-hander Zack Hess will start for the Tigers.

Also today…Northwestern State is at Kansas State. The Demons lost to the Wildcats 16-4 yesterday, while the Warhawks are at Arkansas. ULM fell to the Razorbacks 12-3. Southeastern also hosts West Virginia tonight.

Back to basketball…Southern and Grambling State advanced to the semifinals of the SWAC Tournament. The struggling Pelicans host Toronto and the Class 3A semifinals are tonight in Lake Charles, Peabody versus Madison, Carroll takes on Wossman.

11:30 Newscast, March 8th, 2017

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.

 

10:30 LRN Newscast March 8th

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’

09:30 Newscast, March 8th, 2017

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.