Today is the start of the 2015 Hurricane Season and even though forecasters are calling for a below average season, state officials urge you to get prepared. Michelle Southern reports…

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The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says a motorcycle crash has taken the life of a Morgan City man. They say 25-year-old Trenton Helflin failed to negotiate a turn and left the roadway. His motorcycle then struck a utility pole and entered a waterway. Helflin was ejected from his bike and was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing, but authorities do not believe alcohol was a factor.

State lawmakers are looking at increasing title fees when a person purchases a new or used vehicle by another 50-dollars. Senate Transportation Chairman Robert Adley says the additional revenue will go towards State Police operations, so they can stop taking money away from a fund designed to pay for road and bridge work. Adley believes the rest of the legislature will go along with this proposal…

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The proposed title fee increase has been amended to a bill already passed by the House that’s awaiting a vote in the Senate.

The trial to determine the competency of Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson begins in New Orleans today. Last week a judge ruled that the proceedings are closed to the public, because a person’s medical records should not be known to the world. Legal analyst Tim Meche believes that’s a stretch…

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Benson’s heirs are asking that the 87-year-old be declared mentally unfit to manage his affairs.

Legislators are looking at increasing title fees by another 50-dollars when a person purchases a new or used vehicle. Currently, residents pay a title fee of $18.50 and Senate Transportation Chairman Robert Adley says it hasn’t been adjusted since the ’80s. He says a fee increase can keep State Police from receiving money out of the Transportation Trust Fund, which pays for road repairs…

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The proposed title fee increase has been amended to a bill already passed by the House that’s awaiting a vote in the Senate.

The trial to determine whether Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson is competent to make important decisions regarding his franchises begins today in New Orleans. Benson previously announced he was going to leave ownership of the teams to his wife instead of his daughter and grandchildren. His lawyer maintains that decision was in the best interest of the sports franchises. Legal analyst Tim Meche says this is a very unusual situation…

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Benson’s heirs are asking that the 87-year-old be declared mentally unfit to manage his affairs.

Today begins the 2015 Hurricane Season and although forecasters are calling for a below average season, state officials are urging you to get prepared for a storm now. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesman Mike Steele says in addition to hurricane preparedness items, you should also think about things like prescription medication paperwork, insurance papers and other important documents…

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You can find more information at www-dot-getagameplan-dot-org.

State Police say a Thibodaux motorcyclist is dead after a crash in Terrebonne Parish. Authorities say 40-year-old Verbon Robbins was passing another motorcycle when he lost control of his bike, traveled off the roadway, and struck a utility pole. Robbins was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The investigation is ongoing.

The House Ways and Means Committee hears a Senate-bill today that is needed for the legislature to reach a revenue-neutral budget. The measure is called the SAVE tax credit, and it will provide colleges with a tax credit for raising fees on students. Many democrats oppose the measure as the head of the party, Senator Karen Peterson, says all the bill does is help make it look like they are not raising taxes…

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Governor Bobby Jindal has promised he would veto any measures that weren’t “revenue neutral” which is forcing lawmakers to come up with creative ways to get bills signed.

State lawmakers are looking at increasing title fees by another 50-dollars when a person purchases a new or used vehicle. Senate Transportation Chairman Robert Adley says the additional revenue will go towards State Police operations, so they can stop taking money away from a fund designed to pay for road and bridge work…

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Currently, residents pay a title fee of $18.50.

Today is the start of the 2015 Hurricane Season and even though forecasters are calling for a below average season, state officials are urging you to get prepared for a storm now. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesman Mike Steele says their message every year is “Get a Game Plan”…

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A list of hurricane supplies, evacuation information, and other critical information can be found online at www-dot-getagameplan-dot-org.

LSU will face UNC-Wilmington today at noon in the championship round of the Baton Rouge Regional. The Seahawks defeated Tulane 8-2 in a rain delayed matchup yesterday for a chance at the championship.

The National Weather Service predicts the Red River will crest at 34 feet on June sixth, a one foot increase over the previous crest’s prediction. Officials predict flood conditions to be similiar to that of 1990 or similar past major South Bossier Flood events. Lt. Bill Davis with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office says for residents who live in south Bossier, you may want to think about re-locating to higher ground, if not stockpile water and plenty of canned foods…
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There are three locations in Bossier Parish where sandbags are available.

In response to complaints about Governor Bobby Jindal using his office to send an email calling Senator Rand Paul unsuited to be Commander in Chief, the state Inspector General advised the Governor to use a different method in the future. In the statement, Stephen Street said Jindal could have avoided the complaints by using a private email or non-public website.

The LSU softball team lost 4-nothing to Florida last night in the Women’s College World Series. The Tigers will play again tonight at 8:30 in an elimination game. The LSU baseball team faces UNC Wilmington in a winner’s bracket contest tonight in the Baton Rouge Regional. and in the Houston Regional, the Ragin Cajuns battle Houston in a winner’s bracket contest.

A man wielding an ax has been arrested after he went after an officer, and fled in his Baton Rouge Police car. Cpl. L’Jean McKneely says they got the call about 41 year-old Deandre Trahan walking around and attempting to burglarize homes, and when the officer arrived and called for back-up, the suspect attacked…
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McKneely says they found the police car in west Baton Rouge Parish, and Trahan had to be tazed several times, before he was taken into police custody.

The LSU baseball team fell behind against Lehigh yesterday, but like they’ve done so many times this year, they put some quality at-bats together and ended up winning in a 10-3 rout over the Mountain Hawks. Coach Paul Mainieri says the key hit was an RBI double by Chris Sciambra in a three-run sixth inning…
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The Tigers will play UNC Wilmington tonight. The Seahawks thumped Tulane 10 to 1 last night.

And What a come from behind victory for the Ragin Cajuns in Houston yesterday. UL Lafayette was down by four runs in the ninth inning and scored five runs to beat Rice seven to six. Senior third baseman Tyler Girouard scored twice in the contest…
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The Cajuns face Houston tonight in a winner’s bracket contest.

The US Army agrees to pay for the disposal of the 15-million pounds of M6 propellant improperly stored at Camp Minden in Webster Parish. Eric Gill reports….
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This weekend the state’s four-percent sales tax has been removed from hurricane preparedness items like self powered light sources, radios, gas tanks, batteries, storm shutter devices and more. Department of Revenue spokesperson Kizzy Payton…
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Governor Bobby Jindal issues an emergency declaration so the state can prepare for potential flooding in northwest and central Louisiana as a result of the rising Red River. Twenty-five thousand sandbags are on their way to Bossier to help that Parish protect itself from high water. Officials say the Red River is expected to crest at 34 feet on June 6th in Bossier.

The Louisiana Inspector General advises Governor Jindal that he should use private resources the next time he wants to make politically charged statements against a person running for office. I-G Stephen Street made that statement in response to Jindal’s press release on governor letterhead earlier this week that said Senator Rand Paul is unsuited to be Commander in Chief. The state constitution prohibits the use of public resources to campaign for or against a candidate.

In NCAA Baseball Regional action….LSU beat Lehigh 10-3, UNC Wilmington trounced Tulane 10 to 1 and the Ragin Cajuns scored five runs in the ninth to beat Rice seven to six.

Former Saints safety Darren Sharper has plead guilty to drug and rape charges in a New Orleans federal courtroom. The 39-year-old Sharper pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to distribute drugs with the intent to commit rape. Legal analyst Chick Foret says Sharper’s “global” plea deal limits his sentence to 9 years, which Judge Jane Milazzo can choose to accept or reject…:
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Under his “global” plea deal, Sharper will plead guilty in state court in New Orleans to two counts of forcible rape and one count of simple rape.

Today and tomorrow it’s a Louisiana Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. Department of Revenue spokeswoman Kizzy Payton says this weekend Louisiana residents can purchase hurricane preparedness items without having to pay the 4 percent state sales tax…:
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Hurricane season starts Monday.

The US Army agrees to pay for the disposal of the 15-million pounds of M6 propellant improperly stored at Camp Minden in Webster Parish. Eric Gill has more…:
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In response to complaints about Governor Bobby Jindal using his office to send an email calling Senator Rand Paul unsuited to be Commander in Chief, the state Inspector General advised the Governor to use a different method in the future. In the statement Stephen Street said Jindal could have avoided the complaints by using another means to send the message.

Due to flooding concerns in northwest Louisiana, Governor Bobby Jindal has called a meeting of emergency responders to help prepare. Meteorologists believe flooding will occur because the Red River is expected to crest in Shreveport on June 6th due to large amounts of rain. Jindal issued an emergency declaration and ordered 25,000 sand bags to help protect Bossier Parish from high water.

Former Saints safety Darren Sharper pleads guilty to drug and rape charges Friday in New Orleans federal court. The 39-year-old Sharper pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to distribute drugs with the intent to commit rape. Legal analyst Chick Foret says Sharper’s “global” plea deal with prosecutors in four states looks to be unfolding in his favor…:
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The deal is tied to a 9 year sentence. Sharper is scheduled for sentencing on August 20th.