There are reports that some families are opting out from having their child take standardized tests that are part of Common Core because they feel those tests will be harmful to their children. Chairman of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Chas Roemer, says the new standardized tests are more rigorous than previous ones, but it will help determine a student’s strength and weakness…

cut 8 (09) “their student”

Roemer is encouraging parents to have their child take the test in March.

Many are waiting to see if democratic New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu will get in the governor’s race. Jeremy Alford, publisher of la-politics-dot-com, says Landrieu only has about 40-thousand dollars in campaign money in the bank, so if he’s getting in, he’ll need to make a decision soon…

cut 13 (06) “wanted too”

Alford says some Democratic operatives say Landrieu will pass on the governor’s race.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center plans to provide doctors in Louisiana with proven strategies which would reduce and treat childhood obesity. Project lead, Dr. Amanda Staiano, says they have fantastic national recommendations on how to treat obesity and screen for it in clinics, but they find many physicians aren’t using them…

cut 5 (12) “and families”

Staiano says they have over 2,000 hard copies of the toolkit they plan to distribute throughout the state.

If you are interested in health reports for local restaurants, there’s now an app for that. It’s called “What the Health” and co-creator Jake Van Dyke of Modern Appsolutions says the app is very user friendly…

cut 10 (08) “recent inspection”

Louisiana is one of just eight states, along with Washington DC, serviced by the app. The app is free and available for both Android and iPhones.

The New England Patriots overcame a 10 point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 last night in Super Bowl 49. Former LSU wide receiver Brandon Lafell caught four passes, including one for a touchdown, as he earned his first Super Bowl ring. Louisiana Tech alum, punter Ryan Allen, who averaged 49 yards a punt in the game, also picked up his first ring. This is New England’s fourth NFL championship in franchise history.

Anthony Davis could be back in the Pelicans’ starting linup tonight as they face the red-hot Atlanta Hawks. Davis sat out Friday night’s 108-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers with a groin strain. The Pels could use Davis tonight as the Hawks have won a franchise record 19 straight and have not tasted defeat since December 26th. Tipoff in the Smoothie King Center is scheduled for 7PM.

In college hoops over the weekend. Mississippi State dropped LSU 73-67. The Tigers fall to 5-3 in SEC play.

In the Sun Belt, ULM got past South Alabama 67-61 and UL-Lafayette defeated Texas State 72-63. ULM remains in a tie for second in the league, a half-game behind Georgia Southern.

In the Southland, Incarnate Word beat Nicholls State 69-58, McNeese State got past UNO 68-61, and Northwestern State blew past Southeastern Lousiana 88-73.

In Conference USA, Louisiana Tech improves to 8-1 in league play after their 81-57 win over the Thundering Heard of Marshall. The Bulldogs remain tied with Western Kentucky atop the conference standings.

And in the American Conference, Temple trounced Tulane 55-37.

Amid reports that some families are opting out from having their child take standardized tests that are part of Common Core, the chairman of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Chas Roemer, is encouraging parents to have their child take the test in March…

CUT 7 (12) “weaknesses”

Governor Bobby Jindal has issued an executive order that calls on BESE to have an alternate test for those students who opt-out of the Common Core exam.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center launches an initiative to provide doctors in Louisiana with proven strategies which would reduce and treat obesity in children. The project is lead by Dr. Amanda Staiano (stye-an-no) who says the Child Obesity Treatment Toolkit helps primary care physicians determine who’s at risk for obesity…:

cut 4 (05) “in clinic settings”

Staiano says childhood obesity is a very serious issue in Louisiana with half of our kids being overweight or obese.

There is a new, free app for your smart phone that puts the health reports for local restaurants at your fingertips. The app is called “What the Health” and is the brain-child of Chris Peoples and Jake Van Dyke of Modern Appsolutions. Van Dyke says the app will show you a letter and number grade for each restaurant along with any actual violations they received during their last inspection…

cut 11 (09) “the salad stuff”

“What the Health” will give you a list of the 100 restaurants nearest to you. The app is available for both iPhone and Android phones.

State Fire Marshal’s officials are investigating a Thursday night mobile home fire in Marksville that has left four dead. Eric Gill reports….
cut 1 (29) “…reporting”

Governor Bobby Jindal issues an executive order calling on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to supply an alternative standardized test for those students who opt-out from taking an exam that’s tied to Common Core. BESE President Chas Roemer says the executive order has no constitutional authority.

State Police say a Duson man has been charged with vehicular homicide and it’s his second DWI arrest in less than 24 hours. Troopers say 47-year-old Michael Fontenot was involved in a fatal two-vehicle wreck in Evangline Parish yesterday afternoon. Authorities learned Fonenot was also arrested on Thursday for D-W-I. He posted bond six hours before the fatal crash took place.

A study looking at inappropriate teacher-student relationships finds Louisiana has the third highest number of cases on a per-capita basis. Scott Carwile has the story…
voicer 5 (30) “…reporting

Governor Bobby Jindal has issued an executive order that calls on BESE to have an alternate test for those students who opt-out of the Common Core exam. But BESE President Chas Roemer says Jindal doesn’t have the constitutional authority to do that and he accuses the governor of creating chaos…
cut 9 (09) “…the course”
Concerns with Common Core testing has resulted in some parents opting out of standardized tests that will be given to students in March.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says Saints Owner Tom Benson is in complete control. Goodell made the statement after he was asked about the lawsuit that claims the 87-year-old owner is not mentally fit to make important business decisions….
cut 30 (11) “…what he’s doing”
Goodell called the family dispute unfortunate.

With Mitt Romney making the official announcement he is NOT running for president, what does that mean for Governor Bobby Jindal who may run for President or one day seek an executive job in federal government ? ULL Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Romney passed on Jindal as a vice- presidential contender in 2012 saying the two never really connected…
cut 10 (09) “Romney does”
And Cross adds when a potential marquis candidate drops out, it helps all the remaining candidates.

The forecast looks good for today as you can expect party cloudy skies with high temperatures in the low to mid 60s. But rain is in the forecast for Super Bowl sunday. High temperatures tomorrow in upper 60s, much colder for Monday, with highs near 50.

The investigation continues today into a fatal fire in Avoyelles Parish that has left four dead. State Fire Marshall Butch Browning says the fire occurred just before midnight Thursday at a mobile home in Marksville…:
CUT 6 (07) “in this fire”
The victims’ ages range from 10 to 73-years-old.

Governor Bobby Jindal has issued an executive order that gives parents the ability to opt-out of the controversial standardized exam that’s part of Common Core. It also orders BESE to come up with an alternate test for those students who opt-out of the Common Core exam. But BESE president Chas Roemer says the executive order has no constitutional authority…
cut 20 (07) “…do anything”

Investigators are trying to determine what led to a fatalitiy at the International Paper Red River Mill in Natchitoches Parish. The sheriff’s office says 57-year-old Phillip Whitehead of Winfield fell 15 feet yesterday, suffering serious injuries. Whitehead was airlifted to a hospital in Shreveport, where he later died.

The LHSAA already has split playoffs between public and private schools for football, but the association is not ready to implement a split for other sports. That proposal, by Many principal Norman Booker, was defeated in a vote by high school principals. Booker says he’s eager to see what new LHSAA Director Eddie Bonine can come up with to make it more equal for public and private schools to compete for championships…
cut 13 (09) “…drawing board”

With Common Core testing scheduled for March, there are reports some families have decided on opting their kids out of taking the tests, which has some BESE members concerned. Eric Gill has more…
cut 2 (28) “…reporting”

The Louisiana National Guard wants to get the word out that smoke coming from Camp Minden next week has nothing to do with the disposal of 15-million pounds of M6 propellant. The guard says the smoke is actually the result of a prescribed forestry burn. Residents near Camp Minden are concerned about plans to burn M6 propellant.

A mobile home fire on Thursday night in Avoyelles Parish has claimed the lives of four people. State Fire Marshall Butch Browning says a father, grandmother, son, and daughter all perished in the blaze. The victims’ ages range from 10 to 73-years-old. Browning says firefighters tried to rescue them, but the flames were too intense…:
CUT 7 (10) “the fire starting”
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson is in complete control, and a positive force in the league…
CUT 30 (11) Q: ‘what he’s doing’
Goodell was asked about the lawsuit filed by three of Benson’s family members who claim he’s not mentally fit to make important business decisions.

Mitt Romney makes it official today: he is not running for president. So now the Republican field is just a little less crowded for Governor Bobby Jindal…
cut 11 (11) “to go”
That’s ULL Political Science Professor Pearson Cross.

With Common Core testing scheduled for March, some families have decided on opting their kids out of taking the tests. BESE member Lottie Beebe says, according to the Department of Education, this will cause negative implications for schools and systems…
CUT 3 (09) “and school systems”
So in response today, Governor Bobby Jindal issued an executive order to protect those parents and districts who opt out, suggesting alternate assessment tests be given.
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State Fire Marshal’s officials are investigating a Thursday night mobile home fire in Marksville that has left four dead. Eric Gill reports…
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

And a tragedy this morning in a Thibodaux shopping center parking lot as a two year-old was struck and killed by a Chevy truck just past 10 AM. The driver- whose name was not released – submitted to a breathalyzer test, which showed no alcohol in his system. That unfortunate accident is under investigation by the Thibodaux Police Department.