13:30 Newscast March 18th, 2015

Gov Jindal says there will be 3 specific bills to get Common Core out of Louisiana that will be proposed in the upcoming session. He says the plan would replace the PARCC test with one that has standards developed by Louisiana teachers and parents. Jindal says he wants a clear and transparent way to develop new educational standards.

There’s a new poll out showing 54 percent of people disapprove of Common Core. MarblePoint polled 1000 Louisiana residents using an automated phone survey. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Common Core will be a passionate issue in the upcoming legislative session…:
CUT 10 (10) “for lawmakers”
As far as Governor Jindal’s approval numbers go, only 28-percent of respondents gave him a positive rating.

Do you think Mike the Tiger should be going to LSU football games and stick to tradition? Mike VI did not go to any games last season. Paul Marks Jr. was III’s caretaker in the 60s. He says they would not feed their Mike on Friday’s to get him read for Saturday night and the vets said that was okay…:
CUT 7 (12) “when he got to the stadium”
The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show. Mike VI says he doesn’t get into his cage on gamedays and he is not motivated by food.

State Police has released the name of the trooper who ran over an killed an Alabama truck driver in Madison Parish this week. They say it was Master Trooper Kenny Baker who was looking for 47-year-old David Watford when he ran over him accidentally. The crash is under investigation.

 

12:30 Newscast March 18th, 2015

A new statewide poll by MarblePoint Polling shows support for higher cigarette taxes, but residents do not approve of Common Core or Governor Bobby Jindal’s job performance. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

State Police say a former detective with the Ville Platte Police Department has been arrested on multiple charges. Authorities say Nathanial Savoy, who also owns a roofing business, was allegedly spotted on surveillance video stealing roofing materials from a local business. He was reportedly in a police unit when the crime was committed.

A Natchitoches man is facing hate crime and battery charges after an incident in which he is accused of grabbing a woman’s back side. Police Captain Chris Payne says 35-year-old Roderick Rachal is a repeat offender…:
CUT 4 (10) “of 2006”
Payne says it appears that in each case Rachal targets a specific race and gender which is why he also is charged with hate crimes.

Gas prices appear to be remaining steady and at least dropping a bit. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is now $2.24 down a penny from the day before and a little over two cents lower than last week.

 

11:40 Sportscast March 18th, 2015

It wasn’t a pretty performance but the Pelicans picked up a win last night as they outlasted the Milwaukee Bucks 85-84. Anthony Davis had 20 points, but shot six of 18 from the field. Quincy Pondexter had 18 as he hit 5 three-pointers. The victory moves New Orleans back into a tie with Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The LSU men’s basketball team is in Pittsburgh, getting ready for tomorrow night’s NCAA Tournament against North Carolina State. Tigers Coach Johnny Jones is very familiar with Wolfpack head coach Mark Gottfried. Jones served under Gottfried for one season, when Gottfried was the head coach at Alabama.

Louisiana Tech has advanced in the NIT Tournament as they defeated Central Michigan last night. The Bulldogs will next play Texas A-and-M. The Ragin Cajuns beat Incarnate Word in the CIT Tourney last night and tonight ULM hosts Eastern Michigan in the opening round of the C-B-I.

The number one ranked LSU baseball team was nearly upset last night as they needed extra innings to beat cross-town rival Southern University four to two. LSU scored a run in the eighth to tie the game at one and then scored again in the ninth to tie the game at two. LSU then pushed across two runs in the tenth to win. Alex Bregman drove in two runs and Collin Strall picked up the win in relief and Jessie Stallings earned his ninth save.

In other action…Nicholls State defeated Lamar one to nothing. Ryan Deemes pitches seven scoreless innings for hits third win of the season. Tulane thumped Southeastern Louisiana 15 to 2, and U-L-M blanked Grambling seven to nothing. Keelin Rasch and Danny Springer hit home runs for the Warhawks.

Former US Open Champion Justin Rose, who is ranked as the 10th best golfer in the world, has committed to play in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which will take place April 23rd to the 26th at TPC Louisiana in Westwego.

Rose’s committment to play in the Zurich Classic, comes about a week after Billy Horschel’s announcement that he would play in New Orleans next month. Horschel won the Zurich Classic in 2013 and he’s ranked 17th in the world. Worthy credits the golf course in helping them get some of the best players in the world…
cut 17 (11) “…with them”

11:30 Newscast March 18th, 2015

A new statewide poll shows support for higher cigarette taxes, but residents do not approve of Common Core or Governor Bobby Jindal’s job performance. The survey found that 56-percent of residents support an increase in the state’s cigarette tax. LA-politics.com publisher Jeremy Alford thinks the tax will pass this session…:
CUT 9 (09) “get the money”
63% of 1000 respondents in the Marble Point Poll said the disapprove of Jindal’s job performance, and 54% disapprove of Common Core. To both of those topics, Governor Bobby Jindal will be making an announcement at the mansion in Baton Rouge today which according to a release says he’s going to unveil his plan to get Louisiana out of Common Core.

State Police has released the name of the trooper who ran over an killed an Alabama truck driver in Madison Parish this week. They say it was Master Trooper Kenny Baker who was looking for 47-year-old David Watford when he ran over him accidentally. The crash is under investigation.

A former caretaker of LSU’s mascot Mike wrote a letter to a Baton Rouge newspaper expressing concern over the live Tiger’s increasing lack of appearing in the stadium at home football games. Mike the VI did not go to a single contest last season. Paul Marks Jr. says he was responsible for Mike III from 1963-1965 and they never had a problem getting him to games.
He says the difference is that they altered his feeding patterns…:
CUT 6 (10) “there ya go”
The comments on The Jim Engster Show.

LSU men’s basketball faces off against North Carolina State in the first round of the NCAA tournament tomorrow night, and President Obama must not be a Tiger fan. Mr. Obama released his bracket and picked LSU to lose to the Wolfpack.

 

10:30 Newscast, March 18th, 2015

Governor Bobby Jindal has issued a release saying he has a plan to get Louisiana out of Common Core. The governor will be unveiling his idea to remove the state from the education standards this afternoon at 12:30.

Residents will soon have to pay more for flood insurance. Scott Carwile has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

A Natchitoches man is under arrest for simple battery and hate crimes after an incident at a local business. 35-year-old Roderick Rachal was booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center. Police Captain Chris Payne says responding officers spoke to a female victim that said a man she did not know grabbed her buttocks…:
CUT 3 (08) “upon the victim”
Because Rachal targeted a specific race and gender, he was additionally charged with hate crimes.

Latest employment numbers show that there were 7500 less people working in January than in December, ending a long streak of monthly employment gains. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink says
says the drop in oil prices has caused about 1,000 layoffs over the past few months…:
CUT 12 (12) “short term thing”

 

09:30 Newscast March 18, 2015

Governor Bobby Jindal is looking at selling tobacco settlement money that would result in an estimated 750-million dollars in cash. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 3 (29) “reporting”

State Police say a former detective with the Ville Platte Police Department has been arrested on multiple charges. Authorities say Nathanial Savoy, who also owns a roofing business, was allegedly spotted on surveillance video stealing roofing materials from a local business. He was reportedly in a police unit when the crime was committed. Savoy was booked on simple burglary, malfeasance in office, and tampering with evidence, among other charges. Savoy resigned from the department Monday.

Residents will soon have to pay more for flood insurance as the result of changes to the National Flood Insurance Program that were passed by Congress last year. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says these changes are complicated, so you may want to get some advice…

cut 9 (10) “Insurance Program”

He says premiums could rise as much as 25-percent and property owners will have to pay an annual surcharge. The changes go into effect April 1.

State Police say an Alabama trucker died when he was run over by a trooper who was looking for him in Madison Parish. Sgt. James Anderson says 47-year-old David Watford of Cottonwood, Alabama was walking in the middle of the road when he was struck by a trooper driving a Tahoe. He says an investigation into the crash is underway…

cut 6 (07) “examined thoroughly”

Watford was pronounced dead at the scene.

08:30 Newscast March 18, 2015

Latest employment numbers show that there were 7500 less people working in January than in December, ending a long streak of monthly employment gains. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a shooting that left one dead and another injured. They say when officers responded they found that 50-year-old Jerome Buckner, Sr. and an unidentified woman had been shot. Buckner was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman was transported to a local. Authorities identified and questioned the alleged shooter, but no charges have been filed at this time.

Governor Bobby Jindal is looking at selling the remainder of a multi-billion dollar settlement from tobacco manufacturers to help with the state’s $1.6 billion budget deficit. The Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation, voted to begin the process of selling the tobacco settlement. House Speaker Chuck Kleckley says the sale will need legislative approval, which means several public hearings on the issue…

cut 15 (07) “to continue”

The money under discussion is from a 1998 settlement involving tobacco companies who paid billions of dollars to numerous states for health care costs associated with smoking.

A truck driver from Alabama died when he was run over by a state trooper who was looking for him in Madison Parish, according to State Police. Sgt. James Anderson says 47-year-old David Watford of Cottonwood, Alabama was walking in the middle of the road wearing blue jeans and a camouflage shirt when the trooper in a Tahoe approached…

cut 5 (08) “lane of travel”

Anderson says Watford was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation is ongoing.

07:30 Newscast March 18, 2015

Flood insurance premiums are about to go up. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says premium hikes for primary residences are capped at 18-percent each year and If you have a camp, you can expect an even higher premium boost…

cut 8 (06) “maximum increase”

In addition to the rate increases, property owners will have to pay a surcharge, $25 per year for your primary residence and $250 for businesses, rentals, or secondary residences. The increases will go into effect April 1.

In an effort to help the state’s budget problems, Governor Bobby Jindal is looking at selling the remainder of a multi-billion dollar settlement from tobacco manufacturers. State Treasurer John Kennedy says the Jindal administration has raided all other pots of money and this is the last one left…

cut 14 (06) “financial pressure”

Despite Kennedy’s concerns, the Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation voted to begin the process of selling the tobacco settlement.

New employment numbers show that there were 7500 less people working in January than in December in the state. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink says even though there was the typical job drop that you see in January, we’re still employing far more people this year than we were this time last year…:

cut 11 (09) “January of 14″

Louisiana’s unemployment rate for January is 7-percent.

State Police say a truck driver from Alabama died when he was run over by a trooper who was looking for him in Madison Parish. Sgt. James Anderson says they received a report early Tuesday morning that an 18-wheeler was stuck in the lane of travel on US Highway 65 about 6 miles north of Tallulah…

cut 4 (11) “were looking for him”

Anderson says 47-year-old David Watford of Cottonwood, Alabama was pronounced dead at the scene.

06:45 Sportscast March 18, 2015

The top-ranked LSU Tigers scored two runs in the top of the 10th to get past Southern last night, 4-2. Junior right-hander Collin Strall picked up the win for the Tigers, while reliever Rafeal Diaz gets tagged with the loss for Southern. The Jaguars head into a home weekend SWAC series against Texas Southern. LSU travels to Fayetteville for a three game series against Arkansas beginning Thursday.

Former US Open Champion Justin Rose, who is ranked as the 10th best golfer in the world, has committed to play in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which will take place April 23rd to the 26th at TPC Louisiana in Westwego. Fore Kids Foundation president Steve Worthy says they are working to bring more big names to the P-G-A event

cut 16 (09) “attracted here”

Rose’s commitment to play in the Zurich Classic, comes about a week after 17th ranked Billy Horschel’s announcement that he would play in New Orleans next month.

The Pelicans moved back into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference after last night’s 85-84 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Anthony Davis scored 20, Quincy Pondexter added 18, including five three-pointers, and Omer Asik threw in 16 for the Pels. The Pelicans begin a 3-game road trip Thursday in Phoenix.

In the NIT, Louisiana Tech advances after defeating Central Michigan 89-79. Raheem Appleby lead all scorers with 22 and Jacobi Boykins threw in 18 as the Bulldogs won their third consecutive NIT opening round game. Tech advances to the second round where they’ll hit the road to face Texas A&M.

In the CollegeInsider-dot-com Tournament, UL-Lafayette handled Incarnate Word 83-68 to advance to the second round. Bryce Washington lead the Cajuns with 25 points, followed by Hayward Register’s 12. The Cajuns’ next opponent will be announced later this week.

06:30 Newscast March 18, 2015

Governor Bobby Jindal is looking at selling the remainder of a multi-billion dollar settlement from tobacco manufacturers to help the state’s budget problems. The Jindal administration says it could be used finance the TOP’s scholarship program for the next seven to eight years, but State Treasurer John Kennedy doesn’t like this idea…

cut 13 (10) “through a goose”

The money under discussion is from a 1998 settlement.

Latest employment numbers show that there were 7500 less people working in January than in December in Louisiana, ending a long streak of monthly employment gains. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink says it’s not unusual to see a decline in jobs at the start of the year…

cut 10 (10) “usually are shed”

At 7 percent the unemployment rate for January ranked as the third highest among states.

Residents will soon have to pay more for flood insurance. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the increases are the result of changes to the National Flood Insurance Program that were passed by Congress last year. He says the premium hikes for primary residences are capped at 18-percent each year…

cut 7 (08) “a higher premium”

He says premium increases for second residences, commercial, and rental properties are capped at 25-percent per year. In addition to the rate increases, property owners will have to pay a surcharge, $25 per year for your primary residence and $250 for businesses, rentals, or secondary residences. Donelon says the increases will go into effect April 1.