Senate Education approves legislation to allow every family to apply for state dollars to pay for private school tuition or other education-related expenses. Bill co-author Carencro Representative Julie Emerson says parents should have options on how their child should be educated…

Cut 6  (12) “…is educated.” 

The Louisiana School Boards Association strongly opposes the creation of education savings accounts. Dannie Garrett, who handles government relations for the association and says E-S-As spend taxpayer dollars without the accountability that demanded for public schools and there’s no evidence it will improve a child’s education.

Cut 8 (07) “…better” 

The Public Affairs Research Council says the L-A Gator Scholarship Program would cost 650-million dollars annually in five to seven years.

House Education approves a bill to repeal state laws requiring educators to take certain training courses like CPR and dating violence and allow BESE to decide the requirements. Rosepine Representative Charles Owens wants BESE to govern which educational courses teachers must take and take it out of state law.

Cut 13 (08)  “…our classroom.”

The proposed legislation repeals requirement and authorizes BESE to adopt policies that require inclusion of certain topics in student instruction and in the training of teachers.

Cut 14 (10) “…our schools.” 

The bill now advances to the House.

The parents of Lacey Fletcher, the 36-year-old who was found melted into the couch due to severe neglect in Slaughter, were sentenced to 40 years with 20 years suspended. East Feliciana District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says he wanted Clay and Shelia Fletcher to receive the maximum of 40 years due to the horrific way their special needs daughter died.

Cut 9 (07) “…the couch.” 

Lacey was found on January 3, 2022, covered in maggots and sores in a couch rotting in her own waste.

Wednesday night, a 45-year-old Ponchatoula woman was found covered in blood lying between her bed and a dresser at a Meadow Wood Dr. residence in Ponchatoula. First responders’ extensive means to revive the victim, Lisa Hernandez, were unsuccessful. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says Investigators were unable to determine cause of death and are investigating her death as a homicide.

The Senate Education Committee approves legislation that will give all parents the opportunity to receive taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition and other education expenses. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Last night, Grambling State men’s basketball team came from behind to beat Montana State in the Tigers first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Grambling takes on top-seeded Purdue in Indianapolis tomorrow night. Tigers Head Coach Donte Jackson says his team faces a monumental task.

Cut 5 (06)  “…ready to play”

The death of a 45-year-old Ponchatoula woman is under investigation. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says Lisa Hernandez was found covered in blood lying between her bed and a dresser Wednesday night. First responders’ extensive means to revive Hernandez were unsuccessful. Investigators were unable to determine cause of death and are investigating the incident that occurred at a Meadow Wood Dr. residence as a homicide.

The parents of Lacey Fletcher, the 36-year-old who was found melted into the couch due to severe neglect in Slaughter, were sentenced to 40 years with 20 years suspended. East Feliciana District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says he’d like to bring charges against the friends and fellow church members who testified on behalf of the Fletchers, because they never intervened.

Cut 11 (06) “…10 years.”

The coroner ruled that Lacey died from “acute medical neglect” inflicted over a period dating back to at least 2010.

The Senate Education Committee has approved legislation that will one day allow every family to apply for state dollars to pay for private school tuition or other education-related expenses. Carencro Representative Julie Emerson is a co-author of the bill and says parents should have options on how their child should be educated…

Cut 6  (12) “…is educated.” 

The Public Affairs Research Council says the L-A Gator Scholarship Program would cost 650-million dollars annually in five to seven years.

Crawfish prices have been dropping. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says supply is outpacing demand but he hopes the cool weather this week doesn’t impact supply too much…

Cut 13 (09) “…the traps.”  

The average price for a pound of crawfish in Louisiana is $5.50.

The parents of Lacey Fletcher, who was found melted in a couch after years of neglect, were sentenced to 40 years, with 20 years suspended. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says crawfish prices keep dropping and supply remains steady. He says prices have been dropping since the start of March, so if you enjoy eating crawfish, get them this weekend …

Cut 12 (06) “…down again.”

The Senate Education Committee has approved legislation to allow families to apply for state dollars to pay for private school tuition or other education-related expenses. The L-A Gator Scholarship Program at first would provide taxpayer dollars to low-income families and be open to all families starting with the 2028-29 school year. Dannie Garrett, who handles government relations for the Louisiana School Boards Association says the Education Savings Accounts spend taxpayer dollars without the accountability demanded of public schools and there’s no evidence it will improve education.

Cut 8 (07) “…better” 

The Grambling State men’s basketball team keeps making history. In their first ever NCAA Tournament game last night. The Tigers rallied to beat Montana State 88 to 81 in overtime. Head Coach Donte Jackson says though they trailed by nine points at halftime, his players were unfazed….

Cut 4 (08) “…bad situation” 

The Senate Education Committee approves legislation that will give all parents the opportunity to receive taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition and other education expenses. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office has identified Russell Francis, Junior as the man who was killed in the officer-involved shooting Tuesday night. LPSO says the 39-year-old hit a police unit when trying to escape and attempted to run over officers. The officers involved are on administrative leave.

The parents of Lacey Fletcher, the 36-year-old who was found melted into the couch due to severe neglect in Slaughter, were sentenced to 40 years with 20 years suspended. East Feliciana District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says Clay and Shelia Fletcher showed no remorse for the haunting death of their daughter.

Cut 10 (12) “…special needs child. “

Lacey was found on January 3, 2022, covered in maggots and sores in a couch rotting in her own waste.

The Grambling State men’s basketball team keeps making history. The Tigers played in their first ever NCAA Tournament game last night and they rallied to beat Montana State 88 to 81 in overtime. Head Coach Donte Jackson.

Cut 3 (11) “…just amazing.”  

They’ll play Purdue tomorrow night at 6:25.

The parents of Lacey Fletcher, the 36-year-old who was found melted into the couch due to severe neglect in Slaughter, were sentenced to 40 years with 20 years suspended yesterday. East Feliciana District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says he wanted Clay and Shelia Fletcher to receive the maximum of 40 years due to the horrific way their special needs daughter died.

Cut 9 (07) “…the couch.” 

Lacey was found on January 3, 2022, covered in maggots and sores in a couch rotting in her own waste.

A proposal that would offer Louisiana families state dollars to pay for private school passed in the Senate Education Committee. Monroe Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews, who opposes the bill, says families who have children attending a well performing schools should not be eligible for this program. She questioned Baton Rouge Senator Rick Edmonds…

Cut 7 (13) “…their opinion”  

Grambling State men’s basketball team won their first ever NCAA Tournament game last night in an 88 to 81 victory against Montana State. The Tigers will take on top-seeded Purdue in Indianapolis tomorrow night. Tigers Head Coach Donte Jackson says his team faces a monumental task in trying to upset the Boilermakers.

Cut 5 (12)  “…ready to play”

Tip-off tomorrow night is at 6:25.

For the first time in 22 years, McNeese men’s basketball team will play in the NCAA Tournament after beating Nicholls in the Southland Conference Championship last week. The Cowboys will take on Gonzaga Bulldogs in Salt Lake City, Utah tonight. McNeese guard Shahada Wells…

Cut 14 (12) “…just bring it” 

Tipoff is at 6:25 central time.

Grambling keeps its historic season alive after they defeated Montana State in overtime 88 to 81. A big contributor in the Tigers win was Senior Guard Jourdan Smith who scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds in the game. Smith says that he was determined to not let Grambling’s historic season end in the First Four.

Cut (20) “… good test.”

Grambling will play Purdue tomorrow at 6:45 with tip off on TBS.

—

And tonight McNeese will take on Gonzaga in Salt Lake City at 6:25 on TBS. The Pokes are trying to win their first ever NCAA tournament game.

—

And the Pelicans will try to exceed their win total from last year when they take on the Orlando Magic tonight at 6:00 pm. The Pelicans are currently two and a half point favorites to beat the Magic and are only one game behind the Clippers for the fourth spot in the Western Standings.

—

LSU football will look to replicate the offensive success it found last year without Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas Jr. who are projected to be first round picks in this year’s NFL draft. Garrett Nussmeir says that the Tigers can’t focus on who will or will not be on the team from last year.

Cut 16 (17) “… self too.”

—

UL-Lafayette’s 31 game win streak over Louisiana Tech in softball ended yesterday when the Bulldogs defeated the Ragin’ Cajuns 5 to 3. LA Tech tied UL-Lafayette’s earlier three run lead in the third inning and never look back as the Bulldogs pulled through to beat the Cajun’s for the first time since 1998.

—

In college baseball last night, Louisiana Tech defeated Nicholls 6 to 4, Northwestern State lost to Sam Houston State 5 to 2, and UL-Lafayette defeated McNeese 4 to 1.