News for Wednesday 022713

By Dave Graichen

State Police  say  there  are  more  explosives  at Camp Minden than originally estimated. Spokesperson Matt Harris says  they originally estimated  there  were  6  million  pounds  of an improperly  stored military propellant, but now they believe it's closer to 10 million. He  says  authorities  are  still  looking for space  to  house  the remaining 3.5 million pounds of material that's left to be moved but it's been a slow process.

A  week  prior  to  the mandatory  budget  cuts,  also  called  the "sequestration" was to  take  effect,  The  Department  of  Homeland Security  released hundreds of illegal aliens from detention centers along the Gulf  Coast--including  here in Louisiana. A spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement  says  he's  uncertain  how many were released in our state.

Senator  Mary  Landrieu  has  some  harsh  words  for  Bobby Jindal, accusing  the Republican governor of obstructionism. The  Democratic senator says Jindal's refusal to expand the state's Medicaid program is  tied  to  his  presidential  ambitions,  putting  his  potential political future  ahead  of  the people of Louisiana. Jindal says he disagrees with the growth of the federal government health  care program and  states  should  be  free to design health programs that suit their individual needs.

The  Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries say a Marksville man is  behind  bars  for  allegedly killing a Louisiana black bear. They say a lengthy investigation led detectives to 30-year-old Derek Sayer who was arrested for shooting and killing the bear on November 27th in Avoyelles Parish. Louisiana  Black  Bears  have  been on the Federal Threatened and Endangered Species list since 1992.

The Presidents of Louisiana's four public college systems want state lawmakers  to  approve legislation  that  would  give  colleges  and universities more  authority in setting their own tuition. Senate  Education   Chairman   Conrad  Appel  says  he'll  introduce legislation that addresses funding for higher education, but he also wants to see schools doing a better  job  in  offering  degrees that will lead to better paying jobs, once the student graduates.

Students at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette and Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond will likely see their tuition rise starting this fall. The University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a 10 percent tuition hike at all nine of its campuses. Before the increase can take effect, though it also has to be approved by the state Board of Regents higher education policy board.

Funeral services will be held today for Paul McIlhenny, the late  chairman of Tabasco pepper sauce. McIlhenny was also an avid outdoorsman  and conservationist, as he was active in coastal restoration efforts,  helping to create the America's Wetland Foundation.  McIhenny, who was the chief executive of Tabasco since 1988, died of an  apparent heart attack on Saturday. He was 68

A Metairie lawmaker files legislation that would allow Louisiana  residents to purchase guns that may one day be declared illegal by the  federal government. Representative Joe Lopinto's bill would create intrastate gun trade where gun dealers and manufacturers can get  licensed in Louisiana to sell guns within the state. Lopinto says his proposed bill, called the Louisiana Manufactured  Firearms and Ammunitions Act, would allow for gun manufacturers to apply  for a Louisiana license to make and sell guns within the state, even if  they are prohibited by the federal government.

A  Bossier City lawmaker says multiple solutions are in the works so that  homeless  shelters  can  accept  donations  of  deer meat from hunters.  State officials had to destroy over 14-hundred  pounds  of donated venison  which  upset  Hunters  for  Hungry, who donated the food. Representative Jeff Thompson says the issue with the deer meat was over sanitary concerns. Thompson says the Department of Health and Hospitals  agrees  not to destroy any more deer meat until regulations are in place.

State Superintendent of Education John White said Tuesday Public school teachers will have a wide array of resources to aid in the launch of tougher academic standards that begin next year,

White also said the resources — called a Classroom Support Toolbox — were crafted by about 150 teachers rather than relying on directives from state education officials. The new academic rules are called common core standards. Louisiana and 44 other states have adopted the guidelines, which are aimed at making students more competitive worldwide and easier state-to-state comparisons on student achievement. The new standards take effect for the 2014-15 school year.

An art deco landmark in downtown Baton Rouge, a slice of a St. Tammany Parish psychiatric hospital campus and prime property near the Louisiana Capitol need to be sold within the next year to make Gov. Bobby Jindal’s budget balance. Jindal proposes unloading six tracts of state property around south Louisiana to drum up $47 million, money that he’s using to help pay for public colleges in his budget proposal for the 2013-14 fiscal year that starts July 1. None of the deals are done, and lawmakers have been reticent about making some of the sales, which need legislative approval before “for sale” signs can be planted on the sites.

LSU and a state agency paid former coastal researcher Ivor van Heerden $435,000 to settle court claims that his LSU career was destroyed because he alleged engineering mistakes allowed New Orleans to flood during Hurricane Katrina. In his three-year-old lawsuit in Baton Rouge federal court, Van Heerden alleged that some university officials systematically ended his ability to perform hurricane research and eventually refused to renew his contract because they feared he would cost the school federal funds.

A  Jefferson  Parish  sheriff's deputy is under arrest for allegedly stealing  stuff  from  the   evidence   locker.  54-year-old  George Hernandez  is  accused  of felony systematic  theft.  Just  WHAT  he reportedly took is being kept under wraps for now.

Sports..

The LSU men's basketball team can get above the 500 mark in SEC play  with a win tonight at home over Arkansas. The Tigers 5-and-2 in the  month of February after beating Alabama in triple overtime last Saturday. You can hear the game tonight beginning at 6:30 on 970 KSYL.

After a big first half, Williams scored 11 of his 33 points in the final 1 minute, 24 seconds, and the Nets held on for a 101-97 victory against a furious comeback by the Hornets. The Hornets play at the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight, the last game of their four meetings this season. Airtime 7pm on espn 1410am

The lSU tiger baseball team had no problem squashing UL Lafayette last night 11 to 2. They’ll play brown Friday night at the box.