11:30 LRN Newscast March 24

Baton Rouge Police have taken one of the two women who were allegedly with Georgia businessman Nathan Millard the night he died into custody. 27-year-old Tiffany Guidry was taken apprehended this morning, for prostitution, failure to seek assistance and unlawful disposal of human remains. 33-year-old Tabbetha Barner remains at large.

LSU continues its run through the NCAA Women’s basketball tournament as the Lady Tigers take on Utah today.

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The Bayou State could be in for some dicey weather today as a frontal system, winding itself up in Texas and Oklahoma, moves east. LRN Meteorologist John Wetherbee says while it crosses the state, we’ll need to remain weather-aware today.

Cut 10 (10)  “…flooding rains.”

Crawfish connoisseurs will be happy to know the average price per pound of live mudbugs are 25 cents lower at $2.77. Crawfish App co-founder Laney King says the industry dropped prices this week which brings the average price for a pound of boiled crawfish to $4.98.

Cut 6 (09)  “…$3.99 a pound.” 

King says a platter of crawfish is ideal for watching the Sweet 16 this weekend.

10:30 LRN Newscast March 24

Louisiana lawmakers will vote on a bill to require parental consent – if a student wants to go by another name or pronoun in the upcoming legislative session. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Representative Mandie Landry is making the political party switch from “Unaffiliated” to Democrat ahead of the upcoming legislative session. Landry says changing her party affiliation was a powerful way to send this message but her values and relationship with the caucus have never changed.

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources announce more than 100 orphaned well sites in the Monroe and Shreveport areas have been plugged with funding from the federal Infrastructure Law since work began in January. DNR spokesperson Patrick Courreges says another 30-plus well should be plugged by the end of the month…

Cut 3 (09) “…state funding” 

The state Office of Conservation normally plugs 120 to 200 wells a year and there are over four thousand orphaned well sites in Louisiana.

The fan base and support for the LSU Women’s Basketball team is thriving as they prepare to play Utah in Greenville, South Carolina in the Sweet 16 later today. President of the LSU Alumni Association Joe Carvalhido says the alumni mission is about brand and fan engagement, and it’s good to see the program on top.

Cut 8 (09) “…the excitement.”

The Lady Tigers – who are 30-2 this season – will play Utah this afternoon at 4 p

9:30 LRN Newscast March 24

A  petition to recall New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell failed with only 27-thousand certified signatures; far below the 45-thousand needed but some signatures were quite magical. The Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters says some of the signatures they received were Disney character names. Danielle Duplessis Hammond with the Registrar’s office read off some of the names

Cut 13 (13) “…Barney Rubble.”

 When the Disney names came into question, recall organizer Eileen Carter says in the rush to submit the names, some false names were placed with valid signatures.

Cut  16 (12)  “…seriously.” 

The Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters is confident the results are accurate.

Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews proposed the “Given Name Act” bill that would allow school employees to refer to students by a name or pronoun that differs from what’s on their birth certificate if the student’s parent or guardian gives written consent.

Cut 6 (11)  “…kind of guidance.” 

Lawmakers will vote on the bill in the upcoming legislative session scheduled to begin on April 10th.

The Sweet 16 excitement is building as alumni and fans gather in Greenville, South Carolina to show support for Coach Mulkey and the LSU Women’s Basketball team as they prepare to play Utah later today. President of the LSU Alumni Association Joe Carvalhido says Mulkey is committed to the university and the Lady Tigers.

Cut 9 (11)  “…from afar.”

LSU Tigers Women’s Basketball will play Utah Utes today at 4 p.m. on ESPN.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Shrek and Donald Duck were some of the names submitted to the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters Office in the effort to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell….
Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A worker at an Ascension water plant has been fired for allegedly urinating in the water supply. Authorities say the act was caught on camera and 57-year-old Michael Mastin of Baton Rouge faces criminal charges. Officials says the public is not in danger and water samples remain in good standing.

Among the bills filed for the upcoming legislative session is the “Given Name Act,” authored by Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews. Crews says school employees would be required to use a student’s given name and corresponding pronouns unless written parental consent says otherwise….
cut 4 (11) “…two things”
Crews says he’s received positive feedback from teachers about this legislation.

Severe weather is likely across central and north Louisiana today. Northeast Louisiana is under the greatest risk for long-track tornadoes and damaging winds. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s a marginal risk for severe weather along Interstate 10….
cut 12 (08) “…tomorrow morning”

7:30 LRN Newscast

Bossier City Republican Representative Raymond Crews has filed legislation that would prohibit a school employee from using a student’s preferred name and pronouns without parental permission. Crews says he’s received positive feedback from teachers for his “Given Name Act”….
cut 5 (08) “…..written permission”
Crews’ legislation will be heard in the upcoming legislative session.

Earlier this week, the governor’s office announced the campaign to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell fell 18-thousand certified signatures short of its goal. But recall organizers are exploring their legal options as they claim they turned in 100-thousand signatures. New Orleans Registrar of Voters Sandra Wilson stands by her counting…
cut 14 (09) “…in the law”

LSU continues its run through the NCAA Women’s basketball tournament as the Lady Tigers take on Utah today. Teiko Foxx reports a large group of LSU fans are in South Carolina to cheer them on…
cut 2 (33) “…Teiko Foxx”

Northeast Louisiana is under a moderate risk for severe weather today.
cut 11 (05) “…high risk”
State Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s a high threat for damaging winds and tornadoes for the northeastern section of our state.

6:30 LRN Newscast

A bill to require parental permission if a student wants to go by another name or pronoun has been filed for the upcoming legislative session. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

This afternoon at 4:00 the LSU Lady Tigers face Utah in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. A good group of LSU fans will be in attendance in Greenville, South Carolina. LSU Alumni Association President Joe Carvalihido…
cut 7 (06) “…..staff before”

The organizers of the recall effort to oust New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell spoke for the first time yesterday since it was announced they ended up 18-thousand votes short of what they needed to trigger a recall election. Recall organizers Eileen Carter and Belden Batiste says the Orleans Parish Registrar of Voters math doesn’t add up…..
cut 15 (08) “…..we got back up”
But the Registrar says many of the signatures they received were duplicates and one of the pages was filled with Disney character names.

There’s a threat for severe weather for central and north Louisiana today and there’s another threat on Sunday. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 10 (12) “….three to four days”
But this weekend will not be a total washout, Saturday looks good.

5:30 LRN Newscast March 23

The failed recall attempt of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell will result in legislation in the upcoming legislative session to lower the threshold to trigger a recall election. Covington Representative Paul Hollis says the number of signatures should not be based on a percentage of registered voters…

Cut 4 (10)  “…recalled” 
The session begins April 10th.

Baton Rouge Police are searching for a Florida man who was last seen Wednesday morning around 12:45. Sgt L’Jean McKneely says 44-year-old Jody Bert was traveling back home with his family after visiting relatives in Oklahoma, became ill, and stopped for the night.

Cut 13 (11) “…assistance.”

Baton Rouge police are asking for the public’s help in locating Tabbetha Barner and Tiffany Ann Guidry. They are wanted in connection to the Nathan Millard missing person’s case. Barner has an active arrest warrant for prostitution and failure to seek assistance. Guidry has an active warrant for unlawful disposal of human remains, prostitution, and failure to seek assistance.

After a six-year hiatus, Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey circus is back with a completely reinvented show.

Cut 2 (32)  “….I’m Teiko Foxx” 

4:30 LRN Newscast March 23

Baton Rouge Police are searching for two women for their involvement with the Nathan Millard, missing person case. Tabbetha Barner has an active arrest warrant for prostitution and failure to seek assistance. Tiffany Ann Guidry has an active warrant for unlawful disposal of human remains, prostitution, and failure to seek assistance. You’re urged to call BRPD if you know their whereabouts.

After the failed effort to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Covington Representative Paul Hollis says he’ll file a bill for the upcoming legislative session to lower the threshold…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Exactly four weeks after Nathan Millard disappeared, Baton Rouge Police are looking for a Florida man who was last seen at 12:45 Wednesday morning. Sgt L’Jean McKneely says 44-year-old Jody Bert was traveling back home with his family after visiting relatives in Oklahoma became ill and stopped for the night.

Cut 12 (10) “…concerned.” 
Bert’s wallet, phone, and car were found in a nearby parking garage.

On the U-S Senate floor today Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy urged President Biden to meet with a bipartisan group to address social security. Cassidy says the Social Security Trust Fund will go insolvent in nine years, resulting in an automatic 24-percent benefit cut.

Cut 10 (12) “…no plan.” 

Cassidy says they’ve tried several times to schedule an appointment with the president.

3:30 LRN Newscast March 23

Baton Rouge Police are searching for 44-year-old Jody Bert from Florida who went missing after parking his car when he and his family stopped for the night traveling back from Oklahoma. Sgt. L’Jean McNeely says Bert went missing early Wednesday morning from the downtown area and detectives are reviewing camera footage.

Cut 14 (08)  “…investigation.”

Call BRPD if you have any information.

U-S senator Bill Cassidy went on the floor of the Senate today to challenge President Biden to meet with a bipartisan group of senators discussing solutions to save the social security program. Cassidy says the President should show a sense of urgency because it’s heading toward a financial cliff in less than a decade…

Cut 11 (12)  “…24-percent cut”

After a failed attempt to recall New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, a state lawmaker says he’ll attempt to pass legislation to make it easier to recall elected officials. Covington Representative Paul Hollis says recalls are difficult because it takes 20 percent of the registered voters in large parishes like Orleans….

Cut 3 (09) “…that’s a massive number” 

Hollis wants to lower the threshold for the number of signatures needed to force a recall.

The greatest show on earth is back and it’s heading to North Louisiana. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey kick off their North American tour in Shreveport, September 29th through the 31st. Show Guide Lauren Irving says they are reintroducing the beloved circus for an ideal family outing.

Cut 6 (06)  “…those memories.” 

The circus will be held at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.

2:30 LRN Newscast March 23

Representative Paul Hollis, a Covington Republican, will propose a law that would lower the percentage threshold to recall elected officials. Despite a victory lowering the percentage from 33 percent down to 20 percent in 2018,  Hollis wants to lower the threshold once again…

Cut 5 (11) “…that campaign”

The bill will be debated in the upcoming legislative session scheduled to begin on April 10th.

Ringling Brothers. and Barnum & Bailey will return bigger and better with their North American tour starting in Bossier City at the Brookshire Grocery Arena, September 29 through 31.  Show Guide Lauren Irving says their goal was to create a new experience with technology for the entire family

Cut 8 (08)  “…same thing.” 

Bossier City will be the only Louisiana stop on the North America tour.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy challenged President Biden today to meet with a bipartisan group of senators to discuss options to save the Social Security program. Cassidy says despite the President’s willingness to work with Congress, they have not been able to meet with President Biden…

Cut 9 (08) “…personal sign off”

The senator says President Biden has not taken any steps to address this issue.

Baton Rouge Police are searching for a Florida man who was last seen Wednesday morning around 12:45. Sgt L’Jean McKneely says 44-year-old Jody Bert was traveling back home with his family after visiting relatives in Oklahoma, became ill, and stopped for the night.

Cut 13 (11) “…assistance.”

Bert is 6 feet – has tattoos on his left arm and was wearing blue jeans and a dark hoodie. Anyone with information should contact BRPD or Crimestoppers.