06:45 Sportscast March 6, 2015

Louisiana Tech claimed the Conference USA regular season championship last night with 72-61 victory over Southern Miss. Raheem Appleby scored 23 and Michale Kyser added 19 as the Bulldogs won their first outright championship title since 1999. The Conference USA tournament begins next week in Birmingham, AL.

ULM fell out of a first place tie in the Sun Belt after their 58-50 loss to Georgia State at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. DeMondre Harvey came off the bench to lead the Warhawks with 13. Justin Roberson and Nick Coppola each scored 11. With one game remaining, ULM can finish no higher than third in the league.

UL-Lafayette got past Arkansas-Little Rock 75-69. The Ragin’ Cajuns have now won five straight and are in fourth place in the league.

In the Southland, Stephen F. Austin outclassed Northwestern State 92-66, Nicholls State defeated Central Arkansas 77-70, and UNO beat Southeastern Louisiana 85-79.

Spring football gets underway for LSU on Saturday and Tiger fans hope the 14 practices that will lead up to the Spring Game on April 18th will result in improved play out of the quarterback position. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham expects the Q-B battle between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris to continue into the fall

cut 17 (14) “football office more”

On the other side of the ball, LSU needs two new starting defensive ends.

In weekend college baseball action, the number two ranked LSU Tigers begin the Houston College Classic tonight by taking on seventh ranked Houston. LSU will face Baylor tomorrow and Nebraska on Sunday.

Conference play gets underway this weeken in the Sun Belt. UL-Lafayette hosts Troy this weekend. ULM is on the road to face Texas State.

League play also begins in the Southland. Southeastern Louisiana travels to take on Incarnate Word. Nicholls is away to face Abilene Christian. And McNeese is in Houston to take on Houston Baptist

06:30 Newscast March 6, 2015

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education rejects a proposal to waive penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking the Common Core exam. In a 7-to-4 vote, BESE agreed with Superintendent of Education John White, who says let’s wait and see how many opt outs there are first…

cut 13 (09) “somewhere else”

A zero score will be given for each student who doesn’t take the test, which could lower a school’s performance score. Critics say that’s not fair to the school or the child.

“Marsh Madness” ramps up today in Lake Charles as three girls’ state championship basketball teams will be crowned tonight, four more tomorrow and the boys’ Top 28 tournament begins there next week. Sales Director of the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Eric Zartler, says these events are great for the local economy…

cut 4 (06) “this year”

Today’s games will be highlighted by the Class 3-A title game between Mansfield and Baton Rouge’s University High.

Yesterday was a brutally cold day and a freeze warning is in effect for portions of south Louisiana this morning. But things will warm up today and there’s hope that spring is just around the corner. Fred Zeigler with the National Weather Service in Slidell says temperatures across the state remained in the 30s most of Thursday but today we’ll be in 40s to low 50s…

cut 7 (10) “about 15 to 20 degrees”

Zeigler says yesterday was about as miserable a day you can get weather-wise as it was not only cold but cloudy, damp and wind chills were in the 20s. He says, while today is still cool, it’s dry and nice outside.

AM Newscall March 6th, 2015

“Marsh Madness” gets ramped up today in Lake Charles as three girls’ state championship basketball teams will be crowned tonight. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office says the woman “Bossier Doe,” who was found murdered in January 1981, has finally been identified. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 2 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

BESE votes against a proposal that would have waived penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking Common Core exams. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 3 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

“Marsh Madness” gets ramped up today in Lake Charles as three girls’ state championship basketball teams will be crowned tonight. Four more championships will be decided tomorrow and the boys’ Top 28 tournament will begin there next week. Sales Director of the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Eric Zartler, says these events are great for the local economy…

cut 4  (06)  “this year”

This is the second year Lake Charles has hosted both the boys’ and girls’ state basketball tournaments. Today’s state championship games will be highlighted by the Class 3-A title game between Mansfield and Baton Rouge’s University High. Zartler says they’re excited about tonight’s championship clash…

Cut 5  (05)  “that match-up”

Zartler says if you’re a hoops fan, the best basketball in the state will be played in Lake Charles over the next two weeks. He says they’re hopeful that they can make “Marsh Madness” a tradition.

Cut 6 (05)  “years, as well”

______________________________________

Yesterday was a brutally cold day, but as things warm up today there’s hope that spring is just around the corner. Fred Zeigler with the National Weather Service in Slidell says temperatures across the state remained in the 30s most of Thursday but today we’ll be in 40s to low 50s…:

CUT 7 (10)  “about 15 to 20 degrees”

Zeigler says yesterday was about as miserable a day you can get weather-wise as it was not only cold but cloudy, damp and wind chills were in the 20s. He says while it’s not unusual in March to see that kind of cold, the dramatic difference from 70s and 80s one day to 30s and 40s the next was not the norm…:

Cut 8  (08)  “the deep south” 

Zeigler says today it’s still cool but it’s dry and nice outside. He says taking a look at the long range forecast, we can expect temperatures in the 50s and 60s the next couple of days, but get ready for some gloomy rain to return on Sunday…:

Cut 9 (12)  “rain chances”

______________________________________

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office says they are pleased to announce that after 34 years “Bossier Doe” now has an identity. Sgt. Dave Faulk says in January 1981 hunters found a partially decomposed body of an unknown white female who had been murdered and left in the woods. He says all these years they didn’t know who she was or where she came from…:

Cut 10 (11) “all this together”

Faulk says in November of last year they launched a full DNA profile of Bossier Doe then in February, in a desperate attempt to find out who she was, detectives launched a Facebook page in the name of Bossier Doe. He says someone recognized the composite on Facebook as looking familiar to a picture of a woman missing from Michigan on a Craigslist ad..:

cut 11 (08) “lining up”

Authorities gathered more information about 17-year-old Carol Ann Cole of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and determined through DNA testing that she was Bossier Doe. Faulk says she was stabbed to death and this is now an open homicide investigation. He says they are grateful a family in Michigan has closure…:

cut 12 (11)  “looking for her”

______________________________________

BESE rejects a proposal to waive penalties against schools who have students that opt out from taking the Common Core exam. In a 7-to-4 vote, BESE agreed with Superintendent of Education John White, who says let’s wait and see how many opt outs there are first

Cut 13 (09)  “somewhere else”

A zero score will be given for each student who doesn’t take the test, which could lower a school’s performance score. Critics say that’s not fair to the school or the child, but White says let’s wait and see what happens March 16th to the 20th when students take the standardized test

Cut 14 (08) “the situation”

Before the vote, BESE members heard from frustrated parents and educators who are upset over the new academic standards and the tests tied to them. This parent didn’t hide her feelings…

Cut 15  (07)  “you’re delusional”

Bossier Parish school board member Bill Lott complained to BESE that he’s for higher standards but Common Core teaches children liberal messages

Cut 16  (10)  “grand children”

________________________________________________

Spring football gets underway for LSU on Saturday and Tiger fans hope the the 14 practices that will lead up to the Spring Game on April 18th will result in improved play out of the quarterback position. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham expects the Q-B battle between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris to continue into the fall

Cut 17 (14)  “football office more”

Worsham says spring football will give a chance for some of the Tigers young wide receivers to mature like Malachi Dupre and Trey Quinn….

Cut 18 (10) “much better’

On the other side of the ball, LSU needs two new starting defensive ends. Worsham says this is a big spring practice for six-foot-five junior Tashawn Bower and the rest of the Tigers D-Line….

Cut 19 (16)   “the mix”

 

LRN Newscast 17:30 March 5

The yo-yoing of the temperatures makes us more susceptible to sickness according to experts. But James Diaz, the Program Director of Occupational Health Sciences at LSU Health New Orleans, says there are things you can do to protect yourself…:
CUT 12 (09) “last fall”
Diaz says immune systems can weaken when temperatures swing from hot to cold.

No more elephants at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The company announces the phase out of the act by 2018. Humane Society of Louisiana Executive Director Jeff Dorson says it’s about time as negative reinforcement is often used to train these elephants…:
CUT 14 (07) “public’s wishes”
Horses, dogs, tigers and other animals will continue to be used in the shows.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a mother in Houma dragged her daughter around by her hair, made her drink hot sauce and whipped her with a belt for punishment. Captain Dawn Foret says they got a call from a local junior high where the 13-year-old victim attended school…:
CUT 5 (10) “from her mother”
Detectives confirmed the child had severe bruising on many areas of her body. The mother, 33-year-old Gricelda Mejia (Gra-Sil-Da, Ma-Hee-A) was arrested for one count of cruelty to a juvenile.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has cited a New Iberia man for allegedly killing a Louisiana Black bear in St. Mary Parish. Agents say 52-year-old Richard Picard Junior was hog hunting and Picard claims he mistakenly identified the black bear as a wild hog. Picard faces hundreds of dollars in fines and possible jail time as well.

LRN Newscast 16:30 03-05-15

The cold front that moved through Louisiana has produced some hazardous driving conditions across Louisiana. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says some bridges and overpasses are closed in the northern half of the state. Reichardt says there’s even some slick spots in south Louisiana…
CUT 7 (08) “but passable”

Our extremes in temperatures is not only affecting our driving conditions, but our health. James Diaz, the Program Director of Occupational Health Sciences at LSU Health — New Orleans, says there are some things we can do during these seasonal changes to keep you from getting sick, like taking care of your air passages…;
CUT 10 (07) Q: “keep well hydrated”
And he says it’s still not too late to get a flu shot, if you haven’t gotten one already.
=============================
An unidentified deceased female found stabbed 34 years ago in Bossier Parish has been identified. “Bossier Doe” is actually Carol Ann Cole of Michigan. Her body was found January 28, 1981 off Highway 157. Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington says social media had a big part in the leads to find the answers through DNA.

It looks like the end of an era is coming for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus…
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

LRN sportscast 16:45 March 5

Many Saints fans are sad over the news the Black and Gold have released Pierre Thomas, who ends his career in New Orleans as the team’s fourth leading rusher. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says the fans love him and he’s very active with the community and quick to speak to the media, but this is about winning games…
cut 15 (13) “…paying you”
By releasing the 30-year-old Thomas, the Saints save nearly two-million dollars against the salary cap.

The team has also reportedly restructered free safety Jairus Byrd’s contract by converting his roster bonus to a signing bonus. The move reportedly saves New Orleans another five-million dollars, but the team still has another 16-million dollars in salary cap money to shed by March 10th.

There are some big college basketball games in the state of Louisiana tonight. In Monroe, the Warhawks host Georgia State. Both teams are involved in a three-way tie for first place in the Sun Belt. ULM Coach Keith Richard likes the challenge in front of his team by playing the Panthers…
cut 18 (13) “….doing this”
A few miles away from Monroe, Louisiana Tech hosts Southern Miss. A Bulldogs win and they’ll win the Conference USA title outright. In Lafayette, the Ragin Cajuns have won four in a row as they host Arkansas Little Rock tonight. Coach Bob Marlin credits improved play on defense…
cut 19 (13) “…NCAA Tournament (2x)

LRN Newscast 15:30 03-05-15

Some rather dicey driving conditions still remain in portions of the state, because of this recent strong cold front. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says some areas have shown some improvement…
CUT 8 (10) Q: “into tomorrow”
Temperatures today will be above freezing only for a couple of hours in some spots, and that ‘s not enough time for any ice on roadways to completely melt.

A mother in Houma has been arrested, after she reportedly physically abused her 13 year-old daughter. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Dawn Foret says they got the call from the child’s middle school, and their investigation revealed-besides the alleged whipping by a belt– …
CUT 6 (06) Q: ‘around the house’
Thirty-three year-old Gricelda Mejia (Gra-Sil-Da Ma Hee-ah) faces one count of cruelty to a juvenile.
=============================
There’s a lot of talk about the weather across the Louisiana today, centering around the highs and low temperature extremes in the past 24 hours. Early spring temperatures surges and drops also are a topic of discussion for physicians, who say get a flu shot…
CUT 11 (08) Q: “infections”
That’s James Diaz, the Program Director of Occupational Health Sciences at LSU Health, New Orleans.

Animal rights groups are celebrating a decision by the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, that they will begin phasing out their elephant acts by 2018. Feld Entertainment, the circus’ parent company says they will continue to use horses, dogs, tigers, and other animals in their performances. Jeff Dorson is the Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana…
CUT 15 (05) Q: “major victory”

LRN Newscast 14:30 03-05-15

With the temperatures all over the place these days, it’s turning out to be prime time for sickness…
CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

Acadia Parish authorities are searching for a Church Point attorney who is accused of allegedly stealing more than 435 thousand dollars from clients who had hired him as their lawyer. Malcolm Brasseaux is no where to be found. Anyone with information is asked to call the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Department.
—————————–
Police in Alexandria say they’ve arrested two teens in the murder of a 21-year-old man who was found dead early Sunday in the City Park Area. Lt. Bruce Fairbanks says even though the suspects are fifteen and sixteen, …
CUT 4 (08) Q: “tried as an adult”
And those charges would be first-degree murder. No identities were released.

It looks like the end of an era is coming for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, as Feld Entertainment, the circus’ parent company, has announced they are phasing out their famous elephant acts by 2018. Jeff Dorson is the Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, and he says they’re doing the right thing…
cut 13 (09) “for them”

13:30 Newscast March 5th, 2015

The yo-yoing of the temperatures is making us more susceptible to sickness according to experts. But James Diaz, the Program Director of Occupational Health Sciences at LSU Health New Orleans, says there things you can do to protect yourself…:
CUT 12 (09) “last fall”
With temperatures for most of the state in the 70s yesterday and 30s today, Diaz says immune systems can weaken so it’s important to do your best to protect against germs.

State Police continue to urge caution on roadways as winter weather conditions remain. Troop F reports they are working a crash involving several 18 wheelers on Highway 165 in Morehouse Parish. Both the north and south bound lanes of traffic are blocked in the area. Several interstate ramps remained closed. Troopers say if you must drive please be safe.

No more elephants at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The company announces the phase out of the act by 2018. Humane Society of Louisiana Executive Director Jeff Dorson it’s about time. Many in the public have voiced concerns regarding how elephants and other animals have been treated by the circus. Dorson says negative reinforcement is often used to train these elephants…:
CUT 14 (07) “public’s wishes”
Horses, dogs, tigers and other animals will continue to be used in the shows.

Governor Bobby Jindal announces Hunting Energy Services is completing a $62 million dollar industrial expansion near Houma. The company is consolidating and expanding its Terrebonne Parish operations with a facility designed to broaden its services to the offshore oil industry. The project creates 20 new direct jobs and retain 103 existing jobs. The company estimates the project will generate 75 construction jobs.

 

PM Newscall March 5th, 2015

With the temperatures all over the place it’s prime time for sickness. But there are ways you can protect yourself. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

==================

It looks like the end of an era is coming for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

===================

The Alexandria Police Department says they’ve arrested two juveniles in the murder of a 21-year-old man who was found dead early Sunday in the City Park Area. Lt. Bruce Fairbanks says solving the case of Kendrick Dewayne Hayes was a top priority…:

CUT 3 (06)  “processing evidence”

Cops found Hayes after a call came in around 2:45 am Sunday. The body has been sent for an autopsy, but officials said the case was being treated as a homicide. Fairbanks says detectives have charged a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old with the offense of first degree murder…:(No other details are being released at this time.)

CUT 4 (08)  “tried as an adult”

============================

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a mother in Houma dragged her daughter around by her hair, made her drink hot sauce and whipped her with a belt for punishment. Captain Dawn Foret says they got a call from a local junior high where the 13-year-old victim attended school…:

CUT 5 (10)  “from her mother”

Detectives confirmed the 13-year-old had severe bruising on several areas of her body. The mother, 33-year-old Gricelda Mejia (Gra-Sil-Da Ma-Hee-A) was arrested for one count of cruelty to a juvenile. Foret says the report from the child was disturbing…:

CUT 6 (06)  “around the house”

===============================

The cold front that moved through Louisiana has produced some dicey driving conditions across Louisiana. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says some overpasses, bridges, and on-and-off ramps are closed in the northern half of the state. Reichardt says there’s even some slick spots in south Louisiana…

CUT 7 (08)  “but passable”

Reichardt says there are sheets of ice on some roadways. He says temperatures today are only going to be above freezing for a couple of hours and that will not give sufficient time for ice on roadways to completely melt. But Reichardt says the more people travel on those roads, the better the roads will get…

CUT 8 (10)  “into tomorrow”

He says roads that are not well traveled, especially in rural parishes in north Louisiana, could see the ice remain into tomorrow. Reichardt says if you do have to drive in these conditions, use extreme caution and make smart decisions when you get behind the wheel…

CUT 9 (10)  “your house”

===============================

Many people feel like these dramatic changes in the outside temperature fuels a greater opportunity for sickness and there are some healthy measures you can take from experts. High temperatures were in the 70s yesterday and today they are in the 30s and 40s. James Diaz is the Program Director of Occupational Health Sciences at LSU Health New Orleans. He says during seasonal changes you need to make sure air passages are dry.:

cut 10 (07) “keep well hydrated”

Diaz says if this weather is causing your nose to get crusty, use saline nose drops. He says if you haven’t already done so, it’s extremely important to get your flu shot…:

cut 11 (08)  “infections”

Diaz says when the temperature changes your immune system can weaken and make you more susceptible to germs. He says after it rains, the rise in pollen can make your allergy symptoms worse. Diaz says there are simple things you can do to protect yourself…:

cut 12 (09)  “last fall”

===============================

It looks like the end of an era is coming for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Feld Entertainment, the circus’ parent company, has announced they are phasing out their fabled elephant acts by 2018. Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, wants to thank Ringling Bros. for finally doing the right thing…

cut 13 (09)  “for them”

The 13 elephants currently in the circus’ shows will be transferred to their Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida. Many in the public have voiced concerns regarding how elephants and other animals have been treated by the circus. Dorson says negative reinforcement is often used to train animals…

cut 14 (07)  “public’s wishes”

Ringling Bros. says they will continue to use horses, dogs, tigers, and other animals in their performances. Dorson says that’s a fight for another day…

cut 15 (05) “major victory”

===============================