6:30 PM Newscast

A six-month-old baby is dead after a kidnapping that ended with authorities finding the child covered in severe burns. Last night Natchitoches Police responded to a call from a mother who said her child had been stolen after a home invasion. Captain Christopher Payne says the mother was blindsided.  An hour after police responded to the initial call, Payne says they got a second call from someone reporting that a barn had caught fire about three miles north of the home.

Cut 5  (09) “its body.”

Can a black person get a fair trial in a courthouse with a confederate statue in front of it?  Attorney Niles Haymer says he doesn’t believe so.  Haymer has a black client currently facing a gun charge, but has requested a change of venue from the East Feliciana courthouse.  Haymer says it’s a very controversial and divisive issue as the statue is a political statement.

Cut 7 (08)  “…make political statements.”

The Louisiana Health Department announces six people have been diagnosed with the West Nile virus. It’s the first human cases of 2018. Assistant State Health Officer, Doctor Parham Jaberi, says the public should take the necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites

cut 9 (12)  “we can”

Jaberi says 80-percent of people who get West Nile are unaware they have the virus, as they are asymptomatic.

Congressman Ralph Abraham has been named a member of the conference committee that will craft the final version of the Farm Bill.  The version of the Farm Bill being considered will set agriculture policy for the next five years.  The House passed its version of the Farm Bill on June 21, with the Senate passing their version a week later. The current Farm Bill is set to expire at the end of September.

5:30 PM Newscast

The Louisiana Health Department reports the first six human cases of the West Nile Virus has been detected. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The CDC advises customers to throw out any crab products from Venezuela. Health officials say a dangerous bacteria has been found in fresh crab meat from Venezuela, causing two people from Louisiana to get very sick.

Can a black person get a fair trial in a courthouse with a confederate statue in front of it?  Attorney Niles Haymer says he doesn’t believe so.  Haymer has a black client currently facing a gun charge, but has requested a change of venue from the East Feliciana courthouse.  He says his client is intimidated by a thirty-foot soldier at the entrance of the building.

Cut 6 (07)  “…at the courthouse.”

The Secretary of State’s race is officially on as qualifying is underway. Democrat Renee Fontenot Free, the director of the Public Protection Division in the state A-G-’s office, and Republican former state legislator A.G. Crowe joined the race today. Fontenot Free says if elected, along with maintaining a non-partisan approach, she would focus on the state’s sagging level of voter participation, specifically in state and local elections.

Cut 14 (10) “about it”

4:30 PM Newscast

A six-month-old baby in Natchitoches is dead after a kidnapping that ended with authorities finding the child covered in severe burns. Last night Natchitoches Police responded to a call from a mother who said her child had been stolen after a home invasion.  Captain Christopher Payne says after the home invaders knocked at the door and maced the mother, she momentarily retreated while the attackers entered her home.

Cut 4  (06) “baby missing.”

Can a black person get a fair trial in a courthouse with a confederate statue in front of it?  Attorney Niles Haymer says he doesn’t believe so.  Haymer has a black client currently facing a gun charge, but has requested a change of venue from the East Feliciana courthouse.  Haymer says the issue of confederate symbolism at courthouses is widespread around the state.

Cut 8 (12) “…at our courthouse.”

The Secretary of State’s race is officially on as qualifying is underway. Democrat Renee Fontenot Free, the director of the Public Protection Division in the state A-G-’s office, and Republican former state legislator A.G. Crowe joined the race today. Crowe says if elected, he would focus on upgrading the office’s technology, to better protect election privacy and integrity.

Cut 12 (10)   “highest level”

The Louisiana Health Department announces six people have been diagnosed with the West Nile virus. It’s the first human cases of 2018. Assistant State Health Officer, Doctor Parham Jaberi, says the three cases of Neuroinvasive Disease were found in DeSoto, St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa Parishes. Jaberi says they are not surprised to see their first human cases of West Nile.

Cut 11 (10) “…surveillance.”

330PM LRN Newscast July 18

A recent request for a change of venue in a court case involving a gun charge is getting plenty of attention, but not because of the nature of the crime.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Louisiana Health Department announces six people have been diagnosed with the West Nile virus. It’s the first human cases of 2018. Assistant State Health Officer, Doctor Parham Jaberi.

Cut 10 (12) “…the hospital”

The Secretary of State’s race is officially on as qualifying is underway. Democrat Renee Fontenot Free, the director of the Public Protection Division in the state A-G-’s office, and Republican former state legislator A.G. Crowe joined the race today. Crowe says he plans on running a clean campaign, and rejecting the common political impulse to attack his rivals in the race.

Cut 13 (10) “my opponets”

Crowe says he plans on running a clean campaign, and rejecting the common political impulse to attack his rivals in the race.

Political analysts consider the Secretary of State’s race to be one of the more difficult offices to obtain, due to its lower profile and lack of abundant money that’s usually available in more partisan legislative races. Free says she won’t be relying on big money backing to push her over the finish line.

Cut 15 (08) “warchest”

The election is November 6th.

2:30 PM Newscast

The Louisiana Health Department reports the first six human cases of the West Nile Virus has been detected. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The CDC advises customers to throw out any crab products from Venezuela. Health officials say a dangerous bacteria has been found in fresh crab meat from Venezuela, causing two people from Louisiana to get very sick.

A six-month-old baby in Natchitoches is dead after a kidnapping that ended with authorities finding the child covered in severe burns. Last night Natchitoches Police responded to a call from a mother who said her child had been stolen after a home invasion at her residence. Captain Christopher Payne says the mother was blindsided.

Cut 3 (09) “mace.”

The Secretary of State’s race is officially on as qualifying is underway. Democrat Renee Fontenot Free, the director of the Public Protection Division in the state A-G-’s office, and Republican former state legislator A.G. Crowe joined the race today. Fontenot Free says if elected, along with maintaining a non-partisan approach, she would focus on the state’s sagging level of voter participation, specifically in state and local elections.

Cut 14 (10) “about it”

LRN PM Newscall July 18

A recent request for a change of venue in a court case involving a gun charge is getting plenty of attention, but not because of the nature of the crime.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

_____________________________________________

The Louisiana Health Department reports the first six human cases of the West Nile Virus has been detected. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo” 

cut 9 (12)  “we can”

Jaberi says 80-percent of people who get West Nile are unaware they have the virus, as they are asymptomatic. But he says in this latest report, three of the cases are the more serious form of the disease

Cut 10 (12) “…the hospital”

The three cases of Neuroinvasive Disease were found in DeSoto, St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa Parishes. Jaberi says they are not surprised to see their first human cases of West Nile..

Cut 11 (10) “…surveillance.”

_____________________________________________________

The Secretary of State’s race is officially on as qualifying is underway. Democrat Renee Fontenot Free, the director of the Public Protection Division in the state A-G-‘s office, and Republican former state legislator A.G. Crowe joined the race today. Crowe says if elected, he would focus on upgrading the office’s technology, to better protect election privacy and integrity.

Cut 12 (10)   “highest level”

Crowe says he plans on running a clean campaign, and rejecting the common political impulse to attack his rivals in the race.

Cut 13 (10) “my opponets” 

Fontenot Free says if elected, along with maintaining a non-partisan approach, she would focus on the state’s sagging level of voter participation, specifically in state and local elections.

Cut 14 (10) “about it”

Political analysts consider the Secretary of State’s race to be one of the more difficult offices to obtain, due to its lower profile and lack of abundant money that’s usually available in more partisan legislative races. Free says she won’t be relying on big money backing to push her over the finish line.

Cut 15 (08) “warchest”

The election is November 6th.

13:30 LRN Newscast July 18th

A man facing a gun charge in East Feliciana is asking for his court case to be moved, because there’s a statue of a Confederate solider in front of the courthouse. Attorney Niles Haymer…
cut 7 (08) “…political statements”
District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says the East Feliciana Parish Policy jury has already determined that the statue is not inflammatory, but a part of history.

Natchitoches Police say a six-month-old child found in a burning barn has died at a local hospital. Captain Christopher Payne says they were searching for the toddler for about an hour after it was abducted from a trailer park…
cut 5 (09) “…it’s body”
Payne says no arrests have been made in the case as of yet. Payne says the child’s mother said two unknown subjects came to her door, sprayed her with mace and took the baby.
The Louisiana Health Department announces six people have been diagnosed with the West Nile virus. It’s the first human cases of 2018. Assistant State Health Officer, Doctor Parham Jaberi, says the public should take the necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites…
cut 9 (12) “…we can”
Three of the cases are the more serious form of the disease which can result in life-threatening brain and spinal cord disease. Those cases were confirmed in DeSoto, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes.

Former state lawmaker AG Crowe was the first person to qualify for the special election for Secretary of State on November 6th. Crowe says if elected, he would focus on upgrading the office’s technology, to better protect election privacy and integrity.
Cut 12 (10) “highest level”
Democrat Renee Fontenot Free also qualified today.

12:30 LRN Newscast July 18th

Natchitoches Police detectives are investigating the death of a six-month-old child that was kidnapped from a residence in the Mayberry Trailer Park. Captain christopher Payne says the toddler’s mother called 9-1-1 after an attack on her and the abduction…
cut 4 (06) “…baby missing”
The baby was found dead about an hour later in a barn that had caught on fire about three miles north of the trailer park. The search is on for suspects.

Can a black person get a fair trial in a courthouse with a confederate statue in front of it? Attorney Niles Haymer says he doesn’t believe so. Haymer has a black client currently facing a gun charge, but has requested a change of venue from the East Feliciana courthouse. He says his client is intimidated by a 30-foot soldier at the entrance of the building.
Cut 6 (07) “…at the courthouse.”
District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says the presence of the statue is no reason to change the location of the trial.

Two of the four announced candidates seeking to become the next Secretary of State qualified for the November 6th election today. Republican and former state legislator AG Crowe says he plans to run a clean campaign….
cut 13 (10) “…my opponents”
While Democrat Renee Fontenot Free, who works in the A-G’s office, says she will not rely on big money to back her campaign….
cut 15 (08) “…warchest”
Two current state lawmakers are also expected to qualify, Rick Edmonds and Julie Stokes.

11:30 AM Newscast

A six-month-old baby in Natchitoches is dead after a kidnapping that ended with authorities finding the child covered in severe burns. Last night Natchitoches Police responded to a call from a mother who said her child had been stolen after a home invasion at her residence. Captain Christopher Payne says the mother was blindsided.

Cut 3 (09) “mace.”

The baby was found in a fire and later died at a medical facility.

Governor John Bel Edwards has announced 23 new projects aimed at coastal recreation throughout the state.  The $60 million being used to fund the projects comes from a settlement stemming from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says he’s pleased the state’s recreational losses were not forgotten and says the projects will be beneficial to those with or without a boat.

Cut 11 (13) “…fish in Louisiana.” 

Air quality warnings, and a call for an Action Day is in effect for much of the state this week as a cloud of dust descends on Texas and the Bayou State. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Forecaster Patrick Zahn says the dust, which is from 5000 miles away, could make it a bit more difficult to breathe these next few days for people who suffer from asthma.

Cut 6 (09) “exposure.”

Louisiana has seen its first human West Nile Virus cases of 2018.  LDH says there are six cases, three of which are the most serious type.  The neuroinvasive disease version of the virus infects the brain and spinal cord and can lead to death, paralysis, and brain damage.  LDH reminds people to protect themselves from mosquitos in order to reduce the risk of virus spreading, saying to apply repellent containing DEET to exposed skin and clothing, among other recommendations.

11:40 LRN Sportcast

Former LSU star Alex Bregman continues to show he has that clutch bone. Bregman belted a solo home run in the 10th inning last night to snap a five-five tie and the American League went on to defeat the N-L eight to six in 10 innings. Bregman was named the game’s MVP.

NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo reports the Saints are signing former Giants and Patriots running back Shane Vereen. The 29-year-old caught 44 passes last season and rushed for 164 yards for the Giants.

In the NBA, the Pelicans have signed guard Trevon Bluiett (Trey-von Blue-IT) to a two-way contract. The undrafted rookie out of Xavier in Ohio averaged 18 points a game in four Summer League games.

And ESPN is reporting a blockbuster deal in the Association as the Spurs are getting ready to ship Kawhi Leonard to Toronto. San Antonio will get fellow All-Star DeMar DeRozan in return. But there are reports Leonard and DeRozan are not happy about the trade.

LSU’s schedule features two teams that played in last season’s national championship game, Alabama and Georgia. The Bulldogs will visit Death Valley on October 13th. Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart says just because his team won the SEC last season, doesn’t mean it’s automatic they will do it again…
Cut 18 (19) “football works”
It’s been reported LSU will not have tight end Jamal Pettigrew this season, because of a torn ACL. The New Orleans native played in all 13 games last season as a redshirt freshman and caught just one pass, but he was expected to take on a bigger role this season.

College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock said today there are no plans to expand the C-F-P beyond the four teams.