4:30 PM Newscast August 22

Grambling State University has made state history by opening Louisiana’s first digital library building earlier today. Dean of the Digital Library and Learning Commons Adrienne Webber says the digital library reflects a tech-forward shift not just among students, but among libraries and institutions as well.

cut 5 (12) “…with the times.”

The power in a premium office building in downtown Shreveport is set to be shut off Monday afternoon because the owners haven’t paid the electric bill for months. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says an investment group from California owns Regions Tower.

cut 9 (11) “…five hundred thousand dollars.”

 

Baton Rouge Police have seized around one hundred and eighty-one pounds of fentanyl, over 100 doses of Adderall and Xanax, three rifles, a handgun, and more as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. Fentanyl is the leading cause of overdose deaths in east Baton Rouge Parish, and latest stats show fatal overdoses are down by over 30-percent. Lieutenant L’Jean McKneely says it’s the product of hard work from investigators and help from the community…

cut 8 (13) “…behind bars.”

32-year-old Precious Hicks of Virginia was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being found guilty of drug trafficking charges in Louisiana. St. Tammany Parish Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Dover says Highway Enforcement found several boxes of Fruity Pebbles that contained almost 8 thousand methamphetamine pills. Dover says this is what the Highway Enforcement Unit is there for…

cut 13 (11) “…to buy drugs.”

3:30 PM Newscast August 22

Baton Rouge Police have seized approximately 181 pounds of fentanyl as part of an investigation into the alleged drug trafficking operations involving 42-year-old Cendy Keophimanh (sen-dee kee-oh-fe-men). It’s believed to be the largest fentanyl seizure in Louisiana history, Lt. L’Jean MckNeely says the drugs seized in this investigation have the potential to save 42 million lives

Cut 6 (09) “…southeast region.”

32-year-old Precious Hicks of Virginia was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being found guilty of drug trafficking charges in Louisiana. Hicks was arrested in January of 2023 after she and her boyfriend were pulled over traveling on I-12. St. Tammany Parish Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Dover says Highway Enforcement found marijuana in open view and several boxes of Fruity Pebbles cereal…

Cut 12 (14) “…ecstasy pills.”

 Grambling State University has made history by opening Louisiana’s first digital library. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (30) …I’m Mel Bridges.”

 A 14-year-old Parkway High School Student was arrested and charged with terrorizing after making threats against the school on social media. School administrators and resource officers launched an investigation after rumors of a student possessing a gun surfaced. They conducted a search, but no weapons of any kind were found. Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington says the teen was arrested and charged with one count of terrorizing.

LRN PM Newscall August 22

Grambling State University has made history by opening Louisiana’s first digital library. Mel Bridges has more.

Cut 1 (30) …I’m Mel Bridges.”

______________________________________

Baton Rouge police made the largest fentanyl seizure in state history yesterday. Kace Kieschnick has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.” 

____________________________________

Grambling State University made state history by opening Louisiana’s first digital library building earlier today. Dean of the Digital Library and Learning Commons Adrienne Webber says keeping everything online gives everyone access to the most recent, relevant information.

Cut 3 (08) “…minutes.”

The digital library has no physical material. Instead, it provides access to more than one-point-six million digital books and pieces of research material. Webber says this ensures students are prepared not only for research in higher education, but also for the tech-forward workforce.

Cut 4 (09) “…this information.”

Webber says purely online material removes the need for multiple physical copies or constantly purchasing current research material. Additionally, she says, the digital library reflects a tech-forward shift not just among students, but among libraries and institutions as well.

Cut 5 (12)  “…with the times.”

The seventeen million dollar facility is also the only one of its kind at an HBCU.

__________________________________________________________

Baton Rouge Police have seized approximately 181 pounds of fentanyl as part of an investigation into the alleged drug trafficking operations involving 42-year-old Cendy Keophimanh (sen-dee kee-oh-fe-men). It’s believed to be the largest fentanyl seizure in Louisiana history, Lt. L’Jean MckNeely says the drugs seized in this investigation have the potential to save 42 million lives

Cut 6 (09) “…southeast region.”

Keophimanh was arrested last week following another large drug seizure including around 150 pounds of methamphetamine. Detectives conducted another search warrant at a house on Vermillion Drive connected to the suspect. McKneely says Baton Rouge was being used as a midpoint distribution center…

Cut 7 (08) “…and then distributed.”

Also seized were over 100 doses of Adderall and Xanax, a money counter, an air hydraulic shop press, 42 kilogram stamps and four guns. Fentanyl is the leading cause of overdose deaths in East Baton Rouge Parish and McKneely says they need the public’s help to find find the drug dealers and traffickers…

Cut 8 (13)  “…behind bars.”

__________________________________________________________

The power in a premium office building in downtown Shreveport is set to be shut off Monday afternoon because the owners haven’t paid the electric bill for months. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says an investment group from California owns Regions Tower.

Cut 9 (11) “…five hundred thousand dollars.”

Regions Tower is over 90 days overdue on a building-wide electricity bill totaling around half a million dollars. SWEPCO says they’ve been in contact with the California-based company that owns the building to keep the lights on, and Campbell says the tenants are also trying to make a deal…

Cut 10 (12) “…out in California.”

SWEPCO began posting disconnection notices around Regions Tower yesterday to give tenants time to make plans in case the power does go out. SWEPCO External Affairs Manager Michael Corbin says turning off the power is the last thing they want to do…

Cut 11 (12) ” …moment.”

Building owner Hertz Investment Group of Sherman, California haven’t commented on the situation yet.

________________________________________________________________

32-year-old Precious Hicks of Virginia was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being found guilty of drug trafficking charges in Louisiana. Hicks was arrested in January of 2023 after she and her boyfriend were pulled over traveling on I-12. St. Tammany Parish Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Dover says Highway Enforcement found marijuana in open view and several boxes of Fruity Pebbles cereal…

Cut 12 (14) “…ecstasy pills.”

The boxes of cereal were determined to contain almost 8,000 methamphetamine pills weighing over 4 pounds. During a formal police interview Hicks and her boyfriend admitted they had purchased the pills in Texas with the intent of selling them back in Virginia. Dover says this is what the Highway Enforcement Unit is there for…

Cut 13 (11) “…to buy drugs.” 

Hicks’s boyfriend plead guilty prior to the trial and without a criminal history, received a probation sentence. Dover says the judge considered Hicks’s criminal history of firearm, assault, larceny, fraud, forgery, drug, ad prostitution convictions when passing down the 35-year sentence…

Cut  14 (10) “…state of Florida.”

2:30 PM Newscast August 22

Baton Rouge police made the largest fentanyl seizure in state history yesterday. Kace Kieschnick has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.” 

32-year-old Precious Hicks of Virginia was sentenced to 35 years in prison for drug trafficking. She was arrested in January of 2023 after she and her boyfriend were pulled over on I-12. Authorities found marijuana and large quantities of methamphetamine. Hicks’s boyfriend pleaded guilty and with not prior criminal record, received probation. St. Tammany Parish Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Dover

Cut  14 (05) “…convictions.”

The California based owners of Regions Tower, a premium office building in downtown Shreveport, have an overdue electricity bill of around half a million dollars because they haven’t paid their bill in months. SWEPCO says they’ve been in contact with the Hertz Investment Group of Sherman, California but Monday they plan to shut off the power. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the building’s tenants are trying to make a deal…

Cut 10 (10) “…the building.”

SWEPCO began posting disconnection notices around Regions Tower yesterday to give tenants time to make plans in case the power does go out.

Grambling State University made state history by opening Louisiana’s first digital library building earlier today. Dean of the Digital Library and Learning Commons Adrienne Webber says keeping everything online gives everyone access to the most recent, relevant information.

Cut 3 (08) “…minutes.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

Grambling State University made state history by opening Louisiana’s first digital library building earlier today. It provides access to more than one-point-six million digital books and pieces of research material. Dean of the Digital Library and Learning Commons Adrienne Webber says this ensures students are prepared not only for research in higher education, but also for the tech-forward workforce.

cut 4 (09) “…this information”

 

Baton Rouge Police have seized around one hundred and eighty one pounds of fentanyl, over 100 doses of Adderall and Xanax, three rifles, a handgun, and more as part of an alleged ongoing drug trafficking investigation involving 42-year-old Cendy Keophinmanh (sen-dee kee-oh-fe-men). Lt. L’Jean McNeely says Baton Rouge was used as a midpoint distribution center…

cut 7 (08) “…and then distributed.”

 

The power in a premium office building in downtown Shreveport is set to be shut off Monday afternoon because the owners haven’t paid the electric bill in months. SWEPCO began posting disconnection notices around Regions Tower yesterday to give tenants time to make plans in case the power does go out. SWEPCO External Affairs Manager Michael Corbin…

cut 11 (12) “…moment.”

 

32-year-old Precious Hicks of Virginia was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being found guilty of drug trafficking charges in Louisiana. St. Tammany Parish Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Dover says Highway Enforcement found several boxes of Fruity Pebbles that contained almost 8 thousand methamphetamine pills. Dover says this is what the Highway Enforcement Unit is there for…

cut 13 (11) “…to buy drugs.”

12:30 LRN Newscast

Grambling State University has made state history by opening Louisiana’s first digital library building earlier today. Dean of the Digital Library and Learning Commons Adrienne Webber says the digital library reflects a tech-forward shift not just among students, but among libraries and institutions as well.

cut 5 (12) “…with the times.”

 

32-year-old Precious Hicks of Virginia was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being found guilty of drug trafficking charges yesterday. St. Tammany Parish Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Dover says Highway Enforcement found marijuana in open view and several boxes of Fruity Pebbles cereal…

cut 12 (14) “…ecstasy pills.”

 

Baton Rouge Police have seized around one hundred and eighty one pounds of fentanyl, over 100 doses of Adderall and Xanax, three rifles, a handgun, and more as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. Fentanyl is the leading cause of overdose deaths in east Baton Rouge Parish, and latest stats show fatal overdoses are down by over 30-percent. Lieutenant L’Jean McKneely says it’s the product of hard work from investigators and help from the community…

cut 8 (13) “…behind bars.”

 

The power in a premium office building in downtown Shreveport is set to be shut off Monday afternoon because the owners haven’t paid the electric bill for months. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says an investment group from California owns Regions Tower.

cut 9 (11) “…five hundred thousand dollars.”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU football team is preparing to kick off the season against 23rd-ranked USC September 1. Junior preseason All-American linebacker Harold Perkins will lead the defensive unit. Perkins has been a dominant edge rushing talent but will move to inside linebacker after failing the same experiment last season. Head Coach Brian Kelly says Perkins has been different this offseason…

Cut 17 (20) “…(x3) around him.”

Former LSU kicker Cade York was traded from the Browns to the Commanders for a conditional 7th round pick. Cleveland selected York in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft but cut him last year after making 24 of 32 kicks his rookie season. He was resigned this offseason and will now look to replace Brandon McManus in Washington.

The SEC has announced the conference baseball tournament will continue to be held in Hoover, Alabama through at least 2028. The Hoover Metropolitan Stadium has hosted the SEC Baseball Tournament since 1998, and the SEC has the option to extend the agreement through 2030.

The Saints play their final preseason game Sunday against the Titans. Wide receiver Chris Olave has been an impact player for the Saints since being drafted 11th overall in 2022. The Ohio State product has produced back-to-back one-thousand-yard seasons, but with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s play action scheme Olave says he had to work on his run blocking this offseason…

Cut 20 (18) “…this year.”

Kickoff against Tennessee is set for 1:00. The Saints will kick off the regular season against the Panthers September 8.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Grambling State University has made history by opening Louisiana’s first digital library earlier today. Mel Bridges has more.
Cut 1 (30) …I’m Mel Bridges.”

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved what Superintendent of Education Doctor Cade Brumley calls Let Teachers Teach policies. Brumley says one of the new policies will reduce dozens of non-academic trainings and lessons teachers have been required to repeat annually…
cut 25 (04) “…they’re good”
New policies have also been approved that will result in disruptive students being removed from the classroom.

Baton Rouge Police have seized approximately 181 pounds of fentanyl as part of an investigation into the alleged drug trafficking operations involving 42-year-old Cendy Keophimanh (sen-dee kee-oh-fe-men). It’s believed to be the largest fentanyl seizure in Louisiana history, Lt. L’Jean Mckneely says the drugs seized in this investigation have the potential to save 42 million lives…
Cut 6 (09) “…southeast region.”
The drugs were found in two different homes in Baton Rouge.

The World Health Organization declared monkeypox, or m-pox, a global health emergency as the disease ravages Africa. Tulane Epidemiology Professor Dr. Susan Hassig says mpox has spread quickly among African countries because of…
Cut 13 (10) “…most affected.”
Hassig says while mpox is a concern, it’s not likely to affect the U.S. or even tourists to Africa, since mpox spreads via intimate contact.

10:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has unanimously approved new policies based on State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley’s Let Teachers Teach workgroup. Brumley says the new policies free teachers from what he calls “onerous bureaucracy”…
Cut 25 (09) “…from learning.”
The policies also focus on expanding teacher autonomy.

Grambling State University makes history today by opening Louisiana’s first digital library building. Dean of the Digital Library and Learning Commons Adrienne Webber says keeping everything online gives everyone access to the most recent, relevant information.
Cut 3 (08) “…minutes.”
The digital library provides access to more than one-point-six million digital books and pieces of research material.

The Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources has announced an offshore wind roadmap is being developed which will serve as a strategic guide as the offshore wind industry is set to grow in Louisiana. DENR spokesperson Patrick Courreges says they are holding a zoom meeting on September fifth and the public is encouraged to participate and provide recommendations…
cut 12 (10) “….they be there”
For more information go to Louisiana-offshore-wind-dot-com.

The World Health Organization has declared mpox, formerly known as monkey pox, a global health emergency as the viral disease has produced a more dangerous strain that has killed hundreds in Africa….
cut 15 (08) “….that it’s happening”
That’s Tulane Epidemiology professor Doctor Susan Hassig. Health officials say a the risk for a widespread outbreak in the United States is low.

9:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved Let Teachers Teach policies that were based on recommendations from a group of teachers. Superintendent of Education Doctor Cade Brumley says one of the new policies will streamline and reduce dozens of non-academic trainings and lessons teachers have been required to repeat annually…
cut 5 (11) “…paperwork on teachers”
New policies have also been approved that will result in disruptive students being removed from the classroom.

You may have heard m-pox, formerly known as Monkeypox, has been declared a global health emergency. An mpox outbreak is spreading across Africa, killing more than 500 people. Tulane Epidemiology Professor Susan Hassig…
cut 14 (11) “…other organ systems”
The more dangerous strain of M-pox has not been detected in the United States.

The advisory committee for the Offshore Wind Roadmap will hold its first meeting in September as this group is trying to develop a strategic guide on how the state can capitalize on the potential of an offshore wind industry off the coast of Louisiana. State Department of Energy and Natural Resources spokesperson Patrick Courreges says they know the Bayou State has the workforce part figured out…
cut 11 (10) “…pretty well”
DENR wants public participation in the road map, and will hold a Zoom meeting on September 5 from 11 to 1 to discuss the road map with the public.

In the last legislative session, Louisiana lawmakers appropriated 100-million dollars that will be used to upgrade state and local juvenile detention centers. Governor Jeff Landry spoke about that decision during a visit to Monroe and says the state is also investing in rehabilitation…
uct 9 (12) “…incarcerated in there”
The legislature also allocated money to hire 70 more people at the Swanson Center for Youth prison in the Monroe area.