2:30 PM LRN Newscast

A Slidell woman was arrested for an alleged hit and run that left her co-worker critically injured. Slidell police say surveillance shows 67-year-old Lillian Sellers was backing up recklessly in the parking lot of Greenbriar Community Care Center Sunday night when she violently struck a female co-worker walking to her car. She then exited her SUV, retrieved a broken piece of bumper and put it in her car. She then walked in to work saying someone had fallen in the parking lot. When medical personnel determined the victim’s injuries were consistent with being struck by a vehicle, they notified police. When questioned, Sellers reportedly shrugged her shoulders and gave no explanation.

Louisiana’s U-S Senate race has the potential to be heated with Senator Bill Cassidy facing three formidable challengers in State Treasurer John Fleming, state senator Blake Miguez and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta. The primary is not until April but Jeremy Alford with LA Politics Weekly says if the primary was held today, he would expect Cassidy to come out on top…

Cut 11 (10) “…on a dime.”

A valuable statue was stolen from an historic Ascension Parish antebellum estate over the weekend, Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Small Business Owners are optimistic, says a recent NFIB survey and State director Leah Long says they are hearing from members across Louisiana that sales are improving…

Cut 5 (09) “…for them.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana’s U-S Senate race has the potential to be heated with Senator Bill Cassidy facing three formidable challengers in a primary election that will be held in April. Many are wondering if President Trump will make an endorsement. Jeremy Alford with L-A Politics weekly says it’s possible Trump stays out of the race…

Cut 9 (10) “…wouldn’t it”

State Treasurer John Fleming, state senator Blake Miguez and Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta are challenging Cassidy, who is seeking a third term.

 

An NFIB survey finds optimism among small business owners continues to increase. NFIB state director Leah Long says in Louisiana small business owners believe recent legislation approved will help their business grow, including the tort reform measures designed to reduce frivolous lawsuits and hold down excessive litigation costs…

Cut 4 (10) “…business owners ”

 

Some news on the progress of the new 2.3-billion-dollar Lake Charles I-10 bridge. Project spokesperson Johnathan Hill told the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury construction should start early next year, with a finish date set for 2030. Hill says the new bridge will require a toll, but not until a year after the bridge opens.

Cut 15 (13) “…August of 2031.”

Someone stole a rare 64-pound silver statue of Abraham Lincoln from the Houmas House and Gardens in Ascension Parish. Kevin Kelly is the owner of the historic antebellum estate that features multiple restaurants and rooms to stay the night. Kelly reported the theft on Facebook and the comments on the post are upsetting…

Cut 7 (08) “….Abraham Lincoln”

12:30 LRN Newscast

Over the weekend, someone stole a statue of Abraham Lincoln from an Ascension Parish historic mansion, and the owner would really like it back. Kevin Kelly, who owns Houmas House and Gardens in Darrow, discovered the 64-pound silver statue missing Sunday morning. Kelly doubts that it was an inside job.

Cut 6 (10) “…as 21 years.”

Kelly fears that given the statue’s value, the thief has likely melted it down by now.

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has received an update on the new 2.3-billion-dollar Lake Charles I-10 bridge project. Project spokesman Johnathan Hill says construction is slated to begin next year and is expected to take several years to complete.

Cut 14 (10) “…in 2031.”

A national survey conducted by the NFIB finds optimism among small businesses continues to improve. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

During his weekly Monday press conference, LSU Head coach Brian Kelly provided positive news regarding the health of two of his key players — first, junior center Braelin Moore; and then, tight end Trey’Dez Green.

Cut 16 (17) “…the week.”

Moore was injured on the first play from scrimmage in the game versus Louisiana Tech. Last year’s starting center, sophomore DJ Chester came into the game to replace him. Kelly says Chester did a heck of a job.

Former LSU receiver Justin Jefferson caught a touchdown pass in the Vikings come from behind win over the Chicago Bears last night. And former Tiger pitcher Aaron Nola pitched six shutout innings in a Phillies one to nothing win over the Mets.

 

The Saints were in a position to win their season opener on Sunday against the Cardinals but failed to get a win as they lost to Arizona 20-13. On Monday, Coach Kellen Moore gave his thoughts on the performance…

Cut 20 (16) “…had our chances”

The Saints will host the 49ers on Sunday. San Francisco tight end George Kittle will miss the game  with a hamstring injury and quarterback Brock Purdy is questionable with left shoulder and toe injuries. Saints safety Julian Blackmon will reportedly miss the season with a shoulder injury.

In the high school football polls…Edna Karr is ranked number one in 5A. Franklin Parish is number one in Class 4A, St. James is number one in 3A, Lafayette Christian ranks number one in 2A and Haynesville is the top seed in One-A.

11:30 LRN Newscast

An NFIB survey finds optimism among small business owners continues to increase. NFIB state director Leah Long says improving business conditions is leading to more optimism among small business owners…

Cut 3 (13) “…their businesses.”

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office has filed a motion with the 19th Judicial District in Baton Rouge to reinstate the death sentence for convicted killer Dale Dwayne Craig. Just days prior to turning 18, Craig shot and killed LSU freshman Kipp Gullet after stealing his vehicle. Attorney General Liz Murrill expects the motion to be denied, and that will allow the state to begin the appeals process to get the case before the U-S Supreme Court.

Cut 12 (08) “…this case.”

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has received an update on the new 2.3-billion-dollar Lake Charles I-10 bridge project. Project spokesman Johnathan Hill says that it’s currently in the design phase and is prepping for construction, which will start early next year.

Cut 13 (13)  “…design plan.”

The bridge will take several years to build, but Hill says that it’s expected to be ready for use by 2030.

Saints starting safety Julian Blackmon seriously injured his labrum in the regular season opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Kellen Moore says Blackmon is expected to miss significant time, which could end up being the rest of the season.

Cut 19 (12) “…as well.”

10:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has started the legal process in the state’s attempt to reinstate the death sentence for convicted killer Dale Dwayne Craig. In 1992, when he was just a few days shy of his 18th birthday, Craig fired three bullets through the head of LSU freshmen student Kipp Gullet after stealing his vehicle.

Cut 10 (09) “…to do it.”

In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that no one can be executed for a crime committed before the age of 18.

When it comes to budgeting money, Louisianans apparently aren’t that good at it. A new study by WalletHub ranks Louisiana as the second worst state in the country in money budgeting. Analyst Chris Lupo says you can blame that in part on Louisiana’s relatively low median income.

Cut 4 (10) “…median annual income.”

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has received an update on the new Lake Charles I-10 bridge project. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A doctor from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, is arrested for alleged indecent behavior with a juvenile from St. Tammany Parish. Investigators with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation say 32-year-old Brandon Joseph Bunol engaged in inappropriate online communications with the minor. Bunol is booked into the St. Tammany Correctional Facility.

9:30 AM Newscast

When it comes to budgeting money, Louisianans apparently aren’t that good at it. That’s according to a new study by WalletHub, which ranks Louisiana as the second worst state in the country in money budgeting, trailing only Mississippi. According to the study, Louisiana is near the bottom when it comes to debt, credit, and savings and many pay only the minimum on their credit cards.  Analyst Chris Lupo says it’s a by-product of the state’s relatively low median income.

Cut 6 (10) “…their daily expenses.”

Some news on the progress of the new 2.3-billion-dollar Lake Charles I-10 bridge project Johnathan Hill told the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury construction should start early next year, with a finish date set for 2030 . Hill says the new bridge will require a toll, but not until a year after the bridge opens.

Cut 15 (13) “…August of 2031.”

———————
State Police are investigating a trooper involved shooting that happened in Lafourche Parish yesterday afternoon. Investigators say it all began with an attempted traffic stop that led to a pursuit that ended on a dead-end road in Houma.  We’re told that’s when a passenger exited the vehicle, was shot by the trooper and pronounced dead at the scene.  Officials say the suspect driver then fled again…put was apprehended when the pursuit ended in a crash a short time later.

People who live near Smitty’s Supply in Roseland are getting frustrated at what they say is a lack of progress in the cleanup effort after that explosion August 22nd. Pat Mashburn says he wakes up every morning to the stench of oil and diesel; and for the last two weeks, he’s seen no change in the amount of oil coating the Tanpipahoa River. Mashburn says he’s especially frustrated by what he says is a relative lack of communication from environmental officials.

Cut 9 (10)  “…one-mile radius.”

 

8:30 AM Newscast

The explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland happened more than two weeks ago, and people who live near the site are getting frustrated at what they say is a lack of progress in the cleanup effort. Pat Mashburn says he wakes up every morning to the stench of oil and diesel; and there doesn’t seem to be any less oil in the Tangipahoa River just after the explosion.  He says people who live near the explosion site face long-term environmental damage with no relief in sight.

Cut 8 (08) “…any of that.”

A new study by WalletHub ranks Louisiana as the second worst state in the country when it comes to budgeting money.   In devising its rankings, WalletHub examined 12 key indicators of budgeting habits, and Analyst Chris Lupo on where Louisiana landed on some of them.

Cut 5 (11) “…on credit cards.”

———————-

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has received an update on the new Lake Charles I-10 bridge project. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has started the legal process in the state’s attempt to reinstate the death sentence for convicted killer Dale Dewayne Craig. Craig was convicted in the 1992 shooting death of LSU freshmen Kipp Gullet after stealing his vehicle.

Cut 10 (09) “…to do it.”

Craig was a few days shy of his 18th birthday when the crime took place and can not be put to death because of a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling banning capital punishment for those who were 17 or younger at the time of the crime..

7:30 AM Newscast

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has started the legal process in the state’s attempt to reinstate the death sentence for convicted killer Dale Dewayne Craig. In 1992, Craig fired three bullets through the head of LSU freshmen student Kipp Gullet after stealing his vehicle.  Craig was a few days shy of his 18th birthday when the crime took place and canot be put to death because of a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling  banning capital punishment for those who were 17 or younger at the time of the crime.

Cut 11 (12) “…precedent.”

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has received an update on the new 2.3-billion-dollar Lake Charles I-10 bridge project which is in the design phase now and is prepping to begin construction early next year. The new Lake Charles I-10 bridge will take several years to construct, but Hill says that it is expected to be ready for use by 2030.

Cut 14 (10) “…in 2031.”

——————————-

A new report suggests Louisianans apparently aren’t that good at budgeting money. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

People who live near Smitty’s Supply in Roseland are getting frustrated at what they say is a lack of progress in the cleanup effort after that explosion August 22nd. Pat Mashburn says he wakes up every morning to the stench of oil and diesel; and for the last two weeks, he’s been conducting a test with a paper towel to see how much oil is in the Tangipahoa River.

Cut 7 (08) “…last two weeks.”

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The third-ranked LSU Tigers are getting for their SEC opener against Florida on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. Coach Brian Kelly feels his team’s preparation leading up to the Louisiana Tech game was not where it needed to be. He says that the focus and preparation have to improve moving forward.

Cut 18 (18) “…about it.”

Kelly says starting center Braelin Moore and tight end Trey Dez Green are both listed as questionable.

In the high school football polls…Edna Karr is ranked number one in 5A. Franklin Parish is number one in Class 4A, St. James is number one in 3A, Lafayette Christian ranks number one in 2A and Haynesville is the top seed in One-A.

 

Saints starting safety Julian Blackmon seriously injured his labrum in the regular season opening loss against the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Kellen Moore says Blackmon is expected to miss significant time, which could end up being the entire season.

Cut 19 (12) “…as well.”

Blackmon was signed to replace Tyran Mathieu, who retired on the eve of training camp. Blackmon played well in the season opener. He had seven tackles and a pass defensed. Former fifth-round pick Jordan Howden or rookie Jonas Sanker could replace him.

The Saints will host the 49ers on Sunday. San Francisco will not have tight end George Kittle, who injured his hamstring in the first half of the team’s win over Seattle in the season opener. Quarterback Brock Purdy is also questionable with shoulder and toe injuries.