11:40 LRN Sportscast May 4th

The Advocate newspaper has obtained an email sent by LSU’s athletic department to its student-athletes that says they respect and support athletes decision to speak out about the Alton Sterling case, but they also tell them to be mindful of media attention it may bring. LSU is also asking players not to wear LSU gear if they protest on social media or in the public.

 

LSU basketball guard Kieran Hayward has announced he’s transferring. The native from Australia played sparingly his freshman season. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham reports it’s possible that other players will leave too. LSU currently has 13 players on scholarship and that’s the maximum allowed by the NCAA and Head Coach Will Wade is still looking for another graduate transfer. Shooting guard Mark Alstork is set to visit later this month. The Alstork played at Wright State and is also looking at South Carolina and Louisville.

 

Saints and LSU superfan Jarrius Robetson’s health continues to improve after receiving a liver transplant on Sunday morning. The 15-year-old no longer has breathing tubes and is anxious to get out of bed.

 

Last night in major league baseball, former LSU pitcher Kevin Gausman was ejected in the second inning, when he hit Red Sox Xander Bogaerts with a curveball. Gausman couldn’t believe he was tossed. Red Sox pitchers have thrown at Baltimore’s Manny Machado twice in the last week. Boston won last night’s game four to two.

 

The LSU baseball team begins an eight-game homestand tomorrow night when they open a three-game series against South Carolina. The Gamecocks are 10-11 in league play and they have lost their last five SEC series, after starting the season ranked in the preseason Top 5.

 

Shreveport native Sam Burns was voted Southeastern Conference golfer of the year by the league’s coaches. Burns is ranked as the second best player in the country as the team heads into NCAA regional play.

10:30 LRN Newscast May 4th

The Louisiana State Police along with a special prosecutor assigned by Attorney General Jeff Landry is now looking to see if Officers Howie Lake and Blane Salamoni violated state laws during the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling. Baton Rouge Attorney Beau Brock says it was a smart move by Landry to have LSP lead this investigation
Cut 11 (07) “of force”
Sterling’s family is hopeful the A-G office will seek justice for Sterling.

The Senate Transportation Committee approves a bill that requires traffic signs to be posted ahead of speed cameras. The proposal by New Orleans Senator Troy Carter is similar to one that passed last year requiring warning signs for red-light cameras. He says this prevents municipalities from using these cameras as a money grab.
Cut 3 (07) “perfect sense”
The bill heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.
The full House is debating the budget bill this morning that would cut 235-million dollars more than Governor John Bel Edwards wanted from the state Department of Health’s budget. Metairie Representative Cameron Henry says they would like to only spend 97.5-percent of available revenues to avoid mid-year budget cuts.
Cut 4 (09) “of health”
But Edwards administration officials oppose the House GOP’s budget plan and claim it will lead to significant cuts to all state agencies. State Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says these cuts were made without talking to state agency leaders….
cut 7 (08) “…other programs”
Gee says 120 inpatient beds for psychiatric patients would be eliminated and efforts to combat the Zika virus would be halted if this budget plan is approved.

09:30 LRN Newscast May 4th

The family of Alton Sterling is grieving all over again, after the Department of Justice announces no federal charges will be filed against the Baton Rouge police officers involved in his shooting. Sterling’s aunt Sandra Sterling is hopeful the state’s investigation will bring forth criminal charges against the officers.
Cut 8 (12) “remember his name”
Baton Rouge Attorney Beau Brock says new information released by the U.S. Justice Department will play a huge factor in the state case…
cut 12 (10) “…they have”
Attorney John McLindon who represents officer Blane Salamoni told L-R-N that he believes the results of the state investigation will be the same and that no charges will be handed down against the officers.
The full House has convened this morning to discuss the proposed budget for next fiscal year that would cut 235-million dollars more than the governor recommended from the department of Health. Michelle Southern has more…..
voicer 1 (30) “….I’m Michelle southern”

There are thousands without power in southwest Louisiana this morning as a result of the severe storms that moved through yesterday. Several roads also remain impassable because of high water. Public schools closed in Allen, Jeff Davis and Beauregard Parishes.

08:30 LRN Newscast May 4th

Louisiana Radio Network News, I’m Jeff Palermo…
cut 10 (11) “….like it was nothing”
That’s Andricka Williams, a mother to three of Alton Sterling’s children, reacting to the Department of Justice’s decision not to file charges against two officers involved in his shooting death.

But Attorney General Jeff Landry announces State Police and a special prosecutor will look to see if the officers’ conduct violated state laws Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 2 (28) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

Funeral services are this morning for Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Beard, who was killed in a single vehicle wreck while responding to a burglar alarm over the weekend. The funeral service begins at 11 AM at First Baptist Church in West Monroe and he’ll be laid to rest at Mount Vernon Baptist Chuch.

At the state capitol today, the full House meets to debate and vote on a proposed budget for next fiscal year. House Republican leaders are proposing to spend 97.5 percent of the recommended revenue that the Revenue Estimating Conference expects the state to have next fiscal year. Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says if this strategy was used last year, mid-years cuts would not be needed…
cut 5 (09) “….year cuts”
The Edwards administration opposes this strategy as they say it will lead to significant cuts to state services.

07:30 LRN Newscast May 4th

The US Justice Department has decided against filing federal charges against the officers involved in Alton Sterling’s death, but Sterling’s family hopes the state comes to a different conclusion. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

It was a peaceful night last night in Baton Rouge, but there was a driving rain storm. Governor John Bel Edwards has this message for those who plan to protest…
cut 20 (06) “…peacefully”

Governor Edwards is urging legislators in the House to reduce the size of cuts that’s been approved by the Appropriations Committee. Next year’s spending plan will be debated on the House floor today and the proposed budget as it stands now allocates 235-million dollars less to the Department of Health than what the governor recommended. LDH Secretary Rebekah Gee says although the Health department has a big budget, it doesn’t mean it’s full of waste…
cut 6 (09) “….this state”
Gee says House Republicans never asked her about the implications of the proposed cuts.

Also at the capitol, quite a bit of discussion in the halls over the Department of Justice’s decision not to pursue civil rights charges in the Alton Sterling case. New Orleans Senator Karen Peterson is calling on Attorney General Jeff Landry to gather all of the facts to see if state criminal charges apply…
cut 15 (07) “…this community”

06:45 LRN Sportscast May 4th

The LSU baseball team will have its first full squad workout of the week today. It’s final exam week, so the Tigers haven’t been on the practice field as much. LSU begins a three-game series against South Carolina tomorrow. These are two schools that were ranked in the preseason top 5, but the Gamecocks have lost five straight SEC series. LSU is 13-8 in league play and they still have a chance at finishing with the best overall record in the league.

In action tonight…Arkansas is at Tennessee, while Texas A-and-M hosts Mississippi State. The Bulldogs and Auburn lead the SEC West with 14-7 records.

Ole Miss defeated ULM five to three last night to sweep a midweek series from the Warhawks. ULM is 12-34 overall and they’ll get ready to host the defending national champs Coastal Carolina in a three-game series that begins tomorrow.

Also this weekend, the Ragin Cajuns host Georgia Southern, while Southeastern faces Sam Houston State.

Guard Kieran Hayward posted on Twitter that he’s leaving the LSU men’s basketball program. The Tigers roster was one above the scholarship limit, so someone had to go. Hayward is a native of Australia and he averaged just one point a game.

Shreveport native Sam Burns was voted Southeastern Conference golfer of the year by the league’s coaches. Burns is the fifth player in school history to achieve such an honor. Burns is ranked as the second best player in the country as the team heads into NCAA regional play.

The LHSAA state and track field meet gets underway today at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium. Today it will be Class B and Class C schools.

The baseball playoffs have reached quarterfinal action. Today in Class One-A, Oak Grove takes on Grand Lake and Varnado travels to Delhi Charter. 26th seeded Block also visits Oberlin.

On the Select side…in division one, top-seeded John Curtis begins its best of three series with Evangel.

06:30 LRN Newscast May 4th

Federal prosecutors says there’s insufficient evidence to bring civil rights charges against two Baton Rouge police officers in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling. But it’s possible that Officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake could face charges on the state level. Attorney General Jeff Landry says State Police will investigate the case. New Orleans Senator Karen Peterson says based on the facts she’s seen, an indictment is warranted…
cut 16 (11) “…seems just”
Baton Rouge attorney Beau Brock says there is a high burden of conduct when it comes to determining if a person’s civil rights were violated. He says state statutes require only general criminal intent, which is a much lower standard.
cut 13 (06) “…be proved”

 

The full House will debate today the proposed budget for next fiscal year that would cut 235 million dollars more than the governor recommended from the department of Health. Michelle Southern has more…
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

16:45 LRN Sportscast May 3rd

There are eight former LSU football players who went undrafted but have signed free-agent deals with NFL teams. They are Tashawn Bower with the Vikings, the Colts claimed Colin Jeter, the Raiders signed Rickey Jefferson, the Bears will give tight end DeSean Smith a chance, defensive back Dwayne Thomas has signed with the Patriots, the Saints have signed Travin Dural and offensive lineman Josh Boutte was signed by the Browns.

The Saints will hold a rookie minicamp next weekend. Seven draft picks, 12 undrafted free agents and some of the team’s younger and inexperenced players will participate.

Las Vegas oddmakers have former LSU running back Leonard Fournette has the favorite to win the NFL Rookie of the Year. Bovada-dot-com has his odds at seven to two. Carolina’s Christian McCaffery and Houston’s DeShaun Watson are also listed as favorites. The odds for the Saints to win the Super Bowl is 33-to-1. The Patriots are the favorites to win it all again at 7-to-2.

It’s been an emotional day in Baton Rouge today with the Department of Justice deciding against pursuing civil rights charges against two police officers who were involved in the shooting death of Alton Sterling. The Advocate Newspaper has obtained an email sent out by the LSU athletic department to its student-athletes telling them they respect and support their decisions if they decide to speak their opinions about the case. But they all asked the athletes to be mindful of media attention they may receive by what they say.

16:30 LRN Newscast May 3rd

The Department of Justice explained in detail why they aren’t filing federal civil rights charges against the cops in the Alton Sterling case…:
Cut 2 (35) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Appearing on Talk Louisiana, state Representative Ted James had this message for those who plan to protest the DOJ’s decision with bad intentions….
cut 11 (08) “…remain peaceful”

A bill seeking to protect Confederate monuments was approved by a House committee today. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody’s measure would prohibit the removal of any military monument from any war without a vote from the public….
cut 3 (10) “….of history”
The bill was approved on a 10-8 vote and now heads to the House floor.

Legislation aimed at bringing equal pay for equal work into the private sector failed in the House Labor committee. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno attempted to pass a bill that would prohibit businesses from retailating against an employee if they discussed their pay with a co-worker…
cut 9 (11) “…and man”
But the measure failed on a 9-to-5 vote.

15:30 LRN Newscast May 3rd

Acting United States Attorney Corey Amundson gave a lengthy explanation on why the federal government will not purse civil rights charges against the Baton Rouge officers in the shooting death of Alton Sterling. Amundson says based on the video none of their career prosecutors and agents could find evidence the officers acted unreasonably and willfully….
cut 14 (16) “….unreasonable”
But Sterling family attorney Chris Stewart says federal prosecutors showed them enough evidence that state criminal charges could apply…
cut 16 (08) “…you bitch”
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said today State Police will lead the state investigation.

A bill that would require voter approval before state and local governments can remove public military monuments was approved by a House committee today. The measure sparked emotional testimony. Brenda O’ Brock of Shreveport says all veteran lives matter, no matter what war…
cut 4 (10) “…can we”
More debate will take place on the House floor.

Another House committee voted against a proposal to that tried to prohibit businesses from retaliating against one of their employees if they told their co-workers about their salary. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno agrued ending pay secrecy is beneficial to businesses…
cut 8 (11) “….productivity boost”
The bill was killed on a 9-5 vote.