10:30 LRN Newscast April 19th

Legislation to shorten the waiting period to get divorce for couples with minor children has been approved by a House committee. Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson’s bill would reduce the waiting period from a year to six months. He says this is what’s best for the kids…:
Cut 7 (10) “can begin”
But Gene Mills with the Louisiana Family Forum says the current one year waiting period gives couples more time to resolve their issues…:
Cut 9 (12) “very reconcilable”
The measure now heads to the House floor.

The DeSoto Parish Coroner’s office says Cameron Anthony Hernandez from Diana, Texas, was killed when a tank exploded near Mansfield. Two others were also injured.

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain has halted the sales of Kaput, which is a poison designed to kill wild hogs, but it can also kill black bears and other animals. Strain says they will look at other options to battle the booming feral swine population…
cut 16 (08) “….that large”
Strain says there is an effort to develop a vaccine that would make feral pigs infertile.

Southeastern Louisiana University is issuing a promise to incoming freshmen not to raise their tuition, if they commit to completing their degree in four years. President John Crain…
cut 11 (12) “…four years”
Crain says they’re seeing students taking longer and longer to earn a bachelor’s degree, and the Southeastern Promise encourages students to graduate in four years.

17:30 LRN Newscast April 18th

A proposal to shorten the wait time for parents with minor children to receive a divorce wins approval from a House committee. The bill reduces that time from one year to six months. Opponents say making it easier for couples to get divorced doesn’t make it easier on the children, but Homer Representative Patrick Jefferson disagrees…
cut 30 (08) “…they decided”
The full House will decide whether to advance the measure to the Senate.

A Senate committee has approved a bill that would give inmates a chance at parole, if they are serving a life sentence for a murder they committed when they were minors. It has the support of Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson….
cut 12 (12) “…corrpution”
A similar measure failed last year.

Columbia Senator Neil Riser files a bill that would exempt flood victims from state income tax for 2017. Michelle Southern reports…:
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Wednesday is the deadline for lawmakers to file tax bills. It’s expected Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter will propose a bill to increase the state’s gasoline tax by 17 cents. We’re also expecting several bills that will change how the state charges sales taxes and eliminate exemptions that currently exist for certain purchases.

16:30 LRN Newscast April 18th

A bill to allow inmates, who are serving life sentences, to be eligible for parole, if they were convicted of murder while they were a juvenile clears a Senate committee. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Columbia Senator Neil Riser sponsors a bill that would exempt flood victims from having to pay state income taxes for 2017…:
CUT 8 (09) “a family earns”
It’s unknown when this bill will have its first hearing.

The LSU Ag Center’s Sensory Services Lab is seeking food lovers to taste test products and provide feedback to food companies. Lab Manager Ashley Gutierrez says they need a wide range of subjects to participate…:
Cut 14 (10) “can serve”
If you’re a consumer interested in testing food products, visit the LSU School of Food and Nutrition website.

A 34-year-old man from Raceland was arrested for allegedly attacking his girlfriend when she made fun of his moves on the dance floor. And Thibodaux Police spokesperson David Melancon says while police were transporting Cole Rodriguez to jail on charges of domestic abuse battery, he still wan’t happy…:
Cut 6 (06) “police officers”
He was booked on a $7,500 bond.

16:45 LRN Sportscast April 18th

It’s a busy night on the college baseball diamonds across the state. LSU will host Lamar at 6:30. The eighth ranked Tigers will be looking to improve their record to 26-12. Lamar is 22-and-15 and beat LSU last year 12-to-11 in Beaumont, Texas.

Louisiana Tech will host 23rd ranked McNeese State. It’s the first time the Pokes have ever been ranked in baseball and tonight marks the start of an eight-game road trip for the Cowboys. McNeese Coach Justin Hill believes his team is ready for this long stretch away from home….
cut 18 (15) “…care of itself”
Also tonight, the Cajuns are at Tulane. ULM visits Grambling and Northwestern State hosts Prairie View A-and-M.

There was some specuation the Saints will be featured on H-B-O’s “Hard Knocks” but instead another team from the NFC South will receive that publicity. Tampa Bay Buccaneer officials say they will make a major announcement tomorrow and they are expected to say they’ve been chosen to participate in the popular HBO series.

We know who the Saints will play next season and Thursday night we’ll find out when. The entire 2017 regular season schedule will be unveiled at 7 PM on the NFL Network. The Saints will play their division rivals twice and they’ll host the Bears, Lions, Patriots, Jets and Redskins and travel to Green Bay, Minnesota, Buffalo, to the Los Angeles Rams and play the Dolphins in London.

We all know, the Saints have expressed interest in Patriots cornerback Malcolm Buter. It’s been reported Bulter has signed his restricted free agent tender, but ESPN’s Field Yates says a trade is still on the table. Butler recently visited the Saints, while he was a restricted free agent.

LRN PM Newscall April 18th

Columbia Senator Neil Riser sponsors a bill that would exempt flood victims from state income tax for the 2017 year. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A bill to allow inmates who are serving life sentences eligible for parole, if they were convicted  of murder while they were a juvenile clears a Senate committee. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A 62-year-old has been charged with vehicular homicide after hitting a pedestrian and killing him in Terrebonne Parish last night, according to State Police. Master Trooper Brooks David says Albert Williams Jr. was driving down LA 24 in Houma shortly before 9 p.m. when he struck 43-year-old Byron Acosta.

Cut 3 (09) “that crash”

David says authorities are still unsure why Acosta was walking down the shoulder of the roadway and the crash is still under investigation. He says when troopers arrived, they suspected Williams was impaired.

Cut 4  (08) “lane usage”

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A Raceland man has been arrested for allegedly hitting his on and off again girlfriend after she made jokes about his dance moves. David Melancon with The Thibodaux Police Department says 34-year-old Cole Rodriguez was at a bar on the dance floor when things turned violent…

Cut 5  (09)  “defend himself”

Melancon says bar patrons broke up the fight and things had calmed down by the time authorities arrived. He says while police were transporting Rodriguez to jail on charges of domestic abuse battery, he began acting up in the back of the patrol car.

Cut 6 (06) “police officers”

Melancon says Rodriguez began spitting blood at the police officers then earning himself additional charges of resisting an officer with force and battery of a police officer. He says he never should’ve hit the woman in the first place after the joke.

Cut 7 (10)  “the lick”

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Columbia Senator Neil Riser sponsors a bill that would exempt flood victims from state income tax for the 2017 year. He says the bill includes certain parameters…:

Cut 8 (09) “a family earns”

The bill has not yet been scheduled for debate. Riser says it’s the least the state could do to help 2016 flood victims rebuild their lives…:

Cut 9 (08)  “been affected”

Riser says hard working people have paid their taxes for their entire lives, and have just lost everything they own. He doesn’t think giving them a break for a year is unreasonable…:

Cut 10 (10) “got it hear yet”

(Under Riser’s proposal, the first $100,000 of income that a family earns this year would be exempt from the state income tax if the family sustained $10,000 or more of losses during 2016 flooding. $50,000 if filing single.)

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A measure that would offer parole after 30 years behind bars for those convicted of life sentences for murder committed while they were juveniles passed out of a Senate committee. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor’s bill has the support of State Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson. Johnson says there needs to be a line drawn between immature juveniles and corrupt juveniles.

Cut 11 (05) “peer pressure”

If the bill is signed into law, 89 of about 300 people serving life in prison who were sentenced as juveniles would be immediately  eligible for parole after already serving 30 years. Johnson says everyone has a made a bad decision because of an immature brain.

Cut 12 (12) “corruption”

A similar measure died right before the end of the session last year. But Kaplan Senator Jonathan Perry disagrees with the measure. He says during the entire discussion there was no conversation about the victims of these crimes.

Cut 13 (09) “get notified”

The bill heads to the Senate floor for more debate.

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LRN Newscast 14:30 April 18th

Columbia Senator Neil Riser sponsors a bill that would exempt flood victims from state income tax for the 2017 year. Michelle Southern reports…:
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A measure that would allow couples with children under the age of 18 to divorce after a 180-day waiting period advanced out of a House committee today. Currently couples with kids, who are seeking a divorce, must wait one-year. Supporters say a year long wait leads to more bickering between the disgrunted adults. The full House will debate the bill next.

A measure that would offer parole after 30 years behind bars for those convicted of life sentences for murder committed while they were juveniles passed out of a Senate committee. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor’s bill has the support of State Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson. Johnson says there needs to be a line drawn between immature juveniles and corrupt juveniles.
Cut 11 (10) “peer pressure”
The bill heads to the senate floor for more discussion.

State Police say a 62-year-old man is facing charges of vehicular homicide for allegedly driving drunk when he struck and killed a pedestrian in Terrebonne Parish. Master Trooper Brooks David says Albert Williams Jr. was driving down LA 24 in Houma shortly before 9 p.m. when he struck 43-year-old Byron Acosta…:
Cut 3 (09) “that crash”
Williams was booked into the Terrebonne Parish Correctional Center.

11:40 LRN Sportscast April 18th

LSU hosts Lamar tonight at Alex Box Stadium. Lamar’s head coach is Will Davis who is a former player at LSU and also served for seven seasons as a volunteer assistant coach. Davis has led Lamar to a record of 22-15 and last year the Cardinals beat the Tigers 12-11.

In other action tonight, UL Lafayette visits Tulane. Tonight’s game against the Green Wave is the start of a five-game week for the Cajuns. Coach Tony Robichaux says it’s always difficult playing this many games during a week…
cut 20 (20) “…good defense”
The Green Wave have won 15 of their last 21.

For the first time in the school’s history, McNeese State baseball is ranked in a top 25 poll. They are ranked by Collegiate Baseball as the 23rd best in the country. The Cowboys are 26-9 and 16-2 in the Southland and in first place in the standings. Rhett Deaton and Austin Sanders have been solid weekend starters for the Cowboys and Head Coach Justin Hill says the bullpen has been consistent, helping the Pokes become one of the top pitching teams in the Southland…
cut 17 (11) “…right there”
McNeese will play its first game as a ranked team tonight when they visit Louisiana Tech.

Elsewhere…Northwestern State hosts Prarie View A-and-M, ULM is at Grambling and Nicholls State will face Southern Miss in Biloxi.

Defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko will transfer to LSU. Fehoko started all 25 games during his two seasons at Texas Tech and had 38 tackles, seven and a half tackles for a loss and two sacks. The Hawaii native will have to sit out the 2017 season, but he’ll have two years of eligibity starting in 2018.

10:30 LRN Newscast April 18th

A bill that would do away with a 25-dollar credit parents can claim on their state income taxes for educational expenses heads to the Senate floor after receiving approval from the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee. Chairman J-P Morrell of New Orleans says this would save the state 13-million dollars and those savings can be used for other education programs like TOPS and the child readiness tax credit….
cut 12 (08) “…kindergarten ready”

Today, the House Ways and Means committee discusses sales tax bills. Houma Representative Tanner Magee seeks to lower the sales tax rate, but remove a lot of exemptionsl. Magee says there are plenty of unnecessary cases when sales taxes are exempted…
cut 8 (10) “….sales tax”
There will not be a vote on Magee’s bill.

Divers recovered the body of 29-year-old Travis Jermaine Savage of Alexandria from Cotile Lake in Rapides Parish. Witnesses say Savage was swimming with family members when he went under and did not resurface.

Democratic lawmaker Ted James spoke before the Baton Rouge Press Club to give his thoughts on the legislative session. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 1 (31) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

American Airlines has announced they will begin providing non-stop flights from Shreveport Regional Airport to Charlotte, Nort Carolina starting on August 22nd.

16:45 LRN Sportscast April 17th

The LSU baseball team will host Lamar tomorrow night. The Tigers have won five of their last six after going through a stretch where they lost six of nine. LSU second baseman Cole Freeman likes how the Tigers are playing after beating the Rebels 3-2 on Saturday…
cut 18 (15) “…the limit”
The Tigers are 9-6 in league play and in fourth place in the SEC West, two games back of division leader Arkansas.

Former Texas Tech defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko has announced he will transfer to LSU. The former four-star defensive lineman started 25 straight games in Lubbocks and had 38 tackles, two sacks and one interception as a Red Raider. He’ll have to sit out in 2017, but will have two years of eligibility starting in 2018.

Tulane, McNeese State and UL-Lafayette are in first place in their respective conferences or divisions. The Green Wave swept UCONN this past weekend and they are 7-2 in the AAC. The Ragin Cajuns swept Arkansas State and they lead the West Division of the Sun Belt. Tulane hosts UL Lafayette tomorrow night.

McNeese State is 16-2 in the Southland after sweeping UNO. The Cowboys are at Louisiana Tech tomorrow night.

Southeastern is 10-8 in the Southland, which is good for fifth place. But Lions right-hander Mac Sceroler (Suh-roller) was named Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week. Sceroler struck out a career-12 in a seven to nothing win over Northwestern State on Thursday night.

The Saints begin their offseason workout program today. Receiver Willie Snead is participating even though he’s yet to sign his one-year tender offer. Tight end Josh Hill also reportedly showed up today as he continues to rehab from a broken fibula.

15:30 LRN Newscast April 17th

Governor Edwards has made it known that he doesn’t want to see partisan politics as the state looks to reform its tax structure. But GOP House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says any legislation that moves out of the money committees will depend on their merit and not whether its sponsored by a Republican or Democrat….
cut 4 (10) “….that’s laziness”
Edwards is pushing an ambitious tax plan and has said if legislators oppose it, they should come up with alternative proposals.

The president of Herndon Magnet Parent-Teacher-Student Association in Caddo Parish is accused of stealing money from the group. Caddo Sheriff’s office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says authorities arrested 47-year-old Vera Dunfey of Shreveport after examing her personal bank account…
cut 13 (08) “…personal benefit”
Dunfey has been charged with one count of theft.

Police in North Louisiana arrest a 17-year-old girl in the stabbing death of her 47-year-old boyfriend. Michelle Southern reports.
Cut 2 (25) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Nascent Technologies Corporation located on the LSU campus receives two contracts from the Department of Defense totalling nearly five-million dollars. N-T-C will address intelligence gaps between the U.S. and it’s many Caribbean partners. CEO Jeff Moulton says because there are several countries in the Carribean, intelligence gaps can emerge…
cut 8 (09) “….business now”
NTC was established last year with support from the states economic development department.