Monthly Archives: February 2016

02.23.16
by

06:30 Newscast, February 23rd, 2016

Much of Louisiana is under an enhanced severe weather threat today and that includes the potential for tornadoes. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
There is a high wind advisory for the entire state today beginning at 4pm-6pm. The National Weather Service says winds could increase to 20-30 miles per hour with gusts possibly getting to 40 miles per hour or higher.

At the Capitol today as there are just 14 days left in the special legislative session, the House Ways and Means Committee is set to vote on some of Governor John Bel Edwards tax proposals, including a one cent increase to the state’s sales tax.

Early voting for the Louisiana Presidential Preference Primary continues today through Saturday. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says this primary is costing Louisiana $3.5 million during tough budget times. He says switching to a caucus format would save the state that money, because a caucus is paid for by the political parties…:
Cut 13 (11) “pay for it”
The primary will be held March 5th.

Baton Rouge Police say the gun that apparently went off by accident as a 16-year-old was playing with it, and struck his 16-year-old niece in the head killing her, was a stolen firearm. The suspect was booked back into the East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Detention Center on charges of negligent homicide and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.

02.22.16
by

LRN AM Newscall February 23,2016

Much of Louisiana is under an enhanced severe weather threat today and that includes the potential for tornadoes. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote on various tax proposals today, including a measure that would increase the state sales tax by a penny. Halen Doughty reports…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Charges have been upgraded against a 16-year-old, who fatally shot his 16-year-old niece, in what Baton Rouge police call an accidental shooting. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Much of Louisiana could see severe weather today, including the potential for tornadoes. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will be a bumpy ride over the next 24 hours or so as result of cold front that’s moving through the state….

cut 4  (08)  “across the state”

Keim says cities like New Orleans, Houma, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Alexandria are under an enhanced threat of severe weather. He says the threat for severe storms is moderate for Bogalusa and northern Tangipahoa Parish. But he says all Louisiana residents should monitor the weather today.

Cut 5  (07)  “entire day”

Keim says flash flood warnings could be issued in some parts of the state.

Cut 6 (08)  “flooding issues” 

Keim says the severe weather threat will diminish Wednesday morning, but we could see much lower temperatures after the storms pass.

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Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera has released an annual report that points out areas where state government can do a better job of protecting taxpayer dollars. Purpera says on multiple occasions his auditors discovered the Department of Health and Hospitals didn’t do what was needed to receive payments from third parties for medical services provided for Medicaid patients…

CUT 7 (10)  “million dollars”

Purpera says nationally, nearly 6 percent of Medicaid claims are subject to abuse and the number could be even higher in Louisiana. He says they are planning to increase the number of auditors within DHH.

Cut 8  (10)  “these issues”

Purpera says with additional auditors in DHH, they can also do a better job in making sure those who are on Medicaid are actually eligible for the government health program and there are no over payments for Medicaid services…

Cut 9 (09)  “of things”

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Today could be a pivotal day in the special session that’s been called to eliminate a $900 million deficit this fiscal year. The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote on various proposals to increase taxes, including a measure that would increase the state sales tax from 4-cents to 5-cents. Jeremy Alford, publisher of la-politics-dot-com, says the sales tax bill is a key revenue raising measure that the Edwards administration is pushing for.

Cut 10 (05) “to do it”

Alford says many republicans could vote for an increase in the sales tax, but they want the governor to commit to some long-term spending cuts. Alford says the governor won’t get something for nothing through the House chamber.

cut 11 (09) “regular session”

 The committee has heard bills that would increase taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, rental cars, phone lines, internet sales and hotels. Alford says the committee may vote on just a few of these proposed taxes.

cut 12 (08) “this huge gap”

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Early voting for the Louisiana Presidential Preference Primary continues today through Saturday. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says this primary is costing Louisiana $3.5 million during tough budget times. He says switching to a caucus format would save the state that money, because a caucus is paid for by the political parties…

Cut 13 (11)  “pay for it”

Schedler says Louisiana needs to make crucial cuts to the state’s budget, and moving from presidential primary to a caucus could be one way to reduce future spending…

Cut 14 (09)  “different way” 

Schedler says he has proposed caucus voting to the legislators, but it takes a vote by the legislature to make that change…

Cut 15 (05) “do it” 

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The LSU men’s basketball team is at Arkansas tonight in a game that is a  must have for the Tigers who are on the wrong side of the bubble when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament. LSU will play the game without senior shooting guard Keith Hornsby, who reaggravated a sports hernia injury that forced him to miss several games earlier this season. Coach Johnny Jones on Hornsby’s absence

Cut 16  (15)  “we’ll miss him“

Jones says it’s too early to say if Hornsby will miss the rest of the season as some reports suggest. The Tigers have lost two straight and this losing streak has put LSU in a position where they need to rest of there games to make the NCAA Tournament. But Jones is not panicking

Cut 17 (16) “as well”

LSU enters tonight’s game with a 16-11 record, 9-5 in the SEC. Arkansas is 13-and-14, with a six-and-eight league record. Jones says handling the Razorbacks defensive pressure is a top priority tonight

Cut 18 (17) “make shots”

02.22.16
by

18:30 LRN Newscast

A House committee approves several bills aimed at reducing the number of state government contracts. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

There are 15 days left in the special legislative session that’s been called to address a 850 to 950 million dollar deficit this fiscal year. Governor John Bel Edwards has said it’ll take cuts to the budget and tax increases to close the gap. The House Ways and Means Committee is set to vote tomorrow on some of the governor’s tax proposals, including a one cent increase to the state’s sales tax.

More groups are coming forward expressing anger over the latest viral Crimestoppers video by Captain Clay Higgins with the Sheriff’s Office in St. Landry. The so called, “Cajun John Wayne” is coming under fire for some of the terminology he used to refer to the Gremlins Gang suspects. The ACLU of Louisiana also said that Higgins implies using the force of summary execution which is not the way we work in this country. St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says Acadiana is dealing with this gang that’s been terrorizing the area for a long time. He says they may have veered off point, but the message is pretty simple…:

Cut 11 (09) “watch for ya”

The International Energy Agency said today that oil prices should remain low through 2016. That’s good news for motorists, who are paying some of the lowest gas prices we’ve seen since 2004. But David Dismukes, executive director at the LSU Center for Energy Studies, says low gas prices are not helping Louisiana’s economy…

CUT 8 (06) “right now”

 

02.22.16
by

17:30 LRN Newscast

The House Appropriations Committee approved a series of bills today aimed at reducing or cutting down on number of state contracts, which supporters say will save the state some much needed dollars. Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy says there’s a 29-million dollar contract to help the state build a website for food stamp recipients. Other examples Kennedy named include contracts for tutoring students and providing adult education to prisoners. Kennedy says the governor should bring in his cabinet secretaries today and demand they cut at least 10-percent of their contracts

cut 14 (10)  “into place”

Kennedy says there are dozens if not hundreds of contracts that the state spends money on that are NOT needed. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says an examination of state contracts is underway and they plan to eliminate some of them in the coming weeks as part of their cost cutting plan

cut 15 (10) “do something” 

Tuesday could be a pivotal day in the special session that’s been called to eliminate a $900 million deficit this fiscal year. The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote on various proposals to increase taxes, including a measure that would increase the state sales tax from 4-cents to 5-cents. Jeremy Alford, publisher of la-politics-dot-com, says the sales tax bill is a key revenue raising measure that the Edwards administration is pushing for.

Cut 10 (05) “to do it”

Alford says many republicans could vote for an increase in the sales tax, but they want the governor to commit to some long-term spending cuts.

The committee has also heard bills that would increase taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, rental cars, phone lines, internet sales and hotels. Alford says the committee may vote on just a few of these proposed taxes.

cut 12 (08) “this huge gap”

Whatever tax measure pass out of the Ways and Means committee will go to the House floor, where it will need 70 votes for passage to the senate.

02.22.16
by

16:45 LRN Sportscast Feb 22nd

There are reports that senior LSU guard Keith Hornsby could miss the rest of the season with an injury. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says Hornbsy re-aggravated a sports hernia injury that kept him out the first part of this season. Coach Johnny Jones said earlier this afternoon that the doctors are still looking at the X-rays and there’s no final prognosis. The Tigers are at Arkansas on tomorrow night.

UL Lafayette Coach Bob Marlin says small forward Jay Hedgeman has been suspended for the rest of the season due to conduct detrimental to the team. Hedgeman was averaging five points and three rebounds a game. UL Lafayette has lost three in a row and they host Troy on Thursday.

In college hoops tonight…Southern, who is in third place in the SWAC, visits Alabama A-and-M. McNeese State hosts Central Arkansas. The Cowboys have lost six of their last seven. And Northwestern State hosts Nicholls State. Each team has won seven games total this season.

After sweeping Cincinnati over the weekend, the LSU Tigers are ranked in the Top 10 in five of the major college baseball polls. The Tigers made the biggest jump in the Baseball America Poll, where LSU moved up three spots to number eight. UL Lafayette is ranked 10th by Baseball America after sweeping Sam Houston State.

LSU’s Alex Lange has been named SEC Pitcher of the Week. Lange allowed just one hit and struck out nine in 6.2 innings in a four to nothing win over Cincinnati on Saturday.

Southeastern Louisiana pitcher Kyle Cedotal has been named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball. The senior left-hander from Denham Springs threw a complete game shutout on opening night as the Lions blanked ULM two to nothing. Cedotal struck out 14 that night.

After scoring 59 points and grabbing 20 rebounds in a win over Detroit yesterday, the Pelicans are off tonight. They visit the Wizards tomorrow night.

02.22.16
by

16:30 LRN Newscast

Oil prices will not rebound until next year, according to experts at the International Energy Agency. David Dismukes, Executive Director at the LSU Center for Energy Studies, says this is disappointing news to the oil industry, after hearing reports about a production freeze in the Middle East. But Dismukes doesn’t see a cutback in production by oil producing countries…

CUT 6 (10) “lower prices”

Today the price of US oil is trading around $30 a barrel.

The House Appropriations Committee approved a series of bills today aimed at reducing or cutting down on number of state contracts, which supporters say will save the state some much needed dollars. Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy says there are dozens if not hundreds of contracts that the state spends money on that are NOT needed

cut 13 (06)  “you throw up”

Some of the examples Kennedy named include contracts for tutoring students and providing adult education to prisoners.

A man who cops say was acting strange at a movie theater in Lafayette was issued a summons for disturbing the peace. Corporal Paul Mouton says during the film Deadpool, witnesses reported seeing 35-year-old Christopher Harmason of New Iberia walking up and down the aisles…:

CUT 3 (09)  “uncomfortable”

Mouton says Harmason was issued a misdemeanor summons and was told not to come back to the theater.

More groups are coming forward expressing anger over the latest viral Crimestoppers video by Captain Clay Higgins with the Sheriff’s Office in St. Landry. The so called, “Cajun John Wayne” is coming under fire for some of the terminology he used to refer to the Gremlins Gang suspects. National Action Now President Rev. Raymond Brown  feels Higgins’ video is a smack in the face to our criminal justice system. He says it sets a poor example to call people ugly names…:

cut 10 (10)  “maximum force”

02.22.16
by

15:30 Newscast February 22,2016

Oil prices will not rebound this year, according to experts at the International Energy Agency. Halen Doughty reports…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

There are 15 days left in the special legislative session that’s been called to address a 850 to 950 million dollar deficit this fiscal year. Governor John Bel Edwards has said it’ll take cuts to the budget and tax increases to close the gap. The House Ways and Means Committee is set to vote tomorrow on some of the governor’s tax proposals, including a one cent increase to the state’s sales tax.

 

The House Appropriations Committee approved multiple bills today in efforts to cut down on number of state contracts, which supporters say will save the state money. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says an examination of state contracts is ongoing and they plan to remove some of them in the coming weeks as part of their cost cutting plan.
cut 15 (10) “do something”

A man who cops say was acting strange at a Lafayette movie theater has been issued a summons for disturbing the peace. Corporal Paul Mouton says during a showing of Deadpool, witnesses reported seeing 35-year-old Christopher Harmason of New Iberia walking up and down the aisles. He says it doesn’t appear as though the man was an actual threat to anyone…:
CUT 4 (09) “within the complex”

Mouton says in addition to the summons, Harmason was told not to come back to the theater.

02.22.16
by

14:30 Newscast February 22,2016

A House committee approves several bills aimed at reducing the number of state government contracts. Jeff Palermo has the story…
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards returns to Baton Rouge after attending the winter meeting of the National Governors Associations. Governors from around the country had a chance to ask President Barack Obama questions and what can be done to curb the rising number of heroin deaths.

 

The International Energy Agency said today that oil prices should remain low through 2016. That’s good news for motorists, who are paying some of the lowest gas prices we’ve seen since 2004. But David Dismukes, executive director at the LSU Center for Energy Studies, says low gas prices are not helping Louisiana’s economy…
CUT 8 (06) “right now”

St. Landry Sheriff Bobby Guidroz is asking Captain Clay Higgins to tone down in crime stopper videos. The latest one has received millions of views as Captain Higgins has a strong message for fugitives for the Gremlins Gang. But National Action Now says this latest video is racially tainted, which is why Guidroz says he’s getting more involved in future videos. The latest one has received millions of views as Captain Higgins has a strong message for fugitives of the Gremlins Gang. But National Action Now says this latest video is racially tainted, which is why Guidroz says he’s getting more involved in future videos…

cut 12 (07) “not saying”

National Action Now president, Reverend Raymond Brown, doesn’t like that Higgins called these individuals ugly names.

02.22.16
by

LRN PM Newscall Feb 22nd

Oil prices will not rebound this year, according to experts at the International Energy Agency. Halen Doughty reports…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A House committee approves several bills aimed at reducing the number of state government contracts. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

===================

A man who cops say was acting strange at a movie theater in Lafayette was issued a summons for disturbing the peace. Corporal Paul Mouton says during the film Deadpool, witnesses reported seeing 35-year-old Christopher Harmason of New Iberia walking up and down the aisles…:

CUT 3 (09)  “uncomfortable”

Mouton says that Harmason ended up going outside where he continued to act in an erratic manner. He says it doesn’t appear as though the man was an actual threat to anyone…:

CUT 4 (09)  “within the complex”

Lafayette was rocked last year when a man opened fire on a theater full of people, killing two and injuring 10 before turning the gun on himself. Mouton says Harmason got a misdemeanor summons and was told not to come back to the theater. He says they commend the citizens that were in the theater who brought it to the attention of the manager who contacted police…:

CUT 5 (09)  “and hope for the best”

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According to experts at the International Energy Agency, oil prices will not rebound until next year. David Dismukes, Executive Director at the LSU Center for Energy Studies, says this is disappointing news to the oil industry, after hearing reports about a production freeze in the Middle East. But Dismukes doesn’t see a cutback in production by oil producing countries…

CUT 6 (10) “lower prices”

Oil prices have plummeted 70% in the last two years, leading to layoffs in the oil industry and supporting businesses. Dismukes says oil companies have done what they can to avoid further job cuts…

CUT 7 (10) “financing mechanisms”

Dismukes says oil companies may have to look at asset sales to generate cash and explore measures for bankruptcy protection. The low oil prices have led to the lowest gas prices we’ve seen in over a decade as the statewide average is a $1.55, according AAA. He says although drivers are enjoying lower gas prices, it is not good for the economy…

CUT 8 (06) “right now”

Today the price of US oil is trading around $30 a barrel.

============================

More groups are coming forward expressing anger over the latest viral Crimestoppers video by Captain Clay Higgins with the Sheriff’s Office in St. Landry. The so called, “Cajun John Wayne” is coming under fire for some of the terminology he used to refer to the Gremlins Gang suspects. National Action Now President Rev. Raymond Brown says the video is racially tainted:

CUT 9 (08)  “their peers”

Indictments were issued against the wanted suspects said to be involved in crimes like murder, drug trafficking, armed robbery and more. But Brown feels Higgins’ video is a smack in the face to our criminal justice system. He says it sets a poor example to call people ugly names…:

cut 10 (10)  “maximum force”

The ACLU of Louisiana also said that Higgins implies using the force of summary execution which is not the way we work in this country. St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says Acadiana is dealing with this gang that’s been terrorizing the area for a long time. He says they may have veered off point, but the message is pretty simple…:

Cut 11 (09) “watch for ya”

Higgins rose to national fame with the videos which don’t hold back the way he personally feels about people who commit crimes. Guidroz says Higgins’ intentions are good, but he has been asked to refrain from being critical moving forward…:

cut 12 (07) “not saying”

============================

The House Appropriations Committee approved a series of bills today aimed at reducing or cutting down on number of state contracts, which supporters say will save the state some much needed dollars. Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy says there are dozens if not hundreds of contracts that the state spends money on that are NOT needed

cut 13 (06)  “you throw up”

Some of the examples Kennedy named… contracts for tutoring students and providing adult education to prisoners. He says there’s a 29-million dollar contract to help the state build a website for food stamp recipients. Kennedy says the governor should bring in his cabinet secretaries today and demand they cut at least 10-percent of their contracts

cut 14 (10)  “into place”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says an examination of state contracts is underway and they plan to eliminate some of them in the coming weeks as part of their cost cutting plan

cut 15 (10) “do something” 

 

02.22.16
by

LRN Newscast 13:30 Feb 22nd

###Forget the first story in the first release####

More bad news today for the oil industry. The International Energy Agency predicted oil prices will not rebound until next year. Oil prices have plummeted 70-percent since 2014, leading to layoffs. Executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies, David Dismukes, says oil companies have done what they can to avoid further job cuts…
cut 7 (10) “….financing mechanisms”
Dismukes says oil companies may have to look at asset sales to generate cash.

At the state Capitol, Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy once again pushed the executive branch to take steps to reduce the number of state contracts as a way to save money….
cut 14 (10) “…fall into place”
Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says an examination of state contracts is underway.

Another group has come forward expressing their concerns with a video put together by St. Landry Parish Sheriff Captain Clay Higgins that’s received millions of views. In the video, Captain Higgins tells fugivities that belong the Gremlins Gang that law enforcement is coming after them. But National Action Now President, Reverend Raymond Brown, says the video is racially tainted…
cut 9 (08) “….their peers”
St. Landry Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says they’ve asked Captain Higgins to tone his message down.

Lafayette Police arrest a New Iberia man after movie goers say he was acting very strange inside a movie theater. Corporal Paul Mouton says 35-year-old Christopher Harmason was pacing down the aisle and muttering to himself…
cut 5 (09) “…for the best”
Harmason was issued a summons for distrubing the peace.