09:30 Newscast, June 3rd, 2016

A bill that would require public school students in fourth through sixth grade to recite a passage from the Declaration of Independence moves to the Senate. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The state House approved the Raise the Age bill Thursday. The measure, which would change the minimum age to charge someone as an adult from 17 to 18, easily passed on a 97-3 vote, and now just goes back to the Senate for concurrence before Governor John Bel Edwards signs it. Louisiana is currently one of nine states where 17-year-olds who commit minor offenses are treated as adults.

Officials say another body has been located in Natalbany, just a day after a double homicide was reported in Tangipahoa Parish. Deputies are treating the scene as a murder at this time, and have not ruled out the possibility it’s related to Thursday’s double murder.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood watch for most of south Louisiana. They say 2-4 inches of rain could accumulate, which isolated areas receiving 5-8 inches.

A 9-thousand dollar reward is being offered for information regarding the fatal shooting of two Whooping Cranes in Acadia Parish. LDWF Spokesperson Adam Einck says people need to understand the whooping crane is one of the most endangered birds in the world. He says that’s why this illegal act is so serious…:
CUT 9 (10) “some information”
Einck says they’re currently tracking 38 Whooping Cranes and recently a pair of birds hatched a few eggs.

 

08:30 Newscast, June 3rd, 2016

The regular session must end on Monday, and the budget picture remains uncertain for the fiscal year that begins in July. Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says the spending plan that lawmakers eventually agree on will be 600-million dollars short of funding state services….:
Cut 5 (11) “special session”
The special session will begin just 30 minutes after adjournment for the regular session.

Despite opposition from those who feel it’s unconstitutional, a bill banning women from getting abortions because the fetus has genetic problems moves closer to final legislative passage. Baton Rouge Sen. Regina Barrow co-sponsors says the measure…:
CUT 12 (10) “some deficiencies”
The Senate sent the measure back to the House for approval of minor changes.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says there is a $9000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons who shot two endangered whooping cranes found in Acadia Parish. LDWF Spokesperson Adam Einck says $2,000 in private donations were collected for the reward money, and organizations also contributed….:
Cut 8 (09) “5-thousand”
The deaths of the two whooping cranes are a major loss for this species.

Most of South Louisiana is under a flash flood watch through tomorrow, as a slow moving disturbance over Texas brings in Gulf moisture, according to the National Weather Service. Several inches of rainfall may result…and impacts include localized to potentially widespread flooding of low lying and poorly drained areas.

 

07:30 Newscast, June 3rd, 2016

A measure to prohibit abortions because of a genetic abnormality moves closer to final legislative passage. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Lawmakers are in the final days of the regular session, and they have yet to approve the budget proposal for next fiscal year. Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says HB1 will likely go into a conference committee before the session ends…:
cut 4 (12) “agree on”

The measure requiring 4th-6th sixth graders in public schools to recite part of the Declaration of Independence every day won the approval of the House. But opponents argue it’s not fair to make such a mandate, as Thomas Jefferson, who authored the document, owned slaves when it was written — and so did many founding fathers…:
Cut 13 (12) “of purpose”
The measure passed on a 70-23 vote.

The two men who were found shot to death in an SUV Thursday morning in Tangipahoa Parish have been identified as 31-year-old Charleston Mitchell of Hammond, and 31-year-old Randy Darnell Bickham of Springfield. The victims were located in Natlabany, and the search is on for the killer.

A flash flood watch is in effect for much of south Louisiana until tomorrow evening. Forecasters say showers and thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rainfall are rolling through the state over the next couple of days.

 

06:45 Sportscast, June 3rd, 2016

LSU Baseball Head Coach Paul Maineri will start Junior pitcher Jared Poche for the Tiger’s opening NCAA regional game against Utah Valley in Alex Box Stadium. Poche pitched in the College World Series last season. He says he hopes to control himself better this time around as energy levels are high during the postseason…:
Cut 16 (15) “good start”
First pitch is 2pm.

UL Lafayette will face Princeton tonight. The Ragin Cajuns are coming off a Sun Belt Tournament Championship, but Coach Tony Robichaux says a new season starts tonight…:
Cut 20 (15) “of the year “
First pitch is 7pm.

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs’ offense will have a tough task as they face the pitching rich Cal State Fullerton Titans in their opening game of the Starkville Regional today. Head Coach Greg Goff says the Bulldogs have a lot of momentum after hitting .342 in the Conference USA Tournament…:
Cut 18 (12) “their numbers”
First pitch is slated for 6:30.

Southeastern Louisiana will take on Rice tonight in the Baton Rouge regional. The No. 3-seeded Lions are making their second trip to the postseason in three seasons. Sophomore right hander Mac Sceroler will start on the mound.

Tulane takes on Boston College this afternoon in the Oxford Regional. First pitch is 4pm. Top seed Ole Miss faces No. 4 seed Utah in the night game.

Due to weather, the 2016 Women’s College World Series opener between the No. 10 LSU softball team and the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines was moved to today.

 

06:30 Newscast, June 3rd, 2016

The budget remains a top priority for lawmakers as we near the end of the regular session. Halen Doughty…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A bill that would prohibit abortions because the fetus has a genetic abnormality moves closer to final legislative passage. But Baton Rouge Sen. Dan Claitor, who typically supports measures that add restrictions to abortions, says this goes against a woman’s constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy…:
Cut 10 (09) “they say”
The Senate voted in favor of the bill 29-6.

A 9-thousand dollar reward is being offered by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for any information on the fatal shooting of two endangered Whooping Cranes in Acadia Parish. LDWF Spokesperson Adam Einck says they found the endangered birds with gunshot wounds in Rayne…:
CUT 7 (08) “that morning”
Anyone with information on these illegal killings is urged to contact authorities.

Two people who were on their way to a funeral were killed when their car was hit by a train in the White Castle area. The Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office identifies the victims as a sister and brother from Baton Rouge, 42-year-old Myra Henderson and 41-year-old Byron Henderson.

 

LRN AM Newscall June 3

The budget remains a top priority for lawmakers as we near the end of the regular session. Halen Doughty…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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 A measure to prohibit abortions because of a genetic abnormality moves closer to final legislative passage. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A bill that would require public school students in fourth through sixth grade to recite a passage from the Declaration of Independence moves to the Senate. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Lawmakers are in the final days of the regular session, and they have yet to approve the budget proposal for next fiscal year. Jeremy Alford with LaPolitics.com says HB1 will likely go into a conference committee before the session ends.

cut 4  (12)  “agree on”

Alford says the next special session will begin just 30 minutes after adjournment for the regular session on Monday at 6 PM. He says the spending plan that lawmakers eventually agree on, will be 600-million dollars short of funding state services, which is why the governor has called a second special session.

Cut 5  (11)  “special session”

Alford says in the budget’s current posture, TOPS and safety net hospitals are underfunded. He says lawmakers will have to raise more revenue in the special session to reduce cuts to these programs. He says lawmakers will likely try to raise between $300 and $450 million.

Cut 6 (11) “slice it”

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A 9-thousand dollar reward is being offered by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for any information on the fatal shooting of two Whooping Cranes in Acadia Parish. LDWF Spokesperson Adam Einck says they found the endangered birds with gunshot wounds in Rayne. He says both birds were found very close to each other.

CUT 7 (08)  “that morning” 

Einck says 2-thousand dollars in private donations were collected for this reward. He says many different organizations also contributed.

Cut 8  (09)  “5-thousand” 

Einck says they’re currently tracking 38 Whooping Cranes and recently a pair of birds hatched a few eggs. He says a handful of Whooping Cranes have been shot in recent years but most people understand it is one of the most endangered of all the world’s cranes.

Cut 9 (10)  “some information”

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A bill that would prohibit abortions because the fetus has a genetic abnormality moves closer to final legislative passage. Baton Rouge Sen. Dan Claitor spoke out against the legislation, even though he typically supports measures that add restrictions to abortions. He says this goes against a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion and many legislators don’t understand that…

Cut 10 (09) “they say”

The Senate voted in favor of the bill 29-6 and it heads back to the House for approval of minor changes. Claitor says when becoming a Senator he took an oath to follow the U.S. Constitution, whether he liked it or not.

cut 11 (10) “to myself”

Baton Rouge Sen. Regina Barrow co-sponsors the legislation and believes this will defend the lives of unborn children. She says this bill is about the importance and sanctity of life.

cut 12 (10) “some deficiencies”

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The bill to require fourth through sixth graders in public schools to recite part of the Declaration of Independence every day won the approval of the House. Opponents of the bill say it’s not fair to make students recite this passage, because there was slavery and women weren’t allowed to vote when it was written. But Denham Springs Representative Valerie Hodges says this document is the foundation of our country.

Cut 13 (12)  “of purpose”

Hodges says civil rights and women’s rights activists have quoted the Declaration in their campaigns for equality.

cut 14 (11)  “their liberation”

The measure passed on a 70-23 vote. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says Thomas Jefferson, who authored the document, owned slaves, as did many Founding Fathers.

Cut 15 (10) “any slaves”

Despite opposition, the measure now heads to the Senate, but the upper chamber has only four more days to pass the bill before the session ends.

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LSU Baseball Head Coach Paul Maineri has decided to start Junior pitcher Jared Poche for the Tiger’s opening NCAA regional game against Utah Valley at 2 p.m. in Alex Box Stadium. Poche is one the more experienced players on this year’s team after pitching in the College World Series last season. He says he hopes to control himself better this time around as energy levels are high during the postseason.

Cut 16  (15)  “good start”

Maineri says he thinks Poche’s experience will help him to pitch well and confidently despite the postseason pressure.

Cut 17 (22)  “good start” 

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs’ offense will have a tough task as they face the pitching rich Cal State Fullerton Titans in their opening game of the Starkville Regional today.  Head Coach Greg Goff says the Bulldogs have a lot of momentum after hitting .342 in the Conference USA Tournament…

Cut 18 (12) “their numbers”

Cal State’s pitching staff has the top team ERA in the country at 2.21. Goff hopes assistant coach Jake Wells and his College World Series coaching experience can continue to help the team, specifically the hitters, in this unfamiliar territory.

Cut 19 (16) “so far”

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UL Lafayette will face Princeton tonight. The Ragin Cajuns are coming off a Sun Belt Tournament Championship, but Coach Tony Robichaux says a new season starts tonight….

Cut 20 (15) “of the year “

18:30 LRN Newscast June 2

A Southern Media and Opinion Research statewide poll finds in the Presidential race, Republican Donald Trump leads Democrat Hillary Clinton 53 to 39%. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says both candidates have very high unfavorable ratings…

CUT 9 (09) “are 52″

Abortion activists on both sides of the fence rallied in the Capitol city today. Legislative Director for the Louisiana Right to Life, Deanna Wallace says pro-life laws passed in this session will not affect women’s ability to get quality healthcare in Louisiana.

cut 15 (12) “and men”

Pro-choice advocates say this legislation is not constitutional and will be litigated, which could cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office have released the names of the two victims in the double homicide in Natalbany early this morning. The 31-year-old victims have been identified as Charleston Mitchell of Hammond and Randy Darnell Bickham of Springfield. Spokesperson Dawn Panepinto says Natalbany isn’t a place that usually sees a lot of crime. She urges anyone with information on the double murder to come forward and there is a possibility of a cash reward.

CUT 8 (09) “it’s anonymous”

Another arrest has been made in the fatal shooting that took the lives of two Southern students in April. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says 22-year-old Ernest Felton was previously arrested for attempted second degree murder. But Mckneely says that charge could be upgraded, because they believe bullets from his gun fatally struck Lashuntae Benton and Annette January.

CUT 4 (07)  “still pending”

17:30 LRN Newscast June 2nd ***Legislative Report***

Pro-choice and pro-life advocates rallied in the Capitol City today. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (31) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

The state senate has given approval to legislation that would prohibit abortions in cases when it’s learned the fetus has a gentic abnormality. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor says the proposed law violates a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion…
cut 30 (04) “…like it or not”
The House is expected to give the bill final approval.

There was spirited debate on the House floor over a bill that would require fourth through sixth graders in public schools to recite a passage of the Declaration of Independence every day. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton objects to the legislation because Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner and wrote the document as did many of our Founding Fathers…
cut 25 (10) “…slaves”
Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges, says civil rights and women’s activists have quoted the Declaration in their campaigns for equality…
cut 24 (11) “…in their liberation”
The measure passed on a 70-23 vote and it heads to the Senate. But the upper chamber has only four days to act on the legislation before the session ends.

16:45 LRN Sportscast June 2nd

Junior left-hander Jared Poche will start on the mound tomorrow when the LSU Tigers begin play in the Baton Rouge Regional against Utah Valley….
cut 30 (08) “….what happens”
Poche is 7-4 on the year with a 3.61 ERA. Utah Valley brings a seven-game winning streak into the regional and they’ve won 11 of their last 13. Wolverines Head Coach Eric Madsen says his guys are playing sound baseball…
cut 18 (14) “…supposed to”
LSU first baseman Greg Deichmann says they are excited…
cut 28 (11) “…home game”

Freshman Nick Lee will be on the mound for the Cajuns when they take on Princeton tomorrow night at Tigue Moore Field. UL Lafayette relief pitcher Eric Carter says they have complete confidence Lee can get the job done…
cut 25 (14) “…tomorrow”
Lee is 7-1 with a 3.18 ERA.

Southeastern Louisiana will send sophomore right hander Mac Sceroler to hill when the Lions face Rice tomorrow night. Sceroler is a ten-game winner and boasts an ERA of 2.18.

Louisiana Tech head baseball coach Greg Goff says junior right-hander Phillip Diehl will start against Cal State Fullerton tomorrow and they’ll pitch Casey Sutton on Saturday. Diehl is 5-and-5 with a 4.70 ERA.

And tonight LSU faces Michigan in the opening round of the Women’s College World Series.

16:30 LRN Newscast June 2

A statewide poll shows Republican Donald Trump is ahead in the Presidential election without many undecided voters. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A crash involving a UTV took the life of a teenage girl from Zwolle. 13-year-old Melissa Anderson was not wearing a seatbelt or a helmet when she lost control of the vehicle and was ejected from the UTV. The rash remains under investigation.

Another arrest has been made in the fatal shooting that took the lives of two Southern students in April. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean Mckneely says 25-year-old Brandon Henderson of Baton Rouge has been charged with two counts of second degree murder.

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22-year-old Ernest Felton was previously arrested for attempted second degree murder.

Pro-choice advocates protested outside the Governor’s Mansion, while pro-life supporters rallied on the steps of the Capitol today. Executive Director for the New Orleans Abortion Fund, Amy Irvin, says they are concerned about the anti-abortion legislation signed into law by the governor. She says these laws could cost the state money, as they may be unconstitutional.

cut 12 (12) “attention to”

Members of the Louisiana Right to Life showed up at the Capitol to show their support the pro-life bills.