LRN AM NEWSCALL NOV 16

TOPS recipients are preparing to pay nearly 60-percent of their tuition for the spring semester, and state leaders say they are committed to making sure that doesn’t happen again next year. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Good news for IT workers in northwest Louisiana, as CRSA just opened their new integrated technology center in Bossier City. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Some lawmakers don’t agree with the Office of Motor Vehicles new policy of “no cash” as a form of payment. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Louisiana will experience some rollercoaster temperatures this week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll see high temperatures in the 80s across the state over the next two days but a significant cold front will come in on Friday.

cut 4  (10) “on Monday”

Keim says Saturday will be relatively cool and breezy, with temperatures in the 50s in the morning and reaching the mid 60s in the afternoon. He says we see a lot of dramatic swings in temperatures during this time of year.

Cut 5  (11)  “of time”

Several high school football games have been pushed up to Thursday, because of the potential of severe weather, but Keim says rain chances are fairly low.

Cut 6 (10) “some problems”

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TOPS students will pay nearly 60-percent of their tuition for the spring semester. So what about future years, will the state direct more dollars to the taxpayer funded scholarship program, so TOPS recipients pay less?  House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says if the governor makes TOPS more of a priority in the next session, it will be funded at a higher level.

CUT 7 (09)  “just not”

Henry says in the last session, Edwards made a big push to hospitals, who provide care for the uninsured and poor. He says some legislators saw the funding of private-public hospitals as more important than TOPS, because not all taxpayers have children in college. He says there could be more money for TOPS, if fewer dollars were appropriated for health care.

Cut 8 (08) “11-percent”

Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement saying he hopes the state can restore funding to TOPS because too many students depend on the program. But Henry says he will not support raising more taxes to fund TOPS.

Cut 9 (11)  “spend less”

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CSRA has opened a new integrated technology center in Bossier City, which is good news for economic development in northwest Louisiana. LED Secretary Don Pierson says CSRA isn’t a household name like IBM and CenturyLink, but it’s still a major information technology company.

Cut 10 (10)  “homeland security”

Pierson says now employs 400 people in Shreveport-Bossier but will expand to 800 by June 2018. He says Louisiana is funding a 10-year $14 million higher education initiative with colleges in northwest Louisiana to help the company expand its workforce.

cut 11 (12) “great company”

The 96-hundred square foot facility anchors the 3-thousand acre National Cyber Research Park in Bossier City. Pierson hopes this new high tech center will attract more cyber companies to Louisiana.

cut 12 (11) “also security”

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Some lawmakers are not happy with the Office of Motor Vehicles decision to stop accepting cash as a form of payment. OMV Commissioner Karen St. Germain announced the new policy as a way to save money and prevent theft by state workers. Jonesboro Senator Jim Fannin says many senior citizens do not have credit cards. He says it’s unfair citizens can’t use cash, because employees might steal the cash.

Cut 13 (09) “the agency”

Fannin says the “no cash” policy should have been presented to lawmakers first and now his office is receiving multiple complaints. St. Germain says accepting cash has become a burden for OMV workers, because they are on the hook if they come up short. Fannin says this is not a valid reason for why the change was made.

cut 14 (11) “the cash”

St. Germain says a major reason why the OMV will not longer accept cash as a method of payment is that it saves the state 500-thousand dollars, because it costs money to handle the cash and security is needed for transporting the cash…

Cut 15 (09) “that cash”

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It’s likely LSU running back Leonard Fournette’s final game in Tiger Stadium on Saturday. The junior from New Orleans is expected to be a Top Five pick in next spring’s NFL draft, but he admits it will be hard to leave college early…

Cut 16 (10)” Coach O”

Fournette says the juniors on the team will meet with Coach Ed Orgeron after the season to determine whether they should return for their senior season. The All-American running back has battled an ankle sprain all season long and says he’ll be ready for the Gators…

Cut 17 (09) “every day”

Fournette’s injury gave sophomore running back Derrius Guice more opportunities and the Baton Rouge product has taken advantage. Guice leads the team in rushing and has nine touchdowns. Fournette was impressed with Guice’s school-record 96 yard rushing touchdown last week…

Cut 18 (12) “ its amazing”

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ULM takes a two-game winning streak to Appalachian State this Saturday. The Warhawks are coming off a 37-23 win over Georgia State on the road. Coach Matt Viator likes how his team is overcoming adversity and the players’ confidence is also increasing…

Cut 19 (15)   “defensive football”

Another win for ULM on Saturday and they can improve their Sun Belt record to 4-3 and their overall mark to 5-6. But the Moutaineers are 7-3 and have the top defense in the league. Viator says App State’s defense doesn’t give up many big plays…

cut 20 (18) “here we go”

18:30 LRN Newscast November 15th

College students who have TOPS are looking at paying for 60-percent of their tuition for the spring semester. Governor John Bel Edwards expressed his disappointment that young adults are facing this kind of cost to get an education. Edwards says it’s his hope the state can allocate more dollars to the popular scholarship program next year.

A 17-year-old St. Paul’s High School football player is still recovering from a serious neck injury suffered in last Friday’s playoff win. Emelie Gunn has more…
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

FEMA announces they will continue to pay for hotel rooms for displaced flood victims through December 18th. Dennis Rodriguez is one of those staying in a hotel and says he’s thrilled they’ve extended the deadline because his home still unlivable. He says he’d have nowhere to live if the program ended on November 18th as planned.
Cut 4 (09) “ours yet”
More than 2-thousand families are using this federal assistance to live at a hotel.

New Orleans based-airlines, GLO, celebrates its one-year anniversary today. They offer daily flights from New Orleans to Shreveport, Little Rock and Memphis and founder and C-E-O Trey Fayard says they have a business model that works…
cut 14 (08) “…on vacation”
Fayard says they hope to expand their business in year two.

17:30 Newscast Nov 15

Caroline Fayard has endorsed Foster Campbell in the US Senate runoff, but whether or not that will help him win the race remains to be seen. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says even though Louisiana voters elected a Democrat as governor last year, it doesn’t seem likely.

Cut 16 (09) “a majority”

Campbell will be on the ballot with Republican John Kennedy on December 10.

FEMA will continue paying for August flood victims to live in hotel rooms until December 18th. Denham Springs resident and flood victim Dennis Rodriguez is living in a Breaux Bridge hotel thanks to the program and says it has been a tremendous help.

Cut 3 (10) “for us”

More than 2-thousand families are using the program.

A St. Paul High School football player is still recovering in the hospital after sustaining a serious neck injury during a game. The school’s athletic director, Craig Ketelsen, says Michael Doherty underwent a 7 hour surgery on Sunday.

Cut 9 (10) “positive results”

Doherty collided with three players, resulting in a major injury to his C5 vertebrae.

It’s been more than a year since a production has been filmed at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge, and Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn says they’re doing what they can to keep their doors open. He says he’s finding other ways to use the facility.

Cut 8 (10) “that discussion”

Mulhearn is hopeful the film industry will improve when the cap on film tax credits expires in 18 months.

16:30 Newscast Nov 15

For the first time ever, TOPS recipients will pay almost 60-percent of their spring tuition. Governor John Bel Edwards says it is his hope that lawmakers can restore funding for the program because students depend on it. He adds that further cuts will not be made to the scholarship program, despite the budget shortfalls the state is facing, because today we risk student dropping out or graduating with burdensome debt.

FEMA will continue to pay for flood victims to stay in hotels until December 18th. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Caroline Fayard has endorsed Foster Campbell in the US Senate runoff, despite some harsh verbal attacks before the election. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says this endorsement is about fence mending.

Cut 15 (09) “Foster Campbell”

Campbell will go up against Republican John Kennedy on December 10.

Things are looking up for Hollywood South, as we’re halfway through the cap lawmakers put on the state’s film tax credit program. Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association President, Patrick Mulhearn, says other states, like Georgia, that do not have limits on film tax credits are bringing in more projects, but they’re more vulnerable to fraud.

Cut 7 (08) “in Atlanta”

The 180-million dollar cap expires in 18 months.

16:45 LRN Sportscast November 15th

The 16th ranked LSU Tigers are getting ready to host 21st ranked Florida for Senior Day on Saturday. The Tigers will honor 19 seniors before the game. Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron says that’s one of the many reasons why they want to beat the Gators in a bad way…
cut 20 (17) “….ready to play”
Saturday could also mark Leonard Fournette’s final game inside Tiger Stadium. Fournette says he continues to get treatment on his injured ankle, but he’ll be ready to play this Saturday.

Grambling State Head Coach Broderick Fobbs is a finalist for the F-C-S Coach of the Year. Fobbs and the Tigers are 8-1, heading into Saturday’s game against Texas Southern.

Three Saints players did not practice today, offensive tackle Terron Armstead, cornerback Delvin Breaux and running back Daniel Lasco. New Orleans is at Carolina on Thursday.

UL Lafayette Football Coach Mark Hudspeth says his team will conduct one-thousand hours of community service as result of a viral video that shows four players in the locker room using vulgarity during an anti-Donald Trump rap song. Hudspeth says they’ll visit every middle school and high school in Acadiana…
cut 18 (20) “….social media”
The four players shown in the video have been or are facing punishment.

Tonight in college basketball…LSU hosts Southern Miss. Both teams are 1-0 on the season. Tigers forward Duop Reath had 23 points and 14 rebounds in the season opening victory over Wofford. In Lake Charles, McNeese State takes on Southern Miss.

15:30 Newscast Nov 15

FEMA announces they will continue to pay for hotel rooms for displaced flood victims through December 18. Dennis Rodriguez is one of those staying in a hotel and says he’s thrilled they’ve extended the deadline because his home still unlivable. He says he’d have nowhere to live if the program ended on November 18 as planned.

Cut 4 (09) “ours yet”

More than 2-thousand families are using the program.

It’s been one year since GLO Airlines inaugural flight out of their New Orleans based terminal. Currently, GLO offers daily flights from New Orleans to five destinations in the Gulf South. Founder and CEO Trey Fayard says they’re looking to depart from other Gulf and mid-South cities in the future.

Cut 13 (07) “in Louisiana”

GLO recently added flights to Huntsville, Alabama, and Destin.

There’s an outpouring of support for an injured high school football player who is still recovering in the hospital. St. Paul high school Athletic Director, Craig Ketelsen, says when he visited Michael Doherty at Lakeview Hospital, there were so many visitors that he was only able to talk to the player’s parents.

Cut 10 (10) “the state”

Doherty sustained a serious back injury when he collided with three players.

Hollywood South is also trying to recover from the devastating blow a cap on the state’s film tax credit program had on the industry. Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association President Patrick Mulhearn hopes lawmakers will fix the problems with the program before it expires in 18 months.

Cut 6 (10) “front-end cap”

Mulhearn he is cautiously optimistic about the future of the program.

14:30 LRN Newscasts November 15th

Democrat Caroline Fayard, who traded verbal attacks with fellow Democrat Foster Campbell, is now supporting Campbell in the runoff against Republican John Kennedy. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says last year voters elected a Democrat for governor, but that’s not likely to happen this year…
cut 16 (09) “…a majority”
Kennedy received the endorsement today from Republican Charles Boustany.

New Orleans based-airlines, GLO, celebrates its one-year anniversary today. They offer daily flights from New Orleans to Shreveport, Little Rock and Memphis and founder and C-E-O Trey Fayard says they have a business model that works…
cut 14 (08) “…on vacation”
Fayard says they hope to expand their business in year two.

FEMA will keep paying hotel bills for flood victims, who have been displaced, until December 18th. Over 2-thousand families are benefiting from this government program. One of those is Dennis Rodriguez, who says there are five other flood impacted families staying at his hotel in Breaux Bridge. He says the program is a blessing, but wishes he could be closer to home….
cut 5 (11) “…no complaints”

At one time, thousands of flood victims stayed at the Celtic Movie Centre in Baton Rouge. The director of that facility is still looking at ways to fill his studios, while the state’s once flourishing movie industry lags….
cut 8 (10) “…that discussion”
Patrick Mulhearn is hopeful legislators will change how film tax credits are dispersed next year, which could lead to more movie projects.

LRN PM Newscall November 15th

FEMA will continue to pay for flood victims to stay in hotels until December 18th. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A 17-year-old St. Paul’s High School football player is still recovering from a serious neck injury suffered in last Friday’s playoff win. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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FEMA will continue paying for August flood victims to live in hotel rooms until December 18th. Denham Springs resident and flood victim Dennis Rodriguez is living in a Breaux Bridge hotel thanks to the program and says it has been a tremendous help.

Cut 3 (10) “for us”

Rodriguez says he’s thrilled they’ve extended to deadline because their home is still unlivable. He says he’d have nowhere to live if the program ended on November 18th like originally planned.

cut 4  (09) “ours yet”

More than 2-thousand families are using the program. Rodriguez says there are about five or six other families staying at the same hotel. He says the program has been a blessing, but wishes he could be closer to home.

Cut 5  (11)  “no complaints”

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There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for Hollywood South, according to Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association president Patrick Mulhearn. He says we’re halfway through the 36 month, 180-million dollar cap, legislators placed on the film tax credit program and he’s hopeful lawmakers will approve changes next year that will be more beneficial for Louisiana’s film industry.

Cut 6 (10) “front-end cap”

Mulhearn says he is cautiously optimistic about the direction the legislature will take with the program. He says other states, like Georgia, that do not have limits on film tax credits, are bringing in more projects, but that leaves them vulnerable to fraud.

CUT 7 (08)  “in Atlanta”

Mulhearn says right now they’re doing what they can to keep Celtic in Baton Rouge and other studios open, while they wait for the tax credit program to be revised. He says they’re currently finding other uses for their facilities.

Cut 8 (10) “that discussion”

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A 17-year-old continues to recover after suffering a serious neck injury in a football game on Friday. Michael Doherty, a junior at St. Paul’s High School in Covington, collided with three players resulting in a major injury to his C5 vertebra. St. Paul’s athletic director, Craig Ketelsen, says Doherty’s condition is still in a holding pattern after undergoing a seven hour surgery.

Cut 9 (10)  “positive results”

Ketelsen says when he went to visit the injured player at Lakeview Hospital, there were so many people visiting, he was only able to talk to Doherty’s parents. He says the love and support Doherty is receiving is amazing.

Cut 10 (10) “the state”

While Doherty lays in a hospital, the St. Paul’s football team is preparing for its next playoff game this Friday, against Evangel Christian. Ketelsen says Saints Cornerback Delvin Breaux sent Doherty a video message about a similar injury he suffered while playing football at LSU. He says Doherty is a hard working young man, dedicated to his teammates.

cut 11 (10) “handle adversity”

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New Orleans-based air service GLO Airlines is celebrating today its one year anniversary of its inaugural flight. Founder and CEO Trey Fayard says they started with just one flight from New Orleans to Little Rock and have since added more stops. He says they’re excited about offering south Louisianans daily, non-stop flights to destinations across the Gulf South.

cut 12 (07) “great year”

GLO Airlines offers two-daily flights from New Orleans to Shreveport and back to the Crescent City. Fayard says they aren’t done yet, as the company is looking to originate flights from other Gulf and mid-South cities in the future.

Cut 13 (07) “in Louisiana”

GLO customers can bring two bags and one carryon at no charge and enjoy free snacks on the flight. The company now accepts TSA Pre-Checks to expedite the boarding process. Fayard says passengers love flying with GLO.

cut 14 (08) “on vacation”

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After a heated US Senate race, Caroline Fayard has endorsed Foster Campbell in the runoff. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says Fayard had strong words about her opponent going into the general election, like accusing him of being friendly with David Duke. He says this endorsement is about fence mending.

Cut 15 (09) “Foster Campbell”

Cross says Campbell will have a tough fight in the runoff against Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy. He says last year’s gubernatorial race proved that on occasion, Louisiana voters can elect a Democrat into statewide office.

Cut 16  (09)  “a majority”

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13:30 Newscast, November 15th, 2016

FEMA has extended the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program until December 18th to benefit people displaced by the August flooding. Denham Springs resident and flood victim Dennis Rodriguez is living in a Breaux Bridge hotel thanks to the program and says it has been a tremendous help…:
Cut 3 (10) “for us”
He says he’d have nowhere to live if the program ended on November 18th like originally planned.

After a heated US Senate race, Caroline Fayard has endorsed Foster Campbell in the runoff. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says this endorsement is about fence mending…:
Cut 15 (09) “Foster Campbell”
Cambpell faces a tough battle against Republican John Kennedy in the December 10th runoff.

Michael Doherty, a junior at St. Paul’s High School, is continuing to recover from a neck injury he sustained in a game last Friday night, and the community is rallying behind him in a huge way. Doherty collided with three players which resulted in the neck break. The school’s athletic director, Craig Ketelsen, says Doherty is a hard working young man, dedicated to his teammates…:
cut 11 (10) “handle adversity”
A GoFundMe page in support of Doherty has received over $10,000.

Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement today in response to the fact that TOPS students will only be eligible for about 40% of the total award for the upcoming spring semester. He says it’s his hope that they can restore funding to TOPS because too many students were counting on the funds they were promised. He said he’s asking the legislature to work with him in the next session so that Louisiana students are not left to shoulder the burden of the state’s financial problems.

 

12:30 Newscast, November 15th, 2016

A 17-year-old St. Paul’s High School football player is still recovering from a serious neck injury suffered in last Friday’s playoff win. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Today, New Orleans-based air service GLO Airlines is celebrating its one year anniversary. Founder and CEO Trey Fayard says they’re excited about offering south Louisianans daily, non-stop flights to destinations across the Gulf South…:
cut 12 (07) “great year”
He says they plan to add additional markets in the near future.

The big cut to the TOPS scholarship program is going into effect this spring and students and parents are getting letters this week with the reminder. It’s the first time in the popular program’s history that 100% of tuition will not be covered due to acts of the legislature. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says there are other options…:
CUT 1 (10) “those dollars”
Students will be required to cover at least 60% of their tuition.

Today Governor John Bel Edwards dedicated the new 96,000 square foot CSRA Integrated Technology Center in Bossier City. By June 2018, the ITC is expected to have created at least 800 jobs. Bossier City was selected out of 134 potential cities to be the site of the ITC.