15:30 Newscast Dec 5

LSU running back Leonard Fournette announced today that he will enter the NFL draft after the Tiger’s Citrus Bowl game on December 31. The announcement came on twitter, where Fournette also stated that he does plan to play in the game against Louisville, despite an ankle injury. Fournette has 3,755 yards for his career, which is the fourth highest in LSU history.

Only 171-thousand registered voters hit the polls for early voting for the runoff election, which is six percent of the state’s registered voters. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

In the final days before the US Senate runoff, a Tulane survey finds Republican John Kennedy still has a strong lead over Democrat Foster Campbell. Political science professor Brian Brox says many voters feel that voting for a Democrat means choosing the minority party in a Republican-controlled senate.

Cut 15 (04) “of power”

Brox says voters whose candidate did not make the runoff are splitting along party lines.

Louisiana Tech is heading to the Armed Forces Bowl to take on 25th ranked Navy on December 23. Athletic Director Tommy McClelland says they were offered the option to play Army in the Heart of Dallas Bowl or the top 25 team. He says they chose the game that would give players a new experience.

Cut 9 (09) “three years”

McClelland expects between 500 and a thousand students will attend the game.

14:30 Newscast December 5,2016

A new survey out of Tulane reveals US Senate candidate Republican John Kennedy has a healthy lead in the race against Democrat Foster Campbell in the runoff. Michelle Southern reports…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The jury selection in the Cardell Hayes trial is underway in New Orleans Criminal District Court. Hayes is accused of killing former Saints defensive end Will Smith during a road rage incident in April. It was made know today that prosecutors will no longer charge Hayes with aggravated assault with a firearm. Over 100 jurors were brought in today for questioning and that number be narrowed down to 12 jurors and four alternates.

 
Out of the state’s 3 million registered voters, only 171-thousand voters went to the polls during the early voting period. Pollster John Couvillion with JMC Analytics says data showed Democratic enthusiasm is lacking, with the percentage of black voters lower than in the primary. He says the only exception was in East Baton Rouge Parish, because of the competitive mayoral race.
cut 11 (12) “Weston-Broome”

The Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport will host North Carolina State and Vanderbilt for a December 26th match-up. Bowl Spokesperson Stefan Nolet expects Vanderbilt fans will travel to the game because they haven’t been to a bowl since 2013. But he says traveling on the day after Christmas can be tough, but…
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Kick-off is at 4 p.m.

LRN PM Newscall December 5th

Only 171-thousand registered voters hit the polls for early voting for the runoff election, which is six percent of the state’s registered voters. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A new survey out of Tulane reveals US Senate candidate Republican John Kennedy has a healthy lead in the race against Democrat Foster Campbell in the runoff. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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It’s a cold, rainy day across the Bayou State, and state climatologist Barry Keim says this is typical for winter in Louisiana. He says a storm is tracking across the southern part of the state today, bringing more of the wet weather we saw all weekend.

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Flash flood watches are in effect until 3pm in southwest and central Louisiana parishes. Keim says there’s also the potential for severe weather today in south Louisiana as warm air is colliding with cold air.

cut 4  (10) “about it”

Keim says the rain should finally move out of the state today and then we can get ready for our real dose of cold weather before the weekend arrives.

Cut 5  (10)  “and Friday”

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Officials with the Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport are excited about their December 26th contest that pits North Carolina State versus Vanderbilt. Bowl Spokesperson Stefan Nolet says the ACC and SEC matchup marks the second time in three seasons the two conferences have played each other in this bowl. He says both teams finished the season strong.

Cut 6 (10) “game here”

Kick off for the Independence Bowl is at 4 p.m. Nolet expects Vanderbilt fans are excited because they haven’t been to a bowl since 2013 and seem to travel well. But he says traveling on the day after Christmas can be tough, but…

CUT 7 (07)  “federal holiday”

Louisiana Tech is also excited about its bowl destination. The Bulldogs will play 25th ranked Navy on December 23rd in Fort Worth, Texas in the Armed Forced Bowl. Athletic Director Tommy McClelland expects this will be a high scoring game. He says the kick-off is at 3 p.m. and predicts tons of fans will attend, like in past bowl games.

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McClelland expects anywhere from 500 to a thousand students will attend the game. He says they were presented the option to play Army in the Heart of Dallas Bowl or a top 25 Navy team, so they selected the team that would give players another new experience.

Cut 9 (09)  “three years”

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Only 171-thousand of the state’s 3 million registered voters cast their ballots during the early voting period. Pollster John Couvillion, with JMC Analytics, predicts turnout for the runoff to be 35-percent, at the most. He says a runoff during the holiday season has always been bad for turnout, plus this Senate race isn’t exciting voters.

Cut 10 (08) “this one”

Couvillion says early voting data showed Democratic enthusiasm is lacking, with the percentage of black voters lower than in the primary. He says the only exception to this is in East Baton Rouge Parish, because of the hotly contested mayoral race.

cut 11 (12) “Weston-Broome”

Former State Senator Broome is facing Republican State Senator Bodi White in the Baton Rouge mayoral election. Only six percent of the state’s registered voters hit the polls for early voting. Couvillion says he was very impressed with the number of early voters in the primary, but….

cut 12 (10) “turnout”

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A new survey out of Tulane reveals Republican John Kennedy has a healthy lead over Democrat Foster Campbell in the Us Senate runoff. Brian Brox, associate professor of Political Science, says 59% of respondents said they would vote for Kennedy, while 40% said Campbell is their choice. He says the Republican has always been favored in Saturday’s race…:

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The survey found that, when the presidential vote of the respondent is considered, nearly 83 percent of Trump voters said they plan to vote for Kennedy. Brox says it’s interesting that just 69 percent of Clinton voters said they would vote for Campbell. He attributes that to people that voted for Clinton, because they didn’t want to vote for Trump…:

cut 14 (09) “in the runoff”

Brox says supporters of the Senate candidate who did not make the runoff are splitting along partisan lines. He believes many voters feel that voting for the Democrat in this race means choosing the minority party since Republicans will control the Senate…:

Cut 15 (09) “power”

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13:30 Newscast, December 5th, 2016

Only 171-thousand of the state’s 3 million registered voters cast their ballots during the early voting period. Pollster John Couvillion, with JMC Analytics, predicts turnout for the runoff to be 35-percent, at the most. He says a runoff during the holiday season has always been bad for turnout, plus this Senate race isn’t exciting voters…:
Cut 10 (08) “this one”

This non-stop rain has many flood weary folks in the Bayou State feeling nervous, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says the wet weather will finally leave today and then we can get ready for our real dose of cold weather before the weekend arrives…:
Cut 5 (10) “and Friday”

A new survey out of Tulane reveals US Senate candidate Republican John Kennedy has a healthy lead in the race against Democrat Foster Campbell in the runoff. Brian Brox, associate professor of Political Science, says they found 59% of respondents said they would vote for Kennedy, while 40% said Campbell is their choice. He says the Republican has always been favored in Saturday’s race…:
Cut 13 (07) “characteristics”
The race will be held this Saturday.

LSU star running back Leonard Fournette made it official today and announced that he will be declaring for the 2017 NFL draft after the Tigers’ bowl game on December 24th. Fournette said he wanted to get it out there now so that there wouldn’t be speculation and distractions while they prepare to face Louisville in the Citrus on New Years Day. After battling a nagging ankle injury this season, Fournette has totaled 3,830 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns..

 

12:30 Newscast, December 5th, 2016

The rain has been coming down throughout the Bayou State over the past several days, and State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is a potential for severe weather today in south Louisiana as warm air collides with cold air..:
CUT 4 (10) “about it”
Flash flood watches are in effect until 3pm in southwest and central Louisiana parishes.

The jury selection in the Cardell Hayes case, the man accused of killing former Saints player Will Smith, has begun. Emelie Gunn has more..:
Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Louisiana Tech is excited about its post season game this year as The Bulldogs have accepted a bid to play in the Armed Forces Bowl on December 23rd against No. 25 Navy. Athletic Director Tommy McClelland predicts tons of fans will attend, like in past bowl games…:
Cut 8 (09) “large crowd”
Kick-off is at 3 p.m.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a drowning in Lake Charles that claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy. They say friends reported the teen slipped and fell into a canal and was swept through a culvert that was about 75 feet long. His body was later located several hundred feet away. The investigation is ongoing.

 

11:40 LRN Sportscast December 5th

LSU’s defense will face a good test in the Citrus Bowl against Lamar Jackson and the Louisville Cardinals. Jackson is considered a front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy. Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron calls Jackson a dynamic athlete…
cut 20 (11) “….on defense”
Dave Aranda has reportedly signed a contract extension that keeps him as the Tigers defensive coordinator for the next three seasons. LSU’s defense is ranked sixth in the country.

A bunch of points should be scored when Louisiana Tech faces Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas on December 23rd. The Midshipmen are averaging 39 points a game. Tech is averaging 44 a contest.

After a one-year absence, UL Lafayette is back in the New Orleans Bowl. The Cajuns will take on Southern Miss. Louisiana is 4-0 in this bowl game. The game will take place on Saturday night, December 17th.

The Saints are now 5-7 after an ugly 28-13 loss to Detroit yesterday. With four games left, it looks like New Orleans is headed towards its third straight 7-and-9 record. Coach Sean Payton is not happy with the inconsistent play of his team….
cut 17 (10) “…poor start”
The Saints face a must win situation this Sunday against Tampa Bay and the Bucs have been playing well, they defeated San Diego 28-21 on Sunday to move into a first-place tie with the Falcons.

In the NBA, the Pelicans got a good game from rookie Buddy Hield, but it wasn’t enough to help New Orleans defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-92. Hield had 16 points and hit 4 three-pointers. New Orleans is back in action tonight as they host Memphis. It’s the second match-up of the season between the two teams, the Grizzlies won the first game 89-83.

11:30 Newscast, December 5th, 2016

It’s a cold, rainy day across the Bayou State, and state climatologist Barry Keim says this is typical for winter in Louisiana. He says a storm is tracking across the southern part of the state today, bringing more of the wet weather we saw all weekend…:
Cut 3 (12) “half inches”
Keim says the rain should finally be gone by today before it gets really cold and dry once again.

The murder trial of the man accused of shooting and killing former Saints defensive end Will Smith has begun. Cardell Hayes is charged with second degree murder. Legal analyst Chick Foret says potential jurors are being questioned right now and picking the right people will be crucial as the judge has ordered they be sequestered dude to the cases’ high profile…:
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Only 171,000 people showed up statewide to early vote in the December 10th runoff election, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. That’s compared to the 427,000 people who cast a ballot ahead of election day in the primary. Polls are open Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Officials with the Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport are excited about their December 26th contest that pits North Carolina State versus Vanderbilt. Bowl Spokesperson Stefan Nolet says the ACC and SEC matchup marks the second time in three seasons the two conferences have played each other in this bowl…:
Cut 6 (10) “game here”
Kick off for the Independence Bowl is at 4 p.m.

The LSU Tigers will conclude the 2016 season by facing Louisville in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve day in Orlando, Florida.

 

10:30 Newscast Dec 5

Jury selection for Cardel Hayes’ murder trial is underway, and a judge has determined that the jury will be sequestered for the entire trial of the man accused of killing former-Saints player Will Smith. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says it will be hard for jurors to leave their families during the holiday season.

Cut 10 (10) “on Tuesday”

Jurors will not have access to TVs or telephones.

Governor John Bel Edwards approval rating is 63-percent, according to a poll from Southern Media and Opinion Research. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says that’s a big improvement from earlier this year.

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A Morning Consult poll found the governor’s approval rating was just 45-percent in the spring.

We’ve entered the peak of flu season, and the Louisiana Department of Health reminds everyone to get their flu shot. Dr. Frank Welch with LDH says although the flu is just an inconvenience for most people, it can be life threatening for others.

Cut 6 (10) “you and I”

Welch says it takes about two weeks for the flu shot to take effect.

The France-Louisiana Cooperation Accords has been extended until 2020 by Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser. The agreement brings French teachers to teach the French heritage and language in Louisiana. Nungesser says learning French opens doors for students.

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Nungesser says this agreement supports French immersion programs and the Francophone heritage.

09:30 Newscast, December 5th, 2016

Jury selection in the murder trial for the accused killer of former Saints player Will Smith is underway. Cardell Hayes could be looking at life in prison on the charge of second degree murder. The judge has ordered that the jury be sequestered, but legal analyst Chick Foret says she’s promised to move the case along quickly…:
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Jurors won’t have access to TV or telephones during the length of the trial.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser extends a program that brings French teachers to the state through 2020. He says this is important because French culture is a huge part of Louisiana heritage…:
Cut 15 (09) “in Louisiana”
Nungesser says this program supports French immersion methods. He says learning a second language will benefit students throughout their lives.

December marks the peak of flu season, and the Louisiana Department of Health urges the public to get their flu shot. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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A recent poll from Southern Media and Opinion Research finds Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating is at 63 percent. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat…:
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A poll from Morning Consult found Edwards’ approval rating was only 45 percent in the spring, while a UNO poll showed 56 percent of respondents approved of his job performance in October.

 

08:30 Newscast, December 5th, 2016

The jury selection in the Cardell Hayes case, the man accused of killing former Saints player Will Smith, is scheduled to begin today. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

December is the peak of flu season and the state Department of Health has some tips for folks to avoid getting the virus. Dr. Frank Welch with LDH says risk increases when it’s cold outside, but it’s a misconception that sickness is tied to the weather itself…:
CUT 5 (09) “those situations”
That’s why he says it’s important to wash hands and cover your mouth.

Only 171,000 people showed up statewide to early vote in the December 10th runoff election, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. That’s compared to the 427,000 people who cast a ballot ahead of election day in the primary. Polls are open Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A recent poll from Southern Media and Opinion Research finds 41 percent of people believe the state is heading in the right direction, while 40% are’t happy with how things are going. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says it makes sense given all Louisiana is going through right now…:
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But he says this isn’t affecting Governor John Bel Edwards numbers as the poll showed the governor with a 63 percent approval rating.

The LSU Tigers will conclude the 2016 season by facing Louisville in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl; 10am on New Year’s Eve day in Orlando.