06:30 Newscast, January 24th, 2017

New crime prevention measures will be put in place throughout the Crescent City and they call for big changes on Bourbon Street. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says this $40 million plan will increase the flexibility of police manpower and improve crime deterrence…:
cut 11 (09) “the entire city”
Another part of the plan would require bars to close their doors at 3am, but not closing for business.

US Senator John Kennedy wants Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee to reduce state spending on Medicaid…:
Cut 8 (10) “any better”
LDH says Kennedy’s facts are wrong and that Louisiana may rank in the bottom for health, but you can’t improve things if people don’t have access to care; and that they can’t believe how out of touch he is with how the state spends money.

CC’s Coffee House plans to expand to 50 locations by the end of the year. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The state fire Marshal’s Office says a 28-year-old man who got into a family fight allegedly poured gasoline all over the house which started a fire that killed him and injured his twin brother and father. They say the father has burns over 85% of his body and the injured brother is expected to recover. The dead man is tentatively identified as James Kellum, but tests need to confirm that.

 

LRN AM NEWSCALL JAN 24

CC’s Coffee House plans to expand to 50 locations by the end of the year. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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US Senator John Kennedy has written a letter calling for the Louisiana Department of Health and Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee to do their job. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Bourbon Street is known for being party central, and unfortunately also a hotspot for crime. Emelie Gunn has more on the Crescent City’s plan to cut down crime…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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CC’s Coffee House is expanding, with plans to have 50 locations open by the end of 2017. There are currently 33 stores, mostly in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette and the plan is to triple the number of shops in three to five years. Director of licensing expansion with CC’s, Mark Verges, says the company takes pride in what they do…

cut 4  (09) “that experience”

Verges says new locations in Youngsville, Carencro and Alexandria are opening up within the next two weeks and stores in Covington, Houma and Port Allen are right behind. He says there is one location in Mississippi with plans to continue to expand into Texas and Alabama.

Cut 5  (10)  “surrounding markets”

Verges says the company believes they have the right partners to continue to successfully expand their brand…

Cut 6 (10) “grow in”

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US Senator John Kennedy wants Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee to reduce state spending on Medicaid. Kennedy says Medicaid accounts for 41% of this year’s budget, which is why TOPS has been cut, teachers can’t be paid more money, and congestion remains a problem on I-10.

CUT 7 (10)  “to do”

Kennedy says the Medicaid budget has increased by 81% in less than a decade. But he says even though the health budget is going up every year, health outcomes aren’t improving. He says Louisiana still ranks third for cancer deaths, fourth in cardiovascular deaths, and second in infant mortality.

Cut 8 (10) “any better”

Kennedy’s recommendation to the state legislature is to decide how much the state can afford to spend on Medicaid, which will then be matched by federal funds. He says Dr. Gee then needs to design a budget around that amount of money.

But Gee says the facts in Kennedy’s letter are just plain wrong. She says it’s surprising that as a recent State Treasurer, Kennedy is so out of touch with how the state spends its money. She says Medicaid expansion is actually saving the state money.

Cut 9 (12)  “state programs”

Gee adds that health outcomes can’t be fixed overnight. She says Louisiana ranks at the bottom in the nation for health, but you can’t improve health if people don’t have access to care.

Cut 10 (10) “health outcomes”

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New crime prevention measures will be put in place throughout the Crescent City and it calls for big changes on Bourbon Street. The announcement was made by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who says this $40 million plan will increase the flexibility of police manpower and improve crime deterrence.

cut 11 (09) “the entire city”

Landrieu NOPD is getting 300 more police cruisers for officers to park at home, as a means of crime deterrence. He says much of Bourbon Street will be closed off to vehicle traffic during busy times. He says they’re also putting more security measures in place on Bourbon.

cut 12 (07) “better lighting”

Landrieu says security cameras will also be posted in 20 hotspots around the city, as well as a mobile booking center for big events. He says they even considered closing Bourbon Street bars down at 2 a.m., but they came up with a better plan to make bars safer.

Cut 13 (10) “their door”

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Congressman Garret Graves has been named the Chairman of House Water Resources Subcommittee. Graves says this panel has jurisdiction over the Army Corp of Engineers, EPA, and other issues that greatly effect Louisiana. The Baton Rouge Republican says he’ll be in position to speak up for Louisiana during times of natural or manmade disasters…

cut 14 (09) “their policies”

Graves will use this position to push for the construction of flood control projects. He says while many people say money is saved by not building flood mitigation programs, that’s not the case in Louisiana.

Cut 15 (09) “disaster occurs”

Graves, who once served as the chairman of the coastal protection and restoration authority, says he plans to use his experience to make sure the Army Corp of Engineers delivers on flood protection and coastal restoration projections or give the funds to a local agency.

Cut 16 (08) “be built”

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17:30 LRN Newscast January 23rd

A state audit alleges that former-Angola Warden Burl Cain misused public funds while he was employed at the prison. Michelle Southern has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A Mandeville High School ROTC instructor is accused of sleeping with two different students on multiple occasions. Police Chief Gerald Sticker says . they believe the acts were carried out on school grounds for awhile.
Cut 13 (06) “ongoing”
48-year-old Hosea McGhee is facing multiple charges.

Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy presented a health care plan this morning on Capitol Hill that would give states the ability to decide if they want to keep Obamacare. Cassidy says this would make his Patient Freedom Act easier to pass in the Senate…:
CUT 7 (10) “get us to 60″
He says Republicans believe that if you like your health insurance, than you should keep it.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has partnered with Mello Joy to create the Ragin Cajuns French Roast coffee. Assistant director of Trademark Licensing at ULL, Leslie Saloom, says the new French Roast joins other consumable products developed by the unviersity that includes beer, seasoning and a burger…
cut 16 (10) “…for us”
Select Rouses stores will have the coffee first and then it will expand to other retail stores.

16:45 LRN Sportscast January 23rd

Tonight at the Smoothie King Center, the Pelicans will host Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. New Orleans is coming off an embarrassing loss on Friday to the team with the worst record in the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets. Tonight, New Orleans gets a chance to face the defending champs, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have the best record in the Eastern Conference, but they’ve lost five of their last nine. Tip-off is at 7:00.

Tonight on C-S-T at 8 PM, the Ragin Cajuns will take on Texas-Arlington. UL Lafayette is 3-3 in league play, while U-T-A is 4-and-2 and they’ve won 10 straight home games. The Cajuns lead the Sun Belt in scoring, averaging 83 points a game.

Also tonight, the Warhawks are at Texas State. ULM is 0-6 in league play.

In the SWAC…Southern is at Alabama State. The Jaguars are in second place in the conference with a 5-2 mark. Southern has won three in a row and they are coming a one point win over Alabama A-and-M.

There’s been another burglary inside Tiger Stadium. It’s the third one in the last month, but once again LSU officials are not releasing any details about what happened, what was taken or if there was any damage. But police believe none of the break-ins are connected.

For the second straight week and the third time this season, Louisiana Tech point guard DaQuan Bracey is the Conference USA freshman of the Week. The Baltimore native averaged 12.5 points and shot 63-percent from the field in two victories last week. Bracey and the Bulldogs are in second place in the league standings and face a big week coming up, with road games at UAB and Middle Tennessee.

LSU received its fourth Top 5 preseason ranking in a college baseball poll today. Baseball America’s Top 25 was released this morning and the Tigers are ranked fourth. TCU is ranked number one, followed by Florida State and then Florida. UL Lafayette is ranked 13th. Full squad workouts begin later this week for college baseball teams.

16:30 LRN Newscast January 23rd

US Senator Bill Cassidy is pushing an Obamacare Replacement bill that would allow states to keep the Affordable Care Act. Cassidy says the measure is called the Patient Freedom Act and he says for states who do not want the A-C-A, they’ll see a health care system that increases access and provides affordable health care…
cut 8 (11) “…if you like”
Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer says Cassidy’s proposal would create chaos.

A state audit released today accuses former Angola Warden Burl Cain of using state workers performing work at private home and providing free food and housing for his family on prison property. Legislative auditor Daryl Purpera…
cut 5 (11) “…prison guards’
Cain’s lawyer says the report’s findings of fact and legal conclussions are in error.

An ROTC teacher at Mandeville High is under arrest amid allegations he had sex multiple times with two different students on campus. Mandeville Police Chief Gerald Sticker says the victims are ages 15 and 16:
CUT 12 (10) “sexual acts”
He says 48-year-old Hosea McGhee is charged with computer solicitation of a minor and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

The Ragin Cajuns French Roast Coffee was introduced to the public today. It’s was deleveloped as part of a relationship between Mello Joy Coffee and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Assistant director of Trademark Licensing at the school, Leslie Saloom….
cut 15 (09) “…to go”
You can find the Ragin Cajuns French Roast at select Rouses stores.

LRN PM Newscall January 23rd

A state audit alleges that former-Angola Warden Burl Cain misused public funds while he was employed at the prison. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy says state’s should have the right to keep the Affordable Care Act. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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An audit accuses former-Angola warden Burl Cain of improperly using state funds during his tenure at the helm of the state’s largest prison. State legislative auditor Daryl Purpera says several state employees helped renovate Cain’s private home in Baton Rouge while on the clock, including Angola’s maintenance director Tim Byrd.

Cut 3 (10) “21 days”

Purpera says Cain also used prison equipment and labor to refinish the gates at his Baton Rouge home. He says Byrd made the 100 mile round trip twice to bring the large iron gates to the prison.

cut 4  (08) “public dollar”

Purpera says in addition to free labor, Cain also used state dollars to furnish his home on the prison grounds. He says taxpayers picked up the tab for more than $27-thousand in appliances and flat screen TVs. He says the former-warden also provided free food and housing for his family.

Cut 5  (11)  “prison grounds”

Cain’s lawyer, L.J, Hymel, has responded to audit by saying many of the report’s findings of fact and legal conclusions are in error. Purpera says he has given the audit’s findings to the US Attorney’s Office and the local District Attorney’s Office.

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Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy presented a health care plan this morning on Capitol Hill that would give states the ability to decide if they want to keep Obamacare. Cassidy says Republicans believe that if you like your health insurance, than you should keep it

Cut 6 (10) “by Washington D.C.”

Millions of people are concerned that if Congress repeals Obamacare, they’ll lose their insurance. Cassidy says by giving states the power to decide on a health care system, his Patient Freedom Act will have a chance to pass the Senate…

CUT 7 (10)  “get us to 60″ 

Maine Senator Susan Collins is a co-author of the Patient Freedom Act. Cassidy says not only does this legislation return power to the states, it will also increase access and provide affordable health care for states who want a different health care system…

Cut 8 (11) “if you like”

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Crews are dealing with clean up in several parishes after at least five tornadoes touched down in Louisiana on Saturday. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says a twister hit near Colfax that left a wake of destruction, damaging 5 homes and injuring one person.

Cut 9 (07)  “were in it”

McCain says one woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries when the trailer overturned. The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado near Colfax had wind speeds up to 105 mph. A second tornado hit the parish near Georgetown, with winds reaching 100 mph.

Northwest Louisiana also saw a desctructive twister. Lt. Bill Davis with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office says a tornado with 115 mph winds made a 6 mile trek near Plain Dealing. He says about 29 homes were damaged, including three that were a total loss and seven that sustained extensive damage.

Cut 10 (09) “after all that”

Davis says after the twister hit, not only were people dealing with damage to their homes, but first responder crews had to fight downed trees and power lines to get in and help people. He says the community came together to clear roadways, and they’re doing what they can to help those who lost everything.

cut 11 (08) “their lives”

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An ROTC teacher at Mandeville High is under arrest amid allegations he had sex multiple times with two different students on campus. Mandeville Police Cheif Gerald Sticker says 48-year-old Hosea McGhee is charged with computer solicitation of a minor and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. He says the victims are ages 15 and 16:

cut 12 (10) “sexual acts” 

Although the investigation is continuing, the chief doesn’t think there are additional victims. Sticker says they believe the acts were carried out on school grounds for quite some time…:

Cut 13 (06) “ongoing“

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A new custom-blend coffee, called the Ragin’ Cajuns French Roast Coffee was introduced to the public today. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette partnered with the Mello Joy Coffee Company to develop this dark roast blend. Assistant Director of Trademark Licensing at ULL, Leslie Saloom, says the coffee has a little sweetness and a chocolate flavor.

cut 14 (10) “the shelf”

Saloom says the Ragin’ Cajuns French Roast is exclusively available at Rouses at the Lafayette, Youngsville and Morgan City locations, as well as, at the bookstore on the university’s campus. She says officials from ULL and Mello Joy teamed up to determine which blend of Arabica beans would taste the best.

Cut 15 (09) “to go”

Saloom says the new French Roast joins other consumable products developed by the university that includes beer, seasoning and a Ragin Cajun burger available at Sonic.

Cut 16  (10)  “for us”

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14:30 Newscast Jan 23

A state audit alleges that former-Angola Warden Burl Cain misused public funds while he was employed at the prison. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The state Supreme Court has suspended a Covington attorney’s license for one year after he told a client he would accept marijuana as payment for his legal services. The client reported to police that she had paid James Mecca with cannabis once before. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office then set up a sting, which led to Mecca pleading guilty to possession of marijuana and losing his license for a year.

A tornado left a path of destruction in Bossier Parish, including 29 damaged homes. Lt. Bill Davis with the Sheriff’s Office says the community came together to clear roadways, and they’re doing what they can to help those who lost everything.

Cut 11 (08) “their lives”

Davis says a tornado with 115 mph winds made a 6 mile trek through the northern part of the parish.

A Mandeville High School ROTC instructor is accused of sleeping with two different students on multiple occasions. Police Chief Gerald Sticker says 48-year-old Hosea McGhee is charged with computer solicitation of a minor and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. He says they believe the acts were carried out on school grounds for quite some time.

Cut 13 (06) “ongoing”

At this time, the chief doesn’t think there are additional victims.

13:30 Newscast, January 23rd, 2017

Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy presented a health care plan this morning on Capitol Hill that would give states the ability to decide if they want to keep Obamacare. Cassidy says this would make the Patient Freedom Act easier to pass in the Senate…:
CUT 7 (10) “get us to 60″
He says Republicans believe that if you like your health insurance, than you should keep it.

An ROTC teacher at Mandeville High is under arrest amid allegations he had sex multiple times with two different students on campus. Mandeville Police Chief Gerald Sticker says the victims are ages 15 and 16:
CUT 12 (10) “sexual acts”
He says 48-year-old Hosea McGhee is charged with computer solicitation of a minor and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

Officials are in major cleanup mode in parts of the state that saw tornadoes touchdown over the weekend. Lt. Bill Davis with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office says a tornado with 115 mph winds made a 6 mile trek near Plain Dealing. He says about 29 homes were damaged, including three that were a total loss and seven that sustained extensive damage:
Cut 10 (09) “after all that”
The National Weather Service believes at least 5 tornadoes touched down in Louisiana on Saturday.

Beauregard parish residents have started a petition to get better internet in the DeRidder area, as residents say satellite service is down more days than not. Beatrice Teague started the petition and says lines are in place, but they’re outdated…:
Cut 14 (11) “their turf”
Teague plans to present the petition to the Public Service Commission.

 

12:30 Newscast, January 23rd, 2017

Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy says state’s should have the right to keep the Affordable Care Act. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Crews are dealing with clean up in several parishes after at least five tornadoes touched down in Louisiana on Saturday. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says a twister hit near Colfax that left a wake of destruction, damaging 5 homes and injuring one person…:
Cut 9 (07) “were in it”
Other twisters were reported in LaSalle and Bossier Parishes.

An audit accuses former-Angola warden Burl Cain of improperly using state funds during his tenure at the helm of the state’s largest prison. State legislative auditor Daryl Purpera says Angola’s maintenance director, Tim Byrd, made trips to Cain’s home in Baton Rouge to refinish the gates…:
cut 4 (08) “public dollar”
Cain’s lawyer says the report is flawed. The findings are in the hands of the US Attorney.

A Mandeville High School ROTC instructor has been booked on additional charges for allegedly having sex on numerous occasions with 2 different teenagers, ages 15 and 16, on campus. They believe that Hosea McGhee had relations with the two female students, and that most of the incidents took place on school grounds.

 

11:40 LRN Sportscast January 23rd

It was an impressive performance by Atlanta’s defense in yesterday’s NFC Championship game as they held Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense in check in a 44-21 win for the Dirty Birds. Several players with ties to Louisiana had a part in the victory.

Former Southeastern Louisiana Lion Robert Alford had five tackles for Atlanta, so did former LSU Tiger Deion Jones. Former Tiger Jalen Collins forced a fumble for the Falcons he recovered; and Tyson Jackson out of LSU had a sack.

The Patriots offense performed like a machine yesterday, so former Louisiana Tech punter Ryan Allen only punted twice. New England beat Pittsburgh 36-17. The Patriots and Falcons meet in Super Bowl 51 on Sunday February 5th.

Another college baseball preseason poll has the LSU Tigers ranked in the top 5. Baseball America has LSU ranked fourth. TCU is number one, Florida State two and Florida is ranked third. The Ragin Cajuns are ranked 13th in the poll. Full squad workouts begin later this week.

After an embarrassing loss to the worst team in the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets, on Friday night, the Pelicans will host the defending champs tonight. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers face New Orleans tonight. It’s the start of a tough week for the Pels, who host Oklahoma City on Wednesday and San Antonio on Friday.