08:30 Newscast, June 29th, 2017

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he wants to change the nation’s food stamps as a way of encouraging more people on the program to find a job. He says the number of SNAP recipients has more than doubled in the last 15 years…:
Cut 11 (08) “self-sufficiency”
He says there needs to be a safety net for people who fall on hard times, but for many, government assistance has become a way of life.

A two-year-old is among the three dead after a car chase ended with a crash in New Orleans East. Louisiana State Police spokesperson, Trooper Melissa Matey, says cops attempted to stop the vehicle downtown for a stolen license plate. She says the driver fled the scene and collided with a truck before running off the road…:
Cut 13 (04) “both are deceased”
She says a third person took their own life after the crash.

Entergy will build a new plant in Westlake after the Louisiana Public Service Commission unanimously approves construction of the Lake Charles Power Station…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Cox is bringing its terabyte internet data caps to Louisiana. This means customers will have to pay $10 for every 50GB of data they consume over the limited plan, starting July 6th — with a two-bill grace period that will last up until September. The company expects the number of customers affected will be slim at about 2%.

 

07:30 Newscast, June 29th, 2017

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is hoping to reform the SNAP program and put more people back to work. Halen Doughty has more..:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Southeast Louisiana through this evening. They say rainfall amounts of 1-3 inches are possible across the area, and some of the storms could become stronger and lead to isolated heavier amounts.

Residents of St. John the Baptist Parish could have an increased risk of cancer, as the EPA finds a plant in Laplace is releasing carcinogens into the air. Wilma Subra with the Louisiana Environmental Action Network says the Denka Performance Elastomer facility is emitting huge quantities of chloroprene, which can pose a serious health risk to the community:
Cut 4 (10) “respiratory problems”
Denka has agreed to retrofit the plant and reduce emissions by 85 percent before the end of 2017.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission unanimously approved construction for a new Entergy plant in Westlake. Entergy spokesperson Michael Burns says the new Lake Charles Power Station plant will save customers a lot of money…:
Cut 7 (09) “30 years”
Customer savings are expected to exceed the $872 million cost of the plant in less than a decade.

 

06:45 Sportscast, June 29th, 2017

The LSU baseball team received a warm welcome from fans when they arrived home from Omaha Wednesday after an emotional season which ended with the Tigers being swept by Florida in the finals of the College World Series. Several from the purple and gold nation turned out to thank the Tigers for fun and exciting season, and not to sweat coming back to Baton Rouge without a trophy for that reason.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees says he’s starting a coed, youth flag football league called Football ‘N” America. Brees says he would like it to become the premier youth coed flag football league and he believes it could save the entire sport, because it would allow kids to play at a young age without the risk of putting pads on. Leagues will start up this fall in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Covington.

LSU head football coach Ed Orgeron has been named No. 81 in Athlon Sports & Life magazine’s ranking of 130 college football head coaches.

Three LSU basketball players were issued summons after allegedly shooting paintballs at pedestrians on campus. 19-year-old Mayan Keer Kirr, 18-year-old Galen Ishan Alexander and 19-year-old Wayde Kenneth Sims were reportedly busted after a pedestrian was hit by paintballs. The report indicates LSU basketball coach Will Wade is aware of the situation and dealing with it internally.

The Los Angeles Clippers have traded All-Star point guard and Former New Orleans Hornet Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets. The 32-year-old reportedly agreed to opt in to the final year of his $24.2 million contract, clearing the way for the Clippers to execute a trade with the Rockets. There’s also a report Houston is acquiring former LSU Tiger Tim Quarterman from the Portland Trail Blazers.

Grambling State named Donte Jackson as it’s new men’s basketball coach. Jackson was the head coach at Stillman College, an NAIA school in Tuscaloosa, over the last three seasons.

 

06:30 Newscast, June 29th, 2017

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he’s filed a common-sense approach to reforming the food stamp program that would impact able-bodied adults without dependents. Graves says his bill would connect SNAP recipients with job search and job training programs to help them find work opportunities…:
Cut 10 (11) “to be eligible”
He says we need to incentivize  people to work, not to stay home.

Three LSU basketball players were issued summons after allegedly shooting paintballs at pedestrians on campus. 19-year-old Mayan Keer Kirr, 18-year-old Galen Ishan Alexander and 19-year-old Wayde Kenneth Sims were reportedly busted after a pedestrian was hit by paintballs. The report indicates LSU basketball coach Will Wade is aware of the situation and dealing with it internally.

Cox Communications announces their south Louisiana customers will be put on a data plan starting July 6th and it allows them to upload or download one terabyte of data…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

 

18:30 Newscast June 28

Fifty years after opening his first store in Monroe, Johnny’s Pizza House founder Johnny Huntsman has passed away. His brother Chester Huntsman says Johnny learned to make pizzas while at college in Iowa to become a football coach. He says those skills translated well in the kitchen.

Cut 11 (10) “50 years”

Johnny died at the age of 77 after a struggle with Alzheimer’s.

A toddler and two others were killed after crash following a police chase in New Orleans. State Trooper Melissa Matey says as the driver rounded a corner, he came upon a box truck that was attempting to make a right turn.

Cut 15 (09) “a fence”

None of the passengers were properly restrained in the vehicle.

Entergy will build a new plant in Westlake after the Louisiana Public Service Commission unanimously approves construction of the Lake Charles Power Station. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Minden woman will spend 40 years in prison for fatally shooting her 22-year-old son while she was intoxicated. Forty-eight-year-old Dora Blake was sentenced Tuesday for shooting her son in the back of the head as he drove her home after she was kicked out of a casino.

LRN AM NEWSCALL JUNE 29, 2017

Cox Communications announces their south Louisiana customers will be put on a data plan starting July 6th and it allows them to upload or download one terabyte of data. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is hoping to reform the SNAP program and put more people back to work. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Entergy will build a new plant in Westlake after the Louisiana Public Service Commission unanimously approves construction of the Lake Charles Power Station. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

__________________________________

Residents of St. John the Baptist Parish could have an increased risk of cancer, as the EPA finds the Denka Performance Elastomer plant in Laplace is releasing carcinogens into the air. Wilma Subra with the Louisiana Environmental Action Network says the facility is releasing huge quantities of chloroprene into the air, which can pose a serious health risk to the community.

Cut 4  (10) “respiratory problems”

Air testing found residents had been subjected to 88 times the concentration of chloroprene the EPA allows. EPA inspectors found 31 valve leaks in the plant, which did not have the proper tools to measure the chemical emissions. Subra says the company argues not all the violations were made under their watch.

Cut 5  (13)  “the facility”

Denka officials could face criminal charges if the company is determined to have been negligent. But the company has agreed to retrofit the facility and reduce emissions by 85 percent before the end of the year. Subra says the carcinogenic chemical must be kept out of the air in such high concentrations.

Cut 6 (11) “the hospital”

________________________________________________________

The Louisiana Public Service Commission unanimously approved construction for a new Entergy plant in Westlake. Entergy spokesperson Michael Burns says the new Lake Charles Power Station plant will save customers a lot of money.

Cut 7 (09)  “30 years”

Customer savings are expected to exceed the $872 million cost of the plant in less than a decade. Burns says the new plant will also be cleaner and more energy efficient than older natural gas-fired plants.

Cut 8 (10) “40 percent”

The plant should be up and running by June of 2020. Burns says once the plant is complete, it will employ approximately 30 people. He says it will also create new jobs during construction.

Cut 9 (09)  “billion dollars”

__________________________________________________________

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he’s filed a common-sense approach to reforming the food stamp program that would impact able-bodied adults without dependents. Graves says his bill would connect SNAP recipients with job search and job training programs to help them find work opportunities.

Cut 10 (11) “to be eligible”

Graves says we need a safety net for people who fall on hard times, but for many, government assistance has become a way of life. He says the number of people in these programs has more than doubled in the last 15 years.

Cut 11 (08) “self-sufficiency”

Graves says the national debt is more than $20 trillion, and a majority of that is a result of these welfare programs. He says we need to incentivize people to work, not to stay home. He says states that passed similar bills saw significant improvements.

Cut 12 (10) “the workforce”

____________________________________________________________

A two-year-old is among the three dead after a car chase ended with a crash in New Orleans east. Louisiana State Police spokesperson, Trooper Melissa Matey, says state police units attempted to stop the vehicle in downtown New Orleans for a stolen license plate. Matey says the driver fled the scene and collided with a truck and ran off the road.

Cut 13 (06) “both are deceased”

Matey says a third person took their own life after the crash. She says the tragic incident began when troopers attempted to stop a vehicle on Canal St. in New Orleans, but the driver refused to comply.

Cut 14 (11) “traffic stop”

Matey says a chase ensued that led troopers onto the interstate, back off the highway, and onto a local street. She says as the driver rounded a corner, he came upon a box truck that was attempting to make a right turn.

Cut 15 (09) “a fence”

None of the passengers, including the toddler, were properly restrained in the vehicle.

17:30 LRN Newscast June 28th

A two-year-old is among the three dead after a car chase ended with a crash in New Orleans east. Louisiana State Police spokesperson, Trooper Melissa Matey, says state police units attempted to stop the vehicle in downtown New Orleans for a stolen license plate. Matey says the driver fled the scene and collided with a truck and ran off the road…
cut 13 (06) “…both are deceased”
Matey says a third person took their own life after the crash.

Johnny Huntsman, the man who founded the West Monroe-based Johnny’s Pizza House franchise has died at 77 from Azheimer’s disease. His brother, Chester Hunstman, says Johnny’s postive and encouraging attitude sparked the business into what it is today….
cut 9 (11) “….a lot too”
The Johnny’s franchise started in 1967 and has expanded other states.

A new report finds Louisiana students who attend private schools on taxpayer funded vouchers are not outperforming their peers in public schools. One of the authors of the report, Jonathan Mills, says the goal was to paint a picture of how the program is doing….
cut 14 (08) “….sound evidence”
Louisiana spends about 40-million dollars a year on the voucher program and there are 71-hundred students who participate.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission unanimously approved construction for a new Entergy plant in Westlake. Entergy spokesperson Michael Burns says the new Lake Charles Power Station plant will save customers a lot of money.
Cut 7 (09) “30 years”
The plant should be up and running by June of 2020.

16:45 LRN Sportscast June 28th

After accepting their runner-up trophy at the College World Series last night following a six to one defeat to Florida, the LSU Baseball team returned to Baton Rouge this afternoon. Coach Paul Mainieri was emotional at the postgame press conference. The Tigers skipper talked about how last summer affected him as Baton Rouge suffered through riots, police shootings and deadly flooding. He wanted to accomplish something good…
cut 18 (25) “…to do”
The TV ratings are in for the College World Series finals and they are up 71-percent from last year and it’s the best for the CWS finals since 2011.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees says he’s starting a coed, youth flag football league called Football ‘N” America. Brees says he would like it to become the premier youth coed flag football league and he believes it could save the entire sport, because it would allow kids to play at a young age without the risk of putting pads on. Leagues will start up this fall in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Covington.

Former New Orleans Hornet Chris Paul is leaving the Clippers as a deal has reportedly been reached that will send Paul to the Houston Rockets to team up with James Harden in the backcourt. There’s also a report Houston is acquiring former LSU Tiger Tim Quartermann from the Portland Trail Blazers.

Grambling State named Donte Jackson as it’s new men’s basketball coach. Jackson was the head coach at Stillman College, an NAIA school in Tuscaloosa, over the last three seasons. During that time, Stillman had a record of 66-21 and they won their conference in 2016.

16:30 Newscast June 28

Pizza enthusiasts across Louisiana are mourning the loss of Johnny Huntsman, founder of Johnny’s Pizza House and creator of the famed Sweep the Kitchen pizza. His brother Chester Huntsman says coaching was Johnny’s first love, and he spent one season at the helm of the West Monroe High School Rebel football team.

Cut 10 (10) “at everything”

Johnny passed away this morning at the age of 77.

All four suspects in the brutal beating and robbery in New Orleans are behind bars. NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison says it was only a matter of time before these men were tracked down.

Cut 7 (06) “that promise”

Footage of the incident went viral, which helped law enforcement identify and locate the suspects.

The National Safety Council ranks Louisiana the tenth safest state in the country overall, but the state receives an F rating for workplace safety. President and CEO Deborah Hersman says the state has lots of improvement to make in this category.

Cut 4 (11) “needs help”

Louisiana earned an A grade for roadway safety and a C for home and community safety.

A new report finds Louisiana voucher students are now even with their district peers, even after an initial dip. The findings were co-released by Jonathan Mills, who has been tracking the progress of the students who enrolled three years ago. He says after the first year they were performing worse, and in year 2 they were slightly less behind.

Cut 12 (06) “the same”

15:30 LRN Newscast June 28th

The founder of the Johnny’s Pizza restaurant chain, Johnny Huntsman, has passed away at 77. Huntsman opened the first Johnny’s in 1967 in Monroe and it has spread into Texas and Arkansas. His brother, Chester Hunstman, says Johnny learned how to make pizza while attending college in Iowa and had a personal approach with customers and employees…
cut 11 (10) “…50 years”
Johnny Huntsman’s funeral is set for Friday in Oak Grove.

New Orleans Police has in custody all four suspects accused in the brutal attack and robbery in the French Quarter that was captured on video. Commander Nicholas Gernon says 20-year-old Rashaad Piper was located by cops at a business last night.:
Cut 6 (10) “Pogozelski”
One victim remains in critical condition. The four suspects are accused of second-degree robbery, but officials say more charges could be brought.

A new report finds students attending private schools with a taxpayer voucher are not outperforming their peers who attend public schools. Lead author Jonathan Mills says one of the theories behind a voucher program is students are using the money to go to a private school with the presumption it’s a better learning environment…:
cut 13 (06) “…necessarily see”
About 71-hundred students receive vouchers in Louisiana.

Louisiana is the tenth safest state in the nation, according to a first of its kind report from the National Safety Council. President and CEO Deborah Hersman says the state received an overall grade of C, but no state was awarded an overall A grade. Louisiana did receive an A in the road safety category…:
Cut 3 (11) “in a crash”
The report finds Louisianans are less safe at work than on the roads, as the state receives an F grade for workplace safety.