15:30 LRN Newscast September 7

A report finds LSU graduates have higher early- and mid-career earnings than graduates of other Louisiana universities. Among the 50 flagship universities in the country, LSU ranks 21st in early career earnings and 18th for mid-career earnings. President F. King Alexander..
Cut 3 (10) “career ready”
Officials have broken ground on a 33-million dollar project to widen Arkansas Road to four lanes in Ouachita Parish and also add roundabouts. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says West Monroe is growing and this project will eliminate huge congestion problems….
cut 13 (10) “…this corridor”

There are three active hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin for the first time since 2010. Irma is expected to strike south Florida Sunday morning as a major hurricane. State Climatologist Barry Keim says so far in 2017, two tropical storms have made landfall in Louisiana….
cut 11 (08) “…unscathed”

If you’ve seen more lovebugs this summer, Halen Doughty explains why….
Voicer 5 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

LRN PM Newscall September 7

LSU graduates have higher early- and mid-career earnings than other grads, according to a new report. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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For the first time in nearly a decade, three hurricanes are moving through the Atlantic Basin at the same time. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A recent report finds LSU graduates have higher early- and mid-career earnings than graduates of other Louisiana universities. Among the 50 flagship universities in the country, LSU ranks 21st in early career earnings and 18th for mid-career earnings. President F. King Alexander credits the hard work of the University for getting students ready for the workforce.

Cut 3 (10) “career ready”

Alexander says LSU students are leaders who aren’t afraid of hard work. When looking at public SEC peers, LSU is third behind only Texas A&M and Florida for early career earnings and the Baton Rouge school ranks fourth in mid-career earnings. He notes many of the universities below LSU on the list charge higher tuition and have more student debt.

Cut 4  (12) “LSU degree”

LSU grads have early career earnings of more than $52,000 and mid-career earnings of over $100,000. Alexander says this is a testament to the value of an LSU degree. He hopes this report will encourage more Louisiana students to choose LSU for their degree and attract more out of state students.

Cut 5  (11)  “worth it”

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Cleco and Entergy are teaming up to increase reliability to customers in southeast Louisiana. Cleco Spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says construction is already underway for a new storm-hardened transmission line from Gray to Patterson that can withstand winds of 150 miles per hour.

Cut 6 (10)”restoration times”

It’s expected the project will be completed by the fall of 2018. Cahill says this is a great example of two utility companies working together to benefit customers. She says Cleco and Entergy are splitting the cost and Entergy expects to spend 65-million dollars on 24 miles of the project.

Cut 7 (09)  “dollars”

Cahill says this project and partnership are so important because the first thing customers want after a storm is to have their power restored.

Cut 8 (08) “Louisiana”

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Three hurricanes are churning in the Atlantic Basin. Hurricane Irma, which is expected to hit Florida on Sunday, Jose is trailing Irma in the central Atlantic, and Katia is a hurricane in the southwestern Gulf. State climatologist Barry Keim says having three hurricanes simultaneously is definitely unusual, but it’s not unprecedented or record-breaking.

Cut 9 (11)  “1998″

Keim says the Atlantic hurricane season is off to a roaring start this year. He says we’ve already seen 11 named storms, and we haven’t reached the peak of the season.

Cut 10 (09) “right now”

Keim says although we’ve seen two storms make landfall, the state has been pretty luck so far this season. He says Tropical Storms Cindy and Harvey both landed in Louisiana, but they didn’t do much damage in the Bayou State.

Cut 11 (08) “unscathed”

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The state Department of Transportation has started a major project on Arkansas Road in Ouachita Parish. DOTD Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson says with a big boom in residents in West Monroe, there is a serious need for a wider road. He says this construction will increase the traffic capacity in the area.

Cut 12 (10) “signals”

The project is expected to cost about 33-million dollars. Wilson says sidewalks will also be installed along the road so pedestrians can travel safely. He says West Monroe is growing and this project will eliminate huge congestion problems.

Cut 13 (10) “this corridor “

Over 18-thousand vehicles pass through this stretch of Arkansas Road from North 7th Street to Caldwell Road every day. Wilson says the project is expected to take about three years and will be finished in the spring of 2020. He says it will be slightly uncomfortable during construction but…

Cut 14 (09) “Louisiana”

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14:30 LRN Newscast September 7

For the first time in nearly a decade, three hurricanes are moving through the Atlantic Basin at the same time.
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Cleco and Entergy are teaming up to pay for a new storm-harded transmission line in southeast Louisiana that can withstand winds of 150 miles per hour. Cleco Spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says…
cut 7 (09) “…48-million dollars”

A new report shows LSU is third in the SEC when it comes to early career earnings and fourth in mid-career earnings. LSU grads have early career earnings of more than 52-thousand dollars and mid-career earnings of over 100-thousand. LSU System President F King Alexander says this is a postive report for LSU….
cut 5 (11) “…worth it”

Good news for motorists in the West Monroe area who use Arkansas Road. The state department of transportation has broken ground on a 33-million dollar project that will expand the two-lane road into four lanes with roundabouts. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says construction will last three years and be slightly uncomfortable, but….
cut 14 (09) “….Louisiana”
Over 18-thousand vehicles use this roadway on a daily basis.

13:30 Newscast, September 7th, 2017

A recent report finds LSU graduates have higher early- and mid-career earnings than graduates of other Louisiana universities. President F. King Alexander notes many of the universities below LSU on the list charge higher tuition and have more student debt…:
Cut 4 (12) “LSU degree”
LSU grads have early career earnings of more than $52,000 and mid-career earnings of over $100,000.

There are currently three hurricanes churning in the Atlantic Basin. Cat-5 Irma is approaching Florida on the current track, Juan is far east of Irma, and Katia is a hurricane in the southwestern Gulf. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ve already seen 11 named storms, and not even at peak of season
Cut 10 (09) “right now”

The state Department of Transportation has started a major project on Arkansas Road in Ouachita Parish. DOTD Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson says with a big boom in residents in West Monroe, there is a serious need for a wider road…:
Cut 12 (10) “signals”
The project is expected to cost about 33-million dollars.

Thibodaux Representative Dee Richard says he’s paying back the $37,000 he used from his campaign account on gambling. He said he thinks the problem was a side effect to anti-Parkinson’s medication..:
Cut 15 (09) “it’s terrible”
The Ethics Board will decide Friday what action to take against the Richard.

 

12:30 Newscast, September 7th, 2017

LSU graduates have higher early- and mid-career earnings than other grads, according to a new report…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Construction is underway in a joint effort by Cleco and Entergy on a new storm-hardened transmission line that will strengthen service reliability for customers. Cleco Spokesperson Jennifer Cahill…:
Cut 8 (08) “Louisiana”

Three hurricanes are churning in the Atlantic Basin. Hurricane Irma is barreling down on the Greater Antilles, Jose is trailing Irma in the central Atlantic, and Katia is now a hurricane in the southwestern Gulf. State climatologist Barry Keim says having three hurricanes simultaneously is definitely unusual, but it’s not unprecedented or record-breaking.
Cut 9 (11) “1998″
He says we’ve already seen 11 named storms, and we haven’t reached the peak of the season.

LSU’s All-American pass rusher Arden Key practiced fully for the first time this fall yesterday. Head Coach Ed Orgeron said on his weekly talk show that Key has not been cleared to play, but he’s making progress and they’ll know more next week.

 

11:40 LRN Sportscast September 7

LSU’s All-American pass rusher Arden Key practiced fully for the first time this fall yesterday. Head Coach Ed Orgeron said on his weekly talk show that Key has not been cleared to play, but he’s making progress and they’ll know more next week.

The Saints are optimistic starting tackle Terron Armstead will be able to return soon from shoulder surgery. The team had the option to place Armstead on the PUP list, which would have kept him out of action for an extended period of time. But Armstead is currently on the active 53-man roster.

Super Bowl champions Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley will be enshrined into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame next year. Both were teammates with the Colts from 2003 to 2006 and won a Super Bowl together. Stokley has two Super Bowl Rings, while Wayne is a six-time pro bowler.

Other inductees include former LSU star and 18-year Major League Baseball pitcher Russ Springer, plus Notre Dame of Crowley football coach Lewis Cook.

ULM has a tough challenge on the road this Saturday as they visit 10th ranked Florida State. The Warhawks lost their season opener 37-to-29 to Memphis. ULM had four turnovers in the defeat and Head Coach Matt Viator wants his team to do a better job at protecting the football….
cut 19 (18) “…need to”
Kick-off time for this game has been moved up to 11:00, because of Hurricane Irma.

Other than LSU, there are three schools who will have their home opener this Saturday. McNeese is taking on Florida Tech, Grambling hosts Northwestern State. It’s only the fourth ever meeting between the two north Louisiana schools and first since 2009. Also on Saturday, Southeastern Louisiana hosts Bethune Cookman.

11:30 Newscast, September 7th, 2017

A recent report finds LSU graduates have higher early- and mid-career earnings than graduates of other Louisiana universities. Among the 50 flagship universities in the country, LSU ranks 21st in early career earnings and 18th for mid-career earnings. President F. King Alexander credits the hard work of the University for getting students ready for the workforce:
Cut 3 (10) “career ready”
In the SEC, LSU is third behind only Texas A&M and Florida for early career earnings.

Hurricane Irma has weakened slightly as of the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center, but is still an extremely dangerous Cat-5 storm. A Hurricane Watch has now been issued for southern Florida as Irma continues to travel west-northwest at 16 miles per hour. Top sustained winds are a ferocious 175 miles per hour, down from a peak of 185.

Cleco and Entergy are teaming up to increase reliability to customers in southeast Louisiana. Cleco Spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says construction is already underway for a new storm-hardened transmission line from Gray to Patterson that can withstand winds of 150 miles per hour…:
Cut 6 (10)”restoration times”
It’s expected the project will be completed by the fall of 2018.

The lovebug population has been in overdrive this year and experts say it’s because we had such a mild and wet summer. LSU-Shreveport Associate professor of Biological Sciences Beverly Burden says it’s true that lovebugs are bad for your car..:
Cut 9 (11) “overheat”
Burden expects the population to decline in the next 10 to 14 days.

 

10:30 LRN Newscast September 7

Tomorrow the Louisiana Board of Ethics will decide the fate of a state lawmaker who used campaign dollars to feed a gambling addiction. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards will speak to the Rotary Club of Houma. Afterwards, the governor will have another roundtable meeting with business leaders to discuss the approaching fiscal cliff, as over a billion dollars in temporary taxes is set to expire in July. Yesterday, the governor partcipated in a groundbreaking for the expansion of Arkansas Road in Ouachita Parish.

Rural parishes in Louisiana are struggling more than urban areas to combat the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. That’s based on the research done by Linda Meredith who is an advocacy group called HEROES. Meredith says improvements are being seen in places like Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but that’s vastly different from the trend in northeast Louisiana..:
Cut 12 (09) “one percent”
Louisiana ranks first in the country for new HIV infections.

The state department of wildlife and fisheries is trying to determine why a third sperm whale has been found stranded off the Louisiana coast in the last year. Biologist Mandy Tumlin says they hope autopsy results will give them clues on how this endangered species died …:
Cut 4 (10) “formation”

09:30 Newscast, September 7th, 2017

A female sperm whale found dead on a sandbar just off of Grand Isle Beach was the third sperm whale found stranded along the coast of Louisiana within the past year. State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Mandy Tumlin says a necropsy of the animal helps to determine the cause of death:
Cut 6 (10) “of death”
This latest sperm whale is one of five of the endangered species found in the northern Gulf of Mexico over the past year.

Thibodaux Representative Dee Richard says he’s paying back the $37,000 he used from his campaign account on gambling. He said he thinks the problem was a side effect to anti-Parkinson’s medication..:
Cut 15 (09) “it’s terrible”
The Ethics Board will decide Friday what action to take against the Richard.

Lovebugs are taking over the summer. Halen Doughty has more on why…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

In addition to the dangerous, deadly Hurricane Irma, there are two other hurricanes currently churning. Jose is in the Atlantic, and is expected to turn more to the north later in the week from its current westward track, according to the National Hurricane Center. Katia, which is located in the western Gulf of Mexico, is forecast to turn southeastward in the next 24 hours and will move in the direction of Tampico, Mexico. Irma is moving north of the Dominican Republic and Haiti on a track that brings it through the Bahamas and near Florida over the next couple of day.

 

08:30 Newscast, September 7th, 2017

A state lawmaker is facing disciplinary action from the state ethics board after using campaign money to feed his gambling addiction. Thibodaux Representative Dee Richard says medication he was taking for Parkinson’s has been blamed for fueling others gambling addictions in a class action lawsuit:
Cut 14 (10) “happen to me”
Between 2012 and 2015, Richard spent $37,000 from his campaign fund on gambling before getting off the drug a year ago.

If you’ve noticed more love bugs than normal this time of year, you can blame a mild and wet summer. LSU-Shreveport Associate professor of Biological Sciences Beverly Burden says while the lovebugs are a major nuisance..:
Cut 8 (10) “recyclers”
She says they should be gone within a couple of weeks.

A female sperm whale has been found on Grand Isle, the third of the endangered species found on Louisiana beaches this year…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Rural parishes in Louisiana are struggling more than major cities to combat the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. Linda Meredith is the research and development manager for the advocacy group HEROES. She says there’s only one treatment facility in the entire northeast corner of the state…:
Cut 11 (09) “treatment”