9:30 LRN Newscast April 23rd

State Police announce the arrest of a Baton Rouge man who according to a police report got inside the governor’s mansion during the early morning hours last Wednesday and broke an antique table and fell asleep on the couch. L-S-P says they are evaluating security procedures at the mansion.

A bill to allow voters to decide whether they want legalized sports betting in their parish will be heard this morning. Matt Doyle spoke with both sides of the debate.
Cut 3 (32) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Louisiana extends its streak of over the year job gains to 13 consecutive months. The state’s Workforce Commission Director Ava Dejoie says since March of 2018, the education/healthcare super-sector has led the way with an additional 7,400 jobs.
Cut 7 (12) “…people.”
The job gains were powered by hiring in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette.

A Senate committee approves a proposed constitutional amendment that would exempt diapers and feminine products from the state sales tax. The proposal would result in 10-million dollars less in state revenues, but author of the measure New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says the state will recoup the revenues elsewhere…
cut 16 (11) “….economy”
This measure has failed in the past in Senate Finance, but this year the state is not dealing with a budget deficit.

8:30 LRN Newscast April 23

State Police have revealed a security breach at the Governor’s mansion after a Baton Rouge man was arrested when he was discovered sleeping on a couch. East Baton Rouge Parish Sherriff records indicate that  34-year old Reynard Green was booked Wednesday for simple burglary, criminal trespass, damage to property, possession of a narcotic and two counts of battery of a police officer. Green allegedly tried to disarm one of the security officers. State Police are evaluating security procedures.

Scott Woodward will be introduced as LSU’s athletic director today at noon. Woodward leaves Texas A&M after the Aggies won nine SEC titles over four years under his leadership. Commissioner of Administration and longtime friend of Woodward, Jay Dardenne, says the Baton Rouge native won’t need much of an introduction…

Cut 4 (12) “…LSU graduate.”

 

A Proposal to allow voters to legalize sports betting at casinos and race tracks will be among discussions at a State Senate Judiciary Committee today. Bill sponsor Senator Dany Martiny warns not passing the legislation will result in depressed revenues for Louisiana casinos who will lose business to other states, and drive away new potential gaming investors.

Cut 13 (10) “again.”

If passed locally the activity would be limited to the physical premises of Riverboats, Tracks, and Land-Based Casinos.

Overall the state continues to see job gains for the last 13 months but there are exceptions in some parts of the state. Workforce Commissioner Ava Dejoie says Shreveport is down almost 2-thousand jobs over the last year, so they’re training up workers for jobs that start at 40-thousand a year.

Cut 8 (09) “…CDL.”

7:30 AM LRN Newscast April 23

A Baton Rouge man was arrested last week after he was discovered sleeping on a couch in the Governor’s Mansion. Louisiana State Police revealed the security breach and that 34-year old Reynard Green was booked Wednesday for simple burglary, criminal trespass, damage to property, possession of a narcotic and two counts of battery of a police officer Green allegedly tried to disarm one of the security officers.  State Police are evaluating security procedures and have not commented on if Governor Edwards or his family was in the mansion during the incident.

 

Louisiana has now added jobs over the year for 13 straight months according to the latest jobs report. Matt Doyle also reports the state’s unemployment rate has hit an 11-year low

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

 

Scott Woodward will be introduced at LSU’s athletic director today at noon. Woodward and Ed Orgeron are the first all Louisiana AD-football coach tandem since 1955. Commissioner of Administration and longtime friend of Woodward, Jay Dardenne says having locals from the Bayou State running the show in athletics could bring a bright future…

Cut 6 (12) “…this program.”

 

A constitutional amendment to exempt diapers and feminine products from the state sales tax unanimously cleared its first committee, and is on its way to Senate Finance. Amendment sponsor New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says the constitution calls for the exemption of necessities. Morrell says for women and parents, having these products isn’t just some luxury, and the costs can add up for working class moms.
Cut 15 (08) “…items.”

6:45 LRN Sportscast April 23rd

It’s a big day on the LSU campus as Scott Woodward is introduced as the school’s new athletics director. LSU fans are excited about this new era and one of the biggest Tiger fans in state government, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, who is also a longtime friend of Woodward, says he doesn’t expect the Baton Rouge native to make many changes right away, especially with the high profile coaches on campus…
cut 5 (12) “…next season”
Woodward’s press conference begins at noon.

Today, the Saints begin their voluntary offseason training program. Saints star receiver Michael Thomas is entering the final season of his rookie deal and there’s speculation he may stay away in order to force negotiations on a new contract. No NFL player in history has caught more balls in their first three seasons than Thomas.

The 15th ranked LSU baseball team looks to win a midweek game for the first time since April 3rd when they host Lamar tonight. The Cardinals are 12 games under the .500 mark and then after tonight’s home game, LSU visits Alabama, who is in last place in the SEC West. Coach Paul Mainieri wants his team to build on its current two game winning streak…
cut 17 (16) “…week for us”
Landon Marceaux is scheduled to start for the Tigers. In his last start against Southern, he gave up five earned and was pulled in the second inning.

Also today, the 18th ranked Louisiana Tech Diamond Dogs begin a five-game week by hosting Little Rock. The Ragin Cajuns play their final midweek game of the season as they visit Southern Miss. ULM is at Southern and Northwestern State visits 8th ranked Arkansas.

6:30 AM LRN Newscast April 23

A Senate Judiciary Committee will take up a proposal to allow voters to legalize sports betting at casinos and race tracks in their parishes today.

Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills opposes the legislation, and says any revenue generated would be offset by the social damage caused by increased gambling.

Cut 10 (12) “…a wash.”

Mills says a UL study indicated there were nearly 200,000 problem gamblers in the state.

But bill sponsor, Metairie Senator Danny Martiny, says there’s already an active sports betting black market, and while the law may increase the overall amount of gaming in the state…

Cut 11 (06) “…market.”

Martiny warned that not passing the legislation will result in depressed revenues for Louisiana casinos who will lose business to other states, and drive away new potential gaming investors.

A constitutional amendment to exempt diapers and feminine products from the state sales tax unanimously cleared its first committee, and is on its way to Senate Finance, where it previously died. Amendment sponsor New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says there’s precedent for the exemption…

Cut 14 (12) “…them”

If passed local municipalities would have the option of exempting the items from local sales tax as well.

Overall Job growth in the state remains steady yet the Houma area is one part of the state that remains the weak spot for employment. Workforce Commission Director Ava Dejoie says the area lost approximately 2-thousand jobs from last year in a city of roughly 34-thousand. Dejoie says she’s hopeful that rising oil prices can stem the losses.

Cut 9 (09) “…those.″

 

The majority of the job gains in the state were in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette.

AM Newscall LRN

LSU introduces its new athletics director at a noon press conference today. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Connor Ferrill”

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Louisiana has now added jobs over the year for 13 straight months according to the latest jobs report. Matt Doyle also reports the state’s unemployment rate has hit an 11-year low

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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A bill to allow parish voters to legalize sports betting will be heard Tuesday. Matt Doyle has reactions from both sides of the debate.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Scott Woodward will be introduced as LSU’s athletic director today at noon. Woodward leaves Texas A&M after the Aggies won nine SEC titles over four years under his leadership. Commissioner of Administration and longtime friend of Woodward, Jay Dardenne, says the Baton Rouge native won’t need much of an introduction…

Cut 4 (12) “…LSU graduate.”

Dardenne says he doesn’t suspect lots of coaching changes immediately but the Will Wade saga may be Woodward’s first test as AD…

Cut 5 (12) “…next season.”

Woodward and Ed Orgeron are the first all Louisiana AD-football coach tandem since 1955. Dardenne says having local Louisianan’s running the show in athletics could bring a bright future…

Cut 6 (12) “…this program.”

___________________________________________________

Louisiana extends it’s streak of over the year job gains to 13 consecutive months. The state’s Workforce Commission Director Ava Dejoie says since March of 2018, the education/healthcare super-sector has led the way with an additional 7,400 jobs.

Cut 7 (12) “…people.”

But nearly all of the year to year job gains were powered by hiring in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette.

North Louisiana is still struggling, with Shreveport in particular down 1,700 jobs over the last year. Dejoie says to counteract this, they’re training up workers for jobs that start at 40,000 a year.

Cut 8 (09) “…CDL.”

The National Governor’s Association will also meet in Shreveport to discuss the possibility of turning the town into a cyber security hub.

Houma continues to see it’s economy slip, as it lost 2,100 job from last year in a city of roughly 34,000. Dejoie says she’s hopeful that rising oil prices can stem the losses.

Cut 9 (09) “…those.″

__________________________

A Senate Judiciary Committee will take up a proposal to allow voters to legalize sports betting at casinos and race tracks in their parishes today.

Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills opposes the legislation, and says any revenue generated would be offset by the social damage caused by increased gambling.

Cut 10 (12) “…a wash.”

Mills says a UL study indicated there were nearly 200,000 problem gamblers in the state.

But bill sponsor, Metairie Senator Danny Martiny, says there’s already an active sports betting black market, and while the law may increase the overall amount of gaming in the state…

Cut 11 (06) “…market.”

Martiny is pushing to direct any revenue generated directly from sports betting activities into early childhood education. The Senator says it’s a worthy cause, and will help the legislation pass, but Mills says the two causes should not be tied together.

Cut 12 (11) “…merit.”

The Metairie Republican says estimates show sports betting itself will not generate a substantial amount of tax revenue, and that the activity could be worth about 20-50 million dollars a year.

Martiny warned that not passing the legislation will result in depressed revenues for Louisiana casinos who will lose business to other states, and drive away new potential gaming investors.

Cut 13 (10) “again.”

If passed locally the activity would be limited to the physical premises of Riverboats, Tracks, and Land-Based Casinos.

_________________________

A constitutional amendment to exempt diapers and feminine products from the state sales tax unanimously cleared it’s first committee, and is on it’s way to Senate Finance, where it has previously died. Amendment sponsor New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says there’s precedent for the exemption…

Cut 14 (12) “…them”

If passed local municipalities would have the option of exempting the items from local sales tax as well.
The constitution calls for the exemption of necessities, and Morrell says for women and parents, having these products isn’t just some luxury, and the costs can add up for working class moms.
Cut 15 (08) “…items.”

The proposal comes with a roughly nine million dollar price tag. Morrell says it might be a little pricey, but most of that money will work it’s way right back into the economy.

Cut 16  (11) “…economy” 

_______________________

The 14th LSU baseball team looks to win a midweek game for the first time since April 3rd when they host Lamar tonight. The Cardinals are 12 games under the .500 mark and then after tonight’s home game, LSU visits Alabama, who is in last place in the SEC West. Coach Paul Mainieri wants his team to build on its current two game winning streak

 cut 17 (16)   “.week for us” 

LSU right-hander Cole Henry was named SEC Baseball Co-Freshman of the Week. The Alabama native struck out a career-high 12 Florida hitters in Friday night’s 13-1 win over the Gators. Henry says it’s a great honor…

 

Henry’s 12 strikeouts were the most since Alex Lange struck out 13 in a game in 2015. Henry says its not his goal to strike out hitters…

Cut 19 (18)    in games”

530PM LRN News/Legis Report

With the Louisiana Radio Network Legislative Report, I’m Connor Ferrill
A bill to allow parish voters to legalize sports betting will be heard Tuesday. Matt Doyle has reactions from both sides of the debate.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”
A constitutional amendment to exempt diapers and feminine products from the state sales tax cleared it’s first committee, and is on it’s way to Senate Finance, where it has previously died. The proposal comes with a 10 million dollar price tag, and it being brought by New Orleans Senator JP Morrell.
_____________________
Hammond Representative Nicky Muscarello has legislation that would conceal the identities of companies that sell lethal injection drugs or equipment to the state. Louisiana has not performed an execution since 2010, and Muscarello says a big reason why is drug companies fear retaliation from anti-death penalty consumers.
Cut 10 AM (11) “…them private.”
The legislation is similar to that which is in place in neighboring states like Arkansas and Texas.
A House committee approves legislation to create a Team Gleason specialty license plate in honor of former Saints star and now ALS advocate. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says Gleason, who was diagnosed with A-L-S in 2011, says his work to help people with wheelchair bound disabilities is courageous
Cut 12 (12) “…devastating disease”

4:30 PM LRN Newscast April 22

A national reporter is criticizing LSU for a billboard that congratulates the school’s gymnastics team for finishing as national runner ups. Sports Business Reporter for the Action Network Darren Rovell appeared on ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge, Alexandria and New Orleans said you shouldn’t celebrate a second place finish…

Cut 6 (08) “…to go”

Law enforcement agencies participate this week in the “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign, an effort to get more drivers and passengers in pickup trucks to wear seat belts. Deputy Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Dortha Cummins says 89-percent of drivers and passengers in passenger vehicles follow the state’s seat belt laws, but the percentage drops to 81-percent for pickup truck drivers and passengers

Cut 4 (12) “usage rate”

A House committee approves legislation to create a Team Gleason specialty license plate in honor of former Saints star and now ALS advocate. The House Transportation Committee gave the Team Gleason specialty license plate unanimous approval and New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says if it becomes law, it can also help in the fight against A-L-S…

Cut 14 (11) “…they do”

The state hopes to get more students involved in the Ag industry by letting eligible two-year college grads transfer directly to LSU’s College of Ag and start as a junior. Louisiana Community and Technical College President Monty Sullivan says 2+2 is an economic program that gets kids out of college in four years with a lower debt load and bright prospects for a high paying job in a vital field.

Cut 11 (09)   “…of college”

3:30 LRN Newscast April 22

Should LSU promote a second place finish? A national sports reporter doesn’t think so. Jeff Palermo has more..
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Two people died early Sunday when their vehicle hit a deer while traveling on Highway 821 in Lincoln Parish. State Police say after the Chevy Tahoe hit the deer, the vehicle struck several trees, killing 29-year-old Christopher Brady of Choudrant, and his passenger, 27-year-old Savannah Holden of Ruston.

A House committee approves legislation to give drivers a chance to purchase a Team Gleason Foundation license plate with the proceeds going towards the fight against A-L-S. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says the license plate is in honor of former Saint Steve Gleason, who has worked tirelessly to help those with neromuscular diseases or injuries…
cut 13 (11) “…independent lives”

Law enforcement agencies are participating this week in the “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign, an effort to get more drivers and passengers in pickup trucks to wear seat belts. Deputy Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Dortha Cummins says the campaign means state troopers, deputies and police officers will increase their efforts to make sure those in a pickup truck are buckled up…
Cut 5 (07) “…through awareness”
Cummins says pick up truck passengers are less compliant of seat belt laws than passenger vehicles.

LRN PM Newscall April 22nd

Should LSU promote a second place finish? A national sports reporter doesn’t think so. Jeff Palermo has more..

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Community college students are being given a pathway to a career in agriculture with a new program that lets them transfer two years of credits to LSU Ag. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”  

_____________________________________________

Law enforcement agencies participate this week in the “Buckle Up in Your Truck” campaign, an effort to get more drivers and passengers in pick up trucks to wear seat belts. Deputy Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Dortha Cummins says pick up truck passengers are less compliant of seat belt laws

Cut 3 (06) “…a crash ”

Cummins says 89-percent of drivers and passengers in passenger vehicles follow the state’s seat belt laws, but the percentage drops to 81-percent for pickup truck drivers and passengers

Cut 4 (12) “      usage rate” 

Cummins says the Buckle Up in Trucks law enforcement campaign means state troopers, deputies and police officers will increase their efforts to make sure those in a pick up truck are buckled up…

Cut 5 (07) “…through awareness”

Pickup trucks make up a quarter of the vehicles on our roadways and Cummins says stats show men are more likely not to buckle up then women.

___________________________________

A national reporter is criticizing LSU for a billboard that congratulates the school’s gymnastics team for finishing as national runner ups. Sports Business Reporter for the Action Network Darren Rovell appeared on ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge, Alexandria and New Orleans said  you shouldn’t celebrate a second place finish…

Cut 6 (08) “…to go”

Rovell tweeted on Sunday that a school should not put up a billboard for coming in second, which resulted in over one-thousand comments, many from LSU fans who disagreed. But Rovell would not back down from his tweet when he appeared on a morning show based out of Baton Rouge…

Cut 7 (07) “…of time.”

LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette tweeted back to Rovell and said the billboard recognizing LSU’s second place finish helps promote the brand. But Rovell says his message on the billboard would have said something different…

Cut 8 (10) “…runners up”

____________________________

The state hopes to get more students involved in the Ag industry by letting eligible two year college grads transfer directly to LSU’s College of Ag, and start as a junior. Louisiana Community and Technical College President Monty Sullivan says the 2+2 program will help get a wider range of skilled workers into the industry…

Cut 9 (11) “…a science.”

Students looking to make the jump to LSU Ag for their last two years need to have a 2.5 GPA, and an associate degree in certain fields of study.

Sullivan says while any student is eligible for the program, they’re hoping it’s influence more Louisianans with rural backgrounds to stick around their communities.

Cut 10 (12) “…economy.”

The LCTC President says 2+2 is an economical program that gets kids out of college in four years with a lower debt load and bright prospects for a high paying job in a vital field.

Cut 11 (09)   “…of college”

_____________________

A House committee approves legislation to create a Team Gleason specialty license plate in honor of former Saints star and now ALS advocate. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says Gleason, who was diagnosed with A-L-S in 2011, says his work to help people with wheelchair bound disabilities is courageous

Cut 12 (12) “…devastating disease”

Gleason is set to receive the Congressional Gold Medal this year. Leger says Gleason’s fight against A-L-S has helped raise public awareness about the disease and the Team Gleason Foundation has also helped those who suffer from neuromuscular diseases or injuries

Cut 13 (11) “…independent lives”

The House Transportation committee gave the Team Gleason specialty license plate unanimous approval and Leger says if it becomes law, it can also help in the fight against A-L-S…

Cut 14 (11) “…they do”