A 2017 wreck that left a four-year-old girl dead is inspiring legislation for the upcoming session. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
The feds have agreed to an April 16th deadline on providing an answer on when, and if RESTORE 2016 flood grant money will be available to those who took out SBA loans, A-K-A the “duplication of benefits” loophole. Congress passed a law last year that allowed those who obtained Small Business Administration loans for the purpose of repairing flood damage access to a federal flood relief grant, known as RESTORE.
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CenturyLink will keep it’s corporate headquarters in Monroe through 2025. The company, which employs over 2,200 workers in the state at a payroll of 200 million dollars, announced the agreement with Governor Edwards earlier today. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says keeping CenturyLink in Monroe is vital for the state’s tech economy.
Cut 6 (11) “…importance”
CenturyLink is the second largest US communications provider to global enterprise customers.
The state needs new voting machines and a big election is coming up as we’ll vote on statewide offices and who will represent us at the State Capitol. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says they will rent voting machines for early voting and use spare parts to make sure the decades-old voting booths work properly on election day…
Cut 10 (11)“…fall election”
Monthly Archives: April 2019
AM Newscall LRN
We’ll know by April 16th roughly when, and if the feds will allow those got who SBA loans after the 2016 floods access to RESTORE flood relief grant money. Matt Doyle has more.
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A Shreveport Senator has a bill that would ban Louisiana abortions after a heartbeat is detectable in the fetus. Matt Doyle has the story.
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The percent of Louisiana residents who feel the state is heading in the right direction is on the rise compared to last year. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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The Department of Transportation will be holding a public meeting today in Mandeville to discuss widening I-12. This comes after the state received a 25 million dollar grant from the feds.
Four people died on a stretch near the Tchefuncte River on memorial day last year, and Parish President Pat Brister says local residents demanded action.
Brister hopes they can do a comprehensive overhaul of the I-12 from 1077 to Highway 59, but the grant was capped at 25 million to start, so they’ve divided the project up into three phases.
Brister says to receive the grant the parish and state had to provide matching funds to seal the deal for the first phase of expansion focusing on the Tchefuncte River Bridge and access roads to it.
The meeting will be held at the St. Tammany Parish Council Chambers.
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The feds have agreed to an April 16th deadline on providing an answer on when, and if RESTORE 2016 flood grant money will be available to those who took out SBA loans, A-K-A the “duplication of benefits” loophole.
Senator Bill Cassidy says at that point Louisianans will be told how the law will be interpreted by HUD and the Office of Management and Budget.
Congress passed a law last year that allowed those who obtained Small Business Administration loans for the purpose of repairing flood damage access to a federal flood relief grant, known as RESTORE.
Cassidy says Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson supports releasing the money to those in the duplication of benefits loophole, but OMB is still expressing reservations, and…
The Senator warned that even if the two agencies agree, it may still be weeks before any checks were sent out.
The Senator says if OMB and HUD were to disagree on how to administer the law, then there’s one last step in the appeals process that will provide some finality to the long running saga.
Cassidy says it’s not clear how the President will decide to rule if a dispute were to take place between OMB and HUD.
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Shreveport Senator John Milkovich is bringing a bill to ban abortions in Louisiana after a fetus’s heartbeat becomes detectable.
The Democrat says if this bill were to be passed, it could result in most women being unable to have the procedure five to six weeks into their pregnancy.
Center for Reproductive Rights Chief Council for State Policy Elisabeth Smith says the law would act as a near total ban on abortions, as many women don’t even know they are pregnant by that point.
Several states including neighboring Mississippi have passed similar laws, but they’ve been frozen by the courts for review and likely would require a long trip to the US Supreme Court for final passage. Milkovich says this fight is worth the effort.
Like in other states, the law would likely be immediately challenged in court, and face stiff legal opposition. Milkovich says he’s proud to live in a pro-life state, and looks forward to fighting the “abortion lobby” who is only concerned about…
Smith says to date none of the six week bans have been enforced, and she’s confident the courts will keep it that way.
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Researchers from LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication release their findings from the 2019 Louisiana Survey. Director of the Reilly Center for Media Center & Public Affairs Dr. Jenee Slocum says the percentage of people who feel the state is heading in the right direction has increased since last year.
Public confidence in the government to tackle problems effectively is down from last year. It remains low as on 41% say they are either confident or somewhat confident in the state government’s ability to address its issues. Slocum says the survey asked what issues were of top concern.
Cut 14 (11) “…the top concerns.”
34% mentioned education while 32% mentioned transportation.
Many residents have a more positive outlook about their own financial situation than that of the state’s economy.
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4:30 PM Newscast
A global tech giant will keep it’s headquarters in Monroe through 2025. Matt Doyle has more.
Researchers from LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication release their findings from the 2019 Louisiana Survey. It indicates education and transportation are two of the top concerns, and that public confidence in government to tackle these problems remains low. Also, 47% of residents feel the state is heading in the right direction, which is up from 39% last year.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Deputies arrested a Cut Off man accused of stealing thousands from a youth baseball league. 40-year-old Blaine Curole was the president of the league from 2015 until 2017. Lt. Brennan Matherne says when Curole turned over financial records to the league’s board, there were discrepancies…
Cut 12 (12) “…the intended use.”
Matherne says the investigation continues and more charges could be coming for Curole.
The state needs new voting machines and a big election is coming up as we’ll vote on statewide offices and who will represent us at the State Capitol. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says he expects later this year they will re-do the bid process as they attempt to legally find a vendor that can supply the state with new voting machines. He says interested vendors will have the opportunity to present what they can offer…
16:45 LRN Sportscast April 2nd
Tonight on the baseball diamond, ninth ranked LSU hosts Grambling State. Starting left fielder Daniel Cabrera will not play as he’s nursing a wrist injury that will keep him out tonight and tomorrow’s game against South Alabama. Cabrera’s absence means, Giovanni DiGiacomo, who has done well as a designated hitter, will play in left field. Freshman CJ Willis will also remain at first base after providing a spark for the Tigers in Starkville.
Nicholls hosts Southern tonight. The Colonels have won three in a row, while the Jaguars are coming off a doubleheader sweep of Prairie View.
Northwestern State hosts Mississippi Valley State for two-mid week games starting tonight at 6 PM. Southeastern Louisiana is at the Ragin Cajuns. Tomorrow, the same two teams will play again, but this time in Hammond.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports Louisiana Tech defensive end and possible second round pick Jaylon Ferguson had a workout with the Saints and he’ll also visit the Buccaneers, Bengals, Raiders and Bills.
Bossier’s Jacoby Decker has been named the most outstanding boys basketball player in Class Four-A by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Decker averaged nearly 20 points a game as he led the Bearcats to the Class Four-A Championship. Bossier lost to Breaux Bridge and coach Chad Pourciau was named coach of the year. On the girls side, DeRidder’s Domonique Davis was named the Girls Four-A most oustanding player of the year. The LSU signee averaged 25 points a game last season.
The LHSAA will hold its induction ceremony tonight in Baton Rouge for its eight newest members into the high school Hall of Fame. Two very successful football coaches are going in, St. Charles Catholic’s Frank Monica and Acadiana’s Ted Davidson, who retired in 2018. Davidson led the Wreckin Rams to four 5-A state titles.
Carroll Boys basketball coach Jesse Burnette has called it a career after 45 years in coaching on both the prep and college level.
3:30 PM Newscast
A fatal wreck in 2017 that killed a four-year-old girl is inspiring a Bossier City legislator to change state law so that even drug tests are required for drivers involved in auto and boating accidents that result in serious injury. The current law only mandates toxicology tests in fatal wrecks. Representative Raymond Crews says because the child died a week after the accident, toxicology tests were not performed on the driver at fault.
Cut 4 (10) “…a serious accident.”
The state needs new voting machines and a big election is coming up as we’ll vote on statewide offices and who will represent us at the State Capitol. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin told the House Appropriations Committee today that about two-million dollars will be spent to rent voting machines…
CenturyLink will keep it’s corporate headquarters in Monroe through 2025. The company, which employs over 2,200 workers in the state at a payroll of 200 million dollars, announced the agreement with Governor Edwards earlier today. As part of the deal, Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the state also agreed to invest two million dollars in education grants to enhance the STEM and IT curriculum.
Cut 8 (10) “…companies”
Lafourche Parish Sheriff deputies arrested a Cut Off man accused of stealing thousands from a youth baseball league. 40-year-old Blaine Curole was the president of the league from 2015 until 2017. Lt. Brennan Matherne says in addition to the board’s findings of financial discrepancies, investigators found even more.
Cut 13 (10) “…for the league.”
Matherne says the investigation continues and more charges could be coming for Curole.
2:30 LRN Newscast April 2nd
CenturyLink announced today its keeping its corporate head quarters in Monroe through 2025. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says Centurlink is receiving an incentive package from the state and local universities will receive two-million dollars in grant funding to help provide the STEM workers needed…
cut 7 (11) “…community”
CenturyLink employs over 22-hundred workers in the state.
The state needs new voting machines, but Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says new equipment will not be available by the time the October and November elections roll around. Ardoin says they will rent voting machines for early voting and use spare parts to make sure the old voting booths work properly on election day…
cut 10 (11) “…fall election”
Ardoin says they will re-do the process of purchasing new voting machines later this year.
A fatal wreck in 2017 that killed a four-year-old girl is inspiring a Bossier City legislator to change state law law so that even drug tests are required for drivers involved in auto and boating accidents that result in serious injury. The current law only mandates toxicology tests in fatal wrecks. Representative Raymond Crews.
Cut 3 (13) “…toxicology was performed.”
The former president of the LaRose-Cut Off Baseball League has been arrested on allegations he stole thousands of dollars from the youth baseball league. LaFourche Sheriff’s office Major Brennan Matherne says 40-year-old Blaine Curole could not account for where the money went…
cut 14 (10) “…10-thousand dollars”
Matherne says Curole opened a bank account for the league and he was the only person who had access.
Afternoon Newscall 04.02.19
A 2017 wreck that left a four-year-old girl dead is inspiring legislation for the upcoming session. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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A global tech giant will keep it’s headquarters in Monroe through 2025. Matt Doyle has more.
_____________________________________________
A fatal wreck in 2017 that killed a four-year-old girl is inspiring a Bossier City legislator to change state law law so that even drug tests are required for drivers involved in auto and boating accidents that result in serious injury. The current law only mandates toxicology tests in fatal wrecks. Representative Raymond Crews.
Cut 3 (13) “…toxicology was performed.”
Crews says because the 4-year-old child died a week after the accident, toxicology tests were not performed on the driver at fault.
Cut 4 (10) “…a serious accident.”
Crews says the mother of the child plans to testify when the bill is heard during the legislative session that begins April 8th
Cut 5 (08) “…like this again.”
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CenturyLink will keep it’s corporate headquarters in Monroe through 2025. The company, which employs over 2,200 workers in the state at a payroll of 200 million dollars, announced the agreement with Governor Edwards earlier today. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says keeping CenturyLink in Monroe is vital for the state’s tech economy.
CenturyLink is the second largest US communications provider to global enterprise customers.
Pierson says the deal was secured through an incentive package, and a commitment to continue building the worker pipeline that feeds the workforce needs of big tech companies.
The incentive package includes a performance based grant based on the CenturyLink’s payroll performance.
As part of the deal, Pierson says the state also agreed to invest two million dollars in education grants to enhance the STEM and IT curriculum.
_____________________
The state needs new voting machines and a big election is coming up as we’ll vote on statewide offices and who will represent us at the State Capitol. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin told the House Appropriations Committee today that about two-million dollars will be spent to rent voting machines…
Ardoin’s office attempted to buy new voting machines last year, but the process was halted over allegations the bidding process was rigged. The Secretary of State says they will rent voting machines for early voting and use spare parts to make sure the decades-old voting booths work properly on election day…
Ardoin expects later this year they will re-do the bid process as they attempt to legally find a vendor that can supply the state with new voting machines. He says interested vendors will have the opportunity to present what they can offer…
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Lafourche Parish Sheriff deputies arrested a Cut Off man accused of stealing thousands from a youth baseball league. 40-year-old Blaine Curole was the president of the league from 2015 until 2017. Lt. Brennan Matherne says when Curole turned over financial records to the league’s board, there were discrepancies…
Cut 12 (12) “…the intended use.”
The board met with Curole in January 2018 to disclose their findings. Curole admitted to using the funds for personal use and requested additional time to pay the money back, but that didn’t happen. Matherne says in addition to the board’s findings, investigators found even more discrepancies.
Cut 13 (10) “…for the league.”
Matherne says the investigation continues and more charges could be coming for Curole.
1:30 LRN Newscast April 2nd
A global tech giant will keep its headquarters in Monroe through 2025. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”
The USA Today Network reports Louisiana House Speaker Taylor Barras is recovering after falling from a ladder while trimming trees at his Acadiana home last weekend. Barras suffered a broken right wrist and fractured right arm and is consulting with his doctor to determine whether surgery will be needed.
Drivers involved in auto or boating accidents that result in serious bodily injury would be required to undergo a mandatory drug test under legislation set to be heard in the upcoming regular session. Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews says he filed the bill, because a four-year-old girl was killed in his district by a driver who ran a red light. Crews says the child’s mother will testify when the bill is heard…
cut 5 (08) “….this again”
Under current law, toxiocology tests only occur when there’s a fatality.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff deputies arrested a Cut Off man accused of stealing thousands from a youth baseball league. 40-year-old Blaine Curole was the president of the league from 2015 until 2017. Lt. Brennan Matherne says when Curole turned over financial records to the league’s board when leaving, there were discrepancies on much of the spending.
Cut 12 (12) “…the intended use.”
Matherne says the league directors and law enforcement gave Curole a chance to show where the money went, but after he refused to, they had no choice but to arrest him.
1230PM LRN News
CenturyLink will keep it’s corporate headquarters in Monroe through 2025. The company, announced the agreement with Governor Edwards earlier today. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the deal was a team effort.
Cut 7 (11) “…community”
The agreement included an incentive package featuring a performance based grant based on the CenturyLink’s payroll. The company employs over 2,200 workers in the state at a payroll of 200 million dollars.
New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop wants to rename the I-10 the “Who Dat Nation Highway” to honor fans of the Black and Gold. Bishop says the idea for his proposed legislation came from the traumatic aftermath of the Nola No Call…
Cut 14 (09) “…to do something.”
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A 2017 wreck that left a four-year-old girl dead is inspiring legislation for the upcoming session. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
LSU baseball hopes to keep it’s momentum alive tonight at 730PM against Grambling. The Tigers kicked a dry spell at the plate in a series win over Mississippi State.
11:40 LRN Sportscast April 2nd
The ninth ranked Tigers baseball team is riding high after their bats came alive in a series win over Mississippi State a few days ago, and they hope to keep that momentum going in tonight’s game against Grambling State. LSU scored double digit runs on Friday and Saturday and Head coach Paul Mainieri says the offensive display is a big ego boost to the team.
Cut 16 (15) “…the time.”
Chris Reid was named SEC Co-Player of the Week. Reid had six hits in the final two games of the Mississippi State series. Daniel Cabrera will not be in the line-up tonight, because of an ailing wrist, which means freshman Giovanni DiGiacomo will get the start in left field tonight and tomorrow against South Alabama. Tonight’s game against Grambling begins at 6:30.
New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop has filed a bill that would rename I-10 as Who Dat Nation Highway….
cut 13 (10) “…in the world”
Senate Bill 134 directs the state department of transportation to erect signage at each parish line designating the new name, provided local or private funds are available.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports Louisiana Tech defensive end and possible second round pick Jaylon Ferguson had a workout with the Saints and he’ll also visit the Buccaneers, Bengals, Raiders and Bills.
Bossier’s Jacoby Decker has been named the most outstanding boys basketball player in Class Four-A by the Louisiana Sports Writer’s Association. Decker averaged nearly 20 points a game as he led the Bearcats to the Class Four-A Championship. Bossier lost to Breaux Bridge and coach Chad Pourciau was named coach of the year.