4:45 LRN Sportscast

One of the biggest stars in the NBA makes his only trip of the season to the Smoothie King Center tonight as Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks visit New Orleans. The Bucks have the best record in the NBA at 42-7. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are 3-and-3 since Zion Williamson returned from his knee injury. Tip-off tonight is at 6:30.

18th ranked LSU basketball is at Vanderbilt tomorrow night. The Commodores are winless in SEC play under first-year head coach Jerry Stackhouse. Malcolm Turner hired Stackhouse and he resigned today as athletics director after one year on the job. Candice Storey Lee takes over becoming the first African American woman to head an SEC athletics program.

The Saints say they’ve been recognized as having the best overall fan experience in the NFL for a third consecutive season. The ranking comes from the NFL’s League Observation Program and third-party Expert Review Audits.

Tomorrow is the NCAA February signing date for high school athletes. The LSU football program is looking to lock up a top five recruiting class. They are hoping to sign five-star defensive Jordan Burch from South Carolina. Burch is committed to the Gamecocks, but has expressed interest in signing with LSU. The Tigers also have an interest in Mississippi four-star defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson.

St. Thomas More Quarterback Caleb Holstein is expected to sign with Louisiana Tech. According to 24-7 sports, the Bulldogs have the highest-rated recruiting class in 2020 in Conference USA.

Three-star quarterback Blake Shapen from Evangel has committed to Baylor and plans to sign with Dave Aranda and the Bears tomorrow. Shapen also took a long look at U-S-C. He’s expected to get an opportunity to play baseball at Baylor too.

The Ragin Cajuns have agreed to a home-and-home football series with UAB. U-L Lafayette is set to play in Birmingham in 2023 and the Blazers will visit Cajun Field in 2026.

3:30 LRN Newscast Feb 4

Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy are expected to vote no on the articles of impeachment. The vote is expected to split along party lines, and Cassidy says it’s evidence the whole process is partisan.

Cut 3 (12)  “…article one” 

A Tulane study uncovers data that supports a push to begin colorectal cancer screenings before age 50. Matt Doyle has more.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A new, potentially lethal drug has been discovered in a St. Mary Parish traffic stop.  It’s called “gray death” and its heroin cut with fentanyl.  St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson David Spencer says different batches contain different levels of fentanyl and just touching it could have bad consequences.

Cut 6 (10) “…play with it.”

The CDC launches a first of its kind virtual human simulation tool aimed at helping cancer survivors adopt healthier behaviors.  The tool is known as Talk to Someone and it will talk about issues such as alcohol and tobacco use, along with nutrition and fitness to prevent recurrences. Cancer survivor Rebecca Shimkets says it is a tool that would have been valuable upon her recovery.

Cut 13 (11) “…that I had.”

 

2:30 LRN Newscast Feb 4

A final removal vote in the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump is set for tomorrow, and Senator Bill Cassidy says he will vote against removing the Commander in Chief. Cassidy ended his comments by quoting then-Congressman, and now Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer’s 1998 Clinton impeachment speech…

Cut 5 (06) “…prophet.”

A new, potentially lethal drug has been discovered in a St. Mary Parish traffic stop.  It’s called “gray death” and it is heroin cut with fentanyl.  St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson David Spencer it started showing up around Georgia and Alabama in 2017.

Cut 8 (11) “…new to us.”

He says if you see it call authorities.

There’s a debate within the medical community if colorectal cancer screenings should start at age 45 or 50, and a study by Tulane indicates starting screenings before 50 may be the better choice. Tulane Associate Clinical Professor Dr. Jordan Karlitz hopes the study will receive further review and potentially influence policy creators, as well as the public.

Cut 11 (11) “…screened”

The CDC launches a first of its kind virtual human simulation tool aimed at helping cancer survivors adopt healthier behaviors.  The tool is known as Talk to Someone. There are nearly 17 million cancer survivors in the US, with 22 million projected in ten years.  Cancer survivor Rebecca Shimkets says there is no shame in having challenges and reaching out for help.

Cut 14 (07) “…to reach out.”

LRN PM Newscall February 4

A newly discovered drug in Louisiana known as gray death has the potential to kill someone, just by touching it. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

____________________________

A Tulane study uncovers data that supports a push to begin colorectal cancer screenings before age 50. Matt Doyle has more.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

___________________________

A final removal vote in the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump is set for tomorrow, and Senator Bill Cassidy says he will vote against removing the Commander in Chief.

The vote is expected to split along party lines, and Cassidy says that’s evidence the whole process was a partisan exercise.

Cut 3 (12)  “…article one” 

Polls show a near dead even split on public opinion related to impeachment and removal, and Cassidy says you can’t undo an election without a strong consensus.

Cut 4 (09) “…society.”

Cassidy ended his comments by quoting then-Congressman, and now Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer’s 1998 Clinton impeachment speech…

Cut 5 (06) “…prophet.”

Democrats allege the President used military aide pressure Ukraine into investigating his political rival, Joe Biden.

_______________________

A new, potentially lethal drug has been discovered in a St. Mary Parish traffic stop.  It’s called “gray death” and it is heroin cut with fentanyl.  St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson David Spencer says different batches contain different levels of fentanyl and just touching it could have bad consequences.

Cut 6 (10) “…play with it.”

Some reports indicate the potency is up to 10,000 times that of morphine.  Spencer says it doesn’t look like heroin that officials are used to seeing on the street.

Cut 7 (09) “…pieces of concrete.”

Spencer says this drug is fairly new, first popping up around Georgia and Alabama in 2017.

Cut 8 (11) “…new to us.”

If someone sees this drug, Spencer says alert authorities.

_________________________________

There’s an active debate in the medical community about whether to start colorectal cancer screenings at 45 or 50, and a study by Tulane indicates starting screenings before 50 may be the better choice.

Tulane Associate Clinical Professor Dr. Jordan Karlitz studied cancer rate increases on a year to year basis, and found a 46 percent increase in diagnoses from ages 49 to 50…

Cut 9 (10) “increase”

The increase from 49 to 50 was particularly noticeable in men, who saw a 53 percent increase in diagnoses.

The study also found 93 percent of cases discovered at age 50 had been growing for quite some time. Karlitz says that’s dangerous.

Cut 10 (07) “radiation” 

Karlitz hopes the study will receive further review and potentially influence policy creators, as well as the public.

Cut 11 (11) “…screened”

______________________

The CDC launches a first of its kind virtual human simulation tool to help cancer survivors adopt healthier behaviors. It’s called Talk to Someone, a place to ask questions and engage in conversations with Linda, a virtual cancer survivor, about a variety of topics, including mental health. Cancer survivor Rebecca Shimkets…

Cut 12 (13) “…I was having.” 

Linda will also talk about issues such as alcohol use, tobacco use, nutrition and fitness to prevent recurrences.  Shimkets says it is a tool that would have been valuable to her upon recovery.

Cut 13 (11) “…that I had.”

There are nearly 17 million cancer survivors in the US, with 22 million projected in ten years. Shimkets says there’s no shame in having challenges and reaching out for help…

Cut 14 (07) “…to reach out.”

1:30 LRN Newscast Feb 4

A newly discovered drug in Louisiana known as gray death has the potential to kill someone, just by touching it. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

The City of New Orleans is facing a tab of $11-million for the partial collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel. The City is also facing a $7-million dollar expense in relation to a cyber attack on the computer system. A planned implosion for the construction site is set for mid to late March of the hotel. The council was presented with an itemized list of expenses at today’s committee meeting.

There’s an active debate in the medical community about whether to start colorectal cancer screenings at 45 or 50, and a study by Tulane indicates starting screenings before 50 may be the better choice. The study also found 93 percent of cases discovered at age 50 had been growing for quite some time. Tulane Associate Clinical Professor Dr. Jordan Karlitz says that’s dangerous.

Cut 10 (07) “radiation” 

The CDC launches a first of its kind virtual human simulation tool aimed at helping cancer survivors adopt healthier behaviors.  The tool is known as Talk to Someone, and a cancer survivor can ask questions and engage in conversations with Linda, a virtual cancer survivor, about a variety of topics faced by survivors, including mental health.  Cancer survivor Rebecca Shimkets…

Cut 12 (13) “…I was having.” 

12:30 PM Newscast

A final removal vote in the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump is set for tomorrow, and Senator Bill Cassidy says he will vote against removing the Commander in Chief. Polls show a near dead even split on public opinion related to impeachment and removal and Cassidy says you can’t undo an election without a strong consensus.

Cut 4 (09) “…society.”

Democrats allege the President used military aide pressure Ukraine into investigating his political rival, Joe Biden.
A new, potentially lethal drug has been discovered in a St. Mary Parish traffic stop.  It’s called “gray death” and it is heroin cut with fentanyl.  St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson David Spencer says it doesn’t look like heroin that officials are used to seeing on the street.
Cut 7 (09) “…pieces of concrete.”
Some reports indicate the potency is up to 10,000 times that of morphine.

There’s an active debate in the medical community about whether to start colorectal cancer screenings at 45 or 50, and a study by Tulane indicates starting at 45 may be the better choice. Tulane Associate Clinical Professor Dr. Jordan Karlitz studied cancer rate increases on a year to year basis, and found a 46 percent increase in diagnoses from ages 49 to 50…

Cut 9 (10) “increase”

The study also found 93 percent of cases discovered at age 50 were invasive, indicating they’d been growing for quite some time.

Bob Griffin, a pioneer of television in Shreveport who worked at KSLA before jumping to KTBS over the course of his 60 year career, has died. He was 85.

11:30 AM Newscast

A final removal vote in the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump is set for tomorrow, and Senator Bill Cassidy says he will vote against removing the Commander in Chief. The vote is expected to split along party lines, and Cassidy says that’s evidence the whole process was a partisan exercise.
Cut 3 (12)  “…article one” 
Polls show a near dead even split on public opinion related to impeachment and removal.
A new, potentially lethal drug has been discovered in a St. Mary Parish traffic stop.  It’s called “gray death” and it is heroin cut with fentanyl.  St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson David Spencer says different batches contain different levels of fentanyl and just touching it could have bad consequences.
Cut 6 (10) “…play with it.”
Some reports indicate the potency is up to 10,000 times that of morphine.

Congressman Ralph Abraham’s remarkably small reelection war chest has rumors flying that he will not seek a fourth term in office. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Authorities have identified the shooter involved in the murder-suicide that claimed four lives in Union Parish over the weekend. He has been identified as 48-year-old Christopher Colvin of Spearsville. Investigators say Colvin shot and kill his wife, 40-year-old Casey Colvin, her daughter 18-year-old Billie Beaird and family friend 17-year-old Lela Platt in the family’s mobile home.

11:40 LRN Sportscasts Feb 4

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks make their only visit to the Smoothie King Center as New Orleans hosts the top team in the Eastern Conference for a 6:30 tip tonight. The Greek Freak is averaging 30 points and 13 rebounds a game and Milwaukee has won five in a row on the road. The Pels are 3-and-3 since Zion Williamson’s debut.

Shareef O’ Neal the son of LSU legend Shaquille O’ Neal is interested in transferring to LSU. Shareef signed with UCLA out of high school, but he’s entered the NCAA transfer portal and spent this past weekend in Baton Rouge. But he may not make a decision on his future for at least another month.

LSU has moved up several spots in both basketball polls to number 18. The Tigers are 8-and-0 in the SEC and they’ve won ten in a row overall. They are at Vanderbilt tomorrow night.

Last night, Travon Bunch had a career-high 23 points as Grambling State defeated Mississippi Valley State 90 to 65.

St. Thomas More quarterback Caleb Holstein posted on Twitter that he plans to sign with Louisiana Tech on Wednesday. Holstein just led the Cougars to a Division Two state title. During his prep career, Holstein threw for nearly 10-thousand yards and over 100 touchdowns.

Three-star quarterback Blake Shapen from Evangel has committed to Baylor and plans to sign with Dave Aranda and the Bears on Wednesday. Several Pac-12 schools and Ole Miss are interested in the two-sport star. Shapen is also a very good baseball player.

LSU heads into national signing day tomorrow with the ability to sign six players. They have commitments from five players, including Haynesville defensive tackle CamRon Jackson. LSU is hoping to get five-star defensive end Jordan Burch to de-commit from South Carolina and sign with LSU.

The Ragin Cajuns have agreed to a home-and-home series with UAB. U-L Lafayette is set to play in Birmingham in 2023 and the Blazers will visit Cajun Field in 2026.

1030AM LRN News

Congressman Abraham’s rather slim 21,000 dollar reelection war chest has sparked speculation that he may not be running for a fourth term in office. It’s not often that a seat opens up, and ULM Poli Sci Professor Joshua Stockley says because there’s no threat to the seat from Democrats, a potential Abraham retirement could draw massive GOP interest…

Cut 12 (11) “…field”

Qualifying for the race is in July.

Louisiana officials are in D.C. hoping to convince the feds to approve 150 million dollars in matching funds for a raised roadway running in LaFourche Parish from Golden Meadow to the Leeville Bridge. The Legislature already approved 150 million in state funds for the project, and DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says it’s strong leverage…

Cut 9 (10) “…dollars”

A new study from Yale University shows the ketogenic diet may not be beneficial if followed for more than a week.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

A former Houma Police Officer, 46-year-old Jeffery Lirette, was arrested this morning for theft and other related charges linked to over 6,500 dollars that was found missing from an expense account within the Houma Police Department. Some of the charges include 45 counts of Injuring Public Records, and seventeen counts of Forgery. Lirette was been booked into the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex.

9:30 LRN Newscast February 4

Congressman Ralph Abraham only has 21,000 dollars in his reelection war chest, sparking speculation he’s considering not running again this year. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says 21,000 dollars is a remarkably low number for someone to run a reelection campaign with…
Cut 10 (10) “…campaign”
Two potential candidates have started raising money, Republican Ouachita Parish Police Juror Scotty Robinson and Democrat Candy Christophe.

There’s a marginal risk for severe weather for northern parishes today as a strong cold front is expected to sweep across the state over the next couple of days. Forecasters say there is a slight risk for severe weather tomorrow for all of southeast Louisiana, Acadiana, and areas east of Alexandria. National Weather Service Meteorologist C-S Ross…
cut 6 (05) “…tornado or two”

Louisiana is seeking 150-million dollars from the federal government to elevate an eight-point-three mile stretch of LA Highway one from Golden Meadow to Leeville Bridge in Lafourche Parish. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson is in Washington DC to make the state’s case…
cut 8 (11) “”…disasters”
The state has already put up 150-million dollars for the project.

Many have taken to the Keto diet to lower the risk of diabetes and inflammation, but new research out of Yale has found based on a study on mice that more than a week of keto may not be beneficial. LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Public Health Melinda Sothern says more research is needed on humans to see if the same response occurs…
cut 15 (12) “…longer response”