6:30 LRN Newscast Feb 3

Democrats may have lost big in last fall’s House legislative races, but their alliance with moderate Republicans in the election of Clay Schexnayder as House Speaker appears to have paid off. Matt Doyle explains…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The campaign totals for 2019 have been totaled up and President Donald Trump received one-point-two million dollars from Louisiana donors. Former Vice President Joe Biden collected the most from Louisiana residents out of the Democratic presidential candidates, 366-thousand dollars.

East Baton Rouge, Terrebonne, and Pointe Coupee parishes are the first in the state to receive cutting edge needle incineration devices that can be used to protect law enforcement from needle stick injuries. The device has the potential to save taxpayer dollars. CEO of Redhawk Holdings, the company behind the device, Darcy Klug says a single stick injury can top 30-thousand dollars in workers comp costs, even if a first responder doesn’t contract a disease such as Hep C or HIV…
cut 15 (12) “….of taxpayer dollars”
More parishes are expected to obtain the devices in the near future.

Updated LRN AM Newscall Feb 3 ##sports cuts added###

A Tulane study conducted in Texas shows minorities face longer wait times, and more questions when attempting to make an appointment with a primary care doctor. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Louisiana’s second-largest craft beer brewery is opening a taproom that will also serve as a research and development facility in Houston.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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Democrats may have lost big in last fall’s House legislative races, but their alliance with moderate Republicans in the Speaker election appears to have paid off. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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A Tulane survey of primary care appointment wait times finds compared to white callers, minorities have three to seven day longer wait times to get a call back for scheduling.  Soon-to-be Tulane research assistant professor Brig Walker says minority callers also faced more questions…

Cut 4 (12) “…callers.”

The field study was conducted in Texas, where Tulane recruited Hispanic, black, and white callers who placed appointment requests with 800 primary care offices.

Hispanics faced a three day longer wait, and blacks a seven day longer wait than similar white patients. Walker says that can have a serious impact on health outcomes.

Cut 5 (09) “…delays.”

Walker says these findings could help reduce discrimination in healthcare appointment scheduling and possibly help shift the industry to more automation.

Cut 6 (10) “…accsess.”

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New Orleans-based Urban South Brewery is opening its first satellite location. Louisiana’s second-largest craft beer brewery is opening a taproom that will also serve as a research and development facility in Houston. Houston location taproom manager Marin Slanina says the expansion has been in the work for about two years.

Cut 7 (08) “…the Houston area.”

Slanina says unique flavors for the Houston location, but they do plan on bringing over some of the New Orleans brews like the Holy Roller IPA and putting a Texas twist on them.

Cut 8 (09) “…New Orleans location.”

Slanina says the company is keeping a finger on the pulse of the ever-evolving craft beer industry and says that could result in some beers created at the Houston location making its way to taps at the mothership location.

Cut 9 (09) “…to New Orleans.”

The grand opening is February 29th.

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Assignments for two key House committees are in and Democrats have increased their representation relative to the last term thanks to the bipartisan coalition that elected Speaker Clay Schexnayder.Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says that’s their reward for backing Schexnayder.

Cut 10 (12) “…feat.”

A majority of Republicans backed Albany’s Sherman Mack, considered more conservative than Schexnayder.

The coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats now narrowly controls Ways and Means and Appropriations, and Pinsonat says that could stymie conservative priorities, causing inter-GOP friction…

Cut 11 (09) “…repairable.”

Appropriations is where the state budget starts, and Ways and Means covers tax issues.

The Senate saw a total takeover by conservatives, so it’s still unlikely many Democratic priorities will make it the Governor, but they now may be more likely to make it to the House floor than last year.

Cut 12 (09) “…agree on”

The pro-Schexnayder coalition has a 13-12 edge in Appropriations, and a 14-4 lead in Ways and Means.

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About 300 needle incineration devices are being distributed to first responders in East Baton Rouge, Terrebonne, and Point Coupee parishes.  The device is the SANDD-mini, which stands for sharps and needles destruction device.  CEO of Redhawk Holdings, the company behind the device, Darcy Klug says it’s simple to operate.

Cut 13 (10) “…at 4000 degrees.”

Klug says while the needle is destroyed, it doesn’t tamper with any possible evidence.

Cut 14 (11) “…needle stick injury.”

The device has the potential to save taxpayer dollars.  Klug says a single needle stick injury can top $30k in workers comp costs, even if a first responder doesn’t contract a disease such as Hep C or HIV.

Cut 15 (12) “…of taxpayer dollars.”

More parishes are expected to obtain the devices in teh near future.

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Louisiana Tech men’s basketball is on a four-game winning streak and the Bulldogs have moved into a first place tie with North Texas for first place in Conference. Tech won a thriller on Saturday, a 76-73 victory over Old Dominion. Senior DaQuan Bracey was the hero as he hit a step back three with one second for the win…

Cut 16  (11)  …put in” 

The Dunkin Dogs have a big game Thursday as they visit Western Kentucky, who is in third place, one game back of the Bulldogs and Mean Green. Konkol says when you are on top of the league standings, you will get every team’s best shot

Cut 17  (19) “contested games” 

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LSU is 8-0 in SEC play after Saturday’s 73-63 win over over Ole Miss. The Tigers had 40 points in the first half and sophomore guard Javonte Smart had 21 points in the win. LSU Coach Will Wade says Smart was ready for the 11 AM tip…

cut 18  (15) ” for him”   

LSU has two games on the road this week. They are at Vanderbilt on Wednesday, who is winless in league play and then they travel to Auburn, who just beat Kentucky. Wade says there is still a long way to go in the season…

cut 19 (20)  get better”  

The Tigers have a two-game lead over Auburn and Kentucky for first place in the SEC. Smart on trying to win back-to-back regular season titles…

cut 20 (10) “ continue to win”    

1030 AM LRN News

Louisiana high school principals will have to wait another year to try and mend the public private school athletics playoff split in four sports after a proposal to end the separation failed to get the 2/3rd vote needed. LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says in the meantime they’ll look to better define what a select or private school is

Cut 14 (09) “…all sports.”

The final vote to end the split received 52 percent.

Maplewood Middle School in Sulphur is home to a Grammy winner in Mickey Smith, who was honored with the Music Educator Award. Smith came onto the Grammy’s radar after he was nominated by Sulphur local, two time Grammy nominee Sean Ardoin, who’s known for his work in creole rock and roll. Ardoin noticed Smith had grown the school band to half the schools population.

Cut 5 (11) “…classroom”

AAA is concerned about the growing movement to legalize recreational marijuana, citing evidence of increasing drug based DUIs in legal states. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says drivers are already very nonchalant about toking and driving as 70% think they won’t be caught, and it has the potential to get worse.

Cut 8 (13) “…on the highways.”

Redman says in the five years prior to the state of Washington legalizing recreational use, 9% of drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for THC. That numbers double.

Louisiana State Police added 51 Troopers to its force as their 99th cadet class graduated Friday. State Police Lt Nick Manale says they are prepping for their historic 100th cadet class at the LSP Academy and graduation day is a momentous occasion for every trooper.

Cut 11 (11) “…very challenging.”

930AM LRN News

The Public/Private school split in postseason Football, baseball, basketball, and softball will remain after a move to reunite the playoffs failed to get the 2/3rd vote needed for passage.  North Vermilion High School principal Tommy Byler’s proposal grabbed 52 percent of votes, but it just wasn’t enough…

Cut 13 (13) “…be the start”

The proposal would have created six classes and eight in all other sports and many select schools would play at a higher classification.

The 99th Louisiana State Police Cadet class graduated yesterday, adding 51 new troopers to the force. State Police Lt Nick Manale says it took a lot of study and physical training to pull off, plus some very job-specific classes….

Cut 10 (12) “regimen.” 

The classes lasted 23 weeks.

AAA is concerned the growing number of states who have legalized recreational marijuana have not adapted their impaired driving laws to compensate for it. AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says lawmakers need to consider the serious ramifications as laws against driving high will be very hard to enforce and impairment tricky to determine once recreational use is legal.

Cut 7 (09) “…are being abused.”

The Grammy award for Music Education goes to Maplewood Middle’s Mickey Smith who runs the Suplhur based schools music program. Smith was nominated and ultimately won, due to his charity work providing kids with instruments, and his ability to massively expand Maplewood’s music program.

Cut 4 (11) “…to watch”

Smith was nominated by Sean Ardoin, who has won two Grammys himself for his work in creole rock and roll and creole soul.

830AM LRN NEws

The split LHSAA playoffs will remain in place after high school principals failed to approve proposals to bring the association back together…

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana State Police added 51 Troopers to its force as their 99th cadet class graduated Friday. State Police Lt Nick Manale says the newly inducted cadets underwent 23 weeks of intense training and…

Cut 9 (09) “…out their career.

AAA is warning of the potential impacts that legalization of recreational marijuana could have on Louisiana roadways ahead of the legislative session that begins in March.  AAA spokesperson Don Redman says in the five years prior to the state of Washington legalizing recreational use, 9% of drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for THC.

Cut 6 (11) “…impaired on marijuana.”

Redman is calling on lawmakers to factor that into legislation in the upcoming session.

Maplewood Middle School in Sulphur is home to a Grammy winner in Mickey Smith, who was honored with the Music Educator Award. Smith says he received the award for his work at a school he grew up just a few blocks away from…

Cut 3 (12)  “teaching” 

The educator will receive a 10,000 dollar honorarium with a matching school grant.

730AM LRN NEWs

Proposals to end the public-private school split in postseason play for football, basketball, baseball, and softball high school sports failed to pass on the final day of the LHSAA annual convention. LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine has worked for the last five years to end the split

Cut 12 (12) “.   right now” 

Bonine says they are about 50 votes short shy of ending the split.

The Pelicans are now only four games back of a spot in the playoffs after beating 8th seed Memphis in the Smoothie King Center last night 139-111. New Orleans started the game hot, and bucked a season wide trend of collapsing in the 3rd quarter by dropping 44 points during that period. Zion Williamson led the team in scoring with 24 points on just 15 shots while adding 6 rebounds in 29 minutes. Brandon Ingram pitched in another 20, and Lonzo Ball put up 19.

The Pels take on the Rockets tomorrow at 1PM.

The number 22 Tigers play Ole Miss today in Baton Rouge. The Tigers are on a nine game winstreak and are unbeaten in conference play. Ole Miss is 1-6 in the Sec.

Former LSU superstar Tyrann Matthieu will take the field Sunday night as a core piece of the Kansas City defense against Jimmy Garapolo and the 49ers, seemingly finally hitting his professional stride after a rough start to his career. Matthieu struggled with drug use during his time at LSU and was kicked off the team in 2012, reportedly for multiple failed drug tests. After his dismissal, he went into rehab, and turned it around in the NFL…

Cut 14 (10) “…the now.”

The DB suffered a series of injury setbacks early in his NFL career as he tried to stabilize his life after leaving Louisiana where he was raised. Getting a ring after all his struggles would be special…

Cut 15 (11) “…humbling.”

Kickoff is 5:30 PM.