8:30 LRN Newscast

The House Labor Committee is set to hear a number of bills today seeking to increase the minimum wage in Louisiana, but the passage of any of the bills is far from assured. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat…

cut 13 (10) “….Kathleen Blanco

Three bills to be considered would raise the minimum wage for all workers, a 4th would increase the minimum for state employees and a 5th is a minimum wage hike for tipped employees; like waiters and waitresses.

In Opelousas, a shooting at an apartment resulted in two deaths, a 46-year-old man and a four-year-old, and injured three children, with two of them sent to the hospital. Police Chief Martin McLendon…
cut 9 (05) “…gone to”
McClendon says they have a warrant out for the shooter and he expects an arrest soon.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says this is the time of the year when people come across a snake in their yard. But they are asking people to think twice before you kill them. LDWF herpetologist Keri Lejuene says these reptiles play an important role in the state’s ecosystem and they do far more good than harm…
cut 12 (08) “….rodent species”
And Lejuene says contrary to popular belief, snakes do not seek out humans or pets for food.

If you plan on going to the Garth Brooks concert in Baton Rouge on Saturday night, good luck trying to find a hotel room. Paul Arrigo is the CEO of Visit Baton Rouge…
cut 5 (11) “…revenue”
The concert is expected to draw over 102-thousand people.

7:30 LRN Newscast

The highly anticipated return of Garth Brooks to Baton Rouge could make a call for the record books. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (39) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

It’s a big night of sports in Louisiana. The Saints have two picks in tonight’s first round of the NFL draft. Former LSU star Derek Stingley could be taken in the top ten. And the Pelicans will try to stave off elimination when they host the Suns at 6:30.

A 78-year-old Slidell man is recovering after authorities say he was attacked by a squirrel. Slidell Police PIO Daniel Seuzeneau says the elderly man was walking around the outside of his home when the squirrel came from the direction of the roof and attacked him unprovoked. When first responders arrived, they found the man still sruggling with the squirrel, which eventually died from its injuries. Seuzenau says this is the second reported squirrel attack in Slidell this year, the other occurrued during a Mardi Gras parade…
cut 28 (10) “…start a study

And the State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says it’s not uncommon to see snakes in your yard at this time of the year. LDWF herpetologist Keri Lejuene says most of the time, there’s no need to worry, especially if you know the type of snake you’ve encountered…
cut 10 (12) “….and non-venomous”
There are 47 different species of snakes native to the state and only seven are venomous

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Draft day has arrived and the Saints have two first-round picks, one at 16 and the other at 19. The Saints made a trade with Philadelphia earlier this month to get two first-round picks. Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis…
cut 16 (15) “….you have the draft”
Offensive tackle and wide receiver are positions of need for the Saints.

Former LSU star cornerback Derek Stingley Junior is expected to hear his name in the first round. Seattle could take Stingley with the ninth pick and Minnesota is also reportedly interested in the Baton Rouge product. The Vikings have the 12th pick.

The Pelicans face elimination tonight when they host the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of their playoff series. One storyline to watch is the health of Brandon Ingram. Ingram injured two fingers on his right hand in the second half of Game Five and in the fourth quarter scored one point. He says he’ll be good to go with the season on the line.
Cut 19 (15) _“…by next game.”
And Suns Star Devin Booker is reportedly getting better after injuring his hamstring in game two. An ESPN report says Booker could return to the floor tonight. Tip-off is at 6:30.

In college baseball last night, Louisiana Tech gave up seven runs in the fifth inning and lost to Little Rock eight to seven. Despite the defeat, Steele Netterville hit his 11th home run and drove in five runs on the night.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Several bills seeking to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana go before the House Labor Committee today. Kevin Gallagher looks at their chances of advancing…:
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The House Education Committee approved a bill that will ban corporal punishment in public schools. The Louisiana Association of School Superintendents say there are 19 school districts that still allow it. While the Louisiana Senate rejected a bill that sought to require cable and internet providers to offer automatic refunds if their service was down for more than 24 hours during a declared disaster.

An early morning shooting in Opelousas left a 46-year-old man and a four-year-old dead and three children injured. Opelousas Police Chief Martin McLendon says officers had already visited the Mia Street address Tuesday night after reports of fighting, but when they arrived all was calm, but at 1 AM they received a frantic 9-1-1 call.
Cut 7 (10) “…gunshots.”
McLendon says they have a suspect and hope to apprehend that person soon.

Over in Baton Rouge, the capital city is gearing up for a huge influx of visitors with country music star Garth Brooks set to take the stage in Tiger Stadium before an anticipated crowd of more than 102,000 Saturday night. CEO of Visit Baton Rouge, Paul Arrigo believes it will be the largest outdoor attended concert in the US.
Cut 4 (08) “…says a lot.”
Arrigo says very few hotel rooms are available and if you can get one, it will cost you.

AM LRN Newscall April 28

The highly anticipated return of Garth Brooks to Baton Rouge could make a call for the record books. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (39) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

____________________________________

Meeting up with a snake is many people’s greatest fear, but LDWF says though snakes may not be man’s best friend, most aren’t your enemy either. David Grubb has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

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Several bills seeking to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana go before the House Committee on Labor today. Kevin Gallagher looks at their chances of advancing…:

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

____________________________________

The capital city is gearing up for a huge influx of visitors with Garth Brooks set to take the stage in Tiger Stadium before an anticipated crowd of more than 102,000 Saturday night. President and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge, Paul Arrigo believes it will be the largest outdoor attended concert in the US.

Cut 4 (08)  “…says a lot.”

Arrigo anticipates for at least half the crowd it will be their first time in Death Valley. And when you look at hotel bookings this weekend a large percentage of attendees will be out-of-town visitors who are paying top dollar for their accommodations.

Cut 5 (11) “…revenue.”

And unlike a game at Death Valley, Arrigo imagines the huge crowd will stay for the entire concert just to hear that call live and in person as opposed to a pre-game recording.

Cut 6 (11)  “…Baton Rouge time.”

The last time Brooks made a local call in Baton Rouge was April of 1998 at the PMAC.

________________________________________

An early morning shooting in Opelousas kills a 46-year-old man and a four-year-old and injures three children. Opelousas Police Chief Martin McLendon says officers had already visited the Mia Street address Tuesday night after reports of fighting, but when they arrived all was calm, but at 1 AM they received a frantic 9-1-1 call.

Cut 7 (10) “…gunshots.”

McLendon says three children in the home were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds. A four-year little girl died at the hospital and her seven-year-old and 17-month-old siblings remain in the hospital.

Cut 8 (11)  “…medical attention.”

Investigators say as a result of the fight earlier in the evening, others joined in and invaded the home hours later. McClendon says the shooter was a person inside and a warrant for their arrest has been issued and an arrest is imminent.

Cut 9 (05)  “…gone to.”

McClendon says the tragic shooting has been extremely hard on the community and those who responded to the scene.

_______________________________________

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is reaching out to the public to educate them about what to do when they come face to face with a snake. Spring and summer are when snake encounters are typically at their peak. State herpetologist Keri Lejuene says, most times there’s no need for worry, especially if you know exactly what type of snake you’ve encountered.

Cut 10 (12) “…and non-venomous.”

There are 47 different species of snakes native to the state, though only seven are venomous. Lejuene says there’s a very slim chance that you’ll see a venomous snake in your yard or around your neighborhood, and gives some simple advice to keep your chances of being bitten low…

Cut  11 (11)  “…at all.”  

Lejuene says one of the biggest problems is people killing snakes, either out of fear or just not knowing what they’re dealing with. These reptiles serve a very important role in the state’s ecosystem, and she says they do far more good than harm.

Cut 12 (08) “…rodent species.” 

_______________________________________

The House Labor Committee is set to hear a number of bills seeking to increase the minimum wage in Louisiana, but the passage of any of the bills is far from assured. Three bills to be considered would raise the minimum for all workers, a 4th would increase the minimum for state employees and a 5th is a minimum wage hike for tipped employees; like waiters and waitresses. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the GOP majority on that committee won’t be friendly to the idea…:

Cut 13 (10) “…Kathleen Blanco.”

One bill would simply raise the minimum wage to $11.65 an hour. Another would make two increases to eventually reach $12, while a third would make four incremental increases to an eventual $15 an hour. Pinsonat says Republican lawmakers feel raising the minimum will hurt small businesses, and actually reduce the number of minimum wage employees they can hire…:

Cut 14 (10)  “…are republicans.”

Pinsonat says he expects the bills to meet defeat in House Labor, as they have for years before this. He says committee members will at least let those in favor have their say…before down-voting the bills…:

Cut 15 (12)  “…sides of an argument.”

Those bills are all due today in the House labor committee.

___________________________________________

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis enters this year’s NFL Draft with a new coach and several needs to address, including along the offensive line and a wide receiver. Earlier this month the Saints acquired a second first-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles, and Loomis says he liked the value of what he got in comparison to what the team gave up.

Cut 16 (15)  “…you have the draft.”

The Saints have the 16th and 19th picks in the first round, and Loomis says there are definite targets with those picks. However, he added that with the draft there are no guarantees that things will go according to plan.

Cut 17 (12) “ …it’s never foolproof.” 

Loomis would love to grab a couple of starters in the first round, but that depends on how the first round plays out. He says the draft is a constant balancing act to try to find the right player in the right spot.

Cut 18 (20) “ …risk/reward.” 

The draft begins at 7 pm.

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The New Orleans Pelicans face elimination Thursday night when they host the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of their playoff series. One storyline to watch is the health of Brandon Ingram. Ingram injured two fingers on his right hand in the second half and in the fourth quarter shot 0-for-4 from the floor and 1-of-3 from the line. He says he’ll be good to go with the season on the line.

Cut 19 (15) _“…by next game.” 

Turnovers killed the Pelicans in Game 5, as their 15 giveaways led to 23 points for the Suns. Phoenix had scored just over 10 points per game off of turnovers in the first four games. Coach Willie Green says taking care of the basketball has to be a priority.

Cut 20 (17) “ …to be better.” 

Game 6 tips off at the Smoothie King Center at 6:30 pm.

5:30 LRN Newscast and Legislative Report

The House Labor Committee will hear a number of bills Thursday seeking to increase the minimum wage in Louisiana, but passage of any is far from assured. Three bills would raise the minimum for all workers, another for state employees and a fifth for tipped employees. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the majority GOP committee won’t be friendly to the idea…:

Cut 13 (10) “…Kathleen Blanco.”

The House Education Committee approves a bill to ban corporal punishment in public schools. Metairie Representative Stephanie Hilferty says children should not be physically punished by their principal or teacher…

Cut 9 (13) “…in school”

The same bill failed a full House vote last year.

The House Criminal Justice Committee approves legislation that would require convicted drunk drivers who had a blood alcohol content of .15 to have an interlock device system installed on their vehicle for two years. An interlock prevents individuals from starting a vehicle if they have been drinking. Bill author and recovering alcoholic Covington Representative Mark Wright knows individuals with a problem are chronic drunk drivers…

Cut 13 (08) “…of it.”

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre owns a company that sells interlock devices and there are concerns his business could profit from the legislation. The Ethics Board has ruled that Webre cannot sell his interlock devices in LaFourche and Thibodaux Representative Bryan Fontenot says if lawmakers have questions they should ask Webre directly…

Cut 14 (11)  “…about Craig Webre.”

 

 

4:45 LRN Sportscast April 27

After their 15-point loss to the Suns last night, the Pelicans are on the brink of elimination from the playoffs, trailing 3 games to 2 in the best-of-seven series. Brandon Ingram had his worst game of the postseason, scoring 22 points on 7-of-19 shooting, and injured his right hand in the second half. But, he says he’ll be ready to step up in front of the home crowd on Thursday night and hopefully send the series back to Phoenix.

Cut 19 (15) _“…defensive end.”

Game 6 tips off at the Smoothie King Center tomorrow night at 6:30 pm.

NCAA President and former LSU Chancellor Mark Emmert announced that he will be stepping down after 12 tumultuous years on the job. He will remain in his role until a new president is in place or until June of 2023.

Former LSU cornerback Derek Stingley could be a top ten pick in tomorrow’s NFL Draft, despite only playing ten games over the last two seasons. Draft analyst Mike Detillier says health questions will follow Stingley until he proves he can stay on the field…

Cut 17 (16) “…NFL season”

LSU baseball lost to UNO for the first time since 2017, falling 8-4 to the Privateers in New Orleans. The Tigers will look to rebound with a three-game set against 16th-ranked Georgia at home starting on Friday. In other scores, UL-Monroe topped McNeese, 8-7, Southern Miss routed Southeastern 9-4, and Northwestern State beat Grambling 8-3.

4:30 LRN Newscast April 27

A Baton Rouge man who was found not guilty by reason of insanity after killing a woman with his car, has been released from a state mental facility. 21-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney James Manasseh says his client has weekly meetings with psychiatrists, and probation officers and is no longer allowed to drive…:

CUT 05 (08)      “…supervision.”

Manasseh says Jordan will essentially be on probation for the remainder of his life.

Deputies in Sabine Parish arrest two woman for embezzling thousands of dollars from the villages where they worked as clerks. 50-year-old Anna Ferguson allegedly stole from the village of Florien, and 53-year-old Brenda Frederick allegedly took money from the town of Noble. Both women have been charged with malfeasance and theft.

 

The World Meteorological Organization has retired Ida from the rotating lists of Atlantic Hurricane names. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 02 (30)      “…Jeff Palermo.”

Police in New Orleans say a 3-year-old girl was shot to death inside her French Quarter home Tuesday. Reportedly the little girls older brothers – ages 17 and 18 – have been taken into custody. So far, there’s no word on what charges they may be facing

3:30 LRN Newscast April 27

At the State Capitol, the House Criminal Justice Committee approves a bill cracking down on drunk drivers, by mandating they have an ignition interlock installed on their vehicle for two years, IF their blood alcohol content was .15 or higher when they were arrested. Bill sponsor and Covington Representative Mark Wright…:

CUT 12(08)      “…protect others from.”

The bill passed without objection and proceeds to the House floor.

A bill officially prohibiting physical punishment at schools wins easy passage in House Education. No one spoke in opposition, but Michael Faulk, with the state School Superintendents Association, says there are already 19 school systems he knows of that still allow hitting students…:

CUT 11(10)      “…discipline.”

The same bill failed a full House vote last year.

 

Calcasieu Parish deputies say a man was killed this morning in an accident at the Phillips 66 plant in Westlake. A contract worker was killed while unloading equipment from a trailer around 11:30 a.m., according to officials with Phillips 66 and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity is withheld for now.

When a dog bites a man, that’s not news, but how about when a squirrel bites a man? Authorities say a 78-year-old Slidell man sustained significant injuries in a squirrel attack. Slidell Police spokesman Dan Seuzeneau says the man was walking outside his house, when the animal jumped on him. When first responders arrived the fight was still on. He says the victim was trying to choke the squirrel but couldn’t get a grip…:

CUT 07(12)      “…of that attack.”

Updated LRN PM Newscall ###additional copy for corporal punishment story###

An elderly Slidell man was hospitalized after being attacked by a squirrel. David Grubb has more.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m David Grubb.”

______________________________________

The World Meteorological Organization has retired Ida from the rotating lists of Atlantic Hurricane names. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

______________________________________

A Baton Rouge man who was found not guilty by reason of insanity after driving his speeding truck into the back of a 51-year-old woman’s car, killing her as a result has been released from a state mental facility. 21-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney James Manasseh says his client has met all the conditions set forth by the hospital.

Cut 3 (11) “…or himself.”

Jordan was 19 years old when he drove his vehicle 90 miles per hour into the back of 51-year-old Stephanie Payne’s SUV in 2019. Jordan told authorities God told him to commit suicide but killed Payne in his attempt. Manasseh says when one pleads guilty by reason of insanity, they still have to meet conditions set forth by the Judge.

Cut 4  (12) “…anticipated.”

Manasseh says even though Jordan has been released, he still remains under supervision, and his medication is also monitored. Manasseh says Jordan has weekly meetings with psychiatrists, and probation officers and is no longer allowed to drive.

Cut 5  (08) “…supervision.”

Manasseh says Jordan will essentially be on probation for the remainder of his life.

_________________________________________

When a dog bites a man, that’s not news, but how about when a squirrel bites a man? Authorities say a 78-year-old Slidell man sustained significant injuries in a squirrel attack. It all started Wednesday morning, says Slidell Police Department spokesman Daniel Seuzeneau (Soos-ih-no), with a call to 9-1-1.

Cut 6  (12) “…the man’s hand.” 

Seuzeneau says emergency responders quickly made their way to the scene as the man attempted to fend off the squirrel. When they arrived the victim was attempting to choke the squirrel but he wasn’t able to get a grip on the animal.

Cut 7 (12) “…of that attack.” 

The gentleman was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for significant injuries, though he is expected to make a full recovery. ER doctors have requested to examine the squirrel to test for any possible diseases. The cause of the attack is unknown, and in general, they aren’t common.

Cut 8 (10) “…start a study.” 

This is the second reported squirrel attack in Slidell this year. The first happened in February during a Mardi Gras parade where three people were injured.

_____________________________________________________

The House Education Committee approves a bill that bans corporal punishment in public schools. Metairie Representative Stephanie Hilferty says children should not be physically punished by the principal or teacher…

Cut 9 (13) “…in school”

No one on the House Education Committee objected to the bill. It has the support of retired educator and Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Freiberg….

Cut 10 (06) “…school system”

Executive Director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, Michael Faulk, says he knows of 19 school districts in Louisiana that have a school board policy allowing corporal punishment…

Cut 11 (10)  “…discpline” 

This same bill failed to pass in the House last year as it failed on a floor vote of 48 to 49.

_____________________________________________________

The House Criminal Justice Committee approves legislation that would require convicted drunk drivers who had a blood alcohol content of .15 to have an interlock device system installed on their vehicle for two years. The bill’s author is Covington Representative Mark Wright…

Cut 12 (08) “…others from”  

The interlock prevents individuals from starting a vehicle if they have been drinking. Wright is admitted recovering alcoholic and knows individuals with a drinking problem are chronic drunk drivers…

Cut 13 (08) “…of it.”

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre owns a company that sells interlock devices and there are concerns his business could profit from the passage of this legislation. The Ethics Board has ruled that Webre can not sell his interlock devices in LaFourche and Thibodaux Representative Bryan Fontenot says if lawmakers have questions they can bring Sheriff Webre to the capitol in the future

Cut 14 (11)  “…about Craig Webre.”