LRN AM Newscall December 1

Louisiana’s first through third graders showed improvement on a literacy test this fall, but Whitney Thomas reports the state’s public school education leader is concerned the percentage of kindergartners reading below grade level has declined….

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Whitney Thomas.”

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The state department of transportation has an interactive map that allows the public to provide input on proposed highway projects. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The coroner in St. Tammany Parish confirms charred remains found Monday in a double murder case as those of a missing local priest. More from Brooke Thorington…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The state Department of Education released its fall 2022 Reading Report and it shows an improvement in reading skills for students in 1st-through-3rd grade, but kindergarten scores declined two-percent. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says kindergartners faced a learning delay because of the pandemic.

Cut 4 (13)  “…language acquisition.”

The Reading Report is based on a literacy screener given to students during the first 30 days of the school year and analyzes the child’s reading ability. Louisiana’s overall score improved for a second consecutive year, second-graders, in particular, scored two-percent higher than last year’s second-graders. Brumley says it’s good to see reading progress.

Cut 5 (13) “…around reading.”

Brumley says overall the Reading Report shows just under 50% of K-through-third graders scoring on or above benchmark, which means more work is needed to get young people reading at grade level

Cut 6 (13)  “…and homes.” 

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If you want to give input on highway projects the state is considering, the Louisiana Department of Transportation is making it easier. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says there’s a new interactive map on the DOTD website.

Cut 7 (07) “…January 6th.”

Mallett says you can comment on any project that was presented during the annual legislative public hearings that are held across the state during October and November. Now you can click on the map instead of going to a meeting or sending an email.

Cut 8 (09)  “…to make comments.”

He says the public input from the meetings and emails has often been helpful.

Cut 9 (10)  “…subdivision.”

You can find the map on the Department of Transportation’s website.

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The St. Tammany Parish town of Covington mourns the death of retired local priest, Father Otis Young, from a grisly double murder. Badly burned remains found Monday behind a local business have been confirmed by the parish coroner to be those of Father Young. Covington Police Sgt. Edwin Masters…:

Cut 10 (09) “…double homicide.” 

Father Young and a church assistant, Ruth Prats, were reported missing Sunday. Two charred bodies were found Monday behind a local business. Sgt. Masters says they cannot yet confirm the other remains are those of Ms. Prats…:

Cut 11 (05)  “…the second victim.”

The coroner says both victims died from blunt force trauma, then were set on fire. Sgt. Masters says Covington Police are holding a suspect…:

Cut 12 (12) “…a false name.”

The suspect is 49-year-old Antonio Tyson, who was just released from prison in August, after serving over 30 years for rape and burglary. Masters says Tyson is being held without bond.

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A month-long narcotic investigation in Caddo Parish leads to the arrest of 53-year-old Emanual Barrett of Shreveport. Head of the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Drug Task Force Lt. Darin Marshall says when they searched Barrett’s home, they found a significant amount of illegal substances.

Cut 13 (06) “…methamphetamines.”

Marshall says the street value of those substances was over $7,000.

Earlier this month, a wastewater study indicated the city of Shreveport has twice the national average of meth giving the area a notorious distinction. Marshall says the arrest of Barrett will make a difference.

Cut 14 (06)  “…in itself.”

Marshall says in his 20 years in law enforcement he’s seen the meth problem grow increasingly alarming and they are doing all they can to contain it.

Cut 15 (06)  “…near future.”

Barrett was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center, charges include possession of schedule II narcotics with intent to distribute, resisting an officer, and illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a juvenile.

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After allowing 274 rushing yards in the loss to Texas A&M, the Tigers defense looks to bounce back this Saturday in the SEC Championship game against Georgia. LSU cornerback Mekhi Garner admits they came out flat against the Aggies…

Cut  16 (16)  “…good thing

Georgia leads the nation for the fewest points allowed, allowing just eleven a game and they ranked fourth in total defense. Tigers freshman tight end Mason Taylor on the Dawgs defense…

Cut 17 (12) “…we’re coached”

Georgia’s quarterback Stetson Bennett is second in the SEC in passing yards. His top receiver is Brock Bowers. Garner says they are really good at the tight end position…

Cut 18 (18) “…stop that offense” 

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Southern will play Jackson State in the SWAC Championship game on Saturday. The Tigers trounced the Jaguars in the regular season matchup, winning 35-0. Southern Coach Eric Dooley says they need to execute better…

Cut 19 (17) “…forward to it”

The game will be played at Jackson State’s home field. Dooley says that doesn’t bother him…

Cut 20 (19) “…as well”

 Kickoff is at 3:00.

5:30 LRN Newscast Nov 30

5:30 (17) 8:30 (20)

Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s deputies have arrested 61-year-old Jeffery Brant of Ville Platte after he was allegedly found in bed with a seven-year-old girl in Bunkie Tuesday morning.  Captain Tim Ryan says the girl’s parents held Brant at gunpoint until they arrived, and it doesn’t appear that anyone was harmed, including the seven-year-old or her four-year-old sister.

Cut 4 (10)  “…by Mr. Brant” 

Brant faces multiple charges that include indecent behavior with juveniles.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy says his “No Surprises Act” has saved 9 million Americans from receiving surprise medical bills this year alone. Cassidy authored the legislation that went into effect at the beginning of the year.

Cut 6 (07)  “…Americans.”

According to the National Retail Federation, a record 197 million consumers shopped either in a store or on the internet over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, which included Cyber Monday. N-R-F President Matthew Shay says the kick-off to the holiday shopping season saw a big increase of in-store shoppers…
Cut 9 (10 “…last year”
The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana is $3.03 today, that’s down 28 cents from this time last month. And AAA spokesperson Nick Chabarria (Cha-BEAR-ee-uh) credits a drop in crude oil prices for relief at the pump. He says crude oil prices account about for 50 to 60 percent of what motorists pay at the pump.

Cut 13 (10) “…last year.”  

He says the statewide average for gas should drop be $3.00 this week.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

After laying a dud in College Station and losing to Texas A-and-M, LSU hopes to redeem itself this Saturday against top ranked Georgia in the SEC Championship game. Running back Josh Williams knows this team’s resilience will shine this week as it has all season…
cut 17 (19) “…positive mindset”
This will be LSU’s seventh appearance in the SEC Championship game. The Tigers are five and one in this game.

The 12-and-8 Pelicans host the 11-and-9 Toronto Raptorts tonight. C-J MCollum is no longer in health and safety protocols, but he will not play tonight. Larry Nace Junior is expected to play despite a shoulder injury. Tip off is at 7 PM.

Southeastern beat Idaho last week 45-42 to advance to the second round of the FCS playoffs. The Lions will visit Samford Saturday in Birmingham. SLU has made two second-round playoff appearances in the last three years, but Coach Frank Scelfo and the Lions haven’t managed to make it to the quarterfinals.
Cut 19 (15) “…through this game.”
In losses in 2019 and 2021 to Montana and James Madison, the Lions lost by a combined score of 132-48.

It looks like Willie Fritz is staying at Tulane. There was speculation Fritz was leaving to take the head coaching job at Georgia Tech, but the Yellow Jackets are promoting interim coach Brent Key to full-time coach.

Northwestern State starting quarterback Zachary Clement announces he’s entering the transfer portal. He threw for nearly 25-hundred yards and 19 touchdowns last season.

4:30 LRN Newscast Nov 30

Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a Ville Platte man allegedly found in bed with a seven-year-old girl in Bunkie early yesterday morning.  Captain Tim Ryan says the girl’s parents held 61-year-old Jeffrey Brant at gunpoint until authorities arrived…:

CUT 03(10)      “…invited in.”

He’s charged with home invasion, criminal trespass, and indecent behavior with juveniles. The little girl and her younger sister are apparently unharmed.

Thanksgiving holiday weekend shopping gives retailers hope for a good Christmas season. National Retail Federation president Matt Shay says figures from the weekend indicate there could be a 6-to-8-percent increase in retail sales over last year…:

CUT 11(10)      “…four weeks.”

197-million Americans did some shopping between Friday and Monday; either online or in stores.

 

Police in Covington confirm the murder of a retired local priest, Father Otis Young, who had been reported missing last Saturday. A coroner confirmed the badly burned remains found Monday were Young’s. He was apparently bludgeoned to death. A second victim’s identity has not been confirmed yet, but it is believed she is Ruth Prats, a church assistant. A suspect is in custody.

The statewide average for regular gas today is $3.03 a gallon, and AAA expects it to continue to drop…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

3:30 LRN Newscall Nov 30

Caldwell Parish is recovering after a confirmed tornado strike last night during strong thunderstorms. Two people are reported injured and numerous buildings took heavy damage near the town of Clark on Highway 126. The National Weather Service is working to establish where the twister fell on the Extended Fujita scale, but it was likely an EF-1 Fortunately, no one was reported killed.

An Evangeline Parish man faces serious charges after he broke into a Bunkie home and climbed into bed with a seven-year-old girl…:

CUT 01(27)      “…Golsby.”

 

Senator Bill Cassidy celebrates his No Surprises Act; a law to protect us from getting unexpected medical bills. The law has been in effect since January and he says 9-milion Americans have been spared the pain of a surprise wallop of out-of-network charges. He says, under the law he co-authored with New Hampshire Democrat Senator Maggie Hasson, patients can only be required to pay in-network costs for medical services…:

CUT 08(03)      “…the past.”

Cassidy says if you do receive a higher medical bill than expected, let the state Department of Insurance know right away, or call the U.S. Health & Human Services.

Gasoline prices still slowly dropping. The statewide average for regular gas is $3.03. AAA’s Nick Chabarria says that could drop below 3 bucks by the week’s end…:

CUT 14(07)      “…last year.”

Gas is down an average of 12-cents from one week ago.

PM Newscall Nov 30

Authorities say an Evangeline Parish man faces several charges after he got into the bedroom of a seven-year-old girl in Bunkie. Marsanne Golsby has more…

Cut 1(27)  “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”

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The statewide average for regular gas today is $3.03 a gallon, and AAA expects it to continue to drop. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a Ville Platte man allegedly found in bed with a seven-year-old girl in Bunkie early yesterday morning.  Captain Tim Ryan says the girl’s parents held 61-year-old Jeffrey Brant at gunpoint until authorities arrived.

Cut 3 (10) “..invited in.” 

Brandt was arrested and booked with home invasion, criminal trespass, and indecent behavior with juveniles. Ryan says it doesn’t appear anyone involved was harmed, including the seven-year-old or her four-year-old sister, who Ryan says was also in the home.

Cut 4 (10)  “…by Mr. Brant” 

He says Brant got in through an unlocked door, and he didn’t fight back when the parents confronted him.

Cut 5 (10) “…on anyone”

Ryan says Brant appeared to be under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance.

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Republican Senator Bill Cassidy says his “No Surprises Act” has saved 9 million Americans from receiving surprise medical bills this year alone. Cassidy authored the legislation that went into effect at the beginning of the year.

Cut 6 (07)  “…Americans.”

Passage of the bill was a two-year effort on behalf of Cassidy and New Hampshire Democrat Senator Maggie Hasson.

Cut 7 (09)  “…facing Americans.”

Cassidy who’s also a physician says the law protects patients from having to pay out-of-network costs billed by their health insurance and that patients can only be required to pay in-network costs for their services.

Cut 8 (03)  “…the past.“

Cassidy says if you do receive a higher medical bill than expected, you should contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-985-3059 or the Louisiana Department of Insurance at 1-800-259-5300.

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According to the National Retail Federation, a record 197-million consumers shopped either in a store or on the internet over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, which included Cyber Monday. N-R-F President Matthew Shay says the kick-off to the holiday shopping season saw a big increase of in-store shoppers…

Cut 9 (10 “…last year” 

Shaw says 63-million consumers shopped inside a store on Small Business Saturday, up from 51-million in 2021

Cut 10 (10) “…in store shopping” 

Shaw says 86-percent of the consumers they surveyed say they expect to see great deals for the rest of the holiday shopping season, which gives them hope of seeing a six to eight percent increase in retail sales over last holiday season

Cut 11 (10)  “…four weeks”

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The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana is $3.03 today, that’s down 28 cents from this time last month. And AAA spokesperson Nick Chabarria (Cha-BEAR-ee-uh) says the average price in Louisiana is down almost a dime from a year ago.

Cut 12 (11) “…end of 2022.” 

Chabarria credits a drop in crude oil prices for relief at the pump. He says crude oil prices account about for 50 to 60 percent of what motorists pay at the pump.

Cut 13 (10) “…last year.”  

In addition to crude oil prices stabilizing, Chabarria says with today marking the end of the 2022 hurricane season, we were extremely fortunate we didn’t experience multiple storms in the gulf this year. And barring any disruptions he expects the average price in Louisiana to drop below $3.00 a gallon this week.

Cut 14 (07)   “…last year.” 

A week ago the average price for regular gas in Louisiana was $3.14.

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2:30 LRN Newscast Nov 30

Deputies in Avoyelles Parish arrest a man for allegedly breaking into a home and crawling in bed with a 7-year-old girl. Sheriff’s Captain Tim Ryan says 61-year-old Jeffrey Brant got in through an unlocked door, and when he was discovered by the child’s parents he offered no resistance…:

CUT 05(10)      “…on anyone.”

Ryan says Brant appeared to be under the influence of…something. He’s been booked with home invasion, criminal trespass, and indecent behavior with juveniles.

The National Retail Federation says 197-million Americans took part in holiday shopping over the Thanksgiving weekend. NRF President Matt Shay says 63-million did their shopping in stores; a big increase over last year…:

CUT 10(10)      “…in-store shopping

He says retailers have hope that it will be a profitable holiday for them this year.

 

Eight people were shot last night at a hooka lounge in Lake Charles. Police say no one was killed, but three are in critical condition. Lake Charles Police are investigating and ask anyone with information on the crime to contact them right away.

The statewide average for regular gas in Louisiana today is $3.03 a gallon and AAA expects it to continue to drop…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

Authorities say an Evangeline Parish man faces several charges after he got into the bedroom of a seven-year-old girl in Bunkie. Marsanne Golsby has more…
Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”

Lake Charles Police say eight people were shot at the V-V-S-1 Hooka Lounge on Broad Street at around 1:30 this morning. Cops say three of the shooting victims are in critical condition, three are in stable condition and two of them were treated and released. Authorities say one person is in custody.

Caldwell Parish Sheriff Clay Bennett says two people were injured from a twister that caused damage near the town of Clarks.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana is $3.03 today, that’s down 28 cents from this time last month. And AAA spokesperson Nick Chabarria (Cha-bear-ree-ah) says the average price in Louisiana is down almost a dime from a year ago.
Cut 12 (11) “…end of 2022.”
Chabarria credits a drop in crude oil prices for relief at the pump.

According to the National Retail Federation, a record 197-million consumers shopped either in a store or on the internet over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, which included Cyber Monday. N-R-F President Matthew Shay says the kick-off to the holiday shopping season saw a big increase of in-store shoppers…
Cut 9 (10 “…last year”
Shaw says 63-million consumers shopped inside a store on Small Business Saturday, up from 51-million in 2021

12:30 LRN Newscast Nov 30

Lake Charles Police are investigating a mass shooting that took place around 1:30 this morning at a lounge in the 500 block of Broad Street. Police says at this time there are eight known victims. Their injuries range from critical to stable and two victims have been treated and released from the hospital. One person is in custody and the investigation is ongoing.

Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s deputies have arrested 61-year-old Jeffery Brant of Ville Platte after he was allegedly found in bed with a seven-year-old girl in Bunkie Tuesday morning.  Captain Tim Ryan says the girl’s parents held Brant at gunpoint until they arrived, and it doesn’t appear that anyone was harmed, including the seven-year-old or her four-year-old sister.

Cut 4 (10)  “…by Mr. Brant” 

Bran faces multiple charges that include indecent behavior with juveniles.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy says his “No Surprises Act” has saved 9 million Americans from receiving surprise medical bills this year.

Cut 7 (09)  “…facing Americans.”

Cassidy co-authored the bipartisan legislation and the law went into effect January 1st.

The National Weather Services says it appears that an EF-3 tornado touched down in Caldwell Parish. The sheriff’s office reports two were injured in their home as a result.  The front that moved through the southeast was responsible for damage in Mississippi and claimed two lives Alabama.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU will face undefeated Georgia in the SEC Championship game. The Tigers lost to Texas A&M to eliminate them from playoff contention. LSU Defensive End BJ Ojulari says that’s not the level they play at and plan to use the performance as motivation heading into Championship weekend…
Cut 16 (18) “…to play UGA.”
LSU has fallen to 14 in the latest college football playoff rankings and there only way to play in the Sugar Bowl would be to beat Georgia. A loss and the Tigers could be in Orlando for the New Year’s holiday.

Tulane Coach Willie Fritz says he’s staying with the Greenies. Georgia Tech expressed interest in Fritz, but the Yellow Jackets have decided to make interim coach Brent Key their full-time coach. The Green Wave host U-C-F on Saturday in the American Athletic Conference championship game.

Southeastern Louisiana is preparing to face Samford in the second round of the F-C-S playoffs. The Lions have failed to reach to the quarterfinals in two of last three years as they suffered losses to Montana and James Madison. Turnovers were a big issue in both games and Coach Frank Scelfo is emphasizing limiting mistakes against the Bulldogs…
cut 20 (21) “…out the stadium”
Kick-off is at 2 PM.

In basketball…Southeastern Louisiana gave the 11th ranked Lady Tigers a good game last night, holding LSU to a season low point total, but Kim Mukley’s team found a way to win, knocking off the Lions 63-55. The Ragin Cajuns mens’ team raced past Loyola 104-70. Tonight the Pelicans host Toronto.