LRN AM Newscall November 3 2022

Former candidate for Louisiana Governor Eddie Rispone says he’s throwing his support – and his money – behind Attorney General Jeff Landry; a move that irks other republicans considering running for Governor next year…:

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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New clean energy producers are gearing up to eventually put wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico- now the federal government has given the green light. Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby.”

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There are eight constitutional amendments for voters to decide on the November 8th ballot, and one of them applies only to Orleans Parish. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Two former candidates for governor, Eddie Rispone and Ralph Abraham are urging fellow republicans to support Jeff Landry’s campaign for governor in 2023; a move that is irking other republicans considering entering the race. LSU-Shreveport political science professor Jeff Sadow says it’s certainly a divisive political move on Rispone’s part…:

Cut 4 (09)  “…every other state.”

Rispone told GOP activists this week he’s supporting the Attorney General, and he wants fellow republicans to break tradition and get behind one candidate – his candidate – ahead of the 2023 general election. Sadow says the intent is to avoid another in-party battle, like Rispone and Abraham got into in 2019…:

Cut 5 (13) “…what wins votes.”

Rispone’s backing of Landry rankles other potential GOP candidates like state Treasurer John Schroder and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, who says the Republican Party “should not be controlled by a few people.” Sadow says Louisiana’s open primary system is the reason elections pit two members of the same party against one another to make a runoff…:

Cut 6 (07)  “…the majority party.” 

Rispone feels the state needs to move to party primaries like in most other states. Dr. Sadow says he agrees.

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The CEO of Gulf Wind Technology in Avondale says the Gulf of Mexico has the potential to create one of the world’s largest markets for clean energy produced by wind farms. The federal government has selected the first two areas for offshore wind development in the Gulf. James Martin says the Gulf is an ideal location.

Cut 7 (11) “…service them.”

His company is located at Avondale,  which was home of Avondale shipyards, once one of the largest shipbuilders in the world. It closed in 2014, but he says it’s facilities could be used to build huge wind turbines. He also says the oil and gas industry should not see new clean energy companies as competition.

Cut 8 (08)  “…business.”

As to whether or not wind farms can survive hurricanes, Martin points out that thousands of oil rigs in the gulf have survived named storms and taken direct hits.

Cut 9 (09)  “…problem.”

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Voters have eight constitutional amendments to decide on the November 8th ballot. Amendment #6 could be a source of some confusion as it pertains only to property owners in one parish; Orleans. Public Affairs Research Council president Steven Procopio says it has to be voted on statewide because it is a proposed change to the Constitution. He says it places a 10-percent cap on how much Orleans residents’ property assessments can go up in a single year…:

Cut 10 (09) “…to a hundred and ten.” 

Procopio says voting YES on Amendment 6 will agree to give Orleans property owners a cushion against any drastic tax hikes…:

Cut  11 (10)  “…one big shock.”

A vote of NO would maintain the current property tax system in Orleans Parish as it is, which could have unintended consequences…:

Cut 12 (07) “…police and fire et cetera.” 

Procopio says PAR never tells voters how they should vote on these matters. They provide information so you can make that decision yourself.

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It’s just two days away until kickoff for the biggest game of the season at Tiger Stadium and emotions are high as the Crimson Tide and their fans begin to make their way into Baton Rouge. Emotions aren’t the only thing that’s high… so are hotel rates, some as high as $599 a night.  Gary Jupiter is President of the Baton Rouge Lodging Association…

Cut 13 (05) “…sold out.”

Jupiter oversees two downtown Baton Rouge hotels and says historically when the Bama fans come to town it’s one of their busiest weekends and this one is no exception. And with the industry still facing post-pandemic staff shortages…

Cut 14 (05)  “…my hotels.”

And with a Saturday night kickoff in Death Valley, Jupiter says it’s safe to assume plenty of hotel guests will be requesting a late checkout Sunday.

Cut 15 (11)  “…ready to go.”

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10th-ranked LSU continues its preparations today for sixth-ranked Alabama, which is led by last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Bryce Young. The junior from California has thrown for 19 hundred yards and 18 touchdowns. LSU Coach Brian Kelly marvels at Young’s ability…

Cut 16 (16)  “…college football.” 

LSU is coming off a bye week which is allowed them to get healthier for this top-ten matchup. Kelly says running back John Emery and receiver Jack Bech should be able to play this Saturday after missing the last game because of injuries. He says sophomore left guard Garrett Dellinger is close to returning after injuring his knee in the Tennessee loss…

Cut 17 (20) “…long run” 

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Northwestern State who is 3-and-0 and in first place in the Southland will head to Texas on Saturday to face A&M Commerce. The Lions are having a successful start in their first season in the Southland as they are 3-and-1. Demons Coach Brad Laird says his team needs a good week of preparation…

Cut 18 (13) “…this week” 

Kick-off is at 2 PM.

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La Tech is getting ready to host Middle Tennessee in a Conference USA contest this Saturday in Ruston. Both teams are 1-and-3 in league play, but the Blue Raiders have a signature non-conference win over Miami in September. Bulldogs Coach Sonny Cumbie says his team needs to play well in order to break a three-game losing streak…

Cut 19 (19) “….do things” …

True freshman Landry Lyddy started at quarterback last week, but Cumbie says they are going back to senior Parker McNeil, who was hurt for last week’s loss to FIU…

Cut 20 (13) “…football games”

5:30 LRN Newscast Nov 2

Early voting ended yesterday. The Secretary of State’s Office says about 363-thousand registered voters have cast a ballot. That’s a combination of in-person early voting and absentee. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says that’s about 55-thousand more ballots than the 2018 mid-term election…

Cut 9 (07)  “…in popularity”
Tuesday, November eighth is election day and polls are open from 6 AM to 8 PM.

Governor John Bel Edwards calls for an investigation into the Ware Youth Center in Red River Parish after an extensive New York Times report says the facility is plagued by rape allegations involving guards and dozens of suicide attempts by inmates. The Office of Juvenile Justice does not run the facility, but assistant secretary Curtis Nelson says Ware provides services to the state…

Cut 12 (12) “…Ware Center.” 

Officials have broken ground on the Biomedical Research and Innovation Park at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Once complete, the 60,000-square-foot facility will be an incubator for medical research and design. ULM President Ron Berry says far the state has contributed $24 million to the project and promised another $4 million.

Cut 7 (13)  “…health care issues.”

Albany High School has decided to forfeit this Friday’s game against Bogalusa over security concerns. Albany High Principal Sammie Lacara made the call and acknowledges there are other team sports, like basketball and baseball coming up where they will have to compete with Bogalusa.

Cut 5 (07) “…play it.” 

October 15th, a 15-year-old boy was fatally shot outside of the stadium as Bogalusa was on its way to a victory over Jewel Sumner. So far, no arrests have been made.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Based on the college football playoff rankings released last night, It will be a top ten matchup between LSU and Alabama on Saturday. The Crimson Tide are ranked sixth and the Tigers are ranked tenth and the seven and one Tulane Green Wave are ranked 19th.

Nick Saban holds a six and one record as the head coach at Alabama in games played in Tiger Stadium. Saban says it is more important than ever to stay poised playing in a hostile environment like Death Valley…
cut 18 (16) “….beat ourselves”
Kick-off is at 6 PM. The weather forecast calls for a 50-percent chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms on Saturday night.

Tonight the Pelicans battle the Lakers to complete a three-game road trip. New Orleans is 4-and-2, while the Lakers are one and five.

The Ragin Cajuns are gearing up to face the division leader in the Sun Belt West. Troy is 4-and-1 and allowing just 14 points a game. U-L Lafayette put up 35 points against Troy last year, but every point was hard to come by. Coach Michael Desormeaux says this year they’ll face an even better Troy defense that has depth and knows how to take away the big play…
cut 20 (13) “….for them”
Kick-off is at 4 PM.

Tonight is game four of the World Series with the Phillies up two game to one. Philadelphia will send former LSU star Aaron Nola to the mound tonight.

And Albany High School has decided to forfeit this Friday’s game against Bogalusa over security concerns. There was a fatal shooting outside of Bogalusa’s stadium on homecoming night on October 15th.

4:30 LRN Newscast Nov 2

Imagine being so concerned about possible violence at a high school football game you elect to forfeit the game. That’s what’s happened with Albany High’s upcoming game against Bogalusa…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Thorington.”

47 Louisiana Methodist churches have elected to exit the United Methodist Church over the UMC’s advocating for gay ministers and same-sex marriages. The most recent is St. Timothy’s in Mandeville. 92-percent of its 6-thousand members voted to leave the UMC.

 

Governor John Bel Edwards calls for an investigation into the Ware Youth Center in Red River Parish after the New York Times reported rape allegations involving guards and dozens of suicide attempts by incarcerated youths. It’s one of a few NOT operated by the officer of Juvenile Justice. OJJ Assistant Secretary Nelson Gordon says he’s hopeful the Inspector General will conduct a thorough investigation that will provide the state with actions they should take…:

CUT 14(09)      “…their dignity.”

The New York Times story accuses guards of raping girls, using aggressive physical restraints and bribing kids with food if they assaulted other inmates.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says about 363-thousand Louisianans took part in Early Voting for next week’s midterms; about 55-thousand more than the last midterm in 2018. Ardoin says election is next Tuesday…:

CUT 11(06)      “…election day.”

3:30 LRN Newscast Nov 2

Louisiana’s early voting for the November 8th election is over. Jeff Palermo has the totals…:

CUT 02  (32)        “…Palermo.”

Two former candidates for Governor are endorsing Attorney General Jeff Landry for Governor in 2023. Eddie Rispone and former Congressman Ralph Abraham want republicans to get behind Landry to avoid a bitter in-party fight like the two of them had in 2019, and led to a second term for Democrat John Bel Edwards.

 

Officials have broken ground on a new Biomedical Research and Innovation Park at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Once complete, the 60-thousand square foot facility will be an incubator for medical research and design. ULM President Ron Berry says it is expected to create 175 jobs, with a $30-million impact over five years…:

CUT 06(07)      “…our region.”

Officials expect construction to begin next summer and take 12 to 18 months.

Governor John Bel Edwards calls for an investigation into the Ware Youth Center in Red River Parish after the New York Times reported rape allegations involving guards and dozens of suicide attempts by incarcerated youth. Assistant Secretary of Juvenile Justice Nelson Gordon says the Inspector General be investigative lead…”

CUT 13(08)      “…being met.”

2:30 LRN Newscast Nov 02

Early voting ended yesterday. The Secretary of State’s Office says about 363-thousand registered voters casted a ballot. That’s a combination of in person early voting and absentee ballots. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says this was the highest number of early and absentee ballots combined they’ve ever had for a mid-term election…:

CUT 10(04)      “…turnout.”

Election Day is next Tuesday. Polls open at 6 am.

Albany High school says they’d rather forfeit their game against Bogalusa than play in a stadium where security is uncertain. A young man was shot and killed in the Bogalusa High stadium parking lot two & a half weeks ago. Albany’s principal, Sammie Lacara, says parents gave him zero pushback on forfeiting the game…:

CUT 04(11)      “…to do this.”

 

A Baton Rouge man who set out for a six-mile hike in Arkansas last week has been found alive and safe…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Thorington.”

Add St. Timothy’s church in Mandeville to the growing list of churches to exit the United Methodist Church over the UMC’s advocating for gay ministers and same-sex marriages. 92-percent of St. Timothy’s 6-thousand members voted to leave the UMC. That makes 47 Louisiana churches to do so.

1:30 LRN Newscast

Early voting ended yesterday. The Secretary of State’s Office says about 363-thousand registered voters have casted a ballot. That’s a combination of in person early voting and absentee ballots. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says that’s about 55-thousand more ballots than the 2018 election, the last mid-term election….
cut 9 (07) “…in popularity”
Ardoin reminds voters the November eighth election is on a Tuesday, so polls are open from 6 AM to 8 PM.

Governor John Bel Edwards is asking the Louisiana Inspector General to look into the Ware Youth Center in Red River Parish after the New York Times reported rape allegations involving guards and dozens of suicide attempts by incarcerated youth. Office of Juvenile Justice assistant secretary Curtis Nelson Gordon…
cut 13 (08) “…being met”
The New York Times report says there were at least 64 suicide attempts at Ware from 2019 to 2020.

After the location of Friday’s game between Albany and Bogalusa changed a few times over security concerns of the fatal homecoming game shooting at Bogalusa, yesterday Albany opted to forfeit. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Saturday night’s game between LSU and Alabama is now a Top Ten matchup as the first college football playoff rankings were unveiled last night and Alabama is ranked sixth while LSU is ranked tenth. The Tigers are the highest ranked two-loss team.

12:30 LRN Newscast Nov 2

The final game of the regular high school football season pitting number one Bogalusa against Albany is off after the Hornets opted to forfeit. Over fears of a repeat of gun violence at previous Bogalusa games this season the game was to be played neutral site but Monday it was moved back to Bogalusa. But yesterday Albany High School Principal Sammie Lacara chose to forfeit.

Cut 3 (08) “…that situation.” 

Many Louisiana residents are dreaming of winning tonight’s one-point-two-billion-dollar Powerball jackpot. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison asks everyone to play responsibly…

Cut 15 (08)  “…this evening.”
You have until nine pm tonight to buy a ticket, the drawing is just before 10 PM.

The Houston area schoolteacher who went missing September 22nd and then her SUV was located in New Orleans the very next day, has been found alive according to the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office. 48-year-old Michelle Reynolds was located Tuesday and has been reunited with her family however the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office says no further information will be given at this time at the request of the family. When her car was located in New Orleans authorities say her purse and phone were inside.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Governor John Bel Edwards calls for an investigation into the Ware Youth Center in Red River Parish after an extensive New York Times report that says the facility is plaqued by rape allegations involving guards and dozens of suicide attempts by incarcerated youth. The Office of Juvenile Justice does not run the facility, but assistant secretary Nelson Gordon says Ware provides services to the state…
cut 12 (11) “…Ware Center”
The governor’s office says Louisiana’s Inspector General will lead the investigation.

Louisiana residents are buying Powerball tickets in the hopes of winning the one-point-two billion dollar grand prize. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says a couple of players recently won a million dollars…
cut 14 (06) “…jackpot run”

A Baton Rouge man who set out for a six-mile hike in Arkansas last week has been found alive and safe. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Early voting ended yesterday. The Secretary of State’s Office says they received 363-thousand ballots for the November eighth election. 272-thousand early voted in person and 91-thousand voted absentee. Also 43-percent of the early votes were registered Republicans, 42-percent from Democrats.

10:30 LRN Newscast Nov 2

State officials say things are going well with juvenile offenders transferred last month to a new facility on the grounds of Angola State Prison. Assistant Secretary of Juvenile Justice Curtis Nelson says the youth facility is about a mile from any building housing adult prisoners at Angola and the juvenile inmates are safe and secure…:

Cut 5 (07) “…within that facility.”

Nelson says there have been no incidents of violence or unrest in the two weeks since it opened.

The Baton Rouge hiker who was last seen on Thursday was found alive yesterday at Buffalo National River in Arkansas. Park spokesperson Cassie Branstetter says 67-year-old Preston Smith was found uninjured about two and a half miles from the trail he was originally hiking.

Cut 10 (09) “…his family.” 

Smith began a six-mile hike along the Hemmed-in-Hollow trail by himself on October 27th and was located shortly after noon on Tuesday.

The multi-state Powerball jackpot reaches $1.2 billion making it the second-largest jackpot in the history of the game.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

Saturday night’s game between LSU and Alabama is now a top-ten ranked matchup as the Tigers are ranked tenth in the first college football playoff rankings of the year. Alabama is ranked sixth and head coach Nick Saban is impressed with LSU…

Cut 16 (07)  “…they’ve made.”