10:30 LRN Newscast

Bond has been set for three of the four men accused of raping an LSU student after a night of heavy drinking. Madison Brooks was hit by a car the same night and killed. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Two of the suspects have bonded out of prison, while Reggie’s liquor license has been suspended by the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control due to the seriousness of of the allegations and the potential threat to public safety.

New employment numbers from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows an increase of 48-hundred jobs from November to December in Louisiana. Mark Jones with the Louisiana Workforce Commission says every metro area in the state added jobs over the year, with Lafayette gaining 42-hundred jobs in 2022…
cut 12 (11) “…different things”
The Monroe area added only 200 jobs in 2022.

Louisiana received three F grades from the American Lung Association which grades states for its tobacco control efforts. Senior director of Advocacy Ashley Lyerly says the state is spending just over five million dollars on tobacco prevention programs this fiscal year…
cut 6 (120 “…..tobacco use”

9:30 LRN Newscast

Bond has been set for three men East Baton Rouge investigators say were involved in a sexual assault of an LSU student who died a short time later when she was hit by vehicle. Authorities say 19-year-old Madison Brooks was extremely drunk when all of this happened. A 17-year-old has also been charged. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt expects East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore to use a grand jury to finalize the charges…
cut 9 (11) “…may think this is”

Total nonfarm employment increased by 48-hundred jobs from November to December. Mark Wilson with the Louisiana Workforce Commission says construction added 33-hundred workers and manufacturing added 12-hundred jobs in that one month period…
cut 11 (12) “….seeing right there”
The manufacturing sector has added 87-hundred jobs from December 2021.

State lawmakers go into special session Monday to discuss a proposal to use $45-million in surplus cash to bring new property insurers to Louisiana, which means fewer businesses and homeowners relying on Louisiana Citizens, which costs significantly more. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the same plan brought five new companies to the state after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, but Thibodaux Rep. Bryan Fontenot remains skeptical…
CUT 28(09) “…on those companies?”

The American Lung Association gives Louisiana three f-grades, a D-grade and one C-grade in their annual tobacco control report card. Louisiana received a C grade for smokefree air and the senior director of advocacy at the American Lung Association Ashley Lyerly says the state can do better…
cut 5 (12) “….the state of Louisiana”
The state received Fs for tobacco prevention funding, tobacco taxes and not regulating flavored tobacco products.

8:30 LRN Newscast

State lawmakers go into special session Monday to put together a plan to bring new private property insurance companies to Louisiana, but not everyone is on board. The proposal is to use $45-million in surplus cash to make an incentive fund to lure new insurers. Thibodaux Representative Bryan Fontenot says there may be better uses for that $45-million…:
CUT 27(12) “…in our state.”
Fontenot says there’s no talk of possible tort reform which could help lower insurance costs nor reforming Louisiana Citizens so it is more affordable.

Bond has been set for the three adult suspects facing rape charges and a 17-year-old is facing third-degree rape as they were allegedly involved in a sexual assault of an LSU student who later died when she was hit by a car. They all left Reggie’s Bar, which now has a suspended liquor license. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says civil lawsuits are also likely…
cut 7 (10) “…even happened”

A study by the Public Affairs Research Council shows a very small number of Louisianans actually use buses or other public transit….
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Louisiana received three Fs, one D and one C on the American Lung Association of Tobacco Control 2023 report card. ALA senior director of Advocacy Ashley Lyerly says Louisiana is not investing nearly enough in tobacco prevention…
Cut 4 (12) “…across the state.”

7:30 LRN Newscast

Four men face charges for an alleged rape that occurred in a vehicle before 19-year-old Madison Brooks of Madisonville left that same vehicle and was struck and killed by a passing vehicle on Burbank Drive in Baton Rouge. Authorities say Brooks was heavily intoxicated when she left with the men from Reggie’s Bar near LSU’s campus. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt…
cut 8 (10) “….supposed to be”
The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control has suspended Reggie’s bar’s liquor license.

There’s talk of a passenger rail line between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but U-S Bureau of Transportation statistics shows only about 35-thousand Louisiana residents, which is less than one percent of the state’s total population uses some form of public transit to commute to work. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says there are a lot of lingering questions about that rail project…
cut 15 (06) “…going to be successful”

According to Entergy Louisiana’s power outage map, four-thousand customers are without power as a result of the strong storms that rolled through south Louisiana yesterday. Three people were injured in Pointe Coupee Parish when a suspected twister turned over mobile homes. The entire city of Plaquemine is without power this morning.

The American Lung Association gave Louisiana 3 F’s, a D, and a C in the state’s 2023 “State of Tobacco Control” report card. Kace Kieschnick spoke with the Senior Director of Advocacy Ashley Lyerly…
cut 1 (26) “…I’m Kace Keischnick.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The losing streaks continued for the Pelicans and the LSU men’s basketball team last night. In the Smoothie King Center, the Pels got behind by 19 points to Denver but rallied to take a one point lead with less than a minute left but ended up losing to the Nuggets 99-98. Coach Willie Green says the game was a tale of two halves…
cut 19 (19) “….chance to win”
The Pelicans have lost five in a row, but there’s a chance Brandon Ingram could return tonight against Minnesota after missing 29 consecutive games with a toe injury.

The LSU men’s basketball team was again got blown out yesterday as they fell to Arkansas 60-40 in Fayetteville. The Tigers shot just 12-percent from the field in the first half, 26-percent for the entire game in a seventh straight loss and a sixth consecutive double digit defeat.

LSU picked up another top overall ranking as Baseball America ranked the Tigers No. 1 in their top 25 heading into the 2023 season. The Tigers feature one of the most talented rosters in the country and had both the top-ranked recruiting and transfer classes this offseason and made a big splash over the summer by hiring former Twins Pitching Coach Wes Johnson. Baseball America writer Teddy Cahill says LSU won the offseason…
Cut 16 (19) “…into this year.”

According to LSU’s annual NCAA financial report, the school’s athletic department made a six-point-five million dollar profit during fiscal year 2022. LSU made 38-million dollar on football tickets, a significant jump from the previous fiscal year when seating capacity was restricted because of COVID.

6:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports continued job growth for the state. Data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows seasonally adjusted non-farm employment for December 2022 was at 1.9 million jobs. LWC’s Mark Jones says that’s an increase of over 4000 jobs in one month…:
Cut 10 (09) “…22 consecutive months.”
Jones says is closing in on being back at per-pandemic levels of employment.

A new study from the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) shows few Louisianans actually use public transportation, despite federal grant money flowing in to support it. PAR President Steven Procopio says in 2021 less than one percent of Louisiana residents or about 35-thousand people used some form of public transit to commute to work, which ranks Louisiana fourth among Southern states…
Cut 13 (10) “…transportation system though.”

Bond has been set for three of the four men accused of raping an LSU student after a night of heavy drinking. Madison Brooks was hit by a car the same night and killed. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LRN AM Newscall

The American Lung Association gave Louisiana 3 F’s, a D, and a C in the state’s 2023 “State of Tobacco Control” report card. Senior Director of Advocacy Ashley Lyerly explained Louisiana’s poor showing. Kace Kieschnick has the story.

Cut 1 (26)  “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

_______________________________________________

Bond has been set for three of the four men accused of raping an LSU student after a night of heavy drinking. Madison Brooks was hit by a car the same night and killed. Brooke Thorington has more from a legal analyst

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_______________________________________________

A study by the Public Affairs Research Council shows a very small number of Louisianans actually use buses or other public transit. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

_____________________________________________

Louisiana received three Fs, one D and one C on the American Lung Association of Tobacco Control 2023 report card. ALA senior director of Advocacy Ashley Lyerly says Louisiana is not investing nearly enough in tobacco prevention…

Cut 4 (12)  “…across the state.”

Louisiana received an F-grade for not having a state law against flavored tobacco products, tobacco prevention and control program funding and tobacco taxes. Lyerly says Louisiana has the 38th lowest tax on tobacco in the nation.

Louisiana received a C grade for smokefree area, and Lyerly says the state could do better…

Cut 5 (12) “… the state of Louisiana.”

Lyerly says is spending just over five million dollars on tobacco programs this fiscal year……

Cut 6 (12)  “…tobacco use.” 

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S. and accounts for almost two billion dollars in health care costs for the state.

_____________________________________________

The arrest of four men accused of raping 19-year-old LSU student Madison Brooks after drinking at a Tigerland Bar and then her death after being hit by a car has multiple layers. Baton Rouge legal analyst Franz Borghardt says there’s going to be lots of finger-pointing among the accused and at Reggie’s Bar.

Cut 7 (10) “…even happened.”

Borghardt says it’s possible the four men and even the bar could be charged with negligence in her death. As a former prosecutor and now a defense attorney Borghardt says the defense is most likely going to point the finger at Brooks and her own accountability.

Cut 8 (10)  “…to be.”

As for what happens next, Borghardt says the public needs to let the system do its job and he believes the District Attorney will ultimately take to case to a grand jury.

Cut 9 (11)  “…may think this is.”

Bond for 18-year-old Kaivon Washington, who’s charged with third-degree rape, is set at $150,000 that includes drug testing, house arrest, no firearm, and no contact with the victim’s family.

18-year-old Casen Carver is charged with principle to third-degree rape, a $50,000 bond including house arrest, drug testing, and no contact with the victim’s family.

27-year-old Everett Lee is charged with principle to third-degree rape, a $75,000 bond including house arrest, drug testing, and no contact with the victim’s family.

The 17-year-old’s bond hearing will be held next month.

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control has issued an emergency suspension of Reggie’s alcohol license.

____________________________________________

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports continued job growth for the state. Data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows seasonally adjusted non-farm employment for December 2022 was at 1.9 million jobs. LWC spokesman Mark Jones says that’s an increase of over 4000 jobs in one month…:

Cut 10 (09)  “…22 consecutive months.”

Jones says Louisiana has seen 22 straight months of growth in jobs and is closing in on being back at per-pandemic levels of employment. Industries that had the biggest were Manufacturing (1200 jobs from November ’22) and Construction (3300 jobs added)…:

Cut 11 (12)  “…seeing right there.”

Leisure and hospitality jobs increased by over 200 from November to December of ’22. Jones says the Lafayette area gained the most over a year; well over 4000 jobs were added between December 2021 and November ’22…:

Cut 12 (11) “…of different things.”

Jones says the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2022 was 3.5 percent; the lowest December jobless number yet recorded.

___________________________________________________

A new study from the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) shows few Louisianans actually use public transportation, despite federal grant money flowing in to support it. Our state trails the U.S. in the use of buses and trains but actually leads many other southern states. PAR President Steven Procopio says less than 1 percent of Louisiana residents ever use public transit at all…:

Cut 13 (10)  “…transportation system though.”

Bus systems and other public transit usually operate solely on local funding, and some cities struggle to keep their systems afloat. Procopio  says public transit is primarily for those who cannot afford a vehicle of their own, but it also serves an important need…:

Cut 14 (07)  “…the workforce as well.”

Louisiana received $20-million in federal Infrastructure grants to build a rail system connecting Baton Rouge to New Orleans. That is not enough to complete the project. Detractors say the train will never have enough riders to turn a profit. Procopio says there are a lot of lingering questions about that rail project still…:

Cut 15 (06)  “…going to be successful.”

PAR doesn’t take a position on public transit; good or bad. They simply provide information for taxpayers to make informed decisions.

________________________________________________________

LSU picked up another top overall ranking as Baseball America ranked the Tigers No. 1 in their top 25 heading into the 2023 season. The Tigers feature one of the most talented rosters in the country and had both the top-ranked recruiting and transfer classes this offseason and made a big splash over the summer by hiring former Twins Pitching Coach Wes Johnson to the staff. Baseball America writer Teddy Cahill says LSU won the offseason…

Cut  16 (19)  “…into this year.” 

The Tigers also boast a strong group of returning players to go alongside new additions. LSU went 40-22 a season ago and 5 of the team’s returning juniors were featured in the Perfect Game top 150 ranking alongside transfers Paul Skenes and Christian Little. Cahill says the Tigers would have been in good shape even without offseason improvements…

Cut 17 (16) “…Baton Rouge.” 

The most notable return for the tigers is one of the top-ranked prospects in college baseball Dylan Crews. Crews was co-SEC player of the year and an All-American as a sophomore last year. Cahill says Crews has to be the preseason favorite to be the top pick in the MLB draft…

Cut 18 (19) “…list too.” 

5:30 LRN Newscast Jan 24

Bond was set this afternoon for three of the four men accused of raping 19-year-old LSU student Madison Brooks before she was run over by a car and killed. 18-year-old Kaivon Washington is charged with third-degree rape with a $150,000 bond. 18-year-old Casen Carver and 27-year-old Everett Lee are charged with principle to third-degree rape. The 17-year-old’s bond hearing will be held next month.

State Lawmakers go into special session Monday to forge a plan to ease property insurance costs, but one House member says he has reservations…:

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Bogalusa Police Captain David Miller offered some pushback after Mayor Tyrin Troung asked the governor for help with the city of 12 thousand after an alarming increase in crime. With a police force of only four, Miller says, despite a recent pay increase, they are still having trouble hiring more new cops…:

Cut 13 (10) “…and recruit.” 

Several areas of the state are under high winds, flash flood, and storm warnings as a front from Texas moves across the state. LRN meteorologist John Wetherbee says the line of strong and severe storms will reach the Baton Rouge area around 7 PM and then New Orleans after 9 PM.

Cut 10 (10) “…be a concern” 

 

4:30 LRN Newscast Jan 24

State lawmakers go into special session Monday to put together a plan to bring new private property insurance companies to Louisiana, but not everyone is on board. The proposal is to use $45-million in surplus cash to make an incentive fund for new incoming insurers. The hope is this will help de-populate Louisiana Citizens, the last-resort insurer which costs significantly more than the private market. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the same plan worked after a big exodus of companies following Katrina and Rita; bring five new companies to the state…but Thibodaux Rep. Bryan Fontenot says there are yet un-answered questions about that plan’s success…:

CUT 08(09)      “…on those companies?”

Four Baton Rouge men are charged with plying LSU co-ed Madison Brooks with alcohol and raping her…before leaving her wandering on a Baton Rouge roadway, where she was hit and killed by traffic. The victim’s blood alcohol was .319 percent; considered alcohol poisoning in most cases.

 

The state Department of Education says a new report shows a two-percent increase in the percentage of teachers choosing to stay in the profession over last year. Superintendent of Education Doctor Cade Brumley says the state has worked to retain teachers by increasing teacher salaries and providing no cost counseling service for teachers…:

CUT 04(09)      “pay opportunities.”

The average teacher salary has increased by 12-hundred dollars to 52-thousand dollars.

Police in Jennings say a high speed chase Monday night ended with a car crash and big drug bust. The two male suspects in the vehicle were treated at a local hospital, th3n arrested after cops found about ten pounds of crystal meth in the car; street value about a quarter-million bucks. They also found $9000 in cash. Jennings Police says it’s the largest seizure of meth ever by their city.

4:45 LRN Sportscast Jan 24

The Pelicans will host the conference-leading Nuggets tonight. Denver is coming off their first loss after a nine-game win streak while the Pelicans struggle to find a rhythm having lost their last 4. The Pels will again be without Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, but Coach Willie Green knows his team is resilient…

Cut 18 (18) “…be okay.”

Tip-off in the Blender is at 7:00

The LSU men’s basketball team will also hope to bounce back from a 6-game losing skid in Arkansas tonight. The Tigers opened SEC play with an upset win over the Razorbacks but have not won a conference game since. Meanwhile, previously ranked Arkansas has gone 2-4 since the loss and are 12.5 point favorites over coach Matt McMahon’s squad tonight. Tip-off is set for 6:00 P.M.

The LSU women’s basketball team kept their perfect season going with an 89-51 win over Alabama yesterday. Forward Angel Reese’s 14-point 14-rebound double-double gave her her 20th straight to start the season to break Sylvia Fowles’ LSU record. Reese was named SEC player of the week for a conference-leading fifth time this season, and LSU improves to 20-0 behind what coach Kim Mulkey says was an impressive all-around effort…

Cut 21

Former Saints Coach Sean Payton interviewed with the Panthers Monday and is set to visit Arizona officials Thursday. His second meeting in Denver was delayed, and Saints analyst Jeff Duncan thinks the longer this process takes, the better chances Payton returns to Fox.

Former Baylor Running Back Sqwirl Williams announced his commitment to Louisiana Tech. Williams totaled almost 600 all-purpose yards and 5 touchdowns for the Bears last season.