1:30 LRN Newscast March 02

A Tangipahoa Parish lawmaker wants to suspend drilling of carbon capture wells in Lake Maurepas. Ponchatoula Representative Bill Wheat (R – Dist.73) says he’ll file a bill for the regular legislative session in April that would impose a moratorium on carbon sequestration, until certain environmental concerns are addressed. Wheat says the technology is somewhat new and there are a lot of questions…:

CUT 12(14)      “…on the lake.”

His bill would impose a moratorium until the safety of the lake can be assured.

There’s severe weather in the forecast, especially in northwestern Louisiana. Meteorologist John Wetherbee says cities along I-20 should be ready for the rough stuff…:

CUT 08(06)      “…evening tonight.”

A cool front will arrive in behind the system.

 

Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul spoke publicly today for the first time about a missing Georgia businessman; not seen for over a week after leaving a downtown bar on February 22nd. Paul says they’ve had training cadets canvas the area for Nathan Millard and they’ve been reviewing camera footage…:

CUT 03(10)      “…Mr. Millard.”

If you have any information about Millard, you are encouraged to contact BRPD or Crimestoppers.

A Hammond woman faces serious charges for allegedly racking up thousands of dollars in charges on an elderly relative’s bank card. 31-year-old Maili Morris reportedly used her aging aunt’s card to seond $12-thousand on restaurant deliveries and store purchases over a four-month span. She faces over 130 counts of identity theft and dozens of others. A judge set her bail at $18-million dollars.

12:30 LRN Newscast March 02

Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul discussed the Nathan Millard case on “Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster” this morning, he’s the Georgia man who vanished last week…:

CUT 01(39)      “…Thorington.”

Leesville Police say a person was hit and killed by a train, while walking on the tracks. This happened Wednesday evening. The victim’s identity is withheld until family are notified.

 

An active weather day is expected today. LRN meteorologist John Wetherbee says the greatest risk for severe weather – including possible tornadoes – is for the Shreveport-Ruston area…:

CUT 07(08)      “…egg-shaped.”

Congresswoman Julia Letlow wants to give parents legal protections so they can inquire about what their child is being taught in school with the Parents Bill of Rights Act. As a former educator, Letlow says the bill isn’t an attack on teachers, but rather help in building a foundation between teachers, schools, and parents.

…and not today’s commodities…:

11:30 LRN Newscast

As a search team from Texas is in town looking for a Georgia man who went missing a week ago, Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul was a guest on Jim Engster’s Talk Louisiana this morning discussing the case. Paul says they’ve had training cadets canvas the area for Nathan Millard and they’ve been reviewing camera footage.
Cut 3 (10) “…Mr. Millard.”

An active weather day is expected today. L-R-N meteorologist John Wetherbee says the greatest risk for severe weather is for the Shreveport-Ruston area…
Cut 6 (15) “…severe thunderstorms”

The Louisiana Association of Business & Industry’s Annual Meeting today in Baton Rouge will feature the first forum of 2023 Governor candidates….:
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

St. Gabriel Police officer, 27-year-old Andre Redditt, was arrested in an early morning shooting in Denham Springs. Livingston Parish Sheriff deputies say Redditt shot and killed his estranged partner, 26-year-old Dylan Martin. The St. Gabriel Police Department says Redditt has since been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Two of the best scorers in the NBA went against each other last night, Brandon Ingram for New Orleans, Damien Lillard for Portland. Lillard had 41 points, while Ingram 40. But it was Ingram and the Pelicans that got the win, 121 to 110. New Orleans is at Golden State tomorrow.

LSU concluded the home portion of its schedule last night as the Tigers lost to Missouri 81-76. The Tigers led by 19 points in the first half.

La Tech looks to snap a six-game losing streak tonight as they host F-I-U. Since Cobe Williams left the team two weeks ago, Coach Talvin Hester has had to depend more on Isaiah Crawford who is averaging 15 points a game…
cut 19 (19) “….through Isaiah”
Tip off is at 6 PM.

LSU’s new special teams coach John Jancek has never been a special teams coordinator before. Brody Miller with the Athletic expects several different analysts that are on staff will help coach up the special teams…
cut 17 (20) “….special teams”
The Tigers are set to begin spring football a week from today.

Louisiana Tech baseball is not happy with how yesterday’s game ended with Ole Miss. The Bulldogs scored twice in the top of the seventh inning to take a five to four lead. But lightning moved into the area and the game never resumed. Since the Rebels did not not bat in the bottom of the seventh, the game reverts back to the scoere at the end of the sixth inning, with Ole Miss leading four to three, so the Rebels get credit for the win.

10:30 LRN Newscast

The FBI says the latest intelligence information points to COVID-19 most likely originated from a lab in China. Back in 2020, Senator Bill Cassidy says there were attempts to silence individuals who suggested such a possibility. He says it’s time for the feds to release everything they know about COVID…
cut 6 (12) “….everything we know”

A Georgia businessman and a father of five has been missing for a week now. He was last seen leaving Happy’s Irish Pub in downtown Baton Rouge on February 22nd. Volunteers with the nonprofit group, Texas EqueeSearch, arrive today in Baton Rouge to help in the search for 42-year-old Nathan Millard. Search coordinator Kristen Harvey….
cut 8 (08) “…with law enforcement”
Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul says they have spoken with a person of interest.

Showers and thunderstorms are moving across north Louisiana this morning and there’s a medium chance for tornadoes to touchdown across most of north Louisiana this afternoon and tonight. There’s an enhanced risk for severe weather in northeast and central Louisiana and a slight chance for south Louisiana.

Two farmers and a retired educator will be inducted into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction this evening. Don Molino has more.
Cut 3 (31) “…working in sugarcane.”

9:30 LRN Newscast

Senator Bill Cassidy commented on statements made by the FBI and Federal Energy Department stating COVID-19 emerged as a worldwide pandemic after being released from a research lab in Wuhan, China. Media outlets told people worldwide the virus emerged “organically:” from people consuming animals at a Wuhan “wet market.” Cassidy says the public was told misleading things about COVID.

Cut 5 (10) “…natural vaccination.”

 

Surveillance images released by Texas Equusearch show Nathan Millard (me-lard), a 42-year-old Georgia Executive,  inside a downtown Baton Rouge hotel before he disappeared. Millard was in town for business and disappeared after leaving Happy’s Irish Pub last week. Texas EquuSearch Search Coordinator, Kristen Harvey says the video shows an individual using Millard’s debit cards at the Greyhound bus station in Baton Rouge.

Cut 9 (09)  “…vanished.”

 Anyone with information on Millard’s disappearance can contact BRPD at 225-389-3853.

 

The Louisiana Association of Business & Industry’s Annual Meeting today in Baton Rouge will feature the first forum of 2023 Governor candidates.The candidates’ forum will take place during the luncheon. LABI President & CEO Stephen Waguespack  says the theme is the future of the state and its future leaders…:

Cut 12 (06) “…informative policy.”

 The LABI event gets underway this morning at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Baton Rouge.

 

Congresswoman Julia Letlow wants to give parents legal protections so they can inquire about what their child is being taught in school with the Parents Bill of Rights Act.  As a former educator, Letlow says the bill isn’t an attack on teachers whatsoever, it merely helps build a foundation between teachers, schools, and parents. Letlow says during the pandemic parents were exposed to their child’s lesson plans and when they questioned them…

Cut 13 (06) “…domestic terrorist.” 

Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley also supports the legislation.

 

08:30 LRN Newscast, March 2nd

The Louisiana Association of Business & Industry’s Annual Meeting today in Baton Rouge will feature the first forum of 2023 Governor candidates. LABI President & CEO Stephen Waguespack says his group is pushing a strategic game plan, “LA 23,” to help make Louisiana an economic driver by 2030, and that will be a big focus of today’s meeting…:
Cut 11 (10) “that plan; LA 23”
The four declared Republican candidates are slated to be there today.

A volunteer search group out of Texas is getting involved in the search for 42-year-old Nathan Millard (Me-lard) of Georgia who vanished after leaving Happy’s Irish Pub in Baton Rouge last week. Kristen Harvey with Texas EquuSearch says they’ll be in town today asking questions…:
CUT 8 (08) “law enforcement”
Anyone with information on Millard’s disappearance is urged to contact Baton Rouge Police.

Congresswoman Julia Letlow is proposing a measure in Congress that would let parents legally ask about what their child is being taught in school…:
Cut 15 (05) “time and time again”
The bill has already received more than 60 co-sponsors.

Two farmers and a retired educator will be inducted into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction this evening. Don Molino has more..:
Cut 3 (31) “working in sugarcane”

07:30 LRN Newscast, March 2nd

The search for a Georgia man who mysteriously went missing in Baton Rouge last week while on a business trip is heating up. 42-year-old Nathan Millard (Me-lard) is a married father of five and disappeared after leaving Happy’s Irsh Pub downtown. The search and recovery group Texas EquuSearch is now involved, and its coordinator is Kristen Harvey:
Cut 7 (11) “slept in”
Harvey says they shared photos of Millard inside the hotel before he vanished, and the volunteer group will be in Baton Rouge today.

Senator Bill Cassidy is responding to a report from the FBI that indicates Covid likely originated from a lab leak during viral research in Wuhan, China. Cassidy questions why that notion was passed off as false information back in 2020…:
Cut 4 (08) “for so long”
He says it’s time for the government to be upfront with Americans about what is known.

The Louisiana Association of Business & Industry’s Annual Meeting today in Baton Rouge will feature the first forum of 2023 gubernatorial candidates….:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

The National Weather Service in Shreveport said supercell thunderstorms have the potential to produce tornadoes, large hail and flash flooding in the Ark-La-Texas region this afternoon and tonight. They put the area under a moderate risk for severe weather through 6am tomorrow.

06:45 LRN Sportscast, March 2nd

The LSU men’s basketball team fought the good fight last night, but Missouri rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to take down the Tigers 81-76 in the PMAC. The Bayou Bengals conclude the regular season on Saturday at Florida.

The Louisiana Tech Athletics Department has released a statement regarding the controversial ending to last night’s baseball game versus Ole Miss. The Bulldogs were leading 5-4 when the game was put into a rain delay and ultimately called off at the top of the 7th. NCAA rules state the score reverts to the last completed inning which was the 6th when the Rebels were leading 4-3. The statement says Tech offered to return to Oxford to resume the game but were told the Ole Miss Administration would not allow it.

The New Orleans Pelicans got a nice win last night on the road taking down Portland 121-110. Brandon Ingram led the Pels with 40 points. CJ. McCollum scored 24.

LSU announced they will be hiring Defensive Analyst former Georgia and Tennessee Defensive Coordinator John Jancek (Jan-Sick) as the new Special Teams Coordinator and Outside Linebackers Coach for the Tigers. Brody Miller of the Athletic says the move shows LSU is looking for help on the defensive end..:
Cut 16 (15) “rusher spot”

Louisiana Tech men’s basketball is set to host FIU this afternoon. The team has struggled to close out the season, losing their last 6 straight dating back to early February. Coach Talvin Hester says Junior Forward Isaiah Crawford is a bright spot…:
Cut 19 (19) “through Isaiah”

06:30 LRN Sportscast, March 2nd

US Representative Julie Letlow of Start has support of Republicans in Congress for her bill giving parents the legal right to review their child’s school curriculum. Letlow is a former educator and says this bill is not an attack on schools, but opens up communication…:
CUT 14 (09) “child’s education”
She said during Covid, parents had a difficult time inquiring about what their kids were being taught and this measure seeks to correct that.

2023 gubernatorial candidates are set to attend their first forum today at LABI’s annual meeting. Republican candidates – A.G. Jeff Landry, Treasurer John Schroder, and state legislators Sharon Hewitt and Richard Nelson – are confirmed to be there. LABI President Stephen Waguespack says it’ll be a question-and-answer session:
CUT 10 (08) “business community”
The event gets underway this morning at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Baton Rouge.

The search for missing Georgia business executive Nathan Millard who went missing in Downtown Baton Rouge intensifies. More from Teiko Foxx…:
Cut 1 (32) “Teiko Foxx”

The widow of Governor Edwin Edwards, Trina, has announced she and her fiancé, 79-year-old former state Senate president John Alario will get married on June 1st. The couple has been engaged since August of last year.