AM LRN Newscall April 9

The longest-serving member of the LSU Board of Supervisors is calling on the school to drop the school’s law firm of Taylor Porter amid the ongoing scandal. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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A COVID vaccine hotline is now online in Louisiana offering residents a one-stop-shop for appointment booking. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Governor Edwards disagreed with calls from an all-woman Legislative committee for administrators at LSU to lose their jobs over the mishandling of sexual misconduct reports. Matt Doyle has more…

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LSU Board of Supervisors member Lee Mallett is calling for the university to cut ties with legal counsel Taylor Porter. He says their advice to a small group of university leaders to keep the board in the dark about the alleged sexual misconduct of former coach Les Miles, is the core of the school’s coverup.

Cut 4 (09)“…about it.”

Mallett, the longest-serving board member, says while he can’t speak for the board during that period, he does believe if all members had been informed, that those involved would have been terminated.

Amid the scandal Mallet feels the current board is being wrongly accused. He says they had no knowledge, but they are committed to correct the ongoing culture at LSU.

Cut 5 (09)“…successful.”

Mallett says the board recognizes that it is now their responsibility to fix it. He says they are committed to doing so for the school and their family.

Cut 6 (09) “…engaged.”

The Baton Rouge law firm of Taylor Porter has represented the university for 80 years.

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The state launches a vaccine hotline that can help schedule COVID vaccine appointments for residents at nearby providers.

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the hotline is open 8 AM to 8 PM Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 PM on Sundays. The number is 855-453-0774.

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The hotline can connect residents with health care experts who can tell you more about how the vaccines are made, what makes them safe, and what makes them highly effective.

Kanter says we’ve approached the point where those who want to get vaccinated can do so easily and without much of a wait, which is why making getting an appointment easy is so important.

Cut 8 (08) “…feel.”

28 percent of all Louisianans have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, 71 percent of those over the age of 65 have.

The only bad news: due to a quality control error at a Baltimore vaccine production plant the nationwide supply of Johnson and Johnson will be low for quite a few weeks.

Cut 9 (06) “…Johnson.”

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Governor Edwards reiterated his support for LSU’s decision not to fire anyone in the wake of the Husch Blackwell report detailing widespread mishandling of sexual misconduct cases.

Edwards says it’s clear that a number of former LSU employees should’ve been fired back in 2013, 14 and 15, but those employees aren’t at LSU anymore…

Cut 10 (11) “…years.”

A growing chorus is calling for Atheltic Administrator Verge Ausburry to be fired for his mishandling of those cases, but Edwards says the failure was systemic, not individual…

Cut 11 (06) “…supervisor.”

Ausberry was suspended for 30 days as a result of the Blackwell findings but is back working at the school now.

LSU recently barred all employees from testifying before a Select committee dedicated to investigating the school’s failure to handle those cases. Edwards didn’t disagree with the school’s decision…

Cut 12 (10) “…sure.”

LSU is being sued by Athletic Administrator Sharon Lewis who alleges there was a broad conspiracy to cover up sexual misconduct by former coach Les Miles, and that she faced retaliation for investigating allegations against Miles. LSU lawyer Winston Decuir responded to the suit saying the school will defend against the claims and that Lewis is just trying to take advantage of the ongoing situation for personal benefit.

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The 2021 Louisiana Survey asks residents about the extent of racial discrimination in six different situations like at work; applying for loans; voting; medical treatment and dealing with the police. Policy Lab Research Director Mike Henderson says overall 55-percent of white Louisianans feel Blacks are treated equally.

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However, when Black Louisianans were asked the same questions, Henderson says a very large majority of respondents feel they are treated less fairly than whites.

Cut 14 (07) “…circumstances.”

Henderson says of the multiple situations questioned in the survey the one area where both whites and Blacks agree is the discriminatory treatment of blacks by police.

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Regarding if the country needs to make further changes to achieve equal rights, 84-percent of Black Louisianan say yes compared to 39-percent of whites.

781 adult residents were surveyed in the state from January 4th to March 1st.

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The 16th ranked Louisiana Tech baseball team has won three straight weekend series as they begin a four-game set tonight at Rice. The Bulldogs have won 12 of their last 14.  A big part of their success has been on offense. Coach Lane Burroughs says they are doing a good job of getting clutch hits, especially when trailing.

Cut 16 (13) “…off the bench.”

Tonight’s game against the Owls will start at 6 PM.  Rice is 13-14-1 on the season and just 2-5-1 in Conference play.  Despite their record, Burroughs says Rice is a talented team.

Cut 17 (13) “…wrong time.”

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Fresh off a five to three win over Alabama on Wednesday, the ULM baseball team begins a three-game series tonight against Georgia Southern. The Warhawks are looking to snap a five-game losing streak in Sun Belt play. Coach Michael Federico on what he wants to see from his team in Statesboro

Cut  18 (18)  “…to win.” (x2)

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LSU looks to snap a six-game losing streak in the SEC when they visit Kentucky for three games starting tonight in Lexington. Landon Marceaux is tonight’s starting pitcher for the Tigers and A-L Labas gets the ball tomorrow. Coach Paul Mainieri is holding off on naming a starter for Sunday’s series finale…

Cut 19 (19) “…three guys” 

Labas on the importance of getting an SEC victory sooner than later…

Cut 20 (15) “…one game at a time.”