AM LRN Newscall May 17

Baton Rouge and Celtic Studios are set to play host to the crew of a new 40 million dollar Disney plus feature film. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (28) “…Matt Doyle”

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There was a tense debate in House Civil over the efficacy and long-term effects of COVID vaccines. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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 Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says the House will vote on his legislation that would legalize marijuana today. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (29)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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The upcoming Disney Plus feature film Crater is set to begin filming around the Baton Rouge area, primarily at Celtic Studios.

Celtic Director of Studio Operations Aaron Bayham says hosting the production is a big win for the struggling Capital City film industry and the regional economy.

Cut 4 (10)“…pandemic.”

More than a dozen film and TV projects are reportedly in production or pre-production in Louisiana right now.

The plot is described as a “futuristic teen adventure”.

Cut 5 (09)”…production.”

The 40 million dollar film plans to employ 325 crew members and 400 extras, with hundreds of Louisianans expected to be hired as well.

Bayham says despite the big-budget don’t expect to see much filming going on around Baton Rouge…

Cut 6 (07) “…as the moon.”

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A Houma woman is facing numerous charges after she posed online as a teenager to lure juveniles into human trafficking. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Tim Soignet says 39-year old Angela Lirette allegedly made contact with several teenagers and even had a sexual relationship with one teen.

Cut 7 (12)  “…of a minor.”

Soignet says the case remains under investigation and opted not to say how many victims were involved.

Cut 8 (08) “…investigate.” 

The investigation began on May 11th and Lirette was arrested within two days. Soignet credits the department’s Special Victims division with a quick arrest.

Cut 9 (05) “…we’re doing.”

Lirette is being held on a one-million-dollar bond and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to contact them.

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A debate over the credibility of COVID vaccines broke out in House Civil Monday over a civil liability bill. House Bill 103 prevents businesses from being sued if they don’t require employees to be vaccinated and also prevents the state from denying a business a license if they choose not to mandate vaccines. Amite Representative Robby Carter, who shared that he’s had a kidney transplant, and Candace Timphony, who spoke against vaccines.

Cut 10 (07) “….yes I am”

Timphony expressed her concern over educational facilities requiring vaccines and referenced her daughter who attends nursing school and has preexisting health conditions.

Cut 11 (12) “….nursing school”

Carter and Timphony continued to debate the efficacy of the vaccines and both admitted to being immunocompromised. Carter feels more people should be vaccinated so those who are immunocompromised.

Cut 12 (12) “…individuals.”

The committee passed the amended version of the bill without objection. It now heads to the house floor.

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The author of legislation that would legalize recreational marijuana says the House will vote on his bill today.

Mandeville Republican Representative Richard Nelson says he’s optimistic he now has the votes needed to send this bill to the Senate and he does not plan on delaying that vote again.

Cut 13 (09) “..question.”

Nelson says agreeing to limit personal possession to two and a half ounces and removing language allowing people to grow pot at home helped win over some skeptical lawmakers.

The Sheriff’s Association still opposes the legislation, but Nelson says they don’t represent the views of all Louisiana law enforcement officers.

Cut 14 (10) “…bad guys.”

Lawmakers will be voting on both legalization and taxation instruments.

This vote comes as a JMC Analytics poll of nine south and central Republican-held legislative districts shows strong support for legalization. Publisher John Couvillon says support for legalization ranged from 64 to 84 percent…

Cut 15 (08)“…March.”

A March statewide poll showed 67 percent of Louisianans favored legalizing recreational marijuana use and possession.

Couvillon says in those south and central Louisiana districts he found even evangelicals and older voters backed legalization.

Cut 16 (08) “…are.”

The poll surveyed voters in five Greater New Orleans media market districts, two Lafayette and Lake Charles media markets, one in the Baton Rouge media market, and one in Alexandria.

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The offseason has begun for the Pelicans who finished the 2020-21 season with a 31-41 record.  New Orleans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin is not happy they didn’t make the playoffs.

Cut 17 (14) “..shooting.”

The Pels have two young all-stars in Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, as well as some other young contributors.  Griffin says this team is definitely talented but…

Cut  18 (20)”…team.”

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The LSU baseball team is scheduled to host Northwestern State tonight for its final non-conference game of the year. The forecast does not look good as over an inch of rain could fall in Baton Rouge today. Coach Paul Mainieri says they will try hard to make sure this game is played

Cut 19 (24) “…tomorrow night” 

The Tigers are coming off a 13-5 win over Alabama. Giovanni DiGiacomo hit two home runs after not play in Friday’s win. Mainieri says he sat Gio on Friday after not giving 100-percent in the field in last week’s game against Louisiana Tech. Mainieri is glad DiGiacomo got the message…

Cut 20 (18) “…come here.”