AM LRN Newscall Nov 30

As the state’s top law enforcement agency remains under federal investigation after the 2019 death of Ronald Greene, Attorney General-elect Liz Murrill announces her own investigation.  Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The 2023 hurricane season ends today and although 17 named storms were predicted by NOAA, it was a very busy season with 20 and seven were hurricanes. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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LSU’s Bayou Barbie is back as Angel Reese will be on the floor tonight when 7th ranked LSU hosts 9th ranked Virginia Tech. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Attorney General-elect Liz Murrill announces the appointment of former federal prosecutor Ed O’Callahan to conduct an in-depth review of the practices and operations of state police. Louisiana State Police is under a US Department of Justice investigation following the 2019 death of Ronald Greene.

Cut 4 (10) “…going forward.”

Murrill says O’Callahan is a long-time former federal prosecutor and former top official at the U.S. Department of Justice. She says O’Callahan and his team from the Washington DC law office of WilmerHale will guide the state in the ongoing USDOJ investigation.

Cut 5 (11) “…this country.”

Murrill, who’s the current Solicitor General, says because she respects and supports law enforcement an internal review of LSP is what’s best for the agency.

Cut 6 (13) “…improvements.”

O’Callahan has conducted similar reviews of law enforcement agencies in Illinois, Maryland, and New York.

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Today officially marks the last day of the 2023 hurricane season. While 14 named storms are considered an average season, State Climatologist Barry Keim says the season ended with 20 named storms and the signature storm – Hurricane Idalia.

Cut 7 (12) “…pretty spectacular..”

NOAA predicted a near to below to average season of 12 to 17 named storms. Out of the 20 named storms, seven developed into hurricanes and three became major hurricanes.

Despite early predictions, Keim says this season is tied for the fourth most active season we have on record. Overall, he says storm tracking was away from the Bayou State which kept it relatively quiet and dry.

Cut 8 (12) “…of that.” 

Keim says we could still possibly get storms in December and January. He says Louisiana is in a swing season period with a strong El Nino but hopes for more rain to help the drought.

Cut 9 (12)  “…to bed.”

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With 40 days left before transitioning to a new administration, Governor John Bel Edwards administration has released reports highlighting their accomplishments over the last eight years. Deputy Chief of Staff Eric Holl says it shows the work done by state agencies under Governor Edwards leadership.

Cut 10 (11) “…by LED.”

The “Challenges Met, Progress Delivered” overview details information of the Department of Health expansion of Medicaid and the people it helped.

Holl says the report details the work of Louisiana Economic Development has grown and diversified the economy and its record-breaking economic development deals. His personal favorite accomplishments…

Cut 11 (12) “…their community.” 

Holl says the series also celebrates Louisiana being much better off than it was eight years ago. He says the state has made tremendous progress in every possible metric including…

Cut 12 (09) “…billion dollars.” 

 

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It’s a new day for the Northwestern State football program as 47-year-old Blaine McCorkle takes over as the new head coach of the Demons. McCorkle takes over for Brad Laird, who resigned six games into the season following the murder of safety Ronnie Caldwell. The Demons did not play their final four games of the season so he McCorkle recognizes emotions are still raw…

Cut 13 (12) “…right in the tail.”

McCorkle is a 2000 graduate of LSU. He was a long snapper for the Tigers in the late 1990s and played on three bowl teams. He says he’s wanted to be a Division one head coach in Louisiana for 30 years now…

Cut 14 (14) “…football games.”

McCorkle spent the last six seasons as the head coach of Belhaven College. A division three school in Jackson, Mississippi. He took over a losing program and over the last three seasons at Belhaven they went 24-7 and celebrated their first appearance in the Division three playoffs in school history.  McCorkle wants to win championships at Northwestern State…

Cut 15 (15) “…to do.”

Northwestern State has not had a winning season since 2008.

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All-American forward Angel Reese is back with the 7th-ranked Lady Tigers just in time for Thursday night’s matchup against 9th-ranked Virginia Tech, a rematch of last year’s national semifinal game won by LSU. Reese has missed the last four games for an undisclosed reason and Coach Kim Mulkey says Angel is back and everyone is happy…

Cut 16 (10) “…the country.”

In four games this season, Reese is averaging 17 points and ten rebounds a game. She had 24 points and 12 rebounds against Hokie when they beat them last year to advance to the national championship game.

It remains a mystery why Reese missed the last four games, including a trip to the Cayman Islands. Mulkey continues to say it was a locker room issue…

Cut 17 (17) “…to me.”

Junior guard Kateri Poole has also been absent from the team. Mulkey says Poole is still not back and did not elaborate if her return is imminent. Poole averaged five points and two assists a game last year as she provided defensive toughness off the bench.

Mulkey did confirm that sophomore forward Sa’Myah Smith will miss the rest of the season after tearing her A-C-L and M-C-L in last Friday’s win over Niagara. Smith is a six-foot-two sophomore forward and Mulkey says she’ll be missed

Cut 18 (18)  “…thus far.” 

Smith is averaging 12 points and eight rebounds a game this season. LSU could use Smith against Va Tech. Six-foot-six Elizabeth Kitley is averaging 24 points and 12 rebounds a game. Tip-off is at 8 PM.

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Cut 19 (18) “…moving forward” 

 

Cut 20 (20) “…that’s significant.”