LRN PM Newscall August 6 2024

Former LSU pole vaulter and Louisiana native Mondo Duplantis set another world record at the Paris Olympics. Mel Bridges has the story.

Cut 1 (31) …I’m Mel Bridges.”

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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate as she campaigns for president. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (00)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

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At the Olympics, former LSU pole vaulter and Lafayette native Mondo Duplantis, who competed for his mother’s home country of Sweden, vaulted 20 and a half feet to break the world record for the ninth time and win a gold medal. Duplantis says in the moment, he wasn’t focused on getting the world record, he was just focused on making the jump.

Cut 3 (11) “…really good.”

Duplantis started pole vaulting as a child in his backyard in Lafayette, using a pit dug by his parents-slash-coaches, who had met when they were both on the LSU track and field team. Nine world records later, Duplantis says he didn’t think about setting a record while he was vaulting, but it all hit him once he hit the ground.

Cut 4 (12) “…freaking out.”

After he won gold and set an Olympic record, Duplantis had the bar moved one centimeter higher than world record height. Though he missed his first two jumps, he made the third and sealed a world record. He says he’s so thrilled about winning, he can’t possibly think about what’s next.

Cut 5 (12)  “…except this.”

Duplantis is 24-years-old and the next Summer Olympics is in Los Angeles in 2028.

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Triple-digit high temperatures are expected across the state this week, as highs will threaten to break records. LSU Climatologist Barry Keim says Louisiana is baking under another heat dome…

Cut 6 (10) “..Gulf of Mexico.”

Keim says when it’s this hot, visits to the emergency room increase with people suffering from heat related illnesses. He says if you are going to be outside for long periods, where loose fitting clothing…

Cut 7 (12) “…little bit.”

Keim says even the early morning temperatures will also be oppressive…

Cut 8 (07)  “…above normal.”

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Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, and is expected to introduce him at a rally in Philadelphia this evening. John Couvillon of JMC Analytics says Walz is a safe pick for the Harris campaign, adding Walz is…

Cut 9 (10) “…Democratic Party.”

Walz has shown that he can work well with both parties, as he spent his first term as governor with a divided state Congress. However, Couvillon says Walz has proved himself to be quite progressive since getting re-elected.

Cut 10 (12) “…re-elected.”

Though Walz as progressive as Harris, Couvillon says the white, male governor provides a good optical foil to Harris. Couvillon drew comparisons between them and another Democratic presidential pair: Barack Obama choosing Joe Biden as his vice president in 2008.

Cut 11 (10) ” …for president.”

Before serving as governor, Walz was a teacher, member of Congress and command sergeant major in the Army National Guard.

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An arrest has been made in connection to the July 22nd murder of a Marksville man. Tim Ryan with the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Department says officers responded to a call of a deceased person near LA Highway 1192 and found Gary P. Normand of Marksville deceased.

Cut 12 (11) “…suspects involved.”

One of the suspects is 19-year-old Jacob E. Michot, also of Marksville, who was arrested on July 30th on charges of Principle to 2nd Degree Murder and Possession of Stolen Things related to Normand’s murder. Ryan says Michot isn’t the only suspect in this case.

Cut  13 (08) “…forthcoming.” 

Michot is in custody of APSO with a 1.1 million dollar bond.