LRN AM Newscall August 25

This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana. Jeanne (ZHAHN) Burns reports the storm changed some aspects of the state forever.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

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Secretary of State Nancy Landry is joining registrars of voters across the state this week to promote Voter Registration Week. Andre Champagne has the story…

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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Firefighters in Tangipahoa Parish were busy all weekend long fighting the fire that resulted from an explosion at a lubricant manufacturing facility. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana. And while that storm certainly changed many facets of the state forever, the state is largely the same as it once was. Barry Erwin, the chief policy officer of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says one effect of Katrina’s aftermath was the rise of charter schools throughout the state. Erwin says it all started in New Orleans, and the charter schools have produced tremendous results.

Cut 4 (11) “…’B’ school district”

Erwin says Katrina also led to a consolidation of the levee boards in that part of the state.

Cut 5 (11) “…the levee board.”

Erwin says New Orleans used the occasion of the recovery from Katrina to try to reinvent itself economically, with limited success.

Cut 6 (13) “…didn’t really stick.”

Today, much as it was before Katrina, New Orleans’ biggest economy is in travel and tourism.

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Starting today, residents living in the 3-1-8 area code will have to dial 3-1-8, plus the seven other numbers when making a call to an existing 3-1-8 phone number. It’s because a new 4-5-7 area code will begin next September. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the ten-digit number is necessary to distinguish between the two area codes…

Cut 7 (12) “…number now.”

Starting on September 25th, newly assigned phone numbers in north and central Louisiana will have a 4-5-7 area code. Campbell says to prepare for this new area code, people with a 3-1-8 area code will need to dial all ten numbers when calling another phone with a 3-1-8 area code…

Cut 8 (08) “…deal with.”

Campbell says the new area code is necessary because they ran out of seven-digit numbers for the 3-1-8 area code…

Cut 9 (04)  “…3-1-8.”

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Secretary of State Nancy Landry is promoting Voter Registration Week this week. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State office says this there are events throughout the state this week.

Cut 10 (10) “…their registration.”

Watson says once you register to vote, you’re registered forever — except in certain conditions.

Cut 11 (13) “…you’re eligible.”

Watson says it is important to make sure voter information is up to date for upcoming elections — and you can do so online or on the Geaux Vote app.

Cut 12 (12) “…and accurate.”

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Fire crews spent the weekend battling the fire that resulted from Friday afternoon’s explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland, in Tangipahoa Parish. As of yesterday evening, Louisiana State Police said the fire is 90-percent contained. Yesterday, crews began removing structural debris and addressing covered hotspots. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says a one-mile evacuation zone remains in effect.

Cut 13 (08)  “…sightseers come by.”

Among those evacuated were former Governor John Bel Edwards and his wife. A family associate says they’re safe and are monitoring the situation. During a news conference Saturday morning, State Police Sergeant William Huggins says there were several small explosions in the hours after the initial explosion.

Cut 14 (09) “…at this time.”

Authorities have been monitoring the air quality around the plant since the explosion first happened and recommend that people avoid contact with any soot from the fire and explosion. President Miller says not only was no one killed, no one was even injured in the blast.

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The preseason is over for the Saints, and now we wait for head coach Kellen Moore to announce who will start at quarterback when the regular season begins on September 7th against Arizona. Spencer Rattler started and Tyler Shough replaced him Rattler midway through the second quarter. Moore says both did good things…

Cut 15 (15) “…good stuff.”

Shough ran for a touchdown and threw for 102 yards, but also lost a fumble. Rattler was 5-of-8 for 43 yards.

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Nicholls started its season on Saturday with an impressive win over 4th-ranked UIW. The defense led the way, holding the Cardinals to 204 total yards in a 20-6 win. Ty Marsh scored the first touchdown on a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the first quarter…

Cut 16 (15) “…hoping to get more.”

It was win number one for new head coach Tommy Rybacki. Rybacki was not surprised to see his team play so well in the season opener…

Cut 17 (12)  “…proud of that.”

Nicholls is back in action this Saturday.

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Disappointing start to the season for the Southern Jaguars as they lost to North Carolina Central 31-14 on Saturday night in Atlanta. The Jaguars only threw for 92 yards and the Southern defense gave up 231 rushing yards. Coach Terrance Graves says the game should be a wake up call for his players…

Cut 18 (14) “…execute.”

Southern is at Mississippi Valley State this Saturday.

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Game week has arrived for the LSU Tigers and the starting five on the offensive line has yet to be decided. Starting center Braelin Moore says the competition has been good…

Cut 19 (15) “…five out there.”

A common theme we’ve heard about this team during the preseason is that it’s a close group, despite a lot of new players. Wide receiver Zavion Thomas says the players are always hanging out away from the field…

Cut 20 (20) “…pick it up.”