LRN PM Newscall December 31

2015 comes to a close tonight. Don Molino looks back at an eventful year in Louisiana…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Don Molino”

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There seems to be a spike in hoverboard injuries during the holiday season. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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2015 was filled with big stories in Louisiana. In July, the bayou state was in the national headlines when John Russell Houser opened fire inside a Lafayette movie theater, killing two people, injuring nine others and then turning the gun on himself. Here’s one man who survived the attack…

CUT 3 (06)  “right at people”

Also in 2015, Louisiana led the country in law enforcement officers killed while in the line of duty. Five were fatally shot, including State Trooper Steven Vincent. State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson says Vincent  attempted to help a stranded motorist near Lake Charles, when he was fatally shot

CUT 4 (07)  “celebrate his life”

At the state capitol, a huge budget shortfall dominated the discussion. On two separate occasions, students from public colleges protested on the steps of the capitol over proposed cuts in state funding to higher education…

CUT 5 (11)  “cheers”

The state’s budget problems will be a big story in 2016. In November, Louisiana voters chose Democrat John Bel Edwards as the man to fix the state’s fiscal mess…

CUT 6 (08) “others”

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One of the most popular gifts this holiday season is the hoverboard. But it seems that as soon as people unwrapped their hoverboard, it started sending them to the hospital. Dr. Russell Russo, a New Orleans Orthopedic Surgeon, says he has seen a spike in hoverboard injuries in the past few weeks…

CUT 7 (10) “hoverboard injuries” 

Russo says he’s seen up to 10 injuries from hoverboard accidents in the past couple of weeks, compared to 6 in the last four months. He feels the problem with hoverboards is that people jump on them and assume they’re just going to learn to ride with no issues. Russo says most hoverboard injuries occur when people try to dismount the device…

CUT 8 (09) “coming from”

He says kids and people with osteoporosis are at a higher risk to suffer injuries from hoverboards. Russo says if you’ve received a hoverboard, it would be best if you learned how to properly ride it…

CUT 9 (09)  “jump on them”

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Louisiana State Police is reminding everyone ringing in the New Year with alcohol, not to drink and drive. Sgt. Nick Manale says to make sure you have a plan in place to get home safely before you start drinking, because once alcohol enters the body, your judgement becomes impaired.

cut 10 (10)  “ride home”

Manale says State Police will be out in full force with DWI checkpoints, as well as, proactive patrols looking to get drunk drivers off the road. He says if you suspect an impaired driver, notify L-S-P.

Cut 11 (09) “that vehicle”

Manale says they want to make sure everyone has a safe and joyous New Year’s holiday this evening and that is all based on your decision to drink and drive or get a safe ride home.

cut 12 (08) “holiday safe”

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The Red River in the Shreveport-Bossier City area is expected to crest at 31.5 feet on Saturday, but officials are not expecting a huge impact to the public. Robert Jump, Caddo Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness deputy director, says regularly the river sits at about 18 feet but even with the higher crest, they don’t predict it will cause any flood damage to businesses or homes.

cut 13 (10)  “flaws are”

Jump says they’ve learned a lot of lessons from the Red River floods in June, which ruined many homes and businesses. He says flood control measures have been put in so they area can handle up to 37 feet of water.

cut 14 (09)  “be effected” 

Jump says their largest impact right now is agriculture in the southern part of the parish and they’ve already alerted farmers to move livestock to the dry side of the levee. He says they’re taking a different approach at keeping city infrastructure running.

cut 15 (11)  “pumps running”

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