LRN AM Newscall Jan 19

The price at the pump continues to fall all across Louisiana. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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State health officials say the worst of the current flu season is still to come and they’re encouraging everyone to make sure they are vaccinated. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (27)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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Gas prices continue to fall all across Louisiana. GasBuddy-dot-com reports that the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has dropped six cents in the past week. Spokesperson Gregg Laskoski says Louisiana’s average price per gallon has fallen to $1.67…

CUT 3 (08)  “the gas pump”

He says the lowest gas price in the state is $1.41 a gallon reported at a location in Kenner. Laskoski says falling gas prices is becoming a nationwide trend…

CUT 4 (09)  “crude oil prices”

He says falling gas prices are a direct result of the rapid drop in crude oil prices. The price of West Texas Intermediate crude has plunged below $30 a barrel as a result of the lifting of sanctions against Iran, which will add more oil to an already glutted market. Laskoski says oil prices could drop even further…

CUT 5 (07)  “25 dollars”

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The Department of Health and Hospitals says the worst of the current influenza season is still to come and they encourage everyone to get a flu shot. Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch says it’s fortunate that flu season has been very slow, to date, in Louisiana. Welch thinks there’s one big reason for the slow start…

CUT 6 (09) “around the country”

He says doctor visits for flu-like symptoms in the state are down around 50-percent from this time last year. Welch says flu activity is increasing in other parts of the country and it’s only a matter of time before it hits Louisiana…

CUT 7 (06) “in activity”

He says they expect flu activity to increase in the state over the next couple of weeks. With the heart of flu season coming, Welch says it’s not too late to get that flu shot…

CUT 8 (08) “it gets here”

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The artists performing at the 2016 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival include Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam, Neil Young, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Van Morrison, Snoop Dog and many more. Festival producer Quint Davis says each year they strive to book acts that offer a little something for everyone..:

CUT 9 (11)  “gonna like” (2x)

The lineup at nojazzfest.com, announced this morning, includes the individual days each artist will perform the 7 dates between, April 22nd through May 1st. Davis says, of course, the Louisiana and New Orleans staple musicians, who have now become big names in their own right, can be heard at Jazzfest this year as well.

cut 10 (12)  “Big Freedia”

This is the 47th edition of the annual festival. Time slots will be released closer to the festival. Davis says the “food festival” itself is considered one of the best in the nation even without the music….:

Cut 11 (12) “under $10″

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The ex-mayor of Sorrento has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography and animal cruelty charges. Spokesperson for the 23rd District Attorney’s Office Charlotte Guedry says under the plea deal Wilson Longanecker, Jr. will spend 40 years in jail.  She says the D-A’s office was ready to go to trial with a forensic veterinarian that testified in the Michael Vick case.

cut 12 (10) “to trial”

Guedry says Longnecker is charged with 40 counts of child porn and seven counts of animal cruelty. She says the videos found at Longanecker’s Sorrento home involved minor girls, some as young as three years old.

cut 13 (02)  “to watch”

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A Lamborghini was found completely burned outside of H and O Investments in Baton Rouge this morning. H & O Investments pulled out of a contract last week to remove Confederate monuments in New Orleans. Attorney Roy Maughan, Jr. says in recent weeks, the company owner, David Mahler, received personal death threats at home and work.

cut 14 (09)  “is one”

Maughan says authorities are working to determine if the fire is related to the removal of the monuments. He says Mahler believes the story isn’t about him but about what the city council of New Orleans voted to do.

cut 15 (10)  “the threat”

Maughan says Mahler is concerned that because his Lamborghini was set on fire, the death threats he received might not be idle. He says Mahler is trying to handle it the best way he can by reporting the incident…

cut 16 (08)  “a relationship”