LRN PM Newscall March 23

Burl Cain, the former warden at Angola, spoke at a press conference today about the investigation that eventually disproved the allegations he was a corrupt warden. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Legislation that seeks to put an end to the LHSAA’s split playoff format won approval from the House Education Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story….

CUT 2 (3)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Residents of Donaldsonville have been advised not to drink the water until further notice, because the Peoples Water System has been treating its drinking water with elevated levels of chlorine dioxide. State health officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says they will conduct an on-site inspection of the system, including testing the water.

CUT 3 (09)  “take samples”

Chlorine dioxide was found in the water treatment system at levels four to five times the EPA standard for the chemical. Guidry says this chemical is an EPA-approved water treatment disinfectant.

CUT 4 (12)  “impact health”

Guidry says they have notified the water company that it must immediately change how it treats its water. He says the health risks are minimal for most people, but it could be dangerous for pregnant women and children.

CUT 5 (09)  “I’m pregnant”

Exposure to chlorine dioxide can cause serious health effects to the nervous systems of infants, young children and to the fetuses of pregnant women. The water system serves about 10-thousand customers. The “do not drink” alert will remain in effect until further notice.

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A proposed bill to prohibit school boards from requiring uniforms does NOT get out of the House Education Committee. Author of the legislation, Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater, filed the bill after working with a group for fourth graders, who came up with the idea to get rid of uniforms. New Orleans Representative Joe Bouie opposed the legislation…

CUT 6 (10) “have it”

Houma Rep. Beryl Amadee says she supports uniforms in public schools because she remembers a time where kids would get beat up at school for wearing name brand tennis shoes or expensive clothing.

CUT 7 (09) “uniforms”

Gonzales Rep. Ed Price was a member of the Ascension Parish School Board when they were the first parish to switch to uniforms. He says students do better in school when they wear uniforms.

CUT 8 (09) “than anything”

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Saints coach Sean Payton today told reporters that the franchise wants him to stick around 5 more years, and that he couldn’t see himself anywhere else. The Saints say Payton agreed to the extension. Payton said at the owners meeting this morning that the proposal means a lot…:

CUT 9 (10) “another 5 years”

Payton came to New Orleans in 2006 and coached the team to it’s first NFC Championship that year. He went on to bring the Saints their first Super Bowl appearance and victory in the 2009 – 2010 season. Payton says it feels good to know he’s working for an organization that is confident about the future…:

cut 10 (07)  “through 2020″

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Former Angola Warden Burl Cain spoke briefly this morning about the investigation into allegations that he was a corrupt prison leader during his 20 year tenure. The investigation eventually cleared him, as the Inspector General said there was no evidence to support these accusations. Cain says these false claims ruined his life.

Cut 11 (10) “and so forth”

Cain stepped down January first. He says he does not feel any animosity towards Governor John Bel Edwards, who asked him to step down, because Edwards was just doing his job. He says so far he is enjoying retirement, and he’s just ready for all this to be over.

cut 12 (06) “in corrections”

Cain condemned investigative reporters for not checking the facts, because he says their sources could have been inmates who had axes to grind with him. He says he is pleased with his accomplishments at Angola, and hopes the investigation doesn’t tarnish his legacy.

Cut 13 (09)  “Catholic church”

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Legislation seeking to end the public-versus-private school split impacting the LHSAA scored a victory in the House education committee. The panel approved the measure after hearing from two highly successful coaches at select schools. John Curtis Head Football Coach JT Curtis called on the legislature to help bring the association back together

cut 14 (08)  “right page”

Three years ago, member principals of the LHSAA voted to split the playoffs in football and the split will be expanded to other sports next school year. Metairie Park Country Day boys basketball coach Mike McGuire says the split will double the number of state champions in basketball and that’s a bad thing…

cut 15 (08) ” apart” 

The measure now heads to the House floor. There were several members of the committee who opposed the bill. Gonzales Representative Ed Price says the LHSAA is a private organization and should handle its own business like any other group not owned by the state…

cut 16 (11) “his team”

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