LRN PM Newscall November 21

A report shows drug, alcohol and suicide death rates could rise by 42 percent in Louisiana. Kelley Ray has more.

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

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On the two-year anniversary of getting elected as governor, John Bel Edwards sends an email to supporters asking for donations for his re-election campaign. Emelie Gunn has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Delhi Senator Francis Thompson, who has served in the state legislature for 40 years, will undergo surgery next month for prostate cancer. Thompson says he’s never spent a night in the hospital, even when he was born…

Cut 3 (09) “for me”

The 76-year-old Thompson says an MRI discovered the cancer and he’s hoping for a quick recovery…

Cut 4  (10) ” work out well” 

Thompson was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1974. Senate President John Alario is the only other state legislator who has served longer than Thompson. The chairman of the Senate Ag committee plans to be ready for the next legislative session…

Cut 5  (05)  they’ll be wrong”

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Nicholls State is preparing to host its first ever college football playoff game. Athletic Director Matthew Roan says since the announcement was made that the Colonels are hosting a playoff game, the ticket’s office phones have not stopped ringing…

Cut 6 (07)  rolling today”

The Colonels will host South Dakota at 3 PM at John L Guidry Stadium on Saturday in the opening round of the FCS playoffs. Roan gives a lot of credit to third-year head coach Tim Rebowe, who has been sucessful on and off the field…

Cut 7 (10)      the program” 

The Colonels made the 24-team field by finishing 8-3 in the regular season and winning seven games in the Southland Conference. Nicholls is making just its fourth appearance in the playoffs and the first since 2005. Roan says they are good enough to make a deep run in the playoffs

Cut 8 (07) “as well”

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A report released today finds that Louisiana’s drug, alcohol and suicide death rate could increase 42 percent in the next ten years. Well Being Trust helped put the study together and it’s chief policy officer, Ben Miller, says the opioid epidemic is at the root of this troubling report…

Cut 9 (10)  “themselves addicted.”

Miller says those who find themselves trapped by drug abuse need to know that there is a way out. Members of the medical community and those in mental health need to help lower the risk of suicide by making the first step…

Miller says the report outlines a strategy of prevention, early identification and treatment in the hopes Louisiana doesn’t see a 42-percent increase in these type of deaths.

Cut 11 (08) “encounter it.”

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Two years ago today, John Bel Edwards was elected as Louisiana’s 56th governor. Edwards approval ratings are solid, but political analyst Clancy Dubos says there’s no guarantee the Democrat from Amite will be re-elected

Cut 12 (13) “too many victories”

Dubos says if the governor is able to help solve the state’s fiscal problems, it will greatly help his re-election chances in 2019….

Cut 13 (09)  public hospitals”

Edwards sent an email today to supporters asking for donations. The governor’s latest campaign finance report shows he has three-point-three-million dollars on hand, but Dubos says Edwards will need every penny he can get it…

Cut 14 (06) “against him”