7:30 LRN newscast September 19

Republican Senator John Kennedy says he wants to hear from the woman who accuses US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of a sexual assault that allegedly occurred at a high school party in the 1980s. Kennedy sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee which is expected to vote soon on Kavanaugh’s confirmation. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Kennedy does not want to spurn a woman claiming harassment in the “Me Too” era…
cut 8 (06) “….on the court”
Kennedy is holding a conference call with reporters on the subject at 9:30.

Ground has been broken for a new medical school on the University of Louisiana at Monroe campus. The 100-thousand square foot facility is expected to begin classes in the fall of 2020. ULM President Nick Bruno.
Cut 4 (10) “…and so forth.”
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine is paying for the building, but the proposed medical school still needs accreditation.

Louisiana ranks second for the rate of women murdered by men and that’s up from third from the year before. Also the report says the rate of women murdered by men has increased for a fifth consecutive year. Kristen Rand, with the Violence Policy Center, says the state needs to expand programs aimed at getting women out of abusive households…
cut 15 (10) “…domestic abuse”
The report also shows black women are more than twice as likely to be murdered by a man than white women.

A study from Accountemps shows workers who listen to music at work tend to be more productive, and happier while clocked in. The survey backs up older results indicating increased productivity at warehouses that play music. Recruiting manager with Robert Half, Carrie Lewis, says it’s something employers should look into.
Cut 10 (11) “…distractions.“