LRN PM Newscall December 31

A 15-year-old faces first-degree murder for fatally shooting a 74-year-old woman who was in her carport checking on a noise. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Infrastructure improvement was widespread throughout the state in 2019.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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A lot of folks will start the New Year off with a bang, and the State Fire Marshal’s office has safety tips for you before you attempt your amateur pyrotechnics.

Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue’s first piece of advice for people buying fireworks is: don’t. Instead of risking it in your back yard, go to a public display.

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But if you purchase fireworks, make sure they are legal to light in your area. If they are, Rodrigue says buy from a licensed vendor.

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Rodrigue says a good rule of thumb is, if you don’t see any fireworks sellers in your area, it’s likely because fireworks are illegal in your jurisdiction.

Once you’ve acquired your certified fireworks from a legal vendor, make sure you find an open space in a legal area to fire them off in…

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After the fireworks go off, spray them with a hose, and put them in a disposal bin, where they can be stored away from your home until they are picked up.

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The N-F-L Network reports that if Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale gets a job as a head coach, his top choice as offensive coordinator is LSU passing game coordinator Joe Brady. But LSU Coach Ed Orgeron remains confident Brady will stay in Baton Rouge once a new contract is finalized…

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Brady has been named the top assistant in college football.

Orgeron says senior linebacker Michael Divinity will play in the national championship game against Clemson. Divinity has missed the last six games because he reportedly violated team rules. In five games, Divinity has three sacks and Orgeron expects his role in the title game will be to rush the passer

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One of Clemson’s best players on offense is running back Travis Etienne. The Jennings native is an explosive back, who is averaging eight yards a carry and has 18 touchdowns. Orgeron says when he took over for Les Miles, he tried to recruit Etienne to come to LSU…

Cut 8 (12) “…better job of.”

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The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund says 128 officers died in the line of duty over the past year, an 18-percent decrease from 2018.The Fund’s CEO Marcia Ferranto says there were four officer deaths in Louisiana

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Ferranto on why we’ve seen a decline in law enforcement officer fatalities…

Cut 10 (09) “…also helped.”

Shreveport police officer Chateri Payne and Mandeville Police Captain Vincent Liberto were fatally shot. Baton Rouge Police Officer Shane Totty died in a motorcycle accident. Ferranto says shootings and traffic accidents are the reason for most officer deaths while on duty

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East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Whitstine died from congestive heart failure before crashing while driving to work.

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The Louisiana DOTD had a busy 2019 as the department invested just over $1 billion into nearly 330 infrastructure projects on 942 miles of roadway.  DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says the investment was able to be made in large part because of innovative funding efforts.

Cut 12 (09) “…money this year.” 

Among the projects, the widening of various sections of I-10 and the I-10/Loyola Drive interchange improvements.

Mallett says there were unexpected expenses for emergency situations that came up throughout the year.

Cut 13 (13) “…the state well.”

Back in June, 49-year-old Johnny Cole was killed after being struck by an 18-wheeler near Ruston. Cole was a sign specialist for the department.  Mallett says DOTD is rolling out new safety measures in response.

Cut 14 (09) “…sure they’re safe.”

The department also won the regional award for “Best Use of Technology and Innovation for the new I-49/I-220 interchange in Shreveport.