LRN PM Newscall January 27

Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven others died in a helicopter crash yesterday. Pelicans players and coaches look back at the Black Mamba’s legacy…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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A bill pre-filed by Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt aims to reduce auto insurance premiums by disclosing if someone injured in a car crash was wearing a seatbelt.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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The nation is mourning the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was killed along with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash.

Despite the terrible news the Pelicans played and defeated the Celtics yesterday. After the game, rookie Zion Williamson reflected on Kobe’s legacy…

Cut 3 (11)  “…tough man” 

Both the Celtics and Pelicans began the game with 24-second shot clock violations in honor of Kobe, who wore 24. The Pelicans won 123-108.

Forward Brandon Ingram was traded to New Orleans from LA over the summer. Ingram was given Kobe’s locker as the heir apparent to the scoring machine’s Laker legacy, and was visibly upset…

Cut 4 (10) “…around.”

LSU QB Joe Burrow weighed in on social media, saying he remembered watching Bryant with his dad and modeled much of his approach to football on the star’s legendary work ethic.

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry says it was tough for the team to prepare mentally for the game, and even after blowing out one of the best teams in the league, it was hard to really enjoy it.

Cut 5 (08) “…life.”

LSU Star and Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neil, who won three titles with Kobe, had a brief comment to the media saying words can’t describe what he’s going through right now.
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Two people from Kaplan died this morning in a head-on crash on Highway 14 in Vermilion Parish. They’ve been identified as 29-year-old Kiristan Mitchell and 18-year-old Kalix Broussard. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says Mitchell crossed the center lines while trying to negotiate a curve

Cut 6 (10) “…the crash”

Gossen says investigating troopers say the victims were not buckled up…

Cut 7 (08) “…get the message.”

Broussard was a star running back at Vermilion Catholic High School and graduated in 2019. Gossen says they are not sure why Mitchell drifted into the other lane on the curvy highway…

Cut 8 (09) “…pending.”

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Two people are dead after a drag racing accident in Baton Rouge on Saturday. One of the victims was an innocent bystander riding his bike from Jeanerette. Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Don Coppola says one of the car’s racing lost control and struck the other

Cut 9 (11) “…vehicle.”

The surviving driver, 57-year-old Lattimore Brock of Baton Rouge faces numerous charges.

Cut 10 (06) “…reckless driving” 

56-year-old Christopher Brock of Baker, a driver of the B-M-W, died at the scene. Twenty-four-year-old Deondrick Rudd of Jeanerette is the bicyclist who also died at the scene…

Cut 11 (10) “…unfortunate situation.”

Rudd’s releatives say he planned on proposing to his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day.
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Juries may soon get to know if someone injured in a car crash was wearing a seatbelt, something not allowed under current law.  Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt has prefiled a bill for the change and says the juries should be aware if someone is negligent in mitigating damages from not being properly restrained.

Cut 12 (10) “…wearing your seatbelt.”

Louisiana has some of the highest insurance rates in the nation.  Hewitt says there is hope this bill could result in lower claims and lower settlements with insurance companies.

Cut 13 (09) “…by the consumers.”

Hewitt says there are other things that will need to happen to reduce insurance costs to consumers, adding that a package of bills in the works right now with that aim.

Cut 14 (10) “…legislature this year.”

The bill has been filed for the past two years, but Hewitt feels the bill will receive passage this year with the change of the makeup of lawmakers.

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