Updated LRN AM Newscall ###corrects name on cut 11 and updates weather story###

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins will officially qualify for the US Senate race today, challenging incumbent Bill Cassidy.  Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_____________________________________

Seven candidates for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District seat qualified on Wednesday. Kevin Barnhart recaps some of those that got on the ballot.

Cut 2 (44) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

___________________________________________

A poll of 3,600 Louisianans shows bipartisan support for the statewide mask mandate and the public health emergency declaration. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

______________________________

Democratic Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins will challenge Republican Senator Bill Cassidy in the November 3rd election. Before he got into politics, Perkins served in the Army and is a former student body president at West Point and Harvard. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Cassidy can not underestimate Perkins.

Cut 4 (09)_ “…to campaign”

Perkins says Washington’s poor handling of the coronavirus outbreak persuaded him to jump into the Senate race. Pinsonat says Perkins is a qualified candidate, but running as a Democrat for a statewide office is a challenge in the Bayou State.

Cut 5 (12)  “…uphill climb.”

Perkins announced his candidacy on the first day of qualifying and he’s expected to file his paper with the Secretary of State’s office today. It was unknown if Democrats would have a serious challenger. Pinsonat says Perkins entry into the race is good for voters.

Cut 6 (08) “…of issues.”

Qualifying ends on Friday.

_________________________

Seven candidates for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District seat qualified on Wednesday, looking to fill the position currently held by Ralph Abraham who is not pursuing an additional term.  Among them is Abraham’s Chief of Staff Luke Letlow, who says his campaign will not only run on the record and accomplishments of the current administration…

Cut 7 (09) “…sector as well.”

Republican Ouachita Police Juror Scotty Robinson announced his bid for the position last November and says the traits he has picked up in local government and constituent accessibility are what set him apart from his opponents.

Cut 8 (09) “…call me anytime.”

Clinical social worker, addiction counselor, and small business owner Candy Christophe lives in Alexandria and is running as a Democrat and says she’s in the race because now is the time for her to be the change that she wants to see.

Cut 9 (10) “…want to see.”

Chief Operating Officer of Grambling State University Martin Lemelle of Ruston enters the race as a Democrat with a focus on education and helping local small businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Cut 10 (09) “…through technology.”

Alexandria Representative Lance Harris, a Republican, says he sees a bunch of career politicians in DC and touts his balance of holding elected office and being a business owner as the reason voters should cast a ballot for him.

Cut 11 (09) “…and create jobs.”

Additionally, Allen Guillory of Opelousas and Matt Hasty of Pineville, both Republican, qualified on Wednesday.  The primary election is scheduled for November 3rd.

___________________________

Tropical Depression eight has formed in the central Gulf and it could dump a good bit of rain on the southern portion of the state on its way to Texas. National Weather Service forecaster Donald Williams…

Cut 12 (13) “…state” 

Parts of Louisiana could see some impacts as soon as this afternoon.

Williams says the system is not expected to develop into a hurricane, and at most may become a weak tropical storm…

Cut 13 (11) “…coast” 

Williams says there’s a chance the depression produces some localized flooding in Louisiana but they are not projecting any wide-scale flooding events.

Cut 14 (07) “…moisture.”

_____________________________

A Remington Research Group poll commissioned by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder shows wide and bipartisan support for the Governor’s mask mandate and public health emergency declaration.

76 percent of those surveyed last weekend support a government mask mandate. UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross…

Cut 15 (08) “…result.” 

57 percent of respondents agreed with the way the state government has handled the pandemic so far, only 26 percent disapproved.

61 percent of Louisianans oppose canceling the public health emergency declaration while only 22 percent agree. Cross says that’s a blow to legislative efforts to accomplish that.

Cut 16 (11) “…seriousness.” 

The 3,600 person poll is comprehensive and tightly follows demographic and political affiliation according to census data. Cross says that gives it a margin of error of only two percent…

Cut 17  (09) “…board” 

________________________________________________

Southland Conference Commissioner Tom Burnett says they are planning to proceed with the upcoming football season as scheduled. Burnett says they expect a full slate of games will be played on Labor Day weekend. Burnett says university presidents and athletic directors continue to meet and the health and safety of the student-athletes is their top priority…

Cut 18  (15) “…looking at that”   

Burnett says how the pandemic is impacting cities where their schools are located is an important factor on whether the season can start on time. He says the conference will not have a policy on whether fans can attend football games

cut 19 (17) “…their state”  

The SWAC’s decision to move its football to the spring has created wholes in the schedule for some of their teams. Burnett says those schools are looking to replace those games…

cut 20 (22) “  lies”