9:30 LRN Newscast January 8

State Democratic Party leaders condemned Louisiana Republican Party elected officials, calling them culpable in Wednesday’s mob assault on the US Capitol…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Senator Bill Cassidy says the protestors who stormed the Capitol should be charged with treason. And the co-owner of Rouses Markets, Donald Rouse Senior,” is facing social media backlash because he was at the rally for President Trump before the attack occurred. Rouse says he was there to support the president and condemns the violence that erupted.

The National Weather Service says there’s a potential for snow across much of north Louisiana Sunday night into Monday morning…
cut 11 (06) “….north Louisiana”
That’s Matt Hemingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, who says one to two inches could fall in Natchitoches, Winnfield, and Monroe. Shreveport, Many, Minden, and Jena could see less than an inch.

Good news for college students. As a result of a coronavirus aid package approved by Congress and signed by the President last month, college students who are enrolled at least half-time are eligible for food stamps. DCFS Secretary for the Division of Family Support Shavana Howard says students who participate in a work-study or if a college student is not receiving income from their family are also eligible….
cut 6 (10) “…took advantage”

8:30 LRN Newscast January 8

The Louisiana Democratic Party has called on Louisiana’s Republican Congressional Delegation to cease in any and all activities that have already and could continue to contribute to more acts of insurrection, violence, and harm. Party chairperson Katie Bernhardt says the push to overturn the election has led to violence against our democracy. Bernhardt says Louisiana democrats didn’t attack the legitimacy of President Trump’s win in Louisana…
cut 9 (07) “….party”
All members of the Louisiana Republican Congressional delegation have released statements condemning the mob that assaulted the Capitol.

There’s a push by several House Democrats for Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th amendment to remove President Trump from office. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says this seems unlikely and it would only happen if the Republican Party sought to distance itself from the President…
cut 15 (10) “…aberration”

Starting today, food stamp recipients will see an increase in their benefits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Saints are 10-point favorites to beat the Bears in their playoff matchup. New Orleans needed overtime to defeat Chicago in the regular season and defensive end Cam Jordan says if another close game takes place Sunday they have confidence they can get the W…
Cut 18 (10) “…built.”

7:30 LRN Newscast January 8

Louisiana Democratic Party leaders gathered on the steps of the State Capitol Thursday afternoon to cast blame for Capitol Hill riot on the Republican Party. State Democratic Party Chair Katie Bernhardt issued a demand to the Louisiana Republican Congressional delegation, most of whom voted against certifying Biden’s electoral win…
Cut 7 (12) “…standing”
The Louisiana Republican Party says it condemns violent protests by any group and violence is not part of our democratic process.

Members of the U-S House are pushing Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to forcibly remove President Donald Trump from the Oval Office. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan calls it an unlikely outcome.
Cut 13 (10) “…to it.”
Pence has reportedly told officials he opposes invoking the 25th Amendment.

The northern half of the state could be hit with a winter storm late this weekend and into the new work week. Brooke Thorington has more…
cut 3 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The number of COVID patients in the hospital statewide has surpassed two-thousand for the first time since the pandemic started. The state reported 45-hundred new cases yesterday and 47 additional deaths bringing the death toll to 73-hundred. L-D-H also says 74-thousand individuals have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot.

6:45 LRN Sportscast January 8

It’s win or go home as the NFL playoffs begin this weekend. The Saints will host the Chicago Bears as New Orleans looks to avoid its third straight postseason home defeat. Quarterback Drew Brees on the possibility that this will be his last game…
cut 16 (09) “…much the same’
Saints running back Alvin Kamara tweeted out last night, “See y’all Sunday” an indication that he’ll play in Sunday’s playoff game after testing positive for COVID-19 last Friday. He’s eligible to be activated on Sunday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Kamara has been participating in practice this week remotely thanks to TVU networks technology. Kamara has been able to view practice as the Saints were installing the game plan for the Bears.

Tonight at the Smoothie King Center, the Pelicans host the Hornets at 6:30.

Contract details have been released for LSU’s new coaching hires. Offensive coordinator Jake Peetz is set to make one-point-two million dollars this year and one-point-three million dollars next year, while passing game coordinator DJ Mangas has agreed to a two-year deal that pays him 400-thousand dollars a year.

In college basketball tonight, the Ragin Cajuns host Little Rock. ULM hosts U-T Arlington. Louisiana Tech is at Conference USA preseason favorite Western Kentucky. The Sun Belt and CUSA have league schedules that feature back-to-back games against the same opponent. Bulldogs coach Eric Konkol says the unusual scheduling makes conference play that much more interesting…
cut 20 (23) “…fascinating race”

6:30 LRN Newscast January 8

State Democratic Party leaders condemned Louisiana Republican Party elected officials, calling them culpable in Wednesday’s mob assault on the US Capitol…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Senator Bill Cassidy says the protestors who stormed the Capitol should be charged with treason. And the co-owner of Rouses Markets, Donald Rouse Senior,” is facing social media backlash because he was at the rally for President Trump before the attack occurred. Rouse says he was there to support the president and condemns the violence that erupted.

Seventeen members of the US House have sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence asking him to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from the Oval Office. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s a complicated process because the forceful removal of Mr. Trump requires action from a majority of sitting Cabinet secretaries and two of them have resigned in recent days…
cut 14 (10) “….Senate”

It will be cold weekend and Matt Hemingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says there’s the potential for snow in north Louisiana and a wintry mix in central Louisiana…
cut 10 (07) “…Monday morning”
Hemingway adds it’s hard to predict how much snow north Louisiana will see and if we’ll see some white stuff.

4:45 LRN Sportscast January 7

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Saints running back Alvin Kamara is participating in live practices this week remotely via TVU networks technology after testing positive for the coronavirus last week. Schefter tweets that Kamara has a transreceiver at his home and is viewing practice as the Saints implement the game plan for Sunday’s playoff game against the Bears. New Orleans is hopeful Kamara will be able to play.

Only three-thousand fans will be in the Dome for Sunday’s game. Coach Sean Payton says the team will need to create its own energy in order to have a home-field advantage.
cut 17 (17) “…other factors.”
And there are tickets still available for Sunday’s game as an allotment of tickets was returned from the Bears.

LSU football has hired Carolina Panthers quarterback coach Jake Peetz as its offensive coordinator and Carolina offensive assistant DJ Mangas as the passing game coordinator. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says both coaches are in their 30s and worked with former LSU assistant Joe Brady…
cut 29 (11) “…be hired”
LSU reportedly interviewed 34-year-old University of Cincinnati defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman today as the Tigers are looking to replace former D-C Bo Pelini.

Louisiana Tech receiver Cee Jay Powell has reportedly entered the transfer portal after catching 37 passes last season.

In basketball…Freshman Cam Thomas had 26 points as the Tigers beat Georgia in overtime. Southeastern, Northwestern State and UNO all lost in Southland play, while Nicholls rallied to beat Lamar 76-69.

1:30 LRN Newscast January 7

This first week of the vaccine rollout for those 70 and older has frustrated many seeking to be vaccinated when only 107 pharmacies in 52 parishes received doses. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The state health department reported today that 81-thousand doses of the COVID vaccine have been administered, an increase of 25-thousand since the last update on Tuesday. Also, seven-thousand health care workers have received the two doses needed for full vaccine effectiveness.

Every Republican member of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation, except for Senator Bill Cassidy, objected to accepting at least one state’s elector votes during the certification of President-elect Joe Biden Electoral College victory. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says those members are reflecting the clear will of Republican voters in this state…
cut 14 (10) “…saying so”

An Alexandria man who killed a pizza delivery driver in 2017 has been sentenced to 40 years in prison. Braylon Dozier fatally shot 25-year-old Steven Allen and pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. Rapides Parish District Attorney Phillip Terrell says Allen’s family did not want Dozier to get the death penalty or serve a life sentence…
Cut 6 (09) “…maximum penalty.”

11:30 LRN Newscast January 7

Louisiana lawmakers have condemn yesterday’s attack on the U-S Capitol by an angry mob of President Donald Trump supporters. Congressman Mike Johnson says it’s sad event in U=S history…
cut 11 (10) “….peril”
Once the situation was under control, Congress returned that night to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral college victory, but every Republican in Louisiana delegation, except for Senator Cassidy voted to object to at least one of the state’s electoral votes.

While the Capitol was stormed in DC, here in Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards held the first COVID briefing of 2021 addressing the state’s all-time high hospitalization rate. While Edwards didn’t change the current Modified Phase Two restrictions, he did voice frustration with citizens who refuse to prevent the spread of COVID.
Cut 7 (09) “…follow those.”

There are more COVID-19 patients in the hospital than any other time during the pandemic in Louisiana. While Ochsner Health System has yet to cancel surgeries and stop intake of non-COVID patients, CEO Warner Thomas says it’s a challenge as the patient load continues to spike among COVID patients.
Cut 6 (10) “…need to.”
Ochsner reports more than fifty percent of their staff has been vaccinated and rollout so far this week to those over the age of 70 at their facilities is going smoothly.

Many are frustrated over the slow pace of the vaccination rollout. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says several pharmacies feared receiving too many doses and not enough cold storage space, so they requested less. Next week that will change.
Cut 3 (11) “pushed out.”
Morrison Dixon is the logistics company helping distribute the vaccine. Spoilage is an issue if vaccines are not properly stored.

10:30 LRN Newscast January 7

Louisiana’s Congressional delegation is condemning the attack on the U-S Capitol by a group of angry pro-Donald Trump supporters. Congressman Mike Johnson calls the incident shocking and shameful. He was in the Lower Chamber as the mob smashed through police barricades…
cut 10 (13) “…location”
Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy was in the Senate Chambers during the attack…
cut 12 (09) “…Capitol”
Congress returned last night to complete the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College Victory. Republican John Kennedy was one of six senators who voted to overturn Biden’s victory in Arizona.

At his first COVID briefing of the year, Governor Edwards voiced his frustrations as the state set an all-time high hospitalization rate. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

There are nearly two-thousand COVID-19 patients in the hospital. Ochsner Health System Chief Medical Officer Doctor Robert Hart says we have yet to see hospitalization rates peak…
cut 4 (10) “…ahead of us”

9:30 LRN Newscast January 7

Lousiana Senator Bill Cassidy calls Wednesday’s attack on the U-S Capitol by an angry mob of President Trump supporters un-American…
cut 13 (11) “…sedition”
Protesters stormed the Capitol and halted proceedings as Congress debated President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral college victory. Four people died during the attack and multiple officers were injured. Governor John Bel Edwards called for an end to the violence…
cut 15 (06) “…the country”
Meanwhile, Edwards is frustrated with individuals who refuse to follow the COVID mitigation measures, especially those who gathered in large groups over the holidays…
cut 8 (10) “….we’re not”
The state has an all-time high of two-thousand COVID patients in the hospital and the confirmed death toll is at 72-hundred.

As COVID hospitalizations continue to rise across the state, Ochsner Health System says they are managing for now. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has officially called for special elections to fill the two U-S House seats in Louisiana, one from the death of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow and the other from the resignation Cedric Richmond, who represents the second district. The primary will be March 20th, the run-off would be April 24th.