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.

8:30 LRN Newscast Jan 7

Clean-up will begin today at the U-S Capitol one day after the first attack on the Washington-DC building in two centuries. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy was in the Upper Chamber when an angry mob of President Trump supporters bullied their way past Capitol Police and into the Senate chambers…
cut 12 (09) “…Capitol”
Senators were escorted to a safe location. Congressman Mike Johnson calls it a sad day for the United States….
cut 11 (10) “….peril”
The House and Senate returned to their respective chambers last night and early this morning certified President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral college victory.

On a day when the state reached an all-time high in COVID-19 hospitalizations, a frustrated Governor John Bel Edwards implored residents to do better in their mitigation efforts that include wearing a mask…
cut 9 (12) “…damn onerus”
The governor’s revised Phase two restrictions expire next Wednesday and he will announce early next week what future restrictions may look like.

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 19 (11) “…be hired”

7:30 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”
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.

Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the situation at a Wednesday afternoon press conference…
Cut 14 (09) “…calm.”
Pro-Trump supporters gathered at the Louisiana State Capitol as well yesterday, but it was a peaceful event.

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

Governor Edwards also said he expects the state to receive 56-thousand additional COVID-19 vaccines next week and that each parish will have a provider that can administer vaccines to those 70 and older. There are hundreds of senior citizens who are waiting on a vaccine at one of 107 pharmacies that have received an initial shipment.

6:45 LRN Sportscast January 7

LSU football Coach Ed Orgeron has hired Carolina Panthers quarterbacks coach Jake Peetz as the Tigers new offensive coordinator and Panthers offensive assistant DJ Mangas is LSU’s new passing game coordinator. Both men worked under former LSU assistant and current Carolina offensive coordinator Joe Brady. In 2019, Brady helped create one of the most prolific offenses in college football history and Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says Orgeron is hoping to re-create that magic, but with different coaches and players…
cut 20 (12) “…in there”
LSU men’s basketball defeated Georgia in overtime 94-92 last night. Javonte Smart hit two big three-pointers at the end of regulation to tie the game and finished with 21 points.
According to an email sent by the Saints to season ticket holders, there will be three-thousand fans in the Superdome for Sunday’s playoff game against the Vikings. So New Orleans will not enjoy a Dome-field advantage with 70-thousand screaming Who Dats. During his conference call with reporters, Coach Sean Payton provided an idea of how to fill up the Dome, jokingly suggesting to quarantine thousands of Saints fans…
cut 18 (17) “….taken off or not”
The Pelicans lost their second straight home game last night as New Orleans fell to the Thunder 111 to 110. New Orleans is now 4-4, 1-2 on its four game homestand that ends Friday with a game against Charlotte.

In the Southland…Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana and UNO lost last night, while Nicholls knocked off Lamar 76-69.

6:30 LRN Newscast January 7

Louisiana leaders condemn Wednesday’s assault on Capitol Hill by a pro-Trump mob opposing the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (42) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

During the early morning hours Congress certified Joe Biden’s Electoral College win. Republican John Kennedy was one of six U-S Senators who objected to the results of the presidential vote in Arizona.
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 1,993 COVID patients in the hospital. Ochsner Health System CEO Warner Thomas says they are planning for that number to rise…
cut 5 (10) “…our system”