6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints return to work today and as they get ready for Sunday night’s big matchup with Tampa Bay. The game will go a long way towards deciding who will win the NFC South and get at least one home playoff game. The Buccaneers are a half-game ahead of the Black and Gold for first place in the division. Wide receiver Antonio Brown is expected to make his debut for Tampa Bay on Sunday.

LSU Baseball begins its Purple and Gold Series tonight and Coach Paul Mainieri says several freshmen are looking good in fall ball. Mainieri says Dyan Crews is his likely starter in right field…
cut 17 (11) “…home runs’
Mainieri says freshman Will Safford has a chance to start at third base, while Tre Morgan from Brother Martin in New Orleans has looked good at first base, which would move Cade Beloso to the outfield.

We’ll get an update today from LSU Coach Ed Orgeron on whether Quarterback Myles Brennan is making any progress. Orgeron will speak during the SEC Coaches teleconference at 10 AM. Brennan has been sidelined the last two games with a reported abdominal injury and his hoping to play November 14 versus Alabama.

Because of Tuesday’s election, college football teams did not practice yesterday. ULM coach Matt Viator says he’s not sure of the status of senior running back Josh Johnson, who injured his hamstring last Saturday…
cut 20 (07) “…Wednesday morning”
The Warhawks are at Georgia State on Saturday.

Lousiana Tech Football Coach Skip Holtz is not saying who will start at quarterback this Saturday at North Texas. Aaron Allen came off the bench last weekend to lead the Bulldogs to a come from behind 37-34 double-overtime win over UAB. Luke Anthony has started the last six games.

6:30 LRN newscast

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy has won a second term as he easily avoided a runoff in a race that featured 14 challengers. Cassidy received 59-percent of the vote and his closest competitor; Democratic Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins garnered 19-percent. Cassidy told supporters last night he’ll continue to uphold conservative ideals.
Cut 12 (16) “for us (applause)”.
Perkins thanked his supporters during his concession speech for their work on his campaign that started in July…
Cut 14 (17) “…Shreveporters needed”

The five members of Louisiana’s House delegation up for re-election easily won last night. Republican Clay Higgins beat out three other opponents to win a third term. Higgins, a former law enforcement officer who was first elected in 2016, is humbled by the support he’s received…
Cut 4 (14) “be worthy”
The open fifth district congressional race is headed to a runoff between two Republicans, Luke Letlow and Lance Harris.

The anti-abortion amendment, Constitutional Amendment one on the ballot, easily won last night. But two constitutional amendments failed, Four and Five. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Amendment Five dealt with creating a new category for tax breaks for manufacturers. He says it just didn’t have enough support…
Cut 7 (06) “amendment”
63-percent voted against Amendment Five.

4:45 LRN Sportscast November 3

At the halfway point of the 2020 season, the defending national champion LSU Tigers are 2-and-3 and with difficult games remaining against Alabama, Florida, and Texas A-and-M, the Bayou Bengals could have their first losing season since 1999. But Coach Ed Orgeron still likes the direction of the program
cut 16 (16) “ do that”
LSU continues to do well on the recruiting trail. According to 24-7 sports, the Tigers have the fourth-best 2021 recruiting class as LSU picked up two commitments from Acadiana over the weekend, Lafayette Christian Safety Sage Ryan and St. Thomas More’s Jack Bech, who is a three-star wide receiver who just de-committed from Vanderbilt.

A proposition to allow sports betting by the parish is on today’s ballot. Brooke Thorington has more.
Voicer 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Saints are off today and they’ll get back to work tomorrow as they will face Tampa Bay on Sunday night. The Buccaneers avoided an upset last night as they defeated the Giants 25-23 to move to six and two, a half-game ahead of the Black and Gold for first place in the NFC South. Wide receiver Antonio Brown is expected to make his debut for Tampa Bay.

LRN PM Newscall November 3

Voters could elect a new member to the U-S House of Representatives today. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “  I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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A new law to allow Louisiana election officials to count absentee ballots four days in advance anticipates delivering results sooner than later. Brooke Thorington explains.

cut 2 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”  

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Voters in northeast and central Louisiana and the Florida parishes will select a new Congressman for the 5th district today. There are nine candidates seeking to replace Republican Ralph Abraham, who did not seek re-election. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Abraham’s former chief of staff Luke Letlow has run a strong campaign

Cut 3 (07)  “…radio print”  

Stockley says the question is whether Letlow will end up in a run-off with a Republican or Democrat or win outright. Stockley says state representative Lance Harris, a Republican from Alexandria could get enough support to force a runoff…

Cut 4 (07)   ” from Alexandria   

Stockley says it appears Martin Lemelle, who is the chief operating officer at Grambling State, has the best chance as a Democrat to get in a runoff…

Cut 5 (10) “.Luke Letlow” 

The other Democrats in the race are Candy Christophe, Jesse LaGarde and Phillip Snowden. The other Republicans in the race are Allen Guillory, Matt Hasty, and Ouachita Police Juror Scotty Robinson.

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Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says due to the extensive COVID-mitigation measures in place it is safe to go to the polls today.

Kanter says the risk level is about equivalent to going to the grocery but just like the grocery everyone who attends must mask up. He has this message for those who refuse to wear a mask in line…

Cut 6 (12) “…sick”

Kanter says it’s vital that you keep at least six feet away from everyone else in line, and limit your exposure by knowing what’s on the ballot before you go in to vote.

Cut 7 (11) “…should”

The Secretary of State recommends you download the GeauxVote Mobile App, read and then fill out your ballot on the app then bring it into the booth with you.

Kanter says he early voted and was very impressed by how much effort is going into making sure the voting experience is safe for everyone.

Cut 8 (10) “..distance”

Polls are open until 8 PM today but as long as you are in line by 8 PM you will be allowed to vote.

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Mail ballots are up an estimated 165-percent for this election in Louisiana, compared to the last Presidential election in 2016. But state officials are hoping this will not lead to a delay in getting complete results thanks to a law passed in the most recent special session, authored by Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt.

Cut 9 (09) “election day”

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says it’s a time-consuming process to verify absentee ballots by names and signatures. But Hewitt says election workers got a head start with the ability to prep absentee ballots four days in advance

Cut 10 (13) “…actual ballot”

As of Monday, before the 4:30 p.m. deadline, 180-thousand absentee ballots have already been returned to the registrar of voters, almost double the record set in the July 11th election.  Hewitt received input from election officials to change absentee ballot procedures.

Cut 11 (10) “…the election.”

Officials anticipate the only delay with results tonight would be if precincts close late due to a long line of voters still waiting to cast their ballot after polls close at 8 p.m. Everyone in line before polls close will be allowed to vote.

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It’s Election Day and the roughly half of voters nationwide who haven’t already cast a ballot are flocking to the polls for the Trump vs. Biden Presidential election.

JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon says we may know a winner tonight but if it’s close there are a few swing states that could really drag this out.

Cut 12 (06) “ .called” 

Those states adopted heavy vote by mail programs for this election, and most of them have little to no experience processing that volume of mail-in ballots.

Couvillon says avid poll watchers should keep a close eye on the results out of North Carolina and Florida tonight which could give us an early idea of who will win…

Cut 13 (11) “…counting them”

Both Florida and North Carolina are polling within the margin of error.

Couvillon says Biden is favored to win because the President has the tougher task in that he’s unlikely to expand his 2016 electoral map and is playing defense across a wide range of states.

Cut 14 (11) “Georgia” 

The final polls of the cycle show the President facing substantial deficits in the “Blue Wall” northern Midwest states and running neck and neck in the traditionally red Georgia.

10:30 LRN Newscast November 3

Polls are open and the big Louisiana race is the U-S Senate contest as Republican Bill Cassidy seeks re-election. Matt Doyle gets a break down from a political analyst…
cut 1 (30) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says to help keep the lines moving, he’s asking voters to pre-mark a sample ballot before they get inside the voting booth…
cut 9 (08) “….their”
Ardoin says as long as you are in line by 8 PM tonight you will get to vote.

Voters will have the opportunity to legalize sports betting in their parish. There’s a question on today’s statewide ballot that asks if sports wagering should permitted in your parish. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says if a majority of voters in a parish vote yes, you will not be able to place legal bets immediately…
cut 14 (12) “…as a state tax”
That would come in a 2021 regular session.

A confessed serial church arsonist has received a 25-year federal sentence. Holden Matthews’ torched three historically Black churches in St. Landry Parish during a ten-day span in the spring of 2019. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says Judge Robert Summerhays sent a message with this sentence…
cut 12 (11) “….do that”
The court has also ordered Matthews to pay over two-point-six million dollars in restitution to the three churches.

9:30 LRN Newscast November 3

There are lines stretching outside of voting locations as the Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is predicting a voter turnout around 70-percent. Nearly a million votes were cast during early voting, compared to just over a half a million in 2016. Ardoin says just because more people cast an early ballot doesn’t mean wait times will be lower today, so give yourself time…
cut 8 (11) “….process”
The state’s senior Senator, Dr. Bill Cassidy is up for reelection today against a packed field of 14 opponents. UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross expects the race will end tonight without heading to a December run-off unless voters get “confused” by the long list of names…
Cut 4 (10) “ so on”

Voters in northeast and central Louisiana and in the Florida parishes will select a new Congressman for the 5th district today. There are nine candidates seeking to replace Republican Ralph Abraham, who did not seek re-election. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Abraham’s former chief of staff Luke Letlow has run a strong campaign…
cut 3 (07) “….radio print”
Stockley says the question is whether Letlow will end up in a run-off with a Republican or Democrat or win outright.

A federal judge has handed down a 25-year sentence to a south Louisiana man who admitted he burned down three predominantly African-American churches in Port Barre and Opelousas during a ten-day span in the Spring of 2019. Holden Matthews plead guilty to four counts and faced up to 70 years. Legal analyst Tim Meche…
cut 11 (09) “…himself”
Matthews gets 18 months credit for time served.

8:30 LRN Newscast November 3

You have until 8 PM tonight to get in line to vote. Matt Doyle has a request from the man who is in charge of elections in Louisiana…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

One of the big races on the ballot is the U-S Senate race. Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins is one of five democrats challenging Republican Incumbent Bill Cassidy, but U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Perkins lacks statewide name recognition…
cut 5 (08) “…dialogue”

Today’s ballot features seven constitutional amendments that deal with abortion and taxes. There’s also a proposition that asks if you want sports betting legalized in your parish. Proponents say sports betting is already done illegally so why not legalize it and collect tax revenue. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says opponents see this as another way to attract young gamblers…
cut 15 (12) “…casinos or online”
Polls close at 8 PM tonight.

A 23-year-old south Louisiana man who confessed to setting fires to three historically Black Churches in St. Landry Parish in the Spring of 2019 receives a 25-year sentence in federal prison. Legal analyst Tim Meche says this is a harsh sentence for Holden Matthews…
cut 10 (09) “….attention”
Matthews told investigators he set the fires in an effort to raise his profile as a Black Metal musician.

7:30 LRN Newscast November 3

Polls opened at 6 AM today and there are long lines at some voting locations. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin predicts a voter turnout around 70-percent as the contentious presidential race tops the ballot. Louisiana voters will also have a chance to decide if Bill Cassidy should remain as the state’s senior US senator.

Matt Doyle gets a break down of the race from a political analyst…
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A runoff is scheduled for December fifth.

Voters will decide the fate of Sports Betting for their parish today. Under this act, sports betting would be permitted in any parish where the majority of voters say yes. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott ….
Cut 13 (06) “…it online”
If a parish votes yes to legalize sports betting, legal wagering will not happen immediately until the state legislature adopts laws, regulations and taxation for sports betting.

A confessed serial church arsonist has received a 25-year federal sentence. Holden Matthews’ torched three historically Black churches in St. Landry Parish during a ten-day span in the spring of 2019. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says Judge Robert Summerhays sent a message with this sentence…
cut 12 (11) “….do that”
The court has also ordered Matthews to pay over two-point-six million dollars in restitution to the three churches.

6:45 LRN Sportscast November 3

The Saints have acquired former LSU linebacker Kwon Alexander in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. In return, San Fran receives a conditional fifth round draft pick and linebacker Kiko Alonso, who has yet to play this season after tearing his ACL in the playoff loss to Minnesota. Alexander was a Pro Bowler with Tampa Bay in 2017, but has played in only 13 games the last two seasons with the 49ers.

The Saints will take a four-game winning streak into Sunday night’s showdown with Tampa Bay. Coach Sean Payton says his team has shown a lot of grit by winning close games, including two overtime contests…
cut 19 (25) “….more important game”

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron is uncertain if Myles Brennan will be available to play in the Tigers’ next game on November 14th versus second-ranked Alabama. Brennan has missed the last two games with a slow healing abdominal injury. Orgeron says if Brennan can’t play, TJ Finley will battle fellow freshman Max Johnson for the start.

For those who waited until today to vote, they’ll see a proposition on the ballot that ask if you want sports betting legalized in your parish. Proponents say sports betting is already done illegally so why not legalize it and collect state and local revenue. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says opponents see this as another way to lure young gamblers…
cut 15 (12) “…casinos or online”
Polls close at 8 PM tonight.

6:30 LRN Newscast November 3

Polls are open for Election Day and voters have until 8 PM to cast their ballots on a range of topics from the Presidential contest to sports betting. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin expects a voter turnout between 69 to 71 percent including early votes and mail-in ballots….
Cut 7 (08) “state”
Senator Bill Cassidy is seeking to win re-election tonight but faces 14 challengers.

A federal judge has handed down a 25-year sentence to a south Louisiana man who admitted he burned down three predominantly African-American churches in Port Barre and Opelousas during a ten-day span in the Spring of 2019. Holden Matthews plead guilty to four counts and faced up to 70 years. Legal analyst Tim Meche…
cut 11 (09) “…himself”
Matthews gets 18 months credit for time served.

A proposition to allow sports betting by the parish is on the ballot. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”