6:45 LRN Sportscast October 23

LSU head football coach Ed Orgeron names TJ Finley the starter for Saturday’s game against the Gamecocks. O says the freshman from Ponchatoula has really improved this season and is ready for game action.
cut 20 (21) “do well”
Orgeron also plans to play the other true freshman, Max Johnson. Kick-off on Saturday night is at 6 PM

Saints All Pro receiver Michael Thomas did not practice yesterday because of ankle and hamstring injuries. Thomas has not played since the season opener and there’s a good chance that he will not be able to play in Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. Offensive guard Nick Easton also missed his second practice with a concussion.

The Ragin Cajuns look to get back in the win column tonight when they face U-A-B in Birmingham. The matchup features two of the better Group of Five schools in the country and U-L Lafayette Coach Billy Napier says it’s been a long time since an opponent won in Birmingham
cut 18 (15) ” three phases”
Kick off is at 7 PM.

There will be more fans at some high school football games tonight as Governor Edwards is lifting the cap at games from 25 to 50-percent in parishes, where the positivity rate of COVID cases are 5-percent or less in the previous two weeks. He encourages fans to continue practicing social distancing and wearing face masks to keep it this way…
cut 9 (11) “…25 percent

4:45 LRN Sportscast October 22

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports wide receiver Michael Thomas was not present at the portion of the Saints practice open to the media today. On the injury report, it says Thomas is still dealing with a high ankle sprain and now a hamstring injury. His status for Sunday is very much in doubt.

LSU Quarterback Myles Brennan is not expected to play Saturday against South Carolina. True freshmen Max Johnson and TJ Finley are competing in practice to see who will be the starter if Brennan can’t play. Gamecocks Coach Will Muschamp doesn’t expect LSU will adjust its play-calling because they are playing a freshman at Q-B…
cut 20 (09) “…seeing”

Governor Edwards announced this afternoon the maximum capacity at high school stadiums can go up to 50-percent starting tomorrow if the parish has a two-week positivity rate below five percent.

NBA Hall of Famer and LSU legend Shaquille O’ Neal has been sworn in as a special reserve deputy with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Becket Breaux says he’s known Shaq for a long time…
cut 4 (10) “…great team”
Breaux says Shaq will participate in zoom calls and when he has the chance, he’ll ride along with deputies.

The Pelicans have officially announced the hiring of their new head coach, Stan Van Gundy. This will be his fourth head coaching job for the 61-year-old, who has served as a TV analyst for the last two seasons. During his time as a head coach, he worked with Shaquille O Neal, Dwight Howard, and Andre Drummond. Now he gets to help develop Zion Williamson.

Louisiana Tech has called a press conference for tomorrow to introduce Eric Wood as its new Athletics Director. He’s currently a deputy A-D at Central Florida. He’ll replace Tommy McClelland who recently left for a job at Vanderbilt.

2:30 LRN Newscast October 22

Governor Edwards is mulling over a potential veto of legislation that would allow lawmakers to eliminate certain pandemic health restrictions. Matt Doyle has more
cut 2 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

There’s talk of the special session ending early. It’s set to end on Tuesday at 6 PM. Legislators are still attempting to pass a bill that would result in a loss of state construction funds if they reduce their police department’s budget by 25-percent or more. It’s been approved by the House and awaiting Senate approval.

The number of Louisianans who have cast early ballots for the November third election has surpassed 430-thousand. On that ballot is Constitutional Amendment Four which would create a new state budget spending limit. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says opponents say the amendment will not ensure a more efficient government, but supporters say it will stabilize the state’s budget, which saw large deficits during Edwards’ first term in office…
Cut 13 (09) “…long-term”

NBA Hall of Famer and LSU legend Shaquille O’ Neal has been sworn in as a special reserve deputy with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Becket Breaux says he’s known Shaq for a long time…
cut 4 (10) “…great team”
Breaux says Shaq will participate on zoom calls and when he has the chance, he’ll ride along with deputies.

LRN PM Newscall October 22nd

NBA Hall of Famer and LSU Icon Shaquille O’Neal has to update his resume as he has a new job with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (30) “  I’m Brooke Thorington”  

____________________________

Governor Edwards is mulling over a potential veto of legislation that would allow lawmakers to eliminate certain pandemic health restrictions. Matt Doyle has more

cut 2 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

_____________________________

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has to update his resume, as he’s now a Special Reserve Deputy with the St Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office.  Shaq dropped by the office while the boss was away at training and now Sheriff Becket Breaux is having to adjust his budget.

Cut 3 (12)  “…get it covered”  

Breaux has been good friends with the 7-foot-1 basketball icon and broadcaster, and their relationship inspired him to asked Shaq to join the team.

Cut 4 (10)   “…great team.”   

Breaux says despite Shaq’s busy schedule, he will be active with the department, helping to train and mentor staff via ZOOM. But Breaux will have to update a patrol unit for his newest hire.

Cut 5 (09) “a complaint”

______________________________

The Senate Judiciary Committee rejects a House approved bill that would bar the state from penalizing churches and church-goers for gathering for in-person services against state orders during an emergency.

The hearing led to an animated exchange between Shreveport Senator Gregory Tarver and the bill’s author Oil City Representative Danny McCormick.

Cut 6 (09) “has happened”

The legislation was inspired by the arrest of Central Pastor Tony Spell for holding services against the ban on in-person religious gatherings. The bill would have also retroactively cleared his charges and other religious leaders who were penalized. His case is currently pending.

Tarver argued the ban did not violate constitutional protections on religious liberty because it allowed for virtual services. McCormick says virtual services are not the same…

Cut 7 (11) “…would you”

Tarver and McCormick made their final arguments as the bill failed on a 3-2 vote.

Cut 8 (12) “is”

The legislation cleared the House on a 66-24 vote, but it’s now dead for the session.

_____________________________

Republican lawmakers await Governor Edwards’ decision on a potential veto of legislation they passed that would allow the Legislature to overturn parts of a public health emergency.

Edwards says he plans to talk to the bill’s author and legislative leaders, but he already has a blanket policy about efforts to undermine his emergency authority…

Cut 9 (08) “approval”

If signed the legislation would allow, on a majority vote of the House and Senate, for specific public health restrictions to be eliminated while maintaining the rest of the emergency declaration.

Edwards says he will not surrender any authority to people whose approach he finds “totally unreasonable.”

Cut 10 (09) “…place”

Edwards says he needs every tool available to make sure that more people don’t die from this virus than is necessary.

Cut 11 (08) “…Louisiana.”

Should Edwards veto this legislation, the House could have a majority of its members sign a petition that would end the public health emergency, triggering a likely court battle.

_____________________________

Constitutional Amendment Four on the November 3rd ballot asks voters if the state should create a new state budget spending limit. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says the state already has a spending limit..

Cut 12 (04) “ …expenditures are” 

Scott says opponents say the amendment will not ensure a more efficient government, but supporters say it will stabilize the state’s budget, which saw large deficits during Edwards’ first term in office…

Cut 13 (09) “…long-term”

1:30 LRN Newscast October 22nd

A Senate committee has rejected a House-approved bill that would have prevented government agencies or officials from punishing someone who attends or leads a church service during a publicly declared emergency. The bill’s author Oil City Representative Danny McCormick and Shreveport Greg Tarver went back and forth during the debate…
cut 8 (12) “…is”
The measure failed on a three to two vote.

Constitutional Amendment Four on the November 3rd ballot asks voters if the state should create a new state budget spending limit. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says the state already has a spending limit…
cut 12 (04) “…expenditures are”
Proponents of the amendment say a new spending limit will bring predictability to the budget and slower growth in state spending, while opponents say the amendment does not ensure a more efficient government.

NBA Hall of Famer and LSU Icon Shaquille O’Neal has to update his resume as he has a new job with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 1 (30) “ I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Pelicans have officially announced the hiring of their new head coach, Stany Van Gundy. This will be his fourth head coaching job.

Louisiana Tech has called a press conference for tomorrow to introduce Eric Wood as its new Athletics Director. He’s currently a deputy A-D at Central Florida. He’ll replace Tommy McClelland who recently left for a job at Vanderbilt.

10:30 LRN Newscast October 22nd

Compared to other southern states, Louisiana is doing better COVID-19 wise, but Governor Edwards doesn’t want COVID fatigue to set in. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 1 (31) “ I’m Brooke Thorington”

The number of Louisianans who have cast early ballots for the November third election has surpassed 430-thousand. Only the governor’s run-off election last year and the presidential election in 2016 have exceeded a turnout of 430-thousand voters. Early voting ends next Tuesday.

A House-approved bill that would allow state lawmakers to take state construction dollars away from local governments that reduce their police department’s budget by 25-percent or more has received approval from the Senate Finance committee. Shreveport Senator Gregory Tarver objected saying local budgeting decisions are none of the Legislature’s business.
cut 11 (10) “to have”
Alexandria Republican Lance Harris filed the bill in an effort to prevent the defund police movement from taking place in Louisiana.

The LSU football program is reducing its number of available scholarships by eight over the next two years and it’s banned former star wide receiver, Odell Beckham Junior, from the team’s facility for the next two years for handing out cash to players following the national championship game. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins…
cut 16 (11) “>…game too”
The school has also admitted a former booster made payments to a former player’s family.

9:30 LRN Newscast October 22

While most of the country is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases, Louisiana’s numbers have remained steady, but in the last week, daily averages are showing an upward trend. The state reported 744 additional COVID-19 cases Wednesday and hospitalizations increased by 22, Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s troublesome.
Cut 4 (07) “…me right now”
The White House has Louisiana in the “orange zone” for per capita cases, while most states are in the “red zone.”

A bill that would allow legislators to take state construction dollars away from a city that defunds its police department by 25-percent or more has received approval from the Senate Finance Committee. But the measure faces opposition, Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux…
cut 12 (08) “….government”
The House approved measure heads to the Senate floor.

LSU imposes penalties on its football program after a former Booster paid the father of a former player and Odell Beckham Jr. handed out cash to players. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

One person died last night when a single-engine plane crashed in a wooded area near the Slidell Municipal Airport. Authorities believe there may have been more than one person on the plane so they are searching the area for possible survivors. Slidell police are using drones and ATVs in their search.

8:30 LRN Newscast October 22nd

New data from the White House shows Louisiana is one of 15 states in the orange zone for new coronavirus cases per capita while most states in the country are in the red zone. Governor John Bel Edwards…
cut 5 (14) “….our tests”
And the number of COVID-19 patients has climbed past 600.

The Senate Finance Committee has narrowly approved a bill that would allow the Legislature to strip municipalities of state construction funds should they reduce their police budgets by 25 percent. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says the bill is a response to the “Defund the Police” movement. He says the government’s most important function is providing for public safety…
Cut 10 (10) “…forefathers”
Opponents of the bill say the state legislature shouldn’t dictate how local governments spend their tax revenues.

Five people have been arrested for allegedly stealing money from the state unemployment trust fund via fraud and identity theft. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry…
Cut 7 (12) “,…million dollars”
Two of those arrested, Kayla Giles and Teri Thibodeaux allegedly ran a massive fraud scheme targeting unemployment programs in multiple states using 25 stolen identities to siphon off 300,000 dollars in total.

LSU has admitted its football program has committed rules violations and they are reducing the number of scholarships they hand out by eight over two years and Odell Beckham Junior has been banned from the facility for two years. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the self-imposed penalties are in hopes of reducing what the NCAA would impose for infractions…
cut 15 (14) “….pretty good actually”

7:30 LRN Newscast October 22

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announces the arrest of five people for allegedly receiving unemployment benefits they should not have received. Landry says more arrests are likely to come…
cut 9 (13) “…trust fund”
Landry says the fraudsters stole another person’s identity and filed for benefits on their behalf.

A House-approved bill that would allow legislators to take state construction dollars away from local governments that defund their police department has been approved by the Senate Finance Committee. But the threshold for when the legislation would kick in was raised from ten to 25-percent. Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud supports the change in the proposed law…
cut 13 (11)”…standard”

The state reported 744 more coronavirus cases yesterday and deaths increased by 12 to 5,584. Also, the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized has increased by 22. But Governor Edwards says Louisiana is doing much better compared to other southern states and our mitigation efforts are working.
Cut 6 (13) “…the disease”

The LSU football program is reducing its number of available scholarships by eight over the next two years and it’s banned former star wide receiver, Odell Beckham Junior, for the next two years for handing out cash to players following the national championship game. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins…
cut 16 (11) “>…game too”
The school has also admitted a former booster made payments to a former player’s family.

6:45 LRN Sportscast October 22nd

LSU has admitted to NCAA rules violations and they are imposing penalties on its football program which include a reduction of eight scholarships over two years. And former LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Junior has been banned from its facility for two years after handing out two-thousand dollars in cash to players on the field after the national title game.

Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the self-imposed penalties are in hopes of reducing what the NCAA would impose for infractions…
cut 15 (14) “….pretty good actually”

Did the Pelicans hire a good head coach? Time will tell, but the franchise will give 61-year-old Stan Van Gundy the opportunity to mold a team featuring Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram into a championship contender.

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron calls starting quarterback Myles Brennan very questionable to play Saturday versus South Carolina. Brennan suffered a torn abdomen according to The Athletic. Max Johnson or T-J Finley will start at QB if Brennan can’t play. Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp says there’s not a dropoff in talent between Brennan and the true freshmen
cut 19 (11) “very talented”‘

Louisiana Tech is looking to rebound after a 35-17 loss to Marshall last week. Tech’s offense only produced 267 total yards and the defense allowed the Thundering Herd to convert on third down 13 times. But Coach Skip Holtz says after watching the film the players realize if they play fundamentally sound, they could be a really good team…
cut 18 (13) “…getting better”