6:30 LRN Newscast October 21

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the Saints have agreed to a phased approach allowing fans to back into the Superdome. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

LSU Police are looking into whether hazing led to a student being hospitalized suffering from alcohol intoxication. The school has suspended his fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi, from chapter activities. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says the case looks similar to Max Gruver, an LSU freshman who died from alcohol poisoning in 2017.

There will be no televised debate involving the candidates running for U-S Senate. Republican Incumbent Bill Cassidy has said he will not participate in any debate unless all 14 of his challengers are present. So are voters losing out by not having a chance to see the candidates discuss the issues? Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat…
cut 8 (09) “….mind”
There’s been little polling in the race, but Cassidy is expected to win re-election.

Constitutional Amendment three on the November ballot if approved would allow lawmakers to tap into the Rainy Day Fund when there is a federally declared disaster. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott…
Cut 5 (10) “…declared disaster”

LRN PM Newscall October 20

Air Force C-130 planes begin spraying today at 6 PM in parishes impacted by Hurricanes Laura and Delta. Taylor Sharp spoke with GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele about the spraying process…

Cut 1 (30) “  I’m Taylor Sharp”  

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The House and Senate are at an impasse over legislation stripping the Governor of his public health authority with only a week left until the special session ends. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

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U-S Air Force C-130 planes will begin spraying for mosquitos in parishes impacted by Hurricanes Laura and Delta.  Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says FEMA approved the use of the planes because of the booming mosquito population

Cut 3 (07)  “…area”  

Steele says the spraying will be conducted from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the next six days over Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, and Vermilion parishes.

Cut 4 (11)   “…effective”   

Why is it important to spray these areas now?  Steele says that the rainfall from the two hurricanes could be a hot spot for mosquitoes.

Cut 5 (11) “…now”

FEMA approved this plan late last week.

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One man is dead and three others suffered gunshot wounds after an alleged robbery Monday night near LSU’s campus. Baton Rouge Police Sgt Don Coppola says three individuals tried to rob the home but someone inside shot at them after they entered killing 20-year old Marcus Hayes Jr.

Cut 6 (12) “with Hayes”

Police say two of the six robbery victims sustained non-life-threatening gunshot injuries.

Coppola says they received a call shortly after 11 pm. According to the investigation, two individuals from the home were speaking with two suspects outside, they then all entered the home.

Cut 7 (10) “…robbery suspects”

Coppola says a juvenile suspect was also shot and found later on Charles Street and taken to a local hospital. Police say four people were shot during the incident, one of them died and three others were wounded.

Cut 8 (10) “…gunshot injuries”

Authorities say the cause of the shooting, which occurred on West McKinley Street, is unknown and remains under investigation.

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New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell met with Saints officials Monday to discuss the return of fans to the Superdome. The Mayor’s spokesperson Beau Tidwell calls the meeting productive and the Mayor is interested in a phased and gradual opening of the Dome to fans

Cut 9 (09) “not backwards”

Tidwell says talks with the Saints are ongoing and they discussed what the Saints are seeking regarding fans in the stands.

Cut 10 (09) “…..us regress”

The Saints next home game is this Sunday against Carolina. Tidwell did not provide specifics on a proposed date of when the Dome would reopen.

Cut 11 (12) “…that will.”

The Saints have also spoken with LSU about playing in Tiger Stadium.

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There’s only a week left in the special session and lawmakers are deadlocked on questions of whether the Governor’s public health authority should be restricted.

LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says there’s a stalemate at the Capitol over the question and it’s not just between the Governor and Republicans…

Cut 12 (07) “ .viewpoints” 

The House has passed a series of bills that would immediately end all or some COVID public health restrictions, while the Senate backs a bill allowing for more legislative oversight in future public emergencies.

Alford says if a legislative agreement can’t be made before the session ends October 27th we could see the House take unprecedented action…

Cut 13 (09) “…orders”

That petition has been in circulation since the summer but failed to get majority support in either chamber after concerns were raised it would result in the loss of a substantial amount of federal funding.

Democrats are calling for the session to end early, noting the 40,000 dollar a day cost. Alford says it’s unlikely they get their wish…

Cut 14 (13) “…vetoes”

2:30 LRN Newscast October 20

Air Force C-130s will be used to spray for mosquitos in six hurricane-impacted parishes. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says the spraying will be conducted from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the next six days over Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, and Vermilion parishes.
Cut 4 (11) “…effective”
This is a plan backed by FEMA.

The Saints are trying to get New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell to support a plan to get fans back in the Dome for their home games. The mayor’s spokesperson Beau Tidwell says discussions are ongoing…
cut 11 (12) “…that will”
The Saints next home game is Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

Baton Rouge Police detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of an armed robbery suspect at a home near the LSU campus. Sergeant Don Coppola says a total of four people were shot in the incident last night, one of them died and three others were wounded…
cut 8 (10) “….gunshot injuries”
The man killed has been identified as 20-year-old Marcus Hayes Junior.

There’s only a week left in the four-week special session and lawmakers are deadlocked on questions of how to reduce the governor’s authority during an extended public health emergency. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says the two chambers have yet to agree on any significant legislation……
Cut 12 (07) “ .viewpoints”
The House has passed a several bills that would immediately end all or some COVID public health restrictions, while the Senate backs a bill allowing for more legislative oversight in future public emergencies.

11:40 LRN Sportscast October 20

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says Tigers quarterback Myles Brennan is questionable for Saturday night’s home game versus South Carolina. True freshmen TJ Finley and Max Johnson will compete for an opportunity to start against the Gamecocks. Coach Ed Orgeron says when Brennan is healthy from his injury, he’ll be the starter
cut 19 (19) “.starting quarterback”‘
Orgeron calls it a significant lower-body injury. The Athletic’s Brody Miller reports Brennan played three quarters against Missouri with a torn muscle in his abdomen.

Ragin Cajuns Coach Billy Napier says the players will honor offensive line coach D-J Looney during Friday’s game against UAB by having Looney’s name on the back of their jersey. Looney died in August of a heart attack. Birmingham is his hometown.

After missing the first four games of the season, because of injuries, Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport saw his first action of the season in New Orleans last game, a 30-27 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Davenport played 21 snaps on defense and had one pass defensed
cut 18 (18) ” develop again”
Coach Sean Payton hopes they can increase Davenport’s playing time.

The Saints are still hoping to have fans in the Superdome for home games this year. The team says they had a productive meeting with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell yesterday.

LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says they are looking at alternate sites for the prep classic, which is scheduled to be held December 26th to the 28th in the Superdome. In a memo sent to schools, Bonine says they are looking for a location that would allow 25-percent capacity.

10:30 LRN Newscast

The Ka’Mauri Harrison Act is close to final passage after clearing the Senate Education Committee. Two students in Jefferson Parish have been suspended for handling a BB gun during virtual class, including nine-year-old Ka’Mauri Harrison. An attorney for the Jefferson Parish Public School System argued that neither child’s long-term academic future will be impacted, a comment that set River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot off…
cut 7 (13) “…move on”
The House approved bill allows parents to appeal suspensions to the school board and it also calls for school districts to establish disciplinary policies for online instruction.

Lafayette Police have yet to make any arrests in last week’s shooting during a large party in Moore Park that left two people dead, an 18 and 19-year-old. Police estimate about 300 people were at the event early Thursday morning following a U-L Lafayette football game.

A majority of evacuees from Hurricanes Laura and Delta are returning to their homes this week, Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

U-S Air Force C-130 aircrafts will be used to spray for mosquitos in parishes impacted by Hurricanes Laura and Delta. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says FEMA approved the use of the planes because of the booming mosquito population
cut 3 (07) “..area”

9:30 LRN Newscast October 20

According to numbers from the Secretary of State’s Office, after two days of early voting, 258-thousand early votes were cast, compared to 162-thousand after the first two days of the early voting period in 2016. The number of black voters who early voted during the first two days is double the number in 2016 and the Secretary of State’s Office has received three times as more mail-in ballots than the last Presidential election.

Amendment two on the November ballot would change the way oil and gas wells are assessed for property taxes. The current method levies local taxes per well without consideration of the value of the oil or natural gas produced. Robert Travis Scott, president of the Public Affairs Research Council explains…
Cut 8 (13) “…tax or not.”
For more information on the amendments go to the Public Affairs Research Council’s website.

The Senate Education Committee has approved the Ka’ Mauri Harrison Act. It’s named after a nine-year-old Jefferson Parish student who served a six-day suspension for moving a BB gun during an online class. The legislation would require school systems to create new discipline policies for virtual learning and it would also allow families to appeal school suspensions to the school board. Jefferson Parish Schools Legislative Liasion Jennifer Ansardi opposed part of the bill that would make it retroactive to the beginning of the pandemic…
cut 6 (08) “….safe”
The House approved measure heads to the Senate floor.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Sam Jenkins believes the special session is a waste of time as Republican lawmakers attempt to pass legislation to curtail the governor’s authority during an emergency order. Jenkins says a special session would have been useful if they had federal pandemic dollars to distribute…
cut 16 (06) “…available’

8:30 LRN Newscast October 20

The Ka’Mauri Harrison Act, which addresses the discipline of students during online instruction and giving parents an appeals process, is close to final legislative passage after receiving approval from the Senate Education Committee. The measure is in response to the six-day suspension Ka’Mauri received for moving a BB gun during a virtual class. An attorney for the Jefferson Parish School Board explained why the discipline was handed out, but Senate Education Chairman Cleo Fields took issue…
cut 5 (12) “….property”
The House approved measure heads to the Senate floor.

Constitutional Amendment Two on the November third ballot has to do with oil and gas well assessment. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says the amendment has the support of assessors and the oil and gas industry…
cut 9 (08) “…might be”

Democratic state lawmakers say the ongoing special session is a waste of taxpayer money and they are calling for the session to wrap up soon. Matt Doyle has the story…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A former judge in St. John the Baptist Parish has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for fondling four girls who were between the ages of 14 and 17-years-old at the time. Jeff Perilloux was convicted last month on three counts of felony indecent behavior with juveniles and one count of misdemeanor for sexual battery.

7:30 LRN Newscast October 20

The Ka’Mauri Harrison Act is close to final passage after clearing the Senate Education Committee. Ka’Mauri’s father, Nyron Harrison, appeared before the panel and told lawmakers about how the Jefferson Parish School Board threatened to expel his son for moving a BB gun in his bedroom during an online class. Another parent, Tim Brown, also testified and discussed how his son suffered a similar fate.
Cut 4 (10) “…expulsion”
Brown says his sixth-grade son showed a BB gun to his friends during a virtual lesson and ended up receiving a three-day suspension. An attorney for the Jefferson Parish Public School System argued that neither child’s long-term academic future will be impacted, a comment that set River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot off…
cut 7 (13) “…move on”
The House approved bill allows parents to appeal suspensions to the school board.

At the start of this week, there were 65-hundred Hurricane Laura and Delta evacuees at either the state’s mega-shelter in Alexandria or staying at hotels in south Louisiana. Emergency Preparedness Director with D-C-F-S Ricky Montet says many of those evacuees are returning home this week because their home is livable and has power and running water. He says for those whose homes are not safe…
cut 12 (07) “…is available”

Constitutional Amendment Two on the November third ballot would allow for a well’s oil and gas production when valuing it for property tax assessment. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says the proposed change will not necessarily increase or decrease taxes on the oil and gas industry…
cut 10 (12) “…the well”
For more information on the constitutional amendments go to the Public Affairs Research Council’s website.

6:45 LRN Sportscast October 20

The Saints are getting ready for Sunday’s home game against Carolina. They had a chance to enjoy a weekend off, but tight end Jared Cook says it was an uneventful weekend…
cut 17 (22) “…to make”
Could there be fans at Sunday’s game against the Panthers? The Saints say they had a productive meeting with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell yesterday as they discussed how to get fans safely back in the Dome. The meeting also included epidemiologists and the mayor’s medical advisers.

The LHSAA is reportedly looking at moving its Prep Classic from the Superdome, because of fan restrictions. The high school football state championship games are set for December 26th to the 28th.

LSU Quarterback Myles Brennan is questionable for Saturday night’s game against the Gamecocks. The Athletic’s Brody Miller reports Brennan tore a muscle in his abdomen in the loss to Missouri and Coach Ed Orgeron says the injury has been slow to heal.

South Carolina brings a 2-2 record into Tiger Stadium on Saturday night. They have one of the top running backs in the conference. Kevin Harris has rushed 409 yards and four touchdowns. Orgeron says Harris is hard to tackle…
cut 20 (11) “…all around back”

Former Hahnville star Pooka Williams has opted out of the rest of the 2020 season. Williams, who was a first-team All-Big 12 selection for the Kansas Jayhawks last season, says he wants to be closer to my mother and family in Louisiana. It’s been a tough year for Williams, who has 196 rushing yards and two touchdowns in four games.

6:30 LRN Newscast October 20

A majority of evacuees from Hurricanes Laura and Delta, those being housed in the Alexandria mega-shelter or hotels in Louisiana and Texas, are returning to their homes this week. Emergency Preparedness Director with DCFS Ricky Montet (Mon-tay) says they have been communicating with evacuees whose homes are now safe to return.
Cut 11 (10) “first assessment”

Democrats in the Louisiana legislature say it’s time to go home, even though the special session does not officially end until next Tuesday. House Democratic Caucus Chair Sam Jenkins penned a letter to the Senate President and House Speaker…
cut 14 (09) “…any good”
GOP legislators are still trying to pass legislation that would reduce the governor’s authority over emergency orders.

Legislation inspired by the suspension of a Jefferson Parish 4th grader for having a BB gun in his web camera during class is one step closer to final passage. Matt Doyle has more…
cut 1 (43) “…Matt Doyle”

The Saints say they had a productive meeting with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell about fans returning to the Superdome. The team’s next home game is Sunday against Carolina.