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”

4:45 LRN Sportscast November 2nd

On the eve of the NFL trade deadline, the Saints made a deal today with the San Francisco 49ers to acquire former LSU linebacker Kwon Alexander. In return, San Fran gets a conditional fifth-round pick and linebacker Kiko Alonso, who has not played this season after tearing his A-C-L in the playoffs last year. Alexander has seven interceptions, eight forced fumbles, and 8.5 sacks during his career with Tampa Bay and the 49ers.

Not a good first SEC road start for TJ Finley who was intercepted twice and lost a fumble in LSU’s 48-11 loss to Auburn. Coach Ed Orgeron says you can’t pin this loss on Finley or Max Johnson who threw one TD pass in mop-up duty…
cut 18 (18) “…of protection”
Orgeron says Myles Brennan’s status for the Alabama game is unknown.

The Ragin Cajuns rolled up a season-high 614 yards of offense in a 44-34 win over Texas State on Saturday. Quarterback Levi Lewis threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns and Trey Ragas rushed for 131 yards and three scores. Coach Billy Napier says the offense needed to play well after giving up a season-high 34 points
cut 16 (14) “ skill groups”
After winning their last two games on the road, the Cajuns return home this Saturday to host Arkansas State for homecoming.

La Tech’s come from behind double-overtime win over UAB has resulted in the Bulldogs sweeping Conference USA Player of the Week honors. Aaron Allen was named offensive player of the week for coming off the bench and throwing for 191 yards and two TDs. Bee Jay Williamson intercepted two passes and forced a fumble in OT and Jacob Barnes kicked the game-winning field goal.

2:30 LRN Newscast November 2

A University of New Orleans survey of 755 respondents finds that 56-percent of them approve of Governor John Bel Edwards’ job performance. Half of the males surveyed approve of the governor’s work, while 61-percent of females give the governor’s work a thumbs up. UNO Pollster Ed Chervenak says nationally women tend to vote Democrat…
cut 11 (09) “…Republican State’
The telephone survey was conducted on October 22nd.

There are seven constitutional amendments on tomorrow’s ballot. Amendment seven has to do with unclaimed property and whether to protect the money in a new trust fund. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says State Treasurer John Schroder wants to keep unclaimed money from being used in the state budget…
cut 7 (11) “…general fund”
Polls open tomorrow from 6 AM to 8 Pm.

Louisiana’s flood protection systems weathered five named storms this year and appear to be doing ok. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “ I’m Matt Doyle”

LSU Police have made an arrest in the case of an alleged hazing fraternity incident. 21-year-old Terry Pat Reynolds the Second has been charged with criminal hazing and failure to seek assistance. Reynolds is an LSU student and member of Phi Kappa Psi. According to a police report, a pledge at the fraternity was hospitalized with a blood alcohol level near six times the legal limit. The alleged hazing victim has been released from the hospital.

LRN PM Newscall November 2

Louisiana’s flood protection systems weathered five named storms this year and appear to be doing ok. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “  I’m Matt Doyle”  

_______________________________________

A UNO Survey shows Governor Edwards has a 56-percent job approval rating. Brooke Thorington has more

cut 2 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”  

_____________________________

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority believes the state’s flood protection systems are in good shape after tested by a record hurricane season.

CPRA Chief of Engineering Rudy Simoneaux says one problem area was the Burrito Levee in Grand Isle that breached during Zeta. He says it will need some repairs.

Cut 3 (10)  “…levee”  

The Burrito Levee is a seven-mile, 13-foot tall structure of dry clay covered in tarp protecting the city that faces the Gulf. Despite the breach, most Grand Isle homes are reportedly ok due to being highly elevated on stilts.

Simoneaux says this week they’re aiming to get down into lower Terrebonne Parish near Cocodrie where the storm made landfall for further inspections.

Cut 4 (09)   “storm”   

Simoneaux says a lot of the projects out in southwest Louisiana did pretty well despite being hammered by Laura and Delta.

Cut 5 (09) “.also” 

____________________________________________________

Amendment 7 on the statewide ballot would protect unclaimed property money in a new trust fund. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says each year if new collections entrusted to the Treasurer exceed what’s collected by rightful owners, the difference goes into the state’s general fund.

Cut 6 (11) “…general fund”

Scott says in the past the Treasurer’s Office on average would locate approximately 25-thousand owners annually, but now Treasure John Schroder with new technology and more staff is locating 250-thousand owners a year. So there is less excess to go to the general fund.

Cut 7 (11) “…general fund”

Unclaimed property consists of for example your grandmother purchased you a CD and the bank couldn’t find you, it’s then turned over to the state…

Cut 8 (12) “..to the state”

Proponents of the Amendment say it protects money that belongs to the people. Opponents say the program has existed for close to 50 years and has never had more claims than collections in a year.

_______________________________________________________

A UNO Research Center survey indicates a 56-percent job approval rating for Governor John Bel Edwards. The random poll of 755 respondents asked participants to rate his job performance and also questioned about COVID-19.  Research Center Director, Professor Ed Chervenak…

Cut 9 (11) “job approval”

Chervenak says 67-percent of respondents feel COVID is a serious problem and that is proportionate with Edwards job approval rating.

Cut 10 (11) “overwhelmingly disapprove”

A gender gap is present in the job approval ratings of the Democratic governor. Half of the males surveyed favored the governor’s job performance while 61-percent of females approved. Chervenak says nationally women tend to vote democrat.

Cut 11 (09) “…Republican State.”

The survey was conducted on October 22

______________________________________

Power should be back on for most Zeta-impacted customers by Wednesday but could be out for pockets of customers in the lower southeast parishes until Saturday according to Entergy.

Entergy CEO Phillip May says the lower portions of Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Jefferson, and Lafourche Parishes took a real beating.

Cut 12 (07) “ .damage” 

The election is Tuesday and May says for polling stations that don’t have power by then, they will provide “power pods” that can power the station for the day.

Cut 13 (07) “…available”

But May says the priority right now is restoring electricity to those polling stations and getting them back on the grid.

Cut 14 (10) “pods” 

___________________

1:30 LRN Newscast November 2

A UNO Survey shows Governor Edwards has a 56-percent job approval rating. Brooke Thorington has more
cut 2 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

LSU student and Phi Kappa Psi fraternity member Terry Pat Reynolds the Second has been charged with criminal hazing and failure to seek assistance. LSU has been investigating the fraternity for over a week after a male student was hospitalized. The arrest report says the victim had a blood alcohol content of nearly six times the legal limit. The freshman has since been released from the hospital.

Entergy still has 62-thousand customers without power following the Wednesday night landfall of Hurricane Zeta. That includes some polling sites without electricity. Entergy CEO Phillip May says for polling stations that don’t have power by then, they will provide a “power pod”…
Cut 13 (07) “…available”
But May says the priority right now is restoring electricity to those polling stations and getting them back on the grid.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority says repairs will be needed to the Burrito Levee in Grand Isle, which breached in three places when Zeta made landfall. Engineering Division Chief Rudy Simoneaux says they also need to do further inspections in lower Terrebonne Parish near Cocordie, but he says southwest Louisiana fared well despite being hammered by Laura and Delta…
cut 5 (09) “…also”