7:30 LRN Newscast October 28

Hurricane Zeta is getting stronger. Its maximum sustained winds are 90 miles per hour and the storm is forecast to make landfall in southeast Louisiana this afternoon with winds around 100 miles per hour. That would make it a Category Two storm. Shawn O’Neil with the National Weather Service says heavy rainfall is likely, but Zeta’s fierce winds are the biggest concern…
cut 12 (05) “..numerous”
Entergy says they are ready for the likely power outages. Spokesperson Brandon Scadigli says they’ve mobilized a storm team of about 38-hundred workers to respond to power outages. He warns residents to take extreme caution after the storm and alert utility providers of any down lines…
cut 15 (09) “…is live”
Entergy says they will provide restoration updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Zeta will be the fifth named storm to make landfall in Louisiana when it reaches the state’s southeastern coast as a Category two storm later today. Governor John Bel Edwards has this message for storm-weary residents…
cut 8 (11) “…this late”
Zeta’s impacts outside of southeast Louisiana are expected to be minimal as the storm will quickly move into Mississippi and Alabama after it makes landfall.

There has been a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 patients who need a ventilator. Ventilator usage increased by 20 yesterday to 91 patients. A UNO poll found that two-thirds of respondents believe COVID-19 is a serious problem. Pollster Ed Chervenak says 29-percent say it’s not a serious problem…
cut 6 (07) “…surprise”
The UNO Poll found that 59-percent of Louisiana voters support President Trump, while 36-percent back Joe Biden.

6:45 LRN Sportscast October 28

LSU football coach Ed Orgeron is unsure if quarterback Myles Brennan will play Saturday, but Coach O says his first-team Q-B is feeling better. But Brennan will not play against Auburn unless he’s 100-percent.

Meanwhile, LSU’s defense is still trying to figure out how to prevent giving up big plays. In last Saturday’s win over South Carolina, the Gamecocks had two rushes for 45 yards or more. Linebacker Damone Clark had just two solo tackles and fellow linebacker Jabril Cox had three. Cox says he and Clark know they can play better…
cut 20 (18) “improve on that”
Kick-off against Auburn this Saturday is at 2:30.

The Pelicans introduced new head coach Stan Van Gundy yesterday. Van Gundy has been out of the game for the past two years but has worked as a TV analyst. There were a number of high-profile head coaching jobs that opened up but he says New Orleans is the one he wanted.
cut 16 (12) “it all”
Van Gundy has been an NBA coach for 12 seasons with three different franchises, the Heat, Magic, and Pistons. His career regular-season record is 523 and 384.

In high school football, West Monroe and Byrd were looking for opponents this week and so the two north Louisiana schools decided to play each other. But West Monroe has pulled out of the game, because of COVID related issues with their team. The Rebels are hopeful they can still play longtime rival Ouachita Parish next week.

And the Los Angeles Dodgers are World Series Champions, they defeated Tampa Bay 3 to 1 last night to win their first title since 1988.

LRN Newscast 06:30 October 28

Hurricane Zeta is getting stronger as it eyes a landfall in southeast Louisiana this afternoon. The National Hurricane Center now believes Zeta will reach Category Two strength. Governor Edwards is asking residents to wrap up their preparations this morning…
cut 2 (30) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

The National Weather Service is warning residents that isolated tornadoes to the east of the storm’s center are possible

Terrebonne Parish could get the worst of what Zeta has to offer as the storm is expected to make landfall near the parish. Terrebonne’s Emergency Preparedness Director Earl Eues says schools and businesses are closed today, which will allow residents to prepare…
cut 13 (07) “….care of”
The Houma Municipal Auditorium will open as a shelter at 10 AM.

The University of New Orleans surveyed 755 Louisiana voters and found 59-percent support President Donald Trump in next Tuesday’s election. 36-percent of the respondents supported Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. UNO pollster Ed Chervenak finds it interesting that 90-percent of black voters voted for Governor Edwards in 2019, while only 65-percent of black voters support Biden in this poll…
cut 5 (10) “…issues”
Only one percent of Louisiana voters remain undecided.

LRN Newscast 05:30 October 28

Hurricane Zeta is getting stronger as it races towards the southeastern coast of Louisiana. Its maximum sustained winds are at 85 miles per hour and the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center says Zeta could be a Category Two storm when it makes landfall near Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. That means maximum sustained winds near 100-miles per hour near the eyewall. Governor John Bel Edwards…
cut 7 (07) “…the wind”
Zone One of Terrebonne Parish is under a mandatory evacuation ahead of Hurricane Zeta, effective at 10 am. Director of Emergency Preparedness for Terrebonne Parish, Earl Eues says despite this being the 5th named storm to make landfall in Louisiana they are ready for Zeta.
Cut 12 (09) “One hurricane.”
But again forecasters now believe Zeta could reach Category Two strength before it makes landfall this afternoon.

Zeta is expected to pass over New Orleans, bringing damaging winds this afternoon. Mayor LaToya Cantrell says the city is no stranger to being on high alert for storms and residents should have a game plan in place….
cut 10 (11) “…fatigue”
New Orleans, Slidell, along with Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Jefferson, Lafourche, and Terrebonne parishes could see peak winds between 70 to 100 miles per hour. Wind speeds for Houma are expected to be between 60 and 70 miles per hour. Hammond will see winds of 50 to 60 miles per hour, Morgan City 30 to 40 miles per hour. Entergy spokesperson Brandon Scadigli says they are ready for anticipated outages…
cut 14 (10) “…ready to go”

LRN Newscast 4:30 October 28

Hurricane Zeta is growing in strength and moving quickly towards the southeastern Louisiana coast. As of the Four-AM advisory, Zeta’s maximum sustained winds are up to 85 miles per hour and Zeta is now forecasted to be a category two storm when it makes landfall near St. Mary and Terrebonne Parishes. Zeta’s biggest threat to the state is its powerful winds, which will likely knock out power for thousands.

Governor John Bel Edwards is urging residents to be careful when using a generator as nine people lost their lives due to generator related accidents after Hurricane Laura…
cut 9 (09) “….home”
Entergy spokesperson Brandon Scadigli warns residents to take extreme caution after the storm and alert utility providers of any down lines…
cut 15 (09) “….is live’

Terrebonne could get the worst of what Zeta has to offer as the storm is expected to make landfall near the parish. Terrebonne’s Emergency Preparedness Director Earl Eues says schools and businesses are closed today, which will allow residents to prepare…
cut 13 (07) “….care of”
Zone One of Terrebonne Parish is under a mandatory evacuation, while Zone two is under a voluntary evacuation order. The Houma Municipal Auditorium will open as a shelter at 10 AM.

New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Collin Arnold says the city is expecting about two to four inches of rain, and a short period of potentially dangerous winds.
Cut 11 (11) “than that”
A landfall is expected this afternoon.

4:45 LRN Sportscast October 27

The Pelicans introduced Stan Van Gundy as its new head coach today. Van Gundy is a defensive-minded coach. At his last head coaching gig in Detroit, the Pistons improved from 25th in Defensive Rating before his arrival to a top ten defensive team. His teams in Miami and Orlando also played well on the defensive end. Van Gundy was asked today about creating a tough-minded defensive team…
cut 28 (28) “…and effort”
The Pelicans had the 21st ranked defense in the NBA this past season.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron said on a Baton Rouge radio station today that Quarterback Myles Brennan is feeling better, but he’s not sure he’ll play Saturday at Auburn. If Brennan can’t go, TJ Finley is expected to make another start. Finley benefited from a strong running game in the win over South Carolina.

The Tigers rushed for a season-high 276 yards in the win over the Gamecocks. Tyrion Davis Price had 135 yards and John Emery had 88 yards rushing. Orgeron says the plan was for both running backs to get a lot of carries
cut 19 (19) “two first-team starters’
Orgeron has also announced that starting left tackle Dare Rosenthal has been suspended indefinitely and Cam Wire will continue to start in his place.

LRN PM Newscall October 27

Coastal parishes in southeast Louisiana are bracing for their first direct hit from a hurricane this year. Taylor Sharp has more….

Cut 1 (30) “  I’m Taylor Sharp”  

_______________________________________

LSU police have arrested a member of the cleaning crew at Tiger Stadium after he allegedly mugged a fan and then bragged about the attack. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

_____________________________

Tropical Storm Zeta is expected to make landfall near southeast Louisiana tomorrow as a category 1 hurricane. John Rahaim is the Director of Emergency Preparedness for St. Bernard Parish says they are bracing for winds up to 90 miles per hour tomorrow night…

Cut 3 (08)  “…hear it”  

Zeta is projected to be a fast moving storm which should help reduce the damage, however, when the storm finally passes through, Rahaim says that he expects a wide variety of damage to be present in the area.

Cut 4 (10)   “…storm”   

St. Bernard is not the only parish preparing for the storm, Lieutenant Brennan Matherne with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office says that Lafourche parish is expecting significant winds to be the biggest impact from this storm.

Cut 5 (07) “…issues”

Due to the expected high winds, Lt. Matherne advises residents to tie down any loose furniture around their home.

Cut 6 (07) “…debris”

_________________________

A hurricane warning is in effect from Morgan City to the Mississippi/Alabama border. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Zeta is expected to bring hurricane conditions to portions of the Northern Gulf of Mexico Wednesday.

Cut 7 (09) “…warm water”

Keim says most of the models are in agreement on Zeta’s path as the cone of uncertainty begins to narrow.

Cut 8 (12) “…Bay area”

Zeta is expected to make landfall Wednesday evening as a Category 1 storm

Keim says storm surge warnings are in place from Port Fourchon to the Pearl River, basically all of southeast Louisiana, between four and six feet.

Cut 9 (12) “lot of rain”

Rainfall amounts are predicted to be between two and five inches.

 

_____________________________

Metairie native, Judge Amy Coney Barrett has been confirmed to the US Supreme Court, filling a vacancy left by the departed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Senator John Kennedy touted the nomination saying Barrett is a judge who understands judicial restraint.

Cut 10 (07) “impressed”

The vote was 52-48 strictly along party lines with only one Republican joining with Democrats in voting against her nomination.

Kennedy says Barrett has an impressive, and unimpeachable past having graduated from Dominican High, Rhodes College, and Notre Dame…

Cut 11 (10) “…hint.”

Senator Bill Cassidy echoed Kennedy’s sentiments, saying “Friends and relatives of Amy Coney Barrett in Metairie and across Louisiana are right to feel particularly proud at this moment.”

Kennedy celebrated Barrett’s personal and family life, saying she’s a person of good character.

Cut 12 (09) “ ..Christian” 

Democrats argue the nomination should never have gone forward, citing precedent set by Senate Republicans in the last year of the Obama Administration about nominations during an election year.

__________________________

Residents impacted by Hurricane Laura now have another month to register for FEMA disaster assistance. FEMA Spokesperson Melissa Wilkins says homeowners and renters can apply for aid which includes temporary housing, rental assistance and to repair or replace damage to property.

Cut 13 (10) “…November 27th”

Wilkins says there are three ways residents you can register for assistance…

Cut 14 (09) “… 800-number”

That phone number is 1-800-621-FEMA

Wilkins says FEMA assistance can cover a range of expenses from housing to medical care.

Cut 15 (12) “as possible” 

The deadline for those impacted by Hurricane Delta has been extended to December 15th.

2:30 LRN Newscast October 27

Tropical Storm Zeta has moved over the southern Gulf of Mexico and is expected to regain hurricane strength later today. As of one o’clock this afternoon, Zeta was moving northwest at 14 miles per hour and will eventually turn towards the northeast and take aim at Louisiana’s southeastern coast.

Zeta is expected to made landfall near LaFourche Parish tomorrow night at 7 PM. Lt. Brennan Matherne with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office says hurricane-force winds from Zeta is their biggest concern…
cut 5 (07) “…issues”
Zeta is projected to move through the region quickly, but St. Bernard Parish Emergency Preparedness Director John Rahaim says Zeta will cause some damage…
cut 4 (10) “…storm”
Entergy says they’ve mobilized a team of about 38-hundred workers to respond to the storm.

Residents impacted by Hurricane Laura now have another month to register for FEMA disaster assistance. FEMA Spokesperson Melissa Wilkins says homeowners and renters can apply for aid which includes temporary housing, rental assistance and to repair or replace damage to property.
Cut 13 (10) “…November 27th”
You can register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA or visit diaster-assistance-dot-gov.

Metairie native Amy Coney Barrett has been sworn in as the newest justice on the US Supreme Court. The Senate confirmed her on a 52-48 vote. Senator John Kennedy says Judge Barrett will be a fair justice and she’s a person of good character…
cut 12 (09) “….Christian”
Democrats have argued the confirmation of a new justice should have waited until after the election.

11:40 LRN Sportscast October 27

Injured LSU quarterback Myles Brennan has returned to practice. Coach Ed Orgeron says there is a chance he could play Saturday against Auburn
cut 17 (17) 100 percent ready”
Brennan reportedly tore a stomach muscle in the loss to Missouri on October 10th and missed last Saturday’s win over South Carolina.

The Louisiana Sports Writers Association has named Finley as the offensive player of the week in Louisiana. Finley threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns in his collegiate debut. The defensive player of the year is the Cajuns Bralen Trahan, who had the interception that secured U-L Lafayette’s win over U-A-B, ending their 21-game home winning streak.

The Saints will bring a three-game winning streak into Sunday’s game versus the Chicago Bears, who lost last night to the Los Angeles Rams. New Orleans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins says the team has fought through adversity well this season…
cut 30 (18) “…weather the storm”
The Saints are listed as a four point favorite for Sunday’s game in Chicago.

In the latest high school football polls, Acadiana remains the number one ranked team in Class 5A, followed by Brother Martin, who defeated Rummel last week. West Monroe is ranked seventh and they’ll visit 10th ranked Byrd in a newly scheduled game. Bastrop, Eunice, and Logansport are newly ranked teams in the polls.

Tonight is Game Six of the World Series. The Dodgers can win their first title in 32 years, while Tampa Bay is trying to force a game seven.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Governor John Bel Edwards has filed a lawsuit in state court in Baton Rouge to get a judge to block an effort by Republicans in the House of Representatives to overturn his COVID-19 public health emergency orders. The governor says a petition filed by the House is unconstitutional, but House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says Attorney General Jeff Landry is prepared to defend the petition in court…
cut 5 (05) “…themselves”

The parents of 31-year-old Trayford Pellerin have filed a federal lawsuit claiming Lafayette Police officers violated his constitutional rights when they fatally shot him to death on August 21st. Authorities say Pellerin had a knife, but family attorney Ronald Haley says…
cut 12 (09) “….answer yet”
Haley says video evidence also shows Pellerin is not threatening an officer. Police were in the area responding to a disturbance involving a man with a knife.

Louisiana had 11,000 more uninsured children in 2019 than it had in 2018, a 28 percent increase. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Zeta is expected to strengthen back into a hurricane today and its aiming to make landfall in southeast Louisiana as a Category One storm. 90-mile per hour winds are expected for portions Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes tomorrow night.

And FEMA is giving Hurricane Laura victims another 30 days to register for FEMA assistance.