3:30 LRN Newscast July 8

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says in a video on Facebook that requiring a person to wear a mask is an assault on liberty. McCormick also adds a mask mandate is a gateway to other government efforts of overreach…
Cut 4 (10)_ “…take the mark.”
McCormick published the post as Shreveport’s mask mandate for people inside a business begins today.

A man wanted for shooting at State Trooper on Sunday was fatally shot during a gun fight with police at a Monroe motel early this morning. Master Trooper Michael Reichardt says troopers attempted to convince 31-year-old Erroll Johnson to surrender peacefully…
cut 8 (08) “…work”
Reichardt says they’ve been searching for Johnson since he shot at a trooper during a traffic stop near Calhoun on Sunday.

The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State increased their forecast total for the current hurricane season from 19 to 20. Researcher Jhordanne Jones says the bumped up forecast comes as a result of several factors, including above average sea surfaces temps in the north Atlantic…
cut 13 (05) “….of the US”
The CSU team is also calling for nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

The 2019 LSU football team has received their championship rings and they got three of them. One for winning the SEC Championship, one for winning the college football playoffs and another for winning a national championship. Coach Ed Orgeron’s assistant, Derek Ponamsky, says on the inside of the national championship ring is the LSU standard of performance…
cut 10 (08) “…yourself”
For the players and coaches who are no longer with the program, they had their rings shipped to them.

2:30 LRN Newscast

In a video posted to his Facebook account, Oil City Representative Danny McCormick compares masks mandates to how Jews in Nazi Germany were treated during the Holocaust. McCormick says a mandatory mask order is an assault on liberty…
Cut 3 (11) “…***chainsaw sfx***.”
Shreveport’s mask mandate begins at 5 PM today.

Authorities say a man wanted for shooting at a State Trooper during an attempted traffic stop was killed early this morning during a gun battle with law enforcement at a motel in Monroe. Master Trooper Michael Reichardt says they’ve been looking for 31-year-old Erroll Johnson since the first shooting incident on Sunday…
cut 7 (12) “…shot”

The 2019 national champion LSU Tigers have their rings. Jeff Palermo reports each player, coach and staff member received three different rings…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Hurricane researchers at Colorado State have increased their projected storm total for this year from 19 to 20 as we’ve already seen five named storms this year. Jhordanne Jones says sea surface temperatures are above normal and there’s no El Nino to suppress storm development…
cut 14 (09) “…hurricane activity”

LRN PM Newscall July 8

Does a mask mandate have any parallels to Nazi Germany? One Louisiana lawmaker releases a video that is raising eyebrows. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

____________________________

The 2019 national champion LSU Tigers have their rings. Jeff Palermo reports each player, coach and staff member received three rings for their role in the perfect season…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

_____________________________

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick denounces masking mandates in a video posted to Facebook.  In the clip, McCormick compares mask-wearing to Nazi Germany, the mark of the beast, eludes to the possibility of implanted tracking chips in the future, and brandishes a chainsaw,

Cut 3 (11)  “…***chainsaw sfx***.”  

Shreveport becomes the latest municipality to enact a mask mandate where anyone inside of a business needs to be wearing a face covering.  McCormick says a mask mandate is a gateway to other government efforts of overreach.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…take the mark.”

McCormick says the video is a call to action and now is the time to push back before it is too late.

Cut 5 (07)  “…in Nazi Germany.”
______________________

31-year-old Erroll Johnson was shot dead in Monroe this morning by State Police troopers trying to apprehend him after allegedly firing at officers on two different occasions in the past few days.

State Police Master Trooper Michael Reichardt says the first incident occurred Sunday when officers attempted to pull over Johnson, leading to a car chase.

Cut 6 (09) “…that time.”

Reichardt says troopers and local law enforcement later tracked Johnson to a motel in Monroe around 1 AM this morning.

Cut 7 (12) “…shot

Johnson was pronounced dead on the scene.

Reichardt says troopers attempted to convince Johnson to surrender peacefully before the shooting started.

Cut 8 (08)“…work.”

No troopers or other law enforcement were injured during either Sunday’s or this morning’s incidents.

_______________________

The 2019 LSU national championship football team is supporting new bling as they’ve received their rings for completing a perfect season. Special assistant to head coach Ed Orgeron, Derek Ponamsky, says each player and member of the staff received three rings to commemorate an historic season

Cut 9 (11) “…playoff tournament”

On the rings you can see the slogans “Hold That Tiger,” “One team, one heartbeat” and Ponamsky says on the inside of the national championship ring is the LSU standard of performance…

Cut 10 (09) “…to the kidney.”

Ponamsky says the team received the rings during a team meeting where they saw a video message from the players on LSU’s three previous national title teams and then Coach O told the guys look under your seat

Cut 11 (07) “…new drug.”

For the players and coaches who are no longer with the program, they had their rings shipped to them.

_________________________________________________________

Colorado State University updates their 2020 Atlantic hurricane season forecast, increasing the predicted number of this season’s named storms from 19 to 20.  CSU forecaster Jhordanne Jones says while we’ve seen smaller storms pop up so far, the season’s peak may pack a bigger punch.

Cut 12 (09) “…August to October.”

So far there have been five named storms and there’s a potential a sixth named storm will form off the coast of the Carolinas.

Jones says the bumped up forecast comes as the result of several factors, including above average sea surface temps in the north Atlantic.

Cut 13 (05) “…of the US.” 

Jones says there has also been no development of an El Nino that would suppress hurricane activity.

Cut 14 (09) “…for hurricane activity.”

The CSU team is also calling for nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The 2019 LSU national championship football team is supporting new bling as they’ve received their rings for completing a perfect season. Special assistant to head coach Ed Orgeron, Derek Ponamsky, says each player and member of the staff received three rings to commemorate an historic season
Cut 9 (11) “…playoff tournament”
And don’t worry Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow got his rings, they were shipped to him in Ohio.

Many are wondering if we’ll see football in September. Catholic High of Baton Rouge football coach Gabe Fertitta says the state needs to move into phase three of its reopening in order for contact sports like football to be played…
Cut 14 (07) “…football in phase 2.”
Governor Edwards is set to provide a COVID-19 briefing this afternoon.

The Pelicans arrive in Orlando today to begin NBA bubble life in Orlando today. Matt Doyle reports some players are a bit uneasy about resuming play…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

There was some question on whether head coach Alvin Gentry would be on the sidelines for the games inside the bubble, but ESPN is reporting that Gentry has been cleared. Gentry is 65-years-old and the league is concerned about those over 65 entering the bubble. 67-year-old assistant Jeff Bzdelik is not joining the team.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Oil City Representative Danny McCormick denounces masking mandates in a video posted to Facebook. In the clip, McCormick compares mask-wearing to the holocaust, the mark of the beast, eludes to the possibility of implanted tracking chips in the future, and brandishes a chainsaw,
Cut 3 (11) “…***chainsaw sfx***.”
Shreveport is the latest muncipality to mandate masks. Their mandary order goes into effect at 5 PM today.

Meanwhile, Tulane researchers have concluded a study on how long COVID-19 can survive in the air. Tulane National Primate Research Center Director of Infectious Disease Aerobiology Chad Roy says it’s for more than just a few hours…
cut 4 (12) “….suspension”
Roy says the best way for those droplets to stay out of your system is by wearing a mask.

The Pelicans depart for the NBA bubble in Orlando today with some players a bit uneasy about resuming play. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The 2019 LSU football team has received their championship rings and they got three of them. One for winning the SEC Championship, one for winning the college football playoffs and another for winning a national championship. It’s unknown how much the rings cost but the NCAA prohibits schools from spending more than 425-dollars per national championship ring.

5:30 LRN Newscast July 7

The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations is back above one-thouand for the first time since the middle of May. 1,025 are now hospitalized as a result of COVID-19, 109 of them are on ventilators. The state also reported 23 new deaths for a total of 68,263.

Can you ask for a raise during the coronavirus pandemic? And if so, how? Kevin Barnhart talks to an expert for the answers.
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

Over 103-thousand people early voted in person for Saturday’s presidential primary and at least another 76-thousand sent in a mail-in ballot. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillon says those are huge numbers for a presidential primary already decided…
cut 3 (12) “…newsworty”
Couvillon says it’s also newsworthy that more blacks than whites voted early based on numbers posted Sunday by the Secretary of State’s office.

A team of scientists that includes researchers at LSU Health New Orleans believe they’ve discovered a new class of pipeline drugs that can relieve pain and reduce fever with the danger of addiction. Doctor Nicholas Bazan says they also believe their drugs are less toxic to the liver and kidneys than the painkillers on the market…
cut 10 (09) “…to the kidney”
Bazan says the drugs they discovered need FDA approval.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields has asked the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to cancel high school sports this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. But the President of BESE, Sandy Holloway, says such a decision has to be made on a local level. According to the White House guidelines for reopening, Louisiana needs to be in Phase 3 for contact sports like football to be played. But with cases surging and hospitalizations and deaths rising, Louisiana remains stuck in Phase 2.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Peter Parrish is no longer listed on the roster on LSU’s website. That leaves Myles Brennan as the only Tiger quarterback with college playing experience. Parrish was suspended from the football team in mid-March for an unspecified violation of team rules. Parrish is from Alabama and we do know that a lawsuit has been filed against LSU by a football player from Bama because he believes is rights were violated.

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The Pelicans leave for Orlando tomorrow, where they hope to spend the next few weeks in the NBA’s bubble. New Orleans is set to play eight regular season games as it attempts to catch Memphis for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Today, the Wizards Bradley Beal said he’s not playing in Orlando. Washington is one of the eight teams on the Pels regular season schedule.

Jeff Tannehill is the new head coach at Neville High School replacing Mickey McCarty, who has been hired as the school’s principal. Tannehill is a Neville alum and he’s been assistant for McCarty on two different occasions. He’s also led St. Frederick to a state championship game appearance a few years back.

In basketball coaching news…Randy Carlisle is leaving Summerfield to be the new head coach at Anacoco. Carlisle coached both the boys and girls basketball teams at Summerfield and won five Class C Championships between the two programs. Amber Obaze-Ford has left Ouachita High School to be the new head coach at Summerfield. Chrissy Givens will be the new head coach at Ouachita.

4:30 LRN Newscast July 7

Both Democratic and Republican Presidential Primaries are basically decided but there’s still been a robust turnout for Saturday’s election. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Add Shreveport to the list of local governments requiring masks for everyone inside a business. Mayor Adrian Perkins’ order goes into effect tomorrow at 5 PM. The number of people hospitalized statewide by COVID-19 surpassed one-thousand today and deaths increased by 23 to 3,211.

LSU Health New Orleans researchers have discovered a new class of pipeline drugs that can relieve pain and reduce fever with the danger of addition or damage to the live or kidneys. Dr. Nicolas Bazan says they believe these new chemical entities reduced pain in two models and reduced fever in another model. He says the Food and Drug Administration will begin their investigation soon…
cut 11 (07) “…new drug”

Another major festival in Louisiana has been postponed until 2021. The 2020 World Championship Gumbo Cookoff in New Orleans will not take place in October, but they may still have a virtual food event. Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce CEO Janet Faulk-Gonzales says that’s because everyone loves a good gumbo…
cut 14 (11) “…the world”

12:30 LRN Newscast July 7

The number of people hospitalized as a result of COVID-19 has surpassed one-thousand as the state health department reports another 61 hospitalized today because of the coronavirus. The number of total cases rose by 19-hundred and deaths increased by 23 to 3,211.

State Farm has announced its lowering its auto insurance rates by an average of 10-percent. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the COVID-19 pandemic has played a role in the lower rates…
cut 11 (07) “….at home orders”

Is it wise to ask for a pay raise during a pandemic? UNO Finance Professor Mark Rosa says you might have a good argument if you’re workload has increased because of furloughs and layoffs at your place of employment…
cut 7 (07) “…money my way”

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Both Democratic and Republican Presidential Primaries are basically decided but Louisiana voters are still highly engaged in the upcoming July 11th election. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Here are commodity prices…

10:30 LrN Newscast July 7

State Farm has announced its lowering auto insurance rates for Louisiana policyholders by an average of 10-percent. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says this decrease, combined with three other rate decreases in the last couple of years has resulted in a 23% total rate decrease. Donelon anticipates other insurers will follow State Farm’s lead….
Cut 12 (07) “…driven by competition.”
The effective date of State Farm’s current reduction is August 24.

Because of the parameters put on the special session, lawmakers were not able to pass police reform legislation as the George Floyd protests were taking place across the country. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says these difficult conversations will take place in a possible special session in the fall or a regular session next year…
cut 6 (10) “….police”

Baton Rouge attorney Nancy Sue Gregoire says she’s seen an increase in divorces since the pandemic started….
cut 7 (08) “…get along”
Gregoire says changes in employment is making it harder to settle a divorce proceeding.

A bill that passed in the special session that’s awaiting the governor’s signature is a bill that would allow electric co-ops to create their own high speed internet networks in rural areas that lack broadband access. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says many of her lower-income constituents could benefit greatly from broadband in ways they might not expect…
cut 15 (10) “….money”
Mizell says the governor is expected to sign the legislation. The senator made the comments on Talk Louisiana hosted by Jim Engster.