10:30 LRN Newscast July 9

Governor Edwards says over the last eight days Louisiana has tested over 100-thousand people creating a back log at the testing labs. Assistant Health Secretary Doctor Alex Billioux says if you are waiting on your results and were exposed to someone who has COVID-19, stay home for 14 days
Cut 11 (10) “…not going out”
Concern is growing high school sports will be canceled in the fall. But Over 60 lawmakers have co-signed a letter sent to the state’s public school education leaders requesting that students return to the classroom and student athletes return to the playing field in the fall. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says sports helps students stay in school and keeps kids in shape…
cut 8 (07) “…maintain their balance”

A recent poll shows post-pandemic snacking is on the rise for Americans and that’s leading to people packing on the pounds. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A report out of Ohio says the LIbby Glass plant in Shreveport will cease operations soon, which would result in the loss of 450 jobs. Last month Libbey Incorporated declared bankruptcy. They are one of the largest table glass and stemware manufactures in the world, but COVID-19 has resulted in less demand for their product.

5:30 LRN Newscast July 8

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is heading in the wrong direction in its battle to stop the spread of COVID-19, but he is not contemplating a statewide mask mandate. But Edwards says you should wear a mask when interacting with others outside of your home
Cut 10 (09) “…important”
The state health department reports over 70-thousand coronavirus cases since the pandemic started and one-thousand COVID patients are hospitalized.

Shreveport now has a mask mandate in place, which prompted Oil City Representative Danny McCormick to post a Facebook video criticizing government ordered mask requirements. McCormick equates the mask mandates to the Holocaust…
cut 5 (07) “…in Nazi Germany”
Edwards called McCormick’s analogy nonsense and sad.

Authorities say a West Monroe 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”
No troopers were injured during the exchange of gunfire.

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”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Members of LSU’s national championship football team have three championship rings commemorating their historic 2019 season. Special assistant to head Coach Ed Orgeron, Derek Ponamsky, says the players receieved their 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 (11) “…work.”
For the players and coaches who are no longer with the program, they had their rings shipped to them.

The Pelicans left for Orlando and head coach Alvin Gentry was with the team. ESPN reports Gentry was cleared to be inside bubble that the NBA has set up in Orlando for 22 teams to resume the season. 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.

Senate Education Chairman Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge has asked BESE to suspend fall sports for K-12 schools because of COVID-19. Catholic High football coach Gabe Fertitta says that request took him by surprise and seems like a knee jerk reaction, but he doesn’t have the answer at this point and continues to stress the importance of embracing each day to his players.
Cut 15 (07) “…what happens tomorrow.”
BESE President Sandy Holloway says local school districts will determine if sports will be played.

The Ivy League has determined that none of their schools will play sports ntil January 2021. But Ivy League athletic directors have reportedly not shut the door on the possiblity of football in the spring.

The NFL and its players association have begun discussing the rules for the likelihood of players opting out for the 2020 season. The Baltimore Ravens say if fans are allowed at their games, they’ll have no more than 14-thousand in the stands.

4:30 LRN Newscast 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.”

Governor John Bel Edwards said today that the state is heading in the wrong direction in its battle to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The state has surpassed 70-thousand cases and the number of people hospitalized is now over one-thousand. Edwards continues to ask businesses and the public to follow spread mitigation restrictions.

31-year-old Erroll Johnson was shot dead in Monroe early this morning by State Police troopers. Master Trooper Michael Reichardt says they have looking for Johnson since Sunday when he allegedly fired shots at Trooper during a traffic stop near Calhoun…
Cut 6 (09) “…that time.”
Reichardt says they learned Johnson was staying at a Monroe motel and he was gunned down in an exchange of gunfire.

Colorado State University has increased its predicted storm total for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, increasing the number of 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.”

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.