4:45 LRN Sportscast July 31

LSU head football coach Ed Orgeron is excited about the SEC moving from a normal 12-game regular-season schedule to a ten-game format with conference-only opponents. Orgeron says he’s still waiting on an exact schedule…
Cut 9 (11) “…gonna be ready.”
The season will kick off September 26th instead of September 5th and Orgeron anticipates the two additional conference opponents will come from the SEC East. Media reports say the Tigers will play Kentucky and Tennessee, along with South Carolina, Florida, and their SEC West rivals.

LSU will no longer play Nicholls as the Colonels were looking forward to their first visit to Tiger Stadium. ULM will lose two nonconference and big paychecks since they will not play Georgia or Arkansas.

The Pelicans had a 16 point lead last night but couldn’t hold on and lost to the Utah Jazz 106 to 104. Brandon Ingram’s three-pointer to win the game in the final seconds rimmed out. Coach Alvin Gentry on B-I’s missed shot just before the buzzer…
cut 19 (19) “…move on”
The Pels will play the Clippers tomorrow. Zion Williamson only played 15 minutes last night and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffen says that’s because he just missed 13 days to attend to a family emergency…
cut 30 (13) “…find that”

LRN PM Newscall July 31

Former Klan leader and state lawmaker David Duke is banned from Twitter. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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LSU football coach Ed Orgeron looks forward to playing a ten-game SEC schedule this season. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut 2 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

_____________________________

Governor Edwards tells Louisiana residents not to expect major changes with the Phase Two coronavirus guidelines as he expects to extend the mask mandate and bar closure order next week. The current order expires next Friday and Edwards it will likely be extended for another two weeks

Cut 3 (11)  “…current data”  

Edwards has been encouraged that the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital has declined over the week, but he points to Louisiana ranking number one for per capital cases. The governor says the mask mandate is part of the new normal

Cut 4 (11)_ “loved ones”

Edwards has faced criticism from some Republican lawmakers over the restrictions that have been put on businesses during this pandemic. But Edwards says he’s following the guidance from the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force

Cut 5 (12)  “…need to do”

______________________

Twitter has banned the account of former KKK leader and state lawmaker David Duke for violating the platform’s rules on hate speech.  The site has recently banned tens of thousands of extremist accounts, and Tyler Bridges, Author of The Rise and Fall of David Duke, says it was inevitable Duke would get hit as well.

Cut 6 (08) “…mainstream.”

The official release from Twitter about the ban says Duke “has been permanently suspended for repeated violations of the Twitter rules on hateful conduct.”

Bridges says Duke frequently posted comments about Jews.

Cut 7 (08) “…issues’”

Duke was already banned from Youtube and Bridges says…

Cut 8 (12) “twitter”

Duke famously ran for Governor against Edwin Edwards in 1991, and last ran for office in 2016, getting 58,000 votes in a campaign for the Senate seat that was won by John Kennedy.

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LSU head football coach Ed Orgeron is excited about the SEC moving from a normal 12-game regular-season schedule to a ten-game format with conference-only opponents. Orgeron says he’s still waiting on an exact schedule, but the shakeup does not take the wind out of his sails.

Cut 9 (11) “…gonna be ready.”

The season will kick off September 26 instead of September 5th and Orgeron anticipates that the two additional conference opponents will come from the SEC East, but the team will be ready.

Cut 10 (11) “…three extra weeks.”

Orgeron says the team has a great testing system in place with a great protocol and believes the team feels very safe with the virus spread mitigation efforts in place, adding that whatever comes, the team will be ready.

Cut 11 (05) “…adapt and adjust.”

___________________________

A Franklin Parish traffic stop leads to the discovery of a dead body in the trunk of a bullet-riddled car.

Court records show a trooper pulled a suspect over for speeding, saw bullet holes in the driver’s side door, and smelled pot coming out of the car. Master Trooper Michael Reichardt…

Cut 12 (07) “…car.” 

That traffic stop led to the arrest of 18-year-old Michael Mitchell Jr. who claims he and 19-year-old Cameron Powe were robbing the victim, Michael Robinson, when Powe shot Robinson and put the body in Mitchell’s trunk. Powe was arrested later that night.

Reichardt applauded the arresting trooper.

Cut 13 (11) “…street” 

But says the trooper was a little shook up by the incident.

Cut 14 (12) “…going”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The SEC has joined the other major conferences in agreeing to only play conference football games this season, with the ten-game season set to kick off September 26th. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the decision makes sense from a scheduling and healthcare perspective.
Cut 16 (15) “health-wise”
The SEC Championship Game will be held on December 19th in Atlanta. The revised 10-game schedule has yet to be announced and it’s unknown how many fans will be allowed inside Tiger Stadium. LSU has sent a letter to its season ticket holders asking them if they want to retain their 2020 tickets.

ULM is reportedly missing out on three-point-two million dollars because its games against Arkansas and Georgia will not be played.

The NBA returned last night with a couple of nail bitters inside the league’s bubble. New Orleans fell short to Utah 106 to 104 as Brandon Ingram missed a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds. Ingram led the Pels with 23 points…
cut 20 (15) “…next game”
The next game is Saturday against the Clippers, who lost by two points last night to the Lakers. We’ll see if Zion Williamson sees more time on the floor. He was limited to 15 minutes but still scored 13 points last night.

The Saints have signed a couple of players, veteran wide receiver Bennie Fowler and linebacker Nigel Bradham. Fowler caught 23 passes in eight games with the Giants last season, while Bradham started 12 games for the Eagles last season at middle linebacker.

10:30 LRN Newscast July 31

Beginning Saturday any physician in good standing with the state can recommend medical cannabis. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Former KKK leader and state lawmaker David Duke has been banned from Twitter. The social media company said that Duke’s account has been permantenly suspended for repeated violations of the Twitter Rules on hateful conduct. Twitter did not specifiy what Duke posted that resulted in the ban.

Congressional negotiations are underway over another coronavirus relief package, with Democrats and Republicans presenting widely different opening offers. Democrats want to see the expiring 600 dollar a week federal unemployment benefit extended through the year. Republicans have balked at that, and Senator John Kennedy explains why…
Cut 13 (13) “…extended.”
Some Republicans have suggested the weekly federal unemployment benefits should be reduced to 200-dollars.

Beginning tomorrow, state law will allow for year around nighttime hunting of feral hogs on private property. Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland authored the measure and hopes the move helps reduce the hog population
Cut 10 (09) “…group of them.”

9:30 LRN Newscast July 31

Governor John Bel Edwards responds to the federal class-action lawsuit filed against him by several bar owners in the Acadiana region. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Louisiana remains number one in per-capita COVID-19 cases, but the number of coronavirus patients in the hospital has dropped the last three days. Edwards is hoping that trend continues. Also, the governor says don’t expect major changes to the Phase Two guidelines when he extends them next week. He says the mask mandate is the new normal.

Nearly 200 new state laws take effect tomorrow. These are measures approved during the regular session. One new law greatly expands the state’s medical-marijuana program, allowing for any doctor in good standing with the state to recommend the treatment for a patient dealing with a debilitating condition…
cut 5 (08) “…pallitative care”

Also starting tomorrow, properly licensed Louisiana and non-resident hunters can shoot feral hogs at night on private property the entire year with the landowner’s permission. Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland wrote the law and says this new regulation also extends to other damaging species such as nutria, beavers, and coyotes…
cut 11 (09) “….really strange times”
Hunters are required to contact that parish’s sheriff office within 24 hours prior of attempted nighttime take.

8:30 LRN Newscast July 31

Governor Edwards has responded to the federal class-action lawsuits filed against him by bar owners over his emergency order that bans on-premise alcohol consumption. Edwards says they have a right to file a sut, but the governor believes his actions are legal…
Cut 7 (10) “…is absolutely essential.”
The state health department has traced at least 464 confirmed coronavirus infections to 41 bars.

Louisiana’s medical marijuana program expands tomorrow as a new law allows anyone who has a debilitating condition to receive a recommendation for medicinal cannabis from their doctor. Wellcana CEO John Davis says medical marijuana is a safer option than opioids…
cut 6 (12) “…side effects”

Congressional Republicans and Democrats are at an impasse in discussions over the next round of coronavirus relief aid. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The state education department has announced they’ve received a 17-million dollar federal grant to help meet the needs of students in pre-K and through third grade during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families will be provided opportunities for high-quality remote supplemental learning resources, virtual tutoring and internet connectivity needed to access those services.

7:30 LRN Newscast July 31

Governor Edwards is defending his executive order that bans in-person consumption at bars as two federal lawsuits have been filed that attempt to block enforcement of the order. Edwards says unfortunately bars are conducive to the spread of the coronavirus and the Trump administration supports his decision…
cut 8 (10) “….number of people”

SEC presidents have agreed to shorten the college football season and play a ten-game conference only schedule that would begin on September 26th. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says it’s still to be determined if they can start a season and finish it…
cut 18 (11) “…plays otu”
And we still don’t know if fans will be allowed inside Tiger Stadium.

Louisiana’s medical marijuana program is set to expand tomorrow as physicians in good standing with the state can recommend the treatment.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Two Monroe teenagers have been arrested after State Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and found a dead body in the trunk. 23-year-old Michael Robinson Junior of Monroe has been identified as the deceased individual. The driver of the vehicle, 18-year-old Michael Mitchell Junior of Monroe was arrested and investigators say 19-year-old Cameron Powe was also involved. Both have been charged with second-degree murder.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The SEC has approved a ten-game conference only football schedule this season. The first game will be played September 26th, instead of Labor Day weekend. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins…
cut 17 (12) “…Ole Miss”
The league has yet to release each team’s new schedule. LSU will no longer play Texas or Nicholls this year, while ULM is set to miss out on three-point-two million dollars, because they will not get money for playing at Arkansas and Georgia.

Saints players are still going through COVID-19 testing. Defensive end Cam Jordan says he never thought about opting out…
cut 29 (20) “…I do”

The NBA is back but for the Pelicans the restart did not go as planned. New Orleans failed to hold on to a 16-point lead and fell to the Utah Jazz 106 to 104 last night. Coach Alvin Gentry points to his team’s 20 turnovers for why the Pels came up short…
cut 19 (20) “…like that”
Brandon Ingram had 23 points but missed a three-pointer in the final seconds that would have won the game. Zion Williamson started, but played just 15 minutes and scored 13 points. New Orleans next game is tomorrow against the Clipppers, who also lost a two-point game last night as they fell to the Lakers.

6:30 LRN Newscast July 31

Talks continue on Capitol Hill on a coronavirus relief package that would provide millions of Americans with expanded jobless benefits. The 600-dollar-per-week unemployment benefit officially lapses today. Democrats support the three trillion dollar HEROES Act while Republicans want the slimmer, trillion-dollar HEALS Act. Senator John Kennedy wonders if either piece of legislation does enough for small businesses.
Cut 14 (13) “…capital.”

The SEC has approved a ten-game conference only football schedule this season. The first game will be played September 26th, instead of Labor Day weekend. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins…
cut 17 (12) “…Ole Miss”
The league has yet release each team’s new schedule.

Beginning tomorrow, access to medical marijuana will increase dramatically in Louisiana. A new law goes into effect that allows physicians to prescribe the treatment without having to obtain a special license. LSU medical marijuana licensee Wellcana CEO John Davis…
Cut 4 (12)_ “…medical condition”

Also going into effect on Saturday is a law that allows for the nighttime hunting of feral hogs on private property. Jonesboro Representative Jack MacFarland wrote the law and says feral hogs will eat anything and have negative impacts on farmland as well as other wildlife and adds this measure could help reduce auto insurance rates.
Cut 12 (09) “…up car insurance.”

4:45 LRN Sportscast July 30

SEC presidents have approved a plan that would reduce the football schedule from 12 regular-season games to a ten-game season against conference opponents. The ten-game schedule would begin on September 26th and the SEC title game will be held on December 19th. LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron was asked yesterday about a change to the schedule and here’s what he had to say…
cut 16 (11) “….pasture”
So who will LSU play during the 10-game schedule? It’s still unknown, but its expected the Tigers would play its six other West opponents, plus Florida and South Carolina, who the Tigers were already scheduled to play. The other two SEC teams on the schedule could be Kentucky and Tennessee. The non-conference games against Texas and Nicholls have been dropped.

Saints Coach Sean Payton says he would not be surprised if there are NFL games suspended this season because of a coronavirus outbreak. Each team has to follow social distancing guidelines at their facilities and players could also be fined if they do something that puts themselves in jeopardy of getting infected. But Payton says that’s probably not enough to prevent an outbreak
Cut 18 (19) “…this year”

The NBA Bubble has worked and tonight the season finally resumes with the Pelicans facing the Utah Jazz and the Clippers battling the Lakers in Orlando. New Orleans rookie sensation Zion Williamson is a game-time decision after missing several days of practice to attend to a family emergency.