8:30 LRN newscast November 22nd

Governor Edwards says his top priority for his second term will be new dollars for early childhood education. Edwards also wants to get public school teacher salaries to the Southern Regional Average and he says his new administration will focus on a new master plan for colleges, with the hopes of doubling the number of degrees and workforce credentials by 2030. The governor says an improving economy will help pay for these proposals.

Republicans are expected to push for a decrease in taxes, since the state is running a surplus. But Edwards says he will be hesitant to do so, if the economists who work with the Revenue Estimating Conference do not show a positive outlook…
cut 9 (09) “….to recover from”
The makeup of the legislature for Edwards second term is more conservative than the one he dealt with in his first term.

Period Equity hosts a protest today at Tulane University against the state’s sales tax of feminine products and they want attendees to bring receipts of their latest tampon purchase with them. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Quote Wizard finds Louisiana ranks seventh for most distracted drivers. State Police Sergeant Melissa Matey says taking your eyes off the road for just a second or two could lead to a wreck, especially if the driver in front of you makes a sudden stop…
cut 14 (12) “….happen”

7:30 LRN Newscast November 22nd

A new report from Georgetown University ranks LSU’s return on investment number one among SEC public universities.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

One of Governor Edwards first tasks for his second term will be working with the legislature on how to spend 535-million dollars in state surplus money. Edwards on where that money may go…
cut 8 (08) “….coastal restoration and protection”

Period Equity is hosting a protest today at Tulane against the state’s sales tax on feminine products and they want attendees to bring receipts of their latest tampon purchase with them. LIFT Louisiana is helping organize the event and Legal Advisory Board Member Laura Fine…
cut 10 (11) “…unconstitutional.”
33 states do not exempt feminine products from sales tax and efforts to do so have failed to pass at the State Capitol.

QuoteWizard used numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to find that Louisiana ranks seventh for the highest rate of distracted driving fatalities. But the same report found there’s been a slight decline in distracted driving fatalities from 2013 to 2017. State Police Sergeant Melissa Matey credits an aggressive driver education campaign…
cut 15 (07) “…driving”

6:45 LRN Sportscast November 22

There’s a good chance Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore will miss his second straight game on Sunday. He did not practice again yesterday because of a hamstring injury. Andrus Peat, Deonte Harris and Zach Line also missed practice, but offensive linemen Larry Warford and Ryan Ramczyk were upgraded to full participants.

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says right tackle Austin Deculus and safety Grant Delpit will likely not play Saturday against Arkansas. With Delpit out, freshman safety Maurice Hampton will make his first start. Senior Badara Traore will start at right tackle.

What a game last night in Hammond as Nicholls defeated Southeastern Louisiana 28-27 to earn an automatic berth into the F-C-S playoffs. Chase Fourcade’s 57-yard touchdown pass to Dai Jean Dixon with 90 seconds left was the winning score. S-L-U had a chance to win in the final seconds, but Lions quarterback Cole Kelley fumbled trying to get the ball in the end zone.

Louisiana Tech had an eight-game win streak snapped last week against Marshall, tomorrow they’ll visit U-A-B in a game that will go a long way in deciding who will win the Conference USA Western Division. Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz says he’s looking forward to his team bouncing back, but they’ll have to do it at a tough place to win for opponents…
cut 18 (16) “…can do”
Kick-off is at 2:30.

Also tomorrow, the Ragin Cajuns host Troy. Coastal Carolina is at ULM. The loser will fail to qualify for a bowl game. McNeese is at Lamar, while Tulane hosts U-C-F.

Last night the Pelicans won their third straight as they defeated Phoenix 124 to 121. Brandon Ingram had 28 points and eight rebounds.

6:30 LRN Newscast November 22

What can citizens expect to be top priorities for Governor Edwards’ the next four years? Kevin Barnhart has the details.
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

LSU ranks number one among SEC public institutions when comparing earnings versus average student debt. That’s according to a report from the Georgetown University Center on Education. LSU President F King Alexander says the TOPS scholarship plays a role…
cut 5 (07) “…is over 80-percent”

Louisiana has the seventh-highest rate of distracted driving incidents in the nation according to a QuoteWizard report. Just over five-thousand drivers died in what was deemed distracted driving incidents in Louisiana between 2013 and 2017. State Police Sgt. Melissa Matey says it’s not just cellphone related incidents.
Cut 13 (8) “the road”
The Quote Wizard report says 13 percent of driving fatalities in the state are related to distracted driving.

Walgreens says Louisiana, Maryland and California lead the country in flu cases. In fact, Lafayette, New Orleans and Baton Rouge are among the top six areas in the U-S with the highest incidence of flu based on retail prescription data.

4:45 LRN Sportscast November 21

Southeastern Louisiana hosts Nicholls tonight in the regular-season finale for both teams and the winner will earn at least a share of the Southland Conference Championship and a berth into the F-C-S playoffs. Lions Coach Frank Scelfo says it’s no surprise that the Colonels have a chance at repeating as Southland champs…
cut 18 (20) play well”
Kick-off is at 6 PM and C-S-T has television coverage.

The Pelicans are in Phoenix tonight to face the Suns. New Orleans has won three of its last four thanks to the improved play of Jrue Holiday. Holiday has averaged 24 points a game and shot 48-percent from the field over the last four games.

The Saints continue preparations today to host their N-F-C South Rivals, the Carolina Panthers. Coach Sean Payton says protecting quarterback Drew Brees will be a priority…
cut 17 (11) “….at a high level”
Kick-off Sunday is at noon.

Arkansas Interim head coach Barry Lunney is not saying who will start at quarterback on Saturday against the top ranked Tigers. True freshman KJ Jefferson has been seen taking snaps with the first team at practice.

Louisiana Tech unveiled its plans for new baseball, softball and soccer stadiums as the rebuild continues from a killer tonrado last April. Athletics Director Tommy McClelland would not give out a total price tag…
cut 13 (12) “…state’s permission”
McClelland says they know the university will receive FEMA reimbursement, insurance, state money and get help from private donors.

LRN PM Newscall November 21

Office of Motor Vehicle locations will remain closed until Monday as the state continues to get its computers working properly from a cybersecurity attack. Brooke Thorington has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

__________________________________

Louisiana Tech releases renderings and plans for new baseball, softball and soccer stadiums. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”    

__________________________________________

The cyberattack on state computer servers will keep Louisiana O-M-V offices closed for the rest of the week. Governor John Bel Edwards announced today the Office of Motor Vehicles will reopen on Monday

Cut 3 (11)   “Motor Vehicles” 

The ransomware attack on Monday impacted 132 servers in state government and the Office of Motor Vehicles has struggled to get its computer system to work properly.

Cut 4 (12) “…more computers”

Over the summer, several public school systems suffered a similar cyberattack and Edwards says more of them are coming, so the state will need to be prepared…

Cut 5 (12) “…of attacks” 

_______________________

Crowley Police now have a person of interest in a string of church vandalism incidents after another church was targeted this week, the sixth such incident since July.

Chief Jimmy Broussard says the incidents have all had roughly the same M.O., a vandal, or vandals tosses a brick or concrete through the glass of a church in a majority-black neighborhood.

Cut 6 (09) “building”

Broussard says they’re not sure exactly what is motivating these attacks, and they’re keeping all options open, but…

Cut 7 (07) “…crime.”

The chief says the feds have been contacted and information has been passed to them, so if you’re behind the vandalism, it’s best to turn yourself in now before federal agents charge you.

Cut 8 (05) “   …statutes”

_________________________________

St. John Parish Sheriffs are offering 3,500 dollars for information leading to an arrest of anyone involved in an August shooting ambush of an autistic man in Reserve.

Sheriff Mike Tregre believes a vehicle drove up behind 57-year-old Aurelius Burfict August 12th around 1 AM, and suspects within opened fire on the man.

Cut 9 (10) “…did it.″

While Tregre says they know who’s behind the shooting, they can’t make an arrest because they don’t have enough evidence yet.

Cut 10 (09) “happened.”

Burfict survived the shooting, but Tregre says it’s important to get whoever did it off the streets if they’re capable of such a violent act.

Cut 11 (11) “…help”

______________________

La Tech has unveiled plans for new baseball, softball and soccer stadiums. They were destroyed last April by a tornado. Athletics Director Tommy McClelland says the new baseball stadium will remain in the same place, while softball and soccer will relocate next to the track stadium. Construction will take several months

Cut 12 (12) “…as possible.” 

FEMA reimbursement, insurance, state dollars and private donors will pay for the new facilities. But McClelland is not releasing the expected price tag…

Cut 13 (12) “…state’s permission”

The new softball stadium will hold one-thousand fans, soccer 750 and the new baseball stadium will have a capacity of 25-hundred. McClelland says there will be chair-back seats with berm seating at the new Love Shack, some of the seating will be partially covered and once fans enter the concourse they never have to leave

Cut 14 (12) “…of the field.”

9:30 LRN Newscast November 21

In his first public comments since election night, Governor Edwards says he’s not daunted by the near supermajority Republicans will have in the new Legislature. The GOP is two seats shy in the House from overriding governor vetoes. Edwards says he’s worked with both sides of the aisle before, and just because the Capitol is red and he’s blue, doesn’t mean they can’t move the state forward.
Cut 7 (11) “…do that.”
Edwards will be sworn in on January 13th.

That’s the same day as the college football playoff championship game in New Orleans. Louisiana native Tim McGraw is one of several musical acts who will perform for free that weekend in Woldenberg Park…
cut 10 (10) “….have game tickets”
Lafayette native Lauren Daigle will sing the national anthem before the game. For more information go to college-foot-ball-playoff-dot-com.

Louisiana scores an A on Shared Hope International’s yearly child sex trafficking legal report card, but founder Linda Smith says we have one glaring problem that needs to be fixed…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A jury from East Baton Rouge Parish will now get an opportunity to decide if Grover Cannon should be sentenced to death for the 2015 killing Shreveport police officer Thomas LaValley. The 12-person panel came to a first-degree murder verdict last night after six days of testimony. Cannon took the stand in his own defense and said he was framed by police.

8:30 LRN Newscast November 21

It’s been Twitter silence from President Donald Trump after Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards won re-election, but Edwards said on his monthly call-in radio show that he received a call from the president earlier this week…
cut 9 (10) “…good Governor”
He added that Mr. Trump said he looks forward to resuming their working relationship.

Shared Hope International says Louisiana needs to change its laws so children who are victims of sex trafficking can not be charged with prostitution. Founder Linda Smith says the state scored an A on their yearly legal report card on all other child sex trafficking issues, but one relic from the past keeps us from a perfect score…
Cut 13 (11) “the law.”

Governor John Bel Edwards was a topic during last night’s Democratic presidential debate. The candidates were asked if there is room in the party for a prolife Demorat. During his four years in office, Edwards has signed several anti-abortion bills into law.

Music’s biggest names descend on New Orleans in celebration of the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 13th. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

7:30 LRN Newscast November 21

Governor Edwards will hold his first post-election press conference at 10:30 today to discuss what he would like to accomplish in his second term. Edwards says he will continue his push for a higher minimum wage, even though the makeup of the legislature is more conservative than the one he worked with during his first four years in office…
cut 8 (11) “….to do”
The minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour.

Former LSU student and fraternity member Matthew Naquin faced five years in prison for the hazing death of Max Gruver, while the judge sentenced him to five years, 2.5 of those years are suspended. Naquin was ordered to perform one-thousand hours of community service. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino….
cut 5 (06) “…criminal justice proceedings”

Louisiana gets an “A” for its laws to combat domestic minor sex trafficking, but Shared Hope International founder Linda Smith says the state could receive a perfect score if it didn’t have laws that allow minors to be charged with prostitution, even if they were forced into it by sex traffickers…
cut 15 (12) “….services”

The musical acts are set for the days leading up to the College Football National Championship game in New Orleans on January 13th. Country music superstar Tim McGraw headlines a group of musicians who will perform on Saturday and Sunday. Lafayette native Lauren Daigle will sing the National Anthem. Host Committee Executive Director Jeff Hundley says it will be a great weekend that will be even better if LSU is in the title game…
cut 12 (10) “…seem only natural”

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints will host Carolina on Sunday. The Panthers have lost two in a row to drop their record to 5-and-5. But running back Christian McCaffrey is playing like an MVP candidate with over 1,000 yards rushing and 59 catches. Coach Sean Payton says McCaffrey is no longer an offensive weapon who comes on the field for passing downs…
cut 16 (24) “….passing game’
Four Saints did not practice yesterday, Andrus Peat, Marshon Lattimore, Deonte Harris and Zach Line. Offensive linemen Larry Warford and Ryan Ramcyck were limited. Kick-off on Sunday in the Superdome is at noon.

There is a big college football game in Hammond tonight as Nicholls visits Southeastern Louisiana. The winner not only gets the River Bell Trophy, but at least a share of the Southland Conference Championship and an automatic berth into the F-C-S playoffs. S-L-U leads the Southland in total offense, while the Colonels lead the league in rushing offense, averaging 189 yards a game. Lions coach Frank Scelfo anticipates a physical game…
cut 19 (23) “…they’re going to play”
Kick-off is at 6 PM on C-S-T.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron says linebacker Michael Divinity is back practicing with the team after leaving for personal reasons. But he’s not eligible to play until the national championship game.