9:30 LRN Newscast

OMV locations remain closed this morning because of Monday’s attempted ransomware attack on state computer systems. Louisiana cybersecurity commissioner Jeff Moulton says someone installed unauthorized software onto a state computer. Moulton says the software contained a virus that holds data hostage until a ransom is paid…
Cut 13 (11) “…make good backups.”
Moulton says this particular virus was contained to about 130 servers and 16-hundred work stations.

U-L Lafayette researchers have developed technology that can warn when a seizure is imminent for a person who suffers from epilepsy. Doctor Magdy Bayoumi (Mag-Dee Buy-oo-me) says special sensors embedded in headgear similar to a swimmer’s cap can predict the seizures…
cut 6 (09) “…seizure”
The technology was tested on 22 patients at Boston Children’s Hospital and there was a 99 percent rate of accuracy.

Former LSU student Matthew Naquin’s sentencing hearing is underway. He’s facing up to five years in prison for his role in the 2017 hazing death of fraternity pledge Maxwell Gruver, who drank himself to death during a hazing ritual. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says since Naquin does not have a previous criminal history, he could just get probation…
cut 8 (08) “…some jail time”
Two other co-defendants who were charged with a misdemeanor, received the maximum sentence, 30-days in jail.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about phony money after deputies arrested two people involved in a counterfeiting operation. Captain Scott Lee says 44-year-old Kenyatta Meads and 46-year-old Lynn Pommier produced mostly small bills.
Cut 10 (12) “…bills.”
Meads has been arrested on two separate occasions for counterfeiting.

8:30 LRN Newscast November 20

A former LSU frat member found guilty of negligent homicide in a hazing death receives his sentence today. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

An Alabama man has been charged with murder after fatally shooting another man following LSU’s win over Alabama. Colbert County Sheriff Frank Williamson says 31-year-old David Fulkerson got into an argument with the victim over the ball game. He says alcohol played a role. The victim, James Merritt, died from his wounds days later. He suspects Merritt was an LSU fan.

State Police and other agencies are investigating the cyberattack that crippled many of the state’s computer servers and it still has OMV locations closed today. Jeff Moulton with the Louisiana Cybersecurity Commission says law enforcement does its best to track down the people behind the cyberattacks, but often they can avoid being found.
Cut 15 (08) “…trickier than that.”
Seven state agencies were initially impacted by the attempted ransomware attack.

The St. Tammany Sheriff’s office is urging businesses to be on the lookout for counterfeit money after arresting two people, 44-year-old Kenyatta Meads and 46-year-old Lynn Pommier for making phony bills. Captain Scott Lee…
cut 12 (10) “…money”
Meads is facing 191 counts of Monetary Instrument Abuse.

7:30 LRN Newscast November 20

Former LSU frat member Matthew Naquin who was found guilty of negligent homicide in the 2017 hazing death of Max Gruver is scheduled for sentencing today. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says Naquin faces up to five years in prison…
Cut 7 (11) “…the maximum sentence.”
Two others involved in Gruver’s death were convicted of misdemeanor crimes and received the maximum sentence, 30-days in jail.

Cybersecurity experts believe a state worker clicked on a suspicious email or link which resulted in the cyberattack on the state’s computer servers. Jeff Moulton serves on the Louisiana Cybersecurity Commission…
cut 14 (12) “….to a network”
The state’s 79 motor vehicle offices remained closed this morning as workers try to get O-M-V computers working properly again.

44-year-old Kenyatta Meads is in the St. Tammany Parish Jail facing 191 counts of monetary instrument abuse. S-T-P-S-O Captain Scott Lee says Meads has been arrested twice for producing counterfeit money. He was released on bond October 25th and caught again earlier this month when deputies were serving an unrelated warrant for drugs at a home…
cut 11 (10) “…location”
Authorities are asking area businesses to be cautious when receiving cash, because they’re not exactly sure how much fake money is still out there.

UL Lafayette researchers have developed technology that can predict an epileptic seizure in a patient up to an hour before it happens with a 99 percent rate of accuracy. Seizures can strike at any time without warning for epileptic patients. Dr. Magdy Bayoumi (Mag-Dee Buy-oo-me) says their detection system will relieve a lot of stress…
Cut 4 (10) “treatment.”
Bayoumi says a device to monitor for future seizures is attached to a patient’s head and it is portable.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU Safety Jacoby Stevens didn’t like how the Tigers defense was dominated on Saturday, giving up 402 rushing yards and 26 first downs in a 58-37 victory over Ole Miss. During the game, cameras caught Stevens getting on his teammates as the Rebels had their way. Stevens says their performance was unacceptable…
cut 19 (23) “….Saturday”
No major changes with the new college football playoff rankings that were released last night. LSU is still number one followed by Ohio State, Clemson, Georgia and Alabama.

The Buckeyes will be tested this Saturday as they host eighth-ranked Penn State at 11 AM.

After playing the last two games on the road, the Ragin Cajuns return home Saturday to host Troy. The Trojans rank 10th in the F-B-S in scoring, averaging 39 points a game. U-L Lafayette Coach Billy Napier says Troy is explosive on offense…
cut 16 (24) “…making improvement”
The eight and two Ragin Cajuns are receiving votes in this week’s coaches poll.

In college basketball last night, LSU defeated the University of Maryland Baltimore County 77-50 as Charles Manning had 16 points off the bench.

Rhode Island defeated Nicholls 70-65, Louisiana Tech trounced Mississippi Valley 76-43 and Northwestern State knocked off Louisiana College 67-60.

The Pelicans have a two-game winning streak, they beat Portland 115 to 104 last night.

6:30 LRN Newscast November 20

OMV locations remain closed this morning because of Monday’s attempted ransomware attack on state computer systems. Louisiana cybersecurity commissioner Jeff Moulton says someone installed unauthorized software onto a state computer. Moulton says the software contained a virus that holds data hostage until a ransom is paid…
Cut 13 (11) “…make good backups.”
Moulton says this particular virus was contained to about 130 servers and 16-hundred work stations.

Matthew Naquin faces sentencing today. He’s the former LSU fraternity member who was convicted of negligent homicide in the 2017 hazing death of Maxwell Gruver. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says Judge Beau Higginbotham can sentence Naquin up to five years…
cut 9 (10) “…of the judge”
Sentencing is set for 9 AM.

Researchers at UL Lafayette develop a device that can alert Epileptic patients of an attack about an hour before it’s set to hit. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

4:45 LRN Sportscast November 19

Instead of being very upset about LSU’s performance on defense in Saturday’s win over Ole Miss, Coach Ed Orgeron has maintained a positive tone. Orgeron says he still believes in his guys…
cut 18 (25) “..season strong”
LSU linebacker Michael Divinity has rejoined the team, but Orgeron said this morning on a Baton Rouge radio station that Divinity can only practice with the team and has not been cleared to play in a game. Divinity left the team two weeks ago for what’s been labeled as personal reasons.

New college football playoff rankings come out tonight, will LSU remain ranked number one ahead of Ohio State and Clemson.

Louisiana Tech has set a press conference for 11:30 Thursday. That’s when they’ll announce new plans for the complete rebuild of the University’s baseball, softball and soccer complexes. Those facilities were destroyed by an EF 3 tornado that hit Ruston last April.

In the latest F-C-S Coaches poll, Southeastern Louisiana is ranked 22nd and Nicholls is 23rd. The two teams will meet Thursday night in Hammond, the winner will earn at least a share of the Southland Conference title and an automatic bid to the F-C-S playoffs.

In high school football playoffs, rain is in the forecast on Friday night and some games are moving to Thursday. West Monroe will host Captain Shreve on Thursday, instead of Friday and the Union Parish-Caldwell Parish gave has been moved to Thursday too. Oberlin versus Gueydan has also moved to Thursday as well.

In basketball tonight, LSU hosts Maryland-Baltimore County, while the Pelicans host the Trail Blazers.

LRN PM Newscall November 19

Senator Bill Cassidy’s legislation that would increase the amount of money Louisiana receives from offshore oil and gas revenue clears a U-S Senate Committee. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

__________________________________________

Top Republican contenders stayed out of this year’s Governor’s race, but reports say a number of GOP stars are weighing a run in 2023. Matt Doyle has the story…

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”    

__________________________________________

Legislation that would direct hundreds of millions of dollars more in offshore oil and gas revenue to Louisiana clears a Senate Committee.

If it gets signed into law the change could result in a windfall for the state, but one that Senator Bill Cassidy, who authored the legislation, says is constitutionally mandated to fund coastal restoration…

Cut 3 (11)   “levees” 

The legislation would give Gulf states 50 percent of offshore revenue generated, up from 37.5 percent currently. Cassidy says it also closes a loophole that exempted some rigs from contributing revenue.

Cut 4 (05) “…amount”

The bill also eliminates the 500 million dollar cap on total payouts to states.

Cassidy is optimistic this year’s attempt will succeed where others have failed and says it’ll be a significant economic boon to the state once it passes.

Cut 5 (07) “…marshland” 

Louisiana receives roughly 44 percent of all state-directed offshore oil and gas revenue.

_______________________

The 2019 Governor’s race is in the books and ambitious Republican state leaders are reportedly eyeing a 2023 race that won’t feature a popular incumbent Democrat.

Two prominent statewide elected figures stand out as early frontrunners, one of them is Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, who tends to stay out of partisan fights, and is highly popular across party lines.

Cut 6 (10) “…better.”

That’s UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross who notes Nungesser won 68 to 32 over Democratic challenger Willie Jones in the October primary.

Cross says the other man thought to be a top contender is Louisiana’s Attorney General.

Cut 7 (10) “…Rispone.”

Cross says Landry’s more conservative reputation gives him an advantage over Nungesser.

Cross says there are also several GOP lawmakers who will consider running…

Cut 8 (10) “   …players.”

Cross says as of now it’s hard to name a Democrat who would be competitive in the 2023 governor’s race. The constitution prohibits Governor Edwards from running for a third consecutive term.

______________________

Eleven more juvenile whooping cranes have been brought to the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area near Gueydan as the state wildlife officials attempt to re-establish the population of the rare bird. LDWF Biologist Sara Zimorski says the large birds have tracking transmitters and will be released next week, with the hopes they stay in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (12) “…throughout the year.″

Zimorski says when reintroduction efforts started in 2011, the bird was absent from the state. The state’s population of the bird at one point was as high as 10,000 but was nearly wiped out in the 1950s.

Cut 10 (08) “…of going extinct.”

Zimorski says one of the contributing factors to the bird’s decline was the disappearance of wetlands in favor of agriculture development.  Now, the birds are starting to take a liking to some of those areas too.

Cut 11 (10) “…whooping cranes prefer.”

The current total population is estimated to be over 800 with nearly 660 in the wild, 68 of those being in Louisiana.

____________________

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is the latest political figure to spotlight the conspiracy theory that multi-millionaire sex offender Jeffery Epstein may not have committed suicide in his prison cell.  Kennedy voiced his concerns during a Senate hearing with Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Kathleen Sawyer

Cut 12 (09) “…American people think.” 

Kennedy becomes the second Republican in Congress to acknowledge the speculation over Epstein’s death after Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar made tweets spelling out a message that highlighted the popular theory.  Kennedy says the American people deserve answers and acknowledged while Sawyer isn’t handling the investigation, she does talk to the people that are…

Cut 13 (09) “…a thorough investigation.”

Two correctional officers who were working the night of Epstein’s death have been arrested following accusations of falsifying documents after botching safety checks.  Epstein’s apparent suicide came before he could provide details about potential co-conspirators in sex-trafficking.  Kennedy says he wants investigators to put full focus into finding answers.

Cut 14 (07) “…they normally would.”

1:30 LRN Newscast

Legislation that would direct hundreds of millions of dollars more in offshore oil and gas revenue to Louisiana clears a Senate Committee. If signed into law, it would be a windfall for Gulf Coast states and Senator Bill Cassidy, who authored the legislation, says in Louisiana the money must go to coastal restoration…
Cut 3 (11) “levees”
The legislation would give Gulf states 50 percent of offshore revenue generated, up from 37.5 percent currently.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is the latest political figure to spotlight the conspiracy theory that multi-millionaire sex offender Jeffery Epstein may not have committed suicide in his prison cell. Kennedy voiced his concerns during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Kathleen Sawyer
Cut 12 (09) “…American people think.”
Kennedy becomes the second Republican in Congress to acknowledge the speculation over Epstein’s death.

A U-S-A Today Network report says Attorney General Jeff Landry and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser are two well-known Republicans who may run for governor in 2023. U- Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says there are also several GOP lawmakers who will consider a run…
cut 8 (10) “…players”
Cross says as of now it’s hard to find a Democrat who would be competitive in the 2023 governor’s race. The constitution prohibits Governor Edwards from running for a third consecutive term.

The state has received eleven more juvenile whooping cranes as it continues an effort to rebuild the population of the large bird that is endangered. LDWF biologist Sara Zimorski says the birds are currently at the White Lake Conservation Area near Gueydan and will soon be released in a habitat that’s to their liking…
cut 11 (09) “….prefer”
There are 68 whooping cranes in Louisiana.

12:30 LRN Newscast

The Division of Administration says most online services are available today following the attempted ransomware attack on state government, but Office of Motor Vehicle locations remain closed for the rest of the day. State Police and several federal agencies are investigating this attempted ransomware attack.

Top Republican contenders stayed out of this year’s Governor’s race, but reports say a number of state GOP stars are heavily weighing a run in 2023. Matt Doyle has the story…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Eleven more juvenile whooping cranes have been brought to the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area near Gueydan as the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries attempts to re-establish the population of the rare bird. LDWF Biologist Sara Zimorski says the large birds have tracking transmitters on them and will be released next week, with the hopes they stay in Louisiana.
Cut 9 (12) “…throughout the year.″
The current state population is in the dozens.

11:40 LRN Sportscast November 19

An LSU win on Saturday against Arkansas and the Tigers will clinch an SEC West title and punch their ticket into the SEC Championship game. Coach Ed Orgeron says he hasn’t really thought about postseason play yet
Cut 16 (13) …beat Arkansas.
The oddsmakers are not expecting much of a game on Saturday. LSU is a 44.5 point favorite.

The Tigers are spending this week, working on a defense that gave up 402 yards rushing in the Ole Miss win. Linebacker Michael Divinity who left for personal reasons two weeks ago, is back practicing with the team, but Coach Ed Orgeron said today on a Baton Rouge morning show Divinity can practice with the team, but can’t play.

The Pelicans host Portland tonight, we’ll see if newly signed Carmelo Anthony plays for the Trail Blazers.

The Saints host Carolina on Sunday. The Black and Gold is 8-2, while the Panthers are 5-and-5 in second place, but the Panthers do have one of the best players in the league. Christian McCaffrey leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage, rushing yards and touchdowns. Kick-off Sunday is at noon.

The Ragin Cajuns and Louisiana Tech are both receiving votes in the coaches poll. In the F-C-S Coaches poll, Southeastern Louisiana is ranked 22nd and Nicholls State is ranked 23rd. The Lions and Colonels meet Thursday night in Hammond.

Nicholls Senior defensive lineman Sully Laiche (Lesh) has been named the Southland Defensive Player of the Week. Laiche had two sacks and three tackles for a loss in the Colonels win over McNeese.

Northwestern State Quarterback Shelton Eppler is the Southland Offensive Player of the Week. The Texas native threw for over 300 yards for the fifth time this season and he ran it in from five yards out for the winning score.