LRN PM Newscall August 21

Public memorials begin tomorrow in Baton Rouge for former Governor Kathleen Blanco. Her biggest challenge as an elected official was the response to Hurricane Katrina. Jeff Palermo spoke to her about it in 2015…

Cut 1 (31) “..I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A major employer in Minden is considering a re-location to Texas because of a series of structurally deficient bridges in northwest Louisiana. Matt Doyle has the story…

cut  2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Public memorials for former Governor Kathleen Blanco begin tomorrow in Baton Rouge. The state’s first elected female governor died Sunday. Her leadership was questioned during Hurricane Katrina, but in an interview to mark the 10-year anniversary of the storm, Blanco told the Louisiana Radio Network the storm overwhelmed the state’s capabilities

Cut 3 (12) “…quickly.”

The storm left most of New Orleans underwater for weeks, thousands were displaced and hundreds more were stranded in New Orleans without shelter or food. Blanco told Louisiana Radio Network in 2005 it was FEMA who failed to provide buses to get people out of the storm-stricken area

Cut 4 (12) “…anyone else”

Blanco says she was disappointed by all of the finger-pointing when an American city was brought to its knees and so many were hurting

Cut 5 (11) “…political response.”

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AG Jeff Landry says an armed law enforcement officer from his office to help educate students and protect them from online crime, may have triggered the armed intruder false alarm at LSU yesterday. University spokesperson Ernie Ballard says they are reviewing the response and they recently trained for a similar scenario.

Cut 6 (09) “…in a training.”

Ballard says campus safety is a shared responsibility and if someone sees something, they should say something.

Cut 7 (12) “…have the problems.”

Just before 3pm the school sent out an alert telling students in the area to run, fight, or hide.  Ballard says while that language may be alarming, it’s encouraged by the federal Homeland Security department.

Cut 8 (10) “…isn’t a joke.”

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A company that employs 750 people in Minden is threatening to relocate to east Texas if the state does not upgrade several bridges in the area that have structural problems.

Fibrebond builds huge structures that can measure 16 by 75 feet and weigh 150,000 pounds, making them ineligible to cross de-rated bridges. Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett…

Cut 9 (08) “area”

DOTD is meeting with Fibrebond today to try to find a resolution.

Fibrebond CEO Graham Walker told KEEL the state is littered with de-rated bridges, and the only routes DOTD can find force his company to make a substantial detour to ship items west.

Cut 10 (12) “…miles”

Fibrebond is a Louisiana owned and operated company that’s been open for the last 37 years.

Mallett says the state has some funds set aside to hopefully keep the major employer from crossing into Texas.

Cut 11 (11) “ there” 

Walker warns a new round of de-ratings of bridges could make that route even more convoluted or block the company from being able to ship from Minden at all. He wants to stay in Louisiana, but…

Cut 12 (10) “…get out”

Walker says the company has already begun receiving offers from east Texas communities and the state of Texas to assist in a potential move.

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St. Landry Parish Sheriffs are trying to identify a body they discovered dumped in the Beggs area. Authorities say it appears to be an African American female in her early 20s.

Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says the cause of death is unknown at this time, but the body did have one specific identifying item.

Cut 13 (05) “…lanyard”

Foul play is suspected and hey believe he woman had been dead for four to five days, and the body had been dumped at that location about two days prior to its discovery Sunday.

Guidroz says it was a shocking discovery, but a sensation that’s not all that unfamiliar to the region at this time.

Cut 14 (10) “…with this .”

The body was found just off of Highway 10.

2:30 LRN Newscast August 21

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco will lie in state at the Louisiana Capitol tomorrow. Since her death on Sunday, many have looked back at her one term as governor, which was highlighted by Hurricane Katrina. Blanco told L-R-N in 2015 that she hated political fingerpointing that took place…
cut 5 (11) “…political response”

AG Jeff Landry says yesterday an armed law enforcement officer from his office was on campus to help educate students and protect them from crime, which may have triggered the armed intruder false alarm. LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard says they are reviewing yesterday’s response, adding they have recently trained for a similar scenario.
Cut 6 (09) “…in a training.”
Ballard says campus safety is a shared responsibility and if someone sees something, they should say something.

A major employer in Minden is considering re-locating to Texas because of a several structurally deficient bridges in northwest Louisiana. Matt Doyle has the story…
cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

St. Landry Parish Sheriffs are trying to identify a body they discovered dumped in the Beggs area. Authorities say it appears to be a black female in her early 20s. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says the cause of death is unknown and the body did have one specific identifying item.
Cut 13 (05) “…lanyard”
Guidroz says foul play is suspected.

1:30 LRN Newscast August 21

It was about 24 hours ago that LSU sent out a text alert that told students about a possible armed intruder at Coates Hall and they should run, hide or fight. LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard says while that language may be alarming, it’s encouraged by the federal Homeland Security department.
Cut 8 (10) “…isn’t a joke.”
Attorney General Jeff Landry says the reported armed intruder was actually one of his officers who was on campus to instruct students about social media responsibility.

Public memorials begin tomorrow for former Governor Kathleen Blanco who died from cancer. She was the state’s governor during Hurricane Katrina and during an interview with Louisiana Radio Network in 2015 she recounted her frustration over how the storm overwhelmed the state…
cut 3 (12) “…quickly”

Minden’s largest employer, Fibrebond may re-locate to East Texas, because poor bridges in the area are making it to difficult to ship product. C-E-O Graham Walker spoke with our news partner 710 KEEL earlier today…
cut 12 (09) “…get out”
DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they are aware of the problem and there is money available to fix structurally deficient bridges…
cut 11 (11) “…there”
Fibrebond is a Louisiana owned and operated company that’s been open for the last 37 years.

Slidell police have arrested two people after a school resource officer found cocaine on a five-year-old. Authorities say the child didn’t know he had the drugs. 23-year-old Angelica Stanley and 51-year-old Ellis Cousin were taken into custody at their home and they are facing several charges.

11:40 LRN Sportscast August 21

Last season, Justin Jefferson was LSU’s leading receiver with 54 catches. Stephen Sullivan and Ja’Marr Chase were second on the team in receptions, each had 23. Tigers Quarterback Joe Burrow says they targeted Jefferson, because he was their best receiver last season, but it’s different this season…
cut 30 (18) “….the ball this year”
Burrow says junior receiver Racey McMath and tight end Thaddeus Moss are two guys who’ve had a great camp.

Auburn has named true freshman Bo Nix as its starting quarterback for the season opener against Oregon. He was the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class-leading Pinson Valley High to back-to-back Class 6A titles in Alabama.

The Saints have signed versatile linebacker Will Compton. He appeared in 12 games for the Titans last season and spent five seasons with the Washington Redskins. He can play on special teams as well. Special teams captain and linebacker Craig Robertson suffered an injury on Sunday. New Orleans next preseason game is Saturday against the New York Jets. Coach Sean Payton said today he expects quarterback Drew Brees will play, but not sure how much.

The LSU men’s basketball team completed its four-game tour of Spain today with a 101-77 victory F-C Barcelona. The Tigers went 3-and-1 on the international trip. In today’s game, Darius Days was the leading scorer with 15 points and Charles Manning Junior had 14, so did Trendon Watford and Skylar Mays.

LSU players have returned from Summer League action, Daniel Cabrera was named to the Cape Cod League All-Star Team, freshman infielder Cade Doughty hit .346 with five homers and 23 RBIs. C-J Willis from Ruston hit .362 in 24 games and had two homers and 13 RBIS and Sophomore right-hander Rye Guner struck out 23 in 16.1 innings.

10:30 LRN newscast August 21

The state’s first human cases of West Nile Virus of the year have been reported by the Department of Health. While the West Nile season may be off to a later start than usual, Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says this time last year, there were 53 cases, but he is hesitant to call it an optimistic trend.
Cut 4 (10) “…make any generalizations.”
Five of the nine cases are the more serious form of West Nile and they are from south Louisiana.

Panic spread across the LSU campus yesterday afternoon when the school sent out an alert about a possible armed intruder in Coates Hall. State Climatologist Barry Keim was on campus when the alert was sent and said people in his building near Coates Hall did not take the situation lightly…
cut 14 (08) “…walking around”
Just before 5 PM, another alert was sent, giving the all-clear and LSU officials believe the suspected armed intruder was an off-duty officer with a gun on his belt.

Louisiana soybean farmers are facing a second straight harvest where it could be difficult to sell their crop, because of the U-S-China trade war. Kyle McCann with the Louisiana Farm Bureau says many farmers would be out of business by now if not for the Market Facilitation payments that cover an estimated 80 percent of lost profits, but he says it’s a temporary fix
Cut 11 (08) “…from”
Another round of MFP payments is reportedly on the way to embattled farmers.

The state department of education says a record number of Louisiana high school students achieved college credit on College Level Examination Program exams. Assistant Superintendent of Education Ken Bradford…
Cut 8 (09) “…course”
The number of Louisiana students earning college credit increased 51-percent over last year.

9:30 LRN Newscast August 21

Louisiana soybean farmers are looking at a second difficult harvest because of the ongoing trade war between the U-S and China. Soybean producers had a hard time finding a buyer for their crop last year and the trade dispute with China continues to linger. Kyle McCann, with the Louisiana Farm Bureau President, says a reported Canada-Mexico trade deal won’t help…
cut 12 (10) “…replacement”

A record 8,084 students earned college credit while in high school in the last school year thanks to the College Level Examination Program. Assistant Education Superintendent Ken Bradford says it’s a valuable program that can save students and their families a lot of money.
Cut 7 (08) “…hours.”
He adds the 89 dollar fee is often paid for by the school system.

LSU students and faculty are breathing a sigh of relief after a report of an armed intruder turns out not to be a threat. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

We’re now 10 days away from LSU’s season opener against Georgia Southern in Tiger Stadium. Quarterback Joe Burrow says the offense is close to being game ready…
cut 30 (09) “…better every day”

8:30 LRN Newscast August 21

Louisiana soybean farmers continue to take a beating as the trade war with China drags on with no apparent long term deal on the horizon. Soybeans were going for 10 bucks a bushel before the trade war began, and have dipped noticeably since then. Assistant to Louisiana Farm Bureau President Kyle McCann…
cut 10 (09) “…right now”
McCann says many farmers would be out of business, if not for the Market Facilitation payments that cover an estimated 80 percent of lost profits.

While there turned out to be no threat, it was an intense scene on LSU’s campus yesterday afternoon after police received a report of an armed intruder at Coates Hall. Professor Barry Keim was in front of Coates Hall and saw the cops quickly respond.
Cut 13 (08) “…into Coates Hall.”
LSU officials believe the suspected armed intruder was an off-duty officer who had a gun on his belt.

The Louisiana Health Department has reported the first human cases of the West Nile Virus for the year. Assistant State Health Officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says there are nine cases at three levels of seriousness in East Baton Rouge, Washington, Livingston, St. Tammany and Caddo Parishes…
cut 5 (11) “…in blood donations”
The department recommends people mitigate the risk of contracting the virus by wearing long sleeve clothing and bug repellant that contains DEET.

The state department of education says they’ve had a record number of Louisiana students who have earned college credit by passing the College Level Examination Program exam. Assistant Superintendent of Education Ken Bradford…
cut 9 (11) “…United States”
Bradford says they’ve seen a 51-percent increase in the number of students who achieved college credit by passing the CLEP exam.

7:30 LRN Newscast

It was far from a normal day on LSU’s campus yesterday after the school sent out an alert about a possible armed intruder at Coates Hall. The text alert said students and faculty should Run, Hide or Fight. State Climatologist Barry Keim was near the police activity…
cut 15 (09) “…obviously went down”
LSU officials believe a plain clothes officer with a gun on his belt walking around the building sparked the report of an armed intruder.

The state department of education says a record number of Louisiana high school students achieved college credit on College Level Examination Program exams. Assistant Superintendent of Education Ken Bradford…
Cut 8 (09) “…course”
The number of Louisiana students earning college credit increased 51-percent over last year.

The Louisiana Department of Health announces nine human cases of West Nile Virus, the first reported cases of the year. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart ”

If weather allows, the Coast Guard will do a controlled burn today of about 800 to one-thousand gallons of oil that spilled last week from a flowline at Cox Bay in Plaquemines Parish. The Coast Guard says a controlled burn is the best way to deal with the spill, which has not impacted wildlife. Fire crews will be present to make sur ethe fire doesn’t spread.

6:45 LRN Sportscast August 21

We’re now 10 days away from LSU’s season opener against Georgia Southern in Tiger Stadium. Quarterback Joe Burrow says the offense is close to being game ready…
cut 30 (09) “…better every day”
LSU continues to nurse some injuries. Defensive linemen Tyler Shelvin and Breiden Fehoko were absent from practice yesterday. Tight end Stephen Sullivan was also a no-show, which gave Thaddeus Moss a chance to run with the first team. On the offensive line, guard Chasen Hines practiced for a second straight day and cornerback Kristian Fulton was a full participant.

Auburn has named true freshman Bo Nix as its starting quarterback for the season opener against Oregon. He was the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class-leading Pinson Valley High to back-to-back Class 6A titles in Alabama.

The LSU men’s basketball team improved to 2-and-1 during its tour of Spain as the Tigers defeated a Barcelona All-Star team 107-78. Seven players scored in double figures, with Courtese Cooper and Marshall Graves each scoring 13 points. Cooper also had 12 rebounds. LSU plays its final game in Spain today against the F-C Barcelona Silver Team.

6:30 LRN Newscast August 21

Panic spread across the LSU campus yesterday afternoon when the school sent out an alert about a possible armed intruder in Coates Hall. State Climatologist Barry Keim was on campus when the alert was sent and said people in his building near Coates Hall did not take the situation lightly…
cut 14 (08) “…walking around”
Just before 5 PM, another alert was sent, giving the all-clear and LSU officials believe the suspected armed intruder was an off-duty officer with a gun on his belt.

It’s that time of the year to limit your exposure to mosquitos as the state has reported the first human cases of West Nile Virus for this year. Assistant State Health Officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says look for standing water because that’s where mosquitos tend to breed…
cut 6 (08) “…amounts of water”
The state reports nine West Nile Vile virus cases, mostly in south Louisiana from East Baton Rouge to Washington and St. Tammany parishes.

The trade war with China drags on as Louisiana soybean farmers are preparing to enter the second season in a row under pressure from Chinese tariffs. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”