9:30 LRN Newscast June 29

Two bigtime donors within the Republican Party, Boysie Bollinger and Joe Canizaro are heading up Ralph Abraham’s gubernatorial campaign finance committee. Abraham lags financially compared to the other two candidates Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards and Republican Eddie Rispone. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s a major development for Abraham…
cut 8 (11) “…campaign”
Bollinger once ran a shipbuilding firm and Canizaro is a New Orleans banker.

The Caddo Parish Coroner’s office has identified the two-year old child who died as a result of an apparent accidental shooting in Shreveport. Ranaldo Bennett was struck by a bullet Friday morning and died two hours later. 19-year-old Jaylen Jones has been charged with negligent homicide and illegal possession of a firearm.

The two historic openings of the Bonnet Carre Spillway this year have made life difficult for those in the seafood industry in southeast Louisiana. Oyster beds have been destroyed and catches are down and fishermen have been forced to go out farther to catch fish and shrimp. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser hopes the federal government can provide some assistance…
cut 10 (08) “….line for them”
And Nungesser says there is no shortage of red tape to cut through to get assistance for the seafood industry.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a bill that gives the state an additional 700-million dollars to spend on specific transportation projects. Houma Representative Tanner Magee and Port Allen Senator Rick Ward are co-authors of the legislation. Ward says he started meeting with Magee in January…
Cut 5 (07) “…are today”
The money will fund highway projects in Caddo, Rapides, St. Tammany, I-49 through Acadiana and L-A 1 in LaFourche Parish.

8:30 LRN Newscast June 29

With the much talked about algae bloom impacting the gulf coast and the excessive fresh water flowing through the Bonnet Carre Spillway, is Louisiana seafood safe?
cut 2 (32) I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor Edwards signs legislation that will result in the state spending an additional 700-million dollars on transportation projects, including a new highway in West Baton Rouge that will help ease congestion on the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge…
cut 4 (07) “…L-A one”

According to Gov-Track-data, U-S Representative Ralph Abraham has missed nearly 200 votes in Congress since he announced his plans to run for governor in December. Supporters of Governor John Bel Edwards are using this information against him. But LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says the attack often doesn’t stick, because most of those votes, like a recent one on immigration, weren’t even close anyway.
Cut 7 (10) “…have this.”
A Baton Rouge woman is the latest one-million dollar Powerball winner, but Lala Singleton didn’t know she won until her sister-in-law used social media to nudge Singleton to check her numbers. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson BreAnne Frye…
cut 12 (10) “…all five numbers”
Singleton will receive 710-thousand dollars after state and federal taxes.

7:30 LRN Sportscast

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata has been suspended for the season opener against Houston because he was issued a misdemeanor summons for marijuana possession back in February. It’s unknown if Onyemata will appeal. A narcotics agent allegedly found small amounts of marijuana in his apartment.

The LSU Board of Supervisors voted quickly on a one-year contract extension for offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger. His 800-thousand dollar salary will also remain the same. The board also approved the long-form version of new athletic director Scott Woodward’s contract and a new contract for Deputy Athletic Director Verge Ausberry, who is seeing a significant increase in pay to 500-thousand dollars.

Louisiana Tech plans to demolish its tornado-damaged baseball, softball and soccer facilities this summer. Still no definite plans on where those teams will hold their home games next season.

At the U-S Senior Open in South Bend, Indiana, Shreveport golfer David Toms is three shots back of the leader, Steve Stricker. Stricker is at 14-under par, while Toms, who is the defending champ, is at 11-under par.

NBA Free Agency begins on Sunday. The Pelicans have about 30-million dollars to spend. Al Horford, Brook Lopez, Nikola Mirotic, Atlanta’s Dewayne Dedmon, Tobias Harris, and J-J Redick have been mentioned as possible targets for New Orleans.

NBA will reportedly give coaches one instant replay challenge per game next season. The coaches could challenge a personal foul, a called out of bounds violation, goaltending or basket interference. The rule is expected to be approved on July 9th.

Major League Baseball last night, former LSU standout Austin Nola hit his first major league home run last night for the Seattle Mariners. But Seattle lost to Houston 2-1 in 10 innings. Former LSU pitcher Will Harris got the win.

Ragin Cajuns baseball coach Tony Robicheaux will continue his recovery from open heart surgery at Oschner Health Center in New Orleans.

11:40 LRN Sportscast June 28

La Tech athletics director Tommy McClelland tells the News-Star that the Bulldog baseball, softball, and soccer teams will not play home games on campus next season, because of tornado damage done to their stadiums. McClelland says they are still working on a plan where baseball and softball will play their home games next season, while soccer is working with Ruston High and the Ruston Parks and Recreation Department.

The News-Star also reports that Oak Grove defensive tackle Keenan Caldwell has committed to Kansas. While Lafayette Christian wide receiver Errol Rogers has reportedly committed to U-L Lafayette.

Ragin Cajuns baseball coach Tony Robicheaux will continue his recovery from open heart surgery at Oschner Health Center in New Orleans.

Former LSU stars Alex Bregman and D-J LeMahieu will start for the American League in the All-Star game on July 9th in Cleveland. LeMahieu has the highest batting average in the A-L and Bregman leads Houston in home runs and RBIs.

LSU basketball coach Will Wade likes what he sees from his three freshmen. Wade calls five-star power forward Trendon Watford from Alabama a hard worker. There’s also James Bishop from Baltimore and Charles Manning from Fort Myers, Florida. Wade says Manning is a tremendous defender…
cut 17 (16) “…as a freshman”
Wade says he has a blue-collar, hard-working group.

UNO basketball coach Mark Slessinger has received a contract extension that keeps him on the Privateer sidelines through the 2025-26 season. Slessinger has led UNO to three consecutive postseason appearances.

NBA free agency begins Sunday and the Pelicans are a reported 31-million dollars under the salary cap.

9:30 LRN Newscast

New, more specific child passenger safety laws will soon take effect. Matt Doyle has details from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

At this hour, Governor John Bel Edwards is holding a bill signing ceremony for House Bill 578 which will use about 700-million dollars from the BP oil spill settlement for several critical transportation infrastructure projects, like improving Highway 1 along the cost and an I-49 connector in Caddo parish.

The US Supreme Court has rejected a Trump Administration bid to include a question about citizenship status on the 2020 census. Congressman Garret Graves says the decision could result in further reductions in Louisiana Congressional representation as states with growing undocumented immigrant populations continue to gain seats.
Cut 10 (10) “…American.”
Based on a survey of two-thousand moms, Alarm-dot-com says the best age for a child’s first cellphone is 12-years-old. Alarm-dot-com vice president Anne Ferguson says most children at that age are mature enough to handle the responsbility, but parents will still need to monitor what their kids are doing on their phone…
cut 15 (11) “…quickly step in”

8:30 LRN Newscast June 28

NASA aims to put boots on the moon in 2024 and a glimpse of the rocket core stage for its moon mission will be unveiled today at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Facility director Robert Champion says all of the engines have been received to construct the spacecraft.
Cut 4 (11) “…controls the vehicle.”
All of NASA’s manned spacecrafts have gone through Michoud.

The state’s new child safety seat law will go into effect on August 1st. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman…
cut 8 (11) “…country”
The new law requires children to remain in the most protected category of child restraint and all kids should stay in the back seat until they turn 13.

The US Supreme Court shoots down an effort to ask 2020 census respondents whether or not they are American citizens. Matt Doyle got reaction from a Louisiana Congressman…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

According to Gov-Track-data, U-S Representative Ralph Abraham has missed nearly 200 votes in Congress since he announced his plans to run for governor in December. Abraham told the Associated Press that being a congressman is more than sitting at a desk and voting yes or no.

7:30 LRN newscast

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision to block an effort by the Trump administration to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. Graves says citizenship should be the first question asked…
cut 12 (11) “…the world”
Opponents say it would dissuade immigrant households from filling out the form, resulting in the underrepresentation of Hispanics, and lower federal aid for some states.

New car seat laws will go into effect in August which will keep infants and toddlers in rear-facing seats for a longer period of time and require all children under the age of 13 to ride in the back seat. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman…
cut 9 (10) “…requiring that”
Visit Louisianahighwaysafety.org for a rundown on the new laws.

NASA holds a media event today at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East as workers there are helping to construct the rockets that will send astronauts to the moon by 2024. Facility director Robert Champion says Michoud has five-thousand employees working on the project…
cut 5 (07) “….back to the moon”
Champion says the spacecraft is the world’s largest rocket, and upon completion will have to be transported to a testing facility, and then Cape Canaveral for liftoff.

New research indicates the best age for a child’s first cellphone is 12. The finding is based on the input of 2,000 moms. Alarm.com commissioned the study, and VP of the website Anne Ferguson says the age likely comes because of the timing of maturity changes just before teenage years.
Cut 13 (09) “…of that responsibility.”

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU Board of Supervisors is expected to approve today a one-year contract extension for offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger, who is entering is his second season as the team’s O-C. Last year, the Tigers offense averaged 32 points a game, which ranked 38th nationally.

NBA free agency begins Sunday and the Pelicans are a reported 31-million dollars under the salary cap. The Athletic reports the Pels are expected to pursue Tobias Harris, who averaged 20 points a game last season. Philadelphia is also looking to re-sign Harris.

The Pelicans have made it official, naming Antonio Daniels as the team’s new TV color analyst, replacing David Wesley. Daniels has been a studio analyst for Fox Sports Oklahoma and Fox Sports Southwest over the past four years.

And Anthony Davis will continue to wear number 23 in Los Angeles. LeBron James will go back to wearing number six, which he wore in Miami.

LSU basketball coach Will Wade likes what he sees from his three incoming freshman during offseason workouts. The group is highlighted by five-star power forward Trendon Watford from Alabama, who Wade calls a hard worker…
Cut 16 (25) “…does that”
The other two members of the class are guards, James Bishop from Baltimore and Charles Manning from Fort Myers, Florida.

Shreveport golfer David Toms is tied with Steve Stricker for the lead at the Senior Open in South Bend, Indiana. The former LSU standout shot a 62 yesterday.

And former LSU stars Alex Bregman and D-J LeMahieu have been voted as starters for the American League All-Star team.

6:30 LRN Newscast June 28

New child passenger safety laws go into effect in Louisiana August 1st, when kids under 13 must ride in the back seat and more child safety seat and restraint laws will be enforced. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman.
Cut 7 (10) “…seat.”
At which point they must transition to a forward-facing seat. Once they turn four and outgrow the forward-facing seat, they must transition to a booster seat.

A company called Alarm-dot-com says they have found that the best age for a child’s first cellphone is 12-years-old. V-P of the website Anne Ferguson says it is important to lay ground rules for when and how a parent can monitor device usage…
cut 14 (09) “…among the children”

Today NASA unveils the latest look at the spacecraft hoping to put man back on the moon in 2024. Kevin Barnhart reports Louisiana is playing a leading role in making that happen…
voicer 1 (28) “…reporting”

LRN AM Newscall June 28

Today NASA unveils the latest look at the spacecraft hoping to put man back on the moon in 2024. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

__________________________

New, more specific child passenger safety laws will soon take effect. Matt Doyle got the details from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

______________________________________________

The US Supreme Court shoots down an effort to ask 2020 census respondents whether or not they are American citizens. Matt Doyle spoke with a Congressman about the decision…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

____________

NASA aims to put boots on the moon in 2024 and the latest glimpse of the rocket core stage for the Artemis moon mission is being unveiled today at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Facility director Robert Champion says all of the engines have been received to be put into place for the spacecraft.

Cut 4 (11) “…controls the vehicle.”

All manned crafts used in space flights in the history of NASA have gone through the facility. Champion says the facility supports more than 5000 jobs between Louisiana and Mississippi and those that are working on the project are over the moon to be a part of space history.

Cut 5 (07)“…back to the moon.”

Champion says the spacecraft is the world’s largest rocket, and upon completion will have to be transported to a testing facility, and then Cape Canaveral via a barge built just for the occasion.

Cut 6 (11) “…of this year.”

 ________________________________________

New child passenger safety laws go into effect in Louisiana August 1st, when kids under 13 must ride in the back seat and more child safety seat and restraint laws will be enforced.

Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman.

Cut 7 (10) “…seat.”

…At which point they must transition to a forward-facing seat. Once they turn four, and outgrown the forward-facing seat, they must transition to a booster seat. When the child turns 9 or outgrows the booster seat, they can sit in the back seat, with proper restraint.

Freeman says previously the codified laws for child safety in cars were not as specific, and the new suite of requirements will make Louisiana the envy of child safety advocates across the nation.

Cut 8 (11) “country.”

Freeman says the policy may not go into effect for another month, but she recommends new parents check out the requirements online and start practicing them now, like the best parents already do.

Cut 9 (10) “…that”.

Visit Louisianahighwaysafety.org for a rundown on the new laws.

__________________________________

The US Supreme Court has rejected a Trump Administration bid to include a question about citizenship status on the 2020 census.

Congressman Garret Graves says the decision could result in further reductions in Louisiana Congressional representation as states with growing undocumented immigrant populations continue to gain seats.

Cut 10 (10) “…American.”

The citizenship question has not been featured on the standard short form census since 1950, per NPR.

Graves says he’s concerned that continuing to count illegal immigrants in the census will reduce the amount of federal assistance for American citizens.

Cut 11 (09) “…the nation”

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, saying the administration’s reasoning for adding the question “appeared to be contrived”.

Opponents of the question say it would dissuade immigrant households from filling out the form, resulting in the underrepresentation of Hispanics, and lower federal aid for states with those populations, but Graves says the citizenship question should be the first one asked…

Cut 12 (11) “the world.

The decision was 5-4

_________________

New research indicates the best age for a child’s first cellphone is 12.  The finding is based on the input of 2,000 moms.  Alarm.com commissioned the study, and VP of the website Anne Ferguson says the age likely comes because of the timing of maturity changes just before teenage years.

Cut 13 (09) “…of that responsibility.”

Ferguson says it is important to lay ground rules for when and how a parent can monitor device usage.

Cut 14 (09) “…among the children.”

Ferguson says monitoring a child’s usage can be done via apps.  Also, look to other parents for ideas on how to keep tabs on kids.

Cut 15 (11) “…quickly step in.”

______________________________________

LSU basketball coach Will Wade likes what he sees from his three incoming freshman during offseason workouts. The group is highlighted by five-star power forward Trendon Watford from Alabama, who Wade calls a hard worker…

Cut 16  (25) “…does that”  

The other two freshmen are guards, James Bishop from Baltimore and Charles Manning from Fort Myers Florida. Wade says Manning is a tremendous defender…

cut 17 (16) “.as a freshmen” 

This year the three-point line in college basketball is moving back to the international distance of 22 feet and one and three-quarters inches. Wade says initially he expects a drop in the number of made three-point baskets…