6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints rookies report for training camp today. Highlighting the group is center Erik McCoy. The second-round pick will battle with Nick Easton and Cameron Tom for a chance to snap the ball to Drew Brees.

Former LSU standout and Atlanta linebacker Deion Jones has agreed to a four-year, 57-million dollar contract extension. Jones made the pro bowl in 2017 but missed most of last season with a broken foot.

According to 24-7 sports, Louisiana Tech has the top recruiting class for 2020 as the Bulldogs have 17 commitments, 15 of them are three-star prospects.

SEC Media Days wrap up today in Hoover, Alabama with Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Auburn taking the stage.

Southland Conference Media Day is today. Nicholls is looking to repeat at champs, while Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern State are trying to improve under second-year head coaches. Sterlin Gilbert is the new head coach at McNeese, replacing Lance Guidry.

UL-Lafayette has called a press conference for 11 AM to introduce Matt Deggs as its new baseball coach. Deggs is a former assistant for the Cajuns and spent the past five seasons as the head coach of Sam Houston State. The Bearkats have won the Southland Conference the last two seasons.

LSU left fielder Daniel Cabrera will wear number eight for the 2020 season. The number eight jersey is given to the upperclassman who exemplifies the spirit of LSU baseball through leadership and dedication to the program. Cabrera hit .284 with 12 home runs last season.

Former Alabama and Northwestern State head coach Mitch Gaspard has been hired as Louisiana Tech’s new hitting coach. He’ll replace Travis Creel, who went back to his alma mater Southern Miss. Gaspard was the head coach at Northwestern for six seasons, and Alabama for seven years. He’s been a volunteer assistant coach at Georgia the last two seasons.

6:30 LRN Newscast July 18

Former LSU student Matthew Naquin has bonded out of jail following his conviction for negligent homicide in the alcohol-related hazing death of 18-year-old fraternity pledge Max Gruver. Naquin will be sentenced in October and he faces up to five years in prison. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore has confidence Judge Beau Higginbotham will make the right call when it comes to sentencing…
cut 15 (08) “….that decision”
After sentencing, Naquin’s attorney, John Mclindon plans to appeal the conviction. McLindon says he’s shocked by the outcome considering how many other people were involved, yet his client was the only person facing a felony charge
Cut 13 (12) “…than anybody else.”

Louisiana’s Senators are renewing the push to win a long term renewal of the National Flood Insurance Program, but they hope to win more than just an extension, they want substantial reforms as well. To start, Senator Bill Cassidy says they’re proposing a flood insurance voucher to help low- and middle-income residents afford their rates, even if their flood risk has increased.
Cut 4 (11) “…risen.”
The legislation also caps annual premium increases at nine percent, down from the current maximum allowable increase of 25 percent.

New research out of LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center finds that a modest calorie reduction can reduce the danger of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Researcher Doctor Eric Ravussin says even reducing the intake of calories by 300, could lead to a 50-percent reduction in risk of cardiovascular disease…
cut 9 (11) “…risk factor”

16:45 LRN Sportscast July 17

Southern has been picked to win the SWAC’s Western Division, while Grambling State is predicted to finish in third place. Southern Coach Dawson Odums returns 17 starters…
cut 30 (10) “…2019″

LSU baseball announced today that left fielder Daniel Cabrera will wear number eight for the 2020 season. The number eight jersey is given each season to the upperclassman who exemplifies the spirit of LSU baseball through leaders and dedication to the program. Antoine Duplantis has worn the number eight jersy the last two seasons.

Former Alabama and Northwestern State head coach Mitch Gaspard has been hired as Louisiana Tech’s new hitting coach. He’ll replace Travis Creel, who went back to his alma mater Southern Miss. Gaspard was the head coach at Northwestern for six seasons, and Alabama for seven years. He’s been a volunteer assistant coach at Georgia the last two seasons.

The four players the Pelicans acquired in separate trades with the Lakers and Jazz all seem committed in making the New Orleans NBA franchise a winner. Lonzo Ball, Derrick Favors, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram were introduced to the media on Tuesday.

The Pelicans acquired Favors in a trade with Utah. In nine seasons with the Jazz, Favors averaged 12 points and seven rebounds a game. He’s also known as a great team leader and guy who played a big role in making Utah a factor again in the Western Conference. Favors on his role in New Orleans
cut 19 (24) “down here”
Favors is 28-years-old and he’s entering the final year of his contract.

LRN PM Newscall July 17

Lafourche Parish Sherriff deputies are investigating an incident where a woman and her daughter were held captive over the weekend and a rape occurred. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

____________________________

Former LSU student Matthew Naquin faces up to five years in prison after a jury found him guilty of negligent homicide in the alcohol-induced hazing death of Phi Delta Theta fraternity pledge Max Gruver.

cut  2 (31) I’m Jeff Palermo”  

________________________________________

While the state prepared for Hurricane Barry,  Lafourche Parish authorities say a woman was raped and held captive along with her daughter by a Cut Off man. Lt Brennan Matherne with the Lafourche Parish Sherriff’s says 52-year old Morgan Radley faces several charges. Matherne says the victims escaped Sunday morning after being held against their will since Friday night.

Cut 3 (10) …“got away”

Matherne says Ratley used duct tape to restrain the woman and her daughter tried to use her cellphone to call for help.

Cut 4 (14) “…get away.”

Matherne says the suspect would not give the victims a reason as to why he held them captive or what motivated the incident.

Cut 5 (10) “…specific reason.”

Radley was booked at the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex and bail is set at $135,000. The identities of the victims are being withheld to protect them

_____________________________

The latest data from LSU’s Center for Geoinformatics shows Louisiana is sinking.  A closer look at elevation changes over the last three decades shows Alexandria is down by 49 millimeters, Old River down by 34mm, and Lake Charles down by 16mm.  LSU Chief of Geodesy Cliff Mugnier says there are several factors that may be causing the sinking.

Cut 6 (08) “…last ice age.”

Boothville sunk by 13 mm with Ruston sinking by 9mm.  But places like Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Oakdale, Hammond, and Shreveport remained unchanged.

Mugnier says the research measures the changes in elevation to apparent subsidence and it generates data for the National Geodetic Survey.

Cut 7 (06) “…in 2022.”

Some areas gained elevation over the last thirty years, including Thibodaux by 7mm, Sicily Island by 8mm, Rayville by 13mm, and Natchitoches by 17mm.

Mugnier says the data will also be important for emergency operations.

Cut 8 (10) “…the roads flood.”

__________________

It took jurors less than an hour to convict Former LSU fraternity member Matthew Naquin of Negligent Homicide in the hazing death of Maxwell Gruver in 2017. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says no matter what today’s verdict was going to be, the case will have a lasting impact on combatting hazing with the legislative passage of a much harsher set of felony-level hazing penalties.

Cut 9 (10) “now in place.”

The prosecution says Naquin was the ringleader of the hazing incident where Gruver was pressured into drinking himself to death.

The victim’s father, Stephen Gruver, says this trial will send a loud message to the nation about the hazing culture on college campuses.

Cut 10 (09) “…cannout be tolerated.”

The 21-year-old Naquin faces anywhere from probation to five years in prison and he’ll be sentenced in October. He’s also been charged with Obstruction of Justice for deleting hundreds of files and texts from his cell phone before turning the device over to authorities.

Lead Prosecutor Morgan Johnson says the way the victim’s family handled the case was inspiring.

Cut 11 (10) “…in this case.”

The incident resulted in the banning of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity from campus until at least 2033.

___________________

US Representative Mike Johnson calls recently spotlighted tweets from President Trump unfortunate. Johnson, a Republican from Bossier City, says he has a good relationship with the four progressive representatives in the crosshairs of the President’s tweets, but is not surprised at Trump’s retort to their criticism of the way the nation is being run.

Cut 12 (12) “…fighter by nature.”

Johnson says the bigger issue facing the country is the partisan divide keeping bipartisan legislation from moving forward.

Cut 13 (10) “…this partisan squabbling.”

Johnson says there are only a handful of moderate Democrats left in the House, and those people are on edge from the partisan squabbling. But it’s the loudest element of the chamber that garners all of the attention, and may result in the party as a whole making a shift.

Cut 14 (10) “…force it that way.”

11:40 LRN Sportscast July 17

Southern has been picked to win the SWAC’s Western Division, while Grambling State is predicted to finish in third place. Southern Coach Dawson Odums returns 17 starters…
cut 30 (10) “…2019”
Southern has to replace its leading receiver from last season. Kendall Catalon transferred to Arkansas.

At SEC Media Days, here’s Texas A-and-M Coach Jimbo Fisher talking about his starting quarterback Kellen Mond…
cut 29 (14) “… every inch of it”
Mond told reporters at SEC Media Days that he believes he’s the best quarterback in the league. A tough schedule awaits the Aggies, who have to play Clemson, Alabama, Georgia and LSU.
New Pelicans players Lonzo Ball, Derric Favors, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram were introduced to the media on Tuesday. Ball says he’s ready for a fresh start in New Orleans after two so-so seasons in Los Angeles. Ball has yet to show the ability to score at a high rate in the NBA, but Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin says Ball is special on the defensive end of the court
cut 17 (19) “to do”
The new players all express their commitment to bringing a winner to New Orleans.

Visitation is Friday and the funeral is Saturday for longtime Ruston sports writer Buddy Davis. Visitation will be Friday from 4-7 PM at Owns Memorial Funeral Home in Ruston and the funeral is Saturday at 10 AM at Presbyterian Church in Ruston.

10:30 LRN Newscast July 17

The U-S House voted last night to condemn President Donald Trump for his tweets on Sunday in which he suggested that four Democratic congresswomen should return to the countries they came from. The five Republican members of Lousiana’s House delegation voted against the resolution as they don’t believe it was a racist remark. But Southern University Political Science Chairman Albert Samuels disagrees because he says what the president said taps into a history of telling non-white citizens they are not patriotic if they speak out…
cut 15 (11) “….America”

Jury deliberations are expected to begin later today in the Matthew Naquin negligent homicide trial. The former LSU student is facing the felony charge in the alcohol-related hazing death of 18-year-old fraternity pledge Max Gruver. Naquin did not take the stand, while prosecutors had over 40 witnesses provide testimony.

A vigil was held last night for Baton Rouge community activist Sadie Roberts-Joseph, who was found dead in the trunk of her vehicle. A man who paid rent at one of her homes has been charged in her murder. Angela Roberts-Machen says her mom’s legacy will live on…
cut 6 (10) “….fruition in death”
Roberts-Joseph is the founder of the Baton Rouge African American History Museum.

Baton Rouge special education teacher Doctor Tia Mills is taking over as the new president for the Louisiana Association of Educators, one of the state’s largest teacher unions. Mills says one of her first priorities will be working to get Governor John Bel Edwards re-elected…
cut 8 (04) “…push forward”
Mills believes public education made great strides last legislative session with the passage of a teacher pay raise and more dollars for public schools.

7:30 LRN Newscast July 17

Members of Louisiana’s Republican Congressional delegation support the President’s criticism of four freshmen Congresswomen known as “The Squad.” The President tweeted they can go back to where they came from. Republican Senator John Kennedy says the tweet was not worded well, but it’s not a racist remark…
Cut 14 (09) “…America”
The Squad has been vocal in their criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration and criminal justice policies.

A vigil was held last night for Baton Rouge community activist Sadie Roberts-Joseph, who was found dead in the trunk of her vehicle. A man who paid rent at one of her homes has been charged in her murder. Angela Roberts-Machen says her mom’s legacy will live on…
cut 6 (10) “….fruition in death”
Roberts-Joseph is the founder of the Baton Rouge African American History Museum.

A Baton Rouge teacher takes over as the new head of the Louisiana Association of Educators. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Two young children from Arizona illegally taken by their parents from the Arizona Department of Child Safety were found on Interstate 20 in Bienville Parish. Authorities say their parents Melissa Joy Gladden and Jerry Jay Kirkley were also in the 2008 Dodge pickup and they are now in custody.

6:45 LRN Sportscast July 17

The Pelicans introduced their new acquisitions Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and Derrick Favors to the media and all four of them expressed how much they are looking forward to playing in New Orleans. Hart played two seasons in L-A and is excited to see this young team grow in the Big Easy…
cut 18 (23) “…part of it”
Hart says after he was traded to New Orleans in the Anthony Davis deal, he called Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin and told Griff he did not want to be traded from the Pelicans.

In college football, Southern is picked to win the SWAC Western Division, while Grambling is picked to finish third.

SEC Media Days in Hoover are halfway through. Yesterday, Texas A-and-M Coach Jimbo Fisher and three of his players made the rounds with reporters. Aggies Quarterback Kellen Mond and had a lot to say. One, he believes he’s the best quarterback in the SEC and had this to say about their seven overtime victory over the Tigers last November…
cut 20 (25) “…seven overtimes”
If you remember Mond threw an interception late in the fourth quarter, but the play was overturned after review.

Louisiana Tech is picked to finish third in the Conference USA West Division according to a poll of media members.

 

6:30 LRN newscast July 17

State Republican leaders are weighing in on the President’s controversial tweet where he said four congresswomen of color should “go back to where they came from”. Many in the Democratic Party call it a racist tweet, but Louisiana Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham disagrees.
Cut 13 (12) “we are.”
But Southern University Political Science Department Chairman Albert Samuels says the statement is racist because it taps into a history of telling non-white citizens they are not patriotic if they speak out. Samuels sees that Republican leaders’ support of the “racist” remark is a political strategy that taps into white racial resentment over the nation’s changing demographics.
Cut 16 (06) “successful”

Baton Rouge teacher Dr. Tia Mills takes over as head of the Louisiana Association of Educators, after the retirement of former President Debbie Meaux. This comes after teachers won a 1,000 dollar pay raise, their first in over a decade. Mills says they will continue to push for a better salary in next year’s session.
Cut 7 (08) “…average”
Before the raise, the average Louisiana teacher salary was 22-hundred dollars below the southern regional average.

Triple-A says laminated glass found in many new cars is nearly unbreakable, which is not good for passengers trapped following an accident. Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says 1 in 3 new vehicles have laminated glass windows that will not shatter, but most have at least one tempered glass window. It’s important to remember which window will break and have an accessible escape tool…
Cut 11 (07) “…to get to.”

4:45 LRN Sportscast July 16

A lot of talk surrounding LSU this offseason has been centered on the offense and returning starter Joe Burrow at quarterback and new passing game coordinator Joe Brady. But at S-E-C Media Days, Coach Ed Orgeron says the Tigers have the best group of defensive backs he’s ever coached in 35 years. And the old D-Line coach plans to work more with the defensive line this season
cut 17 (24) “those guys”
LSU sophomore cornerback Kelvin Joseph reportedly reentered the NCAA transfer portal. Orgeron said on Monday he expects freshman cornerback Derek Stingley to start this season.

Louisiana Tech is picked to finish third in the Conference USA West Division according to a poll of media members. North Texas is the preseason favorite to win the West, with Southern Miss coming in second place. Marshall is the preseason favorite to win the east.

SWAC Media Days are today in Birmingham. Representing Southern is Coach Dawson Odums and offensive lineman Jodeci Harris and linebacker Calvin Lunkins. Grambling Coach Broderick Fobbs is back for his sixth season. He’s joined by wide receiver Quintin Guice and linebacker De’Andre Hogues. Fobbs expects Hogues game to step up now that two-time SWAC Defensive M-V-P De’Arius Christmas has moved on…
cut 30 (18) “…further ahead”
Grambling’s season opener is August 31st at ULM.