11:30 LRN Newscast May 24

The House votes to roll back the state sales tax from 4.45 to four-percent, despite opposition from Democrats who claim it will bring Louisiana back to budget deficits. But House Republican Delegation Chairman Lance Harris says there was a lot of fear-mongering in order to get the legislature to raise the state sales tax, only for the state to end up with a surplus…
Cut 4 (10) “… reason why.”
The measure heads to the Senate where it might not have enough support to pass.

An estimated 43-million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more this holiday weekend. Triple-A’s Don Redman says most will do so by vehicle, but there’s a five-percent increase in air travel over last year’s Memorial Day holiday…
cut 14 (10) “….Advance”
Redman says travelers are seeing a relief in hotel and car rental costs this year.

After a two-year hiatus, the Bayou Country Superfest returns to LSU’s Tiger Stadium for the 10th anniversary of the country musical festival. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Can the LSU baseball team stick around in the SEC Tournament. After a remarkable walk off victory over Auburn yesterday, the Tigers will face Mississippi State tonight. The two teams just locked up in a historic 17-inning marathon that saw the Bulldogs win. ULM and McNeese are undefeated in their respective conference tournaments.

10:30 LRN Newscast May 24

The Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish could open in early June which will send a lot of water from the swollen Mississippi River into the Atchafalya Basin towards Morgan City. A barge will have to be sunk in Bayou Chene to prevent backwater flooding in Terrebonne and several other parishes. Governor Edwards says he’s requesting a federal emergency declaration to offset flood preparation costs…
cut 12 (08) “….things”
Edwards says a final decision on whether to open the spillway is expected Tuesday.

This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of the Bayou Country Superfest and after a two-year hiatus, the country music festival returns to LSU’s Tiger Stadium. Producer Quint Davis says to celebrate 10 years, they have two of the biggest acts in country music are set to perform, Kenny Chesney and Florida Georgia Line…
Cut 7 (07) “…in Tiger Stadium”
Jason Aldean and Kane Brown headline Sunday’s lineup. Davis says their studies show the B-C-S has a 38-million dollar economic impact on the state.
If you are traveling this Memorial Day weekend, you’ll find the average price for a regular gallon of gasoline in the Gulf South at $2.45…
cut 15 (04) “..20-cents more”
That’s AAA’s Don Redman who says they anticipate three-point-nine million Gulf South residents hitting the road this weekend.

Louisiana House approves a bill that would gradually lower the state’s sales tax rate from 4.45 to four percent. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says he authored the bill, because the state has a 316-million dollar suprlus and that money needs to be returned to the taxpayers…
cut 5 (12) “…ballet lessons”
It remains to be seen if the Senate will go along with this proposal.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Its Memorial Day weekend and AAA estimates 3.9 million drivers will head out on vacation across the Gulf South…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Connor Ferrill”

State Police says one of its troopers was injured last night when a suspected drunk driver hit the officer’s fully-marked L-S-P Tahoe with emergency lights activated. The wreck occurred on I-10 in Baton Rouge near Siegan Lane. 31-year-old Volha Tryshyna of Baton Rouge has been charged with a D-W-I, careless operation and vehicular negligent injuring.

The House votes to roll back the state sales tax from 4.45 to four-percent, despite opposition from Democrats who claim it will bring Louisiana back to budget deficits. But House Republican Delegation Chairman Lance Harris says there was a lot of fear-mongering in order to get the legislature to raise the state sales tax, only for the state to end up with a surplus…
Cut 4 (10) “… reason why.”
The measure heads to the Senate where it might not have enough support to pass.

The Bayou Country Superfest will cebrate its 10th anniversary this weekend as country music stars Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line are planning to rock out in Tiger Stadium. Producer Quint Davis credits the fans for making this music festival successful…
cut 9 (11) “…at night”
Davis says their studies show the B-C-S has a 38-million dollar economic impact on the state.

8:30 LRN Newscast May 24

Governor John Bel Edwards says more than likely the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish will be opened on June 2nd to relieve pressure on the levees along the Mississippi River. Edwards says opening the spillway will send river water into the Atchafalya Basin…
cut 11 (08) “…already high”
Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the opening of the spillway will flood thousands of acres of farmland.

An estimated 43-million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more this Memorial Day weekend. Triple-A’s Don Redman says most will do so by vehicle, but there’s a five-percent increase in air travel over last year’s Memorial Day holiday…
cut 14 (10) “….Advance”
Redman says travelers are seeing a relief in hotel and car rental costs this year.

The Bayou Country Music Superfest is this weekend in Tiger Stadium. The country music celebration was held in the Superdome the last two years, because of renovations to Tiger Stadium. Producer Quint Davis says it’s great to be back in Death Valley, because the music festival at that venue has the atmosphere of a football game in the fall…
cut 8 (13) “….would happen”
Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean are the headliners for the two-day concert event that begins tomorrow.

Does the LSU baseball team have any more of that Hoover magic left. The Tigers advanced yesterday with a 4-3 walk off win over Auburn. The game tying and winning runs scored on wild pitch and then throwing error. Coach Paul Mainieri…
cut 26 (09) “…we did”
LSU will play Mississippi State tonight.

7:30 LRN Newscast May 24

AAA says an improving economy will lead to 43 million Americans traveling for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. AAA analyst Don Redman says it’s the second highest number of total travelers on record, just shy of a record set in 2005, but when it comes to folks taking a road trip…
Cut 13 (12) “…Holiday”
Redman says they estimate nearly four million Gulf South residents will hit the road this weekend.

The Louisiana House approves a plan to reduce the state sales tax from 4.45 to four-percent. Democrats oppose the measure. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says the call to cut taxes while the state is enjoying a surplus is reminiscent of the Jindal administration who inherited a two-billion-dollar surplus and then cut taxes..
Cut 6 (10) “…years.”

After a two-year hiatus, the Bayou Country Superfest returns to LSU’s Tiger Stadium for the 10th anniversary of the country musical festival. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Can the LSU baseball team stick around in the SEC Tournament. After a remarkable walk off victory over Auburn yesterday, the Tigers will face Mississippi State tonight. The two teams just locked up in a historic 17-inning marathon that saw the Bulldogs win. ULM and McNeese are undefeated in their respective conference tournaments.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU is still alive in the SEC Baseball Tournament after a wild 4-3 victory over the Auburn Tigers. Coach Paul Mainieri’s team was trailing by one run in the ninth inning, with runners at second and third base, when a wild pitch and throwing error allowed both runs to score to end the ball game…
Cut 16 (20) “…do it”
The Tigers won the game despite only having a couple of hours of sleep, because their previous game, a 17-inning loss to Mississippi State, ended at three o’ clock in the morning.

And wouldn’t you know, LSU and Mississppi State will play again tonight at around 6:30. The other elimination game today is Arkansas and Ole Miss, which starts at 3 PM.

ULM has advanced to the Sun Belt Tournament Semifinals for the first time since 2012 as the Warhawks flew past U-T Arlington 18-5. Trent Tingelstad drove in seven runs, three came on a home run and he finished with five hits. Ty Barnes threw seven innings for his fifth win of the season. ULM will play again on Saturday in the semis.

U-L Lafayette and Louisiana Tech are done for the season. Troy eliminated the Ragin Cajuns from the Sun Belt Tournament with a 10-7 and Louisiana Tech was two and barbeque at the Conference USA Tournament with a 4-3 loss to Rice. The Bulldogs finish the year with a 34-24 record.

In the Southland Tournament, McNeese has advanced to the championship round of their side of the bracket after dominating seven to two win over Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi. It’s the first time since 2003 that the Cowboys have won their first two games of the torunament.

Southeastern Louisiana is still alive in the Southland Tourney. The Lions eliminated Northwestern State six to four yesterday and S-L-U faces Stephen F Austin this morning at 9 AM.

6:30 LRN Newscast

State and federal officials say it appears the US Army Corps of Engineers will need to open the Morganza Spillway in early June for the third time ever. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says farmers are being alerted to move their livestock and equipment because opening the spillway could flood 25,000 acres of farmland in the Atchafalaya Basin…
Cut 10 (07) “…entire season.”
Opening the Morganza in Pointe Coupee Parish would send Mississippi River water through the Atchafalaya Basin toward Morgan City.

If you are traveling this Memorial Day weekend, you’ll find the average price for a regular gallon of gasoline in the Gulf South at $2.45…
cut 15 (04) “..20-cents more”
That’s AAA’s Don Redman who says they anticipate three-point-nine million Gulf South residents hitting the road this weekend.

Legislation that would gradually reduce the state’s sales tax rate from 4.45 percent to four-percent passes the House and is headed to the Senate. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

16:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU Baseball team is still alive in the SEC Tournament after an unbelievable finish this afternoon in Hoover, Alabama. The Tigers were working on very little sleep, but figured out a way to beat Auburn 4-3. The tying and winning runs scored in the ninth inning. It all started with a wild pitch that allowed Giovanni DiGiacomo to score and then a throwing error by the Auburn first baseman who went to retrieve the baseball allowed Drew Bianco to come across and score.

LSU lost a heartbreaker earlier in the day in 17 innings to Mississippi State. The game ended at 3:05 in the morning. It goes down as the longest game inning and time wise in LSU history. LSU will play again tomorrow night against the loser of tonight’s game between Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.

LSU is now 2-and-1 in Hoover and it’s still hard to say whether the Tigers have done enough to lock down a host site in the NCAA Tournament. They got some help when Ole Miss beat Texas A-and-M 1-0 earlier today.

The season came to an end today for Louisiana Tech and U-L Lafayette. The Bulldogs lost to Rice four to three in the Confernece USA Tournament in Biloxi. David Leal was the hard luck loser as he threw eight innings of solid baseball. Tech finishes with a record of 34-24.

Troy topped the Ragin Cajuns 10-7 to eliminate them from the Sun Belt Tournament. UL-Lafayette’s record for 2019 is 28-31.

Tonight, ULM, who upset top-seeded Texas State last night, will try to stay in the winner’s bracket when the Warhawks take on UT Arlington. ULM blanked Texas State 8-0 last night and the Bobcats were eliminated by Coastal Carolina today.

In the Southland Tournament, third-seeded Southeastern Louisiana stayed alive with a six to four win over Northwestern State. The Lions scored four runs in the fifth inning. Trey Harrington drove in two runs. McNeese will face Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi tonight after beating UIW last night. Top seeded Sam Houston was eliminated from the tournament.

LRN PM Newscall May 23

Federal forecasters are predicting a slighter weaker hurricane season than last year. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Connor Ferrill”

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A proposal to raise the legal age to purchase cigarettes, dip, and vape products from 18 to 21 is defeated on the House floor 24-55. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”  

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For only the third time in history the US Army Corps of Engineers may have to open the Morganza Spillway in early June because of the rising Mississippi River. That means water will be released into the Atchalfalya Basin raising the concern for flooding in several parishes. Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove

Cut 3 (14) “…and all.”

The Morganza spillway was completed in 1954 and opened for the first time 1973 for 56 days and 55 days in 2011. Dove says just like they did in 2011, a barge will have to be installed in Bayou Chene to prevent backwater flooding in Terrebonne and several other parishes…

Cut 4 (08) “…anything” 

Dove says they began preparing for possible flooding in February and they have several pumps working around the clock…

Cut 5 (11) “…we can”

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NOAA predicts a near-normal 2019 hurricane season. US weather officials say that means between  9 to 15 named storms, 4 to 8 hurricanes and 2 to 4 major hurricanes. Lead hurricane season forecaster Gerry Bell says the near-normal hurricane outlook is occurring because of competing climate factors…

Cut 6 (12) “…more activity”

Bell says the prediction is made with a 70 percent likelihood…

Cut 7 (06) “…we see.”

The other 30 percent leaves a chance for a stronger or weaker season.

Bell does not expect any major hurricanes in June or July. Named storms may roll across the Atlantic in the early months of the season but Bell says anything like a category 3 hurricane won’t be on the way until peak months like August…

Cut 8 (12) “…season”

Last year there were 15 named storms, highlighted by two major hurricanes, Florence and Michael.

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Legislation that would have increased the legal age to purchase cigarettes, dip, and vape products to 21 dies on the House floor amid concerns the bill infringes on  individual liberties of adults. Bill author, West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman, argued the bill could save lives…

Cut 9 (09) “…lives”

The proposal was met with stiff opposition from Alexandria Representative, Lance Harris, who grilled Hoffman on why 18-year-olds can buy a house, get a tattoo, or make any number of other crucial life decisions, but not be allowed to smoke….

Cut 10 (08) “…to smoke”

The bill led to an animated back and forth between Hoffman and Harris. Hoffman argued we already bar 18-year-olds from purchasing alcohol, but Harris countered, saying only one of those two substances can kill you overnight…

Cut 11 (08)“ overtime”

The final vote was 24-55.

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A Bossier City man is behind bars after he allegedly offered to fly a child in from Wisconsin for sexual purposes. State Police Trooper Brent Hardy says L-S-P got involved in the arrest of 49-year-old William Karmer after receiving a call from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office….

cut 12(11)   “…in Louisiana””

Kramer is facing seven counts of indecent behavior with juveniles. Hardy says more charges are possible, because they found evidence that Kramer chatted online with multiple underage children and some of the victims could live in the Shreveport-Bossier City area

Cut 13 (10) “…make a report”

Hardy says this case is a reminder that parents need to look for suspicious text messages on their children’s phones and apps on a phone can help lure child predators…

Cut 14 (11) “…safeguard their children” 

2:30 LRN Newscast May 23

A proposal to raise the legal age to purchase cigarettes, dip, and vape products from 18 to 21 is defeated on the House floor 24-55. Matt Doyle has the story.
cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

The Advocate reports a Facebook post claiming that former governor Kathleen Blanco had passed away is not true. The Advocate’s Tyler Bridges says he took a phone call from the state’s only female governor today and Blanco said reports of her early demise are greatly exaggerated. The 78-year-old is battling an incurable cancer.

Governor John Bel Edwards is discussing river flooding with his Unified Command Group this afternoon. Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove says they have several pumps working around the clock…
cut 5 (11) “….we can”
The Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish might open in June to combat the rising Mississippi River.

NOAA predicts a near-normal hurricane season for 2019 as they estimate the total number of named storms will range from nine to 15, four to eight hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes. Lead hurricane season forecaster Gerry Bell says major hurricanes will not develop until August….
cut 8 (12) “….season”
The U-S was hit by two major storms last year, Michael and Florence.