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.

LRN PM Newscall July 16

Campaign finance reports are out, with Governor Edwards sitting pretty with 9.6 million on hand while his Republican challengers fight it out for a spot in the run-off…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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An East Feliciana Parish man has been arrested for the second time in four months for his role in a fatal wreck. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (31) I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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A 60-year-old East Feliciana Parish man is arrested for a second time in less than four months for negligent homicide, after striking a pedestrian with his truck on LA Hwy 10 in West Feliciana Parish. State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says Salvatore Euggino of Ethel was involved in another fatal accident in March.

Cut 3 (11) “…survive the crash.”

The pedestrian who died on Monday has been identified as 50-year-old Ricky Pourciau of St. Francisville.  Scrantz says Euggino fled the scene after the crash but was later located at a local business.  A breath test has ruled out the possibility of alcohol involvement.

Cut 4 (08) “…negligent driving.”

Scrantz says it is rare for anyone to be arrested twice for vehicular homicide in such a short amount of time.

Cut 5 (10) “…the deceased individuals.”

Euggino is charged with Negligent Homicide, Hit and Run Driving, and Careless Operation.

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The Bonnet Carre Spillway will remain open longer than officials hoped because of Hurricane-slash-Tropical Storm Barry. Corps of Engineers spokesperson Ricky Boyett says before they can close the Spillway, the Mississippi river must drop to 21 feet at the structure in St. Charles Parish, but that has yet to happen…

Cut 6 (10) “…to us.”

21 feet at the Spillway would put the river around 16 feet in New Orleans.

Boyett says they aren’t concerned that the additional water will put any of the levee system in danger.

Cut 7 (11) “…slow fall.”

Toxic algae blooms linked to the Spillway’s opening have continued to shutter Mississippi beaches during a peak tourist season.

The Spillway has been open for a record number of days this year, and has even had to be opened twice in one year for the first time ever. Boyett says they were hoping to put that streak to an end…

Cut 8 (10) “…right now.”

The structure has had to remain open as record rainfall in the Midwest pushed the river’s height to dangerous levels. There was hope before Barry arrived that the Corps could begin closing Bonnet Carre Spillway in mid-July.

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Governor’s race finance reports are out and Governor Edwards has 9.6 million cash on hand, while Republicans Eddie Rispone and Congressman Abraham have 9.8 and 1.3 million dollars respectively.

John Bel Edwards was barred from fundraising during the legislative season, but UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the Gov had already built up a substantial warchest.

Cut 9 (10) “race.”

Edwards is the only candidate so far to run statewide TV ads.

Congressman Ralph Abraham, the leading Republican in the so far limited polling available, raised 800,000 dollars during the most recent fundraising period. Cross says he’s picking up steam, but…

Cut 10 (08) “….come in”

Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone has reportedly dumped 10 million dollars of his own money into the campaign. Cross says Rispone is running out of time to boost his name recognition.

Cut 11 (10) “…short”

Rispone raised 277,000 dollars from contributions during that period.

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Baton Rouge Police arrest 38-year-old Ronn Bell in the murder of civil activist Saide Roberts-Joseph. The 75-year-old was found dead in her trunk on Friday. Chief Murphy Paul says Bell has been charged with first-degree murder. Paul says they don’t have an exact motive, but Bell was a tenant in one of her rent houses

Cut 12 (08) “…was owed.”

Roberts-Joseph was the founder of Baton Rouge’s African American history museum and her murder shook the community because she was known her kindness. Paul credits great police work for making a timely arrest

Cut 13 (09) “…your efforts”

A preliminary autopsy found that Roberts-Joseph died from being suffocated. Since Bell has been charged with first-degree murder, prosecutors can seek the death penalty. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says no decision has been made on that…

Cut 14 (11) “…other case”

2:30 LRN newscast July 16

Baton Rouge Police have made an arrest in the murder of civil activist Saide Roberts-Joseph. The 75-year-old was found dead in her trunk on Friday. Chief Murphy Paul says Ronn Bell has been charged with first-degree murder. Paul says they don’t have an exact motive, but Bell was a tenant in one of her rent houses…
cut 12 (08) “…was owed”
Roberts-Joseph was the founder of Baton Rouge’s African American history museum.

The U-S Army Corps of Engineers said last month that it was there hope they would be able to begin to close the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish this month. But Corps of Engineers spokesperson Ricky Boyett says Hurricane Barry has changed those plans…
cut 8 (10) “….right now”
The spillway has been open for a record number of days this year.

Campaign finance reports are out, with Governor Edwards sitting pretty with 9.6 million on hand while his Republican challengers fight it out for a spot in the run-off…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Congressman Abraham is in full support of President Trump who tweeted that four minority members of the U-S House of Representatives should leave the country, because of what he calls anti-American comments . Abraham says he’ll buy the plane tickets for them.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Edwards is praising the state’s level of readiness in the face of Barry but reminds everyone the hurricane season just started. The Governor singled out some impressive feats, such as a record-breaking 900,000 sandbags distributed statewide. He says now is the time to figure out what residents can do even better…
Cut 13 (09) “as well.”
As of this morning, five-thousand Cleco customers were still without power, while Entergy has 56-hundred customers impacted by outages.

The Bonnet Carre Spillway will remain open longer than officials hoped because of Hurricane-slash-Tropical Storm Barry. Corps of Engineers spokesperson Ricky Boyett says before they can close the Spillway, the Mississippi river must drop to 21 feet at the structure in St. Charles Parish, but that has yet to happen…
Cut 6 (10) “…to us.”
There was hope before Barry arrived that the Corps could begin closing Bonnet Carre Spillway in mid-July.

A 50-year-old St. Francisville man is dead after being struck by a truck on LA Hwy 10 in West Feliciana Parish driven by 60-year-old Salvatore Euggino of Ethel. State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says this is the second time in less than four months that troopers have arrested Euggino for negligent homicide.
Cut 3 (11) “…survive the crash.”
The pedestrian in Monday’s crash was identified as Ricky Pourciau.

The optimism of small business owners has seen a modest downturn, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. NFIB State Director Dawn Starns says business owners are more cautious with spending and credits politics on both the federal and state level…
Cut 10 (07) “…to the vest.”
But Starns says small business optimism is still at historically high levels.

9:30 LRN Newscast July 16

Louisiana is beginning the 60-million-dollar process of replacing two aging youth prisons with newer, “Therapeutic Model” buildings. Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice Dr. James Bueche says they can pay back the loan with future savings.
Cut 4 (06) “ facilities”
The plan is to replace the Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe, and The Bridge City Center for Youth outside of New Orleans and the new youth lockups will use a therapeutic approach which Bueche says can reduce recidivism.

The University of Louisiana System has started a new program called Compete Louisiana which will help adults who went to college but never got a degree. U-L System president Doctor Jim Henderson says the program features coaches who are dedicated to helping you return to college and get that degree…
cut 9 (09) “….it to scale”
For more information go to compete-la-dot-org.

The National Federation of Independent Business says uncertainty is on the rise among small business owners. NFIB Louisiana director Dawn Starns says small business owners have become a little more cautious…
cut 11 (10) “…creating new jobs”
But Starns says small business optimism is still at a historically high level.

Governor John Bel Edwards is back in Baton Rouge after touring Hurricane Barry damaged levees in Plaquemines and Terrebonne Parishes. But Edwards says these levees were not breached and there were only a few cases of overtopping…
cut 15 (08) “…locations”
Edwards says the Corps of Engineers will conduct a thorough inspection of the levees.

8:30 LRN Newscast July 16

Governor John Bel Edwards believes the state’s response to Hurricane Barry went well, but can always find ways to be faster and more efficient…
cut 14 (07) “…preparation”
Edwards says not a single levee was breached by Barry’s storm surge and rainfall, but a comprehensive inspection of the levees begins today.

The state is preparing to replace two aging youth lockups, the Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe and Bridge City Center for Youth near New Orleans, with new Therapeutic Buildings. Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice Doctor James Bueche says the new facilities will be smaller, safer and more efficient…
cut 5 (11) “…the dorm”
The state will borrow 60-million dollars to construct the new lockups.

One in five adults in the state, just over 650,000, started college but never got a degree. But a new program from the University of Louisiana system aims to get those individuals degrees…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

An East Feliciana Parish man has been arrested for the second time in four months for his role in a fatal wreck. State Police say 60-year-old Salvatore Euggino of Ethel struck and killed a pedestrian in West Feliciana Parish yesterday afternoon. Last March, Euggino was charged with negligent homicide for a two-vehicle wreck that killed the other driver.

7:30 LRN Newscast July 16

Governor Edwards is praising the state’s level of readiness in the face of Barry but reminds everyone the hurricane season just started. The Governor singled out some impressive feats, such as a record-breaking 900,000 sandbags distributed statewide. He says now is the time to figure out what residents can do even better…

Cut 13 (09) “as well.”
As of last night, seven-thousand Cleco customers were still without power, while Entergy has six-thousand customers impacted by outages.

A new program called Compete Louisiana aims to ease the burden of returning to college for those who went to school but didn’t receive a degree. University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson says many of those adults find it harder to compete for jobs and they need to finish what they started.
Cut 7 (09) “…ability to compete.”
One in five adults in Louisiana went to college but left without a degree.

The Office of Juvenile Justice is set to apply for a bond to phase out two old, decaying youth prisons, with newer “Therapeutic Model” facilities. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

A former pledge educator at Phi Delta Theta took the stand on Monday and told the courtroom that Matthew Naquin had been warned to tone down his interaction with the pledges. Naquin has been charged with negligent homicide and obstruction of justice in the suspected hazing death of LSU fraternity pledge Maxwell Gruver.

6:45 LRN Sportscast July 16

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron told hundreds of reporters at SEC Media Days that the Tigers will be running a spread offense and it’s not a threat, as he’s seen the playbook. Orgeron says the playbook also calls for quarterback Joe Burrow to run the football…
Cut 16 (25) “be physical”
Burrow was a big hit at SEC Media Days. He joked with reporters that the atmosphere at Tiger Stadium could change now that SEC schools are allowed to sell alcohol in general seating areas…
cut 29 (11) “…beings”

Louisiana Tech cornerback Amik Robertson has been named to the 2019 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, which goes to the College Defensive Player of the Year. Robertson is entering his junior season. The Thibodaux native had 61 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, four interceptions and 12 pass break-ups in 2018.

Today is SWAC Media Day. Grambling’s Broderick Fobbs along with wide receiver Quintin Guice and linebacker De’Andre Hodges will speak with reporters today. Southern’s Dawson Odum has with him, offensive lineman Jodeci Harris and linebacker Calvin Lunkins.

Sun Belt Media Day is next week in New Orleans. Representing the Ragins Cajuns are coach Billy Napier, along with wide receiver Jarrod Jackson and defensive back Deuce Wallace. ULM will have Coach Matt Viator, quarterback Caleb Evans and defensive lineman Donald Louis.

The Pelicans have announced the signing of J-J Redick.

6:30 LRN Newscast July 16

The optimism of small business owners has seen a modest downturn, according to the National Federation of Independent Small Business. NFIB State Director Dawn Starns says business owners are more cautious with spending and credits politics on both the federal and state level…
Cut 10 (07) “…to the vest.”
But Starns says small business optimism is still at historically high levels.

The University of Louisiana System rolls out a new program called Compete Louisiana which is designed to help adults who attended college return to school and get a degree. UL-System President Jim Henderson says time management is the biggest hurdle for those targeted by the program…
cut 8 (07) “…that is meaningless”
Henderson says coaches will be assigned to individuals to figure out the right program and advise the student on the process and the entire academic pathway.

Governor Edwards says even though Louisiana mostly made it through Barry OK, he knows it’s just the beginning of Hurricane Season, and we have a long way to go…
Cut 3 (30) “,,.I’m Matt Doyle”

4:45 LRN Sportscast July 15

LSU is taking its turn at SEC Media Days today in Hoover, Alabama. Quarterback Joe Burrow showed up wearing roadrunner socks and talked about playing at LSU compared to his former school Ohio State…
cut 30 (37) “…human beings”
Burrow also says he no longer eats salads in public in Louisiana, because he would get made fun of for eating salads.

Longtime Ruston Daily Leader sports editor Buddy Davis passed away over the weekend at the age of 72. Lousiana Tech sports information director Malcolm Butler says Davis spent five decades covering sports in Lincoln Parish
Cut 10 (08) “…national standpoint.”
Davis covered icons like Terry Bradshaw and Karl Malone, the great Louisiana Tech women’s basketball teams and Eddie Robinson and his championship Grambling State football teams.

Louisiana Tech has two players on the 2019 Conference USA Football Coaches all-conference preseason team. Cornerback Amik Robertson has made the preseason team for a second straight season. Last year, he had four interceptions and 12 pass break ups. Junior wide receiver Adrian Hardy has also received preseason all-confernece votes after catching 75 passes for 1,145 yards and six touchdowns.