7:30 LRN Newscast July 24th

Jefferson Parish Republican Steve Scalise is looking to remain the US Rep for Louisiana’s 1st Congressional district. Matt Doyle reports Scalise faces five challengers on the November sixth ballot
Cut 1 (31) I’m Matt Doyle“

Livingston Parish deputies arrested eight individuals after a body of a dimembered man was found in the woods. Authorities say the victim is from Gonzales and had not been seen by family members since July 2nd. Sheriff Jason Ard calls it a bizarre case and they are still trying to figure out what took place.

State Police arrest five people for allegedly trying to stage a car crash involving two vehicles in Evangeline Parish. Master Trooper Brooks David says the subjects attempted to cash in on insurance claims for damage to vehicles and bodily injuries…
cut 15 (05) “…right away”
The five adults have been charged with insurance fraud and two of the subjects were also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile for having children involved in the staged crash.

18-year-old Louisiana Tech student Mason Andrews is attempting to become the youngest person to fly solo around the globe. La Tech aviation department head Jordan Lyons says Andrews will have to be alert at all times…
cut 12 (11) “…the aircraft”
Andrews left Monroe on Sunday and the trip should take 30 to 40 days.

6:45 LRN Sportscast July 24th

LSU’s Paul Mainieri believes he has a championship-caliber baseball team heading into the 2019 season. Mainieri gave up an update on his team with an hour long press conference. The coach says right-hander Zack Hess is ready to become one of the top pitchers in the country after a successful stint with the USA Collegiate National team….
cut 30 (14) “….next June”
Mainieri says pitcher Eric Walker is set to return next season after missing 2018, as he recovered from Tommy John Surgery.

The Tigers will open the 2019 campaign by hosting ULM. But LSU will not play Tulane. Mainieri says he’s treating the Green Wave like the other in-state schools, which means only making trips to Tulane every five or six years, if they play at Alex Box every season. But Tulane declined a trip to Baton Rouge in 2019.

ULM returns 17 starters for the 2018 season, a big reason why the Warhawks are picked to finish second in the Sun Belt West division. Coach Matt Viator says he’s looking for more consistency from his veteran group…
cut 29 (22) “…learning that”
Viator says the ceiling is really high for his quarterback Caleb Evans, who rushed for 13 touchdowns and threw for 2,868 yards and 17 TDS as a sophomore last year.

UL Lafayette have two quarterbacks battling for its starting spot, sophomore Levi Lewis and senior Andre Nunez. Coach Billy Napier says both guys go into camp with a chance at grabbing the starter’s role.

6:30 LRN Newscast July 24th

Jefferson Parish Congressman Steve Scalise is set to seek his 6th term in office as representative of Louisiana’s 1st district. The House Majority Whip says he’s worked hard to get some big wins recently in the areas of flood protection and coastal restoration.
Cut 4 (12) “coastal restoration”
Five opponents have signed up to challenge Scalise on the November 6th ballot. They say Scalise is no longer in touch with his district.

The Tiger Truck Stop owner at the I-10 Grosse Tete exit has two new animals to replace the 17-year-old tiger that died in October from kidney failure. Mike Sandlin says state law prohibits him from getting another tiger, so he now has a camel and a coati (Khu-wha-tee), which is a raccoon, for visitors to see
Cut 8 (08) “…people”
Sandlin says he wants to obtain enough animals to create a petting zoo. But animal activists say a gas station is no place to have wild animals.

An 18-year-old Louisiana Tech student is on his way to becoming the youngest solo pilot to ever fly around the globe. Matt Doyle has the story.
Voicer 3 (32) “I’m Matt Doyle

Less humid today, but it will still be hot with highs in the low to mid 90s.

17:30 LRN Newscast

A Natchitoches woman has been charged in the burning death of a six-month old child, who was set on fire last week. 25-year-old Felicia Marie-Nicole Smith has been charged with one count of first-degree murder for the death of Levi Cole Ellerbe. Authorities say she is not the child’s mother. and they say the investigation continues.

The LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating how 69-year-old Terry Angelle ended up bound in rope and floating in Bayou LaFourche on Sunday. Lt. Brennan Matherne says at this point his death has been classified as suspicious…
cut 13 (13) “…his person”
Matherne says they believe Angelle was in the bayou for several days.

The intense heat wave we’ve been experiencing will come to an end, but it will remain hot. State Climatologist Barry Keim says heat indices should be lower the rest of the week, as the wind will start blowing out of the north…
Cut 8 (10) “humidity levels”

The state’s sales tax holidays have been suspended until 2025 as a result of legislation approved in the last special session. For instance, we usually have a sales tax holiday for back to school shopping during the first weekend in August, but that’s not happening this year. The Tax Foundation’s Nicole Kaeding says sales tax holidays usually don’t produce cost savings for consumers, because retailers increase prices on those items and they don’t lead to a major dip in state revenue.
Cut 11 (10) “or locality”

16:30 LRN Newscast July 23rd

Natchitoches Police announce the arrest of a woman connected to the burning death of a six-month-old child. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

We should get a break from the the oppressive heat tomorrow. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the wind will shift out of the north after today…
cut 6 (09) “…heat index”
Keim says rain chances for the rest of the week should be 20 to 30%.

No more sales tax holidays in Louisiana until 2025 as a result of legislation approved in the last special session. But the Tax Foundation’s Nicole Kaeding says it’s not entirely bad news for the consumer. She says research shows retailers like to increase prices on items during sales tax holidays…
cut 10 (08) “…their prices”
The next sales tax holiday scheduled for Louisiana was to be held the first weekend in August, but again, it’s not happening this year.

A Galliano man was found in Bayou LaFourche yesterday bound in rope. LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson, Lt. Brennan Matherne, says a local firefighter responded to the call, and jumped into the bayou in an attempt to save 69-year-old Terry Angelle, only to discover the body was visibly decomposing.,,,
cut 14 (10) “…the dock”
Matherne says they have classified Angelle’s death as suspicious.

4:45 LRN Sportscast July 23rd

LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri announced today the Tigers will open the 2019 season by hosting ULM on February 15th as part of a military appreciation weekend at Alex Box Stadium. Mainieri says the Tigers will also play Army and the Air Force that weekend. But Tulane is not on the schedule for 2019. Coach Paul Mainieri says after 12 years, he felt it was time to treat Tulane like the other in-state schools and only play on their campus every five or six years, if they play at Alex Box Stadium every year…
cut 28 (16) “… I understand that’
Mainieri says it’s his hope LSU and Tulane will play each other every season in the Wally Pontiff Junior Classic in Metairie starting with the 2020 season.

UL Lafayette Coach Billy Napier made his first apperance at Sun Belt Media Day today as he spoke with reporters in New Orleans about the upcoming season. Napier has yet to name a starting quarterback for 2018, but says the Cajuns go into the season with two signal callers that can play winning footballl…
cut 29 (18) “…that can play”
Napier says they are not yet close to making a decision on who the starter will be for the season opener against Grambling on September first.

LSU’s Greedy Williams and Louisiana Tech’s Amik Robertson have been named to the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list, which every year goes to the best defensive back in college football.

In the NBA…Memphis has reportedly traded former LSU standout Jarrell Martin to Orlando for Dakari Johnson.

3:30 LRN Newscast July 23rd

Sales tax holidays have been suspended as a result of the tax deal cut in the last special session. Jeff Palermo has more
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Natchitoches woman has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a six-month-old child that later died from burns to his body. 25-year-old Felicia Smith has been charged charged with one count of first-degree murder. It’s unclear what her relationship is with the child, who was kidnapped last Tuesday. Authorities say the investigation continues.

Governor John Bel Edwards sent an open letter to President Donald Trump imploring the Commander in Chief to consider the effects a trade war with China will have on the economy. Edwards cited a report from Forbes that says Louisiana is most at risk for damage from the tariffs. Edwards says it’s not a hostile letter, but a reminder about the dangers of a trade war.
Cut 3 (09) “than later.”
It’s likely the President will not be persuaded by Governor Edwards’ letter as last week Donald Trump threatened to put tariffs on all 505-billion dollars in Chinese imports.

The body of a Galliano man was found floating in Bayou Lafourche Sunday afternoon, bound in rope, with his bike on the dock. 69-year-old Terry Lafourche Parish Sherriff’s spokesperson Lt. Brennan Matherne says they are investigating it as a suspicious death.
Cut 12 (09) “to it”
Anyone who has information on Angelle’s death is urged to call authorities.

2:30 LRN Newscast July 23rd

The state’s sales tax holidays have been suspended as a result of the tax deal cut in the last special session. The general sales tax holiday in August, hurricane preparedness holiday in May, and the “Second Amendment” tax holiday have been put on hold for the next seven years. Director of Special Projects at the Tax Foundation Nicole Kaeding says despite their popularity, the holidays don’t spur additional economic activity….
cut 9 (07) “…political gimmick”
And Kaeding says many times consumers retailiers will raise prices on items that are exempted from a sales tax.

A Natchitoches woman has been charged in the burning death of a six-month old child, who was set on fire last week. 25-year-old Felicia Marie-Nicole Smith has been charged with one count of first-degree murder for the death of Levi Cole Ellerbe. Authorities say she is not the child’s mother. and they say the investigation continues.

Governor John Bel Edwards has expressed his concerns with President Donald Trump over the trade war that’s erupted with China resulting in billions of dollars in new tariffs on products shipped between the two countries. In a letter to the White House, Edwards tells the President it will negatively affect agriculture and shipping…
cut 5 (12) “….duration”
So Edwards is hoping this trade war ends soon.

The LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating how 69-year-old Terry Angelle ended up bound in rope and floating in Bayou LaFourche on Sunday. Lt. Brennan Matherne says at this point his death has been classified as suspicious…
cut 13 (13) “…his person”
Matherne says they believe Angelle was in the bayou for several days.

LRN PM Newscall July 23

Natchitoches Police announce the arrest of a woman connected to the burning death of a six-month-old child. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

_____________________________________________

Sales tax holidays have been suspended as a result of the tax deal cut in the last special session. Jeff Palermo has more

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo” 

cut 9 (07)  “political gimmick”

With the average back to school shopping spree costing about 650 dollars, a 4.45 percent state sales tax break would amount to nearly 29 dollars saved.

Kaeding says research shows shoppers are actually getting less savings than they might think. She says for the few days that sales tax holidays are in effect, retailers increase the cost on items to cash in on the perceived savings.

Cut 10 (08) “their prices”

Kaeding says sales tax holidays are not the same as real sales tax reform, but having them around doesn’t really lead to a major dip in state revenue.

Cut 11 (10) “or locality”

______________________________________________

The body of a Galliano man was found floating in Bayou Lafourche Sunday afternoon, bound in rope, with his bike on the dock that leads into the water. 69-year-old Terry Angelle was discovered floating in the water by a concerned citizen. Lafourche Parish Sherriff’s spokesperson Lt. Brennan Matherne says they are investigating it as a suspicious death.

Cut 12 (09)   “to it”

But Matherne cautioned that despite the rope ties, there is some evidence that the death may not have been the result of foul play.

Cut 13 (13) “his person” 

A local firefighter responded to the call, and jumped into the bayou in an attempt to save Angelle, only to discover the body was visibly decomposing. Matherne says the firefighter brought the body back to shore, and an autopsy is  underway.

Cut 14 (10) “the dock”

_____________________

13:30 LRN Newscast July 23rd

The National Weather Service says the high temperature in Shreveport yesterday was 108-degrees, which is a record for Shreveport for any day in July. Keim says we’ll see temperatures close to 100-degrees this week, but the humidity level will drop after today…
Cut 7 (07) “two to three days”
Keim says you can thank a change in the wind as it will come out of the north, instead of off the Gulf of Mexico.

No more sales tax holidays in Louisiana until 2025 as a result of legislation approved in the last special session. But the Tax Foundation’s Nicole Kaeding says it’s not entirely bad news for the consumer. She says research shows retailiers like to increase prices on items during sales tax holidays…
cut 10 (08) “…their prices”
The next sales tax holiday scheduled for Louisiana was to be held the first weekend in August, but again, you won’t be able to count on it this year.

Governor John Bel Edwards has sent a letter to the White House letting the President know how much Louisiana will be impacated by the escalating trade war and the implementation of tarriffs on Chinese products. Edwards says shipping and agriculture will be negatively affected…
cut 4 (10) “…or so”
Edwards is hopeful the trade war will come to an end soon.

A Galliano man was found in Bayou LaFourche yesterday bound in rope. LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson, Lt. Brennan Matherne, says a local firefighter responded to the call, and jumped into the bayou in an attempt to save69-year-old Terry Angelle, only to discover the body was visibly decomposing.,,,
cut 14 (10) “…the dock”
Matherne says they have classified Angelle’s death as suspicious.