8:30 LRN Newscast January 11

One man is dead following a police shooting in Lake Charles. Authorities say a man threatened another man with a gun inside a convenience store at about 1 AM this morning. Police say an officer came across the possible suspect a block away. It’s unclear what exactly happened next, but a statement says an officer opened fire, killing the man with a gun.

The state has purchased land in Terrebonne Parish for residents of the Isle De Jean Charles, who live on an island that’s being swallowed up by the Gulf of Mexico. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Eight parishes are under a state of emergency declaration due to flooding concerns from high river levels. And rain is in the forecast for tonight, into tomorrow. Deputy Director of GOHSEP Casey Tingle says the declaration allows the state to support local emergency managers who are taking proactive measures to deal with the high river levels…
cut 6 (09) “….that trend continues”
The eight parishes in the declaration are Beauregard, Bossier, Caddo, Calacsieu, Catahoula, Rapides, St. Tammany and Washington.

The University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson says a study has been produced that shows the nine universities in the system have nearly a 11-billion dollar economic impact on the state. Henderson says this goes along with the system’s mission to train adults for an ever-changing job market…
cut 9 (12) “….what we do”

7:30 LRN Newscast January 11

Health officials say at least 39-thousand people in Louisiana’s Medicaid program and prison system suffer from hepatitis C infection, which is why the state is working on a plan to purchase normally expensive hepatits C drugs at a lower a cost to treat the contagious and sometimes fatal liver disease….
cut 14 (09) “…as possible”
That’s Louisiana Health Secretary Rebekah Gee, who says the department of health’s goal is to treat over 10-thousand Medicaid-enrolles and prisoners by the end of 2020.

A Lake Charles Police officer was involved in a fatal shooting early this morning. The L-C P-D says the officer responded to a complaint that a man entered a store and threatened another individual with a gun. An officer arrived three minutes later and found the suspect and the officer involved shooting left the man with a gun dead. State Police is conducting an investigation.

The state has completed the purchase of a 515 acre track of land to resettle the residents Isle De Jean Charles community who will lose their homes on an island that will one day be covered by the Gulf of Mexico. The 11.7 million dollar land purchase outside of Schriever is the first step in relocation. State Office of Community Development executive director Pat Forbes says they hope to start construction on the new community later this year.
Cut 10 (12) “…preliminary master plan.”
The island in south Terrebonne Parish has lost 98 percent of it’s landmass since 1955.

State emergency planners are concerned about flooding along rivers with more rain in the forecast for tonight and into Saturday morning. Deputy director of GOHSEP Casey Tingle has this message for drivers who come across any flooded roadways…
cut 5 (09) “…flooded roads”

6:45 LRN Sportscast January 11

There are a couple of former Saints on that Eagles team that will be in the Superdome on Sunday to face the New Orleans Saints. Running back Darren Sproles is a weapon on offense for Philadelphia and on defense, safety Malcom Jenkins has been holding down a secondary hit with injuries. Saints Q-B Drew Brees says Jenkins has flourished since leaving the Crescent City after the 2013 season…
cut 18 (17) “…lined up”
Saints offensive tackle Terron Armstead is hopeful he’ll play on Sunday. Armstead is trying to play with a torn pectoral muscle and was limited in practice yesterday. Several members of the O-line were also limited. Defensive end Alex Okafor practiced in full after he was limited on Wednesday.

6:30 LRN Newscast January 11

Gov. Edwards has issued a state of emergency declaration due to flooding concerns along rivers. Deputy director of GOHSEP Casey Tingle says more rain is in the forecast tonight…
cut 4 (09) “…period of time”
The eight parishes included in the declaration are Beauregard, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Catahoula, Rapides, St. Tammany, and Washington.

A study shows the University of Louisiana System contributes 10.9 billion dollars to the state’s economy. The report shows that one out of 18 jobs in the state are supported by the universities of Louisiana. UL System President Jim Henderson says it’s evidence the system produces a large return on investment.
Cut 7 (12) “…fantastic”

State health officials are seeking a pharmaceutical partner as a part of a plan to purchase drugs at a lower cost that can treat hepatitiis C, which is a disease that damages the liver and can lead to death. At least 39-thousand people in Louisiana’s Medicaid program and prison system suffer from hepaititis C infection. Alex Billioux with the state office of public health says part of the plan includes increased training for primary care physicians, aimed at helping them identify patients who may be infected.
Cut 15 (09) “…Hepatitis C.”
The state hopes to have a contract in place by July.

16:45 LRN Sportcast

Since Sean Payton and Drew Brees arrived in New Orleans, Dome Field Advantage has been a big thing as the Saints are 5-0 in home postseason games since 2006. Coach Sean Payton says it takes a special combination of a great team and a motivated fan base to build the special kind of environment that exists in the Big Easy right now…
cut 17 (13) “…your football team”
But the Eagles have something good going too. Philly Quarterback Nick Foles has been a money player in the postseason, winning his last four playoff games.

LSU senior offensive assistant and passing game coordinator Jerry Coordinator is retiring at the age of 74. Sullivan has been on Coach Ed Orgeron’s staff the last two seasons. He’s considered one of the top wide receiver coaches in the game, spending 25 years in the NFL and he was also an assistant at LSU in the 1980s for several years.

Louisiana Tech released its football schedule for 2019 today. The Bulldogs will start the season against Texas. The Longhorns could be a team ranked in the preseason Top 10. The home opener will be September 7th at home against Grambling State. The Bulldogs will have a tough end to the season, after a bye on November 2nd, they’ll host North Texas and then travel to Marshall and U-A-B and finish the 2019 regular season campaign against U-T-S-A.

La Tech basketball is home tonight against U-A-B. The Bulldogs are looking to end a two-game losing streak. Tech is 8-0 at home, while the Blazers are 2-0 in Conference USA.

ULM and the Ragin Cajuns are in the Peach State. UL-Lafayette visits Georgia State. Georgia State has won four straight and they are led by the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year, D’Marcus Simonds, who averages 19 points a game.

The Warhawks are 2-0 in league play and they are at Georgia Southern. ULM has won six of its last seven and six-foot-one guard Daishon Smith is averaging 21 points a game.

LRN PM Newscall January 10

Shreveport police are on the search for suspects responsible for the shooting death of one of their own officers.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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A stalwart of the North Baton Rouge business community announces plans to lay off at least 650 workers from its Port Hudson paper facility…

Cut 2 (30) “Im Matt Doyle”  

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President Donald Trump will visit New Orleans on Monday, so he can speak at the American Farm Bureau Convention. Louisiana Farm Bureau President Ronnie Anderson is glad to see the President will be at their centennial convention…

Cut 3 (11) “…this country.”

Rice and soybean farmers say the tariffs and now the government shutdown have hurt their ability to make money off their crop. There’s also concern among producers about whether documented workers living in Mexico can return for the growing season. Anderson says farmers are eager to hear from the president…

Cut 4 (11) “…right here″

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A female Shreveport Police officer is dead after being shot multiple times outside of a home last night around 8:30 as she was on her way to start her shift.  The officer was identified as Chateri Payne, who had graduated from the police academy in November.  Police Chief Ben Raymond says the murder of an officer is a catastrophic event to a law enforcement agency.

Cut 5 (10) “…this uniform everyday.”

Raymond says at this time, law enforcement agencies from all across the northern portion of the state are assisting in the investigation and adds they are looking for the public’s help as well.

Cut 6 (06) “…killers to justice.”

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins had a message for officers who may be a little on edge about putting on the uniform after an incident of this nature.

Cut 7 (10) “in the world”

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A Bossier City mother and daughter are dead after an overnight double homicide shooting allegedly by the daughter’s boyfriend. Public Information Officer Traci Landry says officer’s arrived to a tragic scene after getting an 8:30PM call from a neighbor who heard gunshots.

Cut 8 (09) “…wounds”

22-year-old Shandrell and 40-year-old Maeisha Simoneaux are believed to have been murdered by the father of Shandrell’s two kids, 22-year-old Frederick Jackson, who has been arrested. Landry says it didn’t take long to apprehend the alleged murderer.

Cut 9 (10) “…interviewing.″

Landry says enough evidence was collected to charge Jackson with 1st Degree Murder.

Landry says Jackson and Simoneaux’s two children were in the apartment at the time of the shooting, and have been turned over to a responsible party.

Cut 10 (10) “…members.”

Jackson has been booked into the Bossier City Jail on a 7.5 million dollar bail.

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Georgia-Pacific will be laying off at least 650 workers in March from its Port Hudson paper facility, in a major blow to the North Baton Rouge economy. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says it’s a huge loss, and a drastic shock to a community that relied on those union jobs to provide a good quality of life.

Cut 11 (10) “…working there”

Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome says the city will activate a Rapid Response employment program to help displaced workers find new employment.

Barrow says with more and more people going digital, and sending correspondence through email and text, the need for traditional paper that the facility specialized in has diminished.

Cut 12 (10)   “…white paper” 

Barrow says the closure should reemphasize the need for additional resources being allocated to programs that help prepare workers for the new, digital economy.

2:30 LRN Newscast January 10

Shreveport police are on the search for what label as a coward or cowards responsible for the shooting death of one of their own officers….
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A Federal Magistrate recommends that a federal judge should dismiss a lawsuit filed by three men who sought to prevent the Lafayette Public Library from holding Drag Queen Story Hour at the library last October. The magistrate ruled the men lacked the standing to sue, because they do not live in the parish.

A Shreveport man is behind bars facing a charge of first-degree murder after he allegedly shot his girlfriend and her mother in a Bossier City apartment complex. Bossier City police spokesperson Traci Landry says 22-year-old Frederick Jackson shot 22-year-old Shandrell Simoneaux and her 40-year-old mom last night and Simoneaux’s two children were present…
cut 10 (10) “…members”
A motive for the shooting has not been made public.

Bad economic development news for the Baton Rouge area, as Georgia-Pacific plans to lay off about 650 workers in March from their Port Hudson paper facility, because the demand for paper is on the decline. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the closure should reemphaize the need for additional resources being allocated to programs that help prepare workers the new, digital economy….
cut 13 (11) “…take them”

11:40 LRN Sportscast January 10

Out of the four NFL playoff games this weekend, the Saints are the largest favorite at eight points. New Orleans beat Philadelphia 48-7 in November and the two teams meet again on Sunday. Coach Sean Payton anticipates a much different matchup…
cut 18 (14) “…..tremendous challenge”
Kick-off on Sunday is at 3:40. It’s unknown if offensive tackle Terron Armstead will play. Armstead hurt his pectoral muscle in November came back in the win over the Steelers, only to get hurt again.

LSU announces senior offensive assistant and passing game coordinator Jerry Sullivan is retiring. The 74-year-old joined Coach Ed Orgeron’s staff as a consultant in 2017 and last season served as a full-time assistant. He was an assistant coach at LSU in the 1980s and spent 25 years as a coach in the NFL.

The Pelicans won their third straight last night as New Orleans beat Clevleand 140 to 124. The Cavs had a 16 point lead in the first half, before the Pels eventually won by 16 points. Anthony Davis had a big second half and finished with 38 points and Frank Jackson came off the bench to score 19 points.

It was a wild night in the Southland Conference, McNeese fell to Abilene Christian 73-72 in a game that featured 19 lead changes. A tough 20-foot shot by Kevin Hunt did not go down at the buzzer.

Northwestern State had a potential game-winning shot blocked at the buzzer and the Demons fell to Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 62-61. UNO beat Lamar 78-71 in overtime. It’s win number one-hundred for head coach Mark Slessinger.

And Brandon Moore junior scored a season-high 25 points as Nicholls defeated Stephen F Austin 78-73.

Tonight. ULM is at Georgia Southern, the Cajuns visit Georgia State and Louisiana Tech hosts UAB.

9:30 LRN Newscast January 10

Authorities have called an 11 AM press conference to provide more details on last night’s fatal shooting of a Shreveport police officer. We do know that the deceased officer is a female and was in uniform at the time of the shooting, but had not started her shift yet.

Louisiana receives a one-point-two million dollar federal grant that will go towards helping child victims of human trafficking. Kevin Barnhart has more..
Voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus has asked the state ethics board to reconsider its decision that says candidates can not use campaign finance dollars to pay for child care costs, like a babysitter, while they attend campaign events. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says the recent ruling impacts a female candidate for a Baton Rouge area House seat…
cut 5 (09) “…was a problem”
Governor John Bel Edwards has also said the ethics board should re-consider its decision.

Out of the four NFL playoff games this weekend, the Saints are the largest favorite at eight points. New Orleans beat Philadelphia 48-7 in November and the two teams meet again on Sunday. Coach Sean Payton anticipates a much different matchup…
cut 18 (14) “…..tremendous challenge”
Kick-off on Sunday is at 3:40.

8:30 LRN Newscast January 10

A female Shreveport police officer was fatally shot last night before she was set to begin her night shift. Corporal Marcus Hines says one person has been detained, but there’s been no update on whether charges have been filed. The Shreveport Times has identified the fallen officer as Chateri Payne, who recently joined the force.

The Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus has requested the Board of Ethics to reconsider a decision that prohibits campaign funds be used on child care costs. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

President Donald Trump has made plans to visit New Orleans on Monday as he’ll speak at the American Farm Bureau Convention. The Crescent City has more registered Democrats than Republicans, so ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says you can bet there will be protestors near the Morial Convention Center…
cut 15 (10) “…a postive”
The Farm Bureau Convention begins tomorrow and runs through Wednesday.

The Pelican Institute is asking lawmakers to back their revenue neutral tax plan that they say would slash corporate and upper-income tax levels by eliminating the myriad tax exemptions and deductions that have been installed in the Louisiana constitution over several decades. Senior policy fellow Chris Jacobs calls for eliminating refunds for businesses like job incentives, inventory tax credits, and others…
Cut 7 (08) “…percent”
The upcoming session is a fiscal one, so lawmakers can make changes to the state’s tax code.