10:30 LRN Newscast November 1

Over 19-hundred non-violent offenders will be released throughout the day as part of the state’s approved changes in criminal justice reform. Kelley Ray has more…
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

President Donald Trump has nominated Brandon Fremin to be the next U-S Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana. Fremin is currently the director of the criminal division for the Attorney General’s office and he previously worked as a state and federal prosecutor. Fremin also served in the U-S Marine Corps.

The 24-billion-dollar acquisition of Level 3 Communications by Monroe based CenturyLink is now complete, expanding the largest public trading company in Louisiana to more than 350 metropolitan areas. CenturyLink Spokesperson Ann Marie Sartor says the merger allows them to continue leading the telecommunications industry…
Cut 3 (09) “technology solutions.”
CenturyLink has a state contract that keeps its headquarters in Monroe through at least 2020.

A teenager has been arrested for burning down St. Paul Baptist church in Richland Parish. Sheriff Gary Gilley says they were able to make a quick arrest, because witnesses told investigators they saw a young white male at the church in an Entergy truck….
cut 16 (06) “….this time”
The suspect is also accused of stealing two Entergy trucks. The building that burned down was four months old, but a 137-year-old church remains standing on the property.

LRN AM Newscall November 1

The SEC matchup of the year is this Saturday when LSU takes of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Emelie Gunn takes a look at ticket sales on the secondary market…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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19-hundred non-violent offenders will be released starting today as part of approved changes in criminal justice reform.  Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

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A Caldwell Parish teen is in police custody after he allegedly burned down a building that belonged to a historic church in Rayville. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3   (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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The hurricane season ends on November 30, but a named storm has never struck Louisiana in November in 167 years of record keeping.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says the state came close to breaking that streak in 2009 when Tropical Storm Ida churned in the Gulf…

Cut 4  (08) “was spared.”

This hurricane season has not been quiet.  Keim says it ranks high on the list with the second most major hurricanes in a season with one month to go…

Cut 5  (06)  “major hurricanes.”

Louisiana prior to this year was spared hurricane or tropical storm landfalls for four seasons.  Keim says Mother Nature made up for it this year…

Cut 6 (09) “early October.”

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LSU takes on the Alabama Crimson Tide this Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium and ticket sales are on fire. Cameron Papp with Stub Hub says ticket prices range from 90 dollars to over 500 dollars for a seat to see the highly anticipated match up. He says this is the highest selling Alabama home game this season so far.

Cut 7 (08)  their calenders”

Papp says traditionally tickets sell for a little more when the game is played in Tiger Stadium but these ticket prices match up to what we saw two years ago at Alabama’s last home game against the Tigers. He says the average ticket price is going for about 300 bucks.

Cut 8 (11) “college football”

Papp says there is still plenty of time left for fans to purchase tickets.

Cut 9 (07)  “game time”

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Over 19-hundred prisoners will be released today as part of the state’s criminal justice reform legislation enacted this year. The Edwards Administration says this will lower the highest incarceration rate in the country and produce better outcomes for non-violent offenders.  Winn Parish Sheriff Cranford Jordan (jer-dun) doesn’t see how releasing inmates will lead to better public safety…

Cut 10 (11)  “job properly.”

Jordan says the system is flawed from the start.  He says Louisiana needs to take a cue from Texas and begin rehabilitation before prisoners are released…

Cut 11 (11) “them out.”

Non-violent offenders will be eligible released after serving 35 percent of their sentence under the new law, but they will be still monitored according to Department of Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc…

Cut 12 (11) “control of.”

It is estimated the reform effort will reduce the state’s prison population by ten percent over ten years.  LeBlanc says many parish jail inmates are released without additional education or skills.  He says this reform will help in that regard as programs will be put into place to help released inmates stay out of jail…

Cut 13 (06) “need attention.”

It is estimated the new program will save the state 262-million-dollars over 10 years, with 70-percent of that money to be reinvested into training and prisoner rehabilitation programs.

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A Caldwell Parish juvenile is in custody after allegedly destroying a building that belonged to St. Paul Baptist church in nearby Richland Parish.  Sheriff Gary Gilley says the suspect also stole an Entergy truck before setting fire to the structure…

Cut 14 (12) “Caldwell Parish.”

Authorities say the suspect also damaged several vehicles at Caldwell Parish High School. Gilley says they are still trying to determine why this teen burned down a building belonging to a church that’s been around for 137 years…

Cut 15 (08) “this happended.”

The fire started around 9:30 AM on Tuesday and Gilley says the suspect was taken into custody early that afternoon. He says witnesses told investigators they saw a young white male at the church in an Entergy truck when the blaze started…

Cut 16  (16)  “this time.”

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After a long layoff, UL Lafayette returns to the football field this Saturday when they visit South Alabama. The Cajuns last played on October 19th, when they were blown out by Arkansas State 47-3. Coach Mark Hudspeth says his players are not dwelling on that lopsided loss…

Cut 17 (23)  “from us”

Also in the Sun Belt this Saturday, ULM hosts Appalachian State. The Mountaineers are 4-0 in league play and Warhawks Coach Matt Viator says they have one of the top defenses in the Sun Belt…

Cut 18 (06) “excited about it” 

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LSU will bring a three-game winning streak into Saturday’s SEC showdown with top ranked Alabama. Crimson Tide Head Coach Nick Saban says the Tigers are the best team they’ve seen this year and their season turned around after losing to Troy…

Cut 19 (20) right now“

Saban says his players need to be ready for a physical game on Saturday…

cut 20 (19)  “understand that” 

16:45 LRN Sportscast October 31

The LSU Tigers are looking for their first win over Alabama since 2011. Six straight wins for the Crimson Tide during that time. Linebacker Devin White says he gets asked a lot about beating Alabama…
cut 18 (16) “….four quarters’

October 19th was the last time the Ragin Cajuns played a football game. UL Lafayette finally gets back on the field this Saturday when they visit South Alabama. Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth on what they’ve been doing with all of the time off…
cut 30 (17) “…young guys”

The NFL trade deadline came and went and the Saints did not make a deal. But former LSU cornerback Rashard Lawrence was traded by the San Francisco 49ers to the New York Jets. That means the Jets will have three former LSU Tigers in their defensive secondary as Robinson joins former first-round picks Morris Claiborne and Jamal Adams.

And in a surprising move. the Panthers trade wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to the Bills for a third and seventh round pick.

Former LSU Tiger Alex Bregman can help the Houston Astros win their first World Series title tonight. First pitch in Los Angeles is at 7:20 as Justin Verlander pitches for Houston, while the Dodgers counter with Rich Hill. Bregman will bat second and play third base once again.

The Pelicans are off tonight after losing to Orlando 115-99 last night. Coach Alvin Gentry not happy with his team’s play on defense as New Orleans gave up 16 three-pointers. The Pels host Minnesota tomorrow.

16:30 LRN Newscast October 31

The suspect in last week’s double murder at Grambling State University, Jaylin Wayne, says he’s not guilty and has hired a defense team. Attorney Ronald Haley says there was yet another suspected shooting on campus this past weekend, and they feel more light should be shed on a bigger problem at Grambling…gun violence…
Cut 11 (11) “3.6 GPA”
Wayne faces first-degree murder charges.

State Police asks the public to make smart decisions tonight, especially if they attend a Halloween party…
cut 14 (10) “….to drink”
Trooper Melissa Matey says State Police responded to several fatal accidents last Halloween weekend where 11 people lost their life, six of those wrecks were alcohol related.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff deputies arrested a woman for allegedly pepper spraying people at a Chuck E. Cheese in Metairie. Lt. Jason Rivarde says 24-year-old Katarian Marshall was angry and started indiscriminately spraying pepper spray, hitting five adults and two kids:
Cut 4 (06) “by paramedics”
Marshall is charged with disturbing the peace by fighting.

Ascension Sheriff deputies arrested two Prairieville men for allegedly stopping a school bus and one of the men was armed. Lt. Colonel Ward Webb says 58-year-old Clifton Hamby and 60-year-old Kerry LaSaicherre (Les-sha-share) were angry with the bus driver for speeding on the road they lived on. Webb says the men should have called police instead…
cut 8 (11) “…the peace”
Webb says the men never threatened the bus driver with the gun.

LRN PM Newscall October 31

The suspect in the high profile Grambling State University double murder has hired a defense team to argue his innocence. Michelle Southern reports:

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The police chief in Shreveport is on paid administrative leave after he fired his gun at an armed robbery suspect. Emelie Gunn has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A woman was arrested after allegedly using pepper spray one several people inside a Chuck E Cheeses restaurant in Metarie.  Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Jason Rivarde says they were called to the scene and arrested Katarian Marshall of New Orleans after an apparent argument…

Cut 3 (07) “the woman.”

Rivarde says Marshall hit children and adults with the pepper spray.  Five adults and two children were treated at the scene…

Cut 4  (06) “by paramedics.” 

Marshall is charged with disturbing the peace by fighting.  She was released on a 250-dollar bond.

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Baton Rouge Police are investigating a crash off Airline Highway, which left two people dead including a toddler. Sgt. Don Coppola says witnesses told detectives they saw the driver of a 2009 Mustang driving erratically and crossing over the median multiple times before hitting an 18-wheeler head on.

Cut 5  (11)  “his injuries”

A 19-year-old male was a passenger in the vehicle and was transported to the hospital with moderate injuries. Coppola says the driver was identified as 23-year-old Wallacea Swazer of Baton Rouge and two year-old Carter Northern.

Cut 6 (06)  “the crash”

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The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office says two men, one of them armed with a handgun, stopped a school bus because they felt the bus driver was speeding. Lt. Col. Ward Webb says the bus was traveling down the road with students on board yesterday afternoon when 58-year-old Clifton Hamby and 60-year-old Kerry LaSaicherre(Les-sha-share) refused to let the driver pass.

Cut 7 (10) “with speeding”

Webb says after producing a copy of the ordnance, an altercation apparently ensued and the bus driver drove away and called police. He says it’s always the best to call police if faced with a similar matter.

Cut 8 (11) “the peace”

Webb says one of the men was opening carrying a handgun on his waist when the incident occurred.

Cut 9 (10)     “is legal” 

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The suspect in the high profile Grambling State University double murder has hired a defense team to argue his innocence. Attorneys Ronald Haley and Dedrick (Deed-Rick) Moore would not reveal 19-year-old Jaylin Wayne’s side of the story, but said the focus should switch to the environment at Grambling. Moore says there is a culture of gun violence on campus:

Cut 10 (08) “continue to take place”

Cops had said the incident in which Earl Andrews, another GSU student, and Monquiarious Caldwell were killed, was the result of a personal fued and isolated. Haley says there was yet another shooting on campus just this past weekend, and they feel more light should be shed on a bigger problem at Grambling. He says school officials aren’t saying everything…:

Cut 11 (11) “3.6 GPA”

Wayne was arrested on first-degree murder charges. GSU President Rick Gallot said it became clear early on that this was not some random act of violence…:

Cut 12 (07) “who knew one another”

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State Police is reminding those out of the street for trick or treating or attending Halloween parties that this holiday is more dangerous for drunk driving than New Years. Trooper Melissa Matey says last New Year’s Eve there was 7 deaths in Louisiana and five were alcohol related.

Cut 13 (09)  “to alcohol”

The U.S. Department of Transportation says deaths from impaired driving make up half the all traffic fatalities between 2011 and 2015 on Halloween. Matey encourages people to make smart decisions before heading out to parties tonight.

Cut 14 (10)   to drink”

A report from the Centers for Disease Control finds children are four times more likely to be hit by a vehicle on Halloween than any other night of the year. Matey also adds it’s illegal for sex offenders to participate in any Halloween events where children may be present. She says L-S-P will be out in full force tonight.

Cut 15 (09) “the wheel”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

During LSU’s six game losing streak to Alabama, the Tigers offensive line has not performed well. Junior center Will Clapp says offensive coordinator Matt Canada likes to give opposing defenses a lot of different looks, so hopefully that will work this time around….
cut 17 (15) “…the game”
Left tackle KJ Malone is questionable for Saturday’s game against Bama.

The Ragin Cajuns return to action this Saturday as they visit South Alabama. Junior Jordan Davis is expected to start at quarterback as Andre Nunez is still in concucussion protocol. Davis started the first five games of the season, Nunez has started the last two. Also in the Sun Belt, ULM hosts Appalachian State this Saturday.

Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux is eligible to play this Sunday against Tampa Bay. He was placed on injured reserve in the preseason after surgery was needed to repair a stress fracture in his left tibula. Coach Sean Payton says Breaux will be eased back into action…
cut 20 (08) “…than bang”
Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson is said to be doing very well and was expected to be released from the hospital today. The 90-year-old experienced weakness after the win over Chicago and was taken to a hospital for precuationary reasons.

16:45 LRN Sportscast October 30

LSU is a three touchdown underdog for this Saturday’s game against top ranked Alabama. Head Coach Ed Orgeron says this game will come down to whoever executes the best….
cut 15 (11) “….game goes”
Orgeron says his team heads into the big game rested and healthy. Only offensive tackle KJ Malone is listed as questionable.

Former LSU star Alex Bregman is receiving a lot of praise for his base hit to score the winning run in a crazy 13-12 win for the Astros over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World series. During the game, Houston trailed by four runs and then three runs, but kept battling back. Bregman on his team’s fight…
Cut 11 (10) “champions”
Houston can win its first World Series in franchise history tomorrow night in L-A.

The Saints are 5-2 after beating the Chicago Bears 20-12 yesterday. New Orleans is in first place in the NFC South a half-a-game ahead of Carolina. Quarterback Drew Brees says they are not satisfied yet…
cut 18 (22) “…on that”
New Orleans hosts 2-5 Tampa Bay this Sunday.

Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson is said to be doing very well after he was hospitalized overnight following a busy weekend of events. A statement says Benson is expected to be back home tomorrow and in the office later this week.

The Pelicans host the Orlando Magic tonight. A win and New Orleans will move to 4-and-3 on the season.

16:30 LRN Newscast October 30

Governor John Bel Edwards is in Puerto Rico to help with Hurricane Maria recovery efforts….
Cut 1 (26) “I’m Don Molino”

Former LSU star Alex Bregman delivered a memorable game winning hit in the 10th inning as Houston outlasted the Dodgers 13-12 in Game 5 of the World Series. Bregman’s Astros rallied back from two huge deficits to take a three games to two lead…
cut 11 (10) “…champions”

Two men from Texas were killed in an overnight crash involving four 18-wheelers on Interstate 10 in West Baton Rouge Parish. State Police Trooper Bryan Lee says there was congestion on I-10 East between Gross Tete and the Lobdell exit from a previous wreck, when an 18-wheeler didn’t notice other vehicles had slowed down..:
Cut 6 (09) “their injuries”
The interstate was shut down until early this afternoon.

The hype is building for Saturday’s SEC showdown between 19th ranked LSU and top ranked Alabama. The Crimson Tide got after LSU Quarterback Danny Etling last season. He was sacked five times and threw for just 92 yards and was intercepted once. Head Coach Ed Orgeron on what he wants to see from his senior signal caller…
cut 14 (10) “…protect him”
Kick-off from Tuscaloosa is at 7 PM.

15:30 LRN Newscast October 30

Governor John Bel Edwards and First Lady Laura Edwards are in Puerto Rico meeting with government officials of the island country as they struggle to recover from Hurricane Maria. Puerto Rico plans to start a shelter-at-home program similiar to the one used by Louisiana following the August flood. Debris removal is another big problem in Puerto Rico.

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson is said to be doing “very well” after being hospitalized overnight. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 2 (28) “…..I’m Michelle Southern”

An audit released by the state legislative auditor’s office accuses three former cashiers at Grambling State of improperly adding over 164-thousand dollars to spending accounts for 35 students, including two of the former cashiers. Auditor Roger Harris says the action may have violated state and federal laws, plus….
cut 10 (10) “…wrong doing”
Grambling is no longer giving cashiers the ability to manually allocate dollars to the spending cards.

Former LSU star Alex Bregman had the game-winning hit in the 10th inning of last night’s wild World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. His manager, A-J Hinch, is not surprised the 23-year-old came up big…
cut 12 (11) “…biggest moments”

11:40 LRN Sportscast October 30

The first place Saints are now 5-2 after winning their fifth straight game, beating the Chicago Bears 20-12. Quarterback Drew Brees says it’s encouraging the Saints are winning, even though they have yet to play their best football…
cut 17 (11) “…come together”
The Saints host Tampa Bay on Sunday.

If you didn’t stay up until after midnight, you missed a special World Series moment delievered by former LSU star Alex Bregman, who drove home the winning run with a single to cap off a wild 13-12 win for Houston in Game 5. Here’s how Joe Buck called it on Fox…
cut 30 (14) “…crowd cheering”
Houston can win its first World Series title on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

LSU didn’t play Saturday, but still moved up four spots to number 19 in the latest AP Top 25. The Tigers are at number one ranked Alabama this Saturday. The Crimson Tide is a three touchdown favorite.

Louisiana Tech hosts North Texas this Saturday after beating Rice 42-28 in Houston last Saturday. Quarterback J’Mar Smith bounced back from a bad performance in a loss to Southern Miss. Smith threw for 237 yards and a touchdown and also big-time nine-yard run on the game winning drive. Coach Skip Holtz on the play of his signal caller…
cut 20 (23) “successful quarterback”
Tech is now 2-and-2 in Conference USA, while their homecoming opponent this Saturday, North Texas, is 4-and-1.