16:45 LRN Sportscast May 18th

It should be a fun next three days for LSU baseball fans as the Tigers can win an SEC West championship by beating the Bulldogs in the final regular season series of the season, which starts tonight in Starkville. Mississippi State is one game back of LSU in the division standings. They have one of the top players in college baseball. Brent Rooker is hitting .406 with 20 home runs and 71 RBIs. Rooker is the SEC leader in all three of those categories, along with doubles. LSU pitcher Jared Poche is hopeful the Tiger pitchers can limit Rooker’s impact…
cut 18 (18) “….get em out”
First pitch is at 6:05.

ULM President Nick Bruno announced today that athletics director Brian Wickstrom will not seek to renew his contract, which is set to expire on June 30th. Wickstorm has been with the Warhawks since July 2013. In a statement, Wickstorm said it’s his destire to make a long-term move to a bigger program.

Pelcians star Anthony Davis has been named to the All-NBA first team, along with LeBron James, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard.

The top high school basketball player in the state, Scotlandville’s Javonte Smart, has LSU among the six schools he’s considering. The others are national powers Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, Oklahoma State and Florida State.

Former LSU Tiger Tre’Davious White has signed his rookie contract with Buffalo and now seeks a starting spot in the Bills secondary.

And the Steelers have released former Ragin Cajuns tight end Ladarius Green after injury riddled 2016 season.

LRN PM Newscall May 18th

Legislation that establishes statewide regulations for Uber and Lyft heads to the Senate. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A measure that would make it illegal for adult to allow a children 12 and under from handling fully automatic guns heads to the House floor. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A bill to regulate Uber and Lyft statewide is heading to the Senate. Jackson Representative Kenny Havard says these ride sharing services keep people safe, offers an affordable ride, and provides thousands of employment opportunities. He says very rarely do lawmakers get a chance to do something that really affects people’s lives.

Cut 3 (09) “fatal accidents”

The measure would establish a blanket set of regulations and collect a fee of one percent, ending various deals some local municipalities have with the companies. New Orleans has one such agreement in which the city charges riders a 50 cent fee. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter was upset this bill would supersede that arrangement.

Cut 4  (08) “state level”

Carter says New Orleans would lose $2 million if this bill threw out the city’s deal with Uber. But Monroe Representative Jay Morris says the Big Easy is charging riders the highest fee in the country. He says the City of New Orleans used Uber’s desire to move into the city to get the most money possible out of the business.

Cut 5  (09)  “in the city”

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A measure that would penalize adults if they let a child who is 12 years old or younger handle a fully automatic weapon passed out of the House Criminal Justice Committee on a 7 to 6 vote. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton says she brought forth this bill after a nine year old girl accidentally shot and killed her instructor with an Uzi submachine gun in Arizona.

Cut 6 (10) “United States”

Adults would face fines if they violate the proposed law. Norton says she’s pro-gun and supports children of a proper age learning the correct way to shoot guns. She says she filed this measure strictly for the safety of young children too small to operate these weapons.

Cut 7 (10)  “that gun”

But Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says this measure subjects gun collectors to a fine.

Cut 8 (12) “fine”

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A measure that would prohibit public universities from having their name or images to market alcoholic beverages was voluntarily deferred in the House Education Committee. Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover filed this bill because he believes LSU and UL-Lafayette licensed “official” beers promote underage drinkings.

Cut 9 (12)  “get sick” 

UL-Lafayette has Ragin Cajuns Genuine Louisiana Ale, while the LSU beer is “Bayou Bengal Lager.” But Hammond Representative Chris Broadwater says given the massive cuts to higher education, schools need this opportunity to generate funds.

Cut 10 (10) “our kids”

Stephanie Knott with Bayou Teche Brewing spoke out in opposition of the measure, discussing the brewery’s partnership with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Cut 11 (11) “and equipment”

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Two arrests have been made after a 7-year-old at Moss Bluff Elementary School was accidentally shot when a child brought a gun to school. Authorities say the gun fell out of the child’s backpack, and another child picked it up causing it to fire, hitting another student. Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso says the brother and father of the child who had the gun have been arrested.

Cut 12 (08) “in the house”

The father, 50-year-old Michael Lane Dugas, is charged with negligent injury and improper supervision of a minor. The brother, 17-year-old Jake Adam Dugas, is charged with negligent injury. Mancuso says the gun was kept just four feet off the ground in a shoe organizer hanging on the wall of the bedroom the boys shared.

Cut 13 (09) “was committed”

Mancuso says the actions of the child’s father and brother were the cause of the accident, not the young boy. Calcasieu Parish District Attorney John DeRosier says gun owners must store their weapons out of the reach of small children. He says we’re very lucky that the child injured in this case was not killed.

Cut 14 (11) “bu children”

The child who was shot underwent surgery Monday and continues to recover.

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11:40 LRN Sportscast May 18th

LSU and Mississippi State begin a three-game series tonight where the winner will be declared the champions of the Western Division. The Tigers arrive in Starkville playing their best baseball of the season, winning eight of their last nine SEC games. LSU right fielder Greg Deichmann is not surprised with how the team has responded down the stretch….
cut 17 (20) “…this weekend”
The series also features two of the better power hitters in college baseball. Deichmann has 17 bombs, while Mississippi State’s Brent Rooker has 20 home runs to lead the SEC. Rooker is also hitting .406 with 26 doubles and 71 RBIs. First pitch is at 6 PM.

KNOE Sports is reporting that ULM athletic director Bruce Wickstrom’s contract will not be extended. Wickstrom was hired in 2013 and the Monroe TV station is also reporting that Wickstrom did not want his contract extended.

This could be the last series for ULM baseball Coach Bruce Peddie. His Warhawks host the Ragin Cajuns. ULM has lost 10 in a row and they are 12-and-40 on the season. Meanwhile, UL Lafayette needs a sweep to help boost their NCAA Tournament resume. The Cajuns enter the series with an RPI of 41.

Louisiana Tech is also looking to increase its chances of making the NCAA Tournament as they face Middle Tennesseee. McNeese State can clinch a Southland Conference regular season title with a win over Lamar and a Houston Baptist Loss. Southeastern Louisiana looks to finish the regular season strong by hosting Seton Hall and Nicholls is trying to secure a spot in the Southland Tournament as they begin a series at Central Arkansas.

10:30 LRN Newscast May 18th

U.S Senator John Kennedy files a bill to require able bodied adults who do not have children to work at least 20 hours a week or go to school or do community service to receive Medicaid. Kennedy says he’s not trying to take Medicaid away from individuals, but reduce the number of people who need it…
cut 8 (10) “…from government”

The Senate Labor committee approves legislation that extends workplace discrimination laws to cover LGBT individuals. Political activist Dylan Waguespack spoke in support. He says something has to be done to protect transgender individuals like himself in the workplace….
cut 5 (12) “…and disgust”
The measure heads to the Senate floor.

With three weeks left to go in the legislative session, Governor John Bel Edwards is demanding the senate make major changes to the proposed budget the House has approved. Edwards says the House passed an irresponsible spending plan that cuts 720-million from health care and did not specify what to cut…
cut 12 (09) “…lacks courage”
The Senate Finance committee is holding daily budget hearings as it’s anticipated they’ll re-write the House budget plan.

LSU and Mississippi State battle for the SEC West championship starting tonight with a three-game series in Starkville. The Tigers lead the Bulldogs by one game in the standings. To add a little spice, former LSU assistant coach Andy Cannizaro is in his first season as the head coach of Mississippi State. First pitch is at 6:05.

09:30 LRN Newscast May 18th

Three weeks are left in the fiscal session and Governor John Bel Edwards says a special session maybe needed, because the legislature is not showing any signs of passing legislation to address the loss of one-point-three billion dollars in temporary taxes that are set to expire next year….
cut 11 (08) “…next year”
The majority Republican House has not supported any large revenue-raising tax bill to offset a potential billion dollar shortfall.

The state Senate approved a bill that makes changes to the state’s film tax credit program. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell explained why the legislature should pass it….
cut 13 (08) “…sunset it”
The legislation places a front-end cap of 180-million dollars, which is reduced to 150-million after three years and the program also has the potential of going away after eight years.

On a three-to-one vote, the Senate Labor committee advances a bill that would protect the LGBT community from workplace discrimination. Don Molino has more….
voicer 1 (27) “….I’m Don Molino”

Also, advancing to the Senate floor is a bill that would increase the minimum wage in Louisiana from $7.25 to $8.50 in 2019. The federal wage was last raised in 2009 and the bill’s author, New Orleans Senator Troy Carter, says the cost-of-living has gone up 35-percent since then. Business groups oppose the measure.

08:30 LRN Newscast May 18th

Governor John Bel Edwards says every day it looks more and more likely we’ll need a special session after this fiscal session ends. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Governor Edwards and a bipartisan group of legislators will take a tour of LSU’s Middleton Library this afternoon. The governor wants to show how buildings on college campuses are falling part, because of neglect. The 59-year-old building is set for destruction under the university’s master plan.

Louisiana’s LGBT community would be protected from workplace discrimination under a proposal heading to the Senate floor. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says as an African American man, he hasn’t always been protected from discrimination under the law.
Cut 4 (11) “allow it”
The measure was approved on a 3-1 vote in Senate Labor.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy spoke on the Senate floor touting a Medicaid reform bill that he has filed. Kennedy says it requires adults between 18 to 55, that have no dependents and are not disabled, to work 20 hours a week, go to school or do community service to receive Medicaid.
Cut 7 (11) “private sector”
It’s unclear how much support this legislation has in Congress.

07:30 LRN Newscast May 18th

It appears the death penalty will remain in Louisiana after the House Criminal Justice Committee voted against a bill that sought to end the use of lethal injection. Supporters argued it’s costly to prosecute such cases and the state has only executed one person since 2002. But supporters of the death penalty say it’s a fitting punishment for cold-blooded killers.

The Senate Labor committee approves legislation that extends workplace discrimination laws to cover LGBT individuals. Political activist Dylan Waguespack spoke in support. He says something has to be done to protect transgender individuals like himself in the workplace….
cut 5 (12) “…and disgust”
The measure heads to the Senate floor. The upper chamber rejected the proposal last year.

A bill that makes changes to the state’s film tax credit program passes out of the senate on a 33-3 vote. Some lawmakers do not support tax breaks for the film industry, but the bill’s author New Orleans Senator J-P Morrell says his legislation calls for the program to go away after eight years, if legislators do not renew it….
cut 15 (08) “….no longer exist”
Morrell’s measure has the support of the film industry.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy spoke on the Senate floor about his Medicaid reform bill. Emelie Gunn has more…
Voicer 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

06:45 LRN Sportscast May 18th

LSU and Mississippi State battle for the SEC West championship starting tonight with a three-game series in Starkville. The Tigers lead the Bulldogs by one game in the standings. To add a little spice, former LSU assistant coach Andy Cannizaro is in his first season as the head coach of Mississippi State. Bayou Bengals right fielder Greg Deichmann…
cut 16 (17) “…this weekend”
The Tigers are playing their best baseball of the season as they’ve won nine of their last eleven. First pitch is at 6:05.

La Tech has won six consecutive conference series for the first time in program history and they visit Middle Tennessee tonight. McNeese can win the Southland title tonight win a win over Lamar and if Houston Baptist loses.

UL Lafayette is at ULM as the Warhawks finish up a disappointing season. Bruce Peddie’s club is just 12-and-40. And Grambling and Southern both lost yesterday in the SWAC Tournament.

Former LSU running back Leonard Fournette has signed his rookie contract with Jacksonville. Fournette’s four-year deal is expected to be around 27 million dollars, including an 18-million dollar signing bonus. Fournette says the money is money, but he’s in Jacksonville to win.

Former LSU Tiger Leonard Marshall says he’ll donate his brain to research after he passes away. The former defensive lineman and two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants says he already has short-term memory and erratic behavior.

LSU men’s golf won its first ever NCAA Regional title by beating Duke by eight strokes at the University Club in Baton Rouge.

The LSU-Alexandria softball team is heading to the N-A-I-A World Series for a third time in four years.

06:30 LRN Newscast May 18th

Governor John Bel Edwards says the possibility of another special session is increasing, because legislators have failed to advance proposals to address a billion dollar shortfall next year…
Cut 10 (10) “just gone”
There’s three weeks left in the session and the majority-Republican House has approved just one tax bill that would address that looming deficit.

The senate passed a bill that revamps the state’s film tax credit program. It has the support of the movie industry. The legislation calls for a 180-million dollar cap over the next three years and then down to 150-million dollars. Metairie Senator Conrad Appel doesn’t like the proposal.
cut 14 (07) “….that dollar”
The measure will be discussed more in House Ways and Means.

A measure that prohibits workplace disrcimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals heads to the Senate floor after passing Senate Labor on a three to one vote. Doctor Will Hall, editor of the Louisiana Baptist Message, testifed against the measure, because he says this bill would go against a U.S. Supreme Court ruling…
cut 6 (12) “….as immutable”
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry did not take a stand after helping to kill the bill on the Senate floor last year.

17:30 LRN Newscast ##Legislative Report###

A proposed increase to the state’s minimum wage has won the approval of the Senate Labor Committee. Michelle Southern has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The House has passed a bill that would deny state funding to cities that are considered to be more lenient on illegal immigrants. The so-called Sanctuary Cities bill failed to pass the lower chamber last week, but it was rewritten so it no longer needed a two-thirds vote to pass. It now heads to the Senate.

A proposal to eliminate the death penalty in Louisiana failed to muster enough votes to get out of the House Criminal Justice committee. It had the support of Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor, who made the argument death penalty cases are costly and it doesn’t reduce the murder rate….
cut 14 (10) “….we do”
But the proposal failed on an eight to nine vote.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the possibility of another special session is increasing, becauses legislators have failed to advance proposals to address a billion dollar shortfall next year…
Cut 10 (10) “just gone”
About three weeks left in the session and the majority-Republican House has approved just one tax bill that would address that looming deficit.