06:30 LRN AM Newscast

Another cold snap is coming our way, and state climatologist Barry Keim says it will be the coldest one yet. He says a cold front moves through the state today, which will drastically cool things off in the Bayou State.
cut 11 (12) “the weekend”
And Keim says there’s a chance we could see snow on Friday in north and central Louisiana.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says rates for Workers’ Compensation policies have fallen for a fourth year in a row. Donelon says a lower rate can help attract new businesses to the Bayou State and….
cut 16 (07) “….even cheaper”
He says rates have had a cumulative drop of 34-percent over the last 10 years.

Louisiana’s Congressional delegation is ready to get to work. Members were sworn in yesterday. US Representative Ralph Abraham from Richland Parish says he looks to get the state’s energy industry rolling again….
cut 5 (11) “…expound exponentially”
Abraham anticipates health care and securing the borders will be major topics during 2017.

A 25-hundred dollar reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the murder of a 22-year-old Hammond man. Darius Latin was fatally shot in the early morning hours of December 28th in an apartment building. A motive is not known.

18:30 LRN Newscast January 3rd

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is partnering with Dunkin Donuts franchisee Vik Patel to develop nearly 70 more donut shops in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Monroe. The first new store is expected to open this year. Five stores are currently open in Louisiana. Brees is also involved in the Jimmy John’s Franchise and co-owns Walk-On’s Enterprises.

A former LSU football player says his SEC championship ring was stolen. Jeff Palermo has more…
Voicer 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

US Representative Cedric Richmond, who represents New Orleans, parts of the River Parishes and Baton Rouge, was sworn in as the new chairman of Congressional Black Caucus. Richmond says the Caucus plans to affect change…
cut 8 (07) “….of today”
It’s expected that the Caucus will fight many of the policies that will come from the Trump administration. One piece of legislation the two sides could agree on is a funding bill for infrastructure projects.

Saints Coach Sean Payton is trying to end specualation he will coach in another NFL city next year. Here’s what he said during an interview on WWL radio when asked about the rumors he could leave New Orleans…
cut 11 (13) “…honoring that”
Payton signed a new five year deal last year.

17:30 LRN Newscast January 3rd

A new Congress began its 2017 session today. It started with Louisiana’s newest U.S Senator John Kennedy taking the oath of office. There are two other new members to Louisiana’s Congressional delegation. Republicans Clay Higgins and Mike Johnson. All three were victorious in run-off elections last month.

The Congressional Black Caucus sworn in its new chairman today, Louisiana’s own US Representative Cedric Richmond. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Monday was a busy day for first responders in Marksville. A possible tornado caused damage at and near a Wal-Mart and the weather along with other events also caused power outages. Marksville Fire Chief Jerry Bordelon…
cut 4 (12) “…a blackout”
But no major injuries were reported.

Saints Coach Sean Payton says it’s his plan that he will definitely be back next season. Payton says he’s already started working on what the roster might look like in 2017…
cut 10 (07) “…I’m doing”
Payton made the comments on WWL Radio in New Orleans. There’s been speculation he could be traded to another team.

16:45 LRN Sportscast January 3rd

Saints Coach Sean Payton says it’s his plan that he will definitely be back next season. Payton says he’s already started working on what the roster might look like in 2017…
cut 10 (07) “…I’m doing”
Payton made the comments on WWL Radio in New Orleans. There’s been speculation he could be traded to another team.

And as usual, quarterback Drew Brees is confident about what next year’s team can accomplish. Brees says the right guys are in the locker room to make New Orleans a Super Bowl contender again….
cut 18 (20) “…very near future”
Brees and the Saints just wrapped up a third consecutive 7-and-9 season.

Former LSU football player Seth Fruge says an SEC championship ring and other football mementos were stolen from his Shreveport home over the Christmas break. Fruge played on special teams as a walk-on for the Tigers from 2009 to 2013. In a facebook post, Fruge says the thief took his blood, sweat and tears he shared with his teammates.

In the NBA, the Pelicans had their four game winning streak snapped last night with a 90-82 loss to Cleveland. New Orleans plays again on Thursday night when they host Atlanta.

And the Pelicans first-round draft pick Buddy Hield has been named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month. The 23-year-old averaged 11 points a game and shot 48-percent from three point territory during the month of 2016.

Nicholls State has now four in a row. The Colonels defeated Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi 68-64 last night.

Southeastern Lousiana won its 14th straight home game yesterday, a 74-63 win over U-I-W.

16:30 LRN Newscast January 3rd

Today in Washington D.C, John Kennedy was sworn into the 115th Congress of the United States as Louisiana’s newest Senator. Michelle Southern reports…:
Voicer 5 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Two new members of Louisiana’s House delegation also took the oath of office today. Republican Congressman Clay Higgins will represent the third district, which covers southwest Louisiana. And Republican Mike Johnson moves from the state legislature to the seat representing the fourth congressional district.

US Representative Cedric Richmond was sworn in today as the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. Richmond says they plan to stand up against any policies that disenfranchise African-Americans…
cut 9 (11) “…never will be”
New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries told Politico that the black community is counting on them as the last line of defense between Donald Trump and the worst America could offer.

Season two of the cold case series Killing Fields begins tonight on the Discovery Channel. Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi says the TV show will highlight to work of his deputies who helped solve a 1991 cold case murder and another case that made headlines last spring…
cut 12 (10) “…Whiskey Bay Bridge”
The show airs at 9 PM.

14:30 LRN Newscast January 3rd

Republican John Kennedy was sworn in as a new U.S. Senator for Louisiana today. Kennedy occupies the seat once held by David Vitter, who decided not to run for re-election. Kennedy also resigned as state treasurer today. Ron Henson will lead the state agency. Voters will have the opportunity to elect a new treasurer in October.

US Representative Cedric Richmond, who represents New Orleans, parts of the River Parishes and Baton Rouge, was sworn in as the new chairman of Congressional Black Caucus. Richmond says the Caucus plans to affect change…
cut 8 (07) “….of today”
It’s expected that the Caucus will fight many of the policies that will come from the Trump administration. One piece of legislation the two sides could agree on is a funding bill for infrastructure projects.

A former LSU football player says his SEC championship ring was stolen. Jeff Palermo has more…
Voicer 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Saints Coach Sean Payton it’s his plan that he will definitely be back next season. Payton says he’s already started working on what the roster might look like in 2017…
cut 10 (07) “…I’m doing”
Payton made the comments on WWL Radio in New Orleans. There’s been speculation he could be traded to another team.

Updated PM LRN Newscall for January 3rd

The Congressional Black Caucus sworn in its new chairman today, Louisiana’s own US Representative Cedric Richmond. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

A former LSU football player says his SEC championship ring was stolen. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Strong winds left a wake of destruction in Avoyelles Parish. Marksville Fire Chief Jerry Bordelon says it has not yet been confirmed if a tornado touched down. He says Walmart sustained the most damage, including an 18-wheeler being flipped over behind the building.

Cut 3 (11) “shopping buggies”

Entergy reports more than 16-thousand customers in Louisiana lost power at some point Monday. Bordelon says many Marksville residents were among those without electricity.

cut 4  (12) “a blackout”

______________________________________

Parts of north and central Louisiana could see snow or ice this week. Patrick Omundson with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says cold air arrives tonight and precipitation is expected to arrive on Friday.

Cut 5  (12)  “air mass”

Snow accumulations in Monroe and Alexandria are expected to be less than one inch. Omundson says right now the models show a 70-percent chance of icy precipitation in Monroe on Friday.

Cut 6 (11) “Friday evening”

______________________________________________

Today, US Representative Cedric Richmond of New Orleans was sworn in as the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. Richmond says in this new Congress, the CBC will confront those who seek to divide people, and they will be clear on their demands on behalf of black people across the country.

CUT 7 (09)  “they worship” 

Richmond says it takes people of all ages and races with conviction and strength to affect change because the CBC cannot do it alone. He says they need the fire, passion, and talent of young people, as well as the wisdom, insight, and clarity of our elders.

Cut 8 (07) “of today”

Richmond says if we do not learn from the past, the future will be more of the same. He says they will be deliberate with their thoughts and actions, and they will engage on their own terms. He says they have the strength and courage of their predecessors and in that spirit they won’t give in, give up, or fall back.

Cut 9 (11)  “never will be”

_________________________________________________

Saints head coach Sean Payton says he has no plans to leave New Orleans in response to reports he could be traded to the Los Angeles Rams. Payton says he’s already started working on what the roster might look like in 2017

Cut 10 (07) “come out”

There has been speculation that the Saints could be interested in trading Payton for a draft pick compensation or a player. Payton says evaluations begin this week and he’s busy getting prepared for free agency. He says it’s difficult to constantly respond to these rumors.

cut 11 (13) “honoring that”

_________________________________________________

Season two of the cold case series, Killing Fields, airs tonight at 9 p.m. on Discovery Channel. The show sheds light of unsolved murders in Iberville Parish. Sheriff Brett Stassi says last season focused on the 1997 murder of 34-year-old Eugenie Boisfontaine, whose body was found in Bayou Manchac. He says this season will feature two cases, one from 1991 where Curtis Smith’s body was dumped in Bayou Pigeon.

cut 12 (10) “Whiskey Bay”

Stassi says the first few episodes will focus on Boisfontaine’s murder but then spin off into a deep investigation of other cases. He says although Boisfontaine’s death remains unsolved, detectives were able to make an arrest in Smith’s murder and in Elizabeth Ferrell’s murder, whose body ended up in Whiskey Bay in April.

Cut 13 (05) “guilty verdict”

The show follows the Detective Rodie Sanchez, who comes out of retirement, along with Detectives Aubrey St. Angelo, Leslie Brandford and Major Ronnie Hebert. Stassi says through the television show, they were able to obtain forensic tools that usually they wouldn’t have access to.

cut 14 (10) “financial ability”

_________________________________________________________

 

13:30 LRN Newscast January 3rd

US Representative Cedric Richmond from New Orleans officially took over today as the chairman of the Black Congressional Caucus. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Parts of north Louisiana could see snow this week. Patrick Omundson with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says cold air arrives tonight and precipitation is expected to arrive on Friday.
Cut 5 (12) “air mass”
There’s a 30-percent chance for snow Friday night in Monroe.

Saints Coach Sean Payton is trying to end specualation he will coach in another NFL city next year. Here’s what he said during an interview on WWL radio when asked about the rumors he could leave New Orleans…
cut 11 (13) “…honoring that”
Payton signed a new five year deal last year.

And season two of the Killing Fields airs tonight on the Discovery Channel. The cold case show follows detectives around from Iberville Parish. Sheriff Brett Stassi says this year’s season will feature the arrest of a cold case from 1991 and when a woman’s body from Texas ended up in Whiskey Bay…
cut 13 (05) “…guilty verdict”
Season one, focused on the 1997 murder of an LSU grad student. That case remains unsolved.

12:30 LRN Newscast January 3rd

Today, US Representative Cedric Richmond of New Orleans was sworn in as the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. Richmond says in this new Congress, the CBC will confront those who seek to divide people, and they will be clear on their demands on behalf of black people across the country.
CUT 7 (09) “they worship”
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus tell Politico they are bracing for the worst from President-elect Donald Trump and they are concerned his presidency could set minorities back decades.

The United States Coast Guard is assisting in the clean-up of a diesel oil spill in the Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish. About 500 gallons spilled into the river during a fuel transfer.

Former LSU football player Seth Fruge an SEC championship ring and other football mementos was stolen from his Shreveport home over the Christmas break. Fruge played for the Tigers from 2009 to 2013.

Monday was a busy day for first responders in Marksville. A possible tornado caused damage at and near a Wal-Mart and the weather along with other events also caused power outages. Marksville Fire Chief Jerry Bordelon…
cut 4 (12) “…a blackout”
But no major injuries were reported.

And forecasters are keeping an eye on possible winter precipitation later in the week for north and central Louisiana. Patrick Omundson with the National Weather Service says possibly light snow and ice could occur in the Monroe and Alexandria areas on Friday…
cut 6 (11) “…Friday evening”
Cold air is expected to arrive in the state later today and high temperatures tomorrow will only be in the upper 40s into the mid 50s.

11:40 LRN Sportscast January 3rd

Saints Coach Sean Payton says it’s his plan to definitely be back next season. That’s based on what he said during an appearance on WWL radio last night. The head coach says he’s got four more years on a contract in New Orleans and he plans on honoring that. There’s been speculation that the Saints are interested in trading Payton for a draft pick compensation or possibly a player.

Quarterback Drew Brees is coming off another great season. He threw for over 5,000 yards for a 5th time. He also tossed 37 touchdown passes and completed 70% of his passes. The 37-year-old signed a one-year contract extension prior to the start of 2016 season…
Cut 17 (15) “at a time”
Brees also says the right guys are in the locker room to make New Orleans a Super Bowl contender again.

A former LSU football player living in Shreveport says someone broke into his house over the Christmas Break and stole his SEC championship ring and Outback Bowl ring, along with a BCS National championship watch. Walk-on Seth Fruge played on special teams and was a member of the Tigers from 2009 to 2013.

Last night at the Sugar Bowl, Oklahoma defeated Auburn 35-19. SEC teams went 6-and-6 during the bowl season.

In the NBA, the Pelicans four-game winning streak ended last night as New Orleans was defeated by the Cleveland Cavaliers 90-82. The Cavs rallied back from a 10-point third quarter deficit.

In the Sun Belt…Freshman Justin Miller had 15 points as the Cajuns defeated Little Rock 69-52. ULM lost badly to Arkansas State 76-45.

Nicholls, Southeastern Louisiana, UNO and McNeese are all off to 2-0 starts in the Southland Conference. The Colonels topped Texas A&M Corpus Christi 68-64 last night. The Lions upended Incarnate Word 74-63 and the Cowboys knocked off Stephn F Austin 69-54.