LRN AM Newscall September 27th ###Saints cuts added###

Many roadways are still lined with debris five weeks after the historic flooding. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron looks to jump start a passing attack that ranks last in the SEC. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Former Governor Kathleen Blanco is offering encouragement to flood victims during the difficult rebuilding phase. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Education leaders in Louisiana are looking at ways to improve public education, in compliance with a new federal law that goes into effect next school year. State Superintendent John White says the Every Student Succeeds Act is the first federal education law that’s been passed since 2001, and it requires states to outline a plan for improving education. He says he’s confident Louisiana can make great strides, as long as the students remain the focus of the discussions.

cut 4  (11)  “our state”

During Governor Bobby Jindal’s second term, White was involved in a very public spat with Jindal over Common Core academic standards. White says Louisiana is making strides in education, like improving math and reading test scores among 4th graders and overall ACT scores. He says better preparing teachers while they are still in college could also have an impact in K-12 classrooms.

Cut 5  (12)  “others are”

White says in the near future, they will draft the framework for a plan to improve education. He says the plan outline will be made available to the public.

Cut 6 (11) “specific ideas”

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Five weeks after the historic flooding in south Louisiana, many people still have debris piled up in their front yards. Spokesperson for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Mike Steele, says crews have hit the 55-percent mark for completion of debris removal.

CUT 7 (10)  “in August”

Steele says crews have been hard at work for the past several weeks, and it will likely be a few more weeks before all the debris has been removed. He says they are asking the public to be patient.

Cut 8 (11) “get this done”

Steele says they have more crews working now, so hopefully the second half of the cleanup will go faster than the first. He says they are asking people to sort their debris into different categories to make the cleanup process easier.

Cut 9 (10)  “also electronics”

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LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron promises changes to LSU’s offense. The Tigers rank dead last in the SEC in passing and 12th in the league in total offense. Orgeron says they want to spread the ball around and make the passing game more dynamic….

Cut 10 (07) “throwing it”

Orgeron replaces Les Miles, who was criticized for his antiquated offense that included poor clock management. Coach “O” says he doesn’t want to repeat the mistakes made in the past…

cut 11 (11) “game management”

Orgeron will make his debut as interim head coach on Saturday night when the Tigers take on Missouri. He wants his team to feel strong on Saturday, so he’ll have them on the practice field less during the week…

cut 12 (11) “be excited”

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As thousands of residents in south Louisiana continue to put the pieces of their life back together, it feels to many like this nightmare will never end. But former Governor Kathleen Blanco says one of her biggest takeaways from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is that people in Louisiana are fighters, and they don’t give up…:

Cut 13 (08) “we love”

Blanco says last night’s game in the Superdome was a reminder about how resilient communities can be, as it was 10 years ago that New Orleans got a rebirth when the facility reopened for the first time since the storm. She says we will recover from this…:

cut 14 (09)  “their lives”

Blanco encourages residents to keep their heads held high, because this too shall pass. She says the “new normal” will be better in many ways…:

Cut 15 (09) “rebuilding”

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For the second consecutive year, the Saints start their season with three consecutive losses. New Orleans lost to Atlanta 45-32 last night. The game started well as the Saints jumped out to a 7-0 lead, but the game turned when De’Vante Harris ran over returner Tommylee Lewis, causing a muffed punt and giving Atlanta the ball on the New Orleans 11-yard line. Coach Sean Payton called it a bad play…

Cut 16  (19)  “seven points”

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 376 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted once, which was returned for a touchdown by former LSU Tiger Deion Jones. Brees says his interception and the special teams miscue were big…

Cut 17 (19)  “we lost”

Despite the Saints dismal start, Brees is still optimistic about the team’s playoff chances….

Cut 18 (19) “look out”

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16:45 LRN Sportscast September 26th

LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva introduced Louisiana native Ed Orgeron as the Tigers interim head coach. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 2 (26) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

And Orgeron said what LSU fans want to hear. He wants to give life to a passing game that currently ranks LSU in the SEC.

Orgeron has suspended indefinitely defensive tackle Davon Godchaux. He was arrested early this morning on misdemeanor charges after he was also involved in what the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office is calling a tussle with his girlfriend.

Fired LSU Coach Les Miles was a guest this morning on the “Dan Patrick Show on DirectTV’s Audience. Miles says he supports A-D Joe Alleva’s decision, if it is what’s best for the Tigers. During the 10-minute interview, Miles indicated he would like to coach again…
cut 11 (07) “….a coach”

Tonight in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, it’s the Saints and Falcons as New Orleans looks for its first win. The Black and Gold have struggled on third down this season. Quarterback Drew Brees on what they can do better…
cut 18 (20) “….third down”
Terron Armstead, Willie Snead and Kenny Vaccaro are not expected to play for the Saints tonight, because of injuries.

16:30 LRN Newscast September 26th

Louisiana native Ed Orgeron says it’s a dream come true to lead the LSU football program. Orgeron spoke today for the first time since he was named interim head coach of the 2-and-2 Tigers. Oregon says he wants to jumpstart an LSU offense ranked dead last in the SEC in passing
cut 14 (06) “…on offense’

Speaking for the first time since the firing, former LSU Head Coach Les Miles said on the “Dan Patrick Show on DirecTV’s Audience” that he’s fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach the Tigers…:
cut 10 (08) “entire time”
This Saturday LSU will host Missouri for homecoming. Miles says he may go to Tallahassee to see Florida State play North Carolina. His son, Manny, is a walk-on quarterback for the Tar Heels.

Presidential candidates, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, will duke it out tonight in their first debate.. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley expects viewers will see the combination of information and typical candidate sparring, as the clock is ticking on the campaign and the polls are tight.
Cut 3 (10) “for Americans”

A new poll shows it’s a tight race for the open US Senate seat in Louisiana. John Couvillon, with JMC Analytics and Polling, says five candidates have an opportunity to make the runoff as there’s been movement since he surveyed this race in July.
Cut 6 (10) “the field”
Campbell and Boustany are tied for the lead at 15-percent, with Caroline Fayard and John Fleming right behind them. Fleming’s campaign paid for the poll.

15:30 LRN Newscast September 26th

Tonight is the first presidential debate between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hilliary Clinton. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley expects the recent police shootings of black men will be a topic of discussion…
cut 5 (10) “….community”
The debate gets underway at 8:00 local time.

A new poll on Louisiana’s US Senate race finds Republican Charles Boustany and Democrat Foster Campbell tied at 15-percent. Republican John Fleming and Democrat Caroline Fayard are just behind them, while GOP Treasurer John Kennedy is at 11-percent. Pollster John Couvillion of JMC analytics says his survey shows 25-percent of voters are undecided…
cut 8 (08) “…ratchet down”
Fleming’s campaign paid for this survey.

LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva spoke with reporters along with interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron today. Michelle Southern reports…:
CUT 2 (26) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A body was found floating in the Cane River in Natchitoches today. Detectives have been able to determine that the deceased individual is a 28-year-old hispanic male by the name of Antonio Francisco. Authorities are still trying to determine a cause of death.

And Louisiana Ag Commissioner Mike Strain has been named the president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

LRN PM Newscall September 26th

Tonight is the first one on one presidential debate between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Emelie Gunn has more on what to expect…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva spoke with reporters along with interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron today. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (26)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Presidential candidates, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, will duke it out tonight in their first debate. The debate will air from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Central Time. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley expects viewers will see the combination of information and typical candidate sparring. He says these are two individuals who recognize the clock is ticking on the campaign and the polls are tight.

CUT 3 (10)  “for Americans”

Stockley says both Trump and Clinton will take shots at each other in an attempt to demonstrate to Americans how the other candidate is unfit…

CUT 4 (08)  “this city”

Stockley says the candidates will likely touch on the recent shootings around the country and the protests that are sparking. He says African Americans and the law enforcement community have some questions to be answered…

CUT 5 (10)  “community”

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A new poll shows it’s a tight race for the open US Senate seat in Louisiana. John Couvillon, with JMC Analytics and Polling, says five candidates have an opportunity to make the runoff as there’s been movement since he surveyed this race in July.

CUT 6 (10) “the field”

The poll paid for by Congressman John Fleming’s campaign shows Congressman Charles Boustany and Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell are tied for the lead at 15-percent, and Fleming and New Orleans attorney Caroline Fayard are just behind them at third and fourth place respectively. Couvillon says former front runner John Kennedy’s numbers have dropped 7 percentage points to 11-percent.

CUT 7 (09) “and so forth”

Couvillon says the poll also found that 25-percent of voters are still undecided, which he says is not surprising.

CUT 8 (08) “ratchet down”

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Former LSU football coach Les Miles said he’s feeling good one day after his firing. Miles was a guest this morning on the “Dan Patrick Show on DirecTV’s Audience.”  Miles says he was told of his firing during a face-to-face meeting with Athletic Director Joe Alleva and the Tigers former head man said he didn’t fight the decision…

CUT 9 (08) “for em”

Miles was the head coach at LSU for 11-plus seasons. He won 77-percent of his games, including a BCS National Championship and two SEC titles. The mad hatter says he’s fortunate to have the opportunity to coach the Tigers…

cut 10 (08)  “entire time”

This Saturday LSU will host Missouri for homecoming. Miles says he may go to Tallahassee to see Florida State play North Carolina. His son, Manny, is a walk-on quarterback for the Tar Heels. During the nearly 10-minute interview, Miles indicated he would like to coach again…

Cut 11 (07) “a coach”

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Alleva spoke with reporters along with interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron today. Alleva said making a change such as this is never an easy one to make, but changes within the program had to take place…:

cut 12 (11) “their lives”

Alleva said Miles is loved by his players because he cares about them as people and he did a great job developing them into fine young men. Alleva said he felt that, at this time, Coach O is the right man to take over the program…:

Cut 13 (08)  “great things ahead of it”

Miles was criticized for not being able to produce an effective offensive line. In his introduction to LSU, Orgeron said there will be changes under his leadership…:

cut 14 (06)  “on offense”

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11:40 LRN Sportscast September 26th

A disappointing 2-2 start has led to the firing of LSU Head Coach Les Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Senior wide receiver Travin Dural of Breaux Bridge says he showed up to a 5:00 meeting on Sunday and never thought he would be told Miles was let go…
cut 11 (07) “…this program”
Miles appeared on the Dan Patrick show this morning and said he supports the decision made by athletic director Joe Alleva. The mad hatter says he’s had a great time at LSU and indicated he would like to coach again.

Meanwhile, defensive line coach Ed Orgeron is now the interim head coach. Dural looks forward to what Coach “O” can bring to the team…
cut 12 (09) “….success”
Tight ends coach Steve Ensminger has been promoted to offensive coordinator.

The Saints look for their first win of the season tonight as they host NFC South rival Atlanta. New Orleans has yet to get tight end Coby Fleener involved in the offense. Fleener was signed a free agent in the offseason and has just three catches. Brees expects Fleener to be a major contributor as the season moves along…
cut 17 (15) “….come”
The Saints will not have left tackle Terron Armstead tonight as he’s been ruled out , because of a knee injury. There are also reports that wide receiver Willie Snead and Safety Kenny Vaccaro will also miss the game because of the injuries.

If the Saints win, all four teams in the NFC South will have a one-and-two record that’s because Tampa Bay and Carolina both lost yesterday

LRN AM Newscall September 25th ###Final version Updated with Miles firing####

Tonight’s Saints-Falcons games marks the 10th anniversary of the reopening of the Mercedes Benz Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Congressman Garret Graves has introduced a bill that would get flood insurance claims to people quicker. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Shocked and sad is the reaction from the LSU players over the firing of LSU Head Coach Les Miles and Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Tonight’s Saints-Falcons game marks the 10th anniversary of the Mercedes Benz Superdome reopening after Hurricane Katrina. Former Governor Kathleen Blanco prioritized the repair of the iconic stadium. Blanco says the building’s roof was badly damaged and it was a symbol of despair for New Orleans. The former governor says despite criticism, she knew they could turn the dome into a symbol of victory.

cut 4  (10)  “nasty place”

Blanco says repairing the stadium in nine months rather than the predicted 2 years was a huge endeavor. She says Saints owner Tom Benson promised if they could open the Superdome before the 2006 season, he wouldn’t move the franchise.

Cut 5  (08)  “dire moment”

Blanco faced criticism, as many wondered why fix the Superdome when thousands of people needed help. The former governor says the money could only go into repairs of the building and they received funds from the NFL and FEMA. She says in the end, she received many public apologies.

Cut 6 (10) “or losing”

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Over a month after the historic flooding in south Louisiana, many flood victims are still struggling to recover. Congressman Garret Graves of Baton Rouge has introduced a bill to help future disaster victims get assistance in a timely manner. He says the biggest complaint he’s heard is that it’s taking too long to get money from flood insurance claims.

CUT 7 (10)  “federal program”

Graves’ bill would require the national flood insurance program to make determinations within 30 days of the claim being filed. He says people need this assistance now, and he wants to push this bill through in an expedited process.

Cut 8 (07) “the Congress”

Graves says schools, police and fire departments, and drainage systems are all funded by property taxes. He says if people can’t get their homes repaired quickly, it will cause major problems for the entire community because there will be less tax revenue coming in.

Cut 9 (11)  “public services”

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After 114 wins, a BCS National Championship and two SEC championships, Les Miles is no longer the head coach at LSU. Miles, along with LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron were let go, after a bad loss to Auburn to drop their record to 2-2. Safety Jamal Adams says Miles spoke with the team before he left…

Cut 10 (11) “lettin go”

Senior wide receiver Travin Dural of Breaux Bridge says he showed up to a 5:00 meeting and never thought he would be told that Miles was let go….

cut 11 (07) “this program”

South LaFourche High School and Northwestern State grad, Ed Orgeron, takes over as the interim head coach. He was the Tigers defensive line coach and a former head coach at Ole Miss and interim head coach at USC. Dural looks forward to what Coach “O” can bring to the team…

cut 12 (09) “success”

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A new book about the murders of prostitutes in Jefferson Davis parish is surrounded by controversy. Murder in the Bayou by Ethan Brown documents the author’s investigation into the murders of 8 prostitutes between 2005 and 2009. The book alleges that Congressman Charles Boustany may have been involved with the women. Brown, who appeared on the Jim Engster Show, says Boustany’s response to the accusation is included in the book.

Cut 13 (08) “in the book”

The book claims that a staffer at Boustany’s office also worked at the hotel where these women would perform the services. Brown says there is no question that staffer worked at the Boudreaux Inn.

cut 14 (09)  “the staffer”

Brown says a lot of independent media outlets have been reporting the claims against the congressman. He says in all the stories he’s seen, reporters have noted that they have not been able to independently verify the allegations.

Cut 15 (07) “been made”

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The Saints are 0-2 heading into their Monday night matchup with their NFC South rival the Atlanta Falcons. A loss tonight and it will be very difficult for the boys in Black and Gold to make the playoffs. Quarterback Drew Brees is confident this team can string some wins together…

Cut 16  (12)  “this week”

Brees has thrown for nearly 700 yards and 5 touchdowns through two games, but New Orleans has yet to get tight end Coby Fleener involved in the offense. Fleener was signed a free agent in the offseason and has just three catches on the young season. Brees expects Fleener to be a major contributor as the season moves along…

Cut 17 (15)  “come”

The Saints have struggled to convert on 3rd down this season, as they have moved the chains on 3rd down only 7 times on 24 opportunities. Brees on how they can improve that percentage…

Cut 18 (20) “3rd down”

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LSU beat Auburn, but then they didn’t. It turns out Danny Etling’s touchdown pass to DJ Chark never happened, because the Tigers didn’t get the play off, before the clock struck triple zero. After a penalty on the Tigers, there was one second left, when LSU lined up for a potential touchdown pass. Coach Les Miles on what happened…

Cut 19 (15) “I’m told”

Auburn’s 18-13 over LSU leaves the Tigers with a 2-2 record for the first time since 2001. The Bayou Bengals chances of playing in the college football playoffs are dashed and LSU’s continuing problems on offense make it hard to think they can win the SEC West. Miles, whose coaching seat is getting hotter, looks forward to the rest of the season…

Cut 20 (18) ” back end”

17:30 LRN Newscast

US Senator Bill Cassidy announced today that Louisiana has been included in a bill that would give the state $500,000 million dollars in flood aid. The Governor requested $2.8 billion. Cassidy referred to the half billion as a down payment…:
CUT 12 (09) “from the flood”
The flood recovery dollars is contained in legislation that would prevent a government shutdown and it must be approved by next Friday at midnight.

The Military Family Assistance Fund, which was originally set up to support families when a National Guardsman was deployed overseas, is now helping veterans who affected by the flooding. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Col. Joey Strickland says the legislature modified the fund to help all veterans who have a financial need…:
CUT 9 (09) “online”
Strickland says they hope by the end of this month to give out a total of 350-thousand dollars to flood impacted veterans.

Governor John Bel Edwards responded to a viral video of a house that was poorly repaired under the Shelter at Home Program. He said that particular residence had not been inspected yet and it would have never passed. He reminded listeners on his radio show that the program pays for basic repairs- just enough to make the home livable..:
CUT 4 (08) “shelter program”
He says Shelter at Home workers are now required to show what kind of work will be done.

LSU quarterback Brandon Harris received death threats following the Tiger’s tough season opening loss to Wisconsin. Head coach Les Miles says that’s a shame…:
CUT 6 (11) “wrong decisions”
Miles says they will give the information to law enforcement to find out who is threatening Harris.

16:45 LRN Sportscast September 22nd

The Saints returned to the practice field today as they get ready for Monday night’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. New Orleans is looking for its first win of the season and NFL analyst Mike Detillier says despite the injuries, he likes the Black and Gold’s chances against the hated Falcons…
cut 19 (19) “…19 wins”
Saints defensive end Cam Jordan was limited today with a knee injury, while safety Kenny Vaccaro, wide receiver Willie Snead and offensive tackle Terron Armstead did not practice. Coach Sean Payton says it was an easy decision to put cornerback PJ Williams on injured reserve. Payton says the second-year pro suffered one of the most severe concussions he’s seen.

LSU quarterback Brandon Harris received death threats following the Tiger’s devastating season opening loss to Wisconsin. Head coach Les Miles hopes whoever wrote these threats only meant them in a mundane and insincere way but it’s gone too far…:
CUT 8 (04) “do that”
Harris received one twitter threat telling him to kill himself and another said Harris would be murdered. Miles wants law enforcement involved.

The 17th ranked Tigers leave tomorrow for Auburn. Kickoff for Saturday is scheduled for 5:01.

Nicholls State is also heading east as they visit South Alabama in their final non-conference game of the season. The Colonels are getting good quarterback play from Chase Fourcade. The former Rummel star has thrown for nearly 400 yards and 4 touchdowns in two games. Kick-off is set for 6 PM and the game will be shown on ESPN 3.

The Pelicans, who are getting ready to start training camp, announced 77 of their games will be televised by Fox Sports New Orleans.

16:30 LRN Newscast September 22nd

US Senator Bill Cassidy says Louisiana is included in a spending bill that contains $500 million dollars in flood aid. Jeff Palermo reports…:
voicer 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

LSU Coach Les Miles says its unconscionable why someone would threaten quarterback Brandon Harris. Harris received death threats on twitter following the loss to Wisconsin. Miles says law enforcement should get involved…
CUT 7 (10) “pursue it”

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says the fatal shooting by sheriff deputies of a 48-year-old man in February was legally justified. Moore says Travis Stevenson was repatedly ramming his vehicle into a Sheriff’s Office S-U-V. Moore says witnesses interviewed by State Police supported the claim of self-defense…
cut 16 (09) “…run over”
Moore says Stevenson’s family says he suffered from mental illness and extremly upset over his father’s recent death.

A viral video showing shoddy work done at a house in the Shelter At Home program has raised many questions from flood victims. Governor John Bel Edwards sent crews to inspect the home after seeing the video …:
CUT 3 (09) “been redone”
He says many people have wrong expectations about what Shelter at Home will repair and they are now required to let people know.