14:30 LRN newscast October 27th

According to the Secretary of State’s office, over 162-thousand people early voted during the first two days of early voting. John Couvillion with JMC Analytics says when you take a closer look at the numbers, it appears a lot of chronic voters went to the polls…
cut 11 (11) “…local elections”
Early voting will continue through November first, except on Sunday.

Another independent poll on the US Senate election shows a very tight race. The Market Research Insight Survey has Republican John Kennedy in first, but fellow Republican Charles Boustany and Democrat Foster Campbell are right behind him. Pollster Verne Kennedy says the state treasurer is receiving support from white democrats, but will it last until election day…
cut 7 (06) “…Kennedy”
Election Day is November 8th.

The Iberville Parish Sheriff’s office has arrested 61-year-old Tommy Francise of Plaquemine for two murders, one of them occurred in 1991 and the other in 2002. Sheriff Brett Stassi says Discovery Channel TV show “Killing Fields” helped investigators with this cold case…
cut 13 (10) “…different places”
Season Two of the Killings Fields is expected to begin next month.

The Raising Cane’s River Center is now the new name of the Baton Rouge River Center in the Capital City’s downtown area. Founder and CEO of Raising Canes Todd Graves says this is a big day for his chicken finger company, which was founded near the LSU campus. Graves and his wife were on hand for the announcement…
Cut 15 (08) “River Center”
The Baton Rouge based food chain signed a 10-year naming rights deal worth nearly 4 million dollars.

11:40 LRN Sportscast October 27th

A win for LSU on November 5th against top ranked Alabama and the Tigers will improve to 4-0 under Head Coach Ed Orgeron. It would also make it difficult for Athletic Director Joe Alleva not to keep Orgeron as the Tigers head coach. Coach O says he would love to have the job on a permanent basis, but he can’t let that consume him right now…
cut 18 (14) “…that today”
Bama is listed as a 10 point favorite.

Pelicans Star Anthony Davis scored 50 points last night, but it was not enough to help New Orleans get a win on opening night as the Birds lost to Denver 107-102. It was not a good game for rookie Buddy Hield, who had just four points on two of eight shooting. The Pels next game is Friday against Golden State.

A senior football player in Union parish at D’arbonne Woods Charter School is suing the LHSAA over a rule that does not allow him to play his senior year because he was held back in the sixth grade. Attorney Brian Blackwell says his client was held back because he has ADHD, and he is confident the court will rule in their favor.
Cut 8 (10) “situation”
A hearing is set for tomorrow in a Baton Rouge courtroom. The LHSAA does not comment on pending litigation.

Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux is back at practice after missing the last five games with a broken fibula. Coach Sean Payton says offensive tackle Terrron Armstead is day-to-day with a knee injury and injured linebacker Dannell Ellerbe believes he’s close to playing his first game this season.

Louisiana Tech junior wide receiver Marcus Gaines is expected to miss the next several weeks after breaking his wrist.

16:45 LRN Sportscast October 26th

Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux was present at practice today. Breaux has been out since breaking his fibula in the season opener. Breaux said earlier this week that he’s been drinking a lot of milk in his hope to get back as soon as possible. Offensive tackle Terron Armstead missed practice as he re-aggravated a knee injury that forced to miss three games.

It’s opening night for the Pelicans who host the Denver Nuggets Last season, New Orleans was hampered by a slew of injuries. Six-foot-ten Anthony Davis played a career-low 61 games. Davis says he’s anxious to get the season started….
cut 18 (19) “…our belt”
The Pelicans were 30-52 last season and odds makers are not expecting that much better this year.

The LSU football team is on the practice field this afternoon, continuing their prepartions for next Saturday’s game against Alabama. The Crimson Tide are ranked number one in the country and they’ve won 10 straight games on the road. Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron talked about the matchup on today’s SEC teleconference…
cut 30 (28) “…we’ll be ready”

UL Lafayette announced today that they’ll play Alabama in football in 2018. The game will take place on September 29th at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa that year.

ULM Football coach Matt Viator plans to start redshirt freshman Will Collins at quarterback again this Saturday at Arkansas State.

16:30 LRN Newscast October 26th

An independent statewide poll released today shows Republican John Kennedy and Democrat Foster Campbell making the runoff in Louisiana’s US Senate race. Campbell is two-percentage points ahead of third place finisher Republican Charles Boustany. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat likes Campbell’s chances at getting into the run-off with Kennedy, because Campbell will likely get a large of portion of the undecided black vote…
cut 14 (06) “…make the runoff”

As we get closer to election day, allegations of voter fraud continue to make the rounds on social media. Secretary of State Tom Schedler wants to set the record straight over concerns the election is rigged…:
CUT 8 (10) “about it”
He says 87,000 people early voted yesterday, more than double from 2012.

The West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s office says two former workers at the state prison in Angola have been arrested on theft charges as they are accussed of stealing more than 25-thousand dollars. 45-year-old Shirley Whittington of Angola and 51-year-old Deborah Leonard of Amite turned themselves in today.

A Ponchatoula man wanted for the murder of his ex-wife in Hammond turned himself in today. 53-year-old Jerry Williams was charged with second-degree murder.

A Baton Rouge man who set his wife on fire in September is finally behind bars. Sgt. Don Coppola with the Baton Rouge Police Department says 28-year-old John Harleaux got into an argument with his wife on September 24th. He says things turned violent when the woman called for her mother to come pick her up….
cut 3 (10) “…to ignite”
The woman suffered second and third degree burns to her arm, shoulder and back.

LRN PM Newscall October 26th

The first day of early voting broke records for voter turnout in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The latest Southern Media and Opinion Research poll shows Republican John Kennedy leading the field in the US Senate race, followed by Democrat Foster Campbell…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A Baton Rouge man who set his wife on fire in September is finally behind bars. Sgt. Don Coppola with the Baton Rouge Police Department says 28-year-old John Harleaux got into an argument with his wife on September 24th. He says things turned violent when the woman called for her mother to come pick her up.

Cut 3 (10) “to ignite”

Coppola hates that someone would think of doing this to anyone, much less to their own spouse. He says the woman was seriously injured.

cut 4  (07) “his actions”

Coppola says Harleaux evaded police officers since the dispute. He says thanks to a tip from Crime Stoppers, they were able to locate the suspect yesterday. He says Harleaux was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

Cut 5  (05)  “by burning”

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Early voting has only just begun, and it’s already a record breaking year for turnout. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says the 2012 election set voting records in Louisiana, but the turnout yesterday even topped that.

Cut 6 (08) “in ’12”

Schedler says lines are shorter today for early voting, and he expects wait times to be around 10 to 15 minutes. He says yesterday there was one issue briefly in Jefferson Parish when a fiber optic line went out between the registrar of voters and the satellite office.

CUT 7 (07)  “clear sailing”

Schedler says his office is getting record calls from voters concerned the election is rigged. He blames the campaign rhetoric for these outrageous claims that have caught fire nationwide on both ends of the political spectrum.

Cut 8 (10) “about it”

_____________________________________

State officials have wrapped up a two-day meeting discussing the importance of restoring Louisiana’s coast before it’s too late. Val Marmillion with America’s WETLAND Foundation says Louisiana could lose a third of its coast in the next 50 years. He says the five year revision of the coastal restoration plan will be released in January.

Cut 9 (11)  “into implementation”

The master plan for coastal restoration needs to be revised immediately, and Governor John Bel Edwards believes the cost of this plan will go up significantly. Officials believe they will have at least $10.7 billion for the first 15 years of the 50 year plan. 

Cut 10 (10) “in 2017”

About $7 billion of the cost will be covered by the Deepwater Horizon settlement from BP. Edwards says it will also help tremendously if Congress allows Louisiana to reinvest its $100 million annual payments for the levee system that was constructed after Hurricane Katrina. He says it’s important to protect that asset that taxpayers have already invested in.

cut 11 (09) “gonna perform”

Another round table on coastal restoration will be held December 7.

________________________________________________

The latest Southern Media and Opinion Research poll shows Republican John Kennedy continuing to lead the field in the US Senate race with 22%, followed by Democrat Foster Campbell at 16%. Rounding out the top five are Republican Charles Boustany with 14%, then Democrat Caroline Fayard at 12%, and GOP candidate John Fleming at 9%. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat..:

cut 12 (07) “amount of time”

The same poll also found that the State Treasurer received the highest “positive” job performance rating among the five elected officials tested with Governor John Bel Edwards coming in second. Pinsonat says the number of undecided in this round for the seat being vacated by David Vitter is 15% which is down considerably from the last survey….:

Cut 13 (07) “into the runoff”

Pinsonat says of those voters who have not selected a candidate in this race yet, 12% are white and 22% are black. He says that means it appears as though Campbell will be getting most of those votes…:

cut 14 (06) “make the runoff”

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11:40 LRN Sportscast October 26th

It’s been a month and a day since Ed Orgeron took over as LSU’s head football coach. He’s getting his team ready to play top ranked Alabama on November 5th. Orgeron spoke before the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club and says the Tigers have enough depth to go toe-to-toe with the unbeaten Crimson Tide.

ULM Football coach Matt Viator plans to start redshirt freshman Will Collins at quarterback again this Saturday at Arkansas State. Collins failed to complete a pass in seven attempts in the loss to New Mexico. Caleb Evans played much better as he was 12 of 15 for 120 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Southeastern Louisiana Coach Ron Roberts is not sure if Quarterback Justin Alo will play this Saturday against 18th ranked Central Arkansas. If he can’t play, D’Shai Landor will start for a second straight week. The Lions are on a three-game winning streak heading into Saturday’s big home game.

The Saints returned to practice today to get ready for Sunday’s home game against Seattle. The Seahawks have one of the best pass defenses in the league, which should make for an interesting match-up as they go up against Drew Brees. Seattle has struggled to run the football as they miss the retired Marshawn Lynch.

A new regular season starts tonight for the Pelicans. The Pels Anthony Davis is set to begin his fifth season in the NBA. He’ll be joined this year by first round pick Buddy Hield, who was selected sixth overall in last June’s NBA draft. Davis says Hield will face an adjustment period…
cut 17 (19) “….different environment”
The Pelicans face the Denver Nuggets tonight. Tip-off is just after 7:00 at the Smoothie King Center.

10:30 LRN Newscast October 26th

A Baton Rouge man who set his wife on fire in September is finally behind bars. Sgt. Don Coppola with the Baton Rouge Police Department says 28-year-old John Harleaux got into an argument with his wife on September 24th. He says things turned violent when the woman called for her mother to come pick her up….
cut 3 (10) “…to ignite”
The woman suffered second and third degree burns to her arm, shoulder and back.

Two drug suspects that have the names Monroe Myers and Winter Flowers are off the streets after they were arrested on drug and gun charges. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office Captain Daniel Seuzeneua says when deputies pulled their vehicle over, they discovered a sawed off shotgun that was made to look like a toy guy…
cut 15 (09) “…they belong”
The gun was wrapped in the popular children’s character “The Mininions” duct tape.

The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center is providing over 200-thousand dollars in grant money for non-profit and faith-based groups who are assisting individuals trying to recover from the August flood. Executive Director Cashauna Hill says the groups will then use the funds at their discretion to assist flood victims in any way they need…
cut 11 (11) “….management services”

LSU Heath New Orleans researchers are offering free well water tests to Louisiana homeowners impacted by the August flooding. Professor Adrienne Katner says 150 test kits will be handed out Thursday and Friday at two churches in French Settlement…
cut 6 (10) “….through 20th”
Any homeowner with a private well in the flood-area is eligible.

17:30 LRN Newscast October 25th

Early voting for the November eighth election started today at locations around the state. This displaced flood victim traveled a long way so she can vote where she is registered…
cut 14 (09) “…get it done’
Early voting is 8:30 to 6 PM through November 1st except on Sunday.

Party leaders on both sides in Louisiana seem to agree that US Senate candidate & former KKK leader David Duke should be allowed to participate in the debate if he polled high enough. Executive Director of the Louisiana Democratic Party Stephen Handwerk says they also share the same opinion on whether or not they would like to hear what Duke has to say…:
CUT 7 (10) “opinion”
Duke is one of six candidates who will participate in a November 2nd debate at Dillard University in New Orleans.

Louisiana ranks fifth in the country when it comes to the percentage of cancer deaths that are attributable to smoking. The percentage is 33-percent and it’s higher for men. Chronic disease director with the Louisiana Department of Health, Melissa Martin, says the state is doing what it can to decrease exposure of second hand smoke…
cut 10 (09) “…or restaurants”
Martin says the state also offers a free comprehensive quit line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

There’s talk about building an interstate that would run east and west through central Louisiana. Malcolm Morris of Leesville, who is with the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition, says they are awaiting for a possible route to receive a federal designation…
cut 4 (09) “…Mississippi” .
Morris says once a corridor is selected, it could take another 10 years before construction starts.

16:45 LRN Sportscast October 25th

It will be awhile before the next time the LSU football team plays again. The Tigers next game is November fifth against Alabama. It will be a primetime kickoff as CBS has decided for the sixth consecutive season to air the game at night. In an interview with Peter Burns of the SEC Network, Leonard Fournette played a game of “fact or fiction” and said it’s a fact that LSU will beat Alabama.

The Saints defense has struggled this season, a big reason why New Orleans is 2-and-4 on the year. But maybe they’ll have a good game this Sunday when they host the Seahawks. Seattle has scored 111 points in six games, which is tied with the Chicago Bears for the fewest in the NFL. Kick-off is at noon.

Tomorrow night the Pelicans tip-off the NBA season by hosting the Denver Nuggets. The Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas has set the Pels over-under win total at 36.5, which would not be good enough to make the Western Conference Playoffs.

Louisiana Tech heads into Saturday’s home against Rice with a 5-3 record, 3-and-1 in Conference USA. The Bulldogs lead the West Division and will host an Owls team that has only one win on the year. Tech Coach Skip Holtz says they can’t let up…
cut 19 (21) “…two thirds done”
Kick-off is at 6 Pm.

In the Stats FCS Top 25 poll, Grambling has moved up one spot to number 21. McNeese and Southeastern are receiving votes.

In the High School football polls, three new teams are ranked in Four-A, Woodlawn-Shreveport, Rayne and Loranger are ranked 8th, 9th and 10th respectiviely.

16:30 LRN Newscast October 25th

Today has been the first day to early vote for the November 8th presidential election. Raymond Jensen works at the East Baton Rouge Registrar of Voters Office and says early voting turnout has been good so far. He says there’s usually a lot of early voters during a presidential election, and the lines show it….
cut 13 (07) “…15 minutes”
There was about an hour wait to vote in Kenner today, because of issues with the secure, fiber line, which means election officials had to manually verify voters.

Taking selfies in the booth of all things has been a big topic during this election cycle. Louisiana GOP executive director Jason Dore says social media is a huge part of the world today and sees this as an extension of that…:
Cut 8 (07) “great thing”
Early voting continues through November 1st, except on Sunday.

Research from the American Cancer Society finds Louisiana ranks fifth in the nation for the number of smoking-related cancer deaths. Michelle Southern reports…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Shreveport Times reports that workers at the Oscar award-winning animation studio, Moonbot Studios, have been laid off. Co-founder Brandon Oldenburgh has declined to comment, citing a non-disclosure agreement. There’s been speculation that Moonbot Studios was leaving Shreveport. The studio is known for its short films, commercials and mobile apps and they won an Academy Award.