10:30 LRN Newscast October 17th

Governor John Bel Edwards and AG Jeff Landry are in court today after the governor sued Landry for blocking protections for members of the LGBT community. Emelie Gunn has more…
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Current Chairman of the Public Service Commission and former Congressman Clyde Holloway has passed away at the age of 72. A cause of death was not given. Holloway was elected to the PSC in 2009 and the longtime conservative was elected to the U.S. Representatives in 1987 and served until 1993.

Louisiana ranks second in the country for accidental shootings involving minors. The state’s rate is more than three times the national average. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says it’s important to note that prosecutors can’t charge parents for criminal negligence for allowing their kids to get a hold of a gun…
cut 12 (07) “…had it”

The Public Affairs Research Council says there’s three constitutional amendments on the November 8 ballot that will have an impact on state policy. Amendment Five creates the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund and it would place mineral and corporate tax revenues into a pot of money to be used when tax revenues are down. PAR President Robert Travis Scott…
cut 15 (12) “for it”
For more information on the constitutional amendments, go to PAR’s website.

LRN AM Newscall October 17th

Governor John Bel Edwards and AG Jeff Landry are in court today after the governor sued Landry for blocking protections for members of the LGBT community. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Just weeks after flood victims rolled out of what was a shelter at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge, camera crews could be rolling in. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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New data from the Associated Press and USA Today shows Louisiana has the second highest rate of accidental shootings involving minors. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Governor John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry are in court today after the governor sued the AG for blocking state legal contracts that had wording to protect members of the LGBT community from workplace discrimination. Jeremy Alford of Lapoltics.com says it’s very unusual to see statewide elected officials sue another…

cut 4  (10) “laws””

Alford says the Governor is making moves by executive order and expects we’ll continue to see these trends throughout the remainder of his term. He says this could be a tough case for the judge to decide.

Cut 5  (09)  “coming term”

Alford says this feud between Governor Edwards and AG Landry has really been going on since the day the two were sworn into office and expects it will continue…

Cut 6 (10) “2019”

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Lights, camera, action! Those words haven’t been spoken at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge in over a year, but that could change soon, as Louisiana’s film industry is starting to show signs of life. Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn says calls are starting to come in from companies who want to film in Louisiana. He says it’s encouraging to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

CUT 7 (09)  “very soon”

Louisiana’s film industry has seen a downturn because of a 2015 law that placed a capped on the state’s film tax credit program. But Mulhearn believes film companies now have a better understanding of the credits available. He hopes next year, lawmakers will switch the program from a back end cap to a front end cap.

Cut 8 (10) “business here”

Mulhearn says he met with two different productions on the same day, and he hasn’t done that in over a year. He says it looks like things are looking up for Louisiana’s film industry.

Cut 9 (08)  “than later”

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Louisiana ranks second in the nation for accidental shootings involving minors, nearly three times more than the national average. That’s according to new data from the Associated Press and USA today. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says what we don’t know is how kids are getting their hands on these weapons.

Cut 10 (09) “like that”

Alaska was the only state to top Louisiana on the list. The report found Baton Rouge had more accidental shootings than any other city in the Deep South. Moore says often times parents know or suspect that their child has a gun, but they don’t do anything about it.

cut 11 (10) “frustrating part”

The district attorney says there is no state law on the books to make parents responsible for accidental shootings involving children. Moore says that’s why prosecutors can’t charge parents for criminal negligence in allowing these kids to get ahold of a gun.

cut 12 (07) “had it”

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Voters will have a lot to consider on November 8th. In addition to the federal elections and local races, six constitutional amendments are on the ballot. The Public Affairs Research Council published a guide that explains the proposals to voters. PAR president Robert Travis Scott says three of the amendments will have a big impact on state policy, and one will affect college tuition.

Cut 13 (11) “vote”

Scott says amendment number three would change the state’s corporate tax income structure. He says Louisiana has an upper rate of 8-percent for corporate income taxes, which is relatively high compared to other states in the region. But he says companies are able to take a lot of deductions and exemptions.

cut 14 (11) “for corporations”

Scott says amendment five would create a new state fund, similar to the rainy day fund. He says the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund would trim tax revenue off the top of mineral and corporate taxes during times when they are good, and put that money back to save for when the cycle goes back down.

Cut 15 (12) “for it”

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LSU and Southern Miss were tied at ten at halftime on Saturday night in Death Valley, but the Tigers erupted for four 3rd quarter touchdowns and defeated the Golden Eagles 45-10.  Running back Derrius Guice’s 61 yard touchdown early in the third quarter started a very good second half for the Tigers…

Cut 16  (13)  “second half”

Guice finished with 162 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Danny Etling threw for 3 touchdowns and 276 yards. Etling talked about what Coach Orgeron said at halftime…

Cut 17 (10) “pretty nice”

Etling threw two long touchdown passes in the game, one to DJ Chark and the other to Malachi Dupre. Orgeron liked that LSU was able to hit on a few deep balls…

Cut 18 (11) “stiffer opponents”

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The Saints have a winning streak. New Orleans raced out to a 21-0 lead over the defending NFC championship Carolina Panthers and had to hold for a 41-38 victory. The Saints led by two touchdowns at halftime and Carolina tied it with three touchdowns in the 4th quarter. But rookie Will Lutz kicked a 52-yard field goal with 11 seconds left for the win. Coach Sean Payton on their second consecutive victory

Cut 19 (11)   “do that”

Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 465 yards and four touchdowns, he was also intercepted once. Brandin Cooks had 7 catches for 173 yards and one touchdown. But the 52-yard field goal by Lutz was the difference. Payton is very high on the 22-year-old.

cut 20 (18) ” mental toughness”

16:30 LRN Newscast October 14th

At the second meeting of the Restore Louisiana Task Force, Congressman Garret Graves urges members to move quickly as more federal aid is coming. Don Molino has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

The Louisiana Department of Health has been able to confirm 30 cases of the West Nile Virus that’s four more cases than what the state agency reported towards the end of September. Seventeen cases are the more serious form of the disease that can impact your brain and nervous system. Last year, there were 56 cases of West Nile.

Officials announce plans to dispose volatile explosives at Camp Minden in Webster Parish that led to a bunker exploding in September. Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Chuck Brown says there are three bunkers that contain Clean Burning Ignitor, which is becoming more unstable. He says on Monday they will open the doors of one of the bunkers and let the fire out.
cut 3 (12) “…taking off”
Brown says if it goes well Monday, they’ll burn the other two bunkers later this month.

A 14-year-old and 12-year-old have been arrested for damaging grave sites at a cemetery in Independence. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s office says the juveniles also dumped seven urns contiaining human ashes. Vincent Spitale, president of the Colonial Cemetery Association, says family members of those whose graves were damaged came to see the destruction…
cut 14 (07) “….this time”
The juvenile offenders are facing multiple charges.

16:45 LRN Sportscast October 14th

Saturday night’s game against Southern Miss will be the last non-conference game of the year for the Tigers. That’s because LSU is no longer playing South Alabama on November 19th. Florida has replaced the Jaguars on the schedule and Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Athletic director Joe Alleva should get credit for getting the Florida game played in Tiger Stadium…
cut 18 (11) “…for him”
LSU will travel to Florida in 2017 and 2018.

LSU will be without one of their starting safeties in Saturday night’s game against Southern Miss. Head Coach Ed Orgeron says senior Rickey Jefferson suffered a serious leg injury in practice this week….
Cut 15 (14) “I know that”
Junior John Battle will take Jefferson’s spot in the starting line-up.

Three Saints players have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against Carolina, offensive tackle Terron Armstead, cornerback Delvin Breaux and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe. Defensive end Paul Kruger, tight end Josh Hill, guard Senio Kelemete and linebacker James Laurinaits are questionable.

Carolina Quarterback Cam Newton is also listed questionable in the injury report. But Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera says he expects Newton to play “barring a setback” after he missed last Monday night’s loss to Tampa Bay, because of a concussion. Rivera also believes running back Jonathan Stewart will play after missing the last three games with a hamstring injury.

It’s homecoming on the ULM campus this weekend and the Warhawks will host Texas State on Saturday night at Malone Stadium. ULM goes into the game ranked last in the country in rush defense, allowing nearly 300 yards a game on the ground.

Louisiana Tech has had trouble stopping other teams’ passing attacks. The Bulldogs are at UMASS on Saturday. Massachusetts is averaging just over 300 yards of total offense a game.

14:30 LRN Newscast October 14th

After receiving 438-million dollars in federal flood recovery dollars from Congress, US Representative Garret Graves of Baton Rouge told a flood recovery task force that they’ll seek more aid in December. Graves says the Comite River Diversion Project and other flood mitigation plans will be at the top of their funding request…
cut 10 (10) “…and businesses”
The governor’s chief disaster recovery adviser says the first round of money will likely go to low to moderate income homeowners who don’t have the resources to rebuild.

Senate candidate Troy Hebert has lost his legal challenge as he tried to get a state district judge to order Louisiana Public Broadcasting and the Council for a Better Louisiana to include more than five candidates in next week’s US Senate debate. Also, former US Senator Mary Landrieu has endorsed Democrat Caroline Fayard in the Senate race.

Following an explosion at Camp Minden in September, a plan has put into place to dispose over 200-thousand pounds of explosives that contain an unstable chemical compound…
voicer 1 (30) “…I”m Jeff Palermo

A 20-year-old Baton Rouge man has been charged with negligent homicide in the shooting death of his mother. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says the 37-year-old mother and her son were involved in a physical argument…
Cut 6 (10) “striking her”
McKneely says the shooter, Dexter Clay Junior, has been cooperative with detectives.

LRN PM Newscall October 14th

Following an explosion at Camp Minden in September, a plan has put into place to dispose over 200-thousand pounds of explosives that contain an unstable chemical compound. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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At the second meeting of the Restore Louisiana Task Force, Congressman Garret Graves urges members to move quickly as more federal aid is coming. Don Molino has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

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Officials announce plans to dispose of volatile explosives at Camp Minden in Webster Parish that led to a bunker exploding in September. Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Chuck Brown says there are three bunkers that contain Clean Burning Ignitor, which is deteriorating and becoming more unstable by the day. He says on Monday they will open the doors of one of the bunkers and let the fire out.

Cut 3 (12) “taking off”

The chemical compounds are being stored at Camp Minden after they had been improperly stored by an explosives company that went out of business. The Louisiana National Guard has been burning off M6 propellant in contained burning chambers. Brown says nearly 200-thousand pounds of the CBI will be destroyed, as well as 40-thousand pounds of M6 propellant.

cut 4  (09) “ignitor”

Officials have set three separate dates to burn each of the bunkers, Monday, October 22, and October 29. It will take place early in the morning to take advantage of calm wind. Brown says DEQ and the EPA will be on hand to monitor the air quality. He says they do not anticipate a chain reaction of explosions with their plan.

Cut 5  (10)  “plan in place”

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A 20-year-old Baton Rouge man has been charged with negligent homicide in the shooting death of his mother. BRPD Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says the 37-year-old mother and her son got into a verbal argument, which turned physical…

Cut 6 (10) “striking her”

McKneely says when authorities arrived at the scene, Dexter Clay Jr. was applying pressure to the wound on his mother, Melissa Clay. He says Dexter Clay fully cooperated with police…

CUT 7 (07)  “negligent homicide”

McKneely says the mother was transported to a local hospital where she later died. He says the shooting was clearly an accident…

Cut 8 (10) “through it”

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Flood recovery discussions are ongoing, as the Restore Louisiana Task Force is deciding how to spend the $438 million the state has received so far from the federal government. Republican Baton Rouge Congressman Garrett Graves says they will seek more federal assistance, but it’s important for the state to decide quickly how they’ll allocate the first installment of federal funds.

Cut 9 (10)  “be spent”

Graves says Louisiana’s congressional delegation will seek additional funding from Congress when they return for their lame duck session after the November election. He says the Comite River Diversion project and other flood mitigation plans will be at the top of the list for their funding request.

Cut 10 (07) “and businesses”

Graves says the task force needs to come up with specific areas that need disaster funding, like home repair and mental health. He says it will be easier to get federal dollars approved if Congress understands exactly where the money will go.

cut 11 (10) “next request”

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A 12-year-old and a 14-year-old have been arrested for vandalizing over 50 graves and smashing urns in an Independence Cemetery. Vincent Spitale, president of Colonial Cemetery Association, says this is very upsetting for the families as they have to go through the grieving process again. He says so many things were destroyed.

cut 12 (10) “cement floor”

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office has charged the teens with multiple counts of criminal damage to property, desecration of a grave and simple burglary. Spitale says all the name plates were broken and the doors will have to be replaced. He says he wishes he could understand why the teens did a heinous act like this…

Cut 13 (03) “from it”

Spitale says they aren’t sure how much it will cost to repair the cemetery. He says family members of those whose graves were damaged or destroyed came out to see the destruction.

cut 14 (07) “this time”

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LSU will be without one of their starting safeties in Saturday night’s game against Southern Miss. Head Coach Ed Orgeron says senior Rickey Jefferson suffered a serious leg injury in practice this week….

Cut 15 (14) “I know that”

Junior John Battle will take Jefferson’s spot in the starting line-up.. Coach O’ says the whole team is ready to play after an unexpected week off and the death of the school’s live mascot…

Cut 16  (12)  “on Saturday night”

13:30 LRN Newscast October 14th

At a meeting of the Restore Louisiana Task Force, Congressman Garret Graves urges members to move quickly as more federal aid is coming. Don Molino has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Don Molino”

Baton Rouge Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old mother by her own son. Sergeant L’Jean McKneely says the two were having a physical argument and the 20-year-old son, Dexter Clay Junior, was holding a gun…
cut 8 (10) “…through it”
Clay has been charged with negligent homicide.

Louisiana Environmental Quality Secretary Chuck Brown says three bunkers at Camp Minden in Webster Parish contain chemical compounds that are becoming volatile. Brown says on Monday, a robot will open the doors of one of the bunkers to let the fire out…
cut 5 (10) “….plan in place”
Brown says if all goes well early Monday morning, then they’ll do the other two bunkers later in October.

In Tangipahoa Parish, a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old have been arrested for vandalizing over 50 graves and smashing urns in an Independence Cemetery. Vincent Spitale, president of Colonial Cemetery Association, says so many things were destroyed….
cut 12 (10) “…cement floor”
The teens are facing several charges.

11:40 LRN Sportscast October 14th

LSU will not play South Alabama on November 19th, they’ll instead make up the missed game against SEC foe Florida and inside Tiger Stadium. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says this could be good for Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron who is looking to get the job on a permanent basis…:
CUT 17 (08) “might be yours”
Those five games are Ole Miss, Alabama, at Arkansas, Florida and at Texas A&M. Tomorrow night, the Tigers will host Southern Miss. LSU will have a new starter at safety as Rickey Jefferson broke a bone in his leg and he’ll miss significant time. John Battle will likely replace Jefferson in the defensive backfield.

Tonight, Tulane hosts Memphis. Tomorrow, Louisiana Tech is at UMASS. Southeastern travels to Stehen F Austin. ULM hosts Texas State for homecoming, McNeese hosts Central Arkansas, Northwestern is at Lamar, Southern is at Jackson State and Nicholls vists Houston Baptist.

Two teams desperate for a win meet Sunday in the Superdome as the 1-and-3 Saints host the one-and-four Panthers. Carolina is one of the big disappoinments in the NFL this season. New Orleans defensive end Cam Jordan says defenses have been able to put more pressure on Carolina quarterback Cam Newton…
cut 20 (10) “…of time”
Newton didn’t play last week, because of a concussion, but he has been cleared to take the field against the Saints.

High school football action….St. James and Lutcher meet in a rematch of last year’s Class 3A state championship game. The contest on CST tonight is St. Thomas More versus Carencro.

10:30 LRN Newscast October 14th

We’re halfway through October, but you wouldn’t know it by the weather. State climatologist Barry Keim it’s abnormally warm and dry this month. He says a lack of clouds and rain is keeping temperatures higher than usual for this time of year.
Cut 8 (07) “future”
He says so far this month Louisiana has only seen one one-hundredth of an inch of rain.

LSU Health New Orleans will be one of 11 sites in the country that will use immunotherapy to treat Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare form of cancer. Director of the LSU Health New Orleans Cancer Doctor Augusto Ochoa says this is huge news, because other forms of treatment were unsuccessful…
cut 5 (11) “…got treated”
The Al Copeland Foundation donated 100-thousand dollars to support this clinical trial.

LSU will play Florida this season and the game will be held in Death Valley on November 19th, instead of the Swamp. LSU’s previously scheduled game for that day against South Alabama has been cancelled. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says swapping out the Jaguars for the Gators, creates a difficult finish to the season….:
Cut 16 (08) “and Texas A&M”
As part of the deal, LSU agreed to play Florida in Gainesville the next two years.

An East Baton Rouge Parish flood victim, who is retired, will be able to pay off his damaged thanks to the Powerball. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says 72-year-old James Lapeze won a one-million-dollar prize by playing Powerball…
cut 15 (10) “…start playing”
After taxes are taken out, Lapeze will take home 700-thousand dollars.

10:30 LRN Newscast October 13th

The deadline for August flood victims to register for federal assistance through FEMA has been pushed back until to November 14th. FEMA spokesperson Kurt Pickering says it’s a sign the federal government remains committed to the recovery in Louisiana, despite the recent destruction from Hurricane Matthew…
cut 6 (08) “….set up”
And the US Housing and Urban Development has made it official. Louisiana will receive 438-million dollars in flood recovery dollars as part of a 500-million dollar disaster aid package approved by Congress last month.

A Baton Rouge judge hears arguments for a second day today regarding a lawsuit concerning next week’s US Senate debate in Ruston. Candidate Troy Hebert believes a government funded organiziation like Louisiana Public Broadcasting should not exclude candidates from the debate. LPB invited five candidates and there’s 24 names on the ballot.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s office says the three inmates who escaped their detention center in August are finally back in police custody. Captain Tony Moran on how they fled…
cut 8 (09) “…and escaped”
The last inmate to be caught was 35-year-old Walshea Mitchell and he was found in Oklahoma. The other two jail birds were located in Colorado and Oregon.

Tulane University researchers are pulling together a number of their researchers and staff in an effort to learn more about the brain. Doctor Laura Levy says they received a 3.7 million dollar donation to jump start the effort and they are also expected to receive federal grants…
cut 15 (09) “….national objective”
She says scientists don’t know much about the brain, and they hope this university-wide collaboration will help them learn more.