LRN Newscast 09:30 March 28

All smiles in southwest Louisiana, as Sasol has started construction on an eight-point-one billion dollar ethane cracker complex near Westlake. It’s the kind of news that makes Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Nic Hunter very proud…
CUT 13 (11) Q: “coming up”
The project is expected to create an estimated five-thousand construction jobs and the facility should be completed in 2018.

The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for a Rayne man accused of stealing crawfish from a crawfish plant. Spokesperson Maxine Trahan says a dock worker called authorities after witnessing the theft…
CUT 5 (10) “he was driving”
Then, he took off at about 100 miles an hour, and he is still at large. If you have any information, contact the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham, who is a physician in Richland Parish, had to administer medical treatment for a young military veteran on a plane. Abraham says the vet said he was feeling weak and his skin was white as a sheet, so the Congressman rushed to his aid….
cut 15 (08) “….and eath”
Abraham says it’s the fourth time, since he launched his Congressional campaign that he provided medical attention to a person he met in public.

Louisiana residents will enjoy great weather across the state this weekend. Temperatures today will range from the mid-60s to the 70s. Plenty of sunshine, warmer tomorrow as temps will be in the mids 70s to around 80 degrees. The next good chance for rain is Tuesday.

Tough loss for the number one ranked LSU baseball team last night. As the Tigers lost five to four in 12 innings to the Kentucky Wildcats. LSU looks to rebound at 6:30 tonight.

LRN Newscast 08:30 March 28

Construction is underway on Sasol’s eight-billion dollar ethane cracker complex in Westlake. Michelle Southern has more….
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

State Police say a three-vehicle crash in St. Landry Parish killed one person and injured several others. The wreck occurred on US 190 near Interstate 49 when a vehicle attempted to cross both lanes of US 190 to gain access to the entrance ramp to I-49. A passenger in that vehicle, 55-year-old Harold Richard of Opelousas was killed. Investigators say alcohol contributed to the crash.

Elections are taking place in 28 parishes today. The polls will be open until eight P-M. Most of the ballots have tax measures on them. You can find sample ballots at the Secretary of State’s website or use the Geaux Vote Mobile smartphone app.

The number one ranked LSU baseball team lost last night as the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Tigers five to four in 12 innings. Closer Jesse Stallings suffered the loss as he gave up two runs in the 12th.

Track star Lolo Jones headlined a five member class that was inducted into the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction last night. Celtic Studios Executive Director Patrick Mulhearn was also an enshrinee. He’s originally from Mississippi, but graduated from LSU Grad School in 2000…
CUT 8 (10) Q: ‘done for me’
Former LSU Associate Athletic Director Herb Vincent was also an inductee last night.

LRN Sportscast 07:30 March 28

For the second week in a row, LSU has dropped the first game of its weekend series. The Fighting Tigers let a two-run lead evaporate in the seventh and went on to lose five to four in 12 innings against the Kentucky Wildcats. LSU’s two, three, and four hitters, Mark Laird, Alex Bregman and Conner Hale were a combined two for 15 at the plate.

In the Sun Belt, both U-L Lafayette and U-L-M were pounded. the Cajuns lost 10 to 4 to Arkansas State, while the Warhawks fell to South Alabama 12 to 4.

In the Southland…Southeastern Louisiana remains in first plaace after beating Nicholls State three to one. Tate Scioneaux went the distance for a complete game victory win. Northwestern State is a half game back of the Lions. The Demons defeated McNeese State six to four. Northwestern’s Cort Brinson hit a three-run home run.

Louisiana Tech plays a doubleheader today against Charlotte so does Southern and Grambling in Baton Rouge.

NFL coaches, scouts and executives were on LSU’s campus yesterday for Pro Day. Offesnive tackle La’el Collins should be the first Tiger drafted on April 30th. Collins says one team that’s interested in him is the New Orleans Saints….
cut 30 (14) “…is great you know”
Running back Terrence Magee’s 40-yard dash was 4.53, while Kenny Hilliard was 4.6, which was down from the 4.83 that he ran at the draft combine in Indianapolis last month.

Spring football games will take play today for U-L Lafayette, U-L-M and Nicholls State.

The Pelicans ended a four-game losing streak last night with a 102 to 88 win over Sacramento. Tyreke Evans had 25 points and 10 assists, while Anthony Davis had 24 points and nine rebounds. New Orleans moves within three games of Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the West.

LRN Newscast 17:30 March 27

Sasol has broken ground on its eight-billion dollar ethane cracker project near Westlake. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Nic Hunter says the construction of this project will have a major impact on the economy in southwest Louisiana…:
CUT 12 (07) “their dollars here”
Officials expect the facility to be in operation in 2018.

The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for a Rayne man accused of stealing crawfish from a dock. Spokeswoman Maxine Trahan says they are still looking for Cary Bastain who they believe stole 6 sacks…:
CUT 6 (11) “he’s being charged”
The charges are simple burglary, reckless operation, and aggravated flight from an officer.

Fifth District Congressman Doctor Ralph Abraham, who is a family doctor in Richland Parish, had to use his medical expertise to help a former marine, who nearly passed out during a flight….
CUT 14 (08) “sort to speak”
Abraham says he was able to quickly administer some first aid to the individual, who was recently discharged as a marine and flying back home to Texas.

Track star Lolo Jones and former LSU associate athletic director Herb Vincent are among the five people inducted into the school’s Hall of Distinction this weekend. Vincent worked with former LSU Coach Nick Saban and remembers the now Alabama coach fought to keep certain LSU traditions alive…
cut 9 (12) “….at the time”

LRN Sportscast 16:45 March 27

The number one ranked LSU baseball team begins a three-game series tonight against Kentucky. Senior Jared Foster is expected to be in the line-up. He’s hitting .348 with five home runs after hitting just .115 last year. Coach Paul Mainieri made Foster the starting second baseman at the start of SEC play and has no plans of moving the former outfielder somewhere else…
cut 18 (18) “…helped us”
Jared Poche will be on the mound for the Tigers tonight. Poche gave up five runs last week in a loss to Arkansas.

In the Southland Conference…Nicholls State hosts Southeastern Louisiana. The Lions lead the conference with a seven and two league record. Northwestern State and McNeese are right behind S-L-U and the Demons and the Cowboys will play three games in Natchitoches this weekend.

LSU held it’s pro day today as 20 former Tigers worked out in front of NFL coaches, scouts and executives. Among those that were in attendance include Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Tomlin reportedly had dinner with defensive end Danielle Hunter and Jalen Collins. Collins did not participate in any drills as he recovers from foot surgery. Offensive tackle La’el Collins says he plans on meeting with the Saints soon. Also, running back Terrence Magee ran the 40 in 4.56 and fellow running back Kenny Hilliard benched 225 pounds 16 times.

In college basketball last night…U-L Lafayette’s season came to an end with an 89-82 loss to Evansville in the semi-finals of the College-Insider-dot-com tournament. Shawn Long had 24 points and 11 rebounds in what could be his last game in a Cajuns uniform as he could turn pro.

The Pelicans host Sacramento tonight looking to end a four-game losing streak.

11:40 Sportscast March 27

The number one ranked Fighting Fighting Tigers baseball team opens a three-game series against Kentucky tonight. LSU is led offensively by Kade Scivicque and Andrew Stevenson, who are both hitting over .400 for the year. Right behind them is Mark Laird, who is hitting .392. Coach Paul Mainieri says he’s not surprised that his speedy right fielder is having a huge season…
cut 17 (13) “…your hits”
Kentucky is struggling in SEC play this year as they are just two and four in league play.

Southeastern Louisiana heads into the weekend in first place in the Southland Conference. The Lions are in Thibodaux this weekend for a three-game series against the Colonels, who are coming off a victory over U-L Lafayette. Also this weekend, McNeese State is at Northwestern State, both teams are right behind S-L-U in the conference standings.

Cajuns Forward Shawn Long had another double-double, but it wasn’t enough as U-L Lafayette lost to Evansville 89 to 82 in the semifinals of the College Insider-dot-com Postseason Tournament. Long had 24 points and 11 rebounds for his 52nd career double-double. But Aces guard DJ Balentine had 35 points.

The Pelicans will look to snap a four-game losing streak tonight when they host the Sacramento Kings. New Orleans is three and a half games back of Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Southern University athletic director William Broussard has been re-assigned and will reportedly return to the athletic department on August 1st. No word has been given on this curious move. Men’s basketball coach Roman Banks will also serve as the school’s athletic director for the time being.

Former LSU assistant basketball coach Donnie Tyndall has been hired as the head coach of Tennessee after just one season. It’s because the NCAA is investigating Tyndall for possible violations that occurred when he was the head coach at Southern Miss.

LRN Newscast 17:30 March 26

A grand jury returned a “no true bill” in the case of a Terrebonne Parish sheriff’s deputy shooting and killing a 14-year-old last September. The teenager had a BB gun, when the deputy came in contact with the child at an abandon house. Carlos Lazarus is the First Assistant DA in Terrebonne. He says they showed the jury pictures of the weapon the juvenile was holding and a real .45-caliber pistol and they are identical…:
CUT 11 (11) “what he should do”
The FBI is also investigating the case.

Funeral services conclude today in Alexanderia for David Strother. He is one of four Louisiana National Guard soliders who were killed in a helicopter crash near Pensacola, Florida, earlier this month. Louisiana National Guard Captain Kreg Stiles says the outpouring of support from cen-la residents has been impressive.

An 11-year-old boy has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long according to the Rapides Parish School Board policy. Eric Gill reports…
cut 1 (30) “…reporting”

Duck Commander will not sponsor this year’s Shreveport Independence Bowl. Mayor Oillie Tyler says they need to pass a hotel occupancy tax that would really help in landing a new sponsor which would be good for the entire region…:
CUT 4 (08) “areas benefit”

LRN Sportscast 16:45 March 26

LSU’s Jarell Martin is heading to the NBA after two years of college basketball. Martin has decided to enter the NBA Draft after averaging 17 points and nine rebounds a game this past season. Coach Johnny Jones says NBA scouts like Martin’s versatility and that will help him on the next level….
cut 17 (18) “….athleticism”

In college basketball tonight….U-L Lafayette will host Evansville in the CIT semifinals. Tip-off from Blackham Coliseum is at 7:30. Louisiana Tech’s season is over after losing in the NIT quartrfinals to Temple, while ULM is getting ready to play in the CBI title series. The Warhawks will face Loyola of Chicago in a best of three series starting Monday in the Windy City.

Saints Coach Sean Payton still believes there’s still a lot of good football left in the 36-year-old Drew Brees. The head coach also says his QB is fine with the trade that sent Jimmy Graham to Seattle. Payton says Brees understands they had to make changes on offense in order to improve the defense….
cut 19 (16) “….down 10”

The Pelicans are off tonight after losing their fourth straight last night in a 95 to 93 loss to the Rockets. With eleven games to go in the regular season, New Orleans is 3.5 games back of Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. New Orleans hosts Sacramento tomorrow night.

And the Independence Bowl is looking for a new title sponsor that’s because Duck Commander has ended its relationship with the bowl game.

PM LRN Newscall March 26

An 11-year-old boy has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long according to Rapides Parish School Board policy. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

==================

The Terrebonne DA says a grand jury has cleared a deputy who shot and killed a 14-year-old boy near Houma last September. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

===================

Shreveport’s Independence Bowl finds itself, once again, without a sponsor. Duck Commander, who was the title sponsor of last year’s game, will not return as the title sponsor this year. Mayor Ollie Tyler says she is determined to help the I-Bowl foundation find a new sponsor…

CUT 3 (06)  “us economically”

Last year’s game was played under a letter of intent between Duck Commander and the Independence Bowl and not a contract. This isn’t the first time the bowl has had sponsorship issues. The 2008 game was played without a sponsor. Tyler says this game is not only important for Shreveport, but the entire area…

CUT 4 (08)  “areas benefit”

Tyler says a hotel tax, which narrowly failed last year, would provide much needed, ongoing revenue for the Independence bowl. She says the measure could be back on the ballot this fall. Tyler feels the passage of this occupancy tax will be significant in landing a new title sponsor…

CUT 5 (11)  “develop this area”

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An 11-year-old boy has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long according to Rapides Parish School Board policy. Ashton Bodiford’s hair falls past the middle of his back. Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman, who is not involved in this case, says it’s time for courts to recognize that students should be able to have a greater range of appearances…

CUT 6 (06)  “with the student”

Esman says courts have ruled that schools are within their rights to have appearance policies like this. Bodiford was told he could not return to school until his hair was cut to meet the requirements. His parents say the rules are unfair and discriminatory and want a policy that is equal for both genders. Esman says the 5th grader should not be penalized just because someone doesn’t like the way he looks…

CUT 7 (10)  “the victim”

Policy requires male students to keep their hair no longer than chin length in the back and no longer than three inches on top. Bodiford’s parents hope to address the issue at next month’s school board meeting. Esman says, because of previous court rulings, the family has a hard road ahead…

CUT 8 (10)  “and unfair”

============================

The Terrebonne DA says a grand jury has cleared a deputy who shot and killed a 14-year-old boy near Houma last September. They returned a ruling of “no true bill” which means there wasn’t evidence presented that indicated Deputy Preston Norman committed a crime in the death of Cameron Tillman. Carlos Lazarus is the First Assistant DA in Terrebonne…:

CUT 9 (09)  “or another”

The FBI is also investigating this case. Family members of Tillman assert the juvenile did not have a weapon but the sheriff’s office say he was holding what looked exactly like a .45-caliber pistol. Lazarus says it was a pellet pistol…:

cut 10 (10) “you can not tell the difference”

The sheriff’s office says Norman and other deputies were responding to a call of children brandishing guns at an abandoned house where the incident took place. Lazarus says he showed the jury pictures of the weapon the juvenile was holding and a real .45-caliber pistol and said they are identical…:

cut 11 (11)  “what he should do”

============================

One of the four Louisiana National Guard soliders, who was killed in a helicopter crash on March 10th near Pensacola, Florida, is laid to rest today in Alexandria. Chief Warrant Officer 4, David Strother, leaves behind a wife and a son, a stepdaugther and mother. Louisiana National Guard Captain Kreg Stiles says Strother was a great American and human being…

cut 12 (09)  “him justice”

Strother served in the National Guard from 1988 to 2007 and then returned in 2009 and served until his death. He had over 24-hundred flight hours, including 700 combat hours. Stiles says Strother was born to serve our country and born to fly…

cut 13 (10)  “duplicate that”

Strother was a Black Hawk pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan. His remains returned to central Louisiana last week and Captain Stiles says Strother’s family and friends have been impressed with the outpouring of support from the residents of central Louisiana…

cut 14 (10)  “completely amazing”

LRN Sportscast 11:40 March 26

The Pelicans lost their fourth straight last night as the Houston Rockets soared past New Orleans 95-93. Tyreke Evans had 28 points, Anthony Davis had 24 poitns, but Eric Gordon failed to make a field goal in 42 minutes on the floor. New Orleans is three and a half games back of O-K-C for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and there’s just 11 games left.

Shreveport’s Independence Bowl finds itself, once again, without a sponsor. Duck Commander, who was the title sponsor of last year’s game, will not return as the title sponsor this year. Mayor Ollie Tyler says she is determined to help the I-Bowl foundation find a new sponsor…:
CUT 3 (06) “us economically”
Tyler says a hotel tax, which narrowly failed last year, would provide much needed, revenue for the Independence bowl. She hopes the item will appear on the ballot again this fall.

Tough ending to the season for Louisiana Tech as they were eliminated in the NIT as the Bulldogs lost to Temple 77-59.

But ULM has reached the CBI championship. Tylor Ongwae and Majok Deng each had 22 points as the Warhawks flew past Vermont 71-65. Louisiana-Monroe will now face Loyola of Chicago in a best of three title series, which will begin on Monday in the Windy City.

Tonight U-L Lafayette hosts Evansville in the semifinals of the CIT. Tip-off in the Blackham Coliseum is set for 7:30.

In college baseball yesterday…Northwestern State defeated Mississippi Valley four to one and Nicholls State knocked off U-L Lafayette three to one. The Cajuns committed four errors in the contest. It’s the first time in program history that Nicholls has won games over LSU and U-L Lafayette in the same season.

LSU begins a three-game series tomorrow night against Kentucky at the Box.