10:30 LRN Newscast April 14

There’s a lot of uncertainity surrounding TOPS based on the governor’s proposed budget that calls for a 62-percent cut in state funding for the scholarship program. Under current rules, if no more money is allocated to TOPS then only students with an ACT of 27 or higher would be eligible. Higher Ed Commissioner Joseph Rallo hopes this will not deter college students from going to school….
cut 9 (08) “….state’s future”
House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry believes the state can allocate more money for TOPS without raising revenues.

Debate takes place this morning in a House committee that will make it more difficult for a local government to remove a confederate monument. Former state senator Elbert Guillory, who is an african american, supports the legislation…
cut 6 (06) “…aside”

The Louisiana House approves a measure that would double the fine for not wearing a seatbelt. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger’s measure increases the fine from 25-to 50 dollars and believes this increase could help with compliance…
cut 3 (07) “,….on this”
The measure passed on a 62-34 vote and now moves to the Senate.

Louisiana has broken a record for a fourth consecutive year for the number of tourists that visited the state. In 2015, Louisiana welcomed almost 29-million visitors, who spent over 11-billion dollars. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the state needs to do whatever it can to keep those numbers going up…
cut 16 (10) “….forward”
Nungesser credits the people at the department of tourism, who do a great job bringing people to the state.

16:45 LRN Sportscast April 13

The attorney for the family of Will Smith said the former Saints star was shot 8 times and the lawyer for the accused shooter is spreading lies about what happened. Michelle Southern reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Funeral arrangements have been set for former football star and Saints analyst Hokie Gajan. Visitation will start Friday at 10 AM at St. Anselm Catholic Church in Madisonville. Eulogies will begin at 2:30 and the funeral mass will be at 3 PM.

The rain has moved out of Baton Rouge and they will play baseball at Alex Box Stadium tonight. The Fighting Tigers will host Grambling at 6:30. LSU was held to just two hits last night in a seven to nothing loss to McNeese.

The Cowboys are in action again tonight as they’ll host Louisiana Tech. It’s the end of an eight game road trip for the Bulldogs.

The Pelicans season ends tonight as they face Minnesota in the regular season finale. Coach Alvin Gentry will hold an end of season media availability tomorrow. Jake Madison, with Bourbon Street Shots, expects Gentry to be back next year despite this disappointing season. Madison also doesn’t see the team signing a big name free-agent, instead they’ll look to improve their roster in the draft…
cut 28 (14) “…the team”
Tip-off for tonight’s game is at 7 PM.

14:30 LRN Newscast April 13

The lawyer for former Saints defensive end Will Smith says the ex football player was not holding a gun, when he was fatally shot after his vehicle was hit from behind. Peter Thomson held a 25 minute press conference today talking about what happened Saturday night…
cut 14 (09) “….a firearm”
The man accused of killing Smith says he was not the aggressor in this situation.

A House committee shot down a proposal that would allow gun owners to carry concealed firearms without a permit. A volunteer with the Louisana Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, spoke out against the legislation…
cut 10 (10) “…daily basis”
The House Criminal Justice Committee unanimously rejected the proposal.

Governor John Bel Edwards signs an executive order that protects state employees and employees of state contractors from discrimation based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Matthew Patterson with Equality Louisiana says this is the first order signed by a Louisiana governor that protects transgender individuals…
cut 16 (09) “….included here”

The Senate has approved a bill to increase the fine for texting or using social media while driving from $175 to $500 for the first offense. The fine goes up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses. Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Colomb says there will not be a fine for voice texting….
cut 3 (06) “…the wheel” (2x)
The bill heads to the House for more discussion.

LRN PM Newscall April 13

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approved a measure to allow for the sale of raw, unpasteurized milk. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

The attorney for the family of Will Smith said the former Saints star was shot 8 times and the lawyer for the accused shooter is spreading lies about what happened. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

The Senate has approved a bill to increase the fine for texting or using social media while driving from $175 to $500 for the first offense. The fine goes up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses. Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Colomb says there will not be a fine for voice texting.

CUT 3 (06)  “the wheel”  (2x)

West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth says he’s concerned about minors because sometimes a fine is not enough to get their attention. He added an amendment to the bill to increase the penalties for minors.

CUT 4 (06)  “60 days”

The bill now heads to the House for more debate.

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

A bill to allow for the sale of raw, unpasteurized milk gets the approval of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on a three to two vote. Sierra Majors of Melville says people should have the right to choose if they want to drink raw milk. She says many of our parents enjoyed raw milk their whole lives.

CUT 5 (06)  “first place”

Majors says consuming raw milk is not dangerous. She says every year about four people die in Louisiana from eating raw oysters, but that has never happened with raw milk.

CUT 6 (06) “the market”

But Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says according to the Center for Disease Control, from 1993 to 2006, there were 202 people hospitalized and two deaths due to raw milk consumption. He says drinking raw milk is not safe.

CUT 7 (09) “pasteurized milk”

Strain says the bacteria in milk can cause a wide range of diseases. He says those bacteria need to be killed before the milk is consumed.

CUT 8 (10) “salmonella”

The bill now heads to the Senate floor.

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

A proposed constitutional amendment to allow non-felons to carry concealed hand guns without a permit was shot down by the House Criminal Justice committee. Victoria Joy with Louisiana Violence Reduction Coalition says this bill could allow dangerous people to carry loaded, hidden weapons in public with no safety training. She says it would also let people with a dangerous arrest record or violent misdemeanors conceal a gun.

CUT 9 (10) “do so”

A volunteer with the Louisiana Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America says when she was only 13 years old she was a victim of gun violence, when she was kidnapped, raped, and then shot in the head. She says this bill will remove our safeguards and put the safety of all citizens at risk.

cut 10 (10)  “daily basis”

Author of the legislation, Baton Rouge Rep. Barry Ivey, tried to make the case that the bill would not put guns in the hands of dangerous criminals. He says most of these same arguments were made before Louisiana passed the open carry law.

Cut 11 (09) “that’s nationally”

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

The attorney for the family of Will Smith said the former Saints player was shot 8 times in the back, Smith’s wife Racquel was hit twice and that the shooting was intentional. Peter Thomson says he wants to clear up lies being spread by the defense lawyer of Cardell Hayes. Thomson says there was no hit and ru n on Magazine Street as Hayes is claiming…:

cut 12 (07) “to that car”

Thomson says the Hummer later violently rammed the back of Smith’s car, and that’s when he and the suspect got into an altercation. Thomson says Racquel and another woman went to diffuse the situation and walk Smith back to their vehicle…and that’s when the suspect shot Smith’s wife in both legs…:

Cut 13 (11)  “8 times”

Thomson says after the killer shot Smith, he showed no remorse and actually stood over Smith’s dead body and kept yelling. Thomson also says there was no fender bender before the altercation, but that the Hummer slammed hard intentionally into the back of Smith’s vehicle. As to the subject of the gun that was in Smith’s vehicle, Thomson says it was never removed from the car…:

cut 14 (09)  “a firearm”

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

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed an executive order that bans discrimination against members of the LGBT community who work for the state, or who receive state services or benefits. Matthew Patterson with Equality Louisiana says it’s a great day, and a historic day, for Louisiana.

cut 15 (06) “this minute” 

Similar orders were signed by former Democratic governors Edwin Edwards and Kathleen Blanco, but those orders were specific to sexual orientation. Patterson says this new order also includes gender-identity, making this the first order protecting transgender individuals in the state.

cut 16 (09) “included here”

11:40 LRN Sportscast April 13

After getting shutout seven to nothing last night by McNeese, the LSU baseball team will try again tonight against Grambling. The Tigers were held to two hits as McNeese pitcher Austin Sanders held LSU to just one hit in six innings to improve his record to 3-2. Cowboys first baseman Connor Crane hit his sixth home run of the season and drove in two runs.

UL Lafayette crushed Tulane nine to two. Joe Robbins and Brian Mills combined to drive in seven runs as the Cajuns improved to 22-11 on the season. UL Lafayette’s game at UNO tonight has been postponed because of rain and it has been rescheduled for May 17th.

Also last night, South Alabama edged Southeastern Louisiana two to one, Arkansas defeated ULM 3-1.

It’s being reported that ESPN’s College Gameday will be at LSU’s season opener in Green Bay at Lambeau Field against the Wisconsin Badgers.

The Pelicans close out the regular season tonight in Minnesota. It’s been reported former McNeese star and Detroit Pistons player and executive Joe Dumars could be hired to replace Pelicans GM Dell Demps and current Milwaukee Bucks general Manager John Hammond will also be added to the Pelicans front office staff. But Jake Madison, with Bourbon Street Shots, doesn’t see that happening…
cut 17 (11) “…this year”
New Orleans is 30-51 on the year.

Louisiana Tech’s Vernon Butler has been invited to attend the NFL draft. He’s the only college player from Louisiana who will be in Chicago to hear his name called. The defensive lineman is expected to be a late first round or second round pick.

Former Zurich champions Vijah Singh and KJ Choi have committed to play in the tournament this year which will take place April 28th to May 1st.

10:30 LRN Newscast April 13

A bill that would require businesses to pay men and women the same for similar work passed in the Senate with a 28-10 vote. Businesses groups oppose the bill, saying it could result in unnecessary litigation. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says he worked with business lobbyists to address those concerns…:
Cut 15 (06) “lawsuits”
The measure heads to the House, where it faces an uncertain fate.

The annual debate is underway in a Senate committee over whether raw milk should be sold in Louisiana. This bill has not been able to pass in previous years, because of safety issues. But Audry Salvador of Sulphur says the safety concerns have been exaggerated by the opposition…
cut 6 (10) “….the lies”
Supporters also say Louisiana is one of just eight states that make it illegal.

Legislation is heading to the Senate floor that give motorcyclists 21 and over the option of wearing a helmet. Currently, all motorcycle riders must wear a helmet. Randy Postlewait with a motorcycle group says motorcyclists should make the decision regarding helmets, not the government…
cut 8 (11) “…protected citizens”
Governor John Bel Edwards says he does not support this legislation.

The Senate has approved a bill to increase the fine for texting or using social media while driving from $175 to $500 for the first offense. The fine goes up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses. Baton Rouge Senator Yvonne Colomb says there will not be a fine for voice texting….
cut 3 (06) “…the wheel” (2x)
The bill also calls for the suspension of a minor’s driver license if they are convicted two or more times for this offense.

18:30 LRN Newscast April 12th

A fully-loaded nine-millimeter handgun was in the vehicle Will Smith was driving the night he was fatally shot in New Orleans. That’s according to the NOPD, who also found a fully loaded revolver inside the Hummer belonging to Cardale Hayes, who has been charged with second-degree murder.

Legislation to protect clergy from sanctions if they refuse to perform a same-sex marriage passes out of a House committee…
voicer 2 (31) “…..I’m Halen Doughty”

Governor John Bel Edwards presented his proposed budget for the next fiscal year and it contains big reductions in state funding for the TOPS scholarship program and hospitals that provide care to the poor. Edwards says only having a third of the money needed to pay for TOPS is another reason why they need a second special session…:
CUT 4 (07) “fund it”
The governor says a second special session could begin as early as June 7th.

A senate committee has advanced to the Senate floor a bill that raises the adult prosecution age from 17 to 18-years-old. A 15-year-old high school student spoke in favor of the bill. She says her brother was arrested at 17 and spent a week in jail without any school…
cut 8 (10) “….my brother”
Louisiana is just one of nine states that has 17-year-olds in their adult criminal justice system.

16:45 LRN Sportscast April 12

Tributes are flowing today for former LSU and Saints running back and radio analyst Hokie Gajan. The football star died last night at the age of 56 from cancer. He was born in Baton Rouge, played at Baker High and starred at LSU. He blocked for former LSU running back Charles Alexander, when he was a Heisman finalist. Alexander says Gajan always put the team first and never worried about being in the headlines…
cut 11 (11) “…good guy”
After his career at LSU, Gajan appeared in 45 games for the Saints and still ranks second in franchise history for yards-per-carry. After his playing career, he served as a scout for the Saints and in 2000 he was named the color analyst for the team on WWL radio.

Ex-Saints running back Pierre Thomas used social media to share some of his thoughts about his former teammate, Will Smith, who was killed in a shooting late Saturday night. Thomas had dinner with Smith just before he died. Thomas says the images at the murder scene will never leave him and asks when is the senseless killing going to stop.

A preliminary hearing for the man accused of killing Smith, Cardell Hayes, will take place April 28th. Surveillence video has surfaced that shows there could have been a hit-and-run accident involving Smith and Hayes’ vehicles before the shooting.

Those wishing to pay their final respects to Smith can do so this Friday at the Saints indoor practice facility in Metairie. The team is hosting a public visitation from two to seven PM.

In other Saints news, the team has reportedly exercised the fifth-year contract option for safety Kenny Vaccaro. The move likely keeps Vaccaro in Black and Gold through the 2017 season.

15:30 LRN Newscast April 12

Legislation to protect clergy from sanctions if they refuse to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony passes out of a House committee….
voicer 2 (31) “…..I’m Halen Doughty”

The governor’s proposed budget for next fiscal year calls for cuts to the TOPS scholarship program, public-private hospitals for the poor, colleges and public schools. Edwards says the spending plan looks like this way because of a 750-million dollar shortfall…
cut 3 (07) “…revenue needs”

A senate committee has advanced to the Senate floor a bill that raises the adult prosecution age from 17 to 18-years-old. A 15-year-old high school student spoke in favor of the bill. She says her brother was arrested at 17 and spent a week in jail without any school…
cut 8 (10) “….my brother”
Louisiana is just one of nine states that has 17-year-olds in their criminal justice system.

Sad day for LSU and Saints fans. That’s because the former running back and analyst on Saints radio broadcasts Hokie Gajan passed away at the age of 56 after a battle with cancer. Gajan blocked for former LSU running back Charles Alexander, who says Gajan loved being on the football field…
cut 10 (10) “….football”
Saints play-by-play man Jim Henderson called Gajan a man’s man.

14:30 LRN Newscast April 12

Governor John Bel Edwards proposed budget for next fiscal year calls for cuts to education funding, including the TOPS program, as a result of a 750-million dollar revenue shortfall. Michelle Southern has the story…
voicer 1 (30) “…reporting”

Many are taking time today to remember the life of former LSU and Saints running back Hokie Gajan. The Saints color commentator since 2000 passed away last night at the age of 56 after a battle with a rare form of cancer.

A proposal that raises the age a person in Louisiana should be prosecuted received approval from a Senate committee. The proposed law sends 17-year-old non-violent offenders into the juvenile justice system, instead of the adult. An 18-year-old student told the panel about his 17-year-old friend who lost his pride in the adult system…
cut 7 (09) “….is today”
The measure heads to the full Senate.

Heading to the full House is a bill that provides protections for clergy who refuse to marry gay couples. Lester Perryman, with the Human Rights Campaign, questions why Louisiana needs this legislation…
cut 12 (07) “…to do so”
But the bill passed out of committee on a seven to three and Governor Edwards says he’s okay with the bill.