10:30 LRN Newscast August 29

Ten years ago today, the most destructive storm in US history made landfall in southeast Louisiana. Within hours, much of New Orleans was under several feet of water as man made levees gave way. This morning, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and other elected officials and dignatiries laid wreaths at a Hurricane Katrina memorial site.

Our Michelle Southern spoke with former governor Kathleen Blanco about her memories of Katrina…
voicer 4 (33) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Erika has dissipated near Cuba. Its remants are expected to move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Sunday and no more advisories will be issued unless it regenerates.

LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron says he’s been successfully treated for prostate cancer. Cameron says he had a procedure and received news a couple of weeks ago that he was cancer free. The 54-year-old says he’s ready to roll for the regular season….
cut 30 (16) “…by Monday”
LSU’s first game is a week from today against McNeese State.

The Saints will host the Houston Texans for preseason game number three tomorrow. The Texans feature one of the best players in the game, defensive end JJ Watt. Saints quarterback Drew Brees is not expected to play beyond the first half.

09:30 LRN Newscast August 29

Ten years ago today Hurricane Katrina was causing devastation that led to the flooding of thousands of homes and businesses and killing over one-thousand people. But Kathleen Blanco, who was governor at the time, is proud of how the state has rebounded….
cut 27 (10) “…come alive again”
Many people in the New Orleans area are using the 10-year anniversary as a day of service, getting out doing something to improve their community.

It doesn’t look like we have to worry about Erika. The National Hurricane Center says its no longer a tropical storm as it has dissipated in the Caribbean. The remnant low-level circulation from Erika is expected to move towards the Florida Keys over the next day and a half.

Oil prices are showing signs of life. After a nine-percent increase on Wall Street on Thursday, the price of crude rose another six-percent to $45.22 a barrel.

Monroe-based Centurylink has plans to bring high-speed internet to 24-thousand rural households and businesses in Louisiana. Eric Gill has the story…
cut 2 (29) “…I’m Eric Gill”

LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron says he’s ready for the season after he was treated successfully for prostate cancer. Cameron says the worst is behind him….
cut 20 (09) “…clean bill of health’
The Tigers open the season next Saturday at McNeese State.

08:30 LRN Newscast August 29

Most Louisianans are reflecting about what they were doing 10 years ago today as Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Buras at 6:10 in the morning and then again in St. Tammany Parish. Here’s how it sounded on the Louisiana Radio Network, former LRN anchor Don Grady…

cut 20 (18) “…St. Bernard”
By nine o’ clock in the morning on August 29th, 2005, there was six to eight feet of water in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward.

There is good news in the tropics today. The National Hurricane Center says Erika has dissipated as a tropical cyclone and all tropical storm watches and warnings in the Caribbean have been discontinued.

Visitation has resumed in Lake Charles for fallen state trooper Steven Vincent. A funeral mass will take place at noon at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Vincent, who was fatally shot by an impaired stranded motorist, will be laid to rest at Lacassine Cemetery in Lake Charles.

There’s a report of a shooting invovling a Calcaseiu Sheriff’s deputy. Sheriff Tony Mancuso tells KPLC-TV that one of his deputies shot a suspect in an altercation in Moss Bluff. The suspect, who was accussed of beating his girlfriend, was at last report undergoing surgery.

LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron says he’s received a clean bill of health after undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. Cameron says he’ll be ready for next Saturday’s opener against McNeese State…
cut 25 (05) “…this process”
Cameron says he did not undergo radiation, but had a procedure to remove the cancer.

07:30 LRN Sportscast August 29

LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron says he’s been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but he’s fine and his health is good. Cameron says he’s already had it treated….
cut 30 (06) “…ready to go”
Cameron says his treatment did not include radiation and received word two weeks ago that he is cancer free.

The Saints will face the Houston Texans on Sunday in preseason game number three. Coach Sean Payton says quarterback Drew Brees will only play a handful of downs. The Texans will feature a couple of former LSU running backs in the their backfield, rookie Kenny Hilliard and Alfred Blue. Kickoff in the Mercedes Benz Superdome is at 3 PM.

The Green Bay Packers have signed former UL Lafayette wide receiver James Butler. Butler caught 87 passes and had four touchdowns in 51 college games. He worked out for Green Bay earlier this week and has been added to the team’s roster as the Packers need more wide receiver depth in the wake of Jordy Nelson’s season-ending injury.

Former LSU pitcher Aaron Nola improved to 5-and-1 on the season as he threw seven strong innings in the Phillies seven to one win over the Padres last night. Nola allowed just one run on two hits and struck out six. The right-hander from Baton Rouge has given only one run over his last two starts.

Another former LSU star, Kevin Gausman, also pitched last night, but the results were not as good. Gausman gave up four runs in 6.2 innings as his Orioles were defeated by Texas four to one.

UL Lafayette basketball coach Bob Marlin has signed a new five-year contract that will pay him 455-thousand dollars annually. Marlin also has a chance to make more money through bonuses.

Calvary Baptist football coach John Bachman Senior has taken a leave of absence. Bachman has led the Cavaliers to two straight championships. A reason for his leave of absence was not given by the school, but principal Rhonda Honea told the Shreveport Times that it was voluntary and shouldn’t last long.

LRN Newscast 17:30 August 28

Former President George W Bush touted education successes in New Orleans as he visited the Crescent City for the ten year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Bush says because of the proliferation of charter schools, test scores and graduation rates are up in the Big Easy…
cut 4 (07) “…school reform”
Bush delivered the speech at Warren Easton High School. He also spoke there on the first anniversary of Katrina.

Monroe-based Centurylink announces plans to bring high-speed internet to more than 24-thousand rural households and businesses in Louisiana. Centurylink Senior vice-president John Jones says they have accepted money from the Federal Communications Commission to get this work done…
cut 12 (08) “exisiting markets”
He says construction on the project is set to begin early next year.

The latest forecast track of Erika shows the tropical storm could move into the western Gulf of Mexico early next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 10 (09) “…very,very carefully”
Erika is expected to move across Cuba on Saturday and weaken into a depression.

Funeral services are Saturday for Senior State Trooper Steven Vincent, who died from a gunshot wound. Governor Bobby Jindal is expected to be in attendance for the funeral Mass at a church in Lake Charles.

The man who is accussed of fatally shooting a police officer in Sunset this week was taken to the hospital today, but authorities believe Harrison Riley Junior was faking a medical condition. St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says Riley was unresponsive inside his cell this morning, but was fine when checked by doctors at a local hospital.

LRN Sportscast 16:45 August 28

Saturday marks the ten-year annivesary of Hurricane Katrina. It was the first season for Les Miles as the head coach of the LSU Tigers. Miles was proud with how his team responded by voluntering at the PMAC, which was used as a temporary medical facility. He says many of the players also opened up their campus apartments to evacuees…
cut 30 (11) “…great time”
LSU went 11-and-2 that season, beating Miami in the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl.

In 2005, LSU had Jamarcus Russell at the helm. This year, Brandon Harris and Anthony Jennings are expected to get snaps. LSU is not the only SEC school that has a quarterback battle still unsettled. Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina have not seen a clear cut starter emerge.

The USA Today is reporting that the Sun Belt Conference is looking at either adding Coastal Carolina or Eastern Kentucky and a vote could happen very soon. The Sun Belt has been interested in adding a 12th football playing member, so they can have a conference championship game. Coastal Carolina and Eastern Kentucky are currently FCS schools.

McNeese State will wear a special camouflage jersey for its home opener against Incarnate Word on September 12th. The camo jerseys have a white base, with camouflage shoulders and numbers.

Nicholls State has reportedly added former Alabama running back Altee Tenpenny to its roster. The Arkansas native was rated as a four-star prospect coming out of high school in 2013. He played two seasons at Alabama and rushed for 218 yards on 48 carries. Tenpenny also spent time at UNLV, but was kicked off the team for an unspecified rules violation.

High School football jamborees are taking place across the state tonight as we are one week away from the regular season opener.

LRN PM Newscall August 28

For the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, former President George W. Bush visited New Orleans and gave a speech praising the recovery of its public schools…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Monroe-based Centrylink has plans to bring high-speed internet to 24-thousand rural households and businesses in Louisiana.  Eric Gill has the story…

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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Former President George W. Bush spoke at Warren Easton High School today to emphasize how far public education in New Orleans has come since Hurricane Katrina. In his speech, Bush said nine in 10 public school students in New Orleans now attend a charter school and praised the good work done by these charter schools…

CUT 3 (11)  “almost doubled”

Bush said he and wife Laura visited New Orleans to salute the leaders of the city who have helped it and its schools progress since the tragic storm. After Katrina, Bush says educational entrepreneurs came together to help reform the school system…

CUT 4 (07)  “school reform”

In closing his speech, Bush spoke of the spirit in Warren Easton High and other schools in the New Orleans area that had to rebuild and reform. He acknowledged the New Orleans spirit was stronger than any Hurricane Katrina or storm like it…

CUT 5 (07) “of this city”

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The Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office seized nearly 200 pounds of cocaine–the largest in the parish’s history–after receiving an anonymous tip about several suspicious packages. Commander Eric Becnel says there is an ongoing investigation with the United States Homeland Security New Orleans office because the wrapping of the cocaine is consistent with drug trafficking…

CUT 6 (05) “in our parish”

After a field test and examination, the drugs were determined to be pure cocaine. Becnel says the sheriff’s office estimates the street value of the cocaine to be 18 million dollars. No arrests have been made as of yet. But he says the seizure has helped prevent the possibility of property and violent crimes that would have been fueled by the drugs…

CUT 7 (04)  “their habit”

Becnel says the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office is grateful to have a relationship and the support of the community. He says this relationship allows the public to notify authorities when there is suspicious activity in the parish…

CUT 8 (05)  “wound up”

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Tropical Storm Erika continues to drop heavy rains as it moves through the Caribbean. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the current projected path of Erika has it making landfall in South Florida sometime Monday. He says the good news is that very little strengthening is forecast…

CUT 9 (06)  “by that”

He says Erika is not expected to reach hurricane strength. Keim says some bad news regarding Erika is the cone of uncertainty now includes the Gulf of Mexico…

cut 10 (09)  “very, very carefully”

Keim says Erika is disorganized which is giving forecasters problems in predicting how strong it will get and where it will move. He says the unpredictability of Erika warrants our attention…

Cut 11 (09)  “the peninsula”

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Monroe-based Centurylink announces plans to bring high-speed internet to more than 24-thousand rural households and businesses in Louisiana. Centurylink Senior vice-president John Jones says they have accepted money from the Federal Communications Commission to get this work done…

cut 12 (08)  “exisiting markets”

Jones says the company accepted about 500-million dollars a year for six years from the FCC to develop high-speed Internet service to one-point-two million Centurylink customers nationwide

cut 13 (10)  “little time”

Jones says they’ll spend the next few months mapping out a plan to bring high-speed internet to rural areas and construction is expected to begin early next year….

cut 14 (09)  “get too”

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11:40 LRN Sportscast August 28

Ten years ago, sports was put on hold in Louisiana as Hurricane Katrina was bearing down on our state. Les Miles was preparing to lead LSU on the football field for the first time, but the season opener against North Texas was postponed. After the storm blew threw, the PMAC was used as a hospital to treat evacuees. Coach Les Miles says many of his players donated their time there….
cut 17 (10) “…and commitment”
LSU will practice today and tomorrow. They’ll take Sunday off and then Monday is the start of game week.

The Saints will practice tonight at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium. It will be open to the public. It’s New Orleans final practice before their third preseason game, which is Sunday afternoon at home against the Houston Texans. The battle for placekicker remains a tight battle. Coach Sean Payton sees it as a dead heat between Dustin Hopkins and Zach Hocker.

It’s being reported that another year has been added to UL-Lafayette football Coach Mark Hudspeth’s contract. If approved by the UL System Board of Supervisors, the amended deal will keep Hudspeth under contract with the school through the 2020 season. Hud is set to make one-million dollars this year and he’ll reportedly be paid one-point-two million in 2020.

LRN Sportscast 16:45 August 27

Saints Coach Sean Payton was back with his team today after spending yesterday helping his daughter get settled in at college. She’s attending Pepperdine University in California. Payton says he had a lump in his throat when he left her.

As far as the team goes, Payton is glad cornerback Delvin Breaux is on the roster. The head coach says Breaux’s initial workout with the team was so impressive, he didn’t want him leaving the building with out a deal. The New Orleans native has looked good during camp, especially in one-on-one drills.

The Saints practice tomorrow night at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium and its open to the public.

For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit has picked the LSU Tigers to win the Southeastern Conference. Herbie has the Bayou Bengals beating Tennessee in the SEC championship game and advancing to the college football playoff. Herbstreit believes Ohio State will repeat as national champs.

Another year has reportedly been added to Ragin Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth’s contract. If the contract amendment is approved by the UL System Board of Supervisors, Hudspeth will be under contract with the school through the end of 2020. Coach Hud is set to make one-million dollars this year and he’ll reportedly be paid one-point-two million in 2020.

A week from tonight, the Southland Conference football season gets underway with Northwestern State hosting Southeastern Louisiana. The Demons still have not named a starting quarterback. There are four players battling for that opportunity. Coach Jay Thomas says its possible that he’ll play all four.

LSU basketball freshman phenom Ben Simmons has been named to the Blue Ribbon preseason All-American team. During the Tigers’ recent tour of Australia, Simmons averaged 20 points, nine rebounds and shot 52-percent from the field.

LRN PM Newscall August 27

The St. Landry Parish town of Sunset is mourning the loss of Police Officer Henry Nelson. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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The Louisiana Department of Agriculture unveils its new mobile pet shelter that can be used in the next Hurricane. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The East Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office and Capital Area Human Services are teaming up to raise awareness about the growing heroin and synthetic marijuana problem in the area. Coroner Dr. Beau Clark says his office has already seen 24 heroin overdose deaths so far this year. He says the message of this campaign is clear…

CUT 3 (07)  “last ride”

He says at this rate, East Baton Rouge Parish could surpass the record of 35 heroin overdose deaths recorded in 2013. Clark says it’s not a coincidence that this campaign is being launched at this time of year…

CUT 4 (07)  “of overdoses”

He says they’ve seen an uptick of heroin overdoses in the fall over the past few years. Clark has confirmed three deaths this year directly from synthetic marijuana use, but those are much more difficult to determine with current testing methods. He says the ultimate goal of this campaign is to save lives…

CUT 5 (08) “synthetic marijuana”

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The Louisiana Department of Agriculture says its new mobile pet shelter is ready for use. Commissioner Mike Strain says the tractor trailer can be used to evacuate up 55 domesticated animals in the event of an emergency.

CUT 6 (11)  “and ramps”

Before the mobile shelter, they were loading pets into 18-wheelers to transport them during natural disasters which was very difficult and not as safe. He says if a natural disaster strikes and you can’t take your pet with you, when you come to an evacuation point, L-D-A-F will provide safe transportation to a mega pet shelter….

CUT 7 (10)  “and others”

Strain says 40-thousand of the 80-thousand dollars needed to complete the project was donated by veterinary foundations. He says they want to ensure all animals are safe and well taken care of in the event of an emergency.

CUT 8 (11)  “during emergencies”

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The St. Landry Parish town of Sunset is mourning the loss of Police Officer Henry Nelson. 35-year-old Harrison Lee Riley is accused of shooting and killing Nelson in the line of duty Wednesday while responding to a domestic disturbance. Sunset Mayor Charles James says the town will get past this tragedy…

CUT 9 (09)  “not explainable”

Riley is also accused of stabbing three women in the incident, killing 40-year-old Shameka Johnson. James says this incident has really shaken the town of approximately 3,000 residents…

cut 10 (09)  “knows everyone”

Riley faces charges of first degree murder of a police officer, first degree murder, and attempted first degree murder. James says he knew Nelson since he was a child and he will be someone who won’t be forgotten…

Cut 11 (06)  “his job well”

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10 years ago thousands of people were evacuating out of the New Orleans area as Hurricane Katrina was bearing down on Louisiana; and it was chaos. So in that time how has the state improved efforts to make such a large scale evacuation smoother? Department of Transportation spokesman Rodney Mallett says they now contract with bus services…:

cut 12 (10)  “evacuations”

At the time Katrina approached, there was no real mechanism in place to get so many citizens safely out of harm’s way — but Mallett says now there is. He says one of the important things they’ve learned in dealing with past contraflow situations, is to work closely with our neighbors:

cut 13 (08)  “contraflow plans”

Mallett says they have also expanded the Motorists Assistance program so that in a mass evacuation situation, there would be more vehicles out on the road to help out motorists who get stranded in travel lanes. He also says they have since added traffic cameras on interstate systems in metropolitan areas…:

cut 14 (08)  “traveling public”