11:40 LRN Sportscast March 5

The Saints have let fan favorite and running back Pierre Thomas go, after an eight year run with the Black and Gold. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says the Saints will miss Thomas’ ability on screen passes and he was an excellent pass blocker…
cut 14 (07) “…with one team’
The Saints have also reportedly restructured free safety Jairus Byrd’s contract as they converted his roster bonus to a signing bonus, which lowers his 2015 cap number from ten million to five million dollars. That’s according to Field Yates of ESPN.

Anthony Davis returned to the court last night and he gave a big boost to the Pelicans as he scored 39 points, 13 rebounds and had eight blocked shots in an 88-85 win over Detroit. Davis had missed the previous five games, because of a right shoulder strain. The Thunder also won last night, so the Pels are still one game back from the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Bad loss for the LSU men’s basketball team last night. Tennessee, who had lost five in a row, came into the Maravich Center and beat the Tigers 78-63. But despite the loss, bracketologists Jerry Palm of CBS-sports-dot-com and ESPN’s Joe Lunardi still have LSU in the tournament as a ten-seed.

Tonight in college hoops…U-L-M hosts Georgia State, which is one of the two teams the Warhawks are tied with for first place in the Sun Belt. ULM lost to Georgia State by 20 points in the Sun Belt opener back on December 30th. But Warhawks Coach Keith Richard says his team is much better on offense then they were a couple of months ago….
cut 17 (09) “…Thursday night”
Also tonight…the Ragin Cajuns go after their fifth straight win as they host Arkansas-Little Rock. Louisiana Tech seeks an outright Conference USA title as they host Southern Miss. And Northwestern state seeks its sixth straight win as they host Stephen F Austin.

LRN Newscast 17:30 March 3rd

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says Governor Bobby Jindal’s proposal to eliminate the inventory tax credit will hurt the state’s economy. Jeff Palermo has the story….
cut 2 (30) “….reporting”

Eight parishes in north and northeast Louisiana are under a winter storm watch from Wednesday night through Thursday morning as forecasters say we could see a combination of freezing rain and sleet in Monroe, Ruston, Farmerville and Oak Grove. And several parishes in south Louisiana are under a dense fog advisory tomorrow morning.

The state Department of Revenue announces that tax refunds are now being issued. Spokeswoman Kizzie Payton says there was a slight delay this year due to the increase in fraudulent tax returns across the nation…:
CUT 6 (08) “taxpayer’s accounts”
She says, thus far, over 763,000 tax returns have been filed and about 244,000 have been processed.

An early morning fire claims the life of a 73-year-old woman in Opelousas. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says firefighters responded to a wood frame dwelling around 4am, which they found fully engulfed in flames. Browning says the victim, Mary Ann Sam, was also located…:
CUT 14 (09) “that’s been done”
They are still working to determine the cause of the blaze.

LRN Sportscast 16:45 March 3rd

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Saints will likely restructure wide receiver Marques Colston’s contract. Colston’s salary counts nine-point-seven million dollars against the 2015 salary cap and the Black and Gold need to trim about 22-million dollars in salaries to get under the salary cap. Schefter also added that he doesn’t expect Colston to be cut.

The LSU baseball team is set to host Stephen F Austin at Alex Box Stadium tonight. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri is still looking for a starting third baseman he can count on. Tonight he’ll give Conner Hale a chance at the hot corner. Hale has started at first and second base this season.

In other college baseball action tonight…Northwestern State hosts ULM. The Demons are five and six on the year, while the Warhawks are six and three.

McNeese State is at Sam Houston, Tulane travels to Nicholls State, who is 7-3-and-1 on the season. And Southeastern Louisiana hosts Alcorn State.

Spring football gets underway today for the Ragin Cajuns. There will be a battle for quarterback as Terrance Broadway has used up all of his elgibility. Coach Mark Hudspeth has hinted that Brooks Haack has a slight edge over two other Q-B’s in camp, Jalen Nixon and Jordan Davis.

Spring football also got underway today for Nicholls State and its new head coach Tim Rebowe. Grambling State spring football starts tomorrow.

You can make the case that Tim Quarterman is the most improved player on LSU’s basketball team. He’s averaging 12 points a game , compared to just three points a contest last year. The Georgia native says positive conversations with Coach Johnny Jones during the offseason gave him the confidence he could have a big impact on this year’s team….
cut 18 (15) “….mindset”
LSU hosts Tennessee tomorrow night.

PM Newscall March 3rd

###Changes made to the newscall as a result of two arrests in the fatal home invasion in Shreveport#####

 

The state Department of Revenue announces that state tax refunds are now being issued. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry says Governor Bobby Jindal’s proposal to eliminate the inventory tax credit will hurt the state’s economy. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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

The Shreveport Police Department says they are looking for a suspect following an overnight fatal home invasion. Corporal Marcus Hines say officers were called to the scene at around one AM…

(At this point officers believe a resident in the home fatally shot one of the suspects, the other fled.)

CUT 3 (10)  “shot the man”

There were  children inside the home at the time of the shooting, but they  were not injured . Hines says they believe the two men entered the home wearing masks and one of them was armed with a semi-automatic rifle…:

CUT 4 (11)  “not been captured”

Hines says evidence seized during a search of the residence suggest illegal narcotics may have been a motivating factor in the attempted robbery…:

(Officers have arrested two people living inside the home, because of illegal drugs inside the home.)

CUT 5 (09)  “degree of involvement”

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

The state Department of Revenue announces that state tax refunds are now being issued. The department had said that it would not issue refunds until March 2nd, but actually began last Friday. Spokeswoman Kizzy Payton says the delay was due to the increase of the filing of fraudulent tax returns across the nation…

CUT 6 (08)  “taxpayer’s accounts”

She says the department issued additional security measures so they would more easily detect suspicious activity around taxpayer’s accounts. Payton says the department strives to make sure they are not handing out tax refunds to people who do not deserve them…

CUT 7 (08)  “anti-fraud initiative”

Payton says some may have already received their refund, depending on the method of payment they chose. She says, thus far, over 763,000 tax returns have been filed and about 244,000 have been processed. But Payton says that’s just the beginning…

CUT 8 (05)  “each year”

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The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry plans to fight Governor Bobby Jindal’s proposal to repeal the inventory tax credit. Such a move would save the state an estimated $380 million which could be used for health care and higher education. But LABI Vice President, Jim Patterson, says a repeal of this tax credit would be devastating to business across the state…

CUT 9 (09)  “to our economy”

Patterson says the vast majority of states do not have inventory taxes, so if the refund went away, jobs could leave as well…

cut 10 (08) “such a tax”

Patterson says businesses could decide to shift inventories to states that do not have such a tax and those warehouse jobs would be lost. He says Louisiana is one of only 13 states that have an inventory tax on the books. Patterson says if the inventory tax credit is repealed, then business will have to make up that money somewhere…

cut 11 (06)  “to consumers”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says a 14-year-old student from H.L. Bourgeois High in Gray is under arrest accused of calling in 2 bomb threats to the school. Captain Dawn Foret says last Tuesday and yesterday there were two separate bomb threats they were emailed to the school’s principal…:

cut 12 (10)  “could resume”

Foret says they began an investigation and were able to track the email address that the suspect had sent both threats from to the H.L. Bourgeois student…:(The suspect is charged with two counts of False Communication of a Bomb Threat. Foret says it does not appear the teen had any access to items that would let him carry out his threats.)

cut 13 (06)  “emails”

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

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says  a 73-year-old woman died in a house fire in Opelousas today. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says St. Landry Parish firefighters responded to a wood frame dwelling around 4am which they found fully engulfed in flames. He says the 73 year old victim, Mary Ann Sam, was also located…

cut 14 (09)  “that’s been done”

They are still working to determine the cause of the blaze. Browning says they know the woman was living alone in the home and the fire was discovered by someone who was driving by…:

cut 15 (06) “those things out”

11:40 LRN Sportscast March 3rd

The LSU baseball team is set to host Stephen F Austin at Alex Box Stadium tonight. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri is still looking for a starting third baseman he can count on. Tonight he’ll give Conner Hale a chance at the hot corner. Hale has started at first and second base this season.

In other college baseball action tonight…Northwestern State hosts ULM. The Demons are five and six on the year, while the Warhawks are six and three.

McNeese State is at Sam Houston, Tulane travels to Nicholls State, who is 7-3-and-1 on the season. And Southeastern Louisiana hosts Alcorn State.

In college hoops last night, the Lions lost to Northwestern State 92-79. The Demons improve to 12-and-4 four in the Southland. McNeese State got a big win as they look to make the Southland Tournament. The Cowboys edged Lamar 70 to 69. And Nicholls State beat UNO in overtime.

LSU sophomore guard Tim Quarterman is the SEC player of the week. Quarterman had a triple-double versus Ole Miss on Saturday. Quarterman is the third player in LSU history to record a triple-double, Shaquille O’ Neal and Pete Maravich are the other two. Quarterman says his mother is really proud of what he did…
cut 17 (14) “…it was just special”
Quarterman and the Tigers host Tennessee tomorrow night.

In the NBA…the Pelicans five-game winning streak ended last night as New Orleans fell to Dallas 102-93. The Pels will try to start a new win streak on Wednesday when they host Detroit.

And there are reports the Saints will need to shed 22-million dollars by March tenth to get under the NFL salary cap. That means some high-priced players could be released over the next week.

LRN Sportscast 16:45 March 2

The Pelicans take a five-game winning streak into Dallas tonight. New Orleans has been able to get on this nice roll despite not having the services of Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson because of injuries. New Orleans begins action tonight, just a half game back of Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

A legal battle is brewing between LSU and its former defensive coordinator John Chavis, as LSU is seeking a 400-thousand dollar contractual buyout from Chavis. Both sides have filed lawsuits and Legal Analyst Tim Meche expects this case will be settled out of court…
cut 5 (11) “…to the public”
Chavis claims he doesn’t owe the money, because he took the proper steps when he left LSU to avoid the buyout.

In the NFL, the Steelers released former Saints wide receiver Lance Moore.

Spring football begins today for the ULM Warhawks. ULM has to find a new starting quarterback. Brayle Brown is listed number one on the team’s depth chart, after completing 12 passes last year, but Coach Todd Berry says Brown will compete against a couple of other quarterbacks….
cut 19 (22) “…grow up”
Spring football begins tomorrow for the Ragin Cajuns and the Nicholls State Colonels.

The latest D-1 baseball rankings are out…LSU is number seven after sweeping Princeton. Tulane has cracked the rankings as the Green Wave are ranked 25th and they are 8-and-3 heading into tomorrow night’s game at Nicholls State.

11:40 Sportscast March 2

LSU’s Tim Quarterman has been named the SEC men’s basketball Player of the Week. Quarterman had a triple-double in Saturday’s win over Ole Miss. The sophomore guard is only the third player in LSU to record a triple double. He had 18 points, ten rebounds and ten assists. The win gives LSU a 21-8 record and improves its chances of making the NCAA Tournament.

The Pelicans won their fifth straight last night as they defeated the Denver Nuggets 99 to 92. New Orleans remains a half game back of Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Tonight the Pels are at Dallas, who is seeking its 40th win of the year. Tip-off is at 7:30.

The latest D-1 baseball rankings are out…LSU is number seven after sweeping Princeton. Tulane has cracked the rankings as the Green Wave are ranked 25th and they are 8-and-3 heading into tomorrow night’s game at Nicholls State.

ULM officials break ground today on a new facility that will be located behind the end zone at Malone Stadium. It will feature a new locker room, a Hall of Fame area and new coaches’ offices. Warhawks Coach Todd Berry says the facility will have an impact on their current players and recruiting…
cut 18 (15) “…period of time”
Today is also the first day of spring football for the Warhawks.

LSU and its former defensive coordinator John Chavis are in a legal battle over whether “The Chief” owes LSU a 400-thousand dollar contractrual buyout. Chavis doesn’t believe so and filed a lawsuit in Texas, LSU countersued and Legal analyst Tim Meche says the courts have determine where the case will be heard, Texas or Louisiana…
cut 4 (10) “…jury”

16:45 LRN Sportscast Feb 27

The question over whether former LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis owes LSU money for leaving the Tigers following the 2014 season will be decided in the courts. Chavis has filed a lawsuit to determine if either him or Texas A-and=M owes LSU a 400-thousand dollar buyout. The suit claims Chavis doesn’t owe LSU the money, because he wasn’t officially hired by A-and-m until 30 days after he left LSU.

The 2015 Sun Belt Football schedules were finalized today. The Ragin Cajuns will play twice on national television. On a Tuesday night, October 20th, at Arkansas State and Thursday November 12th at South Alabama. ULM also has a road mid-week game on its schedule and that’s November 19th against Texas State and that’s a Thursday night.

Following a thrilling win over Southeastern Louisiana last night, the LSU baseball team is back at it tonight as they open a three game series against Princeton.

In the NBA tonight…the Pelicans host the Miami Heat. New Orleans has won three straight as recently acquired Norris Cole has been a good addition to the Pels. Cole will be facing his former team for the second time in a week.

The LSU men’s basketball team looks for its 10th conference win of the season tomorrow when they host Ole Miss. In Coach Johnny Jones first two seasons in Baton Rouge, LSU won nine league games each year…
cut 18 (18) “…important”
Tip-off is at 1 PM.

And Louisiana Tech can clinch at least a share of the Conference USA regular season title tomorrow night when the Bulldogs host Texas San Antonio. Tech has won 27 straight home games.

PM LRN Newscall February 27

Republican gubernatorial candidate, US Senator David Vitter, is getting the endorsement of an ex-president. Michelle Southern reports…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

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

The Jindal administration laid out its plan today on how to cope with a one-point-six billion dollar revenue shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July first. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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

This week’s wintry weather that hit Louisiana could result in a lower supply of crawfish this weekend. Mark Shirley, with the LSU AgCenter, says pond water temperatures dropped into the 40’s this week, which keeps crawfish from crawling into traps. Shirley says if you want some crawfish this weekend, you may want to get them early…

CUT 3 (09)  “be there”

He says you will be able to find crawfish this weekend, but the supply will be below normal. Unfortunately, the decrease in production will see a rise in the price of mudbugs. Shirley says you should see an improvement in the price as temperatures warm up…

CUT 4 (10)  “to springtime”

Because of the cold temperatures, you may see some smaller crawfish on your plate, but Shirley says crawfish are good, no matter what size they are. He says, although the winter weather has slowed the crawfish harvest, it hasn’t shut it down completely…

CUT 5 (08)  “Louisiana crawfish”

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Republican gubernatorial candidate, US Senator David Vitter, is getting the endorsement of an ex-president. The Vitter campaign sent an e-mail to supporters announcing the endorsement of former President George H.W. Bush. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says this is significant, especially on top of the endorsement of Kentucky Senator Rand Paul…

CUT 6 (11)  “hugely critical”

In his endorsement, Bush describes Vitter as an effective, conservative leader and urges people to contribute to his campaign. Stockley says the backing of Bush and Paul are a big boost to Vitter’s quest to become governor…

CUT 7 (09)  “on your side”

Vitter is the front runner in this year’s governor’s race, ahead of Republicans Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, and Democratic state Representative John Bel Edwards. Stockley says Vitter’s opponents will now have to step up their game…

CUT 8 (07)  “behind Vitter”

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The Jindal administration presented a proposed budget today that provides  a starting point on how to prevent drastic cuts to health care and higher education, despite a one-point-six billion revenue shortfalll for next fiscal year. Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols says they want lawmakers to scale back a dozen  refundable tax credits which would save the state 526-million dollars

CUT 9 (14)  “take in”

Even with a cap on certain tax credits, the cut in the proposed budget to higher ed is 211-million dollars. Nichols offered solutions to further reduce cuts to higher education and one includes raising the cigarette tax and using those revenues to provide families with a tax credit to help offset the costs for higher fees at public colleges..

cut 10 (07) “100 million dollars “

The potential drop in funding for health care sevices is 235-million dollars according to the proposed budget. Lawmakers who serve on the budget committees seemed like some of the ideas and Delhi Senator Franics Thompson is glad the cuts to higher ed and health care are not as bad as once feared…

cut 11 (06)  “we have”

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

The Jefferson Davis Sheriff’s Office has arrested two men in connection with the homicide of a Lake Arthur man. Spokesman Christopher Ivey says deputies were dispatched to the home of 73-year-old Charles Talen, Sr. to notify him that his stolen vehicle had been found burned…

cut 12 (06)  “inside his home”

18-year-old Roderick Cawthrone, Jr. and 26-year-old Brett Hebert, both of Lake Arthur, face first degree murder charges in the death of Talen. Ivey says arrest warrants for the pair were issued yesterday afternoon… (Detectives are expecting more arrests in this investigation.)

cut 13 (07)  “to us”

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The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is under arrest accused of pranking 911 calls because he was bored. Sheriff Jason Ard says 27-year-old Brandon Kirkland allegedly called 911 dispatchers and reported that 2 masked men were entering a business in Watson to rob it…:

cut 14 (07)  “as themselves”

Kirkland admitted he did this as a prank two times and that’s two counts of felony terrorizing. Ard says the suspect’s story to detectives obviously didn’t fly…:

cut 15 (07) “prank call”

 

11:40 LRN Sportscast Feb 27

Over five-thousand fans were inside the Thomas Assembly Center last night as Louisiana Tech extended its home winning streak to 27 games with a 77-60 win over UTEP. Redshirt sophomore Erik McCree had his second career double-double 14 points and 12 rebounds. The Bulldogs are now 13-and-3 in Conference USA and in first place.

ULM remains in a tie for first place in the Sun Belt after beating South Alabama 75-57 last night. Junior Justin Roberson had 18 points for the Warhawks, while Majok Deng had a double-double 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Wild game at Alex Box Stadium last night as second ranked LSU blew a six run lead but rallied with two runs in the eighth inning to beat Southeastern Louisiana nine to eight. Jake Fraley’s two run triple was the big hit in the eighth innings. The Seven and one Tigers host Princeton tonight at the Box.

The Pelicans will host the Miami Heat tonight at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans trails Oklahoma City by one game in the loss column for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. O-K-C lost in overtime to Phoenix last night, despite a triple-double from Russell Westbrook.

The LSU men’s basketball team will host Ole Miss tomorrow at one o’ clock. Jarell Martin is averaging 16.5 points a game for the Tigers and had 25 points against Auburn on Tuesday night. LSU Coach Johnny Jones likes how the sophomore is playing…
cut 17 (19) “….vast improvement”
A win on Saturday will give LSU ten conference wins and a chance to get a top four seed and a double-bye in the SEC tournament in a couple of weeks.