11:40 Sportscast Feb 5

LSU’s 2015 football recruiting class features seven of the top ten ranked players in the state, including Warren Easton wide receiver Tyron Johnson, who is Louisiana’s top prospect. Coach Les Miles says Johnson will be a dominant wide receiver at LSU…
cut 17 (17) “….we’ll play you”
Miles said at the Bayou Bash that if Louisiana high school football players don’t want to play at LSU than the hell with him. You can see it for yourself at tiger-rag-dot-com.

The Oklahoma City Thunder scored the final 13 points to outlast the New Orleans Pelicans 102-91 last night. The Thunder’s Russell Westbrook had a career-high 45 points.

U-L Lafayette signed 24 football players on national signing day. The class is ranked first among Sun Belt schools by both Scout-dot-com and 24-7-sports.com. Five offensive lineman are part of this class and Coach Mark Hudspeth says they are all really good…
cut 30 (13) “…that aspect”
One of those offensive lineman is Cole Prudhomme from Eunice.

U-L-M’s class has three quarterbacks, including Delhi Charter’s Frank Maxwell. Warhawks recruiting coordinator Mario Price says they like to have competition at that position…
cut 20 (15) “….those numbers’
The other two quarterbacks are Will Collins from Oklahoma and Chandler Eiland from Texas.

LRN Newscast 08:30 Feb 5

Law enforcement warns parents about a social media app that’s being used for cyberbullying. Yik Yak is an anonymous bulletin board where users can post comments that can be read by anyone within a 10 mile radius. Washington Parish Chief Deputy Mike Haley says parents are reporting their children have been bullied through the Yik Yak app…
cut 4 (08) “…as we can”
Haley reminds residents that cyberbullying is a crime in Louisiana.

Bossier Parish Coummunity College has signed a female, who will pitch on their baseball team. Head Coach Aaron Vorachek says this is not a publicity stunt, he says Sarah Hudek struck out 14 hitters in 12 innings at the Under World Wood Bat Championships…
cut 9 (09) “…I’m excited to have her’
Sarah is the daughter of former Major League All-Star John Hudek.

The LSU Alumni Association seeks volunteers to help lobby against potential budget cuts to LSU campuses. Jeff Palermo has the story…
cut 3 (30) “….reporting”

A state lawmaker who pushed to have a special session so lawmakers can work on the state’s budget problems has given up on that effort. Houma Representative Joe Harrison says there wasn’t enough support among fellow legislators.

No one won last night’s 324-million dollar Powerball jackpot. The jackpot for Saturday’s drawing grows to 360-million dollars.

LRN Newscast 07:30 February 5

A south Louisiana man who crashed head-on into a bus has been arrested and faces charges of D-W-I and drug possession. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says they believe 32-year-old Brandon Vince of Livingston was intoxicated when he slammed into a bus Tuesday morning, injuring over a dozen students…
cut 12 (11) “…gonna come out good”
None of the students’ injuries were considered serious.

Authorities in Washington Parish are concerned about a social media app called Yik Yak, which is used for cyberbullying. Chief deputy Mike Haley says parents need to be aware of their children’s social media activities…
cut 5 (07) “….using it appropriately’
Yik Yak is an anonymous bulletin board where users can post comments that can be read by anyone within a ten mile radius.

The LSU Alumni Association seeks volunteers to lobby against deep cuts to higher education…
cut 15 (10) “….asset”
That’s President Cliff Vannoy, who says this grassroot network called Tiger Advocates will make their voices heard by communicating directly with state legislators.

Bossier Parish Community College makes history as they sign a female to a baseball scholarship…
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

LRN Sportscast 06:45 Feb 5

Based on what football recruiting experts say, LSU’s 2015 class is ranked anywhere between the fifth best class in the nation to the 13th. Coach Les Miles says this is a class that will help them compete for championships….
cut 16 (17) “…your campus”
LSU signed seven of the top ten players in the state.

Wednesday wasn’t just national signing day for football, it was for other sports as well, including baseball, where Bossier Parish Community College signed a girl, who will pitch on their baseball team. Coach Aaron Voracheck says Sarah Hudek is a left-hander who throws around 80-miles per hour…
cut 7 (04) “…signing another pitcher”
Sarah is the daughter of former MLB All-Star John Hudek.

Louisiana Tech signed 14 three-star prospects, including a dual threat quarterback from Merdian, Mississippi named J’Mar Smith. Coach Skip Holtz says Smith has a lot of potential…
cut 19 (15) “…athletic”

The Ragin Cajuns signed a quarterback from Alabama. His name is Chris Weaver and Coach Mark Hudspeth says Weaver will be that quarterback that will lead them into the future…
cut 20 (17) “…Chris Weaver”
The Cajuns also signed Dion Ray, who played quarterback at Helen Cox in New Orleans.

LRN Newscast 06:30 Feb 5

The LSU Alumni Association forms a group called Tiger Advocates, which is a group of volunteers, who will lobby lawmakers in the legislative session not to go through with deep cuts to higher education. LSU Alumni Association President Cliff Vannoy says Tiger Advocates will be kept up to date on key legislation and make their voices heard…
cut 14 (10) “….or write em”
Go to the LSU Alumni Association website for more information.

Law enforcement want to get the word out about a social media app called Yik Yak that’s used for cyberbulling. Washington Sheriff chief deputy Mike Haley says they see it in there parish and he wants to remind the public there are consequences for using social media to bully or make threats…
cut 6 (05) “…they’re cyberbullying”

A 32-year-old south Louisiana man faces several charges, including first-offense D-W-I, for his role in a head-on bus crash that injured several students. The collision occurred Tuesday morning in Livingston Parish and Sheriff Jason Ard says their investigation revealed Brandon Vince of Livingston was impaired at the time of the crash….
cut 11 (08) “….system’
Vince is also charged with 17 counts of vehicular negligent injuring. The injuries to the school children were minor to moderate.

According to the US Department of Health and Hospitals, 148-thousand Louisiana residents have selected a health insurance policy through the federal marketplace. Open enrollment ends February 15th.

LRN Newscast 17:30 Feb 4

LSU’s 2015 recruiting class is loaded with four and five-star offensive linemen. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says the Tigers signed two of the best offensive linemen in Texas, Toby Weathersby and Mae Teuhema, plus a couple of other out-of-state prospects that were heavily recruited by other schools…:
CUT 12 (09) “earlier in the process”

Grambling is having a hard time finding a new president and it could be because of the state’s budget problems. Some applicants may be worried about potential cuts to higher ed in Louisiana. University of Louisiana System President Sandra Woodley understands the concerns, because what could be coming down is highly unusual…:
CUT 4 (12) “a few programs”

A woman in Lake Charles is facing charges of cruelty to a juvenile, after she left a four-year child she was babysitting unattended; allowing the toddler to wander along Highway 385. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Kim Myers…
CUT 11 (08) Q; ‘she got home’
Twenty-three-year-old Jamie Jackson was booked with cruelty to a juvenile.

The search continues in Orleans Parish over who is responsible for cutting the head off a baby goat last week in a park in Orleans Parish. The goats were used to help maintain shrubbry and Louisiana S-P-C-A spokesperson Alicia Haefele (Hay-Fa-lee) says once word of this felony act of animal cruelty got out, people were livid…
cut 8 (10) “….to $3,000”
That’s right a three-thousand reward for information leading to a conviction.

LRN Sportscast 16:45 Feb 4

LSU’s 2015 recruiting class is loaded with four and five-star offensive linemen. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says the Tigers signed two of the best offensive linemen in Texas, Toby Weathersby and Maea Teuhema, plus a couple of other out-of-state prospects that were heavily recruited by other schools…
cut 12 (09) “…earlier in the process”
LSU also signed a quartertback today. Justin McMillan from Cedar Hill, Texas. Mike Farrell, director of national recruiting with Rivals-dot-com, says Tigers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron really likes McMillan, but expect him to redshirt this season,…
cut 18 (18) “…pretty good”
According to 24-7 sports, LSU has the fifth best recruiting class.

According to Scout-dot-com, U-L Lafayette has the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt. The Cajuns signed ten three-star prospects today, including Helen Cox quarterback Dion Ray, Lafayette kicker Stevie Artigue, Ouachita Parish tight end Carlos Robinson, Ascension Catholic defensive end Delmond Landry and cornerback Jeryl Brazil from East Mississippi community college.

According to scout-dot-com, ULM signed one three-star prospect and that’s Jaylen Veasley, who is six-foot-one, 265-pound defensive tackle Rockwall High School in Texas.

Scout has Louisiana Tech’s class as the fourth best in Conference USA. They have the Bulldogs signing eight three-star prospects including Neville defensive tackle Courtney Wallace, Northsside offensive tackle Oshea Dugas, and Loreauville wide reciever Rhashid Bonnette.

In the NBA…the Pelicans host the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.

LRN PM Newscall Feb 4

The Louisiana SPCA is now offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who beheaded a baby goat last week in an Orleans Parish Park. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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Rivals-dot-com and 24-7 sports says LSU’s 2015 football recruiting is among the ten best in the country. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

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The state’s budget woes are causing difficulties in the search for a new president for Grambling State University. Possible job applicants are apparently worried about the state’s potential budget cuts to higher education. University of Louisiana System President Sandra Woodley says they received a letter from The Hollis Group, the search firm hired to recruit candidates, expressing the concerns…

CUT 3 (10)  “the legislature”

Woodley says candidates want more certainty about what solutions will emerge from the state legislature. With the legislative session beginning in April, she says the original timeline to name a president will have to be pushed back. Woodley understands the concerns of the candidates because these potential cuts are much bigger than a normal cut…

CUT 4 (12)  “a few programs”

Woodley says they originally intended to introduce the new president in April. The search committee will meet with The Hollis Group later this month to discuss changing the timeline for finding a new president. Woodley doesn’t believe the search will be delayed for long…

CUT 5 (08)  “be our goal”

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The Louisiana SPCA has increased the reward to $3,000 for anyone who has information about the person or persons responsible for cutting the head off baby goat last week in a park in Orleans Parish. Spokeswoman Alicia Haefele (Hay-Fa-Lee) says the animals belong to a company called “Y’herd Me” and help maintain shrubbery at the Brechtel Park in Algiers…:

CUT 6 (11)  “upside down”

Haefele says the owner of the animals believes an altercation with a group of teenagers could be at the root of the act. She says the kids were told to leave the goats alone…:

CUT 7 (08)  “was beheaded”

You can report information online at la-spca.org. Haefele says people love having the goats at the park and once word of this felony act of animal cruelty got out, people were livid…:

CUT 8 (10)  “to $3000”

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

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Lake Charles woman after the child she was babysitting was found wandering along a busy highway. 23-year-old Jamie Jackson is charged with cruelty to a juvenile. Spokeswoman Kim Myers says officers responded to a call about a 4-year-old girl walking along Highway 385 in Lake Charles…

CUT 9 (11)  “friend of hers”

Myers says investigators discovered that Jackson left the 4-year-old unattended at the home while she drove her nephew to school and then had coffee with a friend. Myers says they have not determined how long the little girl was left home alone…

cut 10 (12)  “law enforcement center”

The child was picked up by a passerby about a mile and a half from her home and brought to a local law enforcement center. Jackson remains jailed on a $125,000 bond. Myers says Jackson told authorities when she returned home, she found the front door open and the child missing…

cut 11 (08) “she got home”

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

LSU’s 2015 recruiting class is loaded with four and five-star offensive linemen. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says the Tigers signed two of the best offensive linemen in Texas, Toby Weathersby and Mae Teuhema, plus a couple of other out-of-state prospects that were heavily recruited by other schools…

cut 12 (09)  “earlier in the process”

The 2015 signee class also has a pair of five-star cornerbacks in Kevin Tolliver, who is already enrolled at LSU and Riverdale’s Donte Jackson. Moran says LSU also signed Xavier Lewis, who is a four-star cornerback from East St. John

cut 13 (10)  “right away”

LSU also signed a pair of outstanding running backs from Baton Rouge, U-High’s Nick Brossette and Catholic’s Derrius Guice. Catholic head coach Dale Weiner says Guice is a physical running back that possesses good speed…

cut 14 (07)  “SEC running back”

11:40 LRN Sportscast Feb 4

National signing day is in full swing and according to Rivals.com, LSU’s class as it stands now is the eighth best in the nation. This class includes two defensive linemen, Edna Karr defensive end Isaiah Washington and Arden Key, a defensive end from Atlanta. Mike Farrell, director of national recruiting with rivals.com, says some recruiting gurus compare Key to former LSU Tiger and first round pick Barkevious Mingo,….
cut 17 (17) “….this class”
LSU’s class also features five offensive linemen, including five-star prospect Maea Teuhema from Keller, Texas.

ULM has welcomed over 25 players to its program, including three quarterbacks, Will Collins from Oklahoma, Chandler Eiland from Canton, Texas and Frank Mazwell from Delhi Charter. U-L Lafayette’s class also has a quarterback in it and his name is Christopher Weaver from Saraland, Alabama.

Louisiana Tech has signed a six-foot-two, 254 pound defensive tackle out of Shreveport and that is La’Dante Davenport from Northwood High School. Also signing with the Bulldogs from Louisiana, athlete Rhashid Bonnette from Loreauville, Huntington defensive back Aaron Roberson from Shreveport and Coach Skip Holtz was able to get Texas Tech commit and Neville defensive lineman Courtney Wallace to sign with the Bulldogs.

Northwestern State has signed a couple of linemen from the Shreveport area, Evangel Christian offensive lineman Houston Meller and defensive tackle Charlie Matthews from Airline.

Northwestern State mens’ basketball won its fourth straight last night as it rallied from a 12-point second half deficit to beat Central Arkansas 110 to 108.

And in the NBA, the Pelicans host Oklahoma City tonight. Kevin Durant not expected to play because of a toe injury.

LRN PM Newscall Feb 3

The West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a first-grade teacher for allegedly striking a student late last month. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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President Obama’s proposed budget for next fiscal year calls for taking federal dollars away for coastal restoration and using that money elsewhere. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

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President Obama is proposing that offshore revenue sharing plan, which would provide Louisiana millions of dollars in revenue for coastal restoration, be replaced with a plan that would spread that money across the nation for various issues. Senator Bill Cassidy says it seems the president doesn’t care about the people affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita…

CUT 3 (12)  “disaster in the future”

The president’s proposal would strip Louisiana and other Gulf Coast states of revenue promised by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act which is scheduled to go into effect in 2017. Cassidy, who sits on the Senate Appropriations and Energy committees, says lawmakers will do their best to defeat this policy…

CUT 4 (06)  “about stopping this”

He says if the president is looking for more money, there’s plenty out there. Cassidy points out that some states get 50-percent of the royalties from oil and gas resources produced on in-state lands, while Louisiana, over the past three years, has gotten less than one percent…

CUT 5 (10)  “opposed to us”

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The West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a first-grade teacher for allegedly striking a student late last month. Witnesses reported seeing 31-year-old Chanel Lemelle, a teacher at Bains Lower Elementary in St. Francisville, berate, kick, and slap a student at the school. Sheriff’s spokesperson Erin Foster says they met with school board officials regarding teacher complaints about Lemelle…

CUT 6 (12)  “warrant for her”

Lemelle is charged with cruelty to juveniles. Foster says the witness statements about the incident were confirmed by video surveillance footage…

CUT 7 (07)  “of the head”

Lemelle turned herself in to authorities and was released after immediately posting bail. Foster says witnesses reported that, on several occasions, they also saw Lemelle taking food from students’ lunch plates…

CUT 8 (06)  “he sat down”

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The Internal Revenue Service is reminding low and moderate income tax payers they could be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit — the largest federal government benefit for workers. IRS spokeswoman Jodi Patterson says the EITC is a program designed to give extra money to people who don’t earn very much…:

CUT 9 (08)  “for the credit”

Patterson says for tax year 2014, the credit is as much as $6100 for a family with three or more children. She says last year in Louisiana, 519,000 taxpayers took advantage of the EITC…:

cut 10 (09)  “Louisiana economy”

Patterson says you don’t have to have children to qualify for the credit. She says if you make less than $53,000 a year you should log on to IRS.gov to see if you qualify. Patterson says four out of five people who are eligible for the credit do claim it, a lot of people don’t know about it exists…:

cut 11 (06) “to get that credit”

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With cooler temperatures forecast for much of Louisiana this week, will that have an effect on the crawfish crop leading up to Mardi Gras? LSU Aquaculture Specialist Dr. Greg Lutz says, in the long term, there shouldn’t be a problem because of their ability to adapt to cold. However, in the short term, Lutz says the cold temps could cause issues…

cut 12 (10)  “just sit there”

Lutz says crawfish get inactive in cold temperatures and won’t crawl into the traps until it warms up. He says some crawfishermen are inactive in cold temperatures, too, because their potential haul is not worth the trouble. Lutz says it costs the same to run their traps whether they catch anything or not…

cut 13 (08)  “their gasoline, probably”

Lutz says consumers may have a hard time finding crawfish this weekend and may see an increased price. He says this problem shouldn’t last long, though. Lutz says, fortunately, crawfish ponds are pretty shallow and they warm up quickly…

cut 14 (06)  “active again”

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