LRN Newscast 08:30 January 31

The investigation continues today into a fatal fire in Avoyelles Parish that has left four dead. State Fire Marshall Butch Browning says the fire occurred just before midnight Thursday at a mobile home in Marksville…:
CUT 6 (07) “in this fire”
The victims’ ages range from 10 to 73-years-old.

Governor Bobby Jindal has issued an executive order that gives parents the ability to opt-out of the controversial standardized exam that’s part of Common Core. It also orders BESE to come up with an alternate test for those students who opt-out of the Common Core exam. But BESE president Chas Roemer says the executive order has no constitutional authority…
cut 20 (07) “…do anything”

Investigators are trying to determine what led to a fatalitiy at the International Paper Red River Mill in Natchitoches Parish. The sheriff’s office says 57-year-old Phillip Whitehead of Winfield fell 15 feet yesterday, suffering serious injuries. Whitehead was airlifted to a hospital in Shreveport, where he later died.

The LHSAA already has split playoffs between public and private schools for football, but the association is not ready to implement a split for other sports. That proposal, by Many principal Norman Booker, was defeated in a vote by high school principals. Booker says he’s eager to see what new LHSAA Director Eddie Bonine can come up with to make it more equal for public and private schools to compete for championships…
cut 13 (09) “…drawing board”

LRN Sportscast 07:30 January 31

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says Saints Owner Tom Benson is in complete control. Goodell made the statement after he was asked about the lawsuit filed against Benson by three of his family members who claim the 87-year-old owner is not mentally fit to make important business decisions….
cut 30 (11) “…what he’s doing”
Goodell called the family dispute unfortunate.

In the NBA last night….the Pelicans were without All-Star Anthony Davis, because of a groin injury, but New Orleans still defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 108 to 103. Eric Gordon stepped up in Davis’ absence as he scored a season-high 28 points and hit five three-pointers. New Orleans is off the rest of the weekend and they’ll host Atlanta on Monday, who has won 18 straight.

The LHSAA will once again have nine state championships in football in 2015. But new executive director of the LHSAA, Eddie Bonine, plans to form a committee after the first of March to see if there is a way they can bring public and private schools back together again in the high school football playoffs…
cut 12 (10) “…many, many years”
Many principal Norman Booker had a proposal that would have split the playoffs in additional sports, but that measure failed in a vote by high school principals.

In college basketball…LSU is at Mississippi State. The Tigers are five and two in the SEC, the Bulldogs are two and five. LSU has won four straight over State. Tip-off is at 1 PM.

Louisiana Tech hosts Marshall at 4:30. The Bulldogs are tied for first in Conference USA and have won 23 in a row at home.

U-L-M hosts South Alabama at four o’ clock. The Warhawks are a half-game back of Georgia Southern for first place in the Sun Belt.

LRN Newscast 17:30 January 30

With Common Core testing scheduled for March, there are reports some families have decided on opting their kids out of taking the tests, which has some BESE members concerned. Eric Gill has more…
cut 2 (28) “…reporting”

The Louisiana National Guard wants to get the word out that smoke coming from Camp Minden next week has nothing to do with the disposal of 15-million pounds of M6 propellant. The guard says the smoke is actually the result of a prescribed forestry burn. Residents near Camp Minden are concerned about plans to burn M6 propellant.

A mobile home fire on Thursday night in Avoyelles Parish has claimed the lives of four people. State Fire Marshall Butch Browning says a father, grandmother, son, and daughter all perished in the blaze. The victims’ ages range from 10 to 73-years-old. Browning says firefighters tried to rescue them, but the flames were too intense…:
CUT 7 (10) “the fire starting”
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson is in complete control, and a positive force in the league…
CUT 30 (11) Q: ‘what he’s doing’
Goodell was asked about the lawsuit filed by three of Benson’s family members who claim he’s not mentally fit to make important business decisions.

LRN Sportscast 16:45 January 30

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said today that Saints Owner Tom Benson is in complete control. Goodell made the statement after he was asked about the lawsuit filed against Benson by three of his family members who claim the 87-year-old owner is not mentally fit to make important business decisions….
cut 30 (11) “…what he’s doing”
Goodell called the family dispute unfortunate.

The high school football playoffs will remain split between select and non-select schools next season as the LHSAA has decided to give new executive director Eddie Bonine a year to solve the issues that created the split….
cut 14 (07) “…address them”
Bonine says one of his first acts when he officially takes over in March is to form a committee that will help develop possible solutions.

Pelicans All-star Anthony Davis is questionable for tonight’s home against the Los Angeles Clippers. Davis has a left groin strain. He’ll go through pre-game warm-ups, but head coach Monty Williams will make the final call on whether he plays. Tip-off is at seven P-M.

Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday as the Seahawks seek their second consecutive Lombardi Trophy. New England is no to stranger to the Super Bowl as well, but they have some new faces like former LSU wide receiver Brandon Lafell. JoJo says staying loose on game day will be one of his biggest challenges…
cut 18 (20) “….stay in the game”
Former Louisiana Tech punter Ryan Allen is also on the Patriots.

PM LRN Newscall January 30

State Fire Marshal’s officials are investigating a Thursday night mobile home fire in Marksville that has left four dead. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

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With Common Core testing scheduled for March, some families have decided on opting their kids out of taking the tests. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

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With Common Core testing scheduled for March, some families have decided on opting their kids out of taking the tests. BESE member Lottie Beebe says, according to information provided by the Department of Education, this will cause negative implications for schools and school systems…

CUT 3 (09)  “and school systems”

She says students who do not take the assessment test will be given a zero grade and that grade will passed on to schools and school districts. Beebe says another concern with this issue is whether or not a student who refuses to take the tests will be promoted. She says, right now, that’s up to the individual school districts, but it should be state policy…

CUT 4 (09)  “across the state”

So far, only a handful of families have opted their kids out of Common Core testing, but more are expected as the testing dates approach. Education Superintendent John White has recommended a “wait and see” approach, but Beebe says they need to be pro-active. She says BESE should hold a special meeting to address the “opt-out” movement…

CUT 5 (04)  “their concerns”

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State Fire Marshal’s officials are investigating a fire in Avoyelles Parish that has left four dead. Fire Marshall Butch Browning says the fire occurred just before midnight Thursday night at a mobile home in Marksville…

CUT 6 (07)  “in this fire”

Browning says a father, grandmother, son, and daughter all perished in the blaze. The victims’ ages range from 10 to 73-years-old. Browning says firefighters tried to do a search of the mobile home, but the flames were too intense…

CUT 7 (10)  “the fire starting”

Browning says they believe the four victims were asleep at the time of the fire. He says the mother of the children was at work when the blaze broke out. Browning says the investigation is in its initial stages…

CUT 8 (06) “caused this fire”

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

Mitt Romney announces he’s decided not to run for president next year, so what could that mean for Governor Bobby Jindal? 2016 would have been Romney’s third run at the White House. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says Romney is one less main-stream contender that Jindal has to compete with…:

CUT 9 (10)  “conservative wing”

Cross says Romney passed on Jindal as a vice presidential contender last time saying the two never really connected so him bowing out of the race also helps The Governor…:

cut 10 (09)  “Romney does”

Cross says anytime one of the main candidates drops out of a presidential race, it’s a victory for all of the remaining contenders…:

cut 11 (11) “to go”

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High school principals vote to keep the current split between public and private schools that exists with the football playoffs and allow the new executive director of the LHSAA, Eddie Bonine, develop solutions that could possibly bring the classes back together. Bonine says his first step will be to organize a committee to examine the issues that caused the split

cut 12 (10)  “many, many years”

Many principal Norman Booker authored proposals to divide the postseason between public and private schools in other sports, but it was voted down. Booker says private schools have advantages in the student enrollment process over public schools and he’ll seek try to help come up with a solution as well

cut 13 (09)  “drawing board”

Bonine says he wants to take a hard look at the issues that caused the split, and see if he can solve those, before he proposes a playoff format that high school principals can vote on next January….

cut 14 (07)  “address them”

11:40 LRN sportscast

A proposal to split postseason play between other sports than just high school football failed at today’s Louisiana High School Athletic Association annual converence. The proposal was from Many prinicpal Norman Booker who tried to convince fellow members of the LHSAA that the problems that led to the split in football exisit with other sports. But new LHSAA executive director Eddie Boninie urged schools to give him more time to come up with a solution regarding the split playoffs in football and that’s what they are doing.

Big win for Louisiana Tech basketball last night as the Bulldogs beat Western Kentucky 69 to 56. That’s 23 straight wins for Tech at home and they move into a first place tie with the Hilltoppers in the Conference USA Standings.

In the Sun Belt…U-L-M snapped a two-game losing streak with a 58-55 win in overtime over Troy, while the Ragin Cajuns fell to five and five in league play with an 89-85 loss to South Alabama. The Cajuns have lost five of their last six.

Sunday is the big game, Super Bowl 49. The Patriots versus the Seahawks. New England wide reciever and former LSU Tiger Brandon Lafell is fired up for his first Super bowl….
cut 17 (17) “….to come”
Other Louisiana connections to the Super Bowl. Former Louisiana Tech standout Ryan Allen is the Patriots punter. Northwestern State product Jeremy Lane is a defensive back for the Seahawks. Former LSU Tiger cornerback Tharold Simon is also on Seattle’s roster.

One of the top offensive tackles in the country have given a verbal pledge to LSU. Chidi Valentine-Okeke has picked LSU over Alabama, Auburn and Georgia. He’s six-foot-six, 306 pounds and a native of Nigeria. He currently plays high school ball in Georgia and there are concerns over whether he’ll be able qualify academically.

LRN Newscast 17:30 January 29

Former KKK leader and Louisiana lawmaker David Duke told the Jim Engster Show he may run against U-S Representative Steve Scalise in 2016. Duke is upset Scalise apologized for speaking to a white supremacist group in 2002. He called Scalise a sellout numerous times during the interview. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says if Duke did run, it could help Scalise…
cut 8 (08) ‘…what he stands for”

The Tom Benson Family Fued has been dominating Louisiana headlines over the last week. But legal analyst Tim Meche says the real litigation will likely take place in San Antonio as a judge there will decide if Benson can transfer the Saints and Pelicans out of the family trust…
cut 4 (11) “…the Pelicans”

There are a lot of Mardi Gras Krewes in Louisiana getting nervous as most of their custom throws have not arrived yet and Fat Tuesday is just around the corner. There was an ongoing labor dispute at a Los Angeles port which held up thousands of signature Mardi Gras products, but Beads By the Dozen President Dan Kelly says tensions have calmed…:
CUT 9 (12) “two to three days”
Kelly says almost every Carnival Krewe was affected by the delay and distribution days have been rescheduled for next week.

And in Washington…the republican led US Senate approved legislation this afternoon that authorizes construction of the Keystone Pipeline, which would transport oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast. It passed on a 62-36 vote, but that’s five votes short of overriding a likely Presidential veto from Barack Obama.

LRN sportscast 16:45

Louisiana Tech can move into a first place tie with Western Kentucky in the Conference USA standings if they can beat the Hilltoppers tonight at the Thomas Assembly Center. Bulldogs senior guard Speedy Smith says the players are looking forward to tonight’s match-up….
cut 18 (15) “….big opportunity”
Tech has won 22 straight games at home. Tonight’s game tips-off at six P-M. Also tonight, the Ragin Cajuns are at South Alabama and ULM visits Troy.

An M-R-I has revealed that Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis has a grade one strain to his groin. He’s listed as day-to-day. Davis injured his leg in last night’s loss to Denver. New Orleans hosts the Clippers tomorrow night.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees and former LSU star and Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Junior set the Guiness World Record for most one-handed catches in one minute. Beckham caught 33 passes with one hand from Brees during a taping on ESPN’s NFL live.

One of the top offensive tackles in the country gave his verbal pledge to sign with LSU today. His name is Chidi Valentine-Okeke and he’s from Stockbridge, Georgia. He picked LSU over Alabama and Auburn. He’s listed by scout-dot-com as the seventh best offensive tackle prospect in the country.

Last night in college…LSU won their third straight, beating South Carolina 64-58. The Tigers are now 5-and-2 in the SEC in a four-way tie for second place. The Bayou Bengals are at Mississippi State on Saturday.

And LSU quarterback Brandon Harris has no plans on transferring that’s according to his high school coach David Feaster. Feaster admitted in a radio interview that he encouraged Harris to leave LSU, because of lack of playing time.

PM LRN Newscall January 29

The legal drama between the Benson family over ownership of the Saints and Pelicans could drag on for a year or more in courtrooms in New Orleans and San Antonio. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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Former KKK leader David Duke’s challenge to run against Steve Scalise for the 1st Congressional District seat likely won’t happen according to pundits. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

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The legal drama between the Benson family over ownership of the Saints and Pelicans could drag on for a year or more. The scene will play out in courtrooms in New Orleans and San Antonio. Legal analyst Tim Meche says an Orleans Civil District Court Judge could rule whether or not Tom Benson is physically and mentally fit to handle his business affairs by spring…

CUT 3 (12)  “likely result”

Meche says the real litigation will take place in San Antonio involving whether or not Tom Benson can transfer the teams out of the family trust. He says, thus far, Benson has been unsuccessful in his attempts to do so…

CUT 4 (11)  “the Pelicans”

He says that case will involve a lot of legal maneuvering and possibly courts of appeal. There is always a chance that the two sides could negotiate a settlement which would bring this to a quicker solution. Meche feels, at this point in the game, both sides are engaging in a public relations war…

CUT 5 (11)  “to get worse”

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So how likely would it be that former KKK leader and Louisiana lawmaker David Duke would be elected again here? Not very likely according to political analyst Bernie Pinsonat. Duke challenged Congressman Steve Scalise to step down for apologizing about speaking to a white supremacist group in 2002. Pinsonat says Duke is only milking this for attention…:

CUT 6 (10)  “long as possible”

Duke took it a step further and said that he would consider challenging the House Majority Whip in the next election for the 1st District Seat. Pinsonat says Duke is just trying to get publicity and he will probably never get re-elected in Louisiana if he chooses to run…:

CUT 7 (08)  “apologizing”

Duke made the comments on Louisiana Radio Network’s Jim Engster Show. Pinsonat says if anything, this would allow Scalise to set the record straight that he doesn’t agree with Duke…:

CUT 8 (08) “and what he stands for”

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There are a lot of Mardi Gras Krewes in Louisiana getting nervous as most of their custom throws have not arrived yet and Fat Tuesday is just around the corner. There was an ongoing labor dispute at a Los Angeles port which held up thousands of signature Mardi Gras product, but Beads By the Dozen President Dan Kelly says tensions have calmed…:

CUT 9 (12)  “two to three days”

Kelly says his containers were stuck in the middle of a bad contract argument between dock workers and the shipping companies in LA but all parties have cooperated. He says they’ve rescheduled all distribution days with the Krewes for next week…:

cut 10 (07)  “back up and runnin again”

Kelly says almost every Carnival Krewe was affected by the delay. He says now all of the Mardi Gras containers are being taken off ships and hopefully will be put on trains over the next two days…:

cut 11 (06) “safe Mardi Gras”

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office has determined that yesterday’s fire in Calhoun, where two bodies were recovered, was a murder suicide. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says they believe the situation began with a domestic dispute between 52-year-old Larry Lisotta and his wife, 57-year-old Diane Lisotta…

cut 12 (09)  “suicide himself”

Browning says hey have determined that Larry Lisotta shot his wife in the head and then turned the gun on himself. He says this appears to be an isolated incident and do not believe anyone else was involved…

cut 13 (05)  “tragic deaths”

Browning says they believe Larry started the fire after he shot Diane. He says the investigation is still ongoing in this unfortunate incident…

cut 14 (06)  “two individuals”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU men’s basketball team won its third straight last night as they defeated South Carolina 64-58. The Tigers finished the game by scoring 12 of the final 14 points. Josh Gray had seven points, and had a critical three-pointer down the stretch. Tim Quarterman had 16 points to lead LSU in scoring. Jordan Mickey had 14 points, six rebounds and six blocked shots, two of them coming on South Carolina’s final offensive possession.

Tonight, Louisiana Tech looks for its 23rd straight win at home as they host Western Kentucky. Bulldogs Coach Michael White says tonight is about protecting their home floor against a really good team…
cut 17 (10) “….the opportunity”
A win for Tech and they move into a first place tie with Western Kentucky in Conference USA. Tip-off is at 6 PM.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees appeared on Conan O’ Brien last night and of course he was asked about Deflategate…
cut 30 (20) “….laughter

Now to a not so much laughing matter. The Pelicans Anthony Davis will undergo an MRI today on his groin. He sustained the injury in last night’s 93-85 loss to Denver. Davis suffered the injury in the third quarter, but came back in the fourth quarter. Coach Monty Williams removed Davis from the game in the final minute, after noticing that he was dragging his leg. New Orleans hosts Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

And LSU quarterback Brandon Harris has no plans on transferring that’s according to his high school coach David Feaster. Feaster admitted in a radio interview that he encouraged Harris to leave LSU.