LRN PM Newscall February 29

After the body of missing 19-year-old Sheryl Turner of New Iberia was found in Catahoula Parish, authorities say they are following up on multiple leads. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Legislation that would restart executions of death row inmates in Louisiana received final legislative approval after an emotional vote on the Senate floor. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 2 (35)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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The body of 19-year-old Sheryl Turner of New Iberia was positively identified as the one found on January 24th in the Ouachita River. She was last seen alive around New Year’s. Catahoula Parish Sheriff Toney Edwards says they are following up on leads which includes Turner’s social media activity and friends.

Cut 3 (09) “…particular area.”  

Turner’s dismembered body was found floating in the Ouachita River by a fisherman approximately three miles north of Jonesville. Edwards says deputies are working with deputies in Iberia Parish and areas in between.

Cut 4 (11) “…incident.” 

Edwards says Turner was last seen by family members and left with a friend headed to north Louisiana at the beginning of the year. He says they are following up on leads as to that person’s identity and multiple law enforcement agencies are assisting in the investigation.

Cut 5 (10) “..work with.”

If you have any information about the case, you are asked to contact the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Department.

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Preliminary estimates show Louisiana’s crawfish crop loss approaches 140 million dollars and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain has written 2 letters this month to the Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture Tom Vilsack requesting federal assistance under the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program. His second letter sent Wednesday requested expansion or clarification…

Cut 6  (10) “…for crawfish.” 

Last year’s drought was unprecedented and losses to several of Louisiana’s industries reached around one point seven billion dollars. Strain says ELAP needs to expand to help struggling crawfish farmers.

Cut 7 (10) “…main problem.”  

Strain was in Washington D.C. earlier this month and met with Louisiana’s congressional delegation. He discussed the struggles of the crawfish farmers and how slow the season is going. He’s also meeting with state legislators.

Cut 8 (09) “…the drought.” 

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Legislation that would expand the methods Louisiana can use to carry out a death sentence has received final legislative passage. The Louisiana Senate approved the bill that would allow the state to use the electric chair or nitrogen gas to end a death row inmate’s life. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis voted against the proposal…

Cut 9 (09) “…simply unacceptable.” 

Religious arguments were also made against the bill. New Orleans Senator Gary Carter says the legislation is unconstitutional because the death penalty is applied in a discriminatory way…

Cut 10 (13) “…against this.”

The last execution in Louisiana was in 2010 as the state can not obtain the drugs needed to carry out a lethal injection. This bill requires that lethal injection records must be sealed. This will give the drug companies who make the chemicals needed for a lethal injection more confidence to supply the necessary drugs.

Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud says the death penalty is already legal and this legislation gives the state the tools to resume executions…

Cut 11 (10) “…this vote”

Right before the vote, Port Allen Senator Caleb Kleinpeter recognized the families of victims of death penalty cases who were watching from the Senate Gallery with Governor Jeff Landry…

Cut 12 (05)  “…the victims”  

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Louisiana lawmakers passed a bill that will lengthen the amount a time a first-offense DWI offender must have an ignition interlock device in order to drive. Current law is three months, a bill approved by the House extends it to six months. Covington Representative Mark Wright says the longer time period will help create the habit of not drinking and driving

Cut 13 (09) “..what’s necessary”  

The bill passed the House on 93-to-1 vote. Several lawmakers raised concerns about the installation and maintenance of the interlock ignition device, which Wright estimated was 500-dollars. He says financial assistance is available for low-income individuals…

Cut  14 (08) “..drink or drive.”

11:30 LRN Newscast

Legislation that would expand the methods Louisiana can use to carry out a death sentence is nearing final legislative passage. The Louisiana Senate approved the bill that would allow the state to use the electric chair or nitrogen gas to end a death row inmate’s life. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis voted against the proposal…
cut 9 (09) “…simply unacceptable”
Religious arguments were also made against the bill and opponents also called the death penalty inhumane. But Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud says the death penalty is already legal in Louisiana and it’s time to re-start executions in the state by requiring that lethal injections records sealed…
cut 11 (10) ” this vote”
The last execution in Louisiana was in 2010 as the state can not obtain the drugs needed to carry out a lethal injection.
The permitless concealed handgun bill has received final legislative approval in the House and the lower chamber also sent a bill to the governor’s desk that will result in 17-year-olds who commit felonies to be treated as adults. Democrats fought back against both proposals. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle on the legislation that puts 17-year-old offenders in the adult prison system…
cut 19 (10) “…single thing”

The body of 19-year-old Sheryl Turner of New Iberia was positively identified as the one found on January 24th in the Ouachita River. She was last seen alive around New Year’s. Catahoula Parish Sheriff Toney Edwards says they are following up on leads which includes Turner’s social media activity and friends.
Cut 3 (09) “…particular area.”
Turner’s dismembered body was found floating in the Ouachita River by a fisherman approximately three miles north of Jonesville.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana adults who are not felons will soon be allowed to carry a concealed handgun without a permit or training as a result of a bill given final legislative approval by the House. Pineville Representative Mike Johnson says criminals are walking around with concealed guns so law-abiding citizens should legally have the same opportunity…
Cut 30 (15) “…defend themselves.”

And the Senate has sent a bill to the governor’s desk that would increase the penalties for a drug dealer convicted of packaging fentanyl so it would appeal to children. A person convicted of this proposed law would face 25 to 99 years in prison. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris hopes this legislation will save a young person’s life
Cut 14 (07) “..from fentanyl.”

A St. Martin Parish woman is asking for any clues in hopes of finding her husband who went missing five months ago. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Krewe of Freret is taking the bold step and prohibiting plastic beads from being thrown by its members in the future. Freret Captain Bobby Hjortsberg says plastic beads contain toxins, they end up in trees and wreak havoc on New Orleans’ drainage system.
Cut 7 (09) “…bad idea.”

8:30 LRN Newscast

Heading to the governor’s desk is a bill that would put 17-year-olds who commit felonies in the adult criminal justice system. The legislation repeals a law that went into effect in 2019 that prosecutes non-violent 17-year-olds as juveniles. But Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews says 17-year-olds are becoming more violent
Cut 10 (10) “…society.”
LaPlace Representative Sylvia Taylor doesn’t like the idea of sending 17-year-olds to an adult prison without any educational services.…
Cut 13 (09) “…be better.”
Also heading to the governor’s desk is the bill that allows non-felon adults to conceal carry a gun without a permit.

The Krewe of Feret has made the decision that they will no longer throw plastic beads during their uptown New Orleans parade. Freret Captain Bobby Hjortsberg says their co-ed and diverse organization has been thinking about doing away with plastic beads for some time, but because their Krewe is only 13 years old, they didn’t want to rock the boat.
Cut 8 (11) “…the decision.
Hjortsberg says the platic beads contain toxins that wreak havoc on New Orleans’ drainage system.

A baby pig that was tossed around like a football along a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade route by three men has received a full pardon from Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. “Earl the Pig Long” has been officially adopted by state representative Lauren Ventrella to live on her farm in Central. Nungesser and Ventrella on what is next for Earl.
Cut 22 (09) “…lobbying efforts.”

7:30 LRN Newscast

State lawmakers approve a bill that will make it legal to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. The law will go into effect July 4th. The legislature has also passed a bill that results in 17-year-olds who commit felonies will be charged as adults, instead of going through the juvenile justice system. Marksville Representative Daryl Deshotel says juvenile detention facilities have been plagued with problems since 17-year-olds have been added to the population.
Cut 11 (11) “…to hospitals.”
The Senate has sent a bill to the governor’s desk that would increase the penalties for a drug dealer convicted of packaging fentanyl so it would appeal to children. A person convicted of this proposed law would face 25 to 99 years in prison. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris hopes this legislation will save a young person’s life
Cut 14 (07) “..from fentanyl.”

The Krewe of Freret in New Orleans is taking a bold step to make plastic beads a thing of the past.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

In St. Martin Parish, Lara Daspit is desperately looking for her 58-year-old husband Bill Daspit. He’s not been seen since September 10th when he was involved in a motorcycle crash near their home, which is close to St. Martinville. She says her husband is white, with brown hair and 5-10….
cut 5 (06) “…unusual eyes”

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The third ranked LSU baseball team had an easy 16-4 win over the Rice Owls last night. Catcher Brady Neal hit two home runs and Freshman left-hander pitcher Kade Anderson did not allow an earned run over five innings.

Also last night…Louisiana Tech stayed undefeated with a 13-4 win over McNeese. The Ragin Cajuns beat Northwestern State 14 to 4, South Alabama outscored Nicholls 11 to 10 in ten innings and Southeastern did not allow a hit in a 12-0 win over Mississippi Valley State.

LSU women’s basketball is at Georgia tonight. Coach Kim Mulkey expects this will be the final year for Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith…
cut 16 (16) “…what they wanted to do”

The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball won its fifth straight game last night as they dribbled past Western Kentucky 90-84. Isaiah Crawford led the way with 20 points and Sean Newman Junior had 19.

The Ragin Cajuns late season slide continued last night as U-L Lafayette lost to Troy 87 to 73. Coach Bob Marlin’s team made only one three-pointer, while Troy made nine and the Cajuns were careless with the basketball…
cut 18 (20) “…Southern Miss”
U-L hosts the Golden Eagles on Friday.

The Pelicans got off to a slow start and lost to Indiana 123 to 104.

At the girls high school basketball tournament, semifinal action, Rosepine, South Beauregard, Wossman and Amite.

6:30 LRN Newscast

A couple of bills from the crime special session received final legislative passage on Wednesday. The permitless concealed handgun bill received final legislative approval in the House and the lower chamber also sent a bill to the governor’s desk that will result in 17-year-olds who commit felonies to be treated as adults. Democrats fought back against both proposals. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle on the legislation that puts 17-year-old offenders in the adult prison system…
cut 12 (10) “…single thing”
Meanwhile, the Louisiana Senate gave final legislative approval to a bill that would lock up drug dealers for at least 25 years if they present fentanyl in a way that would attract a minor in taking it. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris…
cut 15 (10) “…younger audience”
That bill received unanimous approval in the Senate.

Five months ago, 58-year-old Bill Daspit vanished, and his wife Lara (pronounced Laura) Daspit has put up billboards in the Lafayette area in hopes of finding him. She says he was last seen on video the evening of September 10th after wrecking his motorcycle near their home in the small town of Coteau Holmes in St. Martin Parish
Cut 4 (10) “…not right.”
Coteau Homles is approximately seven miles east of St. Martinville.

Daspit says her husband wears thick sunglasses due to his glaucoma and they were found alongside his helmet and motorcycle in a ditch about 100 yards from their home

A Mardi Gras krewe in New Orleans has made the decision that they will no longer throw plastic beads. Freret Captain Bobby Hjortsberg says the feedback to do away with beads has been extremely positive and Freret along with other krewes in New Orleans are focused on more sustainable throws like socks, luggage tags, masks, and hats. Hjortsberg says even local bead vendors are jumping on the trend and expanding their options.
Cut 9 (04) “…be fine.”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels reportedly met with the Saints at the NFL draft combine. Daniels could be the number two overall pick, but the Saints have the 14th selection in the first round. WWL Radio football analyst Mike Detillier says Saints executives like to speak with the top players in the draft…
Cut 10 (11) “…twice a year.”
Daniels is not working out at the combine in Indianapolis.

The LHSAA has stripped Opelousas High School of its first football state title, which they won last December. The Association says Opelousas used an ineligible player in the Division Two non-select state championship game and during the 2023 season. The school plans to appeal the ruling next month. If the ruling is upheld, the championship title for division two non-select will be vacant.

LSU officials are looking at building a new on campus arena, but it would not just host basketball, volleyball and gymnastics meets. The venue would also host concerts and other entertainment events. Lady Tigers basketball coach Kim Mulkey has lobbied for a new arena, but she’s not a fan of sharing lockerrooms with a musical performer…
cut 13 (11) “…everyday”
LSU says they are in the preliminary stages of financing and building a new arena for sports, music and entertainment. Projected cost is over 300-million dollars.

3:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana adults who are not felons will soon have the ability to carry a concealed handgun without a permit or training as a result of a bill given final legislative approval by the House today. Pineville Representative Mike Johnson says crime is a major problem and this legislation will give law abiding residents a chance to defend themselves
Cut 3 (09) “…a gun”
For Louisiana adults to conceal carry, they have to get a permit, which requires training. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle does not like the idea of thousands of people possessing a gun without adequate training…
Cut 4 (06) “….pull it out”
The House approved the bill on 75-28 vote. Governor Jeff Landry plans to sign it and it will go into effect on July 4th.

The piglet that was tossed around like a football near a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade received a full pardon from Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser today and “Earl the Pig Long” has been officially adopted by East Baton Rouge Representative Lauren Ventrella….
cut 7 (12) “…least of these”
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The Tiger Athletic Foundation is discussing building a new arena on campus that would host sporting events as well as music concerts and other entertainment activities. Lady Tigers basketball coach Kim Mulkey has said in the past it’s time to replace the 52-year-old Maravich Center and is glad there’s conversation…
Cut 12 (11) “…the ground”
Projected price tag is at least 300-million dollars.

2:30 LRN Newscast

A bill that would allow non felon adults to conceal a handgun without a permit or training is heading to the governor’s desk. The full House gave final legislative approval to the measure today. New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry expressed concern about numerous individuals possessing guns in large crowds…
cut 5 (11) “….Bourbon Street”
Supporters of the legislation say permitless carry will give law abiding adults a chance to defend themselves.

LSU Heisman Trophy quarterback Jayden Daniels will not work out at the NFL Draft combine in Indianapolis this week. WWL Radio football analyst Mike Detillier says it’s not a big deal that Daniels does not throw, he says the physical exam and interviews with NFL teams are more important…
cut 11 (08) “…for the NFL”

The LHSAA has stripped Opelousas High School of its first football state title, which they won last December. The Association says Opelousas used an ineligible player in the Division Two non-select state championship game and during the 2023 season. The school plans to appeal the ruling next month.

The piglet tossed around like a football at a Mardi Gras parade has a new home and made Louisiana history today. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”