12:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry signs an executive order that keeps a big property tax break in place for manufacturers, but it removes the job creation requirement that was added during the Edwards’ administration. Landry says the job creation requirement only created bureaucratic red tape…
cut 9 (06) “…into Louisiana”
But the faith based group, Together Louisiana, says the change to the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program is just a gift for corporations.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife agents have charged a Morehouse Parish man for killing a black bear. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says 45-year-old George Mosely confessed to harvesting the bear with a bow and arrow in Richland Parish last October…
cut 14 (12) “…2024 hunting season”
Mosely faces hundreds of dollars in fines and could spend a few months in prison.

There are three bills sponsored by Kenner Republican Debbie Villio that will gut the 2017 Justice Reinvestment Initiatives and drastically reduce a prisoner’s opportunity for early release. In House Criminal Justice, Villio advocated for House Bill 9 that eliminates parole eligibility for crimes committed after August 1st of this year.
Cut 12 (13) “…a difference.”
Former Gretna Representative Joe Marino attended the hearing to speak against the bill. Marino says eliminating parole and forcing prisoners to serve 85% of their sentence…
Cut 13 (13) “…to want.”
The bill heads to the House floor for more debate.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says he’s bringing back a bill in the regular session that failed to pass in the past. This proposal would put an end to the requirement that motorists have to get a vehicle inspection sticker….
cut 2 (32) “….I’m Teiko Foxx”

Are you having trouble making a phone call this morning? AT&T and several other cell phone providers are reporting service outages and it’s a nationwide problem. AT-and-T encourages Wi-Fi calling until service is restored.

During this special session on crime, House and Senate committees have been approving bills that seek to limit parole opportunities for offenders, stronger penalties for car jacking and expanding the methods to execute a death row inmate. There’s also a bill that would give non felon adults the ability to conceal carry without a permit. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross…
cut 6 (13) “….other direction”

The state health department has confirmed two measles cases in the Greater New Orleans area. The individuals were diagnosed after returning from an out of state trip. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease expert Doctor Fred Lopez says measles symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after an infection…
cut 11 (11) “…can be seen”
Lopez says get vaccinated against the measles if you are not already immune.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Jeff Landy’s tough on crime proposals are facing little opposition in the special session. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Two criminal justice advocacy groups believe the public is not having enough of an opportunity to have their say on Landry’s criminal justice proposals and they’ve filed a restraining order in the hopes a judge will stop the Legislature from voting on these measures on the House floor.

45-year-old George Mosely of Oak Ridge faces hundreds of dollars in fines and possible jail time in connection with the killing of a Black Bear and other hunting violations. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck details what agents found in Mosley’s Morehouse Parish home….
cut 13 (07) “>…as well”
Einck says Mosely admitted to killing the black bear with a bow and arrow in Richland Parish last October.

Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley will ask lawmakers in the regular session if the state should remove the requirement that motorists have their vehicles inspected every year or every other year. Bagley says it serves no purpose because law enforcement can stop you if you’re driving an unsafe vehicle…
cut 8 (12) “….each year”
The bill will be heard in the upcoming regular session.

7:30 LRN Newscast

Today the Louisiana House and Senate will vote on several of Governor Jeff Landry’s tough on crime proposals….
cut 4 (09) “…his way”
That’s U-L M political science professor Pearson Cross. The Senate convenes at 9 AM and they’ll vote on a bill that would require 17-year-olds accused of a felony to be prosecuted as an adult.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife agents have charged a Morehouse Parish man for killing a black bear. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says 45-year-old George Mosely confessed to harvesting the bear with a bow and arrow in Richland Parish last October…
cut 14 (12) “…2024 hunting season”
Mosely faces hundreds of dollars in fines and could spend a few months in prison.

The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed two cases of measles in the Greater New Orleans area. Colleen Crain has the story…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Two elderly residents from Saline were killed when their vehicle struck a tree that had fallen across both lanes of Louisiana Highway nine at the Bienville-Natchitoches Parish line on Tuesday night. State Police troopers say 82-year-old Clois Williams and 78-year-old Mary Williams were not buckled up and died at the scene.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

What a game in the Maravich Center last night as the LSU Tigers rallied from 15-points down early in the second half to beat 17th ranked Kentucky at the buzzer, 75 to 74. Tyrell Ward scored the winning bucket on a tip in as he took a pass from Jordan Wright who was falling out of bounds along the baseline. Coach Matt McMahon says it was an amazing ending…
cut 21 (16) “…the game”
It’s the second straight win for McMahon and the Tigers over a ranked opponent. They are now 6-7 in the SEC and they’ll host Mississippi State on Saturday night.

Tonight…ULM hosts the Ragin Cajuns, Louisiana Tech is at UTEP and the Pelicans return from the NBA All-Star break to host the Houston Rockets.

The 13th-ranked LSU Lady Tigers host Auburn tonight. Auburn upset LSU last month and Coach Kim Mulkey says they are looking forward to the rematch…
Cut 17 (16) “…they will.”
LSU has won four in a row. Tip time is at 8 PM.

The second ranked LSU baseball team returns to the diamond this afternoon to host Northern Illinois at 2 PM. The Tigers are 4-0 and designated hitter Hayden Travinski says it’s been a good start…
cut 20 (16) “….good spot”
UCLA transfer Gage Jump will start on the mound for the Tigers.

6:30 LRN Newscast

The House and Senate are scheduled to vote today on several of Governor Jeff Landry’s proposals that attempt to reduce crime in Louisiana. The Republican controlled legislature is in support of these measures and ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says it appears the state will soon have much stricter criminal justice code that will not allow for many options for an inmate to get out of jail before their sentence is up…
cut 5 (09) “….of prison”

Louisiana has two confirmed cases of measles. The state health department says two New Orleans area residents who recently returned from an out of state trip were diagnosed with the viral infection. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease expert Dr. Fred Lopez says it’s a wake-up call to get vaccinated if you’re not immune…
Cut 10 (10) “…has measles.”

Could Louisiana’s vehicle inspection stickers become a thing of the past? A state lawmaker hopes his proposal to get rid of inspection stickers passes in the upcoming regular session. Teiko Foxx has more….
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Big crowd is expected tonight at the Maravich Center as the LSU men’s basketball team hosts 17th ranked Kentucky. The Wildcats average 88 points a game, third highest in college basketball. Fifth year senior Antonio Reeves leads the Wildcats, averaging nearly 20 points a game. Two of Kentucky’s top NBA prospects, Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard, usually come off the bench. Tigers Coach Matt McMahon says the players understand the challenge…
cut 17 (19) “….to win”
Tip off is at 8 Pm.

Tomorrow night the Pelicans return from the All-Star Break as they’ll host Houston. New Orleans is 33 and 22 and tied for fifth place in the West. 27 games left in the regular season.

Saints Coach Dennis Allen believes quarterback Derek Carr will perform exceptionally well in Klint Kubiak’s system. The 37-year-old Kubiak replaces longtime Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. Kubiak was the 49ers passing game coordinator this past season and Allen says the scheme run in San Francisco gives players the best chance to have success in the NFL. Allen made the comments on the NFL Network.

Carencro football coach Tony Courville has announced his retirement. Bears offensive coordinator Gavin Peters will take over. Courville led Carencro to a state championship in 2020.

Former Lafayette Christian Head Football Coach Trev Faulk will serve as Lafayette Renaissance Charter’s football director and Hunter Landry will be the head coach. Landry was the head coach at LCA last season. Lafayette Renaissance Charter will be able to compete for district honors for the first time this year after completing a two year probationary period.

Alexandria Senior High offensive coordinator Ben McLaughlin has reportedly been named the new head coach at Louisiana Christian. McLaughlin is L-C-U’s all-time passing leader and is in school’s hall of fame.

LRN PM Newscall February 21

For the first time in the company’s history, Entergy Louisiana has reached a new milestone in its commitment to using sustainable energy solutions. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Legislation that would allow prosecutors to charge 17-year-olds accused of a felony as an adult is receiving support from state senators. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

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Entergy Louisiana announces its renewable power is exceeding coal in energy production for the first time. Director of Resource Planning Laura Beauchamp says this is a significant milestone for the company.

Cut 3 (12) “…five years.”  

Data from the company’s 2023 power generation report shows renewable energy production totaled one point one million megawatt hours. Beauchamp points out solar energy reduces carbon emissions and offers many benefits.

Cut 4 (13) “…in Louisiana.”

Beauchamp says the company has approximately 230 megawatts of renewable resources including the Capital Region Solar facility, which began delivering power to the grid in October 2020. She says they’re proud to transition towards cleaner energy sources while delivering reliable and affordable power.

Cut 5 (10) “…in Louisiana.”

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A bill that would Repeal the Age Act that went into effect in 2019 is making its way through the legislative process. The legislation approved in 2017 raised the age to 18 at which a person charged with a felony can be charged as a adult. But lawmakers want to lower the age back down to 17. It has the support of prosecutors. Avoyelles Parish District Attorney Charles Riddle

Cut 6  (08) “…for that” 

Current law does allow prosecutors to charge a 17-year-old as an adult in cases when a violent crime is committed. But 17-year-olds who commit lesser crimes go through the juvenile justice system. But University of Louisiana at Lafayette professor Matthew Green says existing law should stay in place…

Cut 7 (10) “…state”  

But state lawmakers are hearing from law enforcement and prosecutors that crimes involving 17-year-olds is on the rise. Lake Charles Senator Jeremy Stine says having 17-year-olds in the juvenile justice system is not working…

Cut 8 (11) “…ridiculous” 

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Lawmakers debated the privacy portion of a bill to protect the names and drug manufacturers involved in the executions of death row inmates. In House Governmental Affairs, Mandeville Representative Christopher Kim Carver asked Hammond Representative Nick Muscarello about his legislation.

Cut 9 (12) “…novel content.” 

New Orleans Democrat Candace Newell fears protecting the identities of those involved with an execution goes against “truth and transparency,” however she also believes those who are merely doing their jobs should not be threatened.

Cut 10 (14) “…not going to do that.”

The bill would allow for criminal and civil penalties against those who reveal the identities of those involved with an execution. New Orleans Democrat Rep. Delisha Boyd reiterated a goal for truth and transparency in government and made the point that bullies should be held liable for their actions.

Cut 11 (10) “…as well.”

The bill passed in House Criminal Justice Tuesday and passed favorably in House Governmental Affairs on a 12-5 vote today and advances to the House Floor.

10:30 LRN Newscast

The House Criminal Justice Committee approves legislation that would shield from public view the names of drug makers that provide the state the chemicals used to perform a lethal injection. Hammond Representative Nicholas Muscarello says the death penalty is already legal and he told Pineville Representative Mike Johnson says his bill is designed to restart executions in the state…
cut 9 (08) “….absolutely not”
The bill would also expand the methods the state can use to execute a death row inmate. One of the options would be nitrogen gas. There were members of the public who spoke against it
cut 8 (11) “….the process”

USDA Census numbers show the number of farms in Louisiana fell by more than two-thousand from 2017 to 2022. Teiko Foxx reports owners of smaller farm land have struggled to keep up with cost of fertilizer and other input costs…
cut 1 (25) “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

A crawfish named Sherbin in Breaux Bridge has been pardoned and will not meet his fate in a crawfish boil. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser does this every year to highlight the crawfish industry and because of a low supply of mudbugs, this year is difficult…
cut 15 (10) “..tough season”

8:30 LRN Newscast

A bill to expand ways to execute death row inmates in Louisiana advances from House Criminal Justice. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (39) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Also advancing on Tuesday was a bill that would result in 17-year-old offenders being charged as adults. It would repeal the Raise the Age Law that was approved in 2016.

A Senate committee has approved legislation that would allow non felon adults to possess a concealed handgun without a permit or training. A New Orleans Police Department official told the panel permits help enssure gun owners receive firearm safety training, but West Monroe Senator Jay Morris says criminals in New Orleans do not care about safety training…
cut 12 (10) “…the city”
The measure heads to the full Senate.

A crawfish named Sherbin in Breaux Bridge has been pardoned and will not meet his fate in a crawfish boil. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has pardoned Sherbin, named after the mayor of Henderson. The Lt. Governor does this every year to highlight the crawfish industry and because of a low supply of mudbugs this year is difficult…
cut 15 (10) “..tought season”