12:30 LRN Newscast

Dry and windy conditions have increased the fire danger for Louisiana. LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin has more..

Cut 1 (35) “…statewide.”

Yesterday, there were several hundred acres that were burning along I-12 in St. Tammany Parish. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain…

Cut 7 (08) “…of the Interstate”

 

With students posting threats against schools on social media in increasing numbers year after year, one state lawmaker has filed a bill aimed at putting a stop to it. Pineville Representative Mike Johnson’s bill would increase the penalty for terrorizing a school to 15-thousand dollars or up to 15 years in prison, and parents would be held financially responsible. Johnson says there would be certain instances where parents could face even more severe consequences.

Cut 9 (10)  “…them criminally liable.”

Johnson says under his bill, all students will know about the state law and the consequences surrounding it – all in a way that they can understand.

A year-long narcotics investigation in Terrebonne Parish has resulted in six arrests and the largest methamphetamine seizure in the history of the sheriff’s office, approximately 70 pounds. Lt. Blake Tabor says the coordinated operation also resulted in the recovery of significant quantities of other dangerous narcotics…

Cut 12 (06) “…if you will”

The six people arrested range in ages 25 to 59 and live in Houma, Gray and Schriever.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The top ranked LSU baseball team improved its record 8-0 with three wins in Jacksonville this past weekend. The Tigers completed the weekend with an 11 to nothing mercy rule victory over U-C-F as William Schmidt threw five shutout innings. Coach Jay Johnson says it was high quality baseball that is sustainable…

Cut 16 (16) “…three innings.”

Cade Arrambide hit his second home run in as many days. Derek Curiel and Jake Brown each drove in three runs.

It was also a good weekend on the diamond for Louisiana Tech and the Ragin Cajuns. The Bulldogs beat Ohio State twice and Memphis. U-L Lafayette swept Maryland and on Friday and Sunday, the Cajuns won in walk-off fashion, with freshman shortstop Blaze Rodriguez driving in the winning run.

The seventh ranked LSU women’s basketball team laid the hammer down on Missouri yesterday beating the Tigers 108 to 55. LSU had 72 rebounds and tied a program record for margin of victory in an SEC game. Freshman forward ZaKiyah Johnson had 17 points and career high 14 board. Mikaylah Williams, who didn’t play in the second half of last Thursday’s come from behind win over Ole Miss, had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Coach Kim Mulkey also likes what Williams did on the defensive end

Cut 20 (13) “…Florida really well.”

Grace Slaughter had 14 points on 3 of 12 shooting. LSU hosts Tennessee on Thursday.

The Winter Olympics are over in Italy. Norway won the most medals with 41. The U-S won 33 and the 12 gold medals are the most ever for the United States in the Winter Olympics.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Dry and windy conditions has sparked several grass and wilfdfires. Separate fires have burned 40 acres or more in Natchitoches and Caddo Parish. The situation got so bad in St. Tammany Parish that I-12 was closed for several hours yesterday because of all of the smoke.

President Trump approves Governor Landry’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for nine parishes in north Louisiana impacted by last month’s winter storm. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

A federal appeals court has upheld a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says this by no means ends the case as the ACLU is expected to appeal the decision…

Cut 15 (12) “….to their context”

The ACLU says the displaying of the Ten Commandments in public classrooms violates the separation of church and state, as they say public schools exist to educate, not indoctrinate. But Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill says don’t’ kill or steal should not be controversial.

A bill filed for the upcoming legislative session would allow the Louisiana Department of Ag to get involved in the testing of imported shrimp for banned antibiotics. Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, Blake Price, says only a very small percentage of imported shrimp is ever tested for banned antibiotics…

Cut 8(11) “….unfit for consumption”

The legislative session begins next month.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana classrooms are given the green light to start putting up the Ten Commandments posters. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Governor Jeff Landry will be in Shreveport later today to announce what his office calls a major economic development announcement. KTBS-TV is reporting that the state and local leaders are looking to open up three data centers in Caddo and Bossier Parishes.

 

A bill filed for the upcoming legislative session would add an additional layer in the fight against contaminated shrimp. Currently, the Louisiana Department of Health is the only state agency authorized to seize and destroy imported shrimp found to be contaminated at ports. Under a bill filed by Houma Representative Jessica Domangue, the Department of Ag would be added to that list. The bill has the support of Blake Price, the director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

Cut 7 (13) “…antibiotics and fungicide.”

Price says only a very small percentage of imported shrimp is ever tested for banned antibiotics.

American Airlines has added an additional non-stop round-trip flight between Monroe Regional Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The additional round-trip will be in the mid-morning hours and will get underway on April 7th. Monroe Regional Airport Director Charles Butcher hopes this is the continuation of additional economic development wins for the region.

Cut 12 (04) “…could lead to.”

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The top ranked LSU baseball team improved to 8-and-0 with three wins in Jacksonville over Indiana, Notre Dame and U-C-F.  Yesterday, the Tigers blanked the Knights 11 to nothing as William Schmidt pitched five shutout innings, striking out seven, walking one and allowing just three hits…

Cut 17 (23) “…watch out”

Cade Arrambide hit two home runs over the weekend and yesterday Derek Curiel and Jake Brown each drove in three runs.

La Tech had a 3-0 weekend in Memphis the Cajuns swept Maryland with a six to five win in 15 innings on Sunday.

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The seventh ranked LSU women’s basketball team set a school record in the NCAA women’s basketball championship era by grabbing 72 rebounds in their 108-55 thumping of the Missouri Tigers. Coach Kim Mulkey went with a smaller lineup and it resulted in everyone helping out on the glass..

Cut 19  (09) “…to watch.”

MiLaysia Fulwiley (my-LAY-zhuh full-WHY-lee) led LSU with 22 points and 11 rebounds. LSU hosts Tennessee on Thursday.

Louisiana Tech has won the Conference USA regular season title. It’s the Lady Techsters first outright conference championship in 15 years and the 38th title in program history.

The McNeese women has also won the Southland Conference title. It’s the third time the Cowgirls have done that and their first Southland championship since 2011. McNeese has won a school record 17 in a row.

LRN AM Newscall February 23

President Trump approves Governor Landry’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for nine parishes in north Louisiana impacted by last month’s winter storm. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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A bill in the legislature could add an extra layer of protection in imports of certain seafood. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Louisiana classrooms are given the green light to start putting up the Ten Commandments posters. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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President Trump has approved Governor Landry’s request for a Major Disaster declaration for nine parishes in north Louisiana from last month’s massive winter storm. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says the storm has cost state and local governments a lot of money so far, and the declaration will go a long way towards helping them out.

Cut 4 (10) “…at this point.”

Steele says the costs incurred by governments have been wide-ranging, with much more still to come.

Cut 5 (11) “…type of thing.”

Steele says the declaration, however, does not cover individuals at this point, since there weren’t a tremendous number of households impacted by the storm. Still, he says those who did sustain damage to their properties should report any damage to damage-dot-la-dot-gov. 

Cut 6 (07) “…the federal government.”

The nine parishes included in the declaration are Bienville, DeSoto, East Carroll, Franklin, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas and West Carroll parishes. Steele says more parishes may be added as damage assessment continues.

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A bill filed for the upcoming legislative session would add an additional layer in the fight against contaminated shrimp. Currently, the Department of Health and Hospitals is the only state agency authorized to seize and destroy imported shrimp found to be contaminated at ports. Under a bill filed by Houma Republican Representative Jessica Domangue, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry would be added to that list. The bill has the support of Blake Price, the director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

Cut 7 (13) “…antibiotics and fungicide.”

Price notes that only a very small percentage of imported shrimp is ever tested for banned antibiotics.

Cut 8 (11) “…unfit for consumption.”

Price says not only is untested imported shrimp putting people’s health at risk, but it’s also doing a number to the local shrimping industry.

Cut 9 (10)  “…flooded our markets.”

Representative Domangue is carrying the bill on behalf of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain.

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American Airlines adds an additional non-stop round-trip flight between Monroe Regional Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Monroe Regional Airport Director Charles Butcher says you can thank – or blame – economic development for the addition of that fourth daily round trip.

Cut 10 (11) “…into the area.”

Butcher says locals were getting squeezed out of the seats on the three existing daily round trips to and from DFW.

Cut 11 (06) “…are flying in.”

The additional round-trip will be in the mid-morning hours and will get underway April 7th. Butcher says he hopes this is the continuation of additional economic development wins for the region.

Cut 12 (04) “…could lead to.”

The additional flights are available for booking right now.

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Louisiana classrooms are given the green light by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to put up Ten Commandments posters. This, after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a three-judge panel’s earlier decision that found the state law requiring those classroom displays to be unconstitutional. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says the full Fifth Circuit did not overturn the ruling; it instead said it was too soon for it to rule on whether it is or not.

Cut 13 (09)  “…in the abstract.”

Ciolino says there are many unanswered questions about the Ten Commandments posters that prevent the judges from determining whether they meet constitutional muster.

Cut 14 (08) “…dangerous of that.”

Ciolino says this by no means ends the case. 

Cut 15 (12) “…to their context.”

Ciolino says he expects the case to end up right back in the full Fifth Circuit within the next six to 12 months, and it will in almost all certainty ultimately end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

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The top ranked LSU baseball team improved its record 8-0 with three wins in Jacksonville this past weekend. The Tigers completed the weekend with an 11 to nothing mercy rule victory over U-C-F as William Schmidt threw five shutout innings. Coach Jay Johnson says it was high quality baseball that is sustainable…

Cut 16 (16) “…three innings.”

Cade Arrambide hit his second home run in as many days. Derek Curiel and Jake Brown each drove in three runs. But Schmidt was the story of the day as he struck out seven and walked just one over his five scoreless innings…

Cut 17 (23)  “…watch out.”

The Tigers are now 8-and-0 and look like a team that can repeat as champions. Johnson likes the approach his players are taking to every game…

Cut 18 (16)  “…do that.” 

LSU hosts McNeese on Tuesday.

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The seventh ranked LSU women’s basketball team set a school record in the NCAA women’s basketball championship era by grabbing 72 rebounds in their 108-55 thumping of the Missouri Tigers. Coach Kim Mulkey went with a smaller lineup and it resulted in everyone helping out on the glass..

Cut 19  (09) “…to watch.”

MiLaysia Fulwiley led LSU with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Mikaylah Williams also had a double-double as the Bossier City native had 12 points and ten rebounds. Mulkey also likes what Williams did on the defensive end

Cut 20 (13) “…Florida really well.”

Grace Slaughter had 14 points on 3 of 12 shooting. LSU hosts Tennessee on Thursday.

7:30 LRN Sportscast

The top ranked LSU baseball team scored nine runs in the eighth inning yesterday in Jacksonville and improved to 6-and-0 with a 14 to 7 win over Indiana. The Tigers trailed by a run in the eighth inning, but Zach Yorke belted a three-run home run to give the Tigers the lead and then the flood gates opened.

LSU had 18 hits and walked 14 times. Coach Jay Johnson impressed with his team’s approach at the plate…

Cut 18 (21) “…out of a game”

LSU plays again today at noon against Notre Dame.

The Pelicans returned to the hardwood after the All-Star break and lost to the Bucks 139-118.

 

Thrilling win for the Ragin Cajuns baseball team last night as U-L Lafayette scored four runs in the ninth inning to beat Maryland seven to six. Rigoberto Hernandez walked with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run. Maryland walked four hitters and hit a batter in the ninth inning.

Louisiana Tech blanked Ohio State six to nothing. Declan Dahl was the winning pitcher as he threw five shutout innings. Riley Fisher threw four perfect innings out of the bullpen and he struck out seven.

In a matchup of the top two gymnastic programs in the country, Oklahoma edged LSU….198.125 to 197.925. But what a performance by LSU’s Kailin Chio, who scored two perfect 10s, first on the vault and then on the beam.

In college basketball tonight…McNeese hosts Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi in a game that will be seen on ESPN U. The Cowboys are two games back of Stephen F Austin for first place in the Southland. Nicholls visits the Lumberjacks tonight.

06:45 LRN Sportscast

It looked like the LSU women’s basketball team was headed towards a second straight loss as they trailed by 13 points in the third quarter to Ole Miss. But the Lady Tigers outscored the Rebels 24 to 7 in the fourth quarter and LSU left Oxford with a 78 to 70 victory. MiLaysia Fulwiley had a career-high 26 points, 22 in the second half to help lead the come back.

The LSU baseball team is in Jacksonville this weekend for the Live Like Lou Classic. Coach Jay Johnson says he loves playing in tournaments like this early in the season for several reasons.

Cut 19 (14) “…experience in them.”

LSU will play Indiana at 2 PM. The Hoosiers are 1-and-3 as they were swept by 10th ranked North Carolina and beat Bradley on Tuesday.

 

It will be a matchup of one versus two in women’s gymnastics tonight as second ranked LSU faces top ranked Oklahoma. Former LSU coach DD Breaux says tonight’s meet will come down to whichever team stays poised across all four events, and she believes the Tigers are capable of doing just that.

Cut 18 (18)  “…and we’ll win.”

Tonight’s meet is at 8 PM on ESPN 2.

The Lady Techsters won a nail-biter for their 13th straight win of the season last night as La Tech defeated Jacksonsville State 58 to 57. Tech wins despite not making a field goal in the final three minutes.

McNeese clinched a share of the Southland title with a 60-53 win over UTRGV. Tyreona Sibley had a career high 26 points.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The top ranked LSU baseball team fell behind 1 to nothing to Nicholls and then went on to rout the Colonels 12 to 1. Trent Caraway hit a grand slam in the first inning to quickly erase the Colonels lead…

Cut 22 (09) “…come back”

The Tigers are 5-0 and will play in Jacksonville, Florida on Friday afternoon against Indiana.

McNeese fell behind two to nothing and came back to beat Louisiana Tech eight to three. Danny Barbero homered and drove in three runs.

Louisiana Tech men’s basketball held on to beat Jacksonville state 77 to 71 to improve to 8-and-7 in Conference USA play.  AJ Bates had 13 points and career high 15 assists.

Tough loss for ULM as Troy hit a winning shot in the final seconds to beat the Warhawks 77 to 76.

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The seventh ranked LSU women’s basketball team is at 17th ranked Ole Miss. The Lady Tigers are 22-4 and they are 1-and-3 in games decided by seven points or less. Cory Diaz of the USA Today Network says LSU has been a little passive late in games…

Cut 17 (10) “…approach to this’

Tip off is at 8 PM.

“The Fighting Tiger,” on the SEC Network is a documentary about legendary gymnastics coach D-D Breaux and how she built LSU’s program from the ground up. It highlights Breaux’s passion for gymnastics, which dates all the way back to when she received a balance beam for Christmas as a kid.

Cut 14 (14) “…I’ve ever had”

 

3:30 LRN Newscast

Some Louisiana schools are moving to four-day work weeks. David Claxton, the executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents and Administrators, says four-day schools will still have to adhere to the state law requiring 63,720 minutes of instruction time per school year.

Cut 21 (09) “…five-day week gets.”

As for whether a four-day week has any effect on student achievement in either direction, Claxton says there’s currently not enough data to make a determination one way or the other.

It’s Lent and this is when many Catholics eat a healthy supply of seafood. Harlan Pearch of Harlan’s LA Fish in Kenner says crabs are expensive right now and there is shrimp available, but the supply does not pick up until April and May. He says there is crawfish and prices will go down as we get closer to Easter…

Cut 13 (08) “…us too.”

 

A Rapides Parish woman is convicted in connection with a wildfire west of Glenmora nearly three years ago. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says Carrie Willis was negligent as she was burning household trash on her property.

Cut 6 (14) “…a pine plantation.”

Strain says the guilty verdict will cost Willis almost ten-thousand dollars as part of her sentence.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette athletics is mourning the death of former basketball standout Bo Lamar who died earlier this week in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio at the age of 74. Lamar starred for the Ragin Cajuns from 1969 to 1973 and was one of the best basketball players in the country. Kevin Foote covers U-L Lafayette athletics for the Advocate…

Cut 9 (07)  “…mid major programs.”

Lamar averaged 31 points a game during his career and over his final three seasons, the Cajuns were 74-13 and only UCLA had a higher winning percentage.