7:30 LRN Newscast

New federal Bureau of Labor data shows Louisiana with record-high employment. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

There were two fatal police officer shootings in Louisiana on Sunday. One of them in Shreveport and the other in Pineville. Very few details have been released. We’ve learned the Shreveport shooting took place during a traffic stop and the one in Pineville occurred after officers responded to a suspected domestic disturbance call on Louisiana Highway 107.

A bill to make it legal for your cremated pet to be buried with you will be heard in House Commerce today. Former veterinarian and Minden Representative Wayne McMahen admits he didn’t know it was illegal to have nonhuman remains interred with humans.
Cut 4 (11) “…in a burial.”

A Louisiana woman has set a Guinness World Record for largest Afro of a living female. 47-year-old Aevin Dugas’ afro is five feet wide and it’s the third time she’s set a record in the last 13 years. Dugas says it all started 24 years ago when stopped using chemicals and went natural…
cut 11 (10) “…came about”
Dugas says keeping it up takes a lot of time, so she doesn’t wear it out often, most of the ime she says it’s in a bun.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

What a victory for the top ranked LSU baseball team yesterday in Oxford, down two runs with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, pinch hitter Hayden Travinski drilled a one-two pitch for a three-run homer down the left field line to give the Tigers a seven to six victory over Ole Miss. The win completed a sweep over the Rebels and LSU is now in first place in the SEC west with a 12-and-5 record.

Spring football is done for the LSU Tigers and Coach Brian Kelly remains concerned about the depth of his team…
cut 17 (17) “….point yet”
But LSU has two good quarterbacks as Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier each threw two touchdown passes in the spring game.

Louisiana Tech has completed its spring football practices as head coach Sonny Cumbie enters his second season. Boise State transfer Hank Bachmeier is expected to be the starting quarterback. Cumbie says during the offseason, he’s asking Bachmeier and the rest of the Bulldog players to immerse themselves in the playbook…
cut 20 (21) “….speed”

Back to college Baseball, 18th ranked Dallas Baptist swept Louisiana Tech, the Ragin Cajuns were swept at James Madison, ULM dropped two of three to Arkansas State. Nicholls is in first place in the Southland Conference after sweeping Houston Christian. Grambling won its series over Southern.

6:30 LRN Newscast

Legislation that would allow individuals to be buried with the cremated remains of their pet is set to be heard in House Commerce today. It’s currently illegal to have the cremated remains of an animal inside a person’s coffin. Minden Representative Wayne McMahen says his legislation gives each cemetery the ability to develop its own policy…
cut 5 (11) “…of pets”
McMahen says for pet lovers, having this option is extremely meaningful.

A St. John the Baptist Parish woman is in the Guinness World Record Book for having the largest afro, at about ten inches tall, ten inches wide and five inches in circumference. The 47-year-old woman’s name is Aevin Dugas…
cut 10 (09) “….largest afro”
Dugas has held the record three different times over the last 13 years.

We are moving into the third week of the legislative session and proposed changes to the state’s abortion ban have yet to come up. Not only is there is a bill to provide exceptions for rape and incest, but there’s also legislation to clear up the language to get an abortion to treat miscarriages and a bill to reduce the punishment against doctors if they perform an illegal abortion….
cut 15 (12) “….complications”
That’s Lift Louisiana Executive Director Michelle Erenberg. But the Louisiana Right to Life is expected to fight these proposed changes to the abortion ban.

Legislative Report April 24

A Chalmette lawmaker moves forward a bill that would have your homeowner’s insurance company give you a price break for hardening your home’s roof to withstand hurricane winds. Rep. Ray Garafalo says consumers will fortify their homes, IF there’s an incentive…:
CUT 09 (10) “…stabilize rates.”
Garafalo’s bill moves to the House floor for debate.

A bill to make it legal for your cremated pet to be buried with you will be heard in House Commerce today. Former veterinarian and Minden Representative Wayne McMahen admits he didn’t know it was illegal to have nonhuman remains interred with humans in Louisiana.
Cut 4 (11) “…in a burial.”
It’s permissible to have personal property buried with humans, things like photos, jewelry, letters, or even Bibles. McMahen says for pet lovers having the option is extremely meaningful.
Cut 6 (07) “…can see.”
The legislation prohibits a pet owner from euthanizing a pet without a medical need for the purpose of having the pet buried at the owner’s death.

Legislation to add exceptions for rape and incest to the state’s abortion ban has also prompted other legislation in this regular session. Lift Louisiana Executive Director Michelle Erenberg says House Bill 461 by Slidell Representative Mary DuBuisson would make it easier to get an abortion to treat miscarriages, mainly getting one doctor to sign off on the abortion instead of two….
Cut 13 (08) “…appropriate healthcare.”

LRN AM Newscall April 24

A bill to make it legal to have your pet buried with you will be heard in House Commerce today.  Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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New federal Bureau of Labor data shows Louisiana with record-high employment. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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The Guinness record for the world’s largest afro belongs to Aevin Dugas – a Louisiana native. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 3 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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A bill to make it legal for your cremated pet to be buried with you will be heard in House Commerce today. Former veterinarian and Minden Representative Wayne McMahen admits he didn’t know it was illegal to have nonhuman remains interred with humans in Louisiana.

Cut 4 (11)  “…in a burial.”

McMahen says the bill doesn’t mandate that cemeteries allow pets to be buried with their owners; it only makes it legal to do so. Each cemetery would have its own policy and decide if the practice was permitted or not.

Cut 5 (11)   “…of pets.”

It’s permissible to have personal property buried with humans, things like photos, jewelry, letters, or even Bibles. McMahen says for pet lovers having the option is extremely meaningful.

Cut 6 (07)  “…can see.”

The legislation prohibits a pet owner from euthanizing a pet without a medical need for the purpose of having the pet buried at the owner’s death.

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New federal labor data shows Louisiana again setting a new record high. The numbers are confirmed by Louisiana Workforce Commission economist Emily DePalma, who says the seasonally-adjusted number of persons employed is a record for that data series…:

Cut 7 (08) “…553 people.”

DePalma says the state saw an increase of over 8700 jobs between February and March of this year; setting a record-high 2-million, 30-thousand, 553 people working.

She says the largest gains came in construction, mining, logging, private education, and health services…:

Cut 8 (08) “…New Orleans area.”

Baton Rouge added 2700 new jobs, New Orleans 1000…followed by Hammond (400), Alexandria (100), and Houma (100). DePalma says the state’s jobless rate continues to trend downward as well…:

Cut 9 (11)  “… 3.6-percent.”

You can view all the data at “laworks.net”

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A Louisiana woman holds the Guinness record for the largest afro for the third time in 13 years. 47-year-old Aevin Dugas – of Reserve – says it all started thanks to her sister.

Cut 10 (09) “…largest afro.” 

Dugas earned her first title in 2010 when her afro measured four feet, four inches in circumference. 13 years later, her hair has grown to a 9.84 inches tall, 10.4 inches wide, and 5.41 inches in circumference. Dugas says she began growing her afro by going natural.

Cut 11 (10)  “…came about.”

And while she has set three records styling her beautiful afro, she doesn’t wear it out often. Dugas says it takes a lot of adjustments to wear the afro so she changes hairstyles

Cut 12 (11)    “…daily basis” 

Dugas says she hopes to inspire young girls that look like her to love everything about themselves. She has been growing her afro for nearly 25 years.

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Legislation to add exceptions for rape and incest to the state’s abortion ban has also prompted other legislation in this regular session. Lift Louisiana Executive Director Michelle Erenberg says House Bill 461 by Slidell Representative Mary DuBuisson would make it easier to get an abortion to treat miscarriages, mainly getting one doctor to sign off on the abortion instead of two….

Cut 13 (08) “…appropriate healthcare.” 

House Bill 522 would change penalties that could be imposed on medical providers, instead of prison time it would be a fine. Erenberg says many physicians are fearful of what could happen if their medical judgment to end a pregnancy is questioned.

Cut 14 (09)  “…in prison.”

Erenberg says there’s overwhelming public support to make changes to the state’s abortion ban and she’s hopeful legislators will listen this election year to their constituents.

Cut 15 (12)  “…complications”

Both House Bill 461 and House Bill 522 have been referred to House Criminal Justice.

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Both quarterbacks threw a pair of touchdowns in Saturday’s Spring game on the LSU campus. Jayden Daniels was 10-11 passing for 168 yards and Garrett Nussmeier was 5-of-8 passing for 139 yards. Coach Brian Kelly says he was pleased with his quarterbacks…

Cut  16 (19)  “…some instances.” 

Senior Kyren Lacy led the receivers with four catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. That TD came on the first play of the game.

LSU goes into next season as a favorite to win the SEC West, but Kelly is concerned about the overall depth of his team…

Cut 17 (17) “..point yet” 

On defense, Kelly says linebackers Harold Perkins and Omar Speights were outstanding and the coach also believes Texas transfer and defensive end Ovie Oghoufu’s two sacks show he’s a really good addition…

Cut 18 (20) “…mature players”

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Louisiana Tech concluded spring practice with a spring game on Saturday. It was offense versus defense and a modified scoring system was used and the offense outscored the defense 54-27. Head coach Sonny Cumbie says is encouraged by the growth of his team over 15 spring ball practices…

Cut 19 (11) “…in November”

Cumbie is entering his second season as the Bulldogs head coach. Last year La Tech went just 3-and-9 and will open the 2023 campaign by hosting FIU on August 26 in a Conference USA matchup. Boise State transfer Hank Bachmeier is expected to be the starting quarterback. Cumbie says during the offseason he’s asking Bachmeier and the rest of the Bulldog players to immerse themselves in the playbook…

Cut 20 (21)  “…speed”  

07:30 LRN Sportscast April 22

LSU third baseman Tommy White came into last night’s game against Ole Miss as the SEC RBI leader and Tommy Tanks added to his total as he knocked in four runs with one swing of the bat as the Bayou Bengals beat the Rebels seven to three. White hit a grand slam in the fifth inning , his third of the year….
cut 15
White now has 66 RBIs and that was Chris Blair on the LSU Sports Radio Network.

The Cajuns lost a back and forth affair to James Madison ten to eight, ULM scored three runs in the ninth to beat Arkansas State eight to six. Dallas Baptist downed Louisiana Tech nine to one. UIW beat Northwestern State 11-5 in 10 innings and Nicholls and McNeese were big winners.

Spring football comes to an end to today for the LSU Tigers as the team will scrimmage in front of fans inside Tiger Stadium. Coach Brian Kelly says they got through it without any major injuries and the newcomers learned how to prepare the right way for a season in the SEC…
Cut 19 (19) “…were outstanding.”
Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State also hold their spring games today.

College football games should not take as long as the NCAA has approved a new rule that results in the clock continuing to run after first downs, unless in its final two minutes of the first or second half. Also a team can no longer call consecutive timeouts and penalties at the end of the first and third quarter will be enforced on the first play of the next quarter.

4:45 LRN Sportscast April 21

If you’re rushing home to catch the LSU baseball game tonight, you can take your time, as the Tigers-Ole Miss game has been pushed back to 8:30 first pitch because of thunderstorms and rain in Oxford. Ole Miss has won the last four games in this series.

Spring football comes to an end tomorrow for the LSU Tigers as the team will scrimmage in front of fans inside Tiger Stadium. Coach Brian Kelly says they got through it without any major injuries and the newcomers learned how to prepare the right way for a season in the SEC…
Cut 19 (19) “…were outstanding.”
Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State also hold their spring games tomorrow.

Another arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of a north Louisiana high school softball coach. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

College football games should not take as long as the NCAA has approved a new rule that results in the clock continuing to run after first downs, unless in its final two minutes of the first or second half. Also a team can no longer call consecutive timeouts and penalties at the end of the first and third quarter will be enforced on the first play of the next quarter.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU ace Paul Skenes is set to get the ball tonight as the top ranked Tigers visit Ole Miss. Swayze Field is known to be a hostile place for opponents, but Skenes says he came to the SEC to pitch in environments like he’ll experience tonight…
cut 18 (17) “…really cool”
Left-hander Xavier Rivas is set to start tonight for the Rebels. He’s 5-and-2 with a 5.40 ERA. Tomorrow Hunter Elliot will be on the hill for Ole Miss. He’s only made one start this season after posting a 2.70 ERA last season.

Louisiana Tech is at 18th ranked Dallas Baptist. The Bulldogs have won four in a row, while the Patriots have won eleven straight and they are 18-and-2 at home.

The Cajuns face James Madison for the first time on the baseball diamond.

Spring football concludes tomorrow for the LSU Tigers. Brody Miller covers LSU for the Athletic and says the spring did not provide much in the way of new news on the football program, but there are some things to keep an eye on as we move into the offseason…
cut 21 (24) “….offensive line”
Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State will also hold spring games tomorrow.

Nicholls has a new men’s basketball coach as former player and staff member Tevon Saddler is coming back to Thibodaux after spending last year as the director of player personnel at Maryland. The 28-year-old was an All Southland performer for the Colonels in 2017-18.

10:30 LRN Newscast

A bill that would make breaking into someone’s home when no one is there a crime of violence was approved by the House Criminal Justice Committee. Kenner Representative Debbie Villio says her house was broken into and the perpetrator left a butcher knife on her bed and stole her gun…
cut 6 (10) “….a property crime”
But Criminal defense attorneys say a violent act is not committed when a burglary occurs at an inhabited dwelling.

The House Criminal Justice Committee also passed legislation to keep nonspecific murder ballad lyrics from being submitted as evidence in a criminal trial. Houma Representative Tanner Magee wants to preserve artistic expression but at the same time recognizes that one might describe an actual murder in a song.
Cut 8 (08) “…come in.”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

The House Education Committee has approved legislation that would create the Louisiana National Guard Patriot Scholarship Program.
Cut 11 (10) “…the tuition.”
Vacherie Representative Ken Brass filed the bill as a result of rising fees that college students have to pay.

Louisiana law enforcement will participate in the Buckle Up in Your Truck enforcement campaign for the next week as they will look for anyone in pickup trucks who is not wearing a seat belt. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Greg Fischer says pickup trucks are more prone to rolling over in a crash, so drivers and passengers need to be buckled up…
cut 16 (13) “…that crash”
A first offense ticket is 50-dollars.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Kenner Representative Debbie Villio wants to make burglary of an inhabited dwelling a crime of violence, which would lead to a harsher punishment. Villio says her home was broken into and she considers it a violent offense. But Meghan Garvey with the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys believes the current sentencing guideline is sufficient..
cut 7 (11) “…..a serious crime”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

Lyrics talking about murder or violent crime should not be allowed as evidence in a criminal trial, according to a bill heading to the House floor. Houma Representative Tanner Magee says the proposed law has one exception…
cut 9 (07) “….as evidence”
Magee’s legislation is in response to appeals that have occurred in convictions of rap artists and lyrics from their songs are considered questionable evidence.

The House Education Committee has approved a bill that would waive student fees at state colleges and universities for a Louisiana National Guard soldier. Major General Lee Hopkins says guard members already get free tuition, but fees are also getting very costly..
cut 12 (05) “…exemption program”
The measure heads to the House floor for more discussion.

Top ranked LSU begins a three-game series tonight against Ole Miss, the defending champs of college baseball. Swayze Field in Oxford is known to be hostile for visiting teams, but Tigers starting pitcher Paul Skenes is ready…
cut 18 (17) “…really cool”
First pitch tonight is at 6:30.