7:30 LRN Newscast

BESE is requesting the state legislature to provide additional dollars to make sure every school has a school resource officer….
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

Law enforcement officers involved in two separate shootings that took place in Rapides Parish last November have been cleared of any wrong doing. One of the shootings took the life of Derrick Kittling, who was killed during a traffic stop that became physical. D-A Phillip Terrell says in both cases the shootings were legally justified.

Canadian based, Ucore North America, announces plans to build a 75-million dollar rare earth metals manufacturing facility at England Airpark in Alexandria. Ucore V-P and Chief Operating Officer Mike Schrider says it will be the first rare element separation and purification facility in the U-S and the rare earth oxides are needed for electric vehicle motors ..
cut 12 (12) “….make those vehicles”
Schrider expects operations to start in early 2025 and they expect to create 100 new jobs.

The biggest crawfish weekend of the season is upon. Crawfish App co-founder Laney King…
Cut 13 (10) “…last Easter.”
You can find boiled crawfish this weekend for an average of $4.75 a pound and live will run you $2.59 a pound.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Tough game for the top ranked LSU baseball team last night as they lost 13 to 5 to South Carolina. Tigers ace pitcher Paul Skenes lasted just three innings, because of a weather delay. He allowed three runs in those three innings. Gamecocks right fielder Ethan Petry drove in eight runs. The two teams will try to play a doubleheader today in Columbia starting at 11 AM.

The Cajuns doubled up Marshall eight to four as Will Veillon homered and drove in three runs. Jake Hammond was the winning pitcher. Cam Barlow allowed three runs in 7.2 innings as the Warhawks defeated Appalachian State 12 to 3.

UNO swept a doubleheader from Southeastern, Nicholls split a doubleheader with UIW. McNeese will try to play a doubleheader today against A-and-M Corpus Christi starting at 1.

A spokesperson for LSU says the Lady Tigers basketball team will go to the White House, despite comments from Angel Reese on a Podcast where she said they would rather visit the Obamas because of First Lady Jill Biden’s comments to have Iowa at the White House too.

The Pelicans say Zion Williamson continues to rehab his right hamstring injury and did not provide a timeline on when he’ll return. New Orleans hosts the Knicks tonight. Jake Madison, host of the Locked on Pelicans Podcast, says New Orleans will most likely play in the play-in tournament next week…
cut 20 (19) “…very high”

At LSU spring practice, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock says they are working with quarterback Jaiden Daniels to get the ball down field…
cut 17 (18) “….quarterback situation”

6:30 LRN Newscast

In response to an increasing nationwide trend of school shootings, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is calling on public school systems to partner with local law enforcement to provide a school resource officer in every school and for the Louisiana legislature to provide the necessary funding to make sure it happens….
cut 8 (11) “…on it really’
That’s BESE member Michael Melerine.

After limited supplies the last couple of years, Heavenly Hash Eggs are back, and Ponchatoula-based Elmer Chocolate CEO Rob Nelson says it’s just in time to mark the beloved treat’s 100th anniversary. Nelson says a cornstarch shortage kept them from making all three versions of the angelic candy.
Cut 4 (10) “…dark is back.”
He hopes the strawberry-filled Heavenly Hash Egg will be back next year.

Big news for Central Louisiana: a huge rare metals extraction plant is coming to Alexandria. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

LRN PM Newscall April 6

A Sulphur man is accused of burglarizing a home dressed as a Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputy. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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Support for coastal restoration projects is growing. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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You’ll want to keep your raincoat and umbrella handy for the next few days as a stationary front keeps showers from moving along. State climatologist Barry Keim says unfortunately it might put a damper on outside activities for the next three days.

Cut 3 (10) “…clearly rain.”

A flash flood watch is in effect for northwest Louisiana and western parishes along the Texas border until 7 o’clock Friday evening. On a positive note, Keim says severe weather is not anticipated with the front for Louisiana.

Cut 4 (11)  “…south Louisiana.” 

Keim says the entire state will most likely have rain, today, tomorrow, and Saturday. But by Sunday the front should be exiting the state and hopefully, sunrise services and other outdoor Easter activities can be enjoyed.

Cut 5 (11) “…big surprise.”

Because it’s a stationary front, Keim says it’s not moving fast enough to cause any severe weather but flash floods are a concern due to the amount of rain.

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Deputies arrested a Sulphur man after he allegedly burglarized a home in Acadia Parish while wearing a Calcasieu Parish’s Deputy jacket and badge. Authorities received a call of a suspicious person running in a field and were led to an area off Branch Highway near White Oak Highway. Acadia Sheriff KP Gibson says within minutes officers were on the scene.

Cut 6 (11)  “..these farmers.” 

During the home invasion, 33-year-old Adam Creel allegedly detained the homeowner with handcuffs and rummaged through the residence taking several items before fleeing. Gibson says they learned Creel forcefully entered the victim’s residence…

Cut 7 (08)  “…of charges.” 

Deputies are working to identify if other persons were possibly involved. Gibson says in this case local residents took extra steps to help and made a major difference.

Cut 8 (13)  “…always have.” 

Creel was charged with home invasion, a convicted felon possessing a firearm, armed robbery, obstruction of justice, false imprisonment, and impersonation of a law enforcement officer.

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Support for coastal restoration is growing in Louisiana according to a Global Strategy Group survey on behalf of Restore the Mississippi River Delta. Campaign director Simone Maloz says the survey indicates 73 percent of respondents support their efforts, that’s up from 68 percent in 2021.

Cut 9 (10) “…the future.”

For almost the last century, Louisiana has lost nearly 2,000 square miles of coastal wetlands, and 4,000 more square miles are predicted in the next 50 years without restoration projects. And when asked about sediment diversions, which is a cornerstone of the state’s Coastal Master Plan, Maloz says 80 percent of respondents are in favor of those projects.

Cut 10 (09) “…of that.” 

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and the St. Bernard Parish Council are among those opposed to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, calling it a threat to commercial and recreational fishing. In addition to gauging the public’s support of their projects, Maloz says the survey is also shared with lawmakers and decision-makers who fund their projects.

Cut 11 (10)  “…be there.”

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A 33-year-old man from Terrebonne Parish has been charged in the death of a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Deputy. Detective Sergeant Nicholas Pepper died last Sunday when a vehicle rammed into his during a police chase in Thibodaux. State Trooper Thomas Gossen says the suspect, 33-year-old Anthony Savoie of Bourg, was in the hospital recovering from his injuries

Cut 12 (09) “…on the charges” 

Gossen says Savoie faces several charges, including first-degree murder of a police officer…

Cut 13 (05) “…police officer”

The Terrebonne Parish District Attorney’s Office will handle the criminal proceedings. Pepper was laid to rest yesterday. He leaves behind a wife and three children.

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Three young adults were killed in a single vehicle wreck in West Monroe during the overnight hours. Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Glenn Springfield says deputies responded to the scene in the 100 block of Old Highway 15 in West Monroe…

Cut 14 (10)  “…into a tree.”

Springfield says the three victims were found dead in the vehicle. They’ve been identified as 23-year-old Keiara McCraw, 24-year-old Annesha Coleman and 22-year-old Anija Coleman. Springfield says weather may have played a factor in the fatal wreck…

Cut 15 (05) “…investigation.”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The Pelicans nearly had a disastrous loss last night but bounced back to beat Memphis in overtime 138 to 131 to clinch at least a spot in the play-in-tournament. New Orleans led by six points with 11 seconds left, but
Coach Willie Green says a couple of bone headed plays forced them to play an extra five minutes….
cut 15 (15) “…just executed”
Two more regular season games left. The last regular season home game is tomorrow night against the Knicks.

The top ranked LSU baseball team opens a three-game series against sixth ranked South Carolina tonight in Columbia. The Gamecocks are 27-and-3 and they’ve been outstanding on the mound with a 2.98 ERA. No Chase Shores for LSU this weekend, as the freshman right hander is out with an arm injury.

For the fist time on LSU’s campus last night, they celebrated a national championship in basketball as the Lady Tigers were honored for their historic achievement. Thousands attended a big celebration in the PMAC. Coach Kim Mulkey spoke for a few minutes and left the stage with this message….
cut 18 (21) “…(cheers)

Former Dunham High standout in Baton Rouge, Jordan Wright, is returning home to play for the LSU Tigers. Wright has spent the last four seasons at Vanderbilt and last season he averaged 11 points, five rebounds and two assists a game. This will be his final year of eligibility.

9:30 LRN Newscast April 6

A new poll of Louisiana voters shows their biggest concern right now is with crime. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

On the same day that Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Detective Sergeant Nicholas Pepper was laid to rest, State Police announced charges against the man responsible for his death. 33-year-old Anthony Savoie of Bourg has been charged with first degree murder of a police officer. Authorities say Savoie slammed his vehicle into Pepper’s unit killing the deputy.

The Southern Regional Average for teacher pay is 56-thousand dollars. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says Louisiana ranks 12th out of the 16 states in the southern region with average pay of 53-thousand dollars. Erwin says in the upcoming legislative session, Governor Edwards is seeking a teacher pay raise as high as three-thousand dollars….
cut 15 (07) “…..southern average”

A new study involving researchers at Tulane say its possible getting sick often can accelerate cognitive decline and potentially increase the risk for dementia. Assistant professor of neurosurgery, Doctor Liz Engler-Chiurazzi says new research conducted with mice found higher rates of inflammation caused impaired cognition. She says the findings may have important implications for standard of care around how infections are handled…
cut 12 (08) “….more aggressively”

8:30 LRN newscast

A poll of 600 voters in Louisiana finds that 40-percent of them believe crime is the most important issue in Louisiana. Pollster John Couvillion says 27-percent believe the economy is the second most important issue…
cut 5 (12) “….folks in the state’

Thousands of people were on LSU’s campus last night to celebrate the national championship won by the women’s basketball team. The seniors had a chance to speak in front of a large crowd in the PMAC, including Alexis Morris…
cut 16 (17) “….cheers”
Up next for the Lady Tigers is a trip to the White House. A date has not been set.

The legislative session begins next week and among the bills filed is one related to corporal punishment in elementary and secondary schools. Even though policies vary across individual school systems, Metairie Rep Stephanie Hilferty wants to incorporate a statewide rule…
Cut 7 (11) “…for the child.”
Hilferty’s bill to outlaw corporal punishment failed to pass last year.

Tulane University School of Medicine neurosurgeon, Doctor Liz Engler-Chiurazzi, says they found in aging male mice that repeated head colds or multiple cases of the flu can accelerate cognitive decline….
cut 11 (11) “….life span”
Engler-Chiurazzi says more research is needed to see if getting sick often can potentially increase the risk for dementia.

7:30 LRN Newscast

The legislative session begins next week and one of the biggest decisions lawmakers will face is over teacher pay raises. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Because of declining enrollment and a teacher shortage, the Jefferson Parish School Board has approved the closure of several schools, including Grace King High School and Helen Cox High School. Meanwhile in St. Martin Parish, three 17-year-old students were arrested for making bomb threats last month.

19 school districts still allow corporal punishment in schools. Metairie Representative Stephanie Hilferty has filed legislation that would allow parents to make the decision if the school system can or cannot physically punish their child….
cut 8 (07) “…..approve of it”
Last year Hilferty sponsored legislation that would ban the practice across the board altogether and it failed on a close vote.

Tulane University researchers find a link between getting sick often can accelerate cognitive decline and potentially increase the risk of dementia. Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Liz Engler-Chiurazzi says their study showed aging male mice who experienced sporadic colds or flu often had impaired cognition.
Cut 10 (07) “…to communicate”
Engler-Chiruazzi says these findings may have important implications for standard of care around how infections are handled among the elderly and those at risk for dementia.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The N-B-A Season ends Sunday, but the Pelicans will play beyond that as they clinched at least a spot in the play-in tournament with a 138 to 131 overtime win over the Memphis Grizzlies last night. This was almost a disatrous loss as the Pels blew a six-point lead with eleven seconds left in regulation. But for the first time in franchise history, the team had three players score 30 points or more, Herb Jones, C-J McCollum and Trey Murphy. Jones had a career-high 35 points and took advantage of the Grizzlies not defending him on the perimeter…
cut 22 (06) “…..shots fell”
The Pels are tied with the Lakers for seventh place in the West and will host the Knicks tomorrow.

Another big SEC series begins tonight for the top ranked LSU baseball team as they will face sixth ranked South Carolina for the next three days in Columbia. LSU’s starting pitchers for the series, Paul Skenes, Ty Floyd and Christian Little will get the start Saturday.

What a celebration on LSU’s campus for the national champion women’s basketball team last night. There was a parade through campus with players and coaches riding in convertibles with the tops down. And then inside the Maravich Center, some of the players spoke to a large crowd of fans and everyone was waiting to hear from four-time national champion head coach Kim Mulkey who came to LSU to win a title….
cut 17 (19) “….cheers”

LSU men’s basketball coach Matt McMahon is looking to jump start his program. McMahon has received a commitment from Baton Rouge native Jordan Wright, who is transferring to LSU after playing four seasons at Vanderbilt where he averaged 11 points and six rebounds this past season.

6:30 LRN Newscast

JMC Analytics Polling surveyed 605 Louisiana voters in January and asked what is the most important issue in Louisiana? 40-percent said crime, 27-percent said the economy and pollster John Couvillon says 14-percent said education…
cut 6 (08) “…one word education”
Go to win with J-M-C-dot-com for more results on the poll.

For his final year in office, Governor Edwards has proposed boosting public school teacher salaries by another two-thousand dollars and if the Revenue Estimating Conference recognizes additional funds in May, he would like to see educators get a three-thousand dollar raise. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says lawmakers want to give teachers an increase in pay, but…
Cut 13 (07) “…affordable.”
The legislative session begins Monday.

A bill related to the use of corporal punishment in K-12 schools has been filed for the upcoming session.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”