LRN PM Newscall January 11

Congressman Garret Graves says he’s still looking at running for governor and plans to give it more consideration now that a Speaker of the House has been chosen. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A federal judge sentences former state senator Karen Carter Peterson to nearly two years in prison on a wire fraud charge. Whitney Thomas more…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Whitney Thomas”

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Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he’ll make a decision very soon on the governor’s race. Graves was on Mornings with Brian Haldane today and says he’s gotten plenty of encouragement to seek the state’s highest office.

Cut 3 (14) “…from folks” 

With only two major candidates in the race so far, Republicans, Attorney General Jeff Landry and Treasurer John Schroder, Graves says he’s received feedback that more names need to be added to the ballot.

Cut 4 (08)  “…extraordinary.” 

Graves says now that the Speaker of the House vote is settled he expects to meet with supporters and family members over the next few days and make a decision on the governor’s race.

Cut 5 (11) “…for Louisiana.”

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The national average price for a dozen eggs hit $3.59 in November, up nearly 50 percent from the previous year, and the price for eggs still remains at a historical high. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says a bird flu outbreak is the main reason why eggs are still expensive…

Cut 6 (07)  “…egg laying chickens” 

Strain says the egg industry is also dealing with supply chain issues and increased costs for production…

Cut 7 (10)  “  packaging costs” 

Strain says we will not see egg prices drop significantly until energy, fertilizer and transportation costs decrease. He says producers are also working to increase production…

Cut 8 (08)  “..these prices” 

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Dakota Theriot plead guilty today to killing three people in Livingston Parish and two in Ascension Parish after a multi-parish shooting spree in 2019. Among his victims were his girlfriend, her father, her brother, and his parents. 21st Judicial District Attorney Scott Perilloux says Theriot’s history of mental illness and the pandemic delayed his trial.

Cut 9 (11) “…entered into.” 

Perilloux says the five murders were unspeakably tragic and extremely unordinary for the two parishes.

Cut 10 (10) “…take in.” 

Theriot will be transferred to Angola to serve multiple life sentences. Because of his history of mental illness, Perilloux was asked if Theriot will be placed in the general population at the state prison.

Cut 11 (03)  “…going to happen.”

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Former state senator Karen Carter Peterson received a 22-month prison sentence today after admitting she used more than 140-thousand dollars in campaign funds from her own campaign and the Democratic Party to feed a gambling addiction. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the federal sentencing guideline called for a sentence between 41 and 51 months

Cut 12 (07) “…applicable guidelines”

Peterson’s attorneys pushed U-S District Judge Sarah Vance to sentence the former lawmaker to probation or home confinement. They touted her Christian faith, admission of guilt and the treatment she’s receiving for her gambling addiction. Ciolino says Peterson’s punishment could have been more serve…

Cut 13 (05) “…get.” 

Judge Vance has ordered Peterson to report to jail on March 6th. Ciolino says Peterson will spend at least a year and a half in prison…

Cut 14 (12)   “…she gets out .”

Peterson abruptly resigned from the state senate last year, citing depression and a gambling addiction. She served in the state legislature from 1999 to 2022 and as chair of the Louisiana Democratic party from 2012 to 2020.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU men’s basketball team dropped its third straight game last night as they fell to the Florida Gators at home 67 to 56. The Tigers shot a season low 32-percent from the field as LSU drops to 1-and-3 in the SEC.

The Pelicans have a tough test tonight as they are in Boston to face the Celtics who have the best record in the NBA at 29 and 12. New Orleans is 25 and 16 and in third place in the Western Conference.

Louisiana Tech is at North Texas tonight. The Bulldogs are 3-and-2 in Conference USA . The Mean Green are 4-1 and rank third in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 53 points per game. Bulldogs coach Talvin Hester says North Texas likes to play a slow pace…
Cut 16 (11) “…used to guarding.”
Tip off is at 7 Pm.

The LSU gymnastics team is increasing their security after a large group of teenage boys swarmed to see 20-year-old junior and social media star Olivia Dunne at a meet in Utah Friday night. Gymnastics coach Jay Clark fears the situation will only get worse after a reporter covering the competition posted a video of the incident.
Cut 10 (08) “…we go.”
Dunne is asking fans to be respectful of gymnasts.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is stocking 17 sites across the state with adult-size Rainbow Trout as part of the department’s Get Out & Fish Program. Fish will be stocked at sites designed for bank fishing and LDWF Biologist Danica Williams says the program provides a unique opportunity…
Cut 29 (08) “…starts to rise.”
For more information go to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website.

9:30 LRN Newscast

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new guidelines on how to treat obsetiy among children and adolescents. Doctor Amanda Staiano at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center says the academy is calling on doctors to take a more aggressive approach starting as early as two years old…
cut 8 (12) “…healthier behavior”
Staiano says some of the possible treatments include nutritional counseling, medication and weight loss surgery.

The federal government is putting an end to additional SNAP benefits that were given out because of the COVID pandemic. DCFS Assistant Secretary Shavanna Howard says the added benefits are ending February 28th…
cut 14 (08) “….the households”
Howard says a family of three could see their monthly payment go down 400-dollars in March.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist Danica Williams says over a dozen waterways are being stocked with Rainbow Trout. Kace Kieschnick has more…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Nobody won last night’s one-point-one billion dollar Mega Millions jackpot, which means Friday night’s drawing will be worth 1.35 billion dollars. That would be the fourth largest lottery jackpot in U-S History and second largest in Mega Millions history.

8:30 LRN Newscast

For the first time in 15 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics issues new guidelines for the treatment of childhood obesity. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The F-A-A says flights can resume after a computer outage prevented planes from taking off this morning. It’s resulted in delays at every airport in the United States. The federal government does not believe this was a cybersecurity attack.

The federal government is putting an end to the SNAP COVID emergency allotments, which has provided families with extra benefits to ease the economic stress during the pandemic. Normal SNAP benefits will return March 1st. DCFS Assistant Secretary Shavana Howard says this may not be a good time for families to have a reduction in monthly SNAP…
cut 15 (09) “….returned to work”
She says persons who find they cannot meet their family needs should contact DCFS and talk with a case worker.

LSU gymnastics coach Jay Clark says they will have security accompany his team when they travel after having issues leaving an arena in Utah last Friday because dozens of teenage boys were clamoring to get a look at gymnast and social media star Olivia Dunne. Clark says it’s his responsibility to ensure his team’s safety….
cut 12 (11) “….precautions”
LSU competes against Kentucky on Friday in Lexington.

7:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana’s Department of Children & Family Services says emergency additional food stamp benefits for the pandemic end next month. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Former state lawmaker and chairwoman of the Louisiana Democratic Party Karen Carter Peterson is set be sentenced today on a federal wire fraud charge. Peterson faces up to 20 years in prison for using campaign funds to fuel her gambling addiction.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is stocking 17 sites across the state with adult-size Rainbow Trout as part of the department’s Get Out & Fish Program. Fish will be stocked at sites designed for bank fishing and Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist Danica Williams says the program provides a unique opportunity…
Cut 4 (08) “…starts to rise.”
Rainbow Trout are native to rivers and lakes in Western North America, but their rise in popularity as a sport fish has increased stocking programs across the U.S.

LSU gymnastics will have security travel with the team after dozens of teenage boys crowded the exit of an arena in Utah hoping to get a glimpse of gymnast and social media star Olivia Dunne. Dunne is one of the most profitable college atheltes when it comes to NIL because of her following on social media. Coach Jay Clark says name, image, and likeness deals helps promote athletes the public might not know about, it also has disadvantages.
Cut 11 (07) “…with Olivia.”
LSU is at Kentucky on Friday.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU men’s basketball team dropped its third straight game last night as they fell to the Florida Gators at home 67 to 56. Coach Matt McMahon says self inflicted errors cost them the game…
cut 20 (12) “…shooting standpoint”
The Tigers shot a season low 32-percent from the field as LSU drops to 12-and-4 overall, 1-and-3 in the SEC and they have a tough test on Saturday at fourth ranked Alabama.

The Pelicans have a tough test tonight as they are in Boston to face the Celtics who have the best record in the NBA at 29 and 12. New Orleans is 25 and 16 and in third place in the Western Conference. The Pels are 2.5 games back of Denver and Memphis for the best record in the West. Tip off is at 6:30.

LSU football finishes the 2022 season ranked 16th in the A-P Poll. Tulane is ranked ninth. Florida State is ranked 11th. The Tigers and Seminoles kick-off the 2023 campaign in Orlando during Labor Day Weekend.

Louisiana Tech has released its 2023 schedule. The Bulldogs will kick-off the season with a week zero matchup against FIU on August 26th at Joe Aillet Stadium. The non-conference games are against SMU, Northwestern State, North Texas and Nebraska on September 23rd.

La Tech men’s basketball is at North Texas tonight. The Bulldogs leading scorer is Cobe Williams at 18 points a game. Coach Talvin Hester likes how Dravon Mangum and Quandre Bullock have stepped up…
cut 17 (17) “….the next guy” (2x)
Tech is 3-and-2 in Conference USA Play, while North Texas is 4-and-1, a half game back of Florida Atlantic for first place.

6:30 LRN newscast

Emergency additional food stamp benefits for the COVID pandemic are about to end. The USDA says February will be the final month…
cut 13 (11) “…as we can”
That’s Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Assistant Secretary Shavana Howard who says the benefits can run from an extra $95 a month for food, to over $300 extra; depending on how many are in the home.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is in the process of stocking 17 sites across the state with Rainbow Trout. LDWF biologist Danica Williams says they stock the fish during the winter months when water temperatures are cool …
cut 5 (06) “…..winter months”
Williams says anglers are encouraged to keep their catch so the trout are harvested before the temperatures rise.

The American Academy of Pediatrics issues its first comprehensive guidelines in 15 years on the treatment of childhood obesity. Dr. Amanda Staiano (Sty-on-oh) with LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center says the watchful waiting approach to see if a child matures to an appropriate weight has been revised.
Cut 7 (10) “…to lose weight.”
Tools like nutritional counseling, a healthy sleep program, and more physical activity. And for some children that includes medication and weight loss surgery.

The LSU gymnastics team is increasing their security after a large group of teenage boys swarmed to see 20-year-old junior and social media star Olivia Dunne at a meet in Utah Friday night. Gymnastics coach Jay Clark fears the situation will only get worse after a reporter covering the competition posted a video of the incident.
Cut 10 (08) “…we go.”
Dunne issued a statement on social media afterward asking fans to be respectful of gymnasts and the gymnastics community.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Despite the team’s 7-and-10 finish to the 2022 campaign, Saints Coach Dennis Allen says he plans to be back next season. Allen says he understands 7-and-10 is not where they want to be, but they are not as far off as some might think. But Allen says no decisions have been made on offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael or anyone else on the staff…
Cut 17 (17) “…moving forward”
Allen says no decisions have also been made on wide receiver Michael Thomas’ future. The Saints have reworked his contract to make it easier financially to release the former All pro wide out. He’s only played in 12 games over the last three seasons and appeared in three games in 2022.

The Pelicans won in Washington D-C last night for the first time since 2011 as New Orleans defeated the Wizards 132 to 112 at Capital One arena. C-J McCollum looked fresh after sitting out Saturday’s loss at Dallas. McCollum had 34 points as the Pels improved to 8-and-11 on the road. They are at Boston tomorrow.

The LSU men’s basketball team looks to snap a two-game losing streak tonight when they host Florida. The Tigers are 1-and-2 in SEC play. After upsetting Arkansas, Coach Matt McMahon’s team lost back-to-back games to Kentucky and then Texas A&M on Saturday…
Cut 19 (18) “…on Saturday.”
Tip off is at 6 PM.

10:30 LRN Newscast

The 2023 governor’s race is taking shape as State Treasurer John Schroder becomes the second announced major candidate to throw his hat into the ring. Schroder is a former state representative who has been Louisiana’s treasurer since 2017 and wants to be governor to change the state’s direction
cut 6 (12) “…three things”
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has decided against a run for governor and will run for re-election.

We know U-S Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy will not run and U-L-M Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that opens the door for a major Democrat to get in the race…
cut 14 (08) “…serious run”
DOTD secretary Shawn Wilson and Democratic Party Chair Katie Bernhardt are two possible Democrats who may run.

The state launches a hotline to report suspected juvenile sex trafficking…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Authorities seize 70 pounds of mushroom chocolate bars during a traffic stop on Interstate 49. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tommy Carnline says officers smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle driven by Jacob Boulet (Bolt) and their canine made an interesting find, 487 psychoactive mushroom chocolate bars.
Cut 3 (11) “…at the top”

8:30 LRN Newscast

We are getting a better idea of who’s in and who’s out of the governor’s race since Senator John Kennedy announced he’s staying in Washington D.C. and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser will seek re-election. ULM political science professor Pearson Cross says two of the biggest names in state politics are no longer interested in the job.
Cut 13 (05) “…year to go.”
As of today, the two major announced candidates are Attorney General Jeff Landry and Treasurer John Schroder, both Republicans. A Democrat has yet to officially announce.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has released a revised coastal master plan which is a roadmap to addressing coastal landloss and chronic flooding. Executive Director of the CPRA Ben Haase says the plan encompasses all of Louisiana’s coastal areas…
cut 9 (10) “….portion of our coast”
Public comments can be submitted through March 25th.

A person with autism can now have an autism indictor on a Louisiana I-D card. Matthew Boudreaux with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles says the autism indicator will appear under a person’s picture on the I-D card…
cut 5 (09) “….indicate that”
The Autism designation can also be displayed on any class driver’s license.

The state has launched a human trafficking hotline that allows anyone to report suspicious human trafficking activity. Christy Tate, a child welfare manager with the Department of Children and Family Services, says the phone number is the same hotline to report child abuse and neglect cases, 1 -855-the number 4-L-A–KIDS…
cut 12 (03) “….have it here”
All cases reported will be forwarded to State Police.