LRN AM Newscall December 20

One of Louisiana’s statewide elected officials takes aim at TikTok. Whitney Thomas reports

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards end of the year report indicates the state is in good shape financially and more people are working than ever before.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Public Service Commission has delayed a vote on another six-dollar storm recovery surcharge being put on customers’ bills as they look to see if Entergy can pay some of the costs from the 2020 and 2021 storms. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is banning TikTok on all Department of State-issued devices, and is calling on Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same on a statewide level. Deputy Secretary for Outreach services, Joel Watson says TikTok poses a risk to your personal identification.

Cut 4 (13)  “…Communist party.”

Arodin believes that banning TikTok statewide would protect their data and reaffirm the commitment to privacy for constitutes. Watson says Louisiana isn’t the only state facing immediate banning.

 Cut 5 (09) “…Same thing here.”

Watson says this decision is important because it allows them to be an example for important cyber security matters

Cut 6 (13)  “.here today” 

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At his end-of-the-year press conference, Governor John Bel Edwards highlighted the state’s finances which have drastically improved from when he took office seven years ago, and because of that, the state is able to increase funding to programs versus cutting them.

Cut 7 (11) “…few things.”

Edwards says when he took office the state had a $2-billon deficit and with surplus amounts, in his two terms it’s now $2 billion to the good.

Last week the Revenue Estimating Conference says the state has an extra $925 million for the current budget year and for the next fiscal year estimated $608 million.

In addition to finances, Edwards says the state’s unemployment rate remains at historic lows at 2.9 percent.

Cut 8 (06)  “…two years ago.”

In December  2020, the unemployment rate was 6.9 percent. Employment wise the governor says the state is in much better shape than it was two years ago.

Cut 9 (12)  “… two-million-forty-two-thousand.”

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Are you ready for some very cold weather? State climatologist Barry Keim says a significant cold front will move through Louisiana on Thursday

Cut 10 (11) “…our region.” 

Morning lows on Friday will be in teens for much of the state and many locations will remain freezing temps for over 30 hours. Keim says  now is the time to prepare for these rare conditions.

Cut 11 (11)  “…as you can.”

Keim says people can also expect wind chills making it feel 10 to 15 degrees colder than actual temperatures.

Cut 12 (07) “… brace yourself.”

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The Louisiana Public Service Commission has delayed a vote on Entergy’s request for customers to pay an additional six-dollars a month for the next 15 years to pay for the costs associated with recovery from five named storms in 2020 and 2021. PSC Member Foster Campbell believes Entergy’s shareholders should split those costs with customers…

Cut 13 (10) “…hell with that.”

Campbell says the P-S-C decided to delay a vote after New Orleans lawyer Pat Patrick told commissioners state law does not require customers to pay 100-percent of storm recovery costs. He’s glad the commission is taking another look at this issue…

Cut 14 (08)  “…paying them”

Last February, the PSC approved an average storm recovery cost surcharge of about ten-dollars per month for 15 years. So now they are back seeking an additional six-dollars. Campbell says the P-S-C should its best to see how much of these costs should be shared by the utility company…

Cut 15 (08)  “…absolutely yes”

5:30 LRN Newscast

Master Trooper Kory York has hired high profile criminal defense attorney Mike Small to represent him in the Ronald Greene Case. York is one of the five law enforcement officers facing charges. His charges are the most serious, one count of negligent homicide and ten counts of malfeasance. Small says it’s significant federal prosecutors investigated the case for two and half years and determined criminal charges were not warranted
Cut 7 (09) “…subject of the investigation”
Small says there will be no plea bargaining.

Be prepared for some downright cold weather later this week. National Weather Service meteorologist Brandon Thorne says low temperatures will get down into the low teens in north Louisiana on Friday morning and we’ll see single digit wind chill temperatures for south Louisiana…
cut 14 (09) “….cold weather”

Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is banning TikTok on all Department of State-issued devices, and is calling on Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same on a statewide level. Deputy Secretary for Outreach services, Joel Watson says TikTok poses a risk to your personal identification.
Cut 4 (13) “…Communist party.”

2022 will go down as one of the worst sweet potato crops in decades. LSU Ag Center Sweet potato specialist Myrl Sistrunk says a hot and dry summer hampered crop development and as the summer moved along as much as 20 inches of rain flooded fields. Sistrunk says sweet potatoes are a costly crop to produce, which gives some producers pause heading into next year…
cut 5 (08) “…works out”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

It’s been a disappointing Saints season, but at least they beat the Falcons twice. New Orleans took care of the Dirty Birds yesterday as they held on for a 21-18 win over Atlanta. The Saints entered the game with slim playoff hopes, but Coach Dennis Allen expected his team would play hard….
Cut 19 (25) “…did it again here today”
With three games left in the season, the Saints are just one game back of Tampa for first place in the NFC South. New Orleans will visit the Browns on Saturday. The forecast calls for high temperatures in the teens and an inch of snow in Cleveland on that day.

Two weeks from today, LSU will face Purdue in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Bowl practices give teams a chance to play some young guys who didn’t play during the regular season. Coach Brian Kelly says several guys have stood out…
Cut 18 (28) “…few more guys”

The Ragin Cajuns and Houston both arrived in Shreveport today as they’ll face each other in the Independence Bowl on Friday. Looking at a cold game on Friday with high temperatures only in the upper 20s.

Tonight. The Pelicans host the Bucks at the Smoothie King Center as New Orleans looks to snap a three-game losing streak. Tip off is at 7:00.

3:30 LRN Newscast

The attorney representing Kory York believes the now suspended Master Trooper will be found not guilty of the charges he faces as a result of the 2019 in-custody death of Ronald Greene, a Black man who was beaten by officers before he died. Mike Small spoke with us today..
cut 6 (12) “…in the indictment”
York has been charged with one count of negligent homicide and ten counts of malfeasance.

Experts say this year has been the worst year for Louisiana sweet potato production in more than 30 years. LSU Ag Center sweet potato specialist Myrl Sistrunk says production is down as much as 60-percent due to a long stretch of dry weather in the summer followed by flooding rains
Cut 4 (10) “…for the state”
Sistrunk says the crop is expensive to produce, due to increased fuel, labor, and pesticide costs.

A major blast of artic air will arrive in Louisiana on Thursday bringing the Bayou State some very cold temperatures. Lows along I-20 will be around the low teens on Friday morning and low 20s for south Louisiana. Plus strong winds will produce below zero wind chills in north Louisiana and single digits in south Louisiana. Meteorologist Brandon Thorne with the National Weather Service says minor snow accumulations can not be ruled out Thursday for north Louisiana…
cut 13 (08) “…high accumulations”

During his end of the year press conference today, Governor John Bel Edwards remarked on how COVID is no longer a major story as it was the last two years…
cut 11 (12) “….protect ourselves”
Last Wednesday the state reported 4,700 new COVID cases and a seven-day average of 256 hospitalizations.

LRN PM Newscall

LSU Ag center experts say Louisiana sweet potato farmers have had their worst year in more than 30 years. They tell us farmers all over the state suffered losses. Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 1(30)  “…I’m Marsanne Golsby.”

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Alexandria attorney Mike Small believes his client Master Trooper Kory York will be found not guilty of the criminal charges he faces for his role in the fatal arrest death of Ronald Greene. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Experts say 2022 has been the worst year for Louisiana sweet potato production in more than 30 years. LSU Ag Center sweet potato specialist Myrl Sistrunk blames inconsistent weather…

Cut 3 (09) “..the state. ” 

He says farmers in the northeastern part of the state were hit the hardest, but the 2022 crop was expensive to plant all over the state, due to increased fuel, labor, and pesticide costs. He says production is down as much as 60-percent.

Cut 4 (10)  “…for the state” 

Sistrunk says this year has been a blow to farmers who had been banking on a bumper crop to help offset the cost of production. He says unlike farmers who grow soy, corn, and other crops that get government subsidies, sweet potato farmers do not have that kind of safety net. But he says the ones he has spoken with are trying to hang on.

Cut 5 (08) “…works out”

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The attorney representing Kory York believes the now suspended Master Trooper will be found not guilty of the charges he faces as a result of the 2019 in-custody death of Ronald Greene, a Black man who was beaten by officers before he died. Mike Small spoke with us today…

Cut 6 (12)  “…the indictment”

York is one of the five law enforcement officers facing charges. His charges are the most serious, one count of negligent homicide and ten counts of malfeasance. Small says it’s significant federal prosecutors investigated the case for two and half years and determined criminal charges were not warranted

Cut 7 (08)  “…subject of the investigation”

Small says there will be no plea bargaining as he believes York did not commit any crimes…

Cut 8 (11)  “…in Union Parish.“

Body camera video of the arrest shows York dragging Greene by his ankle shackles and putting his foot on his back for push him down and leaving him face down in the dirt for nearly ten minutes.

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Governor Edwards held his End of the Year Press Conference today highlighting accomplishments of 2022. Among the topics were the state’s budget surplus and record unemployment. Edwards also reflected where the state was a year ago with COVID at the beginning of the Omicron surge.

Cut 9 (11) “…much better.” 

Even with a reduction in COVID cases compared to a year ago, Edwards pointed out that the healthcare system is still stressed because they are responding to a “tridemic.”

Cut 10 (12) “… boosters.” 

Instead of giving daily COVID numbers Monday through Friday, the health department transitioned to weekly updates in October. But Edwards pointed out, even though it wasn’t the first topic of discussion that COVID remains an issue.

Cut 11 (12)  “…protect ourselves.”

Last Wednesday the state reported 4,700 cases of COVID and a seven-day average of 256 hospitalizations.

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The National Weather Service says the coldest weather of the season so far is expected in Louisiana by late in the day Thursday, bringing temperatures as low as ten degrees north of I-20 Friday morning. Forecaster Brandon Thorne says strong northwesterly winds, with gusts up to 30-40 mph, will accompany the front.

Cut 12 (08) “…even Saturday.”  

Thorne says the southern part of the state will experience a hard freeze with wind chill effects in the single digits.

Cut 13 (08) “…high accumulations.”  

Thorne says it’s time to begin preparing.

Cut 14 (09)   “… cold weather”

2:30 LRN Newscast

Alexandria attorney Mike Small believes his client Master Trooper Kory York will be found not guilty of the criminal charges he faces for his role in the fatal arrest death of Ronald Greene.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Ruston man has received a three-year federal prison sentence after leaving a threatening message on a Congress member’s voice mail. Prosecutors say 39-year-old Chase Levi Thibodeaux told the Congress person from New York that he would buy an uzi and shoot federal lawmakers in the streets.

Experts say 2022 has been the worst year for Louisiana sweet potato production in more than 30 years. LSU Ag Center sweet potato specialist Myrl Sistrunk blames inconsistent weather.
Cut 3 (09) “..the state. ”
He says farmers in the northeastern part of the state were hit the hardest.

The National Weather Service says the coldest weather of the season so far is expected in Louisiana by late in the day Thursday, bringing temperatures as low as ten degrees north of I-20 Friday morning. Forecaster Brandon Thorne says strong northwesterly winds, with gusts up to 30-40 mph, will accompany the front.
Cut 12 (08) “…even Saturday.”
South Louisiana will experience wind chill readings in the single digits. And some light snow is possible for north Louisiana.

12:30 LRN newscast

A major arctic blast is heading Louisiana’s way. State Climatologist Barry Keim says you’ll need heavy coats later this week…:
CUT 13(10) “…below normal.”
Keim says the artic airmass will arrive on Thursday, dropping temperatures into the 20s and 30s by late Thursday afternoon in north Louisiana. Wind chill readings will be in the single digits on Friday in south Louisiana.

Master Trooper Kory York has hired high profile criminal defense attorney Mike Small to represent him in the Ronald Green Case. York is one of the five law enforcement officers facing charges. His charges are the most serious, one count of negligent homicide and ten counts of malfeasance. Small says it’s significant federal prosecutors investigated the case for two and half years and determined criminal charges were not warranted
Cut 7 (09) “…subject of the investigation”
Small says there will be no plea bargaining.

Governor Edwards held his End of the Year Press Conference today highlighting accomplishments of 2022. Among the topics were the state’s budget surplus and record unemployment. Edwards also recounted where the state was in the pandemic a year ago at the beginning of the Omicron surge.
Cut 9 (11) “…much better.”
The number of people hospitalized with COVID is around 250.

2022 will go down as one of the worst sweet potato crops in several decades. LSU Ag Center Sweet potato specialist Myrl Sistrunk says a hot and dry summer hampered crop development and as the summer moved along as much as 20 inches of rain flooded fields. Sistrunk says sweet potatoes are a costly crop to produce, which gives some producers pause heading into next year…
cut 5 (08) “…works out”

11:40 LRN Sportscast

At five and nine, the Saints are still alive for a playoff spot after sweeping the season series from the Falcons, knocking off Atlanta 21-18. Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes to Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill also threw a 68-yard bomb to Rashid Shaheed. New Orleans defense gave up 231 rushing yards but, coach Dennis Allen says coming away with the victory was the important thing….
Cut 20 (17) …..what we did today”
And Tampa Bay lost, so the Bucs are now six and eight, but still in first place in the NFC South by one game over the Saints, Falcons and the Panthers.

The Pelicans host the Bucks tonight as they look to snap a three-game losing streak. Tip off is at 7:00.

Two weeks from today LSU will play Purdue in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando and Coach Brian Kelly says Jayden Daniels will be ready after failing to finish the SEC Championship game because of an ankle injury…
Cut 16 (26) “..through that progression.”
If Daniels returns next season, he’ll have another five-star recruit at wide receiver. Former Edna Karr standout Aaron Anderson has made the decision to transfer from Alabama to LSU. Anderson was the number one player in the Class of 2022 according to 24-7 sports but chose Bama over the Tigers after Ed Orgeron got fired.

11:30 LRN Newscast

The attorney representing Kory York believes the now suspended Master Trooper will be found not guilty of the charges he faces as a result of the 2019 in-custody death of Ronald Greene, a Black man who was beaten by officers before he died. Mike Small spoke with us today..
cut 6 (12) “…in the indictment”
York is one of the five law enforcement officers facing charges. His charges are the most serious, one count of negligent homicide and ten counts of malfeasance.

Experts say 2022 has been the worst year for Louisiana sweet potato production in more than 30 years. LSU Ag Center sweet potato specialist Myrl Sistrunk blames inconsistent weather.
Cut 3 (09) “..the state. ”
He says farmers in the northeastern part of the state were hit the hardest.

Get ready for a big blast of frigid air to hit Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says wind chills Thursday night into Friday night will be in the single digits, if not below zero for north Louisiana. Keim says it will warm up for the Christmas weekend, but it will still be cold…:
CUT 15(10) “…below normal.”

Will working remotely continue into 2023? Tulane surveyed 150 startups and small businesses across the New Orleans area and Emily Egan with Tulane’s Freeman School of Business, says more than 50-percent of respondents indicated some staff will continue to work remotely, but 38-percent believe having an office is a good idea…
cut 8 (05) “…interact in person”
Egan says respondents who leased commercial space increased from 38-percent to 32-percent from 2021 to 2022.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Edwards is meeting with reporters this morning for his annual end of the year news conference. Brooke Thorington gives us a preview on what he’s expected to discuss….
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

At 5-and-9 the Saints are still alive for the playoffs after beating Atlanta 21-18 for the second time this season. Tampa Bay lost yesterday, so the Buccaneers have just a one game lead over New Orleans for first place in the NFC South.

A major arctic blast is heading Louisiana’s way. State Climatologist Barry Keim says you’ll need the heavy coats and gloves later this week, as temperatures dip to near or below freezing. He says morning lows on Friday will be in the teens in north Louisiana…:
CUT 14(07) “…in New Orleans.”
The National Weather Service says snow minor accumulations cannot be ruled out for Thursday afternoon and Thursday night for north Louisiana.

According to Tulane University’s Greater New Orleans Startup Report, area startups are feeling confident enough to add staff as the regional economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Emily Egan with Tulane’s Freeman School of Business says, they surveyed over 150 startups and small businesses across a ten-parish region…
cut 9 (08) “….doing this report”