7:30 LRN Newscast July 29

Beginning Monday, military veterans will have the right to carry a concealed weapon without obtaining a permit. The new law was authored by Monroe Senator Jay Morris, who says he was happy to pass legislation to aid those who’ve served their country…:
Cut 7 (07) “…and their property.”
Under the new law, military veterans may carry a hidden gun without getting a permit; provided they are over 21 and have no criminal felony record.

Did you get your Mega Millions ticket for tonight. The jackpot is one-point-one billion dollars and Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says lottery players love big jackpots, including individuals who only buy a lottery ticket once or twice a year…
cut 11 (12) “….Mega Million sales”
The drawing is at 10 PM tonight and ticket sales stop at 9 PM.

The Governor’s Office of Community Programs will distribute school supplies across the state, beginning this weekend. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Lafourche Parish sheriff deputies have arrested 41-year-old Dontrell Williams Senior of Golden Meadow after his child ingested heroin that belonged to Williams. A Las Vegas woman is accused of stabbing a St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Deputy during a Wednesday morning traffic stop. The deputy was treated and released at a hospital. Shreveport police are searching suspects who are responsible for nine carjackings over the last three days.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

Jameis Winston is getting ready for his second season as the starting quarterback for the Saints. Winston recognizes he has more weapons around him this season
Cut 16 (15) “….beautiful thing“.
Still no Tyrann Mathieu at Saints training camp as he’s been excused by the team to deal with a personal matter. Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport remains on the physically unable to perform list, but has been seen trying to get himself back in shape after offseason shoulder surgery.

According to league sources Zion Williamson contract extension with the Pelicans contains a weight clause. His weight and body fat percentage must reportedly stay below 295 or his guaranteed money is reduced. The Pelicans have listed Williamson’s weight at 284 pounds.

An All-American at Air Force announces he’s transferring to LSU to play baseball for the Tigers. Right-hander Paul Skenes was the Mountain West Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year with a 10-3 record and 2.73 ERA in 15 starts as a sophomore. He can also slug. At the plate Skenes hit .314 with 13 homers and 38 RBIs.

Mike the Tiger could soon be coming to a theatre near you. Brooke Thorington has more about the feature film that’s in the works.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

6:30 LRN Newscast July 29

Starting Monday, August 1st, military veterans will have the right to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (28) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

In other news around the state, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams was found not guilty of ten felony tax fraud charges. Authorities are still searching for the gunman who fatally shot popular Bogalusa rapper JayDaYoungan, whose real name is Javorious Scott. And tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot is one-point-one billion dollars.

The Governor’s Office of Community Programs will host several back-to-school community fairs and the first one is tomorrow in Natchitoches at their city park from 10 AM to noon. Katina Semien-Smothers is one of the organizers of the fairs…
cut 14 (09) “…the community”
The other back-to-school community fairs will take place in Houma on Wednesday, Lake Providence next Saturday and Lake Charles August 20th.

A feature film is in the works starring LSU’s beloved mascot Mike the Tiger. It’s titled The Mascot and is loosely based on writer/director Matthew Perkins’ life when he donned the Uga costume at the University of Georgia. He approached his alma mater about the film first but their loss is now LSU’s gain.
Cut 4 (09) “…Tiger movie.”
Perkins says it’s a heartfelt sports comedy about a quarterback who loses his scholarship to LSU, and then reinvents himself as the mascot.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints have their star wide receiver Michael Thomas back. The NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 is practicing earlier than expected this training camp after missing all of last season with an ankle injury. Thomas says he’s ready to win some games for new head coach Dennis Allen….
cut 17 (16) “….front of me”
Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan says a healthy Thomas brings endless potential to the offense.
cut 30 (22) “…even more”

At Sun Belt Media Days, second-year ULM Coach Terry Bowden says he’s expecting to go to a bowl game. The Warhawks are coming off a four and eight season, but Bowden says he has a more mature football team this year and a better idea who will start against Texas in the season opener…
cut 19 (16) “….and defensively”
ULM opens Sun Belt play on September 24th against the Ragin Cajuns, who are picked to win the league’s western division. U-L Lafayette Coach Michael Desormeaux told the Daily Advertiser he hopes to name a starting quarterback by August 22nd. Sophomore Chandler Fields and Junior Ben Woolridge are battling to replace three-year starter Levi Lewis.

Outfielder Gavin Dugas says he’s coming back to LSU for a fifth season. The Houma native suffered a thumb injury last season and hit .306 in 39 games.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Saints training camp is underway and the big story is the return of star wide receiver Michael Thomas who missed all of last season with an ankle injury. It’s a big moment for the team and Thomas who has been battling an ankle injury since week one of the 2020 season…
cut 16 (16) “…D-A win some games”

How many games will the LSU Tigers win? Hard to say considering all of the new players Coach Brian Kelly has brought in. Meanwhile, the long-time Midwestern says he’s getting acclimated just fine to the South….
cut 13 (11) “…down here”
That’s Kelly speaking to the Baton Rouge Rotary Club.

At Sun Belt Media Days, second-year ULM Coach Terry Bowden says he’s expecting to go to a bowl game. The Warhawks are coming off a four and eight season, but Bowden says he has a more mature football team this year and a better idea who will start against Texas in the season opener…
cut 19 (16) “….and defensively”
ULM opens Sun Belt play on September 24th against the Ragin Cajuns, who are picked to win the league’s western division. U-L Lafayette Coach Michael Desormeaux told the Daily Advertiser he hopes to name a starting quarterback by August 22nd. Sophomore Chandler Fields and Junior Ben Woolridge are battling to replace three-year starter Levi Lewis.

Outfielder Gavin Dugas says he’s coming back to LSU for a fifth season. The Houma native suffered a thumb injury last season and hit .306 in 39 games.

11:30 LRN Newscast

Louisiana District 3 Congressman Clay Higgins attempts to set the record straight on criticism of his work to help southwest Louisiana’s ongoing hurricane recovery….
cut 1 (34) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher”

The nation’s Gross Domestic Product fell nearly one-percent in the second quarter, the second straight decline which fuels fears the country is in recession. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy blames record high inflation…
cut 12 (10) “….would just listen”

Popular Louisiana rapper JayDaYoungan was fatally shot in a double shooting late yesterday afternoon in Bogalusa. Bogalusa Police Chief Kendall Bullen says 24-year-old Javorius Scott along with a relative were shot while sitting on the front porch of a home on Superior Avenue…
cut 3 (09) “…of his wounds’
The other person shot, Kenyatta Scott Senior, is listed in stable condition at a nearby hospital. Bullen says they are still looking for the gunman.

A new political party has emerged in the US calling themselves the Forward Party. LSU Political Science professor Robert Hogan says third parties have a history of fizzling out but with a growing political divide in the country…
Cut 9 (09) “…some support.”
That being said Hogan feels the Forward Party’s ability to become a formidable force in politics will depend on its platform.

LRN PM Newscall July 27

As many as 150 passengers a day could descend on the river parishes via the Mississippi River. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

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At a time when electricity bills are the highest they’ve been, Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May appeared before the Public Service Commission. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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An agreement with American Cruise Lines will soon bring tourists via the Mississippi River to Vacherie. Cruises that run from New Orleans to Memphis and the Crescent City to Baton Rouge will make a stop along the way and visit the river parishes. Executive Director of the River Parishes Tourist Commission Jay Robichaux says it’s welcome news for the area.

Cut 3 (07) “…parishes.” 

Robichaux says they already have tours lined up for passengers to visit Oak Alley plantation and passengers will have even more excursion options in the future for St Charles, St John, and St. James parishes.

Cut 4  (11) “…in the river parishes.”

The newer cruise ships don’t need a dock to unload passengers. The vessels can edge their nose to even land and passengers can disembark. But Robichaux a dock is in the works. He says after COVID, and Hurricane Ida tourists will bring a well-needed boost to the economy and they are ready to welcome them ashore.

Cut 5  (11) “…the river parishes.”

They expect ships will be cleared by the Corps of Engineers to stop in Vacherie in the next few weeks.

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The founders of the WAITR food delivery app develop a new mobile app for skilled tradesmen. Chris Meaux, who founded WAITR in 2013, is Chairman and co-founder of BoomNation. He says people trained as carpenters, pipe fitters, plumbers, welders and more need to check into the BoomNation app…:

Cut 6 (14) “…that they have.” 

There are numerous job-finding apps and websites available…like Indeed, ZipRecruiter and even LinkedIn. Meaux says those are fine, but focus mostly on office-oriented jobs…:

Cut 7 (12) “…to hire them.” 

Meaux says the BoomNation app offers more to skilled tradesmen than just finding and posting jobs…:

Cut 8 (10) “…like-minded skilled workers.”

To know more, visit “BoomNation.com” or search BoomNation in your app store.

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Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May tells the Public Service Commission that the utility company is doing more to help customers experiencing higher than normal energy bills. May says they are waiving late payment fees for eligible customers and credit card payment fees and

Cut 9 (09)  “…customers.”

May says high natural gas prices have led to higher electric bills. But PSC member Foster Campbell criticized May for not using more solar power as a way to generate electricity and also pointed out that Entergy’s chairman recently received a one-million dollar raise

Cut 10 (13) “…whole year.” 

May defended Leo Denault’s salary by saying its consistent with his peers around the nation. May says Entergy gets about 80-percent of its electricity from natural gas-fired plants, but has plans to use more solar power

Cut 11 (10)  “…even five years ago.”

Campbell was not buying the answers that May was giving and once again brought up the possibility that utility companies should no longer have a monopoly for the area they serve

Cut 12 (12) “…goin’ all your way”   

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The first practice of Saints training camp is in the books and the big development is that wide receiver Michael Thomas was on the practice field. He did everything but full-team drills after missing all of last season.

Safety Tyrann Mathieu has been excused from the beginning of training camp to handle a personal family matter. Head Coach Dennis Allen expects a big season from the Honey Badger and he says free-agent addition Marcus Maye is back after tearing his achilles last November
Cut 19 (29) _“…that room”

First year Louisiana Tech football coach Sonny Cumbie is participating in his first Conference USA Media Day today in Arlington, Texas. The league is changing as Southern Miss, Marshall and Old Dominion have left for the Sun Belt, while North Texas, UTSA, Rice, Charlotte, UAB and Florida Atlantic will leave after this school year. Cumbie says he’s still excited about the direction of the conference….
cut 20 (24)
Conference USA will add Jacksonville State, Liberty, and New Mexico State next summer.

9:30 LRN Newscast

After extensive research involving scientists from around the world, Tulane virologist Doctor Robert Garry says the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic started at a wildlife market in Wuhan, China. There are many who believe the virus came from the nearby Wuhan Lab, but Garry says this research does not support that theory….
cut 9 (12) “….from this uhh market”

Renowned cancer researcher Doctor Joe Ramos is the new director of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center in New Orleans. Ramos says his background with a National Cancer Institute facility in Hawaii gives him a better understanding of cancer, and how it affects neighborhoods and communities….
Cut 11 (08) “…unfortunately.”

Lafourche Parish Sheriff deputies have charged 65-year-old Ricky Cheramie of Golden Meadow with video voyeurism for allegedly hiding cameras in a woman’s home. Cheramie initially told investigators the cameras were to monitor who was going in and out of rooms in the home. But Captain Brennan Matherne says the suspect’s story later changed.
Cut 15 (07) “…any clothing.”
The victim told investigators that when she checked the memory card inside the camera, she found nude photos of her were stored on the card.

The Saints begin training camp today. Wide receiver Michael Thomas is still not ready to practice after missing all of last season because of ankle surgery. General Manager Mickey Loomis doesn’t expect Thomas to spend a lot of time on the physically unable to perform list
Cut 16 (05) “…very long”

8:30 LRN Newscast

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the state set a record in June for the number of people employed at 2,027,830. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says the manufacturing sector is hiring as they’ve added nearly seven thousand jobs over the last year…
cut 5 (07) “…..be strong”
Cates says they are also no longer seeing a big decline in mining and logging jobs, which includes the oil and gas industry.

Tulane University Virologist Doctor Robert Garry co-authored two studies with scientists from around the world that provides evidence that the global COVID-19 pandemic likely started in the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China. Garry saysthe virus jumped from animals at the market to humans….
cut 8 (11) “….this time”
Garry says his research does not support the theory the virus started in a nearby Wuham lab.

After a national search, the Louisiana Cancer Research Center names its new director. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Jamie Guillory, the wife of Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory, has issued a statement supporting her husband, who is now in rehab for alcohol addiction and untreated PTSD. Jamie Guillory says she stands by her husband and it’s unfortunate some will try to take advantage of this situation for their political advantage.