9:30 LRN Newscast July 20

For the first time ever, an override veto session will be held at the State Capitol today. A bill that would prohibit transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports is the driving force behind the five-day veto session. The author of that legislation is Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell…
cut 13 (09) “…or not”
But Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says a law is not needed, because of current LHSAA policy…
cut 16 (08) “…athletic association”
A two-thirds vote is needed in the House and Senate to override one of the governor’s 28 vetoes from the last legislative session.It does not appear that lawmakers will attempt to override all 28. All of the action begins at noon today.

Since this is the first-ever override veto session held by the Louisiana Legislature, there are questions about how it will work. For instance, Jeremy Alford of La-Politics-dot-com says it’s unclear if legislators will get more than one opportunity to override a veto…
cut 6 (11) “…aren’t right”
Bills will begin in the chamber where they were first introduced, meaning both the transgender athlete ban and concealed carry bill will be discussed and voted on first in the Senate.

After climbing into the second-story window of a home, to visit a teenage girl, 17-year-old Nicholas Mcquirter is now facing second-degree murder charges after allegedly fatally shooting the girl’s father, 34-year-old Dezmon Hamilton. Zachary Police Chief David McDavid says when Hamilton found Mcquirter in the home things escalated…
cut 10 (12) “….were fired”
The teenager was also wounded but is expected to survive his injuries.

8:30 LRN Newscast July 20

State Lawmakers will create precedent today when the historic veto-override session kicks off at noon. LaPolitcs.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says legislators have until the end of Saturday to finish their business, with all of the action taking place in the House and Senate chambers…
Cut 4 (09) “…and Senate.”
The driving force behind the session is the veto of a bill that would ban transgender individuals from competing in women’s sports. The author of the measure is Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell and she’s heard from her constituents that they want the governor’s veto overridden…
cut 14 (06) “…the bill”
It will take a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate to override a veto. There are 28 bills that the governor vetoed.

Authorities say a gunfight erupted in a Zachary home when a 34-year-old man discovered a 17-year-old entered his house through a second-story window to visit his 14-year-old daughter. The teenager, Nicholas Mcquirter faces a second-degree murder charge in the death of businessman Dezmon Hamilton. Zachary Police Chief David McDavid says it’s another example of an increase in violent crimes involving juveniles…
cut 11 (11) “….drugs”

LSU football coach Ed Orgeron says he supports his players benefited from their name, image, and likeness, but it should be not a 24-7 venture…
cut 18 (13) “…fotball and academics”
New N-I-L rules went into effect on July 1st that allow players to be compensated for use of their name, image, and likeness.

7:30 LRN Newscast July 20

State lawmakers will convene the first override veto session in modern history today. The bill at the center of the veto session is a measure that would prohibit transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is the author of the proposal…
cut 13 (09) “…or not”
There’s also support to override a veto of a bill that would remove the permit requirement in order to carry conceal a handgun. . House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says he’s heard from lawmakers on a few other pieces of vetoed legislation…
cut 9 (09) “…about them”
The governor issued 28 vetoes from the recently completed legislative session. It will take a two-thirds vote in both chambers to override a governor’s veto.

A 17-year-old faces murder charges after a shootout with the father of a 14-year old girl he was caught visiting after sneaking into their Zachary home. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The search for missing four-year-old Ellis Boudean continues in Jefferson Parish. He was last seen Thursday night in Jean Lafitte National Park and investigators believe the autistic boy’s body is in murky water. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says they are working with a contractor to drain a 75-foot canal.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

At SEC Media Days, LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron is looking forward to the battle at starting quarterback between Myles Brennan and Max Johnson…
Cut 17 (12) …what happens.”
Orgeron says he’s not expecting any of his quarterbacks to run the offense like Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow did in 2019, but he wants to see the same type of plays and adjustments that made them so successful that season. On defense, Orgeron says the key will be limiting explosive plays.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says they will not reschedule games this season because of a COVID outbreak on a particular team. He says if a team is not healthy enough to play, they may have to forfeit that contest. Orgeron did not provide a number on many of his players are vaccinated and he called it a personal choice.

One of the top running backs in the country has committed to LSU. Four-star recruit TreVonte’ Citizen of Lake Charles College Prep selected the Tigers over Auburn, Texas, Texas A-and-M, Arkansas and USC. He’s the son of former McNeese standout running back Tony Citizen. Rivals-dot-com lists Citizen as the second best player at his position in the nation.

Ragin Cajuns Senior Quarterback Levi Lewis has been named to the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List. He’s entering his third season as a starter and last season he threw for 22-hundred yards and 19 T-Ds.

Conference USA Media Members have La Tech finishing third in the West Division. UAB is the preseason favorite to win the West, while U-T-S-A is expected to finish second. Marshall was selected to win the East Division.

Louisiana Tech graduate transfer running back Marcus Williams Jr., senior linebacker Trey Baldwin, junior offensive lineman Joshua Mote, sophomore defensive back BeeJay Williamson and sophomore punt returner Smoke Harris were named to the 2021 preseason watch list.

6:30 LRN Newscast July 20

Lawmakers begin a historic veto override session today at noon. Over the next five days, legislators will have the opportunity to override any of the 28 bills that Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed from the 2021 legislative session. Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder…
cut 8 (13) “…do that”
There are two bills generating the most interest in this first-ever veto session. One would prohibit transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports, the other would do away with the requirement that a permit is needed to carry a concealed handgun. Baton Rouge Democrat Ted James says the veto session is a waste of taxpayer money…
cut 15 (07) “….represent”

Matt Doyle spoke with Capitol expert Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com about what to expect in this historic veto override session…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU football coach Ed Orgeron hit on a variety of topics at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Alabama. Orgeron expects a good battle for starting quarterback between Myles Brennan and Max Johnson and he believes it will be healthy for his football team.

Orgeron talked about eliminating explosive plays on defense and wants to see an offense that resembles the one we all saw in 2019. He believes in his two new coordinators, Jake Peetz and Daronte Jones and likes the leadership they are bringing to the football team…
cut 28 (14) “….in that area”
Orgeron was also asked about the scandal involving the school’s mishandling of sexual assault complaints…
cut 29 (07) “….though”

While speaking with reporters at SEC Media Days, Orgeron clarified his comments that he made earlier this year that he didn’t interview some of his 2020 staff. Coach O on the hiring of former defensive coordinator Bo Pelini…
cut 30 (30) “…sure of that”
Orgeron was asked how many players have been vaccinated. He didn’t give a number but said most had been vaccinated. ‘

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says only six out of the conference’s 14 football teams have reached the 80-percent mark for vaccinations and that number needs to grow rapidly. threshold. The commissioner also says the league will not postpone games for COVID-19, which means teams need to be healthy to compete.

LRN PM Newscall July 19

Nearly eleven months after southwest Louisiana was struck by Hurricane Laura, still no disaster aid funding from Congress Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington” 

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 A new report finds the state has seen a 15-percent decline in construction jobs since the pandemic started. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo”.  

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The Veto Override session begins tomorrow and there are 28 vetoes that could be potentially overturned. Including the constitutional carry bill, which would allow non felons to conceal a gun without a permit.  Matt Herriman with the NRA believes this bill has a good shot at being overturned.

Cut 3 (09) “…get started” 

The bill is Senate Bill 118 by West Monroe Senator Jay Morris. It will take a two-thirds majority vote, 70 in the House and 26 in the Senate to overturn the governor’s veto of the legislation.

Opponents of the legislation say it could lead to an increase in gun violence and Governor John Bel Edwards believes the training needed to obtain the permit is important. But Herriman says other states that have passed Constitutional carry legislation have not seen an increase in any particular crimes.

Cut 4 (09) “…particular crime”

The bill passed the Senate on a 27-9 vote during the regular session, while the House approved the legislation on a 73-28 margin. So supporters of the legislation can’t lose too many votes in order to override the veto. Herriman believes the support is still there for this legislation.

Cut 5 (11) “…the house”

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Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter voiced his frustration and made pleas for help on “Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster” this morning. Hunter says it’s been nearly eleven months since Hurricane Laura demolished parts of the city, but the federal government has yet to approve a federal disaster aid bill.

Cut 6 (10) “…not yet”

Hunter says he’s trying to hold his emotions in check but it’s difficult when the city he represents continues to be ignored. Hunter also reminded listeners the southwest Louisiana city has not only endured two major hurricanes without federal assistance but in less than a year also a major winter storm…

Cut 7 (12) “…disaster aid.”

Hunter says federal aid was issued 10 days after Katrina, 34 days for Hurricane Andrew, and 98 days for Super Storm Sandy, but it’s been 320 days since Hurricane Laura.

After a year of unprecedented pandemic relief funding from the Federal government, Hunter says there is no excuse for the federal government not to help those who lost homes and do not have flood insurance…

Cut 8 (07) “…Louisiana”

Hunter says the city also needs to demolish as many as 1,000 uninhabitable homes but they don’t have the funds to do so. Due to the lack of assistance, Hunter stated they are about to launch a campaign to remind lawmakers and citizens of their ongoing unaddressed needs.

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A new report shows 21-thousand fewer construction jobs in Louisiana compared to February 2020. The 15-percent loss is the second-highest in the country. Louisiana Associated General Contractors C-E-O Ken Naquin says the pandemic slowed down the chemical industry and the oil and gas industry is reeling from the President’s executive order that prohibits new oil and gas exploration

Cut 9 (07) “…rebounded since.”

Naquin says there are plenty of construction projects that can be completed, but supply chain challenges are impacting firms’ ability to hire new workers…

Cut 10 (11) “…that work.”

Naquin is glad that the Legislature made plans this year to dedicate more state dollars for road, bridge, and drainage construction, but the construction industry is a long way from full recovery…

Cut  11 (10) “…those materials.” 

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38 people have lost their lives due to home fires this year in Louisiana, four more than at this same time last year. Most of these home fires appear to be related to cooking, smoking, or electrical issues.

State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says when it comes to cooking-related fires they’re finding most of those incidents come from people who are either impaired, tired, or distracted…

Cut 12 (11) “..forgetting”.

Rodrigue says smoking really needs to be done outdoors and not inside of a home, and when you smoke outside make sure you safely discard whatever is left…

Cut 13 (10) “…over time”

Rodrigue says many of the electrical fires have been linked to people overloading outlets by connecting extension cables to each other…

Cut 14 (10) “…these” 

Rodrigue says the number one most common factor all of these fatal home fires shared was the lack of a functioning smoke detector.

9:30 LRN Newscast July 19

A historic veto override session begins tomorrow, as lawmakers have until the end of Saturday to override any of the governor’s 28 vetoes from the last legislative session…
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Hundreds of people spent this past weekend saying goodbye to a legendary figure in Louisiana’s history. Former four-term Governor Edwin Edwards was laid to rest yesterday in Baton Rouge after a public viewing at the state capitol on Saturday.

Health officials say the latest surge in COVID cases has undone over four months of progress the state made in the fight against coronavirus. LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Clinical Medicine Dr. Catherine O’Neal says the Delta variant is a “different beast” than the coronavirus strain that plagued the nation last year…
Cut 14 (12) “…kids.”
She also warns pregnant women could be at higher risk of complications resulting from a Delta infection.

Louisiana Republican U-S Senator Bill Cassidy says the state needs to get its vaccination rates up to fully beat the pandemic. He says vaccines are like seatbelts, you want to have them before the accident happens…
Cut 4 (11) “…younger person.”
Based on data provided by the Louisiana Health Department, 36-percent of Louisiana’s population is fully vaccinated against COVID, one of the lowest percentages in the country.

8:30 LRN Newscast July 19

New Orleans Police have charged a 35-year-old mother with second-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of her infant son. Cops found the woman with a blood-covered railroad spike. She’s been identified as Angelyc Seely and investigators believe she’s a homeless woman believed to be from Detroit. She also had self-inflicted wounds.

LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Clinical Medicine Dr. Catherine O’Neal gives a grim warning for unvaccinated individuals as the Delta variant rages…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana Legislature is heading into its first-ever override veto session tomorrow as lawmakers will have the opportunity to override any of the 28 bills that Governor Edwards vetoed from the 2021 legislative session. When asked if he believes a veto session will inhibit him from enacting his policies going forward, Edwards says no.
cut 9 (12) “…that concern.”
Analysts say the biggest driver for the veto session is a bill that would prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. It will take a two-thirds vote in each chamber to override the governor’s veto.

The college football talking season begins as SEC Media Days get underway in Birmingham, Alabama. LSU Coach Ed Orgeron is one of three coaches who will speak today. 24-7 sports college football writer Brandon Marcello says the Tigers could contend for an SEC title this year after a 5-and-5 campaign in 2020
Cut 11 (08) “…last year”

7:30 LRN Newscast

State lawmakers will begin a historic veto session tomorrow. The legislature could override as many as 28 Republican-sponsored bills that Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed…
Cut 7 (06) “…what happens”
Two high-profile bills that the governor vetoed are a measure that would do away with the requirement for a permit to conceal carry a gun and legislation banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. Insiders say it was the veto of the latter that inspired a majority of lawmakers to return for an override session.

House Republican Caucus Chairman Blake Miguez says the first veto session since the new state constitution was adopted in 1974, demonstrates a proper balance of government powers.
Cut 8 (06) “…in Louisiana.”

Based on data provided by the Louisiana Health Department, 36-percent of Louisiana’s population is fully vaccinated against COVID, one of the lowest percentages in the country. One-point-six million Louisiana residents have completed the vaccine series. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says 21-hundred people who were vaccinated still got COVID-19 and 125 had to be hospitalized…
cut 6 (11) “….fully vaccinated”
Kanter says the median age of serious breakthrough cases is 72.

Today is the unofficial start of the college football season as SEC Media Days begins. LSU beat reporter for the USA Today Network, Glen Guilbeau says despite last year’s mediocre campaign and questions about Ed Orgeron’s job security, many media members expect LSU to have a good season…
Cut 13 (11) “…pretty high”
Coach Ed Orgeron is set to speak today at 1:40 in Birmingham, Alabama.