10:30 Newscast, April 17th, 2015

A judge has set the bond for the man accused of firing several shots at a St. Charles Parish Deputy at $1 million dollars. 58-year-old John Paul Devillier of Gulfport is charges with attempted murder of a peace officer, three counts of battery and one count of violently resisting arrest. The victim, Corporal Burt Hazeltine is recovering from three gunshot wounds and authorities say he could be blind in one eye.

Oilfield services giant Schlumberger has announced plans to lay off about 11,000 additional employees due to the reduction in oil prices. LSU Economist Dr Loren Scott says oil companies are dealing with oil prices roughly half of what they were a year ago and they’re asking these service companies for a break in fees they charge…:
CUT 3 (06) “what’s going on”
Scott adds it’s becoming too expensive to drill on land rigs with current oil prices and many of those rigs are being shut down.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office says they have arrested what they believe is the final person associated with the scheme to plant drugs on someone’s vehicle then have them arrested. They say Russell Manual is booked with criminal conspiracy, possession of several drugs and intimidating a witness. Manual is a Knight Oils Tools employee and its CEO and two cops were among those also arrested in the scheme.

The number of Formosan subterranean termites are rising in Louisiana and homeowners should take precautions against them. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

 

09:30 Newscast April 17, 2015

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office believes 56-year-old John Paul Devillier’s shooting ambush of 36-year-old Cpl. Burt Hazeltine stemmed from Devillier being upset over traffic in a school zone. Sheriff Greg Champagne says Devillier has a violent past including getting fired from a TSA job in 2013 for conduct unbecoming…

cut 16 (08) “aggravated assault”

Devillier will be charged with attempted first degree murder.

Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson plans to amend the controversial religious freedom bill, but critics aren’t backing down. Opponents say the bill will lead to discrimination of gays, lesbians, and transgender individuals. However, Governor Bobby Jindal says he can’t see how someone can make the case that the state should intervene on someone’s personal religious beliefs…

cut 13 (12) “view of marriage”

IBM, which is opening a technology services center in Baton Rouge, has expressed strong opposition to the bill.

The Centers for Disease Control says many women aren’t taking enough time between birth and conception which could lead to problems for both mom and baby. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 1 (30) “reporting”

Oildfield services giant Schlumberger has announced plans to layoff approximately 11,000 additional employees due to the reduction in oil prices. This is on top of the company’s January announcement reducing their workforce by 9,000 employees. It is not known where the job cuts are coming from or how many Louisiana employees will be affected.

08:30 Newscast April 17, 2015

A St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s deputy continues to recover today in a hospital after getting shot three times. Scott Carwile has more…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a cafeteria employee at Maplewood Elementary in Sulphur for allegedly hitting a student – her own son. Authorities say 32-year-old Kristy Lynn Miller is charged with cruelty to juveniles. Officers say video surveillance shows Miller striking the child in a violent manner several times. They say Miller informed detectives she hit the 6-year-old because he spilled liquid on the floor and broke a pencil. Miller has been placed on leave.

Although Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says he plans to amend the controversial religious freedom bill, critics are not backing down. Some lawmakers criticized the original bill saying it was so broad in protecting any belief about marriage which could mean many things. But Governor Bobby Jindal says the measure is narrowly focused on making sure the state can not discriminate against businesses for their religious belief in traditional marriage…

cut 12 (11) “for their beliefs”

Opponents of the bill say its intent has always been to discriminate against the LGBT community.

The number of Formosan subterranean termites are rising in Louisiana and homeowners should take precautions against them. LSU AgCenter Entomologist Gregg Henderson says one way you can help prevent an infestation is to change the lighting around your home…

Cut 8 (09) “yellow lights”

May is the beginning of the swarm season for these Formosan termites.

07:30 Newscast April 17, 2015

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office believes the shooting ambush of one of their deputies Thursday stemmed from a man upset over traffic in a school zone. Sheriff Greg Champagne says 36-year-old Cpl. Burt Hazeltine was confronted by 56-year-old John Paul Devillier who left the scene then returned to a nearby gas station and began dangling a gun out of his truck…

cut 15 (10) “three times”

It’s expected Devillier will be charged with attempted first degree murder.

Critics are not backing down in opposition to Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson’s controversial religious freedom bill. Johnson says he plans to amend the bill, but Forum for Equality Director Sarah Jane Brady says the intent of HB 707 has always been to discriminate against the LGBT community…

cut 11 (13) “of all people”

Johnson announced he’s going to change the measure to designate the “institution of marriage” as the “union of one man and one woman.”

The number of Formosan subterranean termites are rising in Louisiana and homeowners should take precautions against them. LSU AgCenter Entomologist Gregg Henderson says these termites build shelter tubes as they move up a home’s foundation. He says if you think your home may have termites, you should get an inspection or inspect the home yourself…

cut 7 (10) “they come up”

Henderson says if you do find termites in your home, you should call a pest control operator to get rid of them.

The Centers for Disease Control says if women take at least 18 months between birth and conception, it could lessen problems for both mom and baby. Medicaid Medical Director for Louisiana, Dr. Rebekah Gee, says a shorter time span between pregnancies can impact the emotional and mental health of the mother…

cut 5 (09) “hormonal shifts”

She says a shorter time span could also lead to premature births.

06:45 Sportscast April 17, 2015

The LSU football team completes spring practice on Saturday with the annual spring game. The scrimmage will give quarterbacks Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris another opportunity to show whether they should be the starting quarterback next season. Coach Les Miles on what he’s looking for from his signal callers…

cut 17 (14) “it aggressively”

Miles says as the Tigers conclude spring practice, the goal looking ahead to next fall is to make it into the four-team college football playoff.

Louisiana Tech will hold its spring game on Saturday. The coaching staff has divided the team into two squads and Coach Skip Holtz says Saturday is like a final exam, especially for the younger players on the roster…

cut 20 (12) “do what they’re doing”

The LSU baseball team is in Georgia for a three-game series that starts tonight against the Bulldogs. Coach Paul Mainieri has announced Alex Lange will get the start today, after missing last weekend because of elbow tightness.

In other college baseball action this weekend…there’s a good match-up between Southland Conference schools in Hammond as Southeastern Louisiana hosts McNeese for three games. The Lions lead the league with an 11-and-four record and the Cowboys are right behind them with a 12-and-6 conference mark. Northwestern State is also near the top of the standings. The Demons host Central Arkansas this weekend.

In the Sun Belt…ULM will host Arkansas State, while the Ragin Cajuns are at Texas State.

Louisiana Tech hosts UAB in a Conference USA series.

The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team has signed one of the top junior college basketball players in the country. His name is Justin Leon. He’s six-foot-eight and averaged 21.5 points and 10 rebounds last season for Shawnee Community College in Illinois.

ULM has signed a couple of prep basketball stars, six-foot-eight power forward Ramses Sandifer from Mississippi and six-foot-five guard Wade Martin from West Virginia.

06:30 Newscast April 17, 2015

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office says it appears the motive behind the shooting ambush of one of their deputies Thursday stemmed from a man upset over traffic. 56-year-old John Paul Devillier, a native of the parish but resident of Gulfport, has been identified as the shooter. Sheriff Greg Champagne says 36-year-old Cpl. Burt Hazeltine was directing buses near a school crossing…

cut 14 (10) “stop traffic for him”

Devillier faces an attempted first degree murder charge.

Even though Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says he plans to amend the controversial religious freedom bill, critics are not backing down. Forum for Equality Director Sarah Jane Brady says the gay and transgender community in Louisiana already doesn’t have protections when it comes to housing and employment at the state level…

cut 10 (11) “behalf of its citizens”

Governor Bobby Jindal says passing a religious freedom bill is one of his priorities for this session.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says many women aren’t taking enough time between birth and conception which could lead to problems for both mom and baby. Louisiana Medicaid Medical Director Dr. Rebekah Gee says most research suggests that at least 18 months are needed between pregnancies…

cut 4 (10) “between pregnancies”

Gee says in Louisiana, the CDC report shows nearly 30% of women don’t wait longer than 18 months before having their next child. She adds that a short time span between pregnancies also impacts the emotional and mental health of the mother.

AM Newscall, April 17th, 2015

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says many women aren’t taking enough time between birth and conception which could lead to problems for both mom and baby. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

The number of Formosan subterranean termites are rising in Louisiana and homeowners should take precautions against them. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

A St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s deputy continues to recover today in a hospital after getting shot three times. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says many women aren’t taking enough time between birth and conception which could lead to problems for both mom and baby. Dr. Rebekah Gee is the Medicaid Medical Director for Louisiana. She says most research suggests that at least 18 months are needed between pregnancies…:

cut 4  (10) “between pregnancies”

Gee says in Louisiana, the CDC report shows nearly 30% of women don’t wait longer than 18 months before having their next child. She says not only could this lead to more pre-mature births, but a short time span between pregnancies also impacts the emotional and mental health of the mother…:

Cut 5  (09)  “hormonal shifts”

Gee says failure to space, may affect the risk of pregnancy complications such as preterm birth, low birth weight and small gestational age. She says Louisiana has one of the highest prematurety rates in the nation..:

Cut 6 (12)  “spacing occurs”

______________________________________

The number of Formosan subterranean termites are rising in Louisiana and homeowners should take precautions against them. LSU AgCenter Entomologist Gregg Henderson says these termites build shelter tubes as they move up a home’s foundation. He says if you think your home may have termites, you should get an inspection or inspect the home yourself…

CUT 7 (10)  “they come up”

Henderson says if you do find termites in your home, you should call a pest control operator to get rid of them. May is the beginning of the swarm season for these Formosan termites. He says one way you can help prevent an infestation is to change the lighting around your home. Henderson says most insects are attracted to the blue spectrum of light…

Cut 8  (09)  “yellow lights” 

He says the movement of infested wood-based items is the primary method of distribution of these termites. Henderson says these pests are responsible for more than $300 million in losses a year in the Greater New Orleans Area alone. He says it’s definitely important to check any trees around your home for termites…

Cut 9 (08)  “termite infestation”

______________________________________

Even though Bossier City Representative Mike Johnson says he plans to amend the controversial religious freedom bill, critics are not backing down in opposition. Forum for Equality Director Sarah Jane Brady says the gay and transgender community in Louisiana already doesn’t have protections when it comes to housing and employment at the state level..:

Cut 10 (11) “behalf of its citizens”

Some lawmakers criticized the bill in its original form saying it was so broad in protecting any belief about marriage which could mean many things. Johnson announced he’s going to change the measure to designate the “institution of marriage” as the “union of one man and one woman.” Brady says the intent of HB 707 has always been to discriminate against the LGBT community…:

cut 11 (13) “of all people”

Governor Bobby Jindal says passing a religious freedom bill is one of his priorities for this session. He says the measure is narrowly focused on making sure the state can not discriminate against businesses for their religious belief in traditional marriage…:

cut 12 (11)   “for their beliefs”

Jindal says he can’t see how someone can make the case that the state should intervene on someone’s personal religious beliefs…:

Cut 13 (12)  “view of marriage”

————————————-

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office says it appears the motive behind the shooting ambush of one of their deputies Thursday stemmed from a man upset over traffic. 56-year-old John Paul Devillier, a native of the parish but resident of Gulfport, has been identified as the shooter. Sheriff Greg Champagne says 36-year-old Cpl. Burt Hazeltine was directing buses near a school crossing…:

Cut 14 (10) “stop traffic for him”

It’s expected Devillier will be charged with attempted first degree murder. Champagne says Hazeltine was confronted by the suspect who left the scene then returned to a nearby gas station and began dangling a gun out of his truck…:

Cut 15  (10)  “three times”

Champagne says Hazeltine was hit three times and one of the bullets got lodged behind his left eye which he may never see out of again. He says Devillier has a violent past including getting fired from a TSA job in 2013 for conduct unbecoming…:

Cut 16  (08)  “aggravated assault”

_________________________________________

The LSU football team completes spring practice on Saturday with the annual spring game. The scrimmage will give quarterbacks Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris another opportunity to show whether they should be the starting quarterback next season. Coach Les Miles on what he’s looking for from his signal callers…

Cut 17 (14)  “it aggressively”

LSU’s quarterback play was not the only thing wrong with the Tigers passing game last season. LSU’s young wide receivers also had their growing pains, but Miles says spring practice has been good for those guys…

Cut 18 (17) ” this fall’

Miles says as the Tigers conclude spring practice, the goal looking ahead to next fall is to make it into the four-team college football playoff. He says building depth will be a key to reaching that goal

Cut 19 (20)  “little younger “

_______________________________________________

Louisiana Tech will hold its spring game on Saturday. The coaching staff has divided the team into two squads and Coach Skip Holtz says Saturday is like a final exam, especially for the younger players on the roster…

Cut 20 (12)  “do what they’re doing”

 

LRN Newscast 16:30 04-16-15

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Department is calling this morning’s shooting of a deputy directing traffic at a school crossing, an ambush. 36-year-old Corporal Burt Hazeltine is in stable, but guarded condition. Captain Pat Yoes says when other deputies arrived, the suspect dropped the gun…:
CUT 7 (05) “university hospital “
The suspect is 56 year old John Paul Devillier who lives in Gulfport, Mississippi. He reportedly got angry at the deputy over being held up in school traffic.

New Orleans Pelicans’ star Anthony Davis went off on the San Antonio Spurs last night with 31 points, leading the Pels to a 108-103 victory, and putting them in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2011. Coach Monty Williams was impressed with A.D…
CUT 4 (09) Q: “free throws”
Game one in the Best-Of-7 series against Golden State tips off Saturay at 2:30 on ABC.
———————–
Governor Jindal is taking some criticism for a fiscal policy based on Americans for Tax Reform, but Jindal says he’s always been opposed to new taxes…
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

There’s been more heavy downpours today, including in Central Louisiana, where there’s street flooding in Alexandria, and more rain expected through Sunday…
cut 12 (08) “…come in”
That’s State Climatologist Barry Keim.

LRN Newscast 15:30 04-16-15

In what is being described as an ambush this morning, a St. Charles Parish deputy was shot multiple times while directing traffic at a school crossing in Paradis. Captain Pat Yoes says 36 year-old Corporal Burt Hazeltine was helping buses make their way off Highway 90…
CUT 6 (07) Q: ‘multiple times’
The suspect is identified as 56 year old John Paul Devillier, who currently resides in Gulfport. Hazeltine, who is stable but guarded condition was shot 3 times; one bullet punctured his lung, and another lodged behind his left eye, which may cause him to lose sight in that eye.

With lawmakers addressing the state’s current budget crisis, Governor Bobby Jindal is still standing firm in cutting government spending instead of raising taxes. Today, the governor pointed to the state’s job market and growing economy…
CUT 14 (04) Q: government spending”
———————–
The National Weather Service has issued Flash Flood Watches across south-central and southeastern Louisiana through Friday night as rains continue to pound Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says over this week, five to seven inches of rain has already fallen over much of South Louisiana…
cut 11 (08) “South Louisiana”
Keim says we should get some relief by Sunday.

The New Orleans Pelicans are in the NBA playoffs for the first time in four years, after last night’s 108-103 win over San Antonio. The Pelicans scored 34-points in the first quarter and head coach Monty Williams says that came as a pleasant surprise…
CUT 3 (07) “bench was great”
The Pels will face Golden State in a first round best-of-seven series beginning Saturday.

LRN Newscast 14:30 04-16-15

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s office says a deputy directing traffic at a school crossing in Paradis was shot multiple times in an apparent ambush..:
CUT 1 (22) “reporting”

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office asks for the public’s help in the search for a missing woman whose vehicle was found intentionally set on fire and destroyed. Spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks says 54-year-old Taherah Ghassemi (ta-HAIR-ay ga-SEE-me) was reported missing by her son on Monday…
CUT 9 (04) “she was not”
That investigation is ongoing.
———————-
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watches across south-central and southeastern Louisiana through Friday night as rains continue to pound the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is the potential for up to three inches of rainfall per day through Saturday in South Louisiana…
CUT 12 (08) Q: ‘to come in”
Before that, he says, the biggest risk now is flash flooding and river basin flooding due to over-saturated soil.

With their back against the wall, the New Orleans Pelicans made it into the playoffs last night in a do or die win last night over San Antonio 108-103 last night…
CUT 5 (07) Q: ‘won the game’
That’s Coach Monty Williams, who says they now have to prepare for game one against Golden State.