07:30 Newscast March 5, 2015

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets today and one item on the agenda is the question of what to do about Common Core Opt-Outs. BESE member Jane Smith says parents not letting their kids take the PARCC test is a variable that punishes the school that they can’t control…

cut 11 (09) “accountability policy”

Smith says students who opt-out of taking the Common Core test won’t be punished but it’s the school that would get a zero for that student towards its performance score.

With Daylight Saving Time beginning this weekend, sleep experts have tips for preparing your children for losing an hour of sleep. Laura Swartz with Healthy Happy Sleep says you should start waking your kids up 15 minutes earlier than usual.

cut 5 (11) “of seven”

She also suggests keeping sleep patterns the same after the time has changed.

A report released this week by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera suggests that increasing oyster lease rates can increase revenues for the state in light of the $1.6 billion budget shortfall. But Sal Sunseri, with P&J Oysters in New Orleans, points out the oyster industry is not a subsidized farming industry like many industries in agriculture…

cut 8 (12) “get subsidized”

The audit report recommends raising the lease rate from $2 and acre to $5.20, which Sunseri says is just too great.

In a move to save over $1.7 million against the salary cap, the New Orleans Saints have released running back Pierre Thomas from the team. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says the move is really not a surprise, but the Saints will really miss is his pass protection skills…

cut 14 (07) “with one team”

Detillier says Thomas, who’s spent all of his 8 seasons with the team, gave New Orleans the screen game back like no one since Dalton Hilliard.

06:45 Sportscast March 5, 2015

The New Orleans Saints have released running back Pierre Thomas from the team. The 30-year-old will save the Black and Gold $1.735 million dollars against the salary cap. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says it’s a heart breaking move, but not really a surprise…:

cut 13 (09) “a year too late”

New Orleans needs to continue to move or lay-off some players by March 10th to get below the salary cap.

Anthony Davis returned to the Pelicans lineup last night and poured in 39 as the Pels outlasted Detroit 88-85. Tyreke Evans added 21 and Alexis Ajinca scored 10 as the Pelicans have won five of their last six. The Pels remain one game behind Oklahoma City for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Tennessee erupted for 45 second half points as they defeated LSU 78-63. Keith Hornsby lead the way for the Tigers with 25 points, followed Jordan Mickey with 16. Tennessee has now beaten LSU five straight times at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

With just two regular season games left, the ULM men’s basketball team is in a three way tie for first place in the Sun Belt Conference. The Warhawks host Georgia State tonight, one of the three teams they are tied with at the top of the standings. ULM Coach Keith Richard likes the position his squad is in….

cut 16 (20) “we have an opportunity”

ULM lost to Georgia State by 20 points in the Sun Belt opener back on December 30th.

At the Girls Top 28 tournament…Mansfield had a convincing 60-44 victory over Ville Platte in the Class 3-A semifinal. The Lady Wolverines will face defending champion University Lab in Friday’s state championship game.

In college baseball…Second ranked LSU defeated Grambling 7-1 and UL-Lafayette completed a season sweep of Northwestern State with an 8-2 win last night.

06:30 Newscast March 5, 2015

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet today and one of the items on the agenda is the question of what to do about Common Core Opt-Outs. BESE member Jane Smith seeks to delay consequences for schools who have students who opt out…

cut 10 (13) “performance score”

Some families who oppose the education standards have said they won’t let their child take the PARCC test.

A report released this week by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera suggests that Louisiana can increase revenues by increasing oyster lease rates. The audit report recommends almost tripling the lease rate, from $2 and acre to $5.20. Sal Sunseri is with P&J Oysters in New Orleans…

cut 7 (10) “not the route”

Louisiana has the second lowest oyster lease rates among the top six states that produce Eastern Oysters.

Sleep experts have some tips for parents on ways to prepare their children for losing an hour of sleep this weekend as we spring forward. Mother of six, Laura Swartz with Healthy Happy Sleep says plan on keeping sleep patterns the same after the time has changed…

cut 4 (14) “…go about it. “

Swartz says the rhythms of daily life will regulate your children’s new sleep schedule so give yourself permission to relax about this change since parents tend to over think the process.

AM Newscall March 5th, 2015

How to prepare your children for the springing forward this Sunday with the time change. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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A report released this week by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera suggests that Louisiana can increase revenues by increasing oyster lease rates. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

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The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet today and one of them items on the agenda is the question of what to do about Common Core Opt-Outs. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (28) “reporting”

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Sleep experts have some tips for parents on ways to prepare their children for losing an hour of sleep this weekend as we spring forward. Mother of six, Laura Swartz with Healthy Happy Sleep says plan on  keeping sleep patterns the same after the time has changed.

cut 4  (14)  “…go about it. “

Swartz says give yourself permission to relax about this change since parents tend to over think the process. She says starting today wake up your kids 15 minutes earlier than usual.

Cut 5  (11)  “of seven”

Swartz says the rhythms of daily life will regulate your childrens new sleep schedule. She says the change will be easy for naturally early risers but most parents will know if they’re children are sensitive to changes in their routine.

Cut 6 (15)  “certain activities”

______________________________________

A report released this week by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera suggests that Louisiana can increase revenues by increasing oyster lease rates. The audit report recommends almost tripling the lease rate, from $2 and acre to $5.20. Sal Sunseri is with P&J Oysters in New Orleans…

CUT 7 (10)  “not the route”

Louisiana has the second lowest oyster lease rates among the top six states that produce Eastern Oysters. Sunseri says oyster farmers have continuously put back in the building of infrastructure to further strengthen the industry. He says the oyster industry is not a subsidized farming industry like many industries in agriculture…

Cut 8  (12)  “get subsidized” 

Sunseri says a reasonable rate increase would be acceptable, but what is proposed is just too great. He says this proposed rate increase will effect more than just the consumer…

Cut 9 (06)  “lose farmers”

______________________________________

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will meet today and one of them items on the agenda is the question of what to do about Common Core Opt-Outs. Some families who oppose the education standards have said they won’t let their child take the PARCC test. BESE member Jane Smith seeks to delay consequences for schools who have students who opt out…:

Cut 10 (13) “performance score”

Smith says students who opt-out of taking the Common Core test won’t be punished but it’s the school that would get a zero for that student towards its performance score. She says parents not letting their kids take the PARCC test is a variable that punishes the school but that they can’t control…:

cut 11 (09) “accountability policy”

Smith says BESE needs a least a year to figure out a compromise when it comes to Common Core because clearly there issues as students opt-out of the tests because their parents don’t think it’s appropriate…:

cut 12 (10)  “and teachers”

______________________________________

The New Orleans Saints have released running back Pierre Thomas from the team. The 30-year-old will save the Black and Gold $1.735 million dollars against the salary cap. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says it’s a heart breaking move, but not really a surprise…:

Cut 13 (09)  “a year too late”

New Orleans needs to continue to move or lay-off some players by March 10th to get below the salary cap. Detillier says Thomas, who’s spent all of his 8 seasons with the team, gave New Orleans the screen game back like no one since Dalton Hilliard. He says what the Saints will really miss is his pass protection skills…:

Cut 14 (07) “with one team”

Thomas complied 3,745 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns on 187 carries for New Orleans. He was a key component in the Saints Super Bowl win. Detillier says you could argue Thomas was the best undrafted free agent in the Sean Payton era. He says the fans love him and he’s very active with the community and quick to speak to the media, but this is about winning games…:

Cut 15  (13)  “and how much they’re paying you”

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With just two regular season games left, the ULM men’s basketball team is in a three way tie for first place in the Sun Belt Conference. The Warhawks host Georgia State tonight, one of the three teams they are tied with at the top of the standings. ULM Coach Keith Richard likes the position his squad is in….

Cut 16  (20)  “we have an opportunity”

ULM lost to Georgia State by 20 points in the Sun Belt opener back on December 30th. But Coach Richard says his team is much better on offense then they were a couple of months ago….

Cut 17 (09)  “Thursday night”

Richard likes the challenge in front of his team….

Cut 18 (13) “doing this’

The Ragin Cajuns are playing as well as anyone in the Sun Belt as they host Arkansas Little Rock tonight. U-L Lafayette has won four in a row and Coach Bob Marlin credits improved play on the defensive end of the court….

Cut 19 (13)   “NCAA Tournament” (2x)

 

17:30 Newscast March 4th, 2015

Sources say the New Orleans Saints have released running back Pierre Thomas from the team. The 30-year-old will save the Black and Gold $1.735 million dollars against the salary cap. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says it’s a heart breaking move, but not really a surprise…:
CUT 13 (09) “a year too late”
New Orleans needs to continue to move or lay-off some players by March 10th to get below the salary cap.

Louisiana State Police are preparing for precipitation and freezing temperatures as the National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Winter Storm WArning for much of the northern part of the state until 9am tomorrow morning. Winter precip could include freezing rain, sleep and possibly snow in much of north and central Louisiana.

Governor Bobby Jindal today announced that EPIC Piping would be making a $45.3 million dollar capital investment in Livingston Parish to establish an advanced facility and corporate headquarters. The project is to create 560 new direct jobs with an average daily salary of $56,600 plus benefits.

As officials with the US Army visited the Leesville area last night to listen to the concerns of folks in the community surrounding reductions to the Vernon Parish base, people once again lined the streets in support of keeping things as is. Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese says the church venue was filled as they made the presentation to the military…:
cut 12 (10) “and city hall”
Personnel reductions are being considered at about 30 bases across the country.

 

 

LRN newscast 16:30 03-04-15

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for parishes north of I-20, ahead of a strong cold front moving through the state this evening…
CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

According to sources close to the New Orleans Saints, the club will be releasing popular 8 year veteran running back Pierre Thomas. Thomas signed on as an undrafted free agent in 2007, and was a key component of the Saints Superbowl win against the Colts in 2009. The Saints may be also looking to trade linebacker Curtis Lofton.
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Tonight, there is be an event at Southern University to discuss the case of Victor White III’s case of being shot and killed while handcuffed in the back of an Iberia Parish Sheriff deputy’s squad car. The mother of Victor White III’s child has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Sheriff and the deputy, and Monroe Attorney Carol Powell Lexing says they are discussing this case and others….
CUT 11 (10) Q: “of these cases”

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is dead after officers responded to reports that a suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of a street near the Schriever. Overpass…:
CUT 6 (07) “in the air”
Captain Dawn Foret says when officers got there, they detained 49 year old Troy Brady in the middle of the road with a shotgun, then he became unresponsive and later died.

16:45 Sportscast March 4th, 2015

There’s a report that New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas will be released from the team. The move would result in salary-cap space for the Black and Gold who need the extra cash. Thomas was set to make $2.1 million next season and $2.2 million in 2016 according records.

It’s also being reported that the Saints are looking to trade linebacker Curtis Lofton. The 28-year-old led New Orleans in tackles last season, but has a salary cap number of just over nine million dollars in 2015.

Also, Saints free safety Jarius Byrd tweeted out today that he’s been officially cleared for the 2015 season. Byrd missed most of the 2014 campaign after injuring his knee.

And there’s also a report the Broncos and Peyton Manning are in the final stages of a revised contract that will result in a four-million dollar cut in pay for the New Orleans native. The five-time NFL MVP is entering his 18th season and he would make 15-million dollars under the revised deal.

In the NBA…the Pelicans host the Detroit tonight, Anthony Davis is questionable with an injured shoulder.

The LSU men’s basketball team hosts the Tennessee Volunteers tonight. The Tigers are 10-and-6 in league play. LSU guard Keith Hornsby says they are trying to close out the regular season on a strong note….
cut 18 (13) “….to us”
The Volunteers have lost five in a row, a losing streak that started with a loss to LSU on Valentine’s Day. Tip-off tonight is at 6 PM.

At the girls Top 28 tournament tonight, …Ville Platte hosts Mansfield in a Class 3-A semi-final match-up. Ville Platte lost in the state title game last year. Also tonight….a class two-a semi-final contest as top-seeded Pickering battles 29th seeded Lakeview.

Earlier today, fourth seeded Stanley upset top seeded Florien 43-38 to reach the Class B championship game on Friday.

 

LRN Newscast 15:30 03-04-15

With a strong cold front about to move through the state this evening, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect for parishes north of I-20. Gary Chatelain, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says rain is forecast for the area today, then things will change when the front comes through…
CUT 3 (10) “and power lines”
Chatelain adds it should not be quite as bad as North Louisiana’s last storm.

Score one for President Obama, as the US Senate has failed to override the president’s veto of a bill to begin construction on the Keystone Oil Pipeline. The final vote was 62-47; just four votes shy of what was needed for the override. Republican insiders say they play to attached the pipeline measure to another bill in the future.
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A man in Shriever is dead after officers responded to reports that the suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of the street. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office Captain Dawn Foret says 49 year-old Troy Brady was sitting down in the road with a shotgun, and when he was detained, he became unresponsive…
CUT 8 (08) Q: “pronounced dead”
An autopsy is pending.

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in federal court against Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal and a deputy in Victor White III’s death by White’s mother. White died from a gunshot wound while handcuffed in the backseat of the deputy’s squad car. The Iberia Sheriff’s Department claims White shot himself, but the attorney hired by the family, Monroe attorney Carol Powell Lexing says the feds are now involved…
CUT 10 (07) Q: “hear from them”

LRN Newscast 14:30 03-04-15

For all Louisiana parishes north of I-20, there’s a a Winter Storm Warning is in effect ahead of a strong cold front that will move through the state this evening. Gary Chatelain, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says there will be rain developing first…
CUT 5 Q: “the Ark-La-Tex”
He says the winter weather should not be as severe as last time in North Louisiana, since the ground is warmer. But icy conditions on bridges and overpasses will be an issue.

US Army officials payed a visit to Vernon Parish last night to listen to citizen concerns about reductions at Fort Polk. Army evaluators stayed until about 10:30pm at a local church in Leesville, listening to dozens of people expressing how important the base is…
CUT 13 (10) Q: “statewide issues”
That’s Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese.
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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is dead after officers responded to reports that the suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of the street…
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

The LSU men’s basketball team plays its final home game of the year tonight as they host the Tennessee Volunteers at six pm in the Maravich Center. These two teams met in Knoxville on Valentine’s Day and it was all LSU as they won by 18 points. The Volunteers bring a five-game losing streak to Baton Rouge. LSU has won its last three and they are ten and six in league play.

PM Newscall March 4th, 2015

 

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for parishes north of I-20, ahead of a strong cold front that will move through the state this evening. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is dead after officers responded to reports that the suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of the street. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for parishes north of I-20, ahead of a strong cold front that will move through the state this evening. Gary Chatelain, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says rain is forecast for the area today and that could become a problem as that front descends across north Louisiana…

CUT 3 (10)  “and power lines”

The Winter Storm Warning is in effect through tomorrow morning. Chatelain says a Winter Weather Advisory is also in effect along and south of I-20. He says areas under this advisory will not be hit as hard as areas north of the interstate…

CUT 4 (06)  “noon or so”

Chatelain says this weather event should not be as severe as last week’s, especially on roadways. He says warmer ground temperatures will melt a lot of the ice on roads, but the main concern is bridges and overpasses freezing over. He says this cold front will mainly bring freezing rain to the state…

CUT 5 (05)  “the Ark-La-Tex”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is dead after officers responded to reports that the suspect was shooting a gun into the air in the middle of the street. Captain Dawn Foret says they got several 911 calls early this morning with reports of a man who was running in the middle of the road with the weapon near the Schriever Overpass…:

CUT 6 (07)  “in the air”

Foret says when cops responded they located 49-year-old Troy Brady sitting in the middle of the road with a shot gun near him…:

CUT 7 (08)  “unresponsive”

Foret says Brady was detained and then shortly after he became unresponsive…:(Foret says there were no obvious signs of trauma to Brady so they’ve ordered an autopsy to determine cause of death.)

CUT 8 (08)  “pronounced dead”

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The mother of Victor White III’s child has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal and a deputy in White’s death. White died from a gunshot wound while handcuffed in the backseat of the deputy’s squad car. Monroe attorney, Carol Powell Lexing, who represents White’s family, says reason for the lawsuit is simple…

CUT 9 (07)  “accountable for it”

Calls to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Department have not been returned. It has been one year since White died while in custody. The Sheriff’s Department and coroner claim that White shot himself while handcuffed in the police car. White’s family disputes this claim. Powell Lexing says federal authorities are still looking into this case…

cut 10 (07) “hear from them”

The suit claims that Ackal inadequately trains deputies and tolerates the use of exessive force. It also alleges Cpl. Justin Ortis, who arrested White, beat him and failed to protect his safety while in custody. Powell Lexing says there will be an event at Southern University tonight to discuss White’s case and similar cases…

cut 11 (10)  “of these cases”

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As officials with the US Army visited the Leesville area last night to listen to the concerns of folks in the community surrounding reductions to the Vernon Parish base, people once again lined the streets in support of keeping things as is. Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese says the church venue was filled as they made the presentation to the military…:

cut 12 (10)  “and city hall”

Reese says the Army evaluators stayed until about 10:30pm and believes they understand the level of support they enjoy across the state…:

cut 13 (10)  “statewide issue”

Personnel reductions are being considered at about 30 bases across the country. Reese says they believe the visitors from the military heard loud and clear that the entire state of Louisiana does not support yet another troop reduction at Fort Polk…:

cut 14 (06)  “those evaluators”

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