LRN Newscast 16:30 12-19-14

Republican Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise is finding himself a target of the political group Senate Conservatives Action. They’re sponsoring radio ads that accuse him of siding with President Obama instead of standing on the conservative platform…
CUT 6 (12) Q: ‘from shutting down”
That’s LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford who adds rumors are circulating that Rob Maness may challenge Scalise in 2016.

A Ponchatoula man faces up to 40 years in prison for downloading more than half a million images of child pornography. Fifty-two year-old Robert Swan pleaded guilty yesterday for his role in a network that children that included children as young as 4 weeks of age in sex acts.
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New employment numbers are out and Louisiana’s labor force grew to a record 2,179,837 in November. LWC Executive Director Curt Eysink says people from all over are responding to Louisiana’s strong and sustained job growth by joining our workforce…:
cut 12 (11) “great jobs”
The number of people employed in the state jumped by 59,419 over the year.

The fall shrimping season comes to a close on some state waters Monday and shrimpers are calling this an average season…
CUT 3 (12) “rather abruptly”
That’s Daren Martin, owner of Martin’s Fresh Shrimp in Chauvin, who says shrimpers are headed to the Gulf to get more shrimp, and that could cause a price hike.

LRN Newscast 15:30 12-19-14

A group called Senate Conservatives Action is sponsoring radio ads that are targeting Republican Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise. Here’s Eric Gill with the story…
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

The very first bowl game of the season kicks off tomorrow morning with the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, as the U-L-L Ragin’ Cajuns take on Nevada. There’s a concert tonight starring Kool and the Gang at the Smoothie King Center, but the team won’t be there, because of a very early wake-up call for a 10 am kick-off.

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State Police are reporting a total of 66 highway deaths in Louisiana since Thanksgiving, and Sgt. Nick Manale says that is way too many…
CUT 10 (05) Q: “unrestrained occupants”
So if you’re not buckled up, don’t expect any leniency when you get pulled over this holiday season.

For November, Louisiana added seven thousand more people working, which is outpacing the national numbers…
CUT 13 (09) Q: ‘to November
That’s Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink (eye sink), who says the total number in the state a record setting 2.1 million people with jobs. He says industrial announcements keep coming and people from around the nation and the world are paying attention.

LRN Newscast 14:30 12-19-14

New employment numbers are out and Louisiana’s labor force grew to over 2.1 million in November, and that’s a record…
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

A man facing felony charges has committed suicide last night after a pursuit with Shreveport Police. Thirty year-old Damian Pea (pay) was approached by police while he sat in a parking lot, when he took off at a high rate of speed, lost control and crashed into another vehicle. Police discovered a gunshot wound to the head when they got there.
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A conservative group called Senate Conservatives Action is sponsoring radio ads that target Republican Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise. The ads accuse Scalise of siding with President Obama instead of standing on the conservative platform. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says there is some intrigue here as this group supported Rob Maness in his run for the US Senate…
CUT 7 (05) Q: “Steve Scalise”

After working several fatal crashes last weekend that resulted in nine deaths, State Police troopers are urging all drivers to use extra caution while on the highways during the holidays, because driver error is responsible for many of the wrecks they are seeing…
CUT 9 (09) “distractions alone”
That’s Sergeant Nick Manale of State Police.

13:30 Newscast December 19th, 2014

A group Senate Conservatives Action group is running ads slamming Congressman Steve Scalise saying he’s on the President’s side of maintaining funding for Obamacare. But LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says Scalise didn’t want a government shutdown but these ads can’t be taken lightly…:
CUT 9 (11) “next”
Rumors are circulating that Col Rob Maness Maness may challenge Scalise in 2016.

The fall shrimping season comes to a close on some state waters Monday and some are calling this an average season for fishermen. Daren Martin, owner of Martin’s Fresh Shrimp in Chauvin, says now that shrimpers will have to go into the Gulf of Mexico to get shrimp, consumers should expect to see a bit of a price hike…:
CUT 5 (07) “and whatnot”
He describes the fall shrimping season as average.

After working several fatal crashes last weekend that resulted in nine deaths, State Police troopers are urging drivers to use extra caution while on the highways during this holiday period. Sergeant Nick Manale says in most of the fatal wrecks they’ve investigated, the victims were not buckled up…:
CUT 11 (08) “in a crash”
Manale says since Thanksgiving week, State Police have worked fatal wrecks that resulted in 66 deaths.

New employment numbers are out and Louisiana’s civilian labor force grew to a record number in November according to seasonally adjusted data released by the federal bureau of labor statistics. The LWC says people are responding to Louisiana’s strong sustained growth by joining the workforce.

12:30 Newscast December 19th, 2014

A group called Senate Conservatives Action is sponsoring radio ads targeting Republican Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise. They accuse Scalise of siding with the President instead of standing on the conservative platform. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says this attack stems from the Congressman’s efforts to help pass a $1.1 trillion dollar spending bill…:
CUT 6 (12) “from shutting down”
Rumors are circulating that Col Rob Maness may challenge Scalise in 2016.

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office is looking for a suspect wanted in a brutal rape they believe happened last night. They say 25-year-old Jamal Scott James of Opelousas allegedly badly beat and raped a woman in what detectives described as a horrific scene. The suspect is wanted for attempted murder and aggravated rape and is to be considered armed and dangerous. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of $1,000 for anyone who knows where James is hiding.

State Police continue to urge drivers to use extra caution this Holiday season and not add to what has already been a deadly past 30 days. Sergeant Nick Manale says since Thanksgiving week, they’ve worked fatal wrecks that resulted in 66 deaths…:
CUT 10 (05) “unrestrained occupants”
He says everyone in your car should be buckled up and that’s the law — avoid distractions and of course don’t drink and drive.

They are calling it one of the largest collections of child pornography ever found in Louisiana. Federal prosecutors say 52-year-old Robert Swan of Ponchatoula was found with over 500,000 thousand images of child pornography. The man pleaded guilty Thursday.

 

11:30 Newscast December 19th, 2014

After working several fatal crashes last weekend that resulted in nine deaths, State Police troopers are urging drivers to use extra caution while on the highways during this holiday period. Sergeant Nick Manale says driver error is responsible for many of the wrecks they are seeing…:
CUT 9 (09) “distractions alone”
Since Thanksgiving week, State Police has worked fatal wrecks that have resulted in 66 deaths.

The two people injured in a fatal police chase in Shreveport are reportedly fighting for their lives. The chase began Thursday evening when officers tried to pull over a suspect wanted on robbery charges from Oklahoma. The suspect blew a tire and crashed head on into the elderly victims. The suspect was killed as a result of the crash.

The fall shrimping season comes to a close on some state waters Monday and some are calling this an average season for fishermen. Daren Martin, owner of Martin’s Fresh Shrimp in Chauvin, says this was a fair season for shrimpers…:
CUT 3 (12) “rather abruptly”
He says, now that shrimpers will have to go into the Gulf of Mexico to get shrimp, consumers should expect to see a bit of a price hike on the market.

Fire officials in New Roads are investigating an early morning fire they say has left at least one dead. They say the deadly blaze broke out in an apartment that is above a business. At this time, authorities have neither determined the cause of the fire nor whether the unidentified victim was living in the building.

 

10:30 Newscast December 19th, 2014

Holiday travelers will enjoy the lowest gas prices we’ve seen in years. Jeff Palermo has more on this nice Christmas gift for motorists…:
CUT 2 (30) “Reporting”

A suspect is dead and two elderly people are injured following a chase and crash last night in Shreveport. Police say the incident started when they were pursuing the suspect who was wanted on felony charges from Oklahoma. During the chase, the suspect blew a tire, struck another vehicle head-on, and was killed. Two people in the other vehicle were injured and transported to a local hospital in serious condition.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says the rain we’ve got last night into today is coming at a great time as Louisiana has been rain deficient over the last two months. He says there a coastal storm formed off the coast of Texas this morning…:
CUT 10 (05) “through tomorrow morning”
He says rainfall amounts with this storm could be anywhere from a half inch up to four inches.

The last Saturday before Christmas could be as big a shopping day as Black Friday especially if you’re still looking for TVs, appliances or clothes according to experts. Andrew Kuo (quoe) is a marketing professor at LSU. He says the downside of the so-called “Super Saturday” is that shoppers are typically at the mercy of the retailers
CUT 13 (09) “wouldn’t spend”
MartketWatch reports Super Saturday could edge out Black Friday as the top sales day of the year in 2014.

And thanks to a price war between Costco and Sams, Baton Rouge is home to the second-lowest gas prices in the country. It’s $1.77 at the members-only stores today.

 

09:30 Newscast December 19, 2014

A new Southern Media and Opinion Research poll shows 58-percent of Louisianians disapprove of Governor Bobby Jindal’s job performance as he heads into his final year in office. Scott Carwile has more…

cut 1 (30) “reporting”

Fire officials in New Roads are investigating an early morning fire they say has left at least one dead. They say the deadly blaze broke out in an apartment that is above a business. At this time, authorities have neither determined the cause of the fire nor whether the unidentified victim was living in the building.

Gas prices are about 75-cents lower than a year ago as we head into what should be a busy two weeks of holiday travel. Gregg Laskoski, with gas-buddy-dot-com, says this Christmas gift of lower gas prices is the result of a decline in global crude oil prices…

cut 9 (12) “a barrell”

He says the statewide average price for regular gas is about $2.30 a gallon.

Tomorrow, the last Saturday before Christmas could be as big a shopping day as Black Friday according to experts. LSU Marketing Professor Andrew Kuo says with the growing popularity of online shopping, consumers have been spreading out their store shopping throughout the entire month of December…

cut 15 (08) “business online”

MartketWatch reports Super Saturday could edge out Black Friday as the top sales day of the year in 2014.

08:30 Newscast December 19, 2014

58-percent of Louisianians disapprove of Governor Bobby Jindal’s job performance as he heads into his final year in office according to a new Southern Media and Opinion Research poll. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat doesn’t think these poll numbers will factor into Jindal’s decision to run for President in 2016. But Pinsonat says this could be something that could potentially hurt him…

cut 6 (11) “definitely hurt him”

He says Jindal has a job approval rating of 70-percent among Republicans and just over 50-percent among white voters.

Some much needed rain is falling on Louisiana today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this rain is coming at a great time as the state has been rain deficient over the last two months. But he says the precipitation will be short lived with conditions clearing by Saturday morning…

cut 12 (08) “of the state”

Up to four inches of rain is expected in some areas of the state.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested an accused methamphetamine dealer after a traffic stop Thursday. They say after officers pulled over 37-year-old Jesse James of Gonzales for reckless driving, they found he had several active warrants for issuing bad checks. A search of James’ car found an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine. James faces several charges including possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

The last Saturday before Christmas could be as big a shopping day as Black Friday. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

07:30 Newscast December 19, 2014

A new poll by Southern Media and Opinion Research shows 58-percent of Louisianians disapprove of Governor Bobby Jindal’s job performance but 70-percent of Republicans give the governor a positive job rating as he heads into his final year in office. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says with both houses of the state legislature being controlled by Republicans, he doesn’t see these poll numbers changing the way Jindal will do business in his last year…

cut 5 (09) “of their voters”

600 likely Louisiana voters were surveyed.

Gas prices are running about 75-cents lower than a year ago as we head into what should be a busy couple of travel weeks this holiday period. Gregg Laskoski, with gas-buddy-dot-com, says says the US Department of Energy is projecting a national average price of $2.60 a gallon for 2015…

cut 8 (09) “long,long time”

Laskoski says this Christmas gift of lower gas prices is the result of a decline in global crude oil prices.

Experts say this last Saturday before Christmas could be as big a shopping day as Black Friday especially if you’re still looking for TVs, appliances or clothes. LSU Marketing Professor Andrew Kuo says the day after Thanksgiving sales weren’t as high this year as they have been in the past which is another reason stores are expected to be packed tomorrow…

cut 14 (10) “department stores”

Kuo says tomorrow you can expect to continue to see excellent apparel sales, discounted appliances, and last minute TV deals.

After a couple of very dry months, some much needed rain will be falling all across the state today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says rainfall amounts with this storm could be anywhere from a half inch up to four inches. Keim says there is the possibility of severe weather depending on the track of the storm…

cut 11 (09) “some severe weather”

Keim says the entire state is teetering right on the edge of drought with everything east of the Atchafalaya Basin experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions.