12:30 Newscast December 15th, 2014

State Police say a Louisiana Department of Public Safety officer is charged with sexual battery and malfeasance in office following a traffic stop in Zachary. Michael Selders of Clinton was booked into the East Baton Rouge Prison. Lt. JB Slaton says the victim contacted deputies after she was stopped…:
CUT 9 (07) “sexual manner”
Selders is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating the case of two women who were shot in a domestic disturbance leaving one dead and one injured. Major Ginny Higgins says they responded to a residence and deputies discovered two female victims suffering gunshot wounds…:
CUT 14 (09) “passed away”
25-year-old Donovan Kennedy of New Iberia was arrested for 2nd degree and attempted second degree murder.

Areas off the coasts of Elmer’s and Grand Terre islands have been opened to commercial fishermen for the first time since the 2010 oil spill. Dean of Dean Blanchard’s Seafood in Grand Isle says reopening these areas will be a big help for the industry going forward…:
CUT 7 (09) “back to normal”
He says they are keeping a close eye on these shrimp to make sure they aren’t affected by the spill.

State Police say nine people were killed over the weekend. No seatbelts, impaired driving and driver error were the contributing factors. 61 lives have been lost since the week before Thanksgiving in accidents investigated by State Police.

11:30 Newcast December 15th, 2014

The state has reopened a couple of areas in the Gulf of Mexico that were affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to commercial fishermen. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

Gas prices keep dropping fast and Holiday consumers are happy. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $2.37 down two cents from last night and almost 12 cents less than this time last week.

State Police is investigating a crash involving a pedestrian who was struck and killed after he fell out of the back of a truck in LaSalle Parish over the weekend. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says 22-year-old Brittany Walker of Jena was traveling on La Highway 8 when she struck an unknown object in the roadway…:
CUT 12 (08) “was a person”
Investigators determined it was 43-year-old Marcus Jones who they believe had fallen out of the bed of a friend’s truck prior to being run over.

State Police say a suspected drunk driver heading the wrong way on a four-lane highway in Beauregard Parish struck another vehicle head-on, resulting in three fatalities. State Police Sergeant James Anderson says they believe 28-year-old Kristi Poteet was traveling south in the northbound lanes of US 171…:
CUT 3 (10) “heading north”
They suspect impairment on the part of Poteet.

 

10:30 Newscast December 15th, 2014

The state has reopened a couple of areas in the Gulf of Mexico that were affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to commercial fisherman. Dean Blanchard who owns a seafood operation in Grand Isle says the now open Elmer’s and Grand Terre are great spots for shrimp:
CUT 6 (10) “for this week”
He says this is great news as these areas have been closed since 2010.

A man who was the janitor at Port Barre Elementary School for 27 years, then went to school and is now the principal is being featured in a People Magazine series called “Heroes Among Us.” Joseph “Gabe” Sonnier’s story has inspired many and he says this is his life lesson…:
CUT 12 (11) “or your dream”
You can find his story online at People.com.

State Police say three people died in a crash they believe was caused by an impaired driver in Beauregard Parish Sunday evening. They say 28-year-old Kristi Poteet was driving on the wrong side of the road when she struck a car driven by 41-year-old Ricky Gill head-on. Both drivers and a passenger in Poteet’s vehicle all died. They believe Poteet was impaired.

The United States Postal Service says if you are shipping by standard post, today is the last day to get that package in the mail for an on-time Christmas delivery. Scott Carwile reports…:
CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

 

09:30 Newscast December 15, 2014

5th District Congressman-elect Ralph Abraham says he’s ready to get started in Washington D.C. Abraham will be sworn in on January fifth and he expects the new Congress, will quickly act on a couple of important items ..

cut 5 (11) “Obamacare”

The Richland Parish Republican says he’s already be told he’s secured assignments on the House Agriculture and Veterans Affairs committees.

The state will auction off over seven-hundred underutilized state vehicles hoping to generate one-point-four million dollars in revenue. Division of Administration assistant commissioner Jan Cassidy says various state agencies are not using these vehicles enough, so the decision has been made to auction them off…

cut 13 (11) “one-point-four-million”

The vehicles will be auctioned off in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a New Iberia man following a domestic disturbance. Authorities found that two female victims, ages 19 and 20, had been shot during the incident. The 20-year-old was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The 19-year-old was treated for non-life threatening injuries. 25-year-old Donovan Kennedy was arrested and chrarged with one count of second degree murder and one count of attempted second degree murder.

People Magazine is featuring a man who was once the janitor at Port Barre Elementary School and years later became the principal in a series called “Heroes Among Us.”…

cut 3 (31) “reporting”

08:30 Newscast December 15, 2014

State Police report that three people are dead after a head-on collision last night in Beauregard Parish. Authorities say Kristi Poteet was driving on the wrong side of a divided highway when she collided with a vehicle driven by Ricky Gill of Singer. Poteet, Gill, and an unidentified passenger in Poteet’s car were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say impairment on the part of Poteet is a suspected factor in the crash.

5th District Congressman-elect Ralph Abraham says he’s ready to begin his duties in Washington D.C. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 1 (27) “reporting”

The state hopes to generate one-point-four million dollars in revenue by selling underutilized state vehicles at auction. Division of Administration assistant commissioner Jan Cassidy says they are constantly evaluating state inventory to make sure they are spending tax dollars appropriately and it’s been determined they reduce the number of state vehicles by over seven-hundred…

cut 15 (08) “surplus vehicles”

Cassidy says these vehicles have been driven less than 15-thousand miles over the last year.

The United States Postal Service says if you are shipping Christmas cards or packages by standard post, today is the last day to get that package in the mail for an on-time Christmas delivery. Spokesman McKinney Boyd admits that most people communicate electronically these days, but says there is still nothing like receiving a Christmas card in the mail…

cut 9 (09) “many miles away”

If you are shipping by First Class or Priority Mail, the deadline is Saturday and you have until December 23 to ship using Priority Mail Express.

07:30 Newscast December 15, 2014

Over seven-hundred underutilized state vehicles will be sold at auction in hopes of generating one-point-four million dollars for the state. Division of Administration assistant commissioner Jan Cassidy says these vehicles have been driven less than 15-thousand miles over the last year…

cut 14 (12) “job done”

The auction sale will take place in the first quarter of next year.

5th District Congressman-elect Ralph Abraham says he’s ready to begin his duties in Washington D.C. The Republican from Richland Parish says he’s already be told he’s secured assignments on the House Agriculture and Veterans Affairs committees…:

cut 4 (10) “in the nation”

Abraham will be sworn in on January fifth.

A man who was once the janitor at Port Barre Elementary School and years later became the principal is being featured in a People Magazine.” Joseph “Gabe” Sonnier says he decided to go to school full-time while he continued working as the custodian. He says after getting his associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree he began teaching a Port Barre Elementary School…

cut 11 (09) “elementary”

His story has inspired many people and Sonnier has been featured on several TV shows and magazines.

If you’re looking for an on-time Christmas delivery, the United States Postal Service says if you are shipping by standard post, today is the last day to get that package in the mail. Spokesman McKinney Boyd says you can avoid lines at the post office by going to their website and schedule a free package pickup…

cut 8 (07) “pick it up”

The web address is www-dot-usps-dot-com.

06:45 Sportscast December 15, 2014

The Saints will try to get another win on the road tonight when they face the Chicago Bears. New Orleans went to the Windy City last year and won 26-18 as Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns..

cut 16 (14) (Brees chuckles)

It’s been a frustrating season for the Saints, who have lost four in a row at home, but they’ve won their last two on the road.

Elsewhere in the NFC South, Atlanta lost to Pittsburgh yesterday, 27-20 and the Cam Newton-less Carolina Panthers held off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-17. Carolina now sits atop the NFC South; however, a Saints win tonight and the Black and Gold have sole possession of the division lead.

It was tied at 111 at the end of regulation, but Golden State’s Stephen Curry scored eight of his 34 points in overtime as the Warriors downed the Pelicans 128-122 in the Smoothie King Center. Anthony Davis missed the game due to a chest injury; however, Tyreke Evans scored 34 and Jrue Holiday added 30 for the Pels. The Warriors, who have now won 16 games in a row, no sit with a league best 21-2 mark on the season. The Pelicans fall to 11-12. The Pels next host Utah tomorrow night.

In college basketball, Syracuse squeaked by Louisiana Tech 71-69 and Southern fell to 14th ranked Iowa State 88-78.

Three state high school football champions were crowned Saturday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Livonia is the Class 3-A champion after defeating Amite 43-13. In Class 4-A, Neville, out of Monroe, edged New Orleans’ Warren Easton 28-27. And in the Class 5-A championship game, Acadiana won its second stratight state title by beating Destrehan 23-7.

06:30 Newscast December 15, 2014

Louisiana hopes to generate one-point-four million dollars in revenue by selling over seven-hundred underutilized state vehicles at auction. Division of Administration assistant commissioner Jan Cassidy says these vehicles are not being used enough by various state agencies, so the decision has been made to auction them off..

cut 13 (11) “one-point-four-million”

The vehicles will be auctioned off in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The United States Postal Service says if you are shipping by standard post, today is the last day to get that package in the mail for an on-time Christmas delivery. Spokesman McKinney Boyd says today is the post office’s busiest day where they’ll process in the neighborhood of 354,000 packages statewide…

cut 7 (09) “and letters tonight”

He says if you are shipping by First Class or Priority Mail, the deadline is Saturday for a Christmas delivery.
A man who was once the janitor at Port Barre Elementary School and years later became the principal is being featured in a People Magazine series called “Heroes Among Us.” Joseph “Gabe” Sonnier says on a day in the mid-80s the then-principal at the school told the janitor he knew he was very smart and capable of doing more with his life…

cut 10 (08) “to heart”

Sonnier says later he decided to go to school full-time while he continued working as the custodian. Sonnier, now 53, says he got his master’s degree and then was appointed principal at the same school where he worked as a janitor for 27 years.

LRN Newscast 16:30 12-12-14

Today was indictment day for former New Orleans Saints star Darren Sharper; first this morning by an Orleans Parish Grand Jury for two counts of aggravated rape of two women; then, this afternoon on federal drug charges-as it was alleged he drugged the women. As for as the rape case, Legal Analyst Tim Meche does not believe the trial will have to be moved from Orleans Parish…
CUT 8 (10) Q: ‘anywhere else’

State Police are investigating a fatal accident that happened this morning on I-20 in Lincoln Parish, which claimed the life of a woman who was not buckled up. Trooper Michael Reichart says 35-year-old Candace Henderson told police she hit something in the road…:
CUT 9 (08) “lane of travel”
That’s when an 18 wheeler hit her, ejecting and killing her passenger -28 year-old Kimberly Henderson of Monroe.

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State Police say two Town of Franklinton employees are under arrest, accused of stealing over 22 thousand dollars in water and utility payments from residents…
CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

State Treasurer John Kennedy is urging Louisiana residents to check out the state’s unclaimed property database. He says over 500-thousand people are owed money from old checking accounts, insurance proceeds and oil and gas royalty payments. He says the unclaimed money can certainly help during the holiday season.

LRN Newscast 15:30 12-12-14

Former New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper has been indicted by an Orleans Parish Grand jury on two counts of aggravated rape. Michelle Southern with more…
CUT 2 (31) “reporting”
Sharper was also indicted this afternoon on federal drug charges.

A Crowley woman has died after she was hit in the parking lot of Cowboy’s Night Club in Scott. Twenty-two year-old Kylie Pannell died later at a local hospital. The driver-Chase Franks-was booked on OUI and vehicular homicide.
———————————————-
A fatal accident involving an 18 wheeler in a crash this morning on I-20 in Lincoln Parish has claimed the life on an unrestrained passenger after she was ejected from the vehicle. State Police Trooper Michael Reichart says it’s another reminder…
CUT 11 (05) Q: ‘event of a crash’
The driver, 35 year-old Candace Henderson told police she hit something, lost control, then crossed over into the opposite lane of traffic.

Ticket sales are very brisk for the Music City Bowl in Nashville as LSU plays Notre Dame on December 30th. Out of 8 thousand tickets allotted, only about 700 remain. LSU Ticket Office Manager Brian Broussard says you can buy through Ticketmaster, but LSU’s tickets have better seats…
CUT 14 (10) Q: “100 level”
Broussard says Nashville is proving to be an attractive destination.