11:30 AM Newscast

The state continues to mourn the passing of former Governor Kathleen Blanco who passed away from an Ocular Melanoma that she’d been fighting for eight years. LSU Health New Orleans Retina Specialist Maria Reinoso says it’s a tragic cancer, but a rare one that only impacts a small percentage of the population.
Cut 3 (08) “…and our state.”
The cancer arises in pigmented cells in the uvea, the layer of the eye just behind the retina.
Former Governor Blanco’s Katrina legacy may be complicated, but supporters say it’s hard to argue against what she was able to achieve in education during her one term. After Katrina crippled New Orleans Blanco moved to seize control of then failing Crescent City schools under the state-run Recovery School District. . Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says it was bold action that paid off long term…

Cut 11 (10) “…district.”

With football season, many people may find themselves cooking up chicken.  A new USDA study indicates washing raw poultry before cooking can be dangerous.  Researcher Dr. Mindy Brashears says washing chicken is a common mistake that could lead to foodborne illness from salmonella spread from splashing.

Cut 6 (11) “…surrounding the sink.”

Brashears says the CDC estimates each year, millions get sick from foodborne illness, with 3000 deaths.
A 39-year-old Rapides Parish cold case has heated up after new information leads to the arrest of two men in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was discovered in 1980. 18-year-old Donna Brazzell’s corpse had gone unidentified for decades after authorities discovered it’s skeletal remains near Highway 28. Relatives were able to positively ID her due to reconstruction. Detective Stephen Phillips says that reconstruction was shared online…
Cut 15 (12) “…office.”

10:30 LRN Newscast August 20

Public memorials and the funeral for former Governor Kathleen Blanco have been set. On Thursday morning in Baton Rouge, an interfaith service will take place at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Later that day, Blanco will lie in state at Louisiana Capitol. In Lafayette on Friday from 12:30 to 8, there will be a public visitation at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral and Saturday morning will be the funeral at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral followed by a private burial.

The Pelican Institute hosts a public forum at the Old State Capitol today aimed at getting a framework in place for a potential state constitutional convention. CEO Daniel Erspamer says interest is growing in reforming the state constitution, and more politicians have come on board to the idea. The only problem is folks don’t exactly know what that would entail…
Cut 4 (10) “…selected.”

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Center is looking for participants in a study to see how nutrition and testosterone can improve warfighting performance….

voicer 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

GB Sciences of Louisiana reports that approximately five thousand patients received medical marijuana in the first two weeks of its release. GB Sciences began shipping vials of cannabis to pharmacies August 6 after years of delays. GB Sciences President John Davis reported the numbers at a stakeholders meeting Monday.

9:30 LRN Newscast August 20

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco’s will be remembered for several things as the first female governor of the state. Council for Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says when the state budget was flush with post-Katrina revenue Erwin credits Blanco with leading the charge to make sure that money was reinvested into all aspects of the education system.

Cut 12 (11) “or more”

The Pelican Institute is hosting a public forum at the Old State Capitol today aimed at getting a framework in place for a potential future state constitutional convention. CEO Daniel Erspamer says Louisiana’s constitution is too long and newly elected officials only have control of about 11 percent of the state budget.

Cut 5 (09) “authority”

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical secures $16 million in funding to research how optimized nutrition can help soldiers maintain their physical and mental performance.  Researcher Dr. Jennifer Rood says previous studies showed how weight loss from military activity affects the mind and body, but a testosterone injection made an impact.

Cut 7 (11) “…gained muscle mass.”

In Rapides Parish two men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was discovered in 1980. 18-year-old Donna Brazzell’s corpse had gone unidentified for decades after authorities discovered its skeletal remains near Highway 28. Detective Stephen Phillips says all that changed when…

Cut 13 (08) “…parish.”

That information led to the arrest of 64-year-old Leo Laird and 54-year-old Gary Haymon.

8:30 LRN Newscast August 20

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco’s Katrina legacy may be complicated, but supporters say it’s hard to argue against what she was able to achieve in education during her one term. Before securing a thousand dollar pay raise in the last session, the last time Louisiana teachers got a raise was during the Blanco years. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin…

Cut 10 (11) “…average.”

Before serving in public office Blanco was a Louisiana schoolteacher.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical secures $16.4 million in funding to research how optimized nutrition can help soldiers maintain their physical and mental performance.  Researcher Dr. Jennifer Rood says participants in the study will be paid $7,500.

Cut 9 (11) “…more military relevant.”

 

A forty year old cold case reopens after new evidence leads to the arrest of two men who allegedly kidnapped, raped, and murdered a young woman in 1980…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

 

An autopsy will be performed today on the body of a woman that was found in a ditch in St. Landry Parish on Sunday. The body was found in the Beggs area about three miles north of Washington off of Highway 10 according to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. There was no identification found and the body was too decomposed to release a photo.

AM LRN Newscall

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical is looking for participants in a study to see how nutrition and testosterone can improve warfighting performance. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart ”

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 The Council for a Better Louisiana remembers former Governor Kathleen Blanco’s long term legacy on education…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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A fourty year old cold case reopens after new evidence leads to the arrest of two men who allegedly kidnapped, raped, and murdered a young woman in 1980…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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The Pelican Institute is hosting a public forum at the Old State Capitol today aimed at getting a framework in place for a potential future state constitutional convention.

CEO Daniel Erspamer says interest is growing in reforming the state constitution, and more politicians come on board to the idea every year. The only problem is folks don’t exactly know what that would entail…

Cut 4 (10) “…selected.”

Louisiana’s constitution is thousands of pages long and reportedly the 3rd largest in the nation. Erspamer says that means newly elected officials only have control of about 11 percent of the state budget.

Cut 5 (09) “authority”

Critics argue a convention would mean the elimination of dedicated funding for K-12 education and other vital interests. Erspamer says the forum will hopefully lay some of those concerns to rest.

Cut 6 (09) “…else”

The forum will begin at 1130AM and run through 6:15PM.

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LSU’s Pennington Biomedical secures $16.4 million in funding to research how optimized nutrition can help soldiers maintain their physical and mental performance.  Researcher Dr. Jennifer Rood says previous studies showed how weight loss from military activity affects the mind and body, but a testosterone injection made an impact.

Cut 7 (11) “…gained muscle mass.”

Rood says the new study will result in participants living in a setting comparable to being in the military and researchers will throw in an extra factor not previously accounted for.

Cut 8 (10) “…was sleep deprivation”

Rood says participants in the study will be paid $7,500 for twenty days.

Cut 9 (11) “…more military relevant.”

_______________________

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco’s Katrina legacy may be complicated, but supporters say it’s hard to argue against what she was able to achieve in education during her one term.

Before securing a thousand dollar pay raise in the last session, the last time Louisiana teachers got a raise was during the Blanco years. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin…

Cut 10 (11) “…average.”

Before serving in public office Blanco was a Louisiana schoolteacher.

After Katrina crippled New Orleans Blanco moved to seize control of then failing Crescent City schools under the state-run Recovery School District. Erwin says it was bold action that paid off long term…

Cut 11 (10) “…district.”

The Democratic governor battled with New Orleans Democratic leaders over the decision.

When the state budget was flush with post-Katrina revenue Erwin credits Blanco with leading the charge to make sure the extra money was reinvested into all aspects of the education system.

Cut 12 (11) “or more”

Blanco will be buried Saturday in Lafayette.

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A 39-year-old Rapides Parish cold case has heated up after new information leads to the arrest of two men in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was discovered in 1980.

18-year-old Donna Brazzell’s corpse had gone unidentified for decades after authorities discovered it’s skeletal remains near Highway 28. Detective Stephen Phillips says all that changed when…

Cut 13 (08) “…parish.”

That information led to the arrest of 64-year-old Leo Laird and 54-year-old Gary Haymon on First Degree Murder, Rape, and Aggravated kidnapping charges.

Laird was a free man when he was arrested this month, but Haymon was already behind bars when he was hit with the charges. Phillips says he had been convicted of a similar act in 1999.

Cut 14 (09) “…possession”

Haymon abducted the woman in 1999 in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Relatives of Brazzell were able to positively ID her even four decades later due to the work of FACES, which reconstructs people’s likeness based on their bone structure. Phillips says that reconstruction was shared online…

Cut 15 (12) “…office.”

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We are 11 days away from seeing LSU’s new offense take the field when the Tigers kick off the 2019 campaign by hosting Georgia Southern. Coach Ed Orgeron has said the Tigers will have more of a spread attack and they want to ball out of quarterback Joe Burrow’s hands quickly. But wide receiver Justin Jefferson says they have plenty of guys who can run deep routes too

Cut 16  (12) “…this season”   

On paper it appears LSU is deep at the wide receiver position. Jefferson returns as the leading receiver. Ja’Marr Chase and Terrace Marshall are expected to have more of an impact. Freshman Trey Palmer is fast and Jefferson says freshman Devonta Lee and Racey McMath have also been making plays during preseason camp

cut 17 (16) “…this season” 

In the last scrimmage, freshman John Emery led all running backs with 68 yards on 11 carries. Jefferson played with Emery at Destrehan high school and calls Emery a special back….

Cut 18 (21) “…as well” 

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5:30 PM Newscast

Funeral arrangements are set for former Governor Kathleen Blanco who died from cancer at age 76. The public memorials and services will begin Thursday in Baton Rouge. An interfaith service will take place at 10 AM at St. Joseph Cathedral and then the former governor will lie in state at the state capitol that afternoon. Governor John Bel Edwards…
Cut 5 (09) “…generations to come.”
A public visitation is set for Friday in Lafayette and the funeral will also take place in Lafayette on Saturday morning at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral.
Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham told out news partner 710 KEEL in Shreveport that if he’s elected governor, he will not raise taxes. Abraham says he’s looking to pass tax reform legislation with a more fiscally conservative legislature…
Cut 7 (10) “…very quickly”

LSU is ranked sixth in the A-P preseason poll, they’re first top 10 preseason ranking since 2016. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Popular charter fisherman Theophile (Toe-fill) Bourgeois died Sunday when his plane crashed off the coast of St. Bernard Parish. Two others were on the seaplane and they were rescued by the U-S Coast Guard. The condition of the other two victims is not known.

And funeral services for New Orleans TV anchor Nancy Parker are Friday. She died in a small plane crash in New Orleans East last Friday.

4:30 PM Newscast

Governor John Bel Edwards has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to honor former Governor Kathleen Blanco, who died Sunday at the age of 76. Edwards says the former governor was an influence on him when he came into office.
Cut 4 (10) “…and her guidance.”
Blanco will lie in state at Louisiana’s State Capitol on Thursday afternoon. Her funeral will take place on Saturday in Lafayette.

Congressman Ralph Abraham pledges that if he is elected Governor any new tax increases passed in the Legislature will be offset with equal or greater tax reductions in other areas. The candidate made the pledge this morning on KEEL after being asked if he would pledge to reject new taxes on any front.

Cut 6 (11) “…and on”

LSU is ranked sixth in the A-P preseason poll which was released today. Tiger Rag Magazine Editor James Moran says the ranking matches the hype that surrounds this team

Cut 9 (08) “…putting in.”

Moran says it remains to be seen if LSU can live up to its ranking, but based on what you see on paper, the Tigers should be one of the best teams in the country

Caddo Parish Sheriff deputies arrested a DeSoto Parish man for a rape that allegedly occurred in the mid-1990s. Detective Larry Pierce says a 34-year-old woman told investigators last month that she was forced to perform sex acts upon Glenn Miller Senior on multiple occasions over two decades ago. He says Detective Chris Ardoin found enough evidence to charge Miller with two counts of First Degree Rape
Cut 13 (10) “…arrest”

Miller is being held on a 500-thousand dollar bond.

330PM LRN News

A funeral mass for former Governor Kathleen Blanco will take place on Saturday in Lafayette.  The 76-year-old Blanco died Sunday following a battle with cancer.  Governor John Bel Edwards remembers the state’s first elected female governor as a woman of abiding faith, unconditional love for her family and the people she served.

Cut 3 (08) “…and our state.”

Edwards has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff until her private burial on Saturday.

This morning our partners at KEEL asked Congressman Ralph Abraham if he would pledge to reject new taxes on any front, and the Congressman responded saying if elected Governor any new tax increases passed in the Legislature would have to be offset with equal or greater tax reductions in other areas. He suggested enshrining the idea in Article Seven of the state constitution.

Cut 8 (07) “…fix it”

If the rewrite clears the Legislature, it would be up for a ballot box vote.

Today’s AP poll puts LSU ranked sixth in the nation. Tiger Rag Magazine Editor James Moran says it remains to be seen if LSU can live up to its ranking, but based on what you see on paper, the Tigers should be one of the best teams in the country

Cut 10 (09) “…ten team”

The A-P poll has Clemson number one, Alabama second, Georgia third, Oklahoma fourth, Ohio State fifth and then LSU sixth. 2016 was the last time LSU was ranked in the top 10 in the preseason AP poll.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office arrest a 29-year-old man for allegedly using his cell phone to record a 12-year-old take a bath. Detective Larry Pierce says Christopher Ashby of Mooringsport cracked the door open, so he could record the girl while she was nude.

Cut 12 (10) “…sexual grattification.”

Pierce says they are not releasing the man’s relationship with the victim.

1230PM LRN News

A funeral mass for former Governor Kathleen Blanco will take place on Saturday in Lafayette after the state’s first female Governor passed away Sunday from cancer. Governor John Bel Edwards remembers Blanco as a woman of abiding faith, unconditional love for her family and the people she served.

Cut 3 (08) “…and our state.”

Blanco will also lie in state at Louisiana’s State Capitol.

Congressman Ralph Abraham pledges that if he is elected Governor any new tax increases passed in the Legislature will be offset with equal or greater tax reductions in other areas. The candidate made the pledge this morning on KEEL after being asked if he would pledge to reject new taxes on any front.

Cut 6 (11) “…and on”

Abraham previously mentioned he would support efforts to repeal a .45 percent sales tax passed in 2018.

For the fourth straight month, the state remains at full employment.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart ”

10:30 AM Newscast

Louisiana’s only elected female governor, Kathleen Blanco, has passed away at the age of 76 after a battle with cancer. Blanco was a mother to six children and a former school teacher. It wasn’t until her early 40s that she got into politics when she was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1983. Her former communications director in the governor’s office, Bob Mann

Cut 6 (12) “…more honest government”

20 months into her administration the state was hit with two killer storms, Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Many people said Blanco was unprepared, indecisive and overwhelmed, but Mann says the criticism against the former governor has softened as time went on…

Cut 8 (12) “…as governor.

Blanco did not seek re-election in 2007.

The international hot sauce market is expected to see a 61 percent increase over the next seven years as Asia’s craving for liquified pepper heats up. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

One person is dead and two others rescued following a Sunday afternoon seaplane crash of the coast of St. Bernard Parish.  The deceased has been identified as Theophile Bourgeois, owner of Bourgeois Fishing Charters.  The company offered overnight and day fishing trips, using seaplanes to get customers to the destination.  The cause of the crash remains under investigation.