North central Louisiana lawmakers at the Capitol today waited anxiously for news from back home as reports began filtering in about a deadly EF-3 tornado that sliced through Ruston, the home of Louisiana Tech University. Tech President Les Guice says thankfully the tornado skirted the edge of the core academic buildings, but the residential halls weren’t so lucky.
Cut 14 (12) “ fields”
The pictures from the campus are startling, with trees ripped up by the roots, and debris littering the grounds. Guice says walking the halls and fields that are usually teeming with students was heart-wrenching.
Cut 16 (11) “…traumatic”
The Louisiana National Guard has mobilized a unit to assist with recovery. They are equipped with chain saws, dump trucks and bobcats.
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A bill to legalize the growing and processing of Industrial hemp is on it’s way to the full House after unanimously passing in the House Agriculture Committee. Jennings Representative John Guinn says he supports the legislation, and in a back and forth with Strain, says the banning of hemp production in America can be traced to the rise of their competitors in big plastic…
Cut 9 (11) “…interesting“.
Following a 5-1 vote, a constitutional amendment that aims to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana to $9 an hour on July 1, 2020, is headed to the Senate floor, where the effort died last year. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says a bump in the minimum wage would show that the state is serious about helping its working poor.
Cut 10 (12) “…government to survive.”
Governor John Bel Edwards has sought an increase in the minimum wage since taking office in 2016.
Author Archives: LRN News
4:30 PM Newscast
Two people are dead, a mother and her son, from a powerful tornado that swept through Ruston in the early morning hours. National Weather Service forecaster CS Ross says at least an EF-3 tornado struck Ruston just before two A-M…
The Louisiana Tech campus is recovering from significant damage suffered from the tornado.
Tech President Les Guice says thankfully the tornado skirted the edge of the core academic buildings, but the residential halls weren’t so lucky.
Most of the campus still has power, but classes have been canceled today to allow students to recover, and check in on family.
Following a 5-1 vote, a constitutional amendment that aims to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana to $9 an hour on July 1, 2020, is headed to the Senate floor, where the effort died last year. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says a bump in the minimum wage would show that the state is serious about helping its working poor.
Cut 10 (12) “…government to survive.”
Governor John Bel Edwards has sought an increase in the minimum wage since taking office in 2016.
A bill to legalize the growing and processing of Industrial hemp is on it’s way to the full House after unanimously passing in the House Agriculture Committee. Gonzales Representative Clay Shexnayder says hemp is a highly profitable, and renewable crop.
1230 LRN News Edit
Governor Edwards is surveying the devastation in Ruston at this hour by helicopter as the National Guard has mobilized and is on it’s way to the city that was slammed by a deadly tornado around 2AM this morning. Chief Deputy with the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s office, Stephen Williams, says at least half of the city is without power and will be for some time.
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While power is out across half of Ruston, the Louisiana Tech campus has lights on from it’s personal generator, but classes have been canceled to allow students to contact family. Tech President Les Guice says thankfully the tornado skirted the edge of the core academic buildings, but the residential halls weren’t so lucky.
Cut 14, 12 seconds, fields
A mother and son who’s house was struck by a tree that had been uprooted are confirmed to have died in the event.
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Following a 5-1 vote, an amendment that aims to raise the minimum wage in Louisiana to 9 dollars and hour by 2020 is headed to the Senate floor, where the effort died last year. Senator Troy Carter of New Orleans says the bump in minimum wages shows people the state is serious about taking care of the working poor.
Cut 10 (12) “…government to survive.”
A bill to legalize the growing and processing of Industrial hemp is on it’s way to the full House after unanimously passing in the House Agriculture Committee. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain priased the crop, saying colonists began harvesting hemp in the early 1700s, and had a number of uses for it, including paper. He says these days hemp can be found in a range of products.
Cut 8 (12) “…capacitors”
The first few drafts of the Declaration of Independence were on hemp paper.
1130AM LRN News (stories reformatted)
A mother and son were killed from a tornado that ripped through Ruston causing significant damage to the city and the Louisiana Tech campus…
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Industrial hemp legalization is on it’s way to the House after unanimously passing in the House Agriculture Committee. Gonzales Representative Clay Shexnayder says it’s a highly profitable, and renewable crop.
Cut 7 (10) “…belt.”
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Governor Edwards calls for three televised debates against his GOP gubernatorial rivals sometime after the 1st of September. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the Democratic governor is clearly confident in his record, and isn’t planning on playing defense.
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One of his opponents, Congressman Ralph Abraham, is calling for six debates, one in each Congressional district.
A Mississippi police officer who was indicted in Louisiana on charges that he used excessive force while working in the Bayou State has resigned from his job with Moss Point, Mississippi Police. 44-year-old Robert Hammac had been working at the Magnolia State police department for several months, and the police chief there says they were not aware of the ongoing investigation into his behavior as a Lake Charles officer.
8:30 AM LRN Newscast April 25
Two people are dead from a likely tornado that swept through Ruston in the early morning hours. Chief Deputy with the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s office, Stephen Williams, says trees are down, power lines mangled and several businesses are destroyed
The House Agriculture Committee will hear a bill today that would legalize, and regulate the growth of industrial hemp in Louisiana. The product was OK’d by the USDA, but Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s still off limits here.
The plant is featured in 50,000 different products and can be turned into hypoallergenic fabrics, concrete, has nutritional value, and more.
Governor Edwards wants to participate in three televised debates for the upcoming election. While many incumbents shy away from debating their opponents., U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says it’s a strategy that certainly has a cold logic behind it.
Only candidates who have received at least $5,000 in donations, or poll at 10 percent or higher are invited to participate.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission will host a meeting tomorrow in Baton Rouge with telephone companies to talk about an influx in “robo-calls.” Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says he and the rest of Louisiana are tired of the phone calls…
Foster wants to impose large fines.
7:30 AM LRN Newscast April 25
Two people are dead after a tornado ripped thru the Louisiana Tech Campus early this morning according to The Monroe Newstar. The two fatalities have not yet been identified and classes have been canceled for the day. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says “It’s bad, real bad. We took a direct hit” Most of the damage occurred along Tech Drive and the Cypress Springs subdivision south of Interstate 20 and hundreds are without power.
Governor Edwards is calling for three televised debates with his opponents in the governor’s race. Connor Ferrill has more.
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The Louisiana Public Service Commission wants telephone companies to hang up on robocalls. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the calls are a violation of Louisiana’s ‘Do Not Call’ law that prevents telemarketers from calling numbers that have signed up on a do not call registry. He says they are breaking the law he wants them to receive severe fines…
The LSU AgCenter will begin studying to effects of cannabis-based compounds on epileptic seizures, using the common zebrafish as a lab rat.
AgCenter researcher Chris Green developed the “zebrafish model”, and says the test starts by filming and measuring the movements of the seizing fish…
Then marijuana extracts will be added into the tanks and reactions will be monitored.
6:30 LRN Newscast April 25
Governor Edwards is calling for three televised debates against his GOP gubernatorial rivals sometime after the 1st of September. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the Democratic governor is clearly confident in his record, and isn’t planning on playing defense.
One challenger, Congressman Ralph Abraham, is calling for six, one in each Congressional District. The other, Eddie Rispone, says he likes the idea of three debates.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission will host a meeting tomorrow in Baton Rouge with telephone companies to talk about an influx in “robo-calls.” Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says some of these calls are fraudulent and want to steal information. He says anyone who gets these calls should contact the public service commission…
In Ruston The Monroe Newstar is reporting that two people are dead after a tornado ripped thru the Louisiana Tech Campus early this morning. The two fatalities have not yet been identified and classes have been canceled for the day. Rushton Mayor Ronny Walker says most of the damage occurred along Tech Drive and the cypress Springs subdivision south of Interstate 20.
The LSU AgCenter will begin using zebrafish to research the effect different compounds derived from cannabis has on epileptic seizures. Matt Doyle talked to the AgCenter researcher who created the study…
AM LRN News
Two Tigers are expected to start their NFL careers tonight in the first round of the NFL draft. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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The LSU AgCenter will begin using zebrafish to research the effect different compounds derived from canabis has on epileptic seizures. Matt Doyle talked to the AgCenter researcher who created the study…
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Governor Edwards is calling for three televised debates with his opponents in the governor’s race. Connor Ferrill has more.
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Connor Ferrill”
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The House Agriculture Committee will hear a bill today that would legalize, and regulate the growth of industrial hemp in Louisiana. The product was OK’d by the USDA, but Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s still off limits here.
The plant is featured in 50,000 different products and can be turned into hypoallergenic fabrics, concrete, has nutritional value, and more.
Hemp is considered pest resistant, and can mature in 8-12 weeks, and proponents argue it is far less water needy, and has a mechanism that detoxifys soil. But it’s often confused for it’s cousin plant, pot. Strain says if legalized, they’ll be picking out seeds that won’t do anything if you smoke them.
The first few drafts of the Declaration of Independence were thought to be written on hemp paper, which was commonly grown and used in colonial North America. It was also used in American paratroopers parachute webbing in WW2.
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The LSU AgCenter will begin studying to effects of cannabis based compounds on epileptic seizures, using the common zebrafish as a lab rat.
AgCenter researcher Chris Green developed the “zebrafish model”, and says the test starts by filming, and measuring the movements of the seizing fish…
Then, he’ll introduce purified extracts of compounds found in marijuana and hemp into fish tanks to see how it reacts in the seizing fish.
When most people think of animal clinical trials, they think of the iconic white rat, a fellow mammal. But Green says even though we’re millions of years of evolution removed from the pet store staple, it’s still a valid test subject.
The funding for the research comes courtesy of a yearly 500,000 dollar cannabis research grant from the AgCenter’s medicinal pot partner GB Sciences to help further cannabis related research. Now that testing is legal, Green says scientists are looking forward to seeing what the plant has to offer.
The AgCenter will also receive 10 percent of the gross revenue from medical pot sales, or 3.4 million dollars a year, whichever is greater, for five years as part of an agreement.
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The Louisiana Public Service Commission will host a meeting tomorrow in Baton Rouge with telephone companies to talk about an influx in “robo-calls.” Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says he and the rest of Louisiana are tired of the phone calls…
Campbell says the calls are a violation of Louisiana’s ‘Do Not Call’ law that prevents telemarketers from calling numbers that have signed up on a do not call registry. He says because these callers are breaking the law he wants them to receive severe fines…
Campbell says some of these calls are fraudulent and want to steal information. He says anyone who gets these calls should contact the public service commission…
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Governor Edwards calls for three televised debates against his GOP gubernatorial rivals sometime after the 1st of September. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the Democratic governor is clearly confident in his record, and isn’t planning on playing defense.
One challenger, Congressman Ralph Abraham, is calling for six, one in each Congressional District. The other, Eddie Rispone, says he likes the idea of three debates.
Many incumbents shy away from debating their opponents. Cross says it’s a strategy that certainly has a cold logic behind it.
Only candidates who have received at least 5,000 donations, or poll at 10 percent or more will be invited to participate.
It’s reportedly the first time a gubernatorial incumbent has called for a peak election season debate since the early 1990s. Cross says while debates historically have not had much of an impact in a candidate’s election chances, previous candidates refusal to face their challengers has contributed to the public’s distrust of politicians.
The debates are expected to run one hour long.
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Tonight at 7PM it’s the NFL Draft and Two former Tigers are expected to go in the first round. One of those is one of the most beloved players in LSU history, linebacker Devin White. In his three years, White was showered with All-American selections and national honors. NFL Draft analyst Mike Detillier says he enters as one of the best middle linebacker prospects in draft history.
White grabbed 183 tackles, 28.5 of them for a loss in his three years at LSU, and remains the only player in SEC history to be named defensive player of the week four weeks in one season.
Cornerback Greedy Williams is also expected to be selected before the end of the night, but the ball hawk has had a sharp tumble down draftboards. Detillier says Williams may have to wait before hearing his name due to the glut of coveted defensive linemen that are expected to go ahead of him.
Williams nabbed eight picks in his two years at LSU, and was the first freshman defensive player to ever be named to an All-SEC first team.
While he will not get drafted tonight, tight end Foster Moreau has seen his stock rise significantly since declaring for the draft, and could go tomorrow. That might be a surprise to some, considering he only caught 52 passes in four collegiate years, but Detillier says NFL scouts have come to realize number 18 was seriously underutilized at LSU…
Moreau graded out as one of the most athletic tight ends at the NFL Draft Combine, running a 4.66 40 yard dash.
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530 LRN Legislative Report
The House Health and Welfare committee approves legislation to increase the legal age to smoke from 18 to 21-years-old. The measure also raises the legal age to vape to 21-years-old. That brought opposition from individuals who own vaping stores
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Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley also couldn’t support raising the legislation, because he didn’t think it was right to prohibit an 18-to-21-year-old from smoking even though they can fight for our country.
But the measure passed on a 10-2 vote. Kenner Representative Joseph Stagni voted for the legislation, because he says many young adults who choose to smoke end up costing the state billions of dollars in health care costs…
Cut 16 (07) “…choice issues”
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A bill that removes professional wrestling from the State Boxing and Wrestling Commission’s overview is headed to the House after clearing the House Commerce Committee on a 14-2 vote. Houma Representative Beryl Amedee says regulation is not necessary for an event that is more theatrical than sport…
Cut 9 (12) “…laughter.”
The commission also requires viral testing for things like HIV and Hepatitis C.
Amedee says professional wrestling does not need to be regulated because what happens in the ring is choreographed and rehearsed. But the Chairman of the Boxing and Wrestling Commission Buddy Embanato says deregulation can create a health risk, and pro wrestling does involve physical contact…
Cut 10 (12) “…across the ring.”
The WWE hosted their super bowl, called WrestleMania, in New Orleans twice in the past four years.
4:30 PM LRN News April 24
The House Health and Welfare committee sends a proposal to raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 21 years old to the House floor. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (32) I’m Jeff Palermo”
Governor John Bel Edwards wants three debates with his Republican challengers Ralph Abraham, and Eddie Rispone between September 2nd and the October 12th election. Rispone’s campaign spokesperson Anthony Ramirez agreed that three debates was an appropriate number. But Abraham responded on Twitter that there should be debates in each of the state’s six congressional districts.
54-year-old Jessie Guillory, who allegedly attacked a nurse at a Baton Rouge hospital has been arrested in Lake Charles after the nurse passed away a week after the assault.
Baton Rouge Police Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says initially they were not certain Lynne Truxillo’s death was related to the attack, but…
Cut 3 (10) “…happened”
The House approved legislation that supporters say addresses the factors that result in high auto insurance rates in Louisiana. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot has several provisions, one would extend the period of time a lawsuit can be filed after a car wreck from one to two years, in an effort to avoid a trial…
Cut 6 (09) “…work it out”
The measure heads to the Senate for more discussion.