06:30 LRN Newscast, January 27th

One of the wounded victims in the January 22nd mass shooting in Shreveport has died. Officials in Caddo Parish confirmed 33 year old Latounda Bryant succumbed to her injuries Thursday morning. She was one of 8 people hit by what police believe was a drive by shooting on Sunday. Three of the victims were under the age of ten. No arrests have been made in the case.

Since the tragic assault and death of LSU student Madison Brooks made the headlines, it’s inspired two freshman students to create a group to help other female students get home safely. Alisha Ortolano says sadly females are abandoned without a way home more often than you’d think…:
      Cut 4 (06)  “this situation”
On Monday, investigators announced they had arrested four males after two of them allegedly raped an intoxicated Brooks – while the other two were present – inside a vehicle before dropping her off shortly before she was struck.
Dillard University in New Orleans officially installs Doctor Rochelle Ford as the school’s eighth president with an Inauguration celebration that starts today. Ford says she will look to accelerate Dillard’s mission to cultivate leaders who live ethically by focusing on three key areas…:
      Cut 12 (10) “our students”
Ford says her vision also includes leveraging Dillard’s academic programs and centers to address health disparities.
On Sunday, LSU Heisman-winning quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals visit the Chiefs in a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship. Burrow says these two teams are very familiar with each other…:
      Cut 15 (17)  “…for anything.”

Kickoff Sunday is 6pm.

09:30 LRN Newscast, January 23rd

There were two mass shootings in Louisiana yesterday. In Baton Rouge, gunfire rang out at a nightclub early in the morning in an incident that left 12 people injured. Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul says their officers were already outside the club when shots rang out and responded quickly…:
CUT 15 (12) “medical services”
He believes it was a targeted attack and the shooter remains at large.

In Shreveport eight people were shot inside a home in what police believe was a drive by shooting. The search for that shooter is ongoing. Councilwoman Tabitha Taylor is upset at this kind of violence in her district…:
Cut 12 (11) “thought is”
Four of the victims are listed in critical condition, including a three-year-old boy.

Governor John Bel Edwards has called a special session to address the state’s ongoing property insurance crisis. It will start a week from today and adjourn Sunday, February 5th. State leaders are hoping to have an intermediate fix to the issues before the regular session in April.

Be prepared for major changes when filing your 2022 taxes as today marks the first day you can file. Brooke Thorington has more…:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

08:30 LRN Newscast, January 23rd

Governor John Bel Edwards has called a special session to address the state’s homeowner’s insurance crisis. Lawmakers will convene next week to discuss just one topic, appropriating funds to the Insure Louisiana Incentive fund.

Police in Baton Rouge continue to seek information regarding a mass shooting at a nightclub early Sunday morning that injured 12 people including 3 critically. Anyone who knows anything about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

In Shreveport, a mass shooting Sunday sends adults and children to the hospital…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Today on the campus of UL-Lafayette, the US Postal Service continues its Black Heritage series by honoring renowned author Ernest J Gains with a stamp. USPS Spokesperson David Walton says they are thrilled to celebrate Gaines as the 46th stamp in the Black Heritage Series…:
Cut 8 (12) “in the air”
The Ernest J. Gaines Black Heritage stamp will be a forever stamp that holds the same value as the current First- Class Mail stamp.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals are once again headed to the AFC championship game following a 27-10 victory over the Bills Sunday. Cincinati will face The Chiefs who they beat in the same game last year, and Burrow believes The Bengals are a better team this year…:
Cut 18 (09) “last year”
The game will be in Kansas City on Sunday at 5:30.

07:30 LRN Newscast, January 23rd

Baton Rouge Police believe the mass shooting at a nightclub early Sunday morning that injured 12 people was a targeted attack. Chief Murphy Paul is urging anyone with information on this incident to come forward…:
CUT 14 (10) “for life”
Officers were already outside the club when the shots rang out and were able to respond quickly, which Paul says saved lives. Of the 12 shot, he said 3 sustained life-threatening injuries.

Eight people were shot inside a home in Shreveport on Sunday afternoon. Police chief Wayne Smith says five adults and three children, including two three-year-olds and a five-year-old were wounded…:
Cut 10 (14) “so much”
The search for the shooter is ongoing.

You can begin filing your state and federal income taxes for 2022 today but be mindful of several changes that could reduce your refund amount. Connor Brown, with LaPorte CPAs and Business Advisors, says pandemic incentives are expiring like the enhanced child tax credit. He says in 2021 it was up to $3,600 per qualifying child under five or $3,000 if they were under age 17..:
Cut 5 (08) “16 and under”
He says not only will refunds be smaller, but turnaround time could be longer due to IRS staffing shortages.

The U.S Postal Service is continuing their Black Heritage series by honoring renowned author Ernest J. Gaines with a postal stamp. USPS Spokesperson David Walton says Gaines was a vital voice to the African American experience…:
Cut 7 (08) “..and violence.”
The ceremony will take place today at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where Gaines once taught creative writing.

06:45 LRN Sportscast, January 23rd

Joe Burrow and the Bengals are one more win away from returning to the Super Bowl after beating the Bills 27-10 on a snowy Sunday afternoon in Buffalo. Burrow, who threw for 242 yards and two TDs, gave a lot credit to his offensive line…:
Cut 17 (07) “as a team”
The Bengals will now head to Kansas City to face the Chiefs who they beat last year in the AFC Title game.

The Pelicans led for much of the game yesterday in Miami, but the Heat ended up burning New Orleans in the fourth quarter pulling off a 100-96 victory. 24 turnovers hurt the Pels in this one, but Coach Willie Green was proud of his team’s fight…:
Cut 19 (12) “of the basketball”
The Pelicans have lost four in a row and nine of their last 12 as they continue to play without two of their best players, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.

The LSU men’s basketball team’s losing streak is up to six games. On Saturday, the ninth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers took down the Tigers 77-56. It’s the fifth straight game LSU has lost by double digits, the longest such streak in 56 seasons. First-year coach Matt McMahon knew the rebuilding process would be tough..:
Cut 16 (16) “continue to improve”
LSU is at Arkansas tomorrow night.

The red hot No. 5 LSU women’s basketball team is taking on Alabama on the road this evening at 6. The unbeaten Tigers are on a program record winning streak of 19 games.

The Tulane men’s basketball team fell in OT to last place Tulsa Saturday 81-79. Nicholls beat in-state rival McNeese 71-68. UL-Lafayette prevailed over Texas State 60-51. Southeastern won against Texas A&M Commerce 79-73. ULM fell to Troy 77-53. Louisiana Tech fell to Middle Tennessee 68-51.

06:30 LRN Newscast, January 23rd

There were two shooting incidents in Louisiana on Sunday making national headlines. In Baton Rouge, gunfire rang out at a nightclub early in the morning in a mass shooting that left 12 people injured. It happened inside The Dior Bar and Lounge on Bennington Avenue near College Drive. Baton Rouge Police Lt. Bryan Ballard:
CUT 13 (13) “of Baton Rouge”
He says 9 of the victims have injuries considered non life threatening while 3 others are in critical condition. The shooter or shooters remain at large.

In Shreveport, 5 adults and 3 children were shot at a residence Sunday afternoon leaving 4 in critical condition including a 3 year old boy. Police chief Wayne Smith says they believe this was a drive by shooting…:
CUT 11 (08) “have been”
The search for the shooter is ongoing.

Governor John Bel Edwards has called a special session to address the state’s ongoing property insurance crisis. It will start a week from today and adjourn Sunday, February 5th. State leaders are hoping to have an intermediate fix to the issues before the regular session in April.

You can begin filing your 2022 taxes today and your refund may be smaller this year due to some changes from 2021. Connor Brown, with LaPorte CPAs and Business Advisors, says incentives from the pandemic are no longer in effect like the CARES Act which allowed up to $600 of charitable contributions for married filing joint on top of a standard deduction even if you didn’t itemize
CUT 4 (06) “be itemizing”
The enhanced child tax credit and the child and dependent care credit also expired in 2021.

 

09:30 LRN Newscast, January 18th

Another candidate has thrown his hat into the ring for the 2023 Governor’s Race. It’s first-term Republican Representative Richard Nelson of Mandeville who made the announcement this morning. At age 36 he becomes the youngest candidate so far.

Louisiana is in a property insurance crisis and legislative leaders are meeting with the governor’s office today about calling a special session with hopes of incentivizing other insurers to come here. But Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland questions why they should be called in to address the issue when they haven’t for other markets, like the trucking industry when very few companies would even write policies in Louisiana..:
Cut 6 (12) “insurance program”
Up to 20 companies that write homeowners policies in the state have either gone insolvent or decided to stop renewing policies here. The Special Session would begin next month.

LDWF has discovered five additional suspected cases of chronic wasting disease in deer in Tensas Parish…:
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Kace Kieschnick”

Xavier University is partnering with Ochsner Health in creating a new medical school. University President Reynold Verret says they aim to increase the number of Black physicians and…:
Cut 15 (08) “the world”

08:30 LRN Newscast, January 18th

Legislative leaders are set to meet today to discuss holding a special session next month to address Louisiana’s property insurance woes. Up to 20 companies that write homeowners policies in the state have either gone insolvent or decided to stop renewing policies here. But Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland says if Louisiana is going to incentivize other insurers to come here, will it be fair for the entire state?…
Cut 5 (08) “significantly increase”
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the situation is dire, and Louisiana needs to take action now.

Republican Louisiana Representative Richard Nelson announced this morning he’s running for governor of the state. The first term lawmaker out of Mandeville says he hopes at the age of 36 to offer Louisiana a fresh perspective not just for the next 4 years but with the next 40 years in mind.

2022 saw record-breaking high rental prices in Louisiana, but what might this year bring for renters? Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

State Police is investigating a multi-vehicle Ascension Parish crash that claimed the life of a 20-year-old Tuesday morning. Troopers say Cameron Hall was the passenger in a vehicle that collided head on with an oncoming truck. Drivers in two other cars could not avoid the crash which caused the 4-car collision. Hall was not restrained and died on the scene. Two of the other drivers sustained moderate injuries.

07:30 LRN Newscast, January 18th

Legislative leaders are meeting today to discuss the possibility of a special session to entice property insurance companies to the state, but one lawmaker has questions. Brooke Thorington has more…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Another candidate for governor has emerged this morning, as Republican Representative Richard Nelson of Mandeville announced his campaign in the race to replace Governor John Bel Edwards. Nelson, at age 36, is the youngest candidate to announce so far. He joins state Senator Sharon Hewitt, Attorney General Jeff Landry and Treasurer John Schroder as the major Republicans in the race.

Xavier University in New Orleans is partnering with Ochsner Health in creating a new medical school. University President Reynold Verret says the partnership aims to address a chronic doctor shortage and diversify the medical field…:
Cut 13 (07) “physicians in the U.S.”
Xavier University is the only Roman Catholic historically black college in the US and the medical school would make it just the 5th Black medical school in the nation.

Five additional suspected cases of chronic wasting disease have been discovered in deer harvested by hunters on private land in Tensas Parish. This comes after a second case of CWD was confirmed last month. State Wildlife Veterinarian Jim LaCour says the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is working on zeroing in on the outbreak…:
Cut 7 (12) “infection in deer”
He says they are asking hunters to submit samples for testing and results will be posted on the LDWF website.

06:45 LRN Sportscast, January 18th

Running back John Emery is coming back for a fifth season at LSU. Many thought the former five-star prospect would turn pro, but Emery did not submit his name for the NFL draft prior to Monday’s deadline. LSU beat reporter for Bengal Tiger On Three, Shea Dixon, says Emery has not had the college career many expected coming out of Destrehan High School…:
Cut 16 (15) “academic suspension”
Dixon says with Emery’s return that means LSU’s top five rushers from 2022 plan to play for the Tigers in 2023.

The New Orleans Pelicans host Cleveland tonight in the Smoothie King Center. Tipoff is 7pm.

In college hoops, Tulane fell to No. 1 Houston last night 80-60. A win would have given The Green Wave their first win over a ranked opponent since 1999.

How is the LSU men’s basketball team going to rebound from the current skid ahead of today’s game against Auburn? The Tigers are coming off a 106-66 loss to Alabama over the weekend, and Coach Matt McMahon says there were little-to-no positives for them in that game, but what matters now is how they respond…:
Cut 19 (20) “…player’s response.”
LSU ranks 11th in the SEC in points per game and 10th in shooting percentage.

LSU baseball was ranked No. 1 in D1 baseball’s preseason top 25 rankings out Tuesday, the first time in the nine year history of the rankings that the purple and gold have come out as the preseason No. 1 team in the country.

New Orleans Saints Wide receiver Chris Olave has been named a 2022 Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Year finalist.