LRN PM Newscall September 27

A State Police Trooper used deadly force during a traffic stop in downtown Hammond. Matt Doyle has more.

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A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a Louisiana law that would require abortion doctors to obtain admitting privileges at a local hospital before they can take on patients. I’m Jeff Palermo.

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LRN PM Newscall September 25

Louisiana has seen a relatively strong growth in personal income in the second quarter of 2018.  Kevin Barnhart has the details.

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A former Fort Polk Soldier receives a 11-year plus prison sentence for setting off a homemade bomb on the military base’s training grounds in the Kisatchie National Forest. Jeff Palermo has more

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LRN PM Newscall September 24

LSU and Oschner have finalized their take-over of two hospitals in Shreveport and Monroe. Jeff Palermo has more.

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 A deal to let SBA loan recipients from the 2016 flood receive RESTORE money is “99 percent complete” according to a Baton Rouge Congressman. Matt Doyle has more.

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LRN AM September 24

In an effort to produce bigger bass in Louisiana, the state began stocking lakes with Florida bass in the 1980s.  Kevin Barnhart reports the LSU AgCenter now wants to know why some lakes have bigger bass than others.

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5th ranked LSU is 4-0, but they’ve yet to play a full 60 minutes of football. Jeff Palermo has the story

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The interim Secretary of State says if you aren’t registered to vote for the November midterms, then this week is a great opportunity to do so. Matt Doyle has more.

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Since the early 1980’s, more than 100 million Florida bass have been released in many lakes around Louisiana in an effort to produce larger fish.  The stocking of the fish has seen mixed results in differing bodies of water.  LSU AgCenter Professor of Fisheries Bill Kelso says despite efforts to populate the area, don’t expect to be so lucky as to reel in the big fish in the Atchafalaya Basin.

Cut 4 (08) “…are native fish.”
Kelso says studies have shown there are many hotspots to find the larger bass.

Cut 5 (11) “…in the state.”
Kelso says the jury is still out as to what effects the ability for the Florida bass genes to catch on in some lakes and not others.

Cut 6 (13) “…patterns of introgression.”

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The woman who has accused Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault in the 80’s has agreed, along with the judge, to testify about the incident Thursday. This comes after a weekend of negotiations between the accuser, Dr. Ford’s legal team and Judicial Committee members.  Senator John Kennedy, a committee member, says before agreeing to the Thursday hearing, she’d been offered a few options.

Cut 7 (09) “…to do”

Kavanaugh’s accuser, Dr. Christine Ford, requested an FBI investigation before she testified, but that appears unlikely to be conducted before she goes before the public panel.

Kennedy says if it is confirmed that Judge Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Dr. Ford, it would be a disqualifying condition for his consideration to the US Supreme Court, but that’d yet to be determined.

Cut 8 (11)  “…happened differently”

Kennedy says he’s talked at length with Kavanaugh, who has categorically denied the allegations.

Cut 9 (09)  “…unequivocal”

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The state kicks off voter registration week today, ahead of a hotly contested midterm season nationally, that may not yield many surprises in the Bayou State. Statewide, the election will give voters a chance to decide on congressional races and the special election for the Secretary of State’s office. Interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says the November turnout probably won’t be great…

Cut 10 (10)   “…last time.“

And that low turnout won’t be the result of low registration numbers either. Ardoin says Louisiana has one of the best voter registration percentages in the nation.

Cut 11 (10)   “…top five.”

November will bring more than just statewide elections. The ballots will be littered with local issues and a selection of constitutional amendments, like unanimous juries, that could lead to notable changes in Louisiana law. Ardoin says even if national and state wide issues don’t excite you, you should still show up.

Cut 12 (06)   “…like that.”

The deadline to register for November in person or by mail is October 9th, and the deadline to register online, with a valid ID, is October 16th.

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The Saints are 2-1 after a thrilling 43-37 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons. The game had seven lead changes and New Orleans forced overtime with a touchdown with 1:15 left in regulation. Saints Coach Sean Payton says it was a hard fought victory….

Cut 13 (12) “good drive”

Quarterback Drew Brees orchestrated the winning touchdown drive to cap off a 396-yard and three touchdown passing day. Brees also rushed for two touchdowns. One from seven yards out that forced overtime. He also scored on a quarterback sneak to end the game. But fans are talking about his touchdown that ended up tying the game, when he spun away from two defenders and dove into end zone…

Cut 14 (13) “…spin moves are good”

Brees also set the NFL record for career completions, passing Brett Favre’s mark of 6,300. The future Hall of Fame QB says his former and current teammates played a role in that record…

Cut 15  (13) “ part of this”

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LSU and Louisiana Tech was a three-point game in the fourth quarter, but the Fighting Tigers scored the final two touchdowns for a 38-21 win over the Bulldogs. Tech was down 24-0, but J’Mar Smith threw three touchdown passes to cut the deficit to three…

Cut 16 (19) “..   identity  . 

Smith threw for 330 yards and completed some big passes on third down. La Tech was 9-of-18 on third downs. LSU linebacker Devin White says that will be a point of emphasis at practice this week…

Cut 17 (20)  “promise you that” 

LSU had 409 yards of total offense. Quarterback Joe Burrow was 16 of 28 for 191 yards. The running game was effective for most of the contest. Nick Brossette rushed for 78 yards and three touchdowns, while Clyde Edwards-Helaire had a career-high 136 yards and two touchdowns…

PM Newscall Sept 21

A week has passed since Hurricane Florence made landfall and Louisiana first responders are still assisting in water rescues in South Carolina.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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A 2015 incident where a McKinley High School Band member went to a Baton Rouge hospital after he was ordered to do 200 push-ups for being late to band practice ends with a 185,000 dollar settlement. Matt Doyle has more.

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LRN PM Newscall September 20

Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s a good sign Louisiana ended up with a 300-million dollar surplus from the budget year that ended June 30th. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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The Public Service Commission is investigating rural electric co-ops after discovering what they say are excessive expenses that are driving up electric costs. Matt Doyle has more.

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LRN AM Newscall September 20th ###changes made in text for cut 4###

A Southern Poverty Law Center report shows one third of all law enforcement agencies in Louisiana don’t have racial profiling policies. Matt Doyle has more.

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The LSU AgCenter has been awarded a five million dollar, five-year grant from the CDC to combat obesity in rural areas.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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A new survey from OfficeTeam says 56 percent of U.S. workers’ typical lunch break lasts 30 minutes or less. Connor Ferrill has the story.

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Governor John Bel Edwards says his priority for the next legislative session is to get more money for public education and to secure a 1,000 dollar teacher pay raise. He made his intentions known for the next session during his monthly Ask the Governor Show. Edwards says it’s more than just teachers who deserve a raise.

Cut 4 (10) “…bus drivers.”

This comes as teacher strikes in red states across the nation have found success in both securing pay raises and public school funding increases. Edwards says it’s the first step towards addressing the decade long teacher pay freeze.

Cut 5 (12) “…in half.”

After a titanic struggle for funds during the last session, many wonder just where Edwards plans on finding the money to pay for the ambitious spending increase, but he says the answer is straight forward…

Cut 6 (08) “…12 education.”

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The Southern Poverty Law Center is sounding the alarm over a new report they conducted that shows more than one third of Louisiana law enforcement departments do not have policies that address racial profiling. Deputy Legal Director Lisa Graybill says it’s a troubling discovery that likely is leading to mistreatment of minorities by some police departments.

Cut 7 (11) “…over policing.”

SPLC defines racial profiling as either unreasonable suspicion, when officers assume without evidence that a minority is committing a crime, and unequal enforcement, when officers are more likely to stop minorities for crimes than whites.

But she says it’s not necessarily being done out of malice. Greybill notes that after surveying law enforcement statewide, they discovered that many offices just weren’t familiar with what those policies were, and how they help lead to fair policing.

Cut 8 (11)  “…on them”

African Americans were 2.9 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites in Louisiana, despite similar usage rates nationwide.

She says their report noted that a disproportionate number of those offices were found in small rural parishes, whose access to resources are limited.

Cut 9 (07)  “…community.”

In 2016 black adults in Louisiana comprised 31 percent of the population, but accounted for 54 percent of arrests.

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The LSU AgCenter has been awarded a five million dollar, five-year grant from the CDC that will fund an ongoing program to improve health in rural Louisiana and expand it to more parishes.  The grant will support an initiative called Healthy Access, Behaviors, and Communities, or Healthy ABCs.  AgCenter Nutirition Specialist Denise Holston says the program has been active for about three years.

Cut 10 (09)   “…in these communities.“

Holston says among the techniques used to combat obesity are healthy check out aisles at grocery stores.

Cut 11 (09)   “…at the grocery store.”

Holston says overall the feedback on the program so far has been positive.

Cut 12 (07)   “…affordable as well.”

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A new survey from OfficeTeam says 56 percent of U.S. workers’ typical lunch break lasts 30 minutes or less. Recruiting Manager at Robert Half Finance and Accounting Carrie Lewis says the current break standards may have a negative effect on employees…

Cut 13 (08) “be enough”

The survey shows that 29 percent of employees don’t stop working on their breaks.

Lewis says employers need to get staff out of the office…

Cut 14 (05) “…rejuvenated”

Lewis says leaving the workplace creates ample opportunity for staff development…

Cut 15  (10) “…the team”

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Many Louisiana Tech fans could be hoping LSU will have a let down performance on Saturday night when the Bulldogs face the Tigers in Death Valley. LSU is coming off a big road win and go into Saturday’s game as huge favorites. Tech Coach Skip Holtz says he’s not expecting an LSU let down

Cut 16 (14) “…to play” 

Holtz says this is a big game for his players, but he doesn’t want them to get caught up in all of the hype that comes with playing LSU…

Cut 17 (20)  “can make” 

Senior linebacker Dae’Von Washington of Alexandria says they are gearing up for a physical game…

LRN PM Newscall September 19

Senator John Kennedy is holding off on whether he’ll vote yes to confirm  Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme until he hears from a California professor who alleges the judge sexually assaulted her decades ago…

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The Lafayette Parish-City Council chose not to denounce Drag Queen Story Time  at Lafayette’s main public library. Don Molino has more.

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LRN PM Newscall September 18

Assumption College in Massachusetts has seen a heavy influx in donations from the LSU fan base.  Kevin Barnhart tells us why.

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An email sent one year before Blane Salamoni shot Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge is raising new questions about the former officer’s temperament. Jeff Palermo has more.

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LRN PM Newscall September 17

Following a ten-day tourism mission in China, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is back with optimism Chinese travelers will visit the Bayou State.  Kevin Barnhart has more.

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The United Cajun Navy found itself farther away from home than ever before as it rescued Carolinians from their flooded homes in the wake of Hurricane Florence. Jeff Palermo has more.

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