5:30 LRN Newscast Jan 30

Last week defense attorney Ron Haley said there’s video evidence that proves the men did nothing wrong and that their encounter with LSU student Madison Brooks was consensual. But Kerry Miller, who’s representing her mother says the video only proves Brooks was unable to consent due to her level of intoxication and two of the accused told police she was very drunk. And Miller says her blood alcohol content was almost four times the legal limit.

Cut 11 (09)  “…rape period.”

Miller says the defense is victim blaming.

District 3 Congressman Clay Higgins has been named Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Border Security. The Subcommittee is responsible for all aspects of security operations along all federal borders. The southwest Louisiana congressman is a proponent of border control and has re-introduced a bill to resume construction of a wall along the southern border of the country.

Hammond Police arrest a man for allegedly shooting a woman with whom he was riding in a car. Police Chief Ed Bergeron says 19-year-old Johnny Williams was in the back seat of the car. The victim, 24-year-old Tori Banks, was driving when Williams reportedly shot her then got out of the car and ran. Also in the car, her boyfriend, who got police aid…but too late to save her life. They tracked Williams down and took him into custody without a fight…:

Cut 8 (07)  “…so fast.” 

LSU announced the launch of Bayou Traditions today, which is a collective that opens up more opportunities for athletes to get paid through name, image, and likeness deals. Bayou Traditions President Brent Cunningham fans can direct their payment to a specific sport…

Cut 5 (10) “…their program”

For more information go to “BayouTraditionsCollective.com

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU announced today the launch of Bayou Traditions, which is a collective that will open up more opportunities for athletes to get paid through name, image and likeness deals. Bayou Traditions President Brent Cunningham says fans can donate to the collective
Cut 3 (07) “…specifically”
Cunningham says fans have the opportunity to make one-time, monthly and annual payments, anywhere from 10-dollars a month to 50-thousand dollars a year.

The LSU women’s basketball team moved up to number three in the new Associated Press poll that came out today. The Lady Tigers are 21-0 as they host Tennessee tonight. Coach Kim Mulkey is impressed with how her team bought into the value of rebounding and playing defense…
cut 15 (14) “….can defend”
The top-ranked LSU baseball team has started full squad practices. It’s year number two for head coach Jay Johnson. Last year LSU really had to piece together a pitching staff as they lacked strong starting pitching. Johnson says this year he has a more well-rounded group…
Cut 18 (25) “…right now”

Four LSU Tigers have been named to the Baseball America’s preseason All-Americans teams. Center fielder Dylan Crews and right-hander and utility player Paul Skenes are first-team selections. First baseman Tre Morgan and third baseman Tommy White are second team selections.

4:30 LRN Newscast Jan 30

State Police arrest a Lake Arthur man for hitting a bicyclist and killing him earlier this month. Trooper Thomas Gossen says 60-year-old Allen Vincent, of Gueydan, was cycling along state Highway 717 in Vermilion Parish on the night of January 9th, when he was hit by a Toyota pickup driven by 20-year-old Kane LeBlanc. At first, they thought the cyclist was on the wrong side of the road, but the investigation showed it was LeBlanc who crossed the center line. Gossen says a routine blood toxicology sample was taken from LeBlanc and the report meant additional charges…:

CUT 14(11)      “…in a motor vehicle.”

Hammond Police arrest a man for allegedly shooting a woman with whom he was riding in a car. Police Chief Ed Bergeron says 19-year-old Johnny Williams fled the scene after pulling the trigger. The victim died in a local hospital. Bergeron says the shooter had been a passenger in her car, along with her boyfriend…:

CUT 07(11)      “…the girlfriend.”

The victim is ID’ed as 24-year-old Tori Banks.

 

An attorney for the mother of Madison Brooks says defense lawyers representing the four men accused of her sexual assault, are victim blaming…:

CUT 02(41)      “…Thorington.”

District 3 Congressman Clay Higgins has been named Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Border Security. The Subcommittee is responsible for all aspects of security operations along all federal borders.

3:30 LRN Newcast Jan 30

A lawyer representing the mother of Madison Brooks is calling out defense attorneys, representing four men accused of sexual assault, for trying the case in the media and victim blaming. Kerry Miller says her mother wants to preserve Brooks’ legacy and would like to establish a foundation in her memory.

Cut 10 (06) “…feeling right now.” 

 

Hammond Police arrest 19-year-old Johnny Williams on charges of First-Degree Murder and Attempted First Degree murder. Chief Edwin Bergeron says Williams was a passenger in the car and just after seven o’clock last night an officer was flagged down by another man who told him his 24-year-old girlfriend, Tori Banks had been shot.

Cut 6 (12)  “…officer down.” 

Banks died at the hospital. Williams fled the scene but was arrested four hours later.

LSU launches a collective that gives fans the opportunity to donate money that will be used to provide name, image, and likeness payments for select athletes. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A former major of the Alexandria branch of the Salvation Army pleads not guilty to home invasion and out-of-state jail jumping. 66-year-old Glenn Riggs of Pineville was arrested in 2020 for a home invasion and failed to show for arraignment. He was later found in Alabama and extradited back to Rapides Parish.

2:30 LRN Newscast Jan 30

An attorney representing the mother of Madison Brooks says lawyers representing the four men accused of her sexual assault are victim blaming…:

CUT 02(41)      “…Thorington.”

The coroner in Caddo Parish identifies the woman’s remains found near a bridge in North Shreveport Sunday. She is 27-year-old Tytierr James, of Bossier City. The cause and manner of her death has yet to be determined, and the case remains under investigation.

 

Hammond Police arrest a man for allegedly shooting a woman with whom he was riding in a car. Police Chief Ed Bergeron says 19-year-old Johnny Williams was a back seat passenger in the car. The victim, 24-year-old Tori Banks, was driving, when Williams reportedly shot her then got out of the car and ran. Also in the car, her boyfriend, who got police aid…but too late to save her life. They tracked Williams down and took him into custody without a fight…:

CUT 08(07)      “…so fast.”

Now any LSU fan can take part in name, image & likeness deals for athletes via the new Bayou Traditions collective. Bayou Traditions president Brent Cunningham says fans who kick in some money will get special stuff…:

CUT 04(11)      “…football season.”

Information is online at “BayouTraditionsCollective.com”

1:30 LRN Newscast Jan 30

A lawyer representing the mother of Madison Brooks, the LSU co-ed who was killed by traffic after being allegedly gang-raped and dumped alongside a darkened road, is calling out defense attorneys representing four men accused of sexual assault for trying the case in the media; just moments after they said they wouldn’t. Attorney Kerry Miller says, in a press conference last week, they proceeded to blame the victim…:

CUT 09(12)      “…very offensive.”

The suspects’ lawyers say Brooks was alive and well when the men dropped her off, and she consented to whatever sex happened the night of her death.

LSU announced today the launch of Bayou Tradition, which is a collective that will open up more opportunities for athletes to get paid through name, image and likeness deals. Bayou Traditions President Brent Cunningham says fans can donate to the collective…:

CUT 03(07)      “…specifically.”

Cunningham says fans have the opportunity to make one-time, monthly and annual payments, anywhere from 10-dollars a month to 50-thousand dollars a year.

 

A Lake Arthur man is arrested for vehicular homicide for a January 9th crash in Vermilion Parish that killed a bicyclist. LSP Trooper Tom Gossen says the first thought the cyclist was rising on the wrong side of the road, but later found the man driving the Toyota pickup had crossed the center line…:

CUT 13(10)      “…this determination.”

20-year-old Kane LeBlanc is charged with vehicular homicide, DWI and more.

State Police in Livingston Parish say a Walker man died early this morning, when his vehicle veered off a wet roadway, plunged into a drainage canal and slammed into a tree. 46-year-old Corey Bennett was apparently not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle on impact. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A routine blood toxicology sample was taken to determine if he was impaired at the time of the crash.

12:30 LRN Newscast Jan 30

A Hammond man is charged with murder for shooting a woman he was riding in a car with last night. Hammond PD Chief Ed Bergeron says the suspect, 19-year-old Johnny Williams, the victim, 24-year-old Tori Banks and her boyfriend (unnamed) were riding around together…:

CUT 07(11)      “…shot the girlfriend”

Williams then ran away, but police tracked him to his house and arrested him for murder and attempted murder.

Remember Zachary Richard’s old song “Who stole My Monkey?” Police is Broussard are seeking the thief or thieves who broke in and stole several squirrel monkeys from Zoosiana Saturday night. All other animals at the park are accounted for. People have been known to keep them as pets, but experts say they are “highly destructive” and require tons of care, cleaning-up after and attention. Maybe the thieves will find that out and bring them back.

 

State Police arrest a Lake Arthur man for hitting a bicyclist and killing him earlier this month. Trooper Thomas Gossen says 60-year-old Allen Vincent, of Geydan, was cycling along state Highway 717 on the night of January 9th, when he was hit by a Toyota pickup. Gossen says they initially thought the cyclist was in the wrong lane, but learned otherwise…:

CUT 12(10)      “…correct direction.”

LeBlanc’s blood toxicology report revealed he was under the influence at the time of the crash. He is charged with vehicular homicide, DWI and more.

…and now time for today’s commodities report…

11:30 LRN Newscast Jan 30

Police in Hammond arrest a 19-year-old man for shooting and killing a woman in a car he was riding in. Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron says the woman’s boyfriend flagged down a cop and told him the woman had been shot by a passenger in the car and the man who did ran away…:

CUT 06 (12)      officer down

19-year-old Johnny Williams was identified as that passenger. The victim, 24-year-old Tori Banks, died at a local hospital. Bergeron says an investigation led them to charge Williams with murder.

State Lawmakers convene a special session today to discuss approving a $45-million incentive fund to hopefully lure new property insurance companies to the state and lessen the burden on homeowners. However, some lawmakers have reservations and others are solidly behind the plan…like Marrero Rep. Kyle Green…:

Cut 10  (08)      “…voting for it.

 

Alexandria Police are investigating two teens found shot and wounded in the parking lot of an IHOP restaurant. Both boys are expected to recover. Not so for two young men found shot to death inside a car parked outside a Waffle House in Baton Rouge early this morning.

Louisiana’s own Archie Williams, whose story of redemption and voice amazed the judges of America’s Got Talent in 2020 will perform again tonight…:

CUT 03 (33)      “…Thorington.”

10:30 LRN Newscast Jan 30

Starting today in Baton Rouge, a special legislative session aimed at bringing property insurance relief to thousands of struggling homeowners…:

Cut 2 (36)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Broussard Police say a burglary appears to have released several squirrel monkeys at the zoo. Broussard PD received a call at 10:30 Sunday morning from Zoosiana. All other animals have been accounted for and there are no public safety concerns at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

The University of Louisiana at Monroe will introduce its new Director of Athletics John Hartwell this afternoon. ULM Director of Student-Athlete Success Carmen Wright says Hartwell is a former AD at Utah State and Troy University and he will hit the ground running overseeing facility upgrades at ULM.

Cut 6 (08)  “…across campus.” A Baton Rouge man who spent 36 years in prison for a crime he did not commit performs tonight on America’s Got Talent All-Stars. Singer Archie Williams first performed on the popular NBC show in 2020 and he’s also helping others who are wrongfully convicted….

Cut 13 (06)  “….in prison.”
Williams was convicted of rape and attempted murder in 1983 and was released in 2019 thanks to the hard work of the Innocence Project.

9:30 LRN Newscast

State lawmakers convene a special session today, aimed at alleviating the state’s current property insurance crisis. Since the hurricane hits of 2020 and ’21, more than 20 private property insurers have either gone insolvent or left the state; forcing tens of thousands of property owners to the state’s last-resort insurer Louisiana Citizens. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says lawmakers will consider creating a $45-million incentive fund to help attract new insurers to write policies here…:
Cut 7 (07) “…immediate fix..”
Not all state legislators support Donelon’s plan. Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland (R) says the post-Katrina incentive fund brought the state only five new private insurers and two of them are no longer operating in Louisiana…:
Cut 9 (10) “…for hurricane damage.”

ULM’s new Director of Athletics will be formally introduced today. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Tonight on America’s Got Talent All-Stars on N-B-C former Angola inmate Archie Williams will sing. He spent 37 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Williams watched America’s Got Talent while at Angola and dreamed of being a contestant. He sang on the show in 2020 and he’s back again tonight…
cut 12 (08) “….today”