2:30 LRN Newscast Feb 09

A family of four in Jefferson Parish is dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says deputies made the grim discovery this morning. A man, woman and two young men – ages 20 and 14 – were killed. Which one pulled the trigger is unknown…:

CUT 10(09)      “…for the parents.”

The family dog was found unharmed and taken to a no-kill shelter.

Officials are surveying damage in Tangipahoa Parish after a tornado damaged as many as 30 mobile homes last night. Parish President Robby Miller says since the light of day they’ve come across even more residences in the town of Tangipahoa that were impacted by the twister…:

CUT 15(10)      “…they shouldn’t.”

Damage assessment are ongoing and the Red Cross is rendering aid.

 

The LSU Board of Supervisors is expected to vote tomorrow on a proposal to add the former women’s basketball coach Sue Gunter’s name to the basketball court in the Maravich Center. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01(34)      “…Palermo.”

State Treasurer John Schroder has made it official: he will run for governor of Louisiana this fall. Schroder joins a field of seven other candidates who want to succeed John Bel Edwards, who is term-limited. Schroder’s been considered a candidate for many weeks, but made his official announcement this morning.

1:30 LRN Newscast Feb 09

A Jefferson Parish family of four is dead in an apparent murder-suicide this morning. More from Brooke Thorington…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux has ordered 35 properties demolished in an effort to combat blight in his city. He says blight begets more blight and that begets increased crime. Once the properties are gone, the city will issue leins against them.

 

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Governor John Bel Edwards and DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson this afternoon to officially announce the $150-million federal grant for the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge. Buttigieg says he understands southwest Louisiana has heard several promises over the years for the bridge that never developed…:

CUT 12(07)      “…funding does.”

Buttigieg says the project will create more than 60,000 jobs.

The Louisiana Humane Society wants you to consider adopting a Mardi Gras Horse. Each year these animals are used for parades, but often left for the slaughter afterward. HSLA’s Jeff Dorson says for some the idea of an actual Mardi Gras Horse is attractive…:

CUT 07(07)      “…really works.”’

To find out more on how you can save a horse, go to their Facebook page. Humane Society of Louisiana.

12:30 LRN Newscast Feb 09

A family of four in Jefferson Parish is dead in what appears to be a murder-suicide. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says a call came in to 9-1-1 early this morning; giving the address in the city of Harvey, and offering a dire message…:

CUT 09(09)      “…we found, unfortunately.”

Inside they found the bodies of an adult male, and adult female, and two young men ages 14 and 20. Lopinto says they are sorting through the crime scene to determine who exactly pulled the trigger.

The Humane Society of Louisiana is once again helping Mardi Grad parade horses find homes, so Carnival season isn’t their last. HSLA Director Jeff Dorson says when they learned that many of these horses were often sold for slaughter, they created the Mardi Gras Horses Adoption Program…:

CUT 06(12)      “…really well”

Find more information on their Facebook page.

 

In Baton Rouge, two 14-year-old boys have been arrested for the armed carjacking of an elderly woman Tuesday afternoon, in the city’s historic Spanish Town district. The victim was roughed up but not seriously hurt. The boys are charged with 1st-degree robbery.

A court by any other name…? The LSU Board of Supervisors will vote Friday on the proposed re-naming of the Dale Brown Court, in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, to include long-time women’s coach Sue Gunter. Sports broadcaster and Shreveport native Tim Brando says it’s only been a couple years since the court was named for Brown, but one Board member, Mary Leach Warner, is angry about the omission of Gunter…:

CUT 04(06)      “…happened here.”

Gunter passed away in 2005. Brown is still with us. She won over 700 games in her career at LSU. Brown won 448.

11:30 LRN Newscast

The LSU Board of Supervisors is set to vote tomorrow on a proposal to add Sue Gunter’s name to the Dale Brown Court inside the Maravich Center. The proposal has upset several people close to Brown who just had the court named in his honor in 2021. Broadcaster Tim Brando of Shreveport says adding Gunter’s name will stain Louisiana…
cut 3 (10) “…great depression”
In 2021, the LSU Board of Supervisors rejected a proposal to have Gunter’s name appear on the court next to Brown’s. But Brando says the Board has changed its mind, because Governor John Bel Edwards has gotten involved,

State Treasurer John Schroder officially starts his gubernatorial campaign with a big fundraiser tonight in St. Tammany Parish. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says former Congressman Ralph Abraham failed to raise enough money in the 2019 election and any candidate in the 2023 race will need a minimum of five-million dollars…
cut 9 (12) “…about money”

Senator Bill Cassidy is re-filing his his RISEE Act legislation, which would bring Louisiana increased revenues from offshore oil & gas…
cut 1 (31) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher”

When the Louisiana Legislature convenes for the regular session in April, New Orleans Representative Candace Newell says she’ll have legislation that will make the use of recreational marijuana legal in Louisiana…
cut 12 (09) “…own thing”
The session begins April 10th.

10:30 LRN Newscast Feb 9

A New Orleans lawmaker files a bill to help legalize recreational marijuana….:

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 
The National Weather Service is surveying damage today in Tangipahoa Parish which was hit by a tornado on Wednesday. Multiple mobile homes were reportedly hit, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office says a family was able to escape one of the homes without serious injury. Entergy says about 300 residents are without power as nine poles were downed and 20 spans of wire were damaged.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (Buddha-judge) will be in Lake Charles this afternoon to celebrate the $150 million grant to help replace the Calcasieu River Bridge. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says it was almost two years ago when President Biden visited to promote his infrastructure bill.

Cut 15 (11)  “…exists today.”

Treasurer John Schroder officially launches his gubernatorial campaign tonight with a fundraiser in his home parish of St. Tammany. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says with Attorney General Jeff Landry already having the support of the state GOP Schroder and others will need to raise big money and fast.

Cut 8 (11)  “…up to do.”

In addition to Schroder and Landry, two other Republicans, two independents, and one Democrat have announced their candidacy for governor.

 

09:30 LRN Newscast, February 9th

Treasurer John Schroder is holding a fundraiser tonight in his bid for governor, and one political analyst says the other GOP candidates have a long way to go to catch up to Jeff Landry’s war chest…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

A suspected tornado did significant damage in Tangipahoa after a line of severe storms moved through the state Wednesday. Officials say at least three mobile homes were damaged in the Village of Tangipahoa, and assessment of damages was hindered by several downed trees and debris in the area. The National Weather Service is surveying the damage today.

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy will try again today to secure Louisiana a greater share of offshore oil & gas royalties, with the re-introduction of his 2022 RISE (say “rise”) Act. The bill would mean a roughly 20-percent yearly increase in offshore energy money for Louisiana’s coastal restoration efforts. Cassidy says the bill passed a senate committee last year, but fell to the wayside amid a backlog of legislation…:
Cut 4 (12) “last Congress”
He says conservatives in Congress are concerned with how the bill would be funded, so he and his staff are working to tweak the measure to win their support

Posts are going viral on social media over a sign in Amite that says the town is the home of Governor John Bel Edwards — and governor is misspelled. Some people thought it was funny and others were outraged by the typo. Officials said the Chamber of Commerce in Amite was in charge of the sign, and members are reportedly working with the company to get a new one made soon. The sign is currently covered with a tarp.

08:30 LRN Newscast, February 9th

US Senator Bill Cassidy is poised to re-introduce his RISE Act, which would bring Louisiana increased revenues from offshore oil & gas.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Jimmy Travis confirmed the touchdown of a tornado in the Village of Tangipahoa. He said numerous homes were damaged, and trees and powerlines were downed. 3 non-life threatening injuries were reported. The National Weather service says a tornado likely caused the damage and they are out to survey the damage today to get official confirmation.

Could recreational marijuana soon become legal in Louisiana? A New Orleans lawmaker has filed the first in a package of bills for lawmakers to discuss the matter in the April Legislative session. District 99 Democrat Rep. Candace Newell (pronounced “new-ELL”) says other states are seeing revenue windfalls after legalizing recreational cannabis…:
Cut 11 (09) “regulation bill passed”
Louisiana has already legalized medicinal cannabis and has expanded the program to cover a number of ailments, and Newell says this is the next logical step.

This afternoon State Officials will be in Lake Charles to celebrate the $150 million dollar grant to replace the Calcasieu River Bridge. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says the US Department of Transportation will announce the approval of $1.5 Billion in private activity bonds that will help lower the cost of the project to the developer…:
Cut 14 (05) “lots of good news”
The funding is part of the Infrastructure Act.

07:30 LRN Newscast, February 9th

State Treasurer John Schroder will officially kick off his campaign for governor tonight in Mandeville. Attorney General Jeff Landry is also running in 2023 and Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the other Republican candidates have some catching up to do in terms of fundraising
CUT 7 (08) “ballpark”
Schroder and other GOP candidates are millions behind Landry due to holding off their campaigns before US Senator John Kennedy decided whether or not he’d run.

Governor Edwards and DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson will be joined by the U.S. Transportation Secretary in Lake Charles this afternoon to celebrate the $150 million grant to help replace the Calcasieu River Bridge. Wilson says the funding is part of the Infrastructure Act….:
Cut 13 (07) “the entire country”

A New Orleans lawmaker files a bill to help legalize recreational marijuana….:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

The National Weather Service is surveying damage today in Tangipahoa Parish which was hit by a tornado on Wednesday. Multiple mobile homes were reportedly hit, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office says a family was able to escape one of the homes without serious injury. Entergy says about 300 residents are without power as nine poles were downed and 20 spans of wire were damaged.

06:30 LRN Newscast, February 9th

A New Orleans lawmaker files the first in a package of bills meant to make recreational marijuana use legal in Louisiana. District 99 Democrat Rep. Candace Newell (pronounced “new-ELL”) says her measure applies to state regulation of cultivating cannabis for recreational use…:

      Cut 10 (08)  “in your back yard”’
She says other states are seeing revenue windfalls after legalizing recreational cannabis.
A suspected tornado did significant damage in Tangipahoa after a line of severe storms moved through the state Wednesday. Officials say at least three mobile homes were damaged in the Village of Tangipahoa, and assessment of damages was hindered by several downed trees and debris in the area. The National Weather Service says they will announce strength of the twister after surveying the scene today.
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy will try again today to secure Louisiana a greater share of offshore oil & gas royalties, with the re-introduction of his 2022 RISE (say “rise”) Act. The bill would mean a roughly 20-percent yearly increase in offshore energy money for Louisiana’s coastal restoration efforts. Cassidy says this would lift a limitation on what coastal states can receive from offshore energy – currently at $375-million yearly:
      Cut 5 (06) “if you will”
Cassidy says passing the RISE Act would mean a substantial flow of money into Louisiana.

The driver of an 18-wheeler had to be rescued through its windshield after a crash caused the truck to overturn in Livingston Parish late last night on I-12 East near Walker. The interstate was closed for hours overnight while crews worked to remove thousands of pounds of cargo to get the truck upright and off the road. The driver was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

5:30 LRN Newscast Feb 8

Mandeville Republican Representative Richard Nelson says he’ll try again this year to pass a bill that would hold back third graders who fail a literacy test. Nelson has filed House Bill 12 again this year, and says it almost passed in the last regular session, it passed the House but was shy of votes in the Senate…:

Cut 3 (10) “…educate people more.” 

Once again, Louisiana leads the nation for the highest average combined state and local sales tax rate at 9.55 percent. New Mexico is the only state to reduce its state sales tax rate in the last five years and Janelle Fritts with the Tax Foundation explains why state lawmakers are not willing to reduce sales tax rates…

Cut 13 (10) “…in the past.” 
Louisiana’s state sales tax rate is set to lower to four percent in 2025.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso announces he will not seek a sixth term in office and will retire in 2024. Mancuso has been the sheriff of Calcasieu since 2004…

Cut 10 (12) “…whole time.” 

An LSU pitcher has decided to use the money he’s received from a NIL to help feed the hungry in Baton Rouge. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (25)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo.”