9:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Edwards says Ports America and Mediterranean Shipping Company have come together to help finance a one-point-eight billion dollar container terminal project to be built on the Mississippi River in St. Bernard Parish. Port NOLA President Brandy Christian says the new Louisiana International Terminal will serve vessels of all sizes…
cut 15 (11) “….through container shipping”
Terminal construction is expected to begin in 2025.

According to the United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings, Louisiana ranks last in the country. United Health Foundation Chief Medical Officer Doctor Ravi Johar says the state has seen a dramatic rise in overdose deaths, a high physical inactivity rate and Louisiana also ranks poorly for STDs, high risk HIV behaviors and teen births. Johar says the report serves an important purpose…
cut 6 (10) “…to address”

It’s the busiest week of the year for the post office and the deadlines for mailing cards and packages are approaching. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

A large portion of Louisiana is under an enhanced threat for severe weather today. Strong storms are expected to arrive in northwest Louisiana this afternoon and the threat will linger into tomorrow morning. Much of south Louisiana is also under a flash flood watch.

The SEC and all of college football is mourning the death of Mississippi State Coach Mike Leach. The school says Leach passed away last night after complications related to a heart condition. He was 61.

8:30 LRN Newscast Dec 13

Plans are in place to build a $1.8-billion state-of-the-art container facility on the Mississippi River in St. Bernard Parish that would create more than 17-thousand new jobs by 2050. Port NOLA President Brandy Christian says a large marine terminal operator called Ports America and Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Company are the private investors…:

CUT 13  (08)        “…a reality.”

The governor’s office says the construction of the terminal will be supported by a substantial commitment from Port NOLA, as well as state and federal funding sources.

This week is expected to be the busiest week of the year for the United States Postal Service. The deadline for mailing greeting cards and first-class packages, if you want them to arrive before Santa, is December 17th. USPS spokesperson David Walton says get your stuff ready by Saturday if not sooner…:

CUT 07  (08)        “…the holidays.”

The deadline for Priority Mail is December 19th and for Priority Mail Express the deadline is December 23rd.

 

State Police are looking into the death of an inmate while in custody in St. Mary Parish. Few details are yet available, but it appears the inmate was being transported to a court appearance when a scuffle broke out with a parish corrections officer. The inmate suffered life threatening injury and died later at a local hospital. The jailer was not seriously hurt. The matter is now under investigation.

There’s an enhanced risk for severe weather for most of north Louisiana and all of central Louisiana this afternoon and tonight. State Climatologist Barry Keim says tornadoes will be possible. He says make sure your wireless emergency alerts are turned on ahead of the expected severe weather…:

CUT 17  (10)        “…the situation.”

Cooler weather will come in behind the thunderstorms which could last into tomorrow afternoon.

State Police issue a missing child advisory for a teenager last seen in Shreveport Sunday. Fairchild Scarbrough is black and big for his age; 6’1″ and 165 pounds. Call the Caddo Sheriff’s Office if you spot him.

7:30 LRN Newscast Dec 13

There’s an enhanced risk for severe weather for most of north Louisiana and all of central Louisiana this afternoon and tonight. State Climatologist Barry Keim says tornadoes will be possible…:

CUT 16(07)      “…for Southeast Louisiana.”

He says be sure to remain alert for weather bulletins and/or warnings.

St. Tammany Parish leaders have placed a time capsule inside the Slidell Museum featuring items from the COVID pandemic, like toilet paper, a mask, a Covid-19 test, letters from students, and news coverage of the surge in cases and deaths. Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer says the time capsule should remain locked for 100 years…:

CUT 10(06)      “…we faired.”

Cromer says the pandemic changed his appreciation for first responders, educators, and hospital workers. He says the time capsule will demonstrate the resilience of Louisiana’s people.

 

Louisiana ranks 50th in the America’s Health Rankings 2022 Annual Report. Whitney Thomas reports a dramatic rise in overdose death rates is a main factor…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Thomas.”

Members of the Southern University marching band, the Human Jukebox, and the Baton Rouge community held a memorial service Monday for three band members – Broderick Moore, Dylan Young and Ty’ran Williams – who were killed last week while changing a flat alongside I-49, when another driver slammed into them.

6:30 LRN Newscast Dec 13

State Police are looking into the death of an inmate while in custody in St. Mary Parish. Few details are yet available, but it appears the inmate was being transported to a court appearance when a scuffle broke out with a corrections officer. The matter is under investigation.

The governor’s office announces a public-private partnership that will result in a one-point-eight billion dollar port expansion in the New Orleans area….:

CUT 03(31)      “…Palermo.”

 

The United Health foundation releases its America’s Health Rankings for 2022 and Louisiana is ranked dead last at 50. A major reason for Louisiana’s poor ranking is that drug deaths rose by 50% between 2019 and 2020. United Health Foundation Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ravi Johar says Louisiana has a high premature death rate…:

CUT 04(06)      “…drug deaths.”

This week is expected to be the busiest week of the year for the United States Postal Service. The deadline for mailing greeting cards and first-class packages, if you want them to arrive before Santa, is December 17th.

There’s an enhanced risk for severe weather for most of north Louisiana and all of central Louisiana this afternoon and tonight. Tornados are possible, so stay alert.

…and now today’s markets

5:30 LRN Newscast

There was a fatal shooting at the courthouse in Franklin this morning. St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson David Spencer says it happened inside a courtroom just before 9:00 am and State Police is handling the investigation.
Cut 14 (08) “…more information.”
Our affiliate KQKI reports there was a struggle in the courtroom between a deputy and a person in custody and the individual who struggled with the officer was fatally shot.

Republican Tom Arceneaux defeated Democrat Greg Tarver in Saturday’s Shreveport mayoral run-off election. LSU Shreveport political science professor Jeffrey Sadow says Arceneaux’s win over Tarver, a Black Democrat, is considered an upset since 57 percent of the city’s residents are Black. But Sadow says Tarver has a lot of detractors…
Cut 4 (10) “…to many enemies”
Arceneaux received 56 percent of the vote.

It’s the busiest week of the year for the post office and the deadlines for mailing cards and packages are approaching. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the Bayou State today is $2.84. That’s quite a drop compared to this time six months ago when the state recorded its highest average at $4.56 a gallon. Triple A spokesperson Nick Chabbari….
Cut 10 (08) “…oil prices.”

4:30 LRN Newscast Dec 12

A Republican will lead the city of Shreveport for the first time in more than 20 years. Jeff Palermo has more on Saturday’s stunning results in the Shreveport mayoral run-off…

Cut 1(29)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

There was a fatal shooting at the courthouse in Franklin this morning. St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office says it happened inside a courtroom just before 9:00 am. Our affiliate KQKI reports there was a struggle in the courtroom between a deputy and a person in custody and the individual who struggled with the officer was fatally shot. State Police is handling the investigation.

Saturday voters added three more constitutional amendments to Louisiana’s 48-year-old constitution. Over the years, voters have been asked to consider 308 amendments. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says because the amendments tend to be complicated, they put out a guide before each election but says their research can only do so much.

Cut 8 (08)  “…super laws“

The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the Bayou State today is $2.84. That’s quite a drop compared to this time six months when the state recorded its highest average at $4.56 a gallon. Triple A spokesperson Nick Chabbari says today’s average is down about 45 cents from a month ago.

Cut 9 (09) “… this year.” 

And barring any disruptions Chabbari expects prices to continue to drop.

3:30 LRN Newscast Dec 12

In the Shreveport Mayoral race, Tom Arceneaux defeated Democrat Greg Tarver in Saturday’s run-off election. Arceneaux received 56-percent of the vote to Tarver’s 44-percent. LSU Shreveport political science professor Jeffrey Sadow says Arceneaux did a better job in getting his base to the polls…

Cut 3 (06) “…ten points better” 

Arceneaux is an attorney and former Shreveport councilman. Tarver will remain a state senator representing a portion of Caddo Parish.

Voters added three more constitutional amendments to Louisiana’s 48-year-old constitution on Saturday. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio says, for the most part, voters tend to cast their ballot for people running for office versus amendments.

Cut 7 (09)  “…don’t know.”

To date, 206 constitutional amendments have been added.

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office is offering a $5,000 reward to try to solve a murder that happened two years ago in Jena. Detective Brant King says on October 23rd, 2020, deputies found Leon Turner dead of an apparent gunshot wound.

Cut 12 (07) “…black pants” 

King says they need the public’s help so they can bring some closure to the victim’s family.

The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the Bayou State today is $2.84. That’s quite a drop compared to this time six months when the state recorded its highest average at $4.56 a gallon. Triple A spokesperson Nick Chabbari says barring any major disruptions in the market, prices should continue to drop.

Cut 11 (10)  “…gasoline demand.”

 

2:30 LRN Newscast

Multiple media outlets are reporting a person was fatally shot this morning in the St Mary Parish courthouse in Franklin. St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson David Spencer did not provide many details during a press conference earlier today…
cut 15 (03) “….by ambulance”
Our affiliate KQKI is reporting there was a struggle in the courtroom between a deputy and a person in custody and the individual who struggled with the officer was fatally shot. State Police is handling the investigation.

With Saturday’s election of Tom Arceneaux as Shreveport’s next mayor, Shreveport, Monroe and Alexandria have white mayors, despite those cities having a higher percentage of black residents compared to white. LSU-Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeff Sadow says in each case, Arceneaux and the current mayors of Monroe and Alexandria replaced unpopular incumbents…
cut 5 (12) “…go together”

Three more constitutional amendments were approved by voters on Saturday. Marsanne Golsby reports there is not a pattern on which amendments pass and which amendments are rejected…
cut 2 (29) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s office is still seeking tips in a murder investigation that began on October 23rd, 2020, when Leon Turner was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound. Detective Brant King says a man, approximately five-foot-ten, was seen running from the scene wearing a camouflage pull over and black pants…
cut 13 (05) “…come forward”
The Lasalle Parish Sheriff’s Office is offering a five-thousand dollar reward.

1:30 LRN Newscast Dec 12

A Republican will lead the city of Shreveport for the first time in more than 20 years. Jeff Palermo has more on Saturday’s stunning mayoral run-off in Shreveport…

Cut 1(29)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office confirms a shooting happened inside a courtroom at the Franklin courthouse this morning. Sheriff spokesperson David Spencer says State Police will oversee the investigation.

Cut 14 (08)   “…more information.”

The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the Bayou State today is $2.84. That’s quite a drop compared to this time six months when the state recorded its highest average at $4.56 a gallon. Triple A spokesperson Nick Chabbari credits market stability for the continued drop in prices at the pump.

Cut 10 (08) “…oil prices.” 

Saturday voters added three more constitutional amendments to Louisiana’s forty-eight-year-old constitution. Over the years, voters have been asked to consider 308 amendments. As of Saturday, they have approved 206 of them. Public Affairs Research Council’s president Stephen Procopio says they’ve struggled to find a pattern that explains voter behavior.

Cut 6 (08)  “…passed.”

PAR issues a guide prior to elections to break down what the amendments mean in simple language.

12:30 LRN Newscast Dec 12

Republican Tom Arceneaux defeated Democrat Greg Tarver in Saturday’s Shreveport mayoral run-off election. LSU Shreveport political science professor Jeffrey Sadow says Arceneaux’s win over Tarver, a Black Democrat, is considered an upset since 57 percent of the city’s residents are Black. But Sadow says Tarver has a lot of detractors…

Cut 4 (10)  “…to many enemies” 

Arceneaux received 56 percent of the vote.

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office is offering a $5,000 reward to try to solve a murder that happened two years ago in Jena. Detective Brant King says on October 23rd, 2020, deputies found Leon Turner dead of an apparent gunshot wound.

Cut 12 (07) “…black pants” 

King says they need the public’s help so they can bring some closure to the victim’s family.

The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the Bayou State today is $2.84. That’s quite a drop compared to this time six months when the state recorded its highest average at $4.56 a gallon. Triple A spokesperson Nick Chabbari says today’s average is down about 45 cents from a month ago.

Cut 9 (09) “… this year.” 

He credits market stability and crude oil prices for the continued drop in prices at the pump.