5:30 LRN Newscast Nov 8

After another child overdose death, despite warnings to the agency of potential danger, the Department of Children and Family Services is under fire. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes has been extremely critical of Secretary Marketa Garner Walters and continues to call for her resignation. Walters says she has no plans to leave her post.

Cut 8 (07)  “…be right here. “

Walters says the agency is extremely understaffed and they are holding hiring fairs to fill their approximately 500 openings.

The Louisiana Republican Party executive committee voted last night to endorse Attorney General Jeff Landry in next year’s governor’s race. LA Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford called it historic—and controversial.

Cut 3 (12) “…same thing.” 

It’s the first Monday commute home after the time change and it’s a lot darker than it usually is for motorists. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesman Mark Lambert says a lot of folks walk or jog this time of day and he has some advice for them to help drivers avoid them, like wearing light or reflective clothing…:

Cut 11 (09)  “…against the traffic.”

Lambert says there is a statistical increase in traffic accidents on Monday after a time change; especially when “falling back” to Standard Time.

There was no multistate Powerball winner Saturday, so the jackpot for tonight’s drawing is a bona fide record-setter. Louisiana Lottery spokesman Dustin Annison…:

Cut 12 (06) “…jackpot lottery ever.”  A single winner selecting a lump-sum cash payment would collect just over $ 929 million. Tickets are on sale until 9 tonight.

4:30 LRN Newscast Nov 7

Possible candidates for governor next year are angry that the state GOP has endorsed Attorney General Jeff Landry a full year before the 2023 Governor’s race. That rules out state party support for folks like Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, State Treasurer John Schroder or even one of our current members of Congress. “LaPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says sometimes these endorsements backfire. Look at 2015, when David Vitter was hammered by other GOP candidates…:

CUT 05(11)      “…repeat of that.”

Powerball! Tonight’s drawing has grown to an amazing $1.9-BILLION! That is the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. Louisiana Lottery spokesman Dustin Annison says when tghey get this big, ticket sales always surge…:

CUT 14(10)      “…14.4-million.”

Tickets will remain on sale until 9 tonight.

 

There has been a second high-profile death of an infant, and it turns out the Department of Children and Families Services was alerted beforehand that he was in possible danger. Secretary Marketa Garner Walters defends her agency…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Thorington.”

Fans cheering on LSU’s dramatic one-point win over Alabama Saturday night triggered seismic sensors…twice. The spikes came when the Tiger scored a touchdown in Overtime, and again when they scored a two-point conversion to win the game. So…a second Earthquake Game for LSU, and a bitter defeat for Alabama.

3:30 LRN Newscast Nov 7

The Department of Children and Family Services is under fire again after news of another infant fentanyl overdose death.  Days before one-year-old J’ahrei Paul of Baton Rouge’s Halloween death, the agency received an anonymous report he was in possible danger. DCFS Secretary Marketa Walters says a manpower shortage plus a sharp spike in child welfare cases is the reason stuff is slipping through crack. She says she’s assigning point person to oversee all such cases…:

CUT 07(06)      “…of response.”

DCFS is also seeking to hire a lot more new case workers.

The Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $1.9-Billion for tonight’s drawing. A lump-sum payment would net a single winner over $929-million. Louisiana Lottery spokesman Dustin Annison says excitement is building over the chance to become an instant millionaire…:

CUT 13(10)      “…exciting times.”

Tickets will be on sale until 9 tonight.

 

Last week we told you the low levels of the Mississippi River were affecting commerce. No, here’s solid evidence. The USDA says the number of grain barges ofload3ed at the Port of New Orleans is down 20-to-30-percent. This is because of shallow water limiting draft depth and the number of barges that can be connected. This can lead to a reduction of 10-to-15-thousand barrels per barge.

It’s getting dark earlier now that we are back on Central Standard Time, and that can make driving home in the evening a little tricky. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesman Mark Lambert says the drive home will be happening during twilight hours, when visibility is lessened. He says motorists can help avoid accidents with just a few simple steps…:

CUT 10(11)      “…when it’s dark.”

Lambert says there is a statistical increase in traffic accidents on the Monday after a time change; especially when “falling back” to Standard Time.

2:30 LRN Newscast Nov 7

Days before the second high-profile death of an infant from fentanyl, the Department of Children and Families Services was alerted to his possible danger. Secretary Marketa Garner Walters defends her agency…:

CUT 2   (33)      “…Thorington.”

Deputies in Lafayette Parish arrest a man for murder, after a body was found Sunday morning. The victim is identified as Raul de Jesus Ortiz, age unknown. Detectives arrested 24-year-old Jose Nikolas Venture for 2nd degree murder. The investigation is ongoing.

 

A real eyebrow raiser, as the state Republican Party voted last night to endorse Attorney General Jeff Landry for Governor; a full year before the election. “LaPolitics.com” publisher Jeremy Alford says the GOP met virtually last night to do it. He questions whether the endorsement is worth all that much…:

CUT 04(13)      “…in Louisiana politics.”

There was no multistate Powerball winner Saturday, so the jackpot for tonight’s drawing is a bona fide record setter. Louisiana Lottery spokesman Dustin Annison…:

CUT 12(06)      “…jackpot lottery ever.”

A single winner selecting a lump-sum cash payment would collect just over $929-million. Tickets are on sale until 9 tonight.

1:30 LRN Newscast Nov 7

The Louisiana Republican Party last night voted to endorse Attorney General Jeff Landry for governor eleven months before the election. Why…?

CUT 01(30)      “…Golsby.”

State Police are investigating an officer-involved fatal shooting Sunday in Alexandria. LSP says a Rapides parish sheriff’s deputy shot a suspect and the person did not survive. The circumstances that led to the shooting have not been made public yet, as evidence is still being examined.

 

The Department of Children and Family Services is under fire again after news of another infant fentanyl overdose death.  Days before one-year-old J’ahrei Paul of Baton Rouge’s October 31st death, the agency received an anonymous report he was in possible danger. Reporters at a press conference this morning asked Secretary Marketa Garner Walters why they waited until Saturday to issue a press release…:

CUT 06(07)      “…when I can say them.”

It’s getting dark earlier now that we are back on Central Standard Time, and that can make driving home in the evening a little tricky. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesman Mark Lambert says a study done several years ago by Stanford University suggests there is a real, measureable effect of time changes on motorists…:

CUT 09  (09)        Savings Time ends

11:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Republican party executive committee voted last night to endorse Attorney General Jeff Landry in next year’s governor’s race. LA Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford called it historic—and controversial.
Cut 3 (12) “…same thing.”
Alford says this is a sign of Landry flexing his political muscles a year away from the election.

LSU has received another 250-thousand dollar fine from the SEC because its fans rushed onto the field after the Tigers dramatic overtime victory over Alabama. Coach Brian Kelly says the 102-thousand inside Tiger Stadium were a major factor…
cut 13 (12) “….for us”
The seismograph on LSU’s campus registered the ground shaking when Jayden Daniels scored in overtime and then three minutes later on the two point conversion.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says orders for abortion pills in Louisiana have increased 170 percent since abortion clinics closed….
cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

A three-year-old and the driver of a Buick are fighting for their lives after suffering significant injuries from a major crash on Interstate 49 in Caddo Parish last night. Deputies say the Buick was heading in the wrong direction on the interstate when it slammed head-on into another vehicle. First responders say the three-year-old was not restrained and was found in the trunk of the Buick.

10:30 LRN Newscast

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says since abortion clinics closed permanently, there’s been a 170-percent increase in online purchases for overseas abortion polls from Louisiana addresses. During the 2022 legislative session, a bill was passed making it illegal to order such medications in Louisiana, but New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman voted against it because there’s no way to enforce it.
cut 5 (10) “….be enforced”

Bishop Dee Williamston has been elected as the new bishop of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Williamston will be the first African American bishop to lead the Louisiana Conference. She served 22 years in the Kansas Army National Guard. She said the training was tough.
Cut 8 (07) “…for the church.”
Williamston takes over January 1st.

LSU fans will talk about the two-point conversion that beat Alabama for decades to come. …
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The seismograph on LSU’s campus registered the ground shanking when Jayden Daniels scored a touchdown in overtime and then three minutes later when the Tigers converted the winning two-point conversion. A small earthquake was also reported in April during country music star Garth Brooks’ performance in Tiger Stadium and in 1988 when LSU upset Auburn.

9:30 LRN newscast

The LSU Tigers are up to number seven in the latest AP poll after their unbelievable overtime win over Alabama. After LSU lost to Florida State in the season opener, many thought this would be a tough transitional season for the Tigers. But QB Jayden Daniels kept the faith
cut 16 (16) “…every week.”
LSU is at Arkansas this Saturday.

Dee Williamston will take over as the new bishop of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. The 57-year-old will be the first African-American bishop of the Louisiana Conference. Her election comes as dozens of churches are leaving the United Methodist Church over same sex marriages and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy…
cut 9 (12) “….better together”

According to the oil field services firm Baker Hughes, the number of drilling rigs in Haynesville has risen over the last year to 70 from 47. The Advocate reports the war in Ukraine has led to a big demand in natural gas and producers are getting top dollar for the fuel that they can ship overseas thanks to natural gas faciliies on the Texas and Louisiana coasts.

Passenger rail service could be coming to Northeast Louisiana as soon as 2025. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

8:30 LRN newscast

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association says abortion pills shipped from overseas to Louisiana addresses have increased 170-percent since abortion clinics were closed permanently in August. New Orleans State Representative and Democrat Aimee Freeman doesn’t see the trend of ordering abortion medications online decreasing anytime soon…
cut 6 (11) “…only option”
According to the study, Louisiana leads every other state in online abortion pill orders, followed by Mississippi.

LSU has received another 250-thousand dollar fine from the SEC because its fans rushed onto the field after the Tigers dramatic overtime victory over Alabama. Coach Brian Kelly says the 102-thousand inside Tiger Stadium were a major factor…
cut 13 (12) “….for us”
LSU is at Arkansas this Saturday.

With 68 out of 400 Methodist Churches in Louisiana leaving over same-sex marriage and gay clergy, the state conference of the United Methodist Church is bringing in a new bishop to try to heal the division…..
cut 23 (27) “….I’m Marsanne Golsby”

Tomorrow is election day, polls will open from 6 AM to 8 PM. Elections for U-S Senate, U-S Representative and eight constitutional amendments highlight the ballot. There are also some competitive mayoral races.

Tonight’s Powerball drawing has a record Jackpot of one-point-nine billion dollars. Ticket sales end at 9 PM tonight.

7:30 LRN Newscast

LSU fans are still in a state of euphoria following the Tigers upset 32-31 victory over Alabama in overtime on Saturday night. The Bayou Bengals won the game on a successful two-point conversion as Jayden Daniels threw a pass to tight end Mason Taylor who got into the end zone. Coach Brian Kelly on the decision to go for two…
cut 14 (10) 100 times out of 100″
LSU is up to number seven in the AP poll and will visit Arkansas this Saturday.

The Southern Rail Commission says passenger rail service could come to north Louisiana as early as 2025. Southern Rail Commission chairman Knox Ross says a study will need to be conducted first…
cut 11 (09) “…begin that process”
Ross says once the study is complete, the rail line could be running by late 2025.

The state department of Children and Family Services will hold a press conference this morning to discuss the death of one-year-old J’ahrei Paul. The coroner says the Baton Rouge toddler died of a fentanyl overdose. DCFS says they previously investigated the child’s mother for marijuana use during her pregnancies. She was in jail in Texas at the time of the child’s death. The child was in the care of her father when the infant was taken to the hospital last Monday.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says orders for abortion pills in Louisiana have increased 170 percent since abortion clinics closed….
cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”