2:30 LRN Newscast Jan 21

Northwest Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson is named to President Trump’s impeachment defense team in the ongoing Senate removal trial. The Senate will vote on trial rules today, afterward, the President’s team will be allowed to respond.

Cut 7 (12) “…procedings.”

The US Environmental Protection Agency announces a regulatory program aimed at reducing emissions from heavy-duty engines and vehicles, the first update to standards in nearly 20 years, with the 2027 model year.  Regional administrator Ken McQueen says the goal is to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking in the late spring, with a final rule in 2021.

Cut 11 (11) “…the proposed rule.”

Zion Williamson is set to make his long-awaited NBA debut tomorrow night when the Pelicans host the San Antonio Spurs. Williamson has been sidelined since the preseason after undergoing knee surgery. The 19-year-old phenom is ready to help the Pels get into the playoffs

Cut 12 (09) “…this current wave.”

Ascension Parish deputies arrest 50-year-old Thomas West, after locating 33 dogs in horrid conditions and one of them already dead at his home. The dogs were taken to Cara’s House animal shelter for treatment.  Shelter president Reagan Daniel says the dogs have puncture wounds, heartworms and other parasites, and were covered in fleas.  The shelter is asking for food donations.

Cut 4 (13) “…currently surviving on.”

1:30 LRN Newscast January 21

The Senate is debating the rules for President Trump’s impeachment trial and Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson is on the President’s defense team.…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Morning Consult tracks the approval rating of governors and John Bel Edwards has the highest rating among Democrats at 54-percent. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Edwards connects well with Louisiana residents…
cut 14 (09) “…relate to people”

The US Environmental Protection Agency announces a regulatory program aimed at reducing emissions from heavy-duty engines and vehicles, the first update to standards in nearly 20 years, with the 2027 model year. Regional administrator Ken McQueen says this is an opportunity to modernize the heavy-duty program.
Cut 9 (09) “…across the country.”
The action comes following petitions from over twenty organizations to revise nitrogen oxide standards.

Cara’s House, which is an animal shelter in Ascension Parish, is caring for over 30 dogs that lived in horrid conditions on a property where the homeowner has been arrested on animal cruelty charges. Shelter President Reagan Daniel says the dogs are not yet available for fostering or adoption due to the criminal investigation, but they still need help freeing up space at their facility.
Cut 5 (06) “…the new intakes.
Ascension deputies arrested 50-year-old Thomas West and charged him with 33 counts of animal abuse.

1230PM LRN News

Northwest Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson is named to President Trump’s impeachment defense team in the ongoing Senate removal trial. The Senate will vote on trial rules today, and while it looks like this could be a very brief trial in the Upper Chamber, but Johnson says the prosecution will have all the time it needs to make a case.

Cut 6 (11) “…do it.”

Afterward, the President’s team will be allowed to respond.

Democrats and Republicans alike have raised concerns that few members of the Senate will be able to be an impartial juror in the case as the issue has broken sharply along partisan lines. Senator Bill Cassidy says he’ll be impartial, but it looks to be a flimsy case so far…

Cut 9 (08) “…terrible”

The trial is now underway.

33 dogs are found in horrid conditions in and around the Ascension Parish home of 50-year-old Thomas West, who is now facing animal cruelty charges. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

1130AM LRN News

Former New Orleans State Senator Wesley Bishop pleads guilty to making false statements to the Department of Housing and Urban Development about renting out his property when he received a post-Katrina Road Home grant in 2012. Bishop received 188,000 dollars from HUD and he would not have to pay back if he kept the rent price for the unit low, but evidence arose that no one had lived at the property since at least 2013.

Ascension Parish deputies arrest a homeowner, identified as 50-year-old Thomas West, after locating 33 dogs in horrid conditions and one of them already dead.  The dogs were taken to Cara’s House animal shelter for treatment, and Shelter president Reagan Daniel describes the property…

Cut 3 (09)  “…you name it.” 

The dogs are not yet available for adoption due to the investigation.

LSU Geology Professor Brooks Ellwood uncovers evidence that may indicate the Indian Mounds at LSU maybe 11,300 years old, or the oldest man-made structures still standing on Earth.  Ellwood says the discovery was made by testing bone fragments in those graves.

Cut 5 (10) “…them.”

Ellwood has submitted a paper regarding the age of the structures for scientific review.

A Morning Consult poll finds Governor John Bel Edwards is the most popular Democrat Governor. Overall, he is ranked 15th with a 54% approval rating. ULM Poli Sci Professor Joshua Stockley says the national party should take notice…

Cut 15 (13) “…Trump is popular.”

10:30 LRN Newscast January 21

With a 54% approval rating, Governor John Bel Edwards is the most popular Democrat Governor according to a Morning Consult poll. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
voicer 3 (30) “…..Kevin Barnhart”

It’s a cold morning as we saw temperatures dip below freezing as far south as the I-10-12 corridor. It will be a chilly afternoon with high temperatures ranging from the mid-40s to the low 50s along the coast.

President Trump’s impeachment trial begins today in the US Senate. This afternoon, Senators will vote on rules that will govern the trial. Once testimony begins each Senator will serve as a juror. Senator Bill Cassidy…
Cut 7 (11) “…you will”
Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson has been appointed to President Trump’s impeachment team.

After conducting further research, LSU Geology Professor Brooks Ellwood believes the Indian Mounds on the LSU Baton Rouge campus could be 11,300 years old. Previous research estimated the mounds were about six-thousand years old…
cut 6 (08) “…things”
Ellwood has submitted a paper regarding the age of the structures for scientific review

9:30 LRN Newscast January 21

At one o’clock today the U-S Senate will gather to begin the impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. The US constitution requires the Senators to serve as impartial jurors, but many Republican Senators, including Bill Cassidy, have openly voiced their thoughts on impeachment throughout the process. Cassidy says he’ll be impartial, but it looks to be a flimsy case so far…
cut 9 (08) “…terrible”

A Morning Consult poll finds Governor John Bel Edwards is the most popular Democrat Governor in the country with a 54% approval rating. ULM Poli Sci Professor Joshua Stockley says the solid approval numbers will help Edwards in the upcoming legislative session.
Cut 13 (11) “…voted for me.”
The legislative session starts March 9th.

Frontier Airlines announces it will no longer fly out of Lafayette Regional Airport. The low-cost carrier announced a temporary suspension of service in October a year after offering direct flights to Orlando and Denver. 40-thousand passengers used Frontier to fly in and out of Lafayette in 2019.

The American Heart Association’s Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science has found more than one in four high school students regularly using e-cigarettes. The number of middle school students using e-cigarettes increased nearly 50-percent last year. Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Tobacco Specalist Josh Pitre says parents need to maintain an open dialogue with their children as young as age five on the consequences of all nicotine…
cut 11 (12) “….of that nature”

8:30 LRN newscast

President Trump’s impeachment trial begins today in the US Senate. This afternoon Senators will vote on rules that will govern the trial. Once testimony begins each Senator will serve as a juror. Senator Bill Cassidy…
Cut 7 (11) “…you will”
Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson has been appointed to President Trump’s impeachment team.

An American Heart Association study finds that one in four high school students use e-cigarettes and the number of middle school students using e-cigarettes increased nearly 50-percent last year. Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Tobacco Specialist Josh Pitre says they surveyed over 3-thousand teens and found parents who are more educated do a better job of explaining the harmful risks of e-cigarettes…
cut 12 (10) “…are harmful’

The Indian Mounds at LSU may be much, much older than previously thought. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Due to a water outage, classes are canceled at Grambling State University today. A water line broke and repairs are ongoing.

Former LSU defensive coordinator and current Youngstown State head coach Bo Pelini has surfaced as a possible replacement for Dave Aranda, who just took the head coaching job at Baylor. Pelini was LSU’s D-C for three seasons and helped the Tigers win a national title in 2007.

7:30 LRN Newscast January 21

Morning Consult tracks the approval rating of governors and it has found Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards is the most popular Democratic governor in the country. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Edwards connects well with Louisiana residents…
cut 14 (09) “…relate to people”
Morning Consult has Edwards approval rating at 54-percent.

An LSU Geology Professor believes the Indian Mounds on LSU’s Baton Rouge campus may be 11,300 years old, making it the oldest man-made structures on Earth. Brooks Ellwood says a scan of the mounds, followed by a test of the material indicates the mounds are even older than the Pyramids of Giza (Gee-Zuh)in Egypt.
Cut 4 (11) “…state.”

The Wellcana group, which produces medical marijuana, tells the Advocate they are looking to build a 100-thousand square-foot indoor marijuana greenhouse and storage facility between Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The building would employ 100 to 200 workers and it will also be used as a collection center for hemp grown by Louisiana farmers.

A study from the American Heart Association shows that there are various reasons why teens might or might not believe vaping is dangerous…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

6:30 LRN Newscast

The US Senate reconvenes today and the first vote they’ll take is on the rules for President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to propose just two days for each side to give opening statements and a vote on whether witnesses will be called will take place later. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy isn’t sure how long this process will take, he hopes for a speedy resolution…
cut 8 (12) “…Schiff”
Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson has been named to President Trump’s impeachment team.

Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon has demoted his chief deputy Bruce Prejean after he admitted to having an affair with a district judge. Prejean’s pay has also been cut by 500-dollars a month. There’s a concern Prejean’s intimate relationship with Judge Jessie LeBlanc had an effect on criminal cases that went before LeBlanc and were investigated by Prejean.

With a 54% approval rating, Governor John Bel Edwards is the most popular Democrat Governor according to a Morning Consult poll. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
voicer 3 (30) “…..Kevin Barnhart”

New research has found that boys, blacks and teens living in urban areas are least likely to think the contents inside e-cigarette products are harmful. Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified tobacco Specialist Josh Pitre…
cut 10 (09) “…teen residents”

AM Newscall 01/21/2020

The Indian Mounds at LSU may be much, much older than previously thought. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

________________________________________

A study from the American Heart Association shows that there are various reasons why teens might or might not believe vaping is dangerous. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

____________________________________________

With a 54% approval rating, Governor John Bel Edwards is the most popular Democrat Governor according to a Morning Consult Poll. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

 

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

____________________________________________

An LSU Geology Professor believes the Indian Mounds at LSU’s flagship campus may be the oldest man-made structures on Earth, with parts of the structure believed to possibly be 11,300-years-old.

Brooks Ellwood says a scan of the mounds, followed by a test of the material indicates the mounds are likely far, far older than the Pyramids of Giza.

Cut 4 (11) “…state.”

Prior research indicated the mounds were only about 6,000 years old.

The structures are thought to be ceremonial burial grounds for tribes that inhabited the region millennia ago. Ellwood says the discovery was made by testing bone fragments in those graves.

Cut 5 (10) “…them.”

The local tribes are thought to have placed their dead on the pit and burn them, with most of the construction occurring over two stages separated by global climate events.

For decades the Mounds were a meeting place for students, but imaging showed the structures were internally collapsing due to the constant stress. Ellwood says the Mounds need more protection.

Cut 6 (08) “things”

Ellwood has submitted a paper regarding the age of the structures for scientific review.

_____________________________

The impeachment trial of President Trump begins today in the US Senate, where Senators will vote on rules that will govern the trial. Senator Bill Cassidy says the affair will demand their attention for eight hours a day, six days a week, and while the process is ongoing it’s important to remember this isn’t a criminal trial.

Cut 7 (11) “…you will”

The two articles, charge the President with Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress.

Cassidy isn’t sure how long this process will take, but he’s hoping for a speedy resolution.

Cut 8 (12) “…Schiff”

The trial calls for impartial jurors, but many Senators, Cassidy included, have openly voiced their thoughts on impeachment throughout the process. Cassidy says he’ll be impartial, but it looks to be a flimsy case so far…

Cut 9 (08) “…terrible”

The Senate convenes at 1 PM.

____________________

According to the American Heart Association’s Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science study, whether teens believe nicotine and vaping products are harmful is largely due to gender, household income and education level. Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Tobacco Specialist Josh Pitre…

Cut 10 (09) “…teen residents.”

Pitre says with mixed views from teens on the dangers of vaping it’s extremely important for parents to maintain an open dialogue with their children as young as age five on the consequences of all nicotine.

Cut 11 (12) “…of that nature.”

The study shows that one in four high school students use e-cigarettes and the trend among middle school students has increased 50-percent. Pitre says a parent’s education level can skew a teen’s outlook on vaping.

Cut 12 (10) “…are harmful.”

Pitre hopes the new federal law to raise the national minimum age to purchase nicotine products to 21 will soon be a major deterrent among teens.

_____________________________________

A Morning Consult pull finds Governor John Bel Edwards is the most popular Democrat Governor. Overall, he is ranked 15th with a 54% approval rating. ULM Poli Sci Professor Joshua Stockley says the popularity plays into the favor of Edwards and his clout as the legislative session draws near.

Cut 13 (11) “…voted for me.”

Stockley says a big part of Edwards being the most favored Democrat governor is his popularity and connection to the people of the state outdoes that of other Democrats in other states.

Cut 14 (09) “…relate to people.”

Stockley says if the national Democrat Party is not paying attention to Edwards both as an individual and as a model for how to win as a Democrat in the south, then they are making a significant strategic error and it could cost them elections in 2020 as well as the White House.

Cut 15 (13) “…Trump is popular.”

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant ranked above Edwards, but has left office since the poll was taken in the final quarter of 2019. Governors of Wyoming, Maryland, and Massachusetts all tied for the highest approval rating at 69%.

__________________________________________

LSU brings a perfect 5-and-0 SEC record into tonight’s matchup against the Florida Gators. Both teams are ranked just outside of the A-P Top 25 and Coach Will Wade is expecting a tight contest…

Cut 16  (20)  …to win” 

LSU is second in the SEC in scoring, averaging nearly 80 points per game. But the Tigers are only shooting 32-percent from three-point territory. Wade says getting good looks at the basket from the perimeter is the key

Cut 17  (23) “don’t” 

Florida is coming off a 22-point over Auburn, who was ranked fourth in the country at the time. Wade says the Gators feature four players who score in double figures

cut 18  (26) “they move”