6:30 LRN Newscast December 3rd

It’s been two weeks since a ransomware attack hit state servers and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is still operating at a limited capacity. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says 54 locations are open, while 25 remain closed. He says if you’re interested in knowing which locations are operational…
Cut 10 (09) “…parish”
State Police say they continue to use discretion when it comes to writing tickets for those driving on recently expired driver’s licenses.

A new legislature will be sworn in on January 13th and political analyst Bernie Pinsonat tells us who is the early favorite has emerged to become the next Senate President….
cut 5 (07) “…in January”
Cortez is from Lafayette. Pinsonat says it’s tough to say who will emerge as the next House Speaker.

Holiday weight gain is an issue as time with family and friends may mean more eating than normal. The amount of weight can range widely, but a couple of pounds is average for most. LSU School of Public Health nutritionist Dr. Henry Nuss says most folks know the season is full of high-calorie foods, but drinking also adds to the high-calorie intake..…
Cut 7 (12) “count them”
Nuss says in order to avoid the holiday weight gain, try exercising more.

AM Newscall 12.3.19

On January 13th legislators will pick the new Speaker of the House and Senate President. Matt Doyle spoke with an analyst about who is currently in the running…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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A ransomware attack that targeted state servers two weeks ago is still impacting the OMV, with only about half of stations statewide operational…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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LSU fans get their grass handed to them. Kevin Barnhart was on hand to speak with those who obtained some of the free sod from Tiger Stadium during the Monday afternoon giveaway.

Cut 3 (32) “   I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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The red wave in this year’s Legislative elections guarantees Republicans will hold the Speakership and Senate Presidency, so who’s set to replace the outgoing Speaker Barras and President Alario?

Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the race for Speaker is a tossup, with names like Lance Harris of Alexandria, Sherman Mack of Albany, and Stephen Dwight of Lake Charles in the running…

Cut 4 (10) “They need.”

Barras held the position since 2016.

Pinsonat says Sharon Hewitt of Slidell, Ronnie Johns of Lake Charles, and Rick Ward of Iberville are up for the Presidency, but one name has emerged as an early favorite in the Upper Chamber…

Cut 5 (07) “…January”

John Alario previously held the position, being selected in 2016. The Legislature’s longest-tenured member decided not to run for office again this year after being term-limited.

Pinsonat says the positions hold major significance, deciding committee assignments and chairmanships in a year with some substantial issues on the docket…

Cut 6 (11) “Legislature”

The Speakership and Presidency will be decided in a January 13th vote.

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Holiday weight gain is an issue that many face as time with family and friends may mean more eating than normal.  The amount of weight can range widely, but usually, a couple of pounds is about average for most.

LSU School of Public Health nutritionist Dr. Henry Nuss says most folks know the season is full of high calorie foods, but what they aren’t factoring in is the calories from all those rum eggnogs…

Cut 7 (12) “count them”

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows those who are already overweight add about two pounds on average, while those who are in shape pack on about a half-pound.

It’s impossible to really avoid the increased caloric intake during this time of year, so Nuss says your best bet to stave off the weight is by exercising more, and being strategic about when to indulge…

Cut 8 (11) “…snacks”

It can be discouraging to hope on the scale come January 1st and see you’ve packed on a few extra pounds, but Nuss says don’t beat yourself because even people who are in shape tend to add weight during this time…

Cut 9 (08) “…saddle”

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It’s been two weeks since a ransomware attack crippled state services and the Office of Motor Vehicles is still operating at a limited capacity.

Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says they’ve managed to get about 30 to 40 OMV stations online, and if you’re interested in knowing which locations are operational…

Cut 10 (09) “…parish”

Louisiana has 79 OMV locations.

Berry says just because your local OMV office is open, doesn’t mean it’s full service yet. He says Expresslane.org will tell you what services your local station is offering.

Cut 11 (09) “…can”

Over a thousand workstations were impacted by the attack across all state agencies.

Berry says they’ve had teams working around the clock, including every day last week except for Thanksgiving, to get the systems back online. The problem is the OMV has old tech…

Cut  12 (06) “…anyway.” 

No timeline has been set for when all offices will be back up and running with full service.

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LSU Athletics offered free slabs of sod from Tiger Stadium to fans yesterday.  In total, roughly 3300 servings of grass were given away, causing traffic headaches around the pickup point at Alex Box Stadium.  Clay from Prairieville says he’s got detailed plans on preserving the sod.

Cut 13 (08) “…of the family.”

Cameron is a sophomore and says her and a friend had arrived hours early to claim their pieces of the field, only to watch the distribution descend into a chaotic scene.

Cut 14 (08) “…and split it.” 

Kelsey from Baton Rouge snagged some of the painted grass and says while having the keepsake turf may come off as silly, she prizes her new possession.

Cut 15 (08) “…not that silly.”

The sod was removed from the stadium as part of a months-long project to replace the field and improve drainage in the stadium.

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With LSU playing in the SEC Championship Game, that means less time on the road recruiting for the coaches. But Coach Ed Orgeron says what the Tigers have done on the field this season has been their best recruiting tool, especially for skill position players

Cut 16  (28)  …LSU’s offense” 

New college football playoff rankings will be released tonight. Most believe the Tigers are in the four-team College Football playoff, even if they lose to Georgia. But Orgeron is not taking anything for granted…

Cut 17  (15)  right now ” 

Georgia has one of the top defenses in the country. But can they stop Biletnikoff Award finalist Ja’Marr Chase, who leads the country in yards per game and touchdown catches. In Chase’s last five games, he’s caught 35 passes for 831 yards and eight touchdowns. Orgeron on the former Rummel standout…

cut 18  (20)  player” 

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The Ragin Cajuns getting ready to make another trip to Boone, North Carolina where they’ll play Appalachian State for the second straight year in the Sun Belt Championship game. U-L Lafayette lost twice last year at App State, Cajuns Coach Billy Napier hopes third time is the charm

cut 19 (19)  the game”    

The Mountaineers beat U-L at Cajun Field 17-7 on October 9th. Napier says both teams are different two months later…

cut 20 (17) “ excited about the opportunity”    

530PM LRN News

New Orleans Police continue to search for those responsible for a mass shooting in the 700 block of Canal Street early Sunday morning. Crimestoppers President Darlene Cusanza says the reward has been bumped up from $5,000 to $10,000 for info leading to an arrest.

Cut 10 (09) “…authorized that increase.”

The shooting rampage occurred while the city was hosting the annual Bayou Classic football festivities, and the shooter is thought to live outside of New Orleans.

Joe Burrow walked out into Tiger Stadium Saturday with a special jersey spelling his name with a E-A-U-X, a moment watched by over eight million fans on twitter thanks to an LSU produced video.  Burrow says he wanted to do something to show his appreciation to LSU fans who have fully embraced him and his family…

Cut 13 (13) “…really has.”

Cyber Monday shoppers are scouring the web today for deals on the most sought after holiday gifts, and LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice has some tips for you before you start typing in your credit card. If you find a good deal, stick to just buying the big-ticket item that is actually on sale. Rice says if you start picking up accessories, your savings can quickly disappear.

Cut 7 (10) “…cable.”

And if you’re in the market for something for the kids Chris Byrne the Toy Guy has some great recommendations that will help bring the family together after the holidays. Byrne says video games are a big hit for the whole family, including an 80’s style Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game console.

Cut 3 (11) “   play at once.”

430PM LRN News

Police continue to look for answers following a shooting rampage that injured ten people early Sunday morning in New Orleans…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Millions on Twitter have watched the LSU produced video of quarterback Joe Burrow taking the field Saturday for the senior day ceremony. The video shows Burrow from the back and he’s wearing a special jersey with his name spelled with e-a-u-x…

Cut 12 (08) “was great” 

Cyber Monday shoppers are scouring the web today for deals on the most sought after holiday gifts, and LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice has some tips for you before you start typing in your credit card. Rice says know that you may be able to find a better upfront deal for a major appliance item online, but before you buy, know many web-based retailers don’t offer the same services as brick and mortar.

Cut 8 (11) “…breakdown”

And if you’re looking for something a bit smaller than a fridge, Chris Byrne the Toy Guy has some advice, starting with ignoring some online reviews of products. Byrne says concerns over fake reviews may have some shoppers wondering if they are buying a toy that best suits the person they are buying for.

Cut 5 (10) “…grain of salt.”

330PM LRN News

New Orleans Police continue to hunt for the person, or persons responsible for a mass shooting on Canal Street that injured 10 pedestrians. Superintendent of Police Shaun Ferguson says they have multiple agencies investigating the incident, and they recovered a weapon on scene, but so far they have yet to find a suspect in the attack.

Cut 9 (06) “…metropolitan area.”

The shooting rampage occurred while the city was hosting the annual Bayou Classic football festivities.

If you’re Cyber Monday shopping, LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice has some tips for you before you fork over half a paycheck online. Today sales will often be marketed as a 30, 40, or even 60 percent markdown, but Rice says many times those advertised sales are misleading. Rice says before you buy…

Cut 6 (10) “…a deal”

The LSU produced Joe Burrow video of him taking the field on Saturday night has over eight million views. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”    

Cyber Monday deals have many people browsing for toys today, and an expert known as the Toy Guy, Chris Byrne says many of the highly coveted toys may be limited edition or in short supply, so shoppers are acting fast.

Cut 4 (09) “…to sell out.”

230PM LRN News

New Orleans Police continue to search for those responsible for a mass shooting in the 700 block of Canal Street early Sunday morning. Officials are not sure how many shooters were involved, but a weapon was taken from the scene. Superintendent of Police Shaun Ferguson says six officers and their supervisors were in the block at the time of the shooting.

Cut 11 (08) “…something would occur.”

The victims ranged in age from 16 to 36.

Millions on Twitter have watched the LSU produced video of quarterback and Heisman favorite Joe Burrow taking the field Saturday for the senior day ceremony. Burrow has broken most LSU passing records and SEC records on his way to possibly winning the Heisman…

Cut 14 (10) “…from me”

Cyber Monday deals have many people browsing for toys today.  Known as the Toy Guy, Chris Byrne says video games are a big hit for the whole family, including an 80’s style Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game console.

Cut 3 (11) “   play at once.”

Online sales are projected to make up more than 35% of all US toy sales. 

And if you are Cyber Monday shopping, LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice has some tips for you before you start typing in your credit card, advice like If you find a good deal, stick to just buying the big-ticket item that is actually on sale. Rice says if you start picking up accessories, your savings can quickly disappear.

Cut 7 (10) “…cable.”

1:30 LRN Newscast December 2nd

Crimestoppers is now offering a reward of up to 10-thousand dollars for anyone who can provide information on those responsible for a mass shooting early Sunday morning on Canal Street in New Orleans that injured 10 people. Crimestoppers President Darlene Cusanza…
cut 10 (09) “…authorized that increase”
Officials are not sure how many shooters were involved and that a weapon was taken from the scene.

An LSU produced video that shows Joe Burrow taking the field for senior night ceremonies before the Tigers thrashing of Texas A-and-M has received over eight million views on Twitter. The special jersey Burrow was wearing spelled his name e-a-u-x. Burrow says he wanted to do something to show his appreciation to LSU fans who have fully embraced him and his family…
Cut 13 (13) “…really has.”
The Tigers face Georgia in Saturday’s SEC title game.

It’s CyberMonday a day to find great deals by purchasing items online. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says know that you may be able to find a better upfront deal for a major appliance online, but before you buy, know many web-based retailers don’t offer the same services as brick and mortar stores.
Cut 8 (11) “…breakdown”

Many toys will be bought on this Cyber Monday. Toy Guy Chris Byrne says concerns over fake reviews may have some shoppers wondering if they are buying a toy that best suits the person they are buying for.
Cut 5 (10) “…grain of salt.”
Online sales are projected to make up more than 35% of all US toy sales.

1230PM LRN News

New Orleans Police continue to search for those responsible for a mass shooting in the 700 block of Canal Street early Sunday morning.  Superintendent of Police Shaun Ferguson says they have multiple agencies investigating the incident that injured ten people but a suspect has yet to be identified. 

Cut 9 (06) “…metropolitan area.”

The Crimestoppers reward has been bumped up to $10,000.

Cyber Monday shoppers are scouring the web today for deals on the most sought after holiday gifts, and LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice has some tips for you before you start typing in your credit card. Sales will often be marketed as a 30, 40, or even 60 percent markdown, but Rice says many times those advertised sales are misleading. Rice says before you buy…

Cut 6 (10) “…a deal”

Millions on Twitter have watched the LSU produced video of quarterback and Heisman favorite Joe Burrow taking the field Saturday for the senior day ceremony. The video shows Burrow from the back and he’s wearing a special jersey with his name spelled with e-a-u-x. Burrow says the idea to change the spelling of his name occurred earlier in the week…

Cut 12 (08) “was great” 

The video ends with Burrow blowing kisses to the roaring crowd in Tiger Stadium.

1130AM LRN News

The 12-0 Tigers continue their historic march Saturday at 3PM in Atlanta for an SEC Championship game against Georgia. The matchup to watch in this game is LSU’s high-powered offense against Georgia’s stingy defense, which is allowing just 10 points a game. Head coach Ed O says it’s the best defense they’ve faced all season

Cut 11 (08) “…do it all.”

A Baton Rouge Democrat and coffee shop owner announces he’ll be challenging incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy for his seat in 2020. Antoine Pierce says Cassidy’s vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act partly inspired his run. Pierce says Cassidy misled the public about how many people would lose coverage under his replacement plan.

Cut 4 (11) “…healthcare.”

Cassidy disagreed with Kimmel’s claim, saying more people would have coverage under his plan.

Christmas decorating is in full effect and State Fire Marshal Butch Browning has a few tips to keep the holidays fire-free. Browning says do not daisy chain power strips and check them about every 4 hours to make sure the strips are not being overloaded…

Cut 13 (12) “..imminent.”

The Fire Marshal’s Office recommends both artificial and live trees should be treated with a fire retardant material.

52 percent of workers admit they will shop online while on the job this holiday season. That’s according to a study conducted by the staffing firm Robert Half Technology.  Senior Recruiting Manager Carrie Lewis of New Orleans says 44 percent of those surveyed admit it hinders productivity, because of how much time they spend doing it…

Cut 7 (10) “…week”

10:30 AM Newscast

52 percent of workers admit they will shop online while on the job this holiday season. That’s according to a study conducted by the staffing firm Robert Half Technology.  The workshopping divide was starker among generational lines, with 65 percent of those 25-40 to admitting to it, but Senior Recruiting Manager Carrie Lewis of New Orleans says there’s also a gender gap, with more men actually doing the cyber shopping than women…
Cut 8 (07) “…women”

Today’s Cyber Monday deals will attract the most work-shoppers, at 43 percent of those who partake.

New Orleans Police will hold an 11:30 press conference regarding the mass shooting on Canal Street over the weekend.  Ten people were injured in the shooting rampage early Sunday morning.  No suspects have been apprehended, but CrimeStoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for info that leads to an arrest.

Natchitoches Police are investigating an early Sunday morning homicide.  After finding the deceased victim with several stab wounds, 53-year-old Terrence Luke of Natchitoches was arrested for second-degree murder.

 

Senator Bill Cassidy has a new challenger for his seat, Baton Rouge Democrat and Louisiana Juvenile Justice Advisory Board member Antoine Pierce.  Cassidy’s 2017 vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act partly inspired the run and Pierce says the state’s senior Senator lacks independence, and is too beholden to President, like many in the GOP.

Cut 6 (05) “…that’s it”

Cassidy won the seat in 2014, beating incumbent Mary Landrieu 56-44.

 

LSU will head to Atlanta later this week to play Georgia on Saturday in the SEC Championship game. The Tigers are 12-0 and college football analysts say the Tigers are in the college football playoff even if they lose to the Bulldogs, Georgia is in the SEC Championship Game for a third straight season. The Bulldogs are 11-and-1 and their only loss was at home to South Carolina. Georgia Coach Kirby Smart likes how his team bounced back from that defeat

Cut  12 (10) “…college football.”