08:30 Newscasts, October 7th, 2016

The SEC ended up cancelling the LSU/Florida game in Gainesville over safety concerns due to Hurricane Matthew. Interim Head Coach Ed Orderon says they are disappointed:
CUT 16 (14) “move forward”

According to HauntWorld.com, the 13th Gate is the third best haunted house in the country. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Saturday marks one month until election day, and political experts say the US Senate race is tightening in Louisiana. ULM political science professor Dr. John Sutherlin says campaign ads are starting to roll out, and you can expect to see more leading up to November 8th…:
CUT 8 (07) “strong candidate”

In fact there’s an ad out right now paid for by a third party group that supports State Treasurer John Kennedy, slamming Congressman Charles Boustany. The ad claims that one of the congressman’s biggest supporters is a company that builds weapons for Middle Eastern regimes. Boustany says that’s Swiftships which employs 200 Louisianans in Morgan City…:
cut 14 (10) “their congressman”

Boustany says the ad is despicable and if Kennedy had any honor he’d demand it be taken off the air. Kennedy says if Boustany has a problem with the spot he should contact the group who put it out as his office does not control that.

 

 

07:30 Newscast, October 7th, 2016

There will be no LSU game this weekend and Tiger fans are irate. The SEC said Thursday that Florida’s home game had been cancelled due to safety concerns about Hurricane Matthew. LSU Sports information Director Michael Bonnette says he has his doubts about rescheduling…:
CUT 11 (10) “be possible”

Tensions continue to grow between US Senate candidates Charles Boustany and John Kennedy. A new ad out from a third-party group supporting Kennedy claims, among other things, the Congressman voted to send tax dollars to terrorist breeding grounds. Boustany is not happy…:
CUT 15 (13) “to show for it”
Kennedy released a statement saying he has no control over what this third party group puts out and Boustany should contact the Ending Spending group with his concerns.

With just over a month to go before the election, the 24 candidates in the US Senate race attempt to distinguish themselves. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Governor John Bel Edwards is holding a media briefing today at the airport in New Orleans when he arrives from Cuban to talk about his trip. In a statement, the governor’s office says the trade mission set the stage for greater economic and cultural exchanges between the Caribbean nation and Louisiana. The trip follows President Barack Obama’s decision in December 2014 to normalize relations with Cuba.

 

06:30 Newscast, October 7th, 2016

The SEC announces the LSU-Florida game has been postponed indefinitely because of Hurricane Matthew. LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says they offered Tiger Stadium as a host site for the game…:
Cut 10 (07) “do whatever”
Athletic Director Joe Alleva said they offered Florida its charter plane and buses to accommodate a possible relocation, but the Gaters did not want to play LSU outside of Gainesville.

Republican Congressman Charles Boustany is livid about an ad released by John Kennedy supporters alleging Boustany voted to send tax dollars to Iraq and Pakistan which are breeding grounds for terrorists…:
CUT 13 (08) “immediately”
He says it’s tragic that after losing previous senate races, Kennedy has to slander people to get himself a new job in politics.

The 13th Gate in Baton Rouge has been ranked the third scariest haunted house in the United States, according to HauntWorld.com. Owner and Designer of the 13th Gate Dwayne Sanburn says what makes it a unique haunted attraction is that they work on it all year round. He says they are known for their realistic detail…:
cut 4 (08) “haunted house”
This year the 13th Gate will feature a flooded sewer filled with Jack the Ripper’s victims.

Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni responded to reported allegations of sending sexually inappropriate messages to a 17-year-old boy. In a minute-long video statement, Yenni acknowledges sending “improper texts to a young man.” He also said he will work everyday to prove he can rise from a bad decision.

 

 

18:30 Newscast Oct 6

LSU is not heading to Florida to play the Gators this Saturday and there’s a good chance the game will never be played. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Embattled Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni is no longer in the state. He’s a lieutenant in the US Navy Reserve and has been deployed to respond to Hurricane Matthew. He has yet to address allegations that he sent sexually explicit messages to a 17-year-old boy. But his media consultant says Yenni will respond to the accusations in a commercial that will air on New Orleans TV stations.

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear former-New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal of his 2014 public corruption conviction. Legal analyst Chick Foret says this means Nagin will have to serve out the remaining 8 years of his 10 year sentence, because there is no other court that can hear his appeal.

Cut 3 (08) “were meritless”

Nagin was convicted on 20 counts of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud, and filing false tax returns.

It’s officially sugar cane grinding season in Louisiana and the harvest is expected to be better than last year. General Manager of the American Sugar Cane League Jim Simon says it’s still early in the season but there are indications that the sugar content of the cane is very good. He says the mild winter last year really helped the crop get off to a good start.

Cut 6 (10) “continue growing”

16:30 LRN Newscast October 6th

It’s a decision that has many LSU fans irate. The SEC has decided to postpone Saturday’s scheduled game at Florida, because of Hurricane Matthew. The league says they will attempt to try and reschedule the game for later in the year, but it will take the reshuffling of games. But a source tells Tiger Rag-dot-com there’s zero chance the game will be rescheduled. The Tiger Rag report also says LSU offered Tiger Stadium, it’s charter plane and buses to accommodate a possible relocation to Baton Rouge.

The US Supreme Court has decided not to hear former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal for a new trial. Nagin is serving a 10-year sentence for public corruption charges. Legal analyst Chick Foret says Nagin probably had some hope after the nation’s highest court vacated former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s corruption convicton…
cut 5 (08) “…in this case”
Nagin still has eight years left on his federal prison sentence.

There are concerns that the potential damage Florida could receive from Hurricane Matthew could interfere with the federal disaster aid coming to Louisiana. But U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy doesn’t think so…:
CUT 9 (07) “having problems”
Congress is expected to return in December to discuss more financial flood relief for Louisiana and what will need to be done to help those impacted by Hurricane Matthew.

It’s sugar cane grinding season in Louisiana and the harvest is expected to be up from last year. Jeff Palermo has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m jeff Palermo”

15:30 Newscast Oct 6

The LSU-Florida game has been postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. Kickoff was scheduled for 11am on Saturday, but a statement from the SEC says they will try to reschedule other league games if possible so that the LSU-Florida matchup can still take place, as both teams have a bye week this season. Before making the decision to postpone the game, LSU had offered to host or travel to a neutral location.

Some are concerned that potential damage from Hurricane Matthew could impact Louisiana’s fight to get more federal aid for flood relief. Congress is expected to return in December to discuss more financial flood relief for Louisiana and what will need to be down to help those impacted by Hurricane Matthew. US Senator Bill Cassidy says it will be an important issue for federal lawmakers to discuss.

Cut 11 (04) “for relief”

Louisiana has already received over $400 million in federal disaster aid, and Governor John Bel Edwards has requested $2.8 billion.

Northwestern State University President Jim Henderson has been appointed president of the University of Louisiana system by the Board of Supervisors. Henderson says he would like to have a more hands on relationship with students in the UL system.

Cut 14 (09) “that’s important”

He says he also wants to see more student involvement at the system level to give them a voice in policy decisions.

Sugar cane grinding season has begun in Louisiana, and the harvest is expected to be better than last year. General Manager of the American Sugar Cane League in Thibodaux, Jim Simon, says prices are expected to go up half a cent from last year’s 24 cents a pound, but…

Cut 7 (08) “nine months”

Simon contributes the success to good agriculture practices from farmers.

14:30 LRN Newscast October 6th

Still waiting on a decision from the SEC and Florida about the status of Saturday’s college football game between the Tigers and Gators. We were told yesterday that a decision would be made by noon today, then it was pushed back to two o’ clock and now there are reports a decision on a location and game time will be made by 5:00.

Florida is bracing for the impact of a Category Four Hurricane. Matthew is packing winds of 140 miles hour. If there’s significant damage to Florida, will that hurt efforts by Louisiana’s Congressional delegation to secure more federal flood aid? Senator Bill Cassidy predicts Matthew will create a heightened awareness for a need to help storm-impacted communities…
cut 10 (05) “…little better”
Cassidy says Congress will return in December to discuss more financial flood relief for Louisiana and what will need to be done to help those impacted by Hurricane Matthew.

The UL System Board of Supervisors names Northwestern State President Doctor Jim Henderson as the new leader of the UL System. Henderson believes his healthy relationship with state lawmakers can help the nine universities that make up the UL system…
cut 13 (09) “…really enjoy”
Henderson will take over as UL system president on January 1st.

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal for a new trial. Nagin was convicted in 2014 on public corruption charges. Legal analyst Chick Foret says for the appeal to be heard, Nagin’s lawyers would have had to show there was irreversible error during the trial…
cut 4 (11) “…sentencing guidelines”
Nagin has served two of those ten years.

13:30 Newscast, October 6th, 2016

There are concerns that the potential damage Florida could receive from Hurricane Matthew could interfere with the federal disaster aid coming to Louisiana. But U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy doesn’t think so…:
CUT 9 (07) “having problems”
Congress is expected to return in December to discuss more financial flood relief for Louisiana and what will need to be done to help those impacted by Hurricane Matthew. Louisiana has already received 500 million dollars in federal disaster aid and Governor Edwards has asked for 2.8 billion.

The President has declared an emergency in the state of Florida. And an official announcement about the fate of the LSU/Florida game is slated to be made at 2pm this afternoon and it’s reported that the SEC has now taken over and will ultimately decide when and where the contest will take place. The University of Florida had said Wednesday that it was not going to move the game from Gainesville.

Northwestern State University President Dr. Jim Henderson will become the new president of the University of Louisiana System, after the Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed him to the position. Henderson says he’ll look to reverse the 10 year decline in state funding of higher ed.:
cut 12 (12) “we serve”
He says he looks forward to working with the legislature to resolve many of the issues universities and students are facing.

A day after angry residents in Jefferson Parish gathered to voice their concerns over reports that Parish President Mike Yenni was involved with teenage boys, Yenni announced today that he’d been deployed to Florida to assist with hurricane response. He announced an acting parish president in a recorded memo. Prior to this announcement, Yenni was expected address the allegations involving a 17-year-old boy before the end of the week.

 

12:30 Newscast, October 6th, 2016

The University of Florida’s latest announcement about the LSU game this weekend is that a final decision on the start time of the contest in Gainsville on Saturday will be made by 2pm as they continue to monitor Hurricane Matthew. The most current forecast keeps Matthew as a Category 4 hurricane at its closest approach to Gainesville.

Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni, under fire after the public learned the FBI is investigating alleged sexually explicit messages sent to a teenage boy, says he has been deployed with his military unit through October 15 to help with the Hurricane Matthew response on the east coast. Prior to this announcement, Yenni was expected address the allegations involving a 17-year-old boy.

The Shreveport Police Department says one of its communications officers has been arrested following a domestic situation with his girlfriend. They say cops responded to a residence where a female advised that 23-year-old Fredrick Freeman had assaulted her. He was arrested on one count of domestic abuse battery with child endangerment and placed on leave.

It’s officially sugar cane grinding season in Louisiana and the harvest is expected to be better than last year. General Manager of the American Sugar Cane League in Thibodaux Jim Simon (see-moan) says it’s still early in the season but there are indications that the sugar content of the cane is very good. He says the mild winter last year really helped the crop get off to a good start…:
CUT 6 (10) “continue growing”
Sugar cane is a 3 billion dollar industry in Louisiana.

 

11:30 Newscast, October 6th, 2016

US Senator David Vitter has sent a letter to Florida Governor Rick Scott asking him to intervene in the matter of the Gator/LSU game not being moved from Gainesville on Saturday, as a Category 4 hurricane heads to the state. Vitter says the people of Louisiana are very familiar with the dangers associated with hurricanes of this magnitude, and the University of Florida should consider moving or rescheduling the game. Florida has said they only plan to change the time and that announcement is coming at noon.

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear former-New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal of his 2014 public corruption conviction. Legal analyst Chick Foret says this means Nagin will have to serve out the remaining 8 years of his 10 year sentence, because there is no other court that can hear his appeal…:
CUT 3 (08) “were meritless”
Nagin is the first New Orleans mayor to be convicted of public corruption.

LSU announces the search has begun to find a new live mascot to replace the ailing Mike VI. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says a traffic stop along I-10 in Port Allen resulted in the seizure of millions of dollars worth of cocaine. They say 44-year-old Jesus Alberto Villafranco, of Deer Park, Texas, was arrested after a search of his vehicle turned up nearly 70 pounds of cocaine hidden in a compartment beneath a tow trailer. Authorities said the total street value of the drugs is more than $3 million.