16:30 LRN Newscast May 4

Ted Cruz and John Kasich have both dropped out of the presidential race, and Donald Trump is now the presumptive Republican nominee. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says not all Republicans will be happy to see Trump uncontested at the convention, but he doesn’t think the GOP will look for another nominee.

Cut 13 (07)  “some of that”

The House barely passed a measure to allow high school students to participate in a national sex survey. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle supports the legislation. She says lawmakers need to do something to prevent the cases of STDs and teen pregnancy from continuing to increase.

CUT 4 (09)  “the problem”

The measure passed 53-40 and now moves to the Senate.

Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter has withdrawn his bill to restrict college athletic teams, except LSU, from travelling more than 375 miles. Carter says he’s trying to make a point on the state’s priorities. He says there are a lot of out of student athletes using state dollars to travel when this money could be used to prevent cuts on the academic side….

CUT 7 (04) “be spent”

Tonight’s Powerball jackpot has climbed to $348 million. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says Louisiana has had 15 Powerball jackpot winners. She says the last jackpot winner from Louisiana was in May of 2014. She says a Louisianan is due to win the grand prize again

Cut 11 (10) “in 2008″

Chopin says this is the 9th largest jackpot in Powerball history.

15:30 LRN Newscast May 4th

With the Ted Cruz and John Kasich dropping out of the race for the Republican Presidential nomination, it makes Donald Trump the presumptive nominee. There are many republicans who still don’t support Trump, but UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says …
cut 14 (10) “…support him”
Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere anticipates in November GOP voters will vote for Trump over the Democratic Party nominee.

Tonight’s jackpot for the Powerball drawing is 348-million dollars. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says Powerball has been producing big jackpots that the players have come to expect…
cut 10 (12) “….jackpot”
Chopin says Louisiana’s last Powerball winner was in May of 2014.

A bill that would allow public high school students to participate in a national sex survey is heading to the Senate, after getting approval from the House. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says Louisiana has a high rate of STDs and pregnancy among teens. Opponents of the bill say it’s the parents’ place to talk about these things with their kids, but Smith says that isn’t working:
CUT 3 (09) “policy”
Under the bill, students would not be required to participate.

A bill that would restrict college athletic teams in Louisiana, except for LSU, from traveling more than 375 miles to play games has been withdrawn. Baton Rouge Rep. Steve Carter, says he’s decided not to push his measure further, but told the House Education Committee we’re using taxpayer dollars to fund athletic programs when the state is in a massive budget deficit:
CUT 6 (09) “TOPS kids”

14:30 LRN Newscast May 4th

Since Ted Cruz and John Kasich have both dropped out of the presidential race, Donald Trump is now the presumptive Republican nominee. Michelle Southern has more….
voicer 2 (29) “….I’m Michelle Southern”

Governor John Bel Edwards doesn’t want to give 40-thousand state workers a pay raise next year. It’s because the state is looking at a 600-million dollar revenue shortfall. The Civil Service Commission has the final say and plans on making a decision on the governor’s request next month.

A proposal that would have limited travel of college athletic teams other than LSU is dropped. Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter decided against moving forward with his legislation. Carter still told the House Education Committee that instead of the state paying for long road trips, the money could be used to hire new professors or fund the TOPS scholarship program…
cut 8 (09) “….with TOPS”

A bill heading over to the House would allow public high school students to participate in a national sex survey. Parents would have the ability to opt their children out. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody says the survey is also anonymous…
cut 5 (10) “…their behavior”
The legislation heads to the Senate for more discussion.

13:30 Newscast, May 4th, 2016

Donald Trump is now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, as both Ted Cruz and John Kasich have both dropped out of the race. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says Trump might start to reign in some of his controversial comments to get more voters to rally behind him..:
cut 12 (08) “the convention”
Cross says not all Republicans will be happy to see Trump uncontested at the convention, but he doesn’t think the GOP will look for another nominee.

Should a national sex survey be allowed in public high schools? Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith barely got enough votes in the House for her bill she feels would lower the STD and teen pregnancy rate in Louisiana. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says lawmakers need to do something to prevent these cases…:
CUT 4 (09) “the problem”
The measure moves to the Senate.

A measure that wouldn’t allow college athletic teams in Louisiana to travel more than 375 miles to play games has been withdrawn. The exception would have been LSU. Baton Rouge Rep. Steve Carter, says he’s trying to make a point on the state’s priorities. He says travel money could instead be used to prevent cuts on the academic side…:
CUT 7 (04) “be spent”
But he told the House Education committee he’s decided not to push the measure further.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a woman’s body found in Lake Pontchartrain just west of the entrance canal to the lower section in the Bonnet Carre Spillway, in Norco. Detectives say the body was in an advanced decomposition state. She was wearing a red and white plaid button down shirt, a white under shirt, and a blue sports bra. The incident is still under investigation.

 

12:30 Newscast, May 4th, 2016

The House has approved a measure to allow public high school students to participate in a national survey on sexual risks. Don Molino has more…:
CUT 1 (22) “I’m Don Molino”

The Powerball Jackpot for tonight’s drawing is up to $348 million. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says this jackpot is one of the top ten biggest jackpots in lottery history…:
CUT 9 (08) “jackpot ever”
The cash value of the jackpot is 226.1 Million.

A bill that would restrict college athletic teams in Louisiana, except for LSU, from traveling more than 375 miles to play games has been withdrawn. Baton Rouge Rep. Steve Carter, says he’s decided not to push his measure further, but told the House Education Committee we’re using taxpayer dollars to fund athletic programs when the state is in a massive budget deficit:
CUT 6 (09) “TOPS kids”
Carter says he’s trying to make a point on the state’s priorities.

A Senate committee shot down the House approved measure that would allow lawmakers to decide whether of not people who receive food stamps should have to work. The 4-2 vote fell along party lines with Democrats in opposition, and GOP support.

 

11:30 Newscast, May 4th, 2016

A bill that would allow public high school students to participate in a national sex survey scarcely got enough votes to pass the House. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says Louisiana has a high rate of STDs and pregnancy among teens. Opponents of the bill say it’s the parents’ place to talk about these things with their kids, but Smith says that isn’t working:
CUT 3 (09) “policy”
Students would not be required to participate, and parents would be able to opt their child out. The measure heads to the Senate.

The Powerball jackpot for tonight’s drawing is up to $348 million dollars, according to the Louisiana Lottery. The cash value of the prize is $292 million.

The East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s office arrested a parent they say cussed out a principal and threatened to blow up Capitol Middle School. 32-year-old Jamie Bell was booked on charges of assaulting a school teacher, terrorizing, unlawful disruption of operation of a school and entering after forbidden.

Officials in Caldwell Parish is investigating the case of a man they say was recently released from jail, and is now dead following a hostage situation and a standoff with deputies. They say two women went to check on Kenneth Magourick, who then held them against their will. When deputies responded, they said Magourick came outside and pointed a gun, then went down. It is unclear if Maqourick killed himself or was shot by law enforcement.

Former St. Landry Captain Clay Higgins, who achieved fame for his viral crime stoppers videos, has released another one where he addresses a few of his concerns about our country, even hinting that he may consider running for public office. Higgins told the Jim Engster Show the response to his video has been incredible…:
Cut 13 (09) “the country”
Higgins says if he decides to run for office, he’ll make the announcement sometime next week.

 

10:30 LRN Newscast May 4th

220 chimpanzees at the UL Lafayette research lab in New Iberia will be re-located to a sanctuary in Georgia. President of Project Chimps Sarah Baeckler Davis says the Georgia sanctuary is the perfect environment to house the retired chimps…
cut 5 (10) “…a kitchen”

State health officials are offering guidance on how people can prevent the transmission of the Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch, with the department of health and hospitals, says the mosquito that carries Zika will be active in Louisiana this summer, but it won’t just be mosquitoes that can spread the virus…:
Cut 10 (11) “feel ill”

Is the Cajun John Wayne considering a run for political office? Captain Clay Higgins has received national attention for his Crime Stopper Videos and now the former spokesperson for the St. Landry Parish’s Sheriff’s office has released another video talking about problems created by career politicians in Washington DC. Higgins told the Jim Engster Show that before he decides to run for an elected office, he wanted to put his feelings about the state of the nation out there…
cut 14 (10) “….nation faces”
Higgins says if he decides to run for office, he’ll make the announcement next week.

A 21-year-old Thibodaux man faces several charges after he was arrested for stealing school bus and driving it while intoxicated. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office says Jordon Molaison hot-wired the bus from a home in Chackbay and began driving it. Deputies say they pulled the stolen bus over and allegedly found that Molaison busted a camera inside the bus and had a blood alcohol content above the legal limit.

09:30 Newscast, May 4th, 2016

State health officials are offering guidance on how people can prevent the transmission of Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch, with the department of health and hospitals, says Southeastern Louisiana, and Lake Pontchartrain in particular, will be high risk areas because that’s where the mosquito that carries Zika lives….:
cut 12 (10) “areas are”
Welch advises people to clear any standing water out of their yards, and wear long sleeves, pants and mosquito repellent.

Louisiana is the 4th worst state for working moms, according to a study by the personal finance website, WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzalez says in terms of daycare quality, Louisiana scored a 57 out of 150 points. She says the state also has a lot of single mothers living in poverty…:
Cut 8 (10) “in poverty”

Governor John Bel Edwards is set to speak at at the Rotary Club in Baton Rouge today. The state of the state is slated to begin at noon.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will be transferring 220 retired research chimpanzees to a facility in northern Georgia, as part of a partnership with the nonprofit organization Project Chimps. President Sarah Baeckler Davis says this is the first time a non-federal program has released an entire population of research chimpanzees…:
Cut 6 (06) “retirement facility”
She says the Georgia sanctuary will be the perfect environment to house the retired chimpanzees.

The Powerball is getting big again. The jackpot for tonight’s drawing is $348 million dollars. The cash value is 226.1 Million dollars.

 

08:30 Newscast, May 4th, 2016

The Department of Health and Hospitals is working to spread the word about ways to prevent the spread of the Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch says if someone has a partner who has traveled to South America or the Caribbean, they need to take extra precautions, especially if the woman is pregnant…:
cut 11 (09) “her baby”
He says the mosquito that carries Zika will be active in Louisiana this summer.

Louisiana is the 4th worst state for working moms, according to a study by the personal finance website, WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzalez says the state also ranked 43rd for the gender pay gap…:
Cut 9 (07) “at least”
She says the study considered things like cost of daycare, professional opportunities, and work and life balance.

Former famed St. Landry Captain Clay Higgins has released another video, which seems to hint the he may run for public office. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

220 retired research chimps at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s New Iberia research center will move to a new sanctuary in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Project Chimps negotiated with the university, and starting in June the chimps will start moving to the 236-acre sanctuary….:
cut 4 (07) “moved here”

 

07:30 Newscast, May 4ht, 2016

A study finds Louisiana ranks as the 4th worst state for working moms. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (25) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Could famed former St. Landry Parish Captain Clay Higgins be considering a run for public office? The man dubbed The Cajun John Wayne released another viral video this week saying if he is called by the people of this state and nation to serve, he would step up to the plate…:
CUT 15 (08) “these things”
Higgins says if he decides to run for office, he’ll make the announcement sometime next week. The comments were made on the Jim Engster Show.

Governor John Bel Edwards is slated to deliver the State of the State address at noon today. The speech will take place at the Baton Rouge Rotary Club.

State health officials are offering guidance on how people can prevent the transmission of Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch, with the department of health and hospitals, says the mosquito that carries Zika will be active in Louisiana this summer, but it won’t just be mosquitoes spreading the virus…:
Cut 10 (11) “feel ill”
Welch advises people to clear any standing water out of their yards, and wear long sleeves, pants and mosquito repellent.

Organizers with the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival say rain on the second weekend made the overall attendance drop from 2015. They said about 425,000 festers came to the fairgrounds track this year in The Big Easy, where last year that number was about 460,000.