10:30 Newscast, March 27th, 2015

In looking at the latest census numbers, some are concerned that Louisiana could be in danger of losing another Congressional seat. Demographer Elliot Stonecipher says we really need to see more population growth as the latest numbers show the state’s population only increased 2.6 percent since 2010…:
CUT 10 (12) “Census happens”
East Baton Rouge Parish remains the most populated parish in the state.

A man from LaPlace has developed an app to keep teenagers from texting and driving. Mike Watson says Text Guardian is tied to the GPS device on cellular devices and parents can set to a certain speed…:
CUT 4 (06) “deactivated”
Right now Text Guardian is only available on Android devices but should be on iOS soon.

Turkey season opens tomorrow and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries predicts a bumper crop for hunters. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

LSU’s Acacia fraternity has been closed after a school investigation determined the group hazed new members last fall. The university reports it confirmed several Student Code violations, including forced alcohol consumption,physical violence, and several acts of theft. President F. King Alexander said hazing will not be tolerated at LSU and has suspended the fraternity until at least 2018.

 

09:30 Newscast March 27, 2015

A man from LaPlace has developed an app to keep teenagers from texting and driving. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 1 (29) “reporting”

LSU’s Acacia fraternity has been closed after a school investigation determined the group hazed new members last fall. The university reports it confirmed several Student Code violations, including forced alcohol consumption,physical violence, and several acts of theft during a trip to Auburn last fall. In a statement, LSU President F. King Alexander said hazing will not be tolerated and suspended the fraternity until at least 2018.

Demographer Elliot Stonecipher is worried that Louisiana could lose another Congressional seat if the state doesn’t see more growth in population. The three fastest growing parishes in the state since 2010 are Ascension, Orleans and St. Bernard. Stonecipher says from 2013-14 Orleans Parish grew one-point-four percent…

cut 12 (10) “positive years”

New Census figures show the state’s population has only increased two-point-six percent since 2010.

Somebody missed out on being a Powerball millionaire, because they didn’t claim their million dollar ticket from September 27th’s drawing before the deadline expired. Louisiana Lottery spokeswoman Kimberly Chopin says it’s extremely rare for a million dollar prize to go unclaimed. She says some don’t realize that you don’t have to have all 6 Powerball numbers to win a prize…

cut 15 (07) “prize”

She says that $1 million will go back into winnings.

08:30 Newscast March 27, 2015

Demographer Elliot Stonecipher is concerned the state is not growing fast enough to prevent the loss of another Congressional seat. Scott Carwile has more…

cut 3 (31) “reporting”

Monroe Police say a man has been charged with attempted second degree murder after crashing his vehicle into his ex-girlfriends’s. They say Jason Weeks rammed the victim’s car several times at a high rate of speed which caused both vehicles to crash into a ditch. The victim was transported to a local hospital and at last report was listeed in serious to critical condition. Weeks was booked inot the Ouachita Parish Prison.

A LaPlace man has developed an app to keep teenagers from texting and driving. Mike Watson says if somebody tries to call or text while Text Guardian is activated, they will get a message saying that the person will get back to them when it is safe to do so. He says the difference between this and some other anti-driving-and-texting apps is that Text Guardian can not be removed…

cut 5 (10) “or attempted manipulation”

It’s completely free and available for Android devices, for now.

Turkey season opens tomorrow and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries predicts a great season for hunters. Wild Turkey and Resident Small Game Leader, Jimmy Stafford, says the Louisiana turkey population is scattered, but most gobblers can be found in the western or north-central part of the state. Stafford says if you’re looking to bag a turkey on opening day, he’s got a tip on where to look…

cut 9 (08) “harvest go”

This year’s season is coming a few days later than normal, which Stafford says should move the birds closer to their peak of gobbling.

07:30 Newscast March 27, 2015

Demographer Elliot Stonecipher says Louisiana could be in danger of losing another Congressional seat if the state doesn’t see more growth in population. Louisiana’s Congressional delegation shrank from seven to six members as a result of the 2010 Census. Stonecipher says the data suggests to him that Louisiana still has an out-migration problem…

cut 11 (12) “nervous about”

Stonecipher’s statement is based on new Census figures, which shows the state’s population has only increased two-point-six percent since 2010.

Mike Watson, a body shop owner from LaPlace, has developed an app to keep teenagers from texting and driving. He says Text Guardian is tied to the GPS device on cellular devices and parents can set it to a certain speed…

cut 4 (06) “deactivated”

Text Guardian is free and only available on Android devices, but should soon be available for iOS devices.

Somebody has lost their chance to be a Powerball millionaire. A Match 5 winning ticket from the September 27th drawing expired before anyone claimed the prize. Louisiana Lottery spokeswoman Kimberly Chopin says the money will go back into winnings. Chopin says by using unclaimed prizes, they’ve been able to increase prize payout over the last five years from about 59%, to about 62%…

cut 14 (06) “like to play more”

She says it’s rare for a prize like this to go unclaimed.

Tomorrow’s the first day of turkey season and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries predicts a bumper crop for hunters. Although more turkeys are expected to be harvested this season, Wild Turkey and Resident Small Game Leader, Jimmy Stafford, says Mother Nature is always a factor…

cut 8 (10) “significantly improved”

He says most gobblers can be found in the western or north-central part of the state.

06:30 Newscast March 27, 2015

Demographer Elliot Stonecipher says Louisiana could be in jeopardy of losing another Congressional seat if the state doesn’t see more growth in population. Stonecipher is making that statement based on new Census figures, which shows the state’s population has only increased two-point-six percent since 2010…

cut 10 (12) “Census happens”

Louisiana saw it’s Congressional delegation shrink from seven to six members as a result of the 2010 Census.

Somebody in Louisiana could have been a Powerball millionaire, but they missed their chance. The Match 5 winning ticket was sold in Minden for the September 27th drawing, but no one claimed the prize by yesterday’s deadline. Louisiana Lottery spokeswoman Kimberly Chopin says the $1 million will go back into winnings…

cut 13 (11) “player promotions”

Chopin says it’s extremely rare for a million dollar prize to go unclaimed.

A man from LaPlace has developed an app to keep teenagers from texting and driving. Mike Watson says Text Guardian is tied to the GPS device on cellular devices and parents can set it to a certain speed. Once the phone reaches the pre-set speed, all that works is 911, a few contacts and the navigation system. He is the owner of Jim’s Body Shop and came up with the idea of creating an app like this after dealing with so many vehicles that had been in serious crashes involving teenagers who were texting and driving…

cut 6 (11) “to do something about it”

Right now Text Guardian is only available on Android devices but should be on iOS soon.

LRN Newscast 17:30 March 26

A grand jury returned a “no true bill” in the case of a Terrebonne Parish sheriff’s deputy shooting and killing a 14-year-old last September. The teenager had a BB gun, when the deputy came in contact with the child at an abandon house. Carlos Lazarus is the First Assistant DA in Terrebonne. He says they showed the jury pictures of the weapon the juvenile was holding and a real .45-caliber pistol and they are identical…:
CUT 11 (11) “what he should do”
The FBI is also investigating the case.

Funeral services conclude today in Alexanderia for David Strother. He is one of four Louisiana National Guard soliders who were killed in a helicopter crash near Pensacola, Florida, earlier this month. Louisiana National Guard Captain Kreg Stiles says the outpouring of support from cen-la residents has been impressive.

An 11-year-old boy has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long according to the Rapides Parish School Board policy. Eric Gill reports…
cut 1 (30) “…reporting”

Duck Commander will not sponsor this year’s Shreveport Independence Bowl. Mayor Oillie Tyler says they need to pass a hotel occupancy tax that would really help in landing a new sponsor which would be good for the entire region…:
CUT 4 (08) “areas benefit”

LRN Newscast 16:30 03-26-15

The Terrebonne Parish DA says a grand jury has cleared a deputy who shot and killed a 14-year-old boy near Houma last September, saying there wasn’t evidence presented that indicated Deputy Preston Norman committed a crime in the death of Cameron Tillman. The Sheriff’s office says Tillman was holding what looked like a .45…
CUT 9 (09) “or another”
That’s Terrebonne First Assistant DA Carlos Lazarus. The FBI is investigating.

An 11-year-old Rapides Parish boy has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long according to School Board policy. Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman, who is not involved in this case, says courts need to recognize that students should be able to have a greater range of appearances.
CUT 6 (06) “with the student”
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One of the four Louisiana National Guard soliders, who was killed in a helicopter crash on March 10th along the Florida Coast has been laid to rest in Alexandria. Chief Warrant Officer 4, David Strother had over 24-hundred flight hours, including 700 combat hours. National Guard Captain Kreg Stiles says Strother was born to serve our country and born to fly…
CUT 13 (10) Q: “duplicate that”

Strother leaves behind a wife and son; stepdaughter, and mother.

 

State Police and the FBI have arrested a man and woman and rescued a 17-year-old girl in connection with a sex trafficking case. Spokesperson Melissa Matey says the victim was being against her will and forced to perform commercial sexual acts in the French Quarter area through online ads. Twenty-one-year-old Kayla Griffin and 36-year-old Lance Everson are being charged with trafficking of children for sexual purposes.

LRN Newscast 15:30 03-26-15

A grand jury has cleared a Terrebonne Parish deputy who shot and killed a teen-aged boy near an abandoned house near Houma last September. Carlos Lazarus, the First Assistant DA in Terrebonne, says Deputy Preston Norman shot 14 year-old Cameron Tillman after he pointed a gun at the officer, which turned out to be a pellet gun…
CUT 10 (10) Q: “cannot tell the difference”
The FBI is investigating.

One of the four Louisiana National Guard soliders, who was killed in a helicopter crash on March 10th near Pensacola, Florida, is laid to rest today in Alexandria. Louisiana National Guard Captain Kreg Stiles says Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Strother was a great man…
cut 12 (09) “him justice”
Strother leaves behind a wife and a son, a stepdaugther and mother.
=========================
A Rapides Parish 5th grader has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long, according to School Board policy. The parents of Ashton Bodifer say the rules are unfair and discriminatory and Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman agrees…
CUT 7 (10) Q: “the victim”
But Esman says, because of previous court rulings in favor of school policies, the family has a hard road ahead.

Shreveport’s Independence Bowl finds itself, once again, without a sponsor. Duck Commander, who was the title sponsor of last year’s game, will not return as the title sponsor this year. Mayor Ollie Tyler says she is determined to help the I-Bowl foundation find a new sponsor…
CUT 3 (06) “us economically”

LRN newscast 14:30 03-26-15

The Terrebonne DA says a grand jury has cleared a deputy who shot and killed a 14-year-old boy near Houma last September…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

A Lafayette man who called in a bomb threat that shut down UL-Lafayette last summer has pleaded guilty in federal court to the crime. Devin Haywood faces up to 10 years for that, and up to 20 years for trying to rob a bank during the police search for the bomb.

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An 11-year-old boy in Rapides Parish has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long according to School Board policy. His parents say the rules are unfair and discriminatory and want a policy that is equal for both genders. Louisiana ACLU Executive Director Marjorie Esman says they have a case…
CUT 7 (10) Q: “and unfair”

The Independence Bowl in Shreveport is once again without a sponsor. Duck Commander will not be returning, but officials are optomistic that a hotel tax, which narrowly failed last year, would help the ongoing revenue for the bowl…
CUT 5 (11) Q: “develop this area”
That’s Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler.

13:30 Newscast, March 26th, 2015

The Terrebonne Parish DA says a grand jury returned a “no true bill” in the case of a sheriff’s deputy shooting and killing of 14-year-old Cameron Tillman last September. Jurors clear deputy Preston Norman who shot the boy in an abandoned house near Houma. Carlos Lazarus is the First Assistant DA in Terrebonne. He says he showed the jury pictures of the weapon the juvenile was holding and a real .45-caliber pistol and said they are identical…:
CUT 11 (11) “what he should do”
The FBI is also investigating the case.

20-year-old Seth Fontenot remained in jail this morning after a Lafayette jury returned a guilty manslaughter verdict in the case of the death of 15-year-old Austin Rivault and the injuring of two others. Prosecutors were trying for first-degree murder which carries a life sentence. Fontenot now faces up to 40 years.

The West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office said a woman kidnapped from East Baton Rouge was found in the wreckage of a crash which claimed the life of her captor Thursday morning. They say the woman was airlifted to the hospital after the wreck. Deputies said the woman told them she was kidnapped last night. This is a developing story.

An 11-year-old boy has missed more than two weeks of school because his hair is too long according to Rapides Parish School Board policy. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”