LRN AM Newscall January 28

Nationally, egg prices surged nearly 38-percent in the past year, with the average price of a dozen eggs reaching $3.65 compared to $2.14 a year ago.  Sean Richardson has more

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Five people are arrested for allegedly using drones to smuggle contraband into the federal prison in Grant Parish. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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A breakthrough N-I-L deal in Louisiana – and he’s a high school sophomore! Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The spread of bird flu has caused egg prices to rise and shelves to empty. Nationally, egg prices surged nearly 38-percent in the past year, with the average price of a dozen eggs reaching $3.65 compared to $2.14 a year ago, according to USDA data. LSU AgCenter agent Will Strickland says the holidays also added to the price jump.

Cut 4 (10) “…egg inventory.”

Strickland says although Louisiana’s commercial chicken populations remain unaffected, prices rose due to a shortage of egg-laying birds in supplier states like California and the Midwest.

Cut 5 (10) “…pricing even here.”

Strickland noted egg prices likely won’t drop soon due to the slow process of replenishing flocks. He assured consumers that eating eggs is safe, as USDA protocols prevent contaminated products from entering the food supply, and cooking eliminates the virus.

Cut 6 (13) “…safe for consumption.”

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An alleged shoplifter shot by an off-duty Rapides Parish Sheriff’s deputy has died. Sheriff Mark Wood says the deputy was working off-duty detail at Academy Sports and Outdoors on Friday night in Alexandria when he attempted to stop an alleged shoplifter

Cut 7 (16) “…his injuries .”

Authorities have not identified the person who the deputy fatally shot. The officer involved is on paid leave. Wood says it’s a sad situation…

Cut 8 (13) “…do that.”

The Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation for the Central Louisiana Critical Incident Response Team. Wood says findings will be turned over to the Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office to determine if the shooting was justified.

There are some in the community who claim the person fatally shot was in the parking lot when he was shot in the back. But Wood says the shooting occurred in the store….

Cut 9 (13)  “…gets you killed”

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Five people from Houston are arrested for allegedly using drones to smuggle contraband, including drugs and cell phones, into the federal prison in Pollock. Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain says Immigration and Customs Enforcement is also involved.

Cut 10 (09) “…that’s here illegally.”

That person is 35-year-old Laura Martinez, and ICE has a detainer on her. Sheriff McCain says this has been going on a while.

Cut 11 (12) “…to two years.”

The sheriff’s office and the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement seized about 12-thousand dollars. McCain says they’re working on ways to combat the use of drones in smuggling contraband into federal prisons.

Cut 12 (08) “…federal prison here.”

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He doesn’t graduate from high school for more than two years, but Elijah Haven, the star sophomore quarterback for Dunham High School in Baton Rouge, already has an N-I-L deal. He’s been brought aboard as a spokesman for the Matt Bowers Auto Group. Matt Bowers says he’s known Elijah and his family for a long time, and he couldn’t think of anyone better to represent his company.

Cut 13 (13)  “…you root for.”

Bowers says he has known the Havens for a long time.

Cut 14 (10) “…to come see.”

Haven led Dunham to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the Division Three select title game at the Prep Classic, where they lost to Catholic-New Iberia. Despite having two years of high school football in front of him, Haven already has scholarship offers from LSU, Ole Miss, Michigan, Florida and Miami, among others. Bowers is an Ole Miss alumnus, but he insists that this N-I-L deal is not a way to convince him to sign with the school.

Cut 15 (12) “…their friends.”

Bowers did not disclose how much Haven’s N-I-L deal is worth.

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The second-ranked LSU baseball team will have an entirely new weekend rotation this year as the Tigers’ top three starters from last year, Gage Jump, Luke Holman, and Griffin Herrin are in professional baseball. LSU has several pitchers, including Kade Anderson, who could pitch on the weekends. The sophomore left-hander from Madisonville appeared in 18 games last year, started half of them, and went 4-and-2 with a 3.99 ERA. Anderson would be honored to be the Friday night starter or if he had a bullpen role…

Cut 16 (12) “…for it.”

LSU first baseman Jared Jones has the potential to lead the Southeastern Conference in home runs this season. Jones hit 28 homers last year, but he came back his junior season to become more of a complete hitter…

Cut 17 (14)  “…highlighted.”

Junior right-handed pitcher Gavin Guidry will wear the coveted number eight jersey at LSU. It goes to the upper classman who exemplifies LSU baseball. Guidry says he’ll wear the number with pride and use this leadership position as an opportunity to lead by example…

Cut 18 (15)   “…what that looks like.”

Guidry will be given the opportunity to start this season after pitching out of the bullpen the last two years.