LRN AM Newscall November 8

Will there be a live tiger on the field ahead of LSU’s game against Alabama? That’s the word coming out of Baton Rouge – but not from the school. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Voters overwhelmingly approve a state constitutional amendment to direct revenue from alternative energy sources to coastal restoration. Now, as Colleen Crain reports, the ball is in the hands of the federal government.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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The 2024 LPIC Parent Poll is live til November 20 to get feedback from Parent, Guardians, and Caregivers for children 5-year-old and younger.  Sena Richardson has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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The university is so far tight-lipped about it, but there are reports that LSU will have a live tiger on the field for tomorrow night’s game against Alabama. Todd Horne from Tiger Rag magazine says the governor has been pushing for this for months.

Cut 4 (09) “…LSU home games.”

Horne says while Landry has been negotiating with the university on how to make this happen, it’s unclear whether this is the result of those talks or whether he’s doing this unilaterally. Our news partner, the Louisiana Illuminator, was the first to report the story, citing an interview it did with a state senator.

Cut 5 (09) “…at the game.” (Refers to Ponchatoula Republican Senator Bill Wheat)

However, the tiger will not be LSU’s official live mascot, Mike the Seventh. Instead, it will be a tiger being driven in from out of state – reportedly a one-and-a-half-year-old Bengal tiger owned by a man near Orlando, Florida. Horne says rolling out a live tiger onto the field was a long-standing tradition at Death Valley until it was halted back in 2015.

Cut 6 (10) “…on the sideline.”

Mike the Seventh lives in a 15-thousand-square-foot habitat just outside the stadium and has never taken the field inside the stadium. Landry originally wanted Mike to take the field, but the school has pushed back on that. Repeated efforts to reach LSU for confirmation, including media relations, the athletic department, the school of veterinary medicine and even the president’s office, have been unsuccessful.

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Voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to direct revenues from alternate offshore energy sources to coastal restoration. Simone Maloz (mih-LAWZ), the campaign director for Restore the Mississippi River Delta, says it expands the offshore revenue sources currently used for coastal restoration beyond the traditional oil and gas.

Cut 7 (08) “…other energy uses.”

Maloz is very grateful that the vote to approve the amendment was by almost a three-to-one spread.

Cut 8 (11) “…good to see.”

But despite the passage of the constitutional amendment, Maloz says the job is not done yet.

Cut 9 (08)  “…to those parishes.” (A federal law needs to be passed to direct that money to the coastal parishes)

But Maloz says the overwhelming vote should give the federal government more reason to approve such a measure.

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LPIC and the Department of Education invite parents, guardians, and caregivers of children 5-years old and under to share their experience with early childhood education in the state.  The 2024 Parent Poll is live and LPIC CEO Libbie Sonnier says the poll helps them understand how parents are navigating and accessing quality childcare.

Cut 10 (11) “…family is childcare.”

Sonnier says the poll is a powerful tool to understand how parents are navigating childcare and what are expenses related to childcare.

Cut 11 (12) “…what they need.”

The poll is live until Nov 20 and available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese so it can capture a wide variety of family experiences throughout the state.  Sonnier says the goal is to understand what barriers parents are experiencing and allow all parents to access quality childcare.

Cut 12 (13) “…much much more.” 

Visit policy-institute-dot-org for more information.

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The election was three days ago; and while we know that Donald Trump will be the new president and that Republicans will take control of the Senate, we still don’t know which party will be in control of the House. Democratic Congressman Troy Carter of New Orleans says whether his party is in the majority or the minority does not alter the job.

Cut 13 (15)  “…all Americans.”

Carter says it’s time to turn the page.

Cut 14 (10) “…job of governing.”

And Carter says that involves members of both parties to come together to work out solutions in the best interest of all Americans.

Cut 15 (09) “…the American people.”

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LSU will host Alabama and they are hoping to avoid a repeat performance of what happened last year when Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe threw for 219 yards and rushed for 155 yards and four touchdowns. Defensive end Sai’vion Jones says they have to be smart when they rush Milroe…

Cut 16 (17) “….what kind of plays so.” 

We know Nick Saban will not be on the Alabama sideline for Saturday night’s game. Coach Brian Kelly was asked how the Crimson Tide are different with Saban no longer roaming the sidelines and Kalen DeBoer at the helm

Cut 17 (12) “…team.”

The Tigers defense is looking to bounce back after giving up 31 points against Texas A-and-M. Linebacker Greg Penn says all you can do is learn from the experience and make sure it doesn’t happen again…

Cut 18 (14)   “…right now.”

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ULM will try to snap a two-game losing streak tomorrow when they host Texas State. Warhawks Coach Bryant Vincent has this message for his team this week…

Cut 19 (14) “…11 o’ clock kick”  

Vincent also had to discipline offensive line coach Cameron Blakenship for shoving a player in a fit of rage. Vincent says that’s what the ULM football program is all about…

Cut 20 (19) “…as the players do.”