LRN PM Newscall

We may break a few daily record low temperatures across the state tonight as temperatures plummet. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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A West Monroe woman is accused of abandoning her one-year-old child with strangers.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”    

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If you think it’s chilly out right now, just wait for tonight: low temperatures are expected to hit the 20s for most of the state, with lows in the low 30s near the coast.

National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Ricks says it’s unusual for a freeze this hard to hit this early in November.

Cut 3 (07)   “…all time.” 

Freeze warnings are in effect from the Arkansas line down to Baton Rouge.

Good news is at least the hard freeze is not expected to stay for long. Ricks says temperatures will be out of the 20s by tomorrow afternoon.

Cut 4 (07) “…tomorrow night.”

The high wind gusts much of the state is experiencing are also expected to die down by this afternoon.

State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the freeze means heaters across the state will be turning on tonight, so make sure you check your smoke detector or go get one before night falls.

Cut 5 (08) “…your home.” 

Browning says his office offers Operation Save A Life smoke detectors for those in need, but it may take a few days to receive your device.

Most home fires in cold weather are caused by space heaters. Browning urges residents to follow space heater safety guidelines…

Cut 6 (11) “…that happens”

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Louisiana Tech reaches its Forever Loyal campaign goal raising more than $125 million to support University initiatives. The campaign was designed to help face challenges and discover potential. Vice President for University advancement Brooks Hull says growth in the donor base has helped hit the goal.

Cut 7 (07) “…28% in donors.”

Hull says almost 70,000 gifts have been given in the campaign with well over 20,000 donors.

Cut 8 (06) “   …and science building.”

Hull says the money will go toward scholarships, faculty recruitment, research and teaching grants, as well as campus building improvements.

Cut 9 (10)  “…those as well.”
Hull says they expect many more contributions through the end of the campaign on June 30th, 2020, which also is the end of the school’s 125th-year celebration.

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Ten-million dollars in hurricane recovery money will go towards building new homes to replace the old FEMA trailers that have been at Camp Beauregard in Pineville since 2005. Guardsmen and their families live in these trailers and Louisiana National Guard Colonel Ed Bush says the soldiers will appreciate an upgrade…

Cut 10 (06) “…to accomplish.”

There are 40 trailers that are in place at Camp Beauregard. Bush says the  10-million dollars will go towards building about 50 new homes…

Cut 11 (09) “ which is huge”

The money actually comes from Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, which both hit Louisiana in 2018. Bush says the new homes will provide a substantial improvement for the soldiers and airmen who live on the post

Cut  12 (12) “is really huge” 

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A West Monroe woman is charged with cruelty to a juvenile after leaving her one-year-old child with strangers.  Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Glen Springfield says witnesses say the woman, 28-year-old Tiera Mooney, was wet and holding a baby when she knocked on their door and gave them the child and began to leave.

Cut 13 (09) “…the lady was.”

Deputies later located the woman in a small wooded area not far from the residence. Springfield says Mooney was also charged with criminal trespassing for heading to the next-door residence.

Cut 14 (10) “…with the strangers.”

Springfield says a motive is unclear.

Cut 15 (06) “…not real coherent.”

Bail has not been set.