LRN PM Newscall October 13

Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise has ended his campaign to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy as the next U-S Speaker of the House. Teiko Foxx explains.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx” 

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Five Louisiana death row inmates seeking a capital clemency hearing did not get the answer they were seeking. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Louisiana Congressman and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s attempt to be the next U-S House Speaker is over. Scalise did not have enough votes. In a press conference, Scalise says he will continue as the majority leader but there’s still work to be done.

Cut 3 (11) “…the side”

Scalise could only afford to lose four votes from Republicans and there were at least 17 GOP lawmakers against him, despite receiving the House Republican nomination on Wednesday. Scalise says unification is needed and the House has to come together for the country.

Cut 4 (10) “…a speaker”

Scalise had the public support of Louisiana U-S Representatives Julia Letlow and  Clay Higgins. Higgins says he’s sad Scalise was not elected as the first House Speaker from Louisiana. But He now throws his support behind fellow House Freedom Caucus member Jim Jordan from Ohio…

Cut 5 (10) “ …Jim Jordan”  

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A rare annular eclipse will take place tomorrow. LSU Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Natalie Hinkel says this type of eclipse happens when the moon is further from Earth, and it obscures only part of the sun. She says Louisiana will only have a partial eclipse and won’t get the full effect of the Ring of Fire view.

Cut 6 (08) “…be covered.”

In Louisiana, the eclipse will be visible from 10:30 AM until 1:30 PM.

Never look directly at an eclipse. If you don’t have solar glasses, which are different from regular sunglasses, or time to make a pinhole camera Hinkel says grab a colander from the kitchen. The small holes will act as a lens…

Cut 7 (12) “…across it.” 

The word annular is Latin for ring.

Hinkel says today we know why and how eclipses happen but before humans were frightened by them.

Cut 8 (12) “…stopped everything.”

The next total eclipse visible in North America will be April 8th. Another will not be visible in the United States until 2044.

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Louisiana’s lone female on death row was denied a capital clemency hearing by the Louisiana Pardon Board who conducted an administrative review of Antoinette Frank’s case. Frank was a New Orleans police officer when she killed a fellow officer and two restaurant workers during a late night robbery in 1995. Her brother, Alex Frank, told the four-member panel that his sister is a reformed person

Cut 9 (07) “…horrible person” 

Officer Ronald Williams was working security detail at the restaurant when he was killed by Frank and her co-defendant Rogers LaCaze, who is serving a life sentence. Williams’ son Patrick, says Frank does not deserve to leave death row…

Cut 10 (10) “…considering this.”

Frank’s lawyer argued before the Louisiana Pardon Board that the years of sexual abuse Frank received from her father left her timid and easily manipulated by violent men like her co-defendant. Frank’s former spiritual advisor argued for her chance at a sentence of life in prison…

Cut 11 (12) “…church services”

Officer Williams’s brother-in-law pleaded with the Louisiana Pardon Board not to grant clemency. He says the family has suffered enough and Frank deserves to die for what she’s done…

Cut 12 (12) “…28 years”  

Four other death row inmates seeking clemency hearings were also denied.

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Political analysts are expecting Saturday’s election to result in a run-off in the governor’s race between Republican Jeff Landry and Democrat Shawn Wilson. ULM Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says there are five other main candidates in the race, but none of them including Republican Stephen Waguespack caught fire and swayed votes in their direction….

Cut 13 (07) “…twelve percent.”

Voters will also cast a ballot for other statewide offices including secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, and more. Cross says there is no clear indication of who will make it to the runoff in the hotly contested race for Attorney General and Secretary of State

Cut  14 (13) “.two finishers”

Legislative seats are up for grabs as well and there are some hotly contested races, especially for state senate seats that are open. Pearson says before election results roll in, we already know Republicans will have a strong majority in both chambers…

Cut 15 (08) “…and Senate”

Polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow.